Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009....

So New Years has come again. It seems like 2008 just arrived, and now it soon will be 12 months ago! Life is passing so fast. I feel very fortunate with where I am in my life today. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family, good friends, a job, a roof over my head, food to eat, and the list goes on and on!

I am so thankful for my husband who is so good to me, and treats me so wonderful. The other day him and I were talking about how when he was younger he used to wax his bike, and wash his play cars after he was done playing with them, we kind of laughed about it, but then I thought seriously, and I told him "you know you really do have a record for taking care of the things you love, including me." It was a tender little moment, and he squeezed my hand lovingly. It may sound kind of sappy, but I just love him so much, and I am so proud of him. I thank God that I have him as my partner.


I am thinking of things that I'd like to do in 2009.

* Look into volunteering at a Nursing Home
* Try more recipes
* Read my Bible more frequently
* Eat more healthy
* Take an Art class
* Have people over ( I always get so nervous to host for company, even though I love people!)
* Sew more
* Crochet more blankets
* Continue to be aware of my blessings, and treat everyone the best that I can.

There is so much more I'd like to do, these are just some. Sometimes it is hard to admit what I want to do more, because sometimes it doesn't always happen..but I can try.

I hope that everyone has a safe, and Happy New Year...may all your dreams come true in 2009!!

The Reason For The Season

Matthew 1:18,21
The Birth of Jesus Christ
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. … She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."


I love Christmas. I love all the LOVE I feel in my heart in December. The little baby Jesus, so precious was born to carry out his greatest gift to the people of the world. God sent his one and only son, to die for us on the cross so that we could have everlasting life. How amazing that is....and I am so thankful. Thankful that with all my downfalls, God is always there to pick me up...though I don't deserve it. God the Father, Jesus the Son, And the Holy Spirit, the trinity of everlasting love and hope is forever with us...all we have to do is walk with HIM.

If one were to look at the world today, and only focus on the things of man... we would really be in trouble. Jesus knocks on our hearts everyday in someway. Have Faith in Jesus, not just on Christmas...but everyday. I know and believe that his plan will be the very best plan for me.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and I hope you know how very much Jesus loves YOU!

Christmas Ornaments

Friday evening, after work I went to a cookie exchange party that my friend Linda invited me to. It was a fun little party, good finger foods were served, tasteful drinks, and good conversation. Upon leaving Linda, the hostess with the mostess (she is always a wonderful, thoughtful host) gave each of us a beautiful ornament to take home. It was so thoughtful, and sweet. Her generous little gift got me thinking how special Christmas ornaments really are.

Our Christmas tree was given to us by a good friend Char. It really is a beautiful tree, and everyone always thinks it is real. My mom gave me most of our Christmas ornaments. Pretty much all of them, that in itself makes them special. In the last three years that we have been married I have accumalated some new ones. I love to look at the Christmas tree, at night when the lights are twinkling, and this year I have been so in love with my tree.

This lovely ornament is the one Linda gave me on Friday night.

I think it is so pretty, and every year when I put up the tree, and pull out this ornament, I will always remember the moment Linda gave it to me. It came in a beautiful box.
Some of my other favorites are my beautiful cat ornaments from my mother in law.

The ornaments represent my love for cats, and really personalize the tree... I really need to search for some doggie ornaments too. I also have a cute cat ornament that my aunt Lucy gave to me. You push the stomach,and it plays "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" only instead of words, it meows.


Another favorite ornament is a little grey mouse that my mom painted a long time ago. It is so cute, and my favorite part is his little glittery brim on his hat.


I think that I am really going to start giving ornaments as gifts... they are really such a nice gift, and they never lose their charm. I am so in the Christmas spirit. As I end this post I am lovingly gazing at my beautiful lit tree, that is adorned with the most special ornaments...sigh.

