E is for Ever

..as in, Happily Ever After.

God has been teaching me a lesson lately.  I thought I had learned this lesson, but He keeps putting me into situations where I am forced to realize that I still have a lot to learn about this particular subject.

I think we all have this picture in mind of how life should turn out.  That picture changes over time.  Some people actually get their Fairy Tale, but I would guess that most of us don't.  At least, we don't get that original Fairy Tale that we thought up when we were first mature enough to have a realistic perspective on life.  We alter the Fairy Tale as circumstances change.

Society has its picture of normal.  As much as one might try to live outside of a social "box," (and insist that he or she doesn't want to be stereotyped or put into that "box") I don't think anyone honestly wants to stray that far from "normal."  Maybe I assume I know more about human nature than what I actually know, but I really think that everyone wants to fit in.

I don't fit into a box...and I think it sucks.  I'm a single, pregnant, woman in the military.  My life is pretty far from the Fairy Tale I was hoping for.  I would love to fit into the Happy Housewife box.  I would love to spend the day raising babies, cleaning, and cooking dinner for my Hardworking Husband.  Seriously, I would kill for that life.  But that's not the path God has chosen for me--which brings me to The Lesson.

It's OK that I will never have that Fairy Tale.

It's OK that I am going to be raising this baby on my own.  It's OK that I am going to go back to work when she is 6 weeks old.  It's OK that I'm not going to be married with 2 kids and a house in the burbs before I'm 30.  It's OK.  My life isn't over just because things didn't turn out as I planned.  God just has other plans for me and for Macy.  He will make Something Beautiful of my life.  All is not lost.  I HATE that I have to start over.  It's something that has really been eating me since The Worst Day of My Life.  It's not fair that I have to meet someone new and learn his likes and dislikes.  I loved the comfort and familiarity of my relationship.  It was all lies, but it was comfortable.  But I know that God has better plans for me.  My life still has meaning.  I will still find fulfillment and contentment.

Someday, I might even get a Happily Ever After.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th. Would people say you have a good sense of direction? Do you rely on a GPS when you drive somewhere new? When was the last time you used a map?
I have a terrible sense of direction.  I blame it on the fact that I grew up in a town where streets ran North-South OR East-West.  Streets here do no such thing.  (Fun Tidewater fact: There is a stretch of I-64 that runs backwards.  To go East, you actually get on 64-West.  Check out Mapquest.)  I use my GPS all the time.  I have actually used my GPS to get somewhere I had been before, just because I was coming from a different direction.  I actually do look at maps--on Mapquest.  Sometimes I'm just interested in locations.  I never took Geography.

2. What's your favorite cookbook?
I don't think I have a favorite.  I did recently buy a Nestle dessert cookbook, but I haven't used it yet.

3. What painting would you like to "walk into" and experience? Why?
The Starry Night by Van Gogh.  I know it's totally a trendy painting, but I love it.

4. What annoys you more- misspellings or mispronunciations?
Misspellings.  Seriously, Google Chrome points them out!! You don't even need spell check!  I will admit, I cannot properly use lay and lie.  I have even looked up the usage, and I just don't get it.  I avoid using them, especially in my blog.  I feel like Crys will judge me if I use them incorrectly.  Other than that, the most common usage mistakes grate on my nerves.  Especially apostrophe misuse.

5. What is something your mother or father considered important?
Having life goals--dreams.  One of my Dad's favorite saying is "A man who has no dreams has no future."  Maybe sometimes they take it to the extreme--like wanting to know my plans for 5 years from now (seriously?!).  I do agree that it is important to have goals.

6. Do you like or dislike schedules?
Asking this to a person with OCD it like asking an alcoholic "Do you like or dislike booze?"  I *heart* schedules.  Even if they vary from day-to-day.  I usually plan out my days off--like, I actually write down a list of what I'm going to do with my favorite Sharpie on my pretty notepad..  I also *heart* lists...and Sharpies...and notepads.  It's a sickness, really.

7. Let's have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April)...write your own ending to this poem-


"Roses are Red
Violets are blue..."
...yeah I really don't like poetry.  Except The Raven.  I love Poe.

Incidentally if you'd like to read the history behind that little ditty you'll find it here.


8. I just finished Season 1 of Glee...come on Netflix and send me Season 2!!

D is for Dog

This is Spencer.  This was taken the day I got him.  He was 10 weeks old.  He had that rubber chicken for quite a while before he destroyed it.  I drove from South Carolina to BFE Missouri to get Spencer.  He has been spoiled rotten ever since.  As you can see, he was quite a ferocious puppy.  He was very good on the car ride back to South Carolina.

He mostly slept and chewed on his hedgehog the whole way back.  The hedgehog was another toy we managed to hold on to for a pretty long time.  In our house, plush toys usually last a couple of days, tops.  Especially if they squeak.  Spencer loves to rip them open, find the squeaker, chew it until it no longer makes noise, and then string the plush intestines of his victims all over the apartment.  He thinks this is great fun.

