Baby Jigs - Part 2

I mentioned in a previous post that my nephew, Cristian, loves to sing. Some of his favorite songs I have never heard before and he, at three years old, knows the words! He loves the song 'Poker Face' by Lady Ga*ga and it cracks me up every time he sings it. Here is a short video of him...

Purpose

Have you ever had a moment where you stopped in the middle of your busy life and asked, "What am I doing?"?

Purpose. That word has been on my mind for the past few weeks. I feel like I am on a road that leads nowhere. Who am I and how did I get here? Questions have a way of drawing more questions and there are no answers in sight.

If you have no purpose than you have nothing pushing you forward. No goal. I am a firm believer in the fact that God ordains each and every step and avenue in life. For each and every person. Whether they know Him or not. Ultimately His purpose must be fulfilled. He will use anyone or anything to get it done.

Going back to "what am I doing?", I seem to be asking myself that a lot lately. If I'm not working towards God's purpose, what the heck am I doing here? Why am I wasting my time? Serious self examination. Painful, scary and so gut wrenching.

I spent some alone time reading through my notes from the last few services and cried my heart out asking God to take me as I am. ALL my faults and failures, every sin and struggle. Take me as I am and change me so that I can be used for His purpose. Use my weakness for His purpose to strengthen me instead of getting the best of me.

Don't you get tired of doing the same thing, day in and day out with no eternal growth to show for it? I sure do.

I am determined to work towards figuring out God's purpose for ME. And then I am going to do whatever it takes to get THERE. THERE is where He wants me to be and I am the only one that can stop it. Me, myself and I. No one else to blame.

Purpose is the name of game... Do you know what your purpose is?

Baby Jigs

My nephew Cristian has his own taste in music. He's three years old and knows the words to "Poker*Face" and "Apologize". He is adamant about not listening to any other channel but Hip Hop and he knows when Michael Jackson's music comes on... I don't even know the words to the songs he knows... some songs I'd never heard of. Kids now days are growing up WAY too fast!

This was way too cute to not share... haha.



This is one of the songs that my nephew sings and now I know the words too. LOL
MUST watch the kid in the red...


Happy Friday!

- Deb

Bloody Papermate

I went in for routine labs yesterday. I am not paranoid about seeing my blood. No.big.deal. I'm a little paranoid about seeing the needle go in but yesterday seeing my blood made me sick... but I'm so glad I watched...

My lab is in a really swanky part of town so even the labs are new and nice. Each person has their own private cubicle with cushioned chairs. This was going to be a breeze.

Not so. The technician kept saying, "you have little vein"... "baby vein". After digging around he found one that might work. Ten minutes later, and three vials, he realized that this wasn't going to work. The vials were not even 1/2 full so he did what all good technicians do...

Opening up the vials, he poured one from the other to make one full vial of blood. I figured, he's doing this where someone can walk by and see, so I guess it's okay.

I look over and what do I see... the man has a paper*mate pen in one of the vials. He dropped something in there while he was pouring one to the other. Immediately an alert went off. Ink and my blood. Hmm... no.

He finally got some help to fill up one more vial and I whispered to her and the other technician while the first was out of earshot, "Can I ask you something?" They smiled, "sure".

I then asked them if it was a big deal that he opened the vials and stuck a pen in... the looks on their faces was answer enough. They immediately said that they would be retaking my blood.

Good. Done. Get me out of here.

An hour later I walked out of there, weak and disturbed. After being called to a back room with a lead supervisor, I was told that this man would be written up and all these other things that made me hope he wouldn't find out it was me! Oh vey.

My uneventful blood work turned into a drama. I'm sure this man will learn that Paper*mate ink and blood don't mix.

Starting Fresh

I'm not sure if I'll be blogging like I used to, but as of right now, it's just not happening. I haven't been able to read any blogs let alone blog myself.

So, for the first time, I had to completely clear my Reader and start fresh. I am bummed that I missed out on some good post, I'm sure, but I just can't keep up.

So, I am starting fresh and will try to blog more... I believe I may have lost 99% of my blog readers... But maybe I'll get the blog bug back and have something interesting to say. :)

I really do miss it! But, time won't permit it right now.