Being A Pleaser

Sometimes I get so tired of trying to please people. Always trying to say the right thing, do the right thing, act the right way, be the right way! I know that God made who I am. Don't get me wrong. I really do care about people's feelings, I care that I am polite to people, that I am nice, and sincere to people. It makes me happy to make people feel comfortable, to have them know that I care. What messes me up though is, the way people can be in return. Sometimes I feel like I spend so much time trying to please people, that I forget the ultimate one I need to please...God. Sometimes while I am pleasing other people, I am so unpleasing to God. That makes me really sad. I know in my heart that my gifts that God gave to me are unique, and I know that he is proud when I reach out to people, and treat them the way he wants me to... I need to remember that. I just get really fed up sometimes.... so I guess you can tell that I am a little upset. It is just that for all the trying to please people, those very same people can just turn around and not even give a second thought to caring about my feelings. I'd rather not pin point the reasons for my sudden revelation...just it feels good to write about it, vent, express, gripe, complain. Yes I am feeling a little better. Most people are wonderful... I mean I do not claim to be perfect. In fact I know there are a lot of things about me that drive people nuts. I am indecisive, say I am sorry for everything, clumsy, somewhat unorganized, very sensitive and so on.I know you want to know who these people are...but I'll never tell...I mean it could hurt their feelings. :)

Where Does The Time Go?....

Tonight is the last night of my vacation! Time flies when your having fun. I am kind of anxious to get back to work, just because I feel like I have been gone awhile, and it will be good to take of things that need taking care of.

Thanksgiving was so nice. We had a great time at my mother-in law's house, lots of good food, and good company. My mom was there, and she had a lot of fun.

It is crazy how life changes from year to year though. I think about when I was younger and my whole family was together for the Holiday's. Everything seemed to change after my Grandma died. It was as if she was the glue that held her family together, and when she died we slowly came apart. This is not to say that we don't love each other, just that she was the meeting point for all of us. Everyone wanted to be with her, therefore we all were together. It all is so different now. Of course it is all part of growing up too. Everyone has their own lives. And that I guess is life.

Today I put the Christmas tree up, it looks pretty. It seems like just yesterday that I was putting the tree up. Cory put lights and Luminarias up outside, it looks very nice, and Christmasey....




So tomorrow Monday, I will be back to answering phones, making copies, entering data, ordering supplies, taking notes, organizing requests and so on... but you know that is fine with me, because that means that I have a job, and I am so thankful for that.

So Vacation thank you for the good times you provided. Thank you for the relaxation you provided, thank you for the mornings we got to sleep in, thank you for the time you gave us to make some memories. We will be anxiously awaiting your service in late December when we get to have some more time off. Thanks again! :)

Home Again

So we had our great trip to Denver. The trip we anxiously waited for, the trip we really needed, the trip that now is a memory. We had a lot of fun. The Bronco's did not win, but it was great anyway. The weather was great about 59 degrees... and though it did get a little chilly during the game, it was nothing gloves and a scarf couldn't help. I saw my cousin's Esequiel and Nicholas. Nicholas is so cute, and I just love him.



We got to eat at the ESPN Zone, which was really cool. The place has a ton of arcade games there. We spent a good couple of hours playing air hockey, basketball, and race car driving. We also went to Bubba Gump Shrimp in the evening after the game. It was pretty good, although I am not one for seafood, but I toughed it out because Cory has always wanted to eat there.

We roamed around Denver downtown, and it was really hopping. People everywhere, horse drawn carriages, people playing instruments on the sidewalks, just a lot of activity. I can just imagine what it would be like in New York City. We also got to go to the Outlet Mall in Castlerock, which was very cool. I wish we had outlets like that here. We stayed at the Hyatt, and it was very nice. We were on the 30th floor.


I was happy to get back home too though. There really is no place like home. It was nice to be able to snuggle Ginger, after being away. Our dogs stayed with my brother in-law, Casey. They too had an adventure. They got lost, but found...which is all that matters, and I am so happy to have them back at our home where they belong. It has been nice to be off from work, and we are just enjoying spending time together.


Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We will be going to Cory's parents house. My mom is coming too, and I am so happy. David has to work :( Cory was in charge of making a Pumpkin pie from scratch...it looks great. This Thanksgiving I will be thanking God for my wonderful family, and friends. I thank him for giving me a family to spend Thanksgiving with, for having food to eat. I will be thinking, and praying for people who don't have this, for people who are suffering. I am so thankful for all my blessings. God is so good.

She's Having A Baby....

I am so excited because my cousin's Donovan & Kiera are having a baby. There is a bun in the oven, and the stork is flying around their house. I am so happy for them. I just know this sweet baby is already such a blessing.