He was actually a terrible puppy.  He was mostly gated in the kitchen when I was working so his messes were easy to clean up.  He suffered from boredom throughout most of his Puppyhood, which led him to find destructive ways to entertain himself.  Before moving out of my condo, I had to replace all the baseboards and the flooring in the kitchen.  I also had to basically build part of a wall out of drywall tape and spackle.  Thanks, Spencer.  I guess that's what I get for having such a tasty kitchen.

He loves to run around outside and get dirty, as you can see in this picture.  He is solid white, so of course that means he loves a good mud puddle.  He hates taking a bath, too.  Spencer just turned 4 in March, and he is a pretty good dog these days.  He spends most of his day lounging around the apartment.  

He's so much help when it comes to the laundry!!

He still loves to destroy the occasional stuffed animal.  He has a nice collection of bones, balls, and pieces of old squeaky toys sitting in a basket in the laundry room.  He really enjoys it when I clean the apartment and put all of his toys back in the basket so that he can get them all out again.  He has several femur bones that used to contain filling, but he rarely shows interest in them.  His favorite is a Nylabone that he has has since several Christmases ago.  I think he enjoys that one the most because it develops sharp edges as he chews it, and then he can leave in the hallway for me to step on as I stumble to the bathroom in the dark.  He actually managed to chew one of the femur bones into a shiv a while back.

Spencer is spoiled rotten.  Hopefully he will be a good Big Brother and not be too jealous of the baby.  He is such a good dog. Katie even managed to get him to smile for the camera a few years back!

C is for Crafts (and Caught Up!)

I should really be eating some dinner right now instead of posting for the third time today.  I couldn't resist the temptation to sit on my porch and enjoy what is left of today's sunshine though.  It is 7:28 PM and the sun is still out.  I love it.

I'm a very crafty person.  Right now I have several projects going.  This seems like as good a time as any to share them.  Let's start with my craft room.  I live in a 2-bedroom apartment.  When I moved in, I decided I would rather have a place to work on my projects than have a nursery for Macy.  She won't sleep there anyway because I plan to have her in my room until she is probably 6 months.  By then, I will (hopefully) be living in a house. (Where maybe I can even paint!)  So I ordered myself a folding table and turned that extra bedroom into the craft room (Why do I feel like I should be on Glee?)

Yay Craft table! It has another leaf that folds out, but the room isn't very big!

Right now the table is loaded with scrapbooking supplies.  I have been buying a lot lately--especially Baby Girl stuff for Macy.  Right now I'm working on a Pregnancy Album, which is just an 8x8 album.  I also have a 12x12 that will be Macy's album--her first year, at least.  I haven't really started on that one yet.  I love 8x8 albums because I can make a 2-page spread out of just one picture without it looking silly.  I'm not that good at using 12x12, but I guess I'll have plenty of time to practice.  A couple of weeks ago, I bought myself a new toy.  It's a Cricut Create, and I have yet to play with it.  I should have some time to break it out here shortly.  I'm hoping to get to play in Debbie's Scrap Cave when I go home in a few weeks.  I don't know if I can handle that much excitement!!

Like I mentioned earlier, I have started making bows for Macy.  I have been trying to build up a collection of ribbon.  So far, I have a decent amount.

Yesterday I made her first bow.  Well, the first one I have made.  Her first bow was actually made by my friend Faith from work.  This one is special though because it has cupcakes on it, and I have already decided she is going to be Mommy's Little Cupcake.

I am also planning on making this Carseat Blanket for her out of these fabrics.

She has LOTS of pink stuff.  My favorite color is purple, so I decided it is time to start her collection of purple things.  Other sewing projects for Macy:

Diaper Bag

Material for her nursery

I've also been working on some pillow shams for my friend Julia.  (Yes, I actually started working on them yesterday, Jules!)  I'll post pictures when they've been delivered since they are sort of her "Baby" gift, thought they're not for a baby.  Go to her blog to learn more.

Yes, I do have all of these projects going at the same time!!  I don't really work much, so I need something to do--besides posting 3 times a day!! :)

Prayer Monday--4/4/11

This has been a much better Monday than last week, and I'm thankful.  That's all I really have to say.

Praises:
1.  Today has been better than yesterday.  That sounds really generic and cheesy.  These days, it's all I can really ask for.  I'm just glad today isn't a three-steps-back sort of day--I've had a lot of those lately.

2.  The sun is shining, and it is 77 degrees.  I'm sitting on my porch as I type this.

3.  Macy is still in the oven, cooking just like she is supposed to.  Every week she is more viable than the week before.

4.  I am still having trouble sleeping, but my appetite is back.

Prayer Requests:
1.  I continue to ask for God's help through this hard time.