Until later... I'll leave you with some adorable pictures of sweet Lola.

- Deb

Remembering 9-11

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our
freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. -Abraham Lincoln

It's not easy to forget this day. I was eighteen and freshly out of high school and into my new world as an adult. I felt like I had everything ahead of me. The options were endless!

Then, on the morning of 9-11, sleeping peacefully, the world came crashing down. I was awaken up by my cousin calling, completely out of sorts over the tragedy of the first plane crashing. Who would have thought it could get worse...

My panic stricken mind couldn't comprehend what had happened. Twin Towers? Destroyed? I felt like there was no protection anywhere and the world was coming to an end. I grew up learning and listening to end-time prophecy and was sure this was it. Our lives were changed forever.

My mom got us all together and we headed for the church. When we got there, everyone just sat around and talked and waited for news. I was so fearful and questioned my Pastor about everything I could think of. We watched the news, waiting to hear something good... but it was all bad news.

Fast forward eight years... life isn't as bad as we thought it would be that horrible day. We've all pretty much adjusted to the changes, drastic changes that we don't even notice now. We give more honor to our soldiers fighting for our freedom. We've learned how we truly are the land of the brave and America is the home of the free. Or so we think...

This makes me think of the bondage that really holds America. Our world is turning upside down and freedom can only truly come from One.

I woke up this morning thanking God that I know Him. He knows me. And I am indeed Free. Free from bondage of sin, Free from fear, Free from any enemy that can stand against me.

God is my Freedom. He is your Freedom.

God bless America and the men and women fighting for this great country and the men and women who stand firm and put their lives in God's hands.

Me, Myself and I... sort of.

I had some fun with yearbook yourself today... :)

Soul sista'!

Apparently I would have been athletic in the 1960's.

Can anyone really be this sweet looking? I would have thought this girl was up to something. lol

Who knew I could look like a rockstar!

I look just like my mom in this one!

::

Play along!

Backyard Wedding

My cousin Eileen and her long time boyfriend, Frank were married in a small ceremony at my home this past weekend.
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I made these arrangements last minute, a little frantically. :) The bride was getting her self all spiffed up for her wedding and it dawned on me we had flowers to put together. I threw together five arrangements in 30 minutes. Whooo! It was tight.

Eileen is having a big reception in October, so the ceremony was small and intimate. I was her maid of honor and my sister-in-law Sonia was her bridesmaid.

We had little cones on the back of each chair with rose petals to throw once the ceremony was done and earlier that day we hung up white lights from the trees to brighten it up a bit. By the time I had crawled up and down that ladder a zillion times I was done. Once I realized that I had strung the wrong end and we had no plug to plug in... the tears almost came and then the frantic "What are we going to do now?!" Oh boy. I ended up crawling up and down that ladder again and re-hanging the lights... in addition... this past week was the hottest week in SoCal. Sweaty hot mess. lol

The beautiful bride is five months pregnant and finding a dress was a little difficult... but she ended finding one that my mom altered for her and looked gorgeous!

The wedding party got to wear whatever they wanted, good thing it blended pretty good.

My brother Peter and his wife, Sonia

My cousin and her son, Cristian

Cutting a scrumptious red velvet cake.

They were supposed to be in Cabo today for their honeymoon but the hurricane messed all those plans up. Instead they went into work today... and are planning on booking another honeymoon soon here. Nature's way of throwing a wrench in!

Cabo Shower

(My aunt and cousin, Eileen)

Two weeks ago I threw a shower with family and friends for my cousin, Eileen at my home. She got married this weekend and honeymooning in Cabo. The theme was a honeymoon shower since she didn't want lingerie or home goods. I was racking my brain for an idea to add some Mexican flair and my mom suggested peppers in the centerpieces... what a great idea! I went to a local Mexican food store and bought serano chili's and habeneros and added them to the floral arrangements. I did cupcakes instead of a cake. I like the look better and they are easier! I made the butter cream late Thursday night and nearly left it there unfinished, but pressed on and finally finished it.

Each guest went home with a "love notes" pad and a little box with my peanut butter balls. It was a beautiful night with good food and laughs!

Wedding to be posted soon...