I Hate It When...

I just need to get a few things off my chest. Here goes:

I hate it when I go into a home improvement store with a project in mind thinking I either know what I need or I'll know it when I see it, only to become so confused and indecisive that I leave with nothing I originally came for.

I hate it when I choose to leave my rain coat in the car even though there's a thunderstorm warning in effect and it starts to pour down rain while I'm inside said home improvement store.

I hate it when paint looks really good on the little card; but the minute the man mixes it, I know it's not the color I need.

I hate it when BigJoel is in another country, another hemisphere even, and I can't call him at every whim--like to ask his opinion on the bad paint color or just to hear his voice and tell him I love him.

I hate it when they have forty varieties of feta cheese at the grocery store, but the only reduced fat version is in block form--not crumbles.

Ok, I think I may have gone a little too far with that last one, and I especially hate it when people complain all. the. time.  So here are some things I love:

I love it when my lesson plan takes a detour because I'm having an interesting, intelligent discussion with my students and I'm reminded of why I enjoy teaching.

I love it when I have a standing lunch date with a good friend every Tuesday.  She always makes my day.

I love it when I go into a store looking for one thing and find an unexpected bargain.

These darling lamp shades were just $.71 each! I don't even really need new lamp shades; but at $4.61 for six of them, I couldn't pass it up.

I love it when I find a new favorite snack that is virtually guilt-free, but so yummy.

A Claussen pickle spear with a few tiny crumbles of goat cheese wrapped in two thin slices of deli roast beef--wowsers!

I love it when I have just a few minutes to sit in my quiet house and listen to the rain outside.

I love it when a necklace and a shirt go together perfectly even though I bought them at different times.

And, even though I'm jealous, I love it that BigJoel is getting to see a wonderful place that I've always wanted to go...
because I also love it when he tells me stories about the places he's gone, the people he's met and the things he's seen.

Most of all, I love it that my blessings (even small ones) far outweigh the things I complain about.  Always.

I realize that every time I blog now, I'm having to begin with, "So, I haven't blogged in a while..."  So, how 'bout we just skip that part.  I'll just post a few highlights since last time and maybe I'll be more consistent from here on out...or maybe not.  Probably not.


Anyway, here's a little about what's been going on the past 5 months...

January

In January, Hallie and I did the JiggleButt Run 5K.  She was actually just planning to do the 1 Mile Fun Run; but everyone else wimped out me, so I made her do the 'big race' with me.  She wasn't happy about it, but we both made it to the end so we'll call it a success.

Also, all Hallie wanted for her birthday was to see her friend Brianna...which is easier said than done, since Bri lives in Mississippi now.  So we loaded up and drove and drove and drove.  It was great to see our friends and we even got to spend a little time at the beach.

And the only OTHER thing Hallie wanted for her birthday was a guinea pig.  So after three years of persuading, we agreed and welcomed Cupcake into our family.

December

In December, BigJoel and I went on an anniversary trip to New Orleans.  It's where we went on our honeymoon twenty years ago.  So much fun!

November

In November, BigJoel and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  I cannot believe how the time has flown.  I still love that guy like crazy.

October

In October, we went to a concert at House of Blues and even sprang for reserved seats instead of standing room.  My streak of sitting behind tall people continues... 

The show was still probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.  JohnMark McMillan, Gungor, Chris August and David Crowder Band.

BigJoel and I spent a day at the Mecum Auto Auction.  It was really a lot of fun.  He makes everything fun.  I just love that guy.

Finally, we went to see NeedtoBreathe in concert at Cowboys Stadium...oh, and Taylor Swift was there, too.

September

In September, we went camping at Beaver's Bend with Elizabeth, Mr. Gary and Mrs. Cheryl.  Know why this picture is blurry?  Because it's so dang humid that the lens fogged up.  How's that for fall in Oklahoma?  Oh well, we had a blast anyways.