2.  Spencer's allergies are still in full swing.  I pray the yellow pollen will make its exit soon!

3. Let Macy continue to grow and develop the way she is supposed to. Help me to handle the stress on my body, and to have a safe and healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

4.  I would like to find a church.  There are so many options that I am sort of overwhelmed.  I would love for God to point me toward the right one.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

  Thank you so much for this wonderful day today.  I am so thankful that you know exactly what I need and exactly when I need it.  Thank you for giving me strength this week.  Thank you for your grace.  I pray that you will bless all the women who participate in Prayer Monday, even if it is just by reading along.  Please be with us this week.  I lift these requests to you, and pray Your Will be done.  

In Your name,

Amen.

B is for Bargain

I really intended to post this yesterday so I would be caught up today, but that didn't happen.  I had a hard time deciding which B to use.  I thought about Baby, but I put up a post every week dedicated to Baby.  Then I thought Bows because I have started making bows for Macy.  I've only made one, so I figured that wouldn't make a very good post.  Instead, I decided on Bargain, since I found some pretty good ones a couple of weeks ago when I went shopping.

Before it turned into The Worst Day of My Life, March 22 was actually a pretty awesome day, complete with a trip to the discount stores.  I love to shop.  I really love to buy things on sale.  In the town where I live, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's are all in the same strip mall--A-MAZE-ING.  These were some of the Most Excellent Bargains I found at the discount stores.

One of the things I was looking for was a "Labor Ball."  Really, it's just an exercise ball.  But since I'll be taking it to the hospital with me, it will be my Labor Ball.  I found a good one for $10!  Pretty sweet deal.  I didn't take a picture since you all know what an exercise ball looks like.

I was also in need of some black tennis shoes.  I'm allowed to wear tennis shoes with my uniform on account of being so damn pregnant.  BUT they want us to wear black ones so they look more professional.  I can oblige.  I thought they were going to be difficult to find.  To my delight, I found a pair of Reebok Easy Tones for just $40--regularly $80.  AND they even look half-way decent (for black shoes).

Toning Shoe or not, these = most comfortable shoes ever to touch my feet!

The next item on my list was a new purse.  I know *some* of you will judge me for this, but I have never owned a name-brand purse.  Yeah, they are pretty and everything, but I would much sooner spend $300 at Hobby Lobby than spend it at the Coach store. (*gasp* Blasphemy--I know.)  Purses just have never been my thing.  However, I managed to find not one but TWO Tommy Hilfiger purses that I could not live without. They are probably from last season since they were at the discount store, but they are still super cute.

 Big enough to hold my notepads and planner--$20

Nice and compact--$15

I wasn't looking for this, but it goes with the colors for Macy's nursery, so I had to get it.  Plus, it was only $5.

I think those were all of my bargains for the day.  Maybe I'll get around to posting C later tonight.  I guess I could have used this post and gone with C is for Cheap.  

A is for Allergies

Alright, I've decided to join the A-Z blogging fun.  I could use some new activities to keep me busy these days.  I'm playing catch-up, so I'll be posting on Sunday this week too.  Let's do this.

A is for Allergies

I hate allergies.  I have skin allergies.  Ridiculous skin allergies.  I have to buy the dye-free, fragrance-free laundry detergents and such.  God forbid I buy Gain in bulk from Sams--I developed an allergy to it about 1/4 of the way through the bottle.  I'm also allergic to Purex and Snuggle.  Those are just the ones I know for sure.  I don't mess around with laundry detergents anymore.

Even worse than skin allergies are seasonal allergies.  I don't actually have any seasonal allergies, but Spencer, my furry kid, does.  (He also has food allergies.  He eats special food for freaks with sensitive skin and stomachs.)  I had him tested last year for seasonal allergies, and the vet literally came back with a list of A DOZEN things to which he is allergic.  He also came back with the suggestion that I give him allergy shots that start around $300 for the first BATCH.  He would need the shots once a month during the off-season, and every 1-2 weeks during allergy season.  I decided I would just stick with the prescription-strength anti-histamines that only cost me $75 for a 3-month supply.

In hindsight, I should have just spent the damn money for the allergy shots.  My poor dog is miserable.  He is stuck in the Cone of Shame until this crap passes.

He looks so sad!!

Today, I actually had to go buy a bigger Cone.  While I was at work, he managed to get his paw around the Cone and scratch his face.  When I got home, he had blood all over his face.  It looked awful.  He also managed to dig at his front leg until it bled.  So when he was already miserable, itchy, and bleeding, I had to give him a bath.  He looks much better now, and I am working on modifying the new Cone because it is too big for his head.  Fortunately, I just need to punch holes in it and it should fit.  I also picked up some anti-itch shampoo that has hydrocortisone in it, so hopefully that will help.  

I'm just hoping allergy season goes quickly!  I hate seeing him so sad!

You're killin' me right now, Mom!