The baby is a boy. I imagine him to have Kiera's nose, Don's eyes, Brown hair, and soft, soft cream skin. I imagine this little baby to be sensitive like his dad, and strong willed like his mother. I imagine him to bring so much joy in his mother, and father's life, that they will wonder how they ever lived without him. I imagine him to be the best of Kiera, and Don, and I imagine him to help them see that he wouldn't be... without the love that made him.

God please continue to take care of this mommy, carrying this precious cargo. Take that ache in her back, and turn it into gentle baby kicks. Thank you for your protection and love over this innocent life.

I am excited to meet this baby, to hold him, and kiss his soft cheek. Little baby, I hope you like me... because I will love you.

Music

I really love music, all kinds too. Christian music helps me to really connect with God. Singers like Jeremy Camp, Point of Grace, or Darlene Zcheck just have such beautiful songs that praise God. So many times I will be driving in my car listening to these singers, and I will literally start crying because their words touch my heart so much. Jeremy Camp is so awesome. First I was attracted to his voice, and his songs are so beautiful.He is like the Nickel Back, of Christian music. Because I was loving his songs so much I googled him, I wanted to know more about him. In Wikipedia I read about his life. Wow, what an inspiration he is. He is an awesome man of God. He got married at the age of 21 to a beautiful girl, Melissa Camp. Melissa had ovarian cancer. Jeremy fell in love with her because of her devotion and love to Christ. He first spotted her at a concert he was performing, her hands raised high praising God. He knew she had cancer, but told the Lord that if she told him she loved him, he would ask her to marry him. She did, and they got married. She died not even a year later. Jeremy's faith is evident in his life, and his music, and he inspires me to love the Lord with all my heart, and to try my best to do what God wants me to do. God is using him to witness to people about the love of our Savior.

Music is empowering. It helps people workout better, clean house better, music can lure a crying baby to sleep, help a grieving heart cry. And like I said above you can connect with God, who is responsible for the gift by the way. Music is beautiful. Actually people have teased me before because ever since I was younger I was always listening to Better Midler, Atlantic Star, Whitney Houston, Chicago, Celine Dion... I guess you could say I am a romantic at heart. I loved to imagine myself on a big stage, while people watched me dance to Bette Midler'a song "From A Distance...you look like my friend, even though we are at war..." Or I would bust out to Whitney Houston's " I wanna dance with somebody" I mean just now even writing this I am bobbing my shoulders.

Then there is Country music. I love singers like Reba, Brad Paisely, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland and so many more. Country songs always have a way of telling a story. Like the song, I can't think of the singer but it is called " I loved her first" and it is about a father and how he is telling the man that is going to marry his daughter that he loved her first, held her first, and a part of his heart will always be hers. I just love those kinds of songs, because they make people stop and think, stop and realize that in this life these are the scenarios that we live.

I am a firm believer that God has a plan for us. Every single one of us has a story, amd our path is not just an ordinary life to God. We are his children, and we matter to him, he loves us individually for who he made us to be. With that said.. he made certain people love music. Some people have a gift to sing or actually play an instrument. I have the desire to listen to the music, feel the music, and appreciate the music. And I do. I really, really do.

Almost Vacation Time

I am so excited, because after this week of work I will be off next week! Yae. Cory and I have not taken a full week off since our honeymoon. We are going to go to a Denver Bronco game. The game is on Sunday, but we are leaving early on Saturday morning, we are going to take our time and just enjoy the drive. Road trip here we come. I am looking forward to just making some memories, and spending time with my babe. I just found out that my cousin Esequiel, and my little cuz Nicholas are going to go to the game too. Pretty cool. I hope we can meet up. I can't wait! The last time I went to Denver for a game we literally froze our butts off. First it rained....a lot, and then it snowed. I had a new leather jacket that Cory had just given me, and it was never the same after the rain turned to slush all over it. Now that was cold! But it was still fun, even though the Bronco's lost. I hope they win this time. I will update all about it when we return.
Here is a pic of Cory and his dad when they went to a Cowboy vs. Packers game

Super Chicken Soup Recipe

Tonight I made homemade chicken soup. Recipe courtesy of Pat Duran. I must say it is a delicious soup. Good for cold days, sick days, or just plain 'ol need a hug comfort day. I like it so much I thought I'd post it here.

What You Will Need:
3-4 Chicken Breasts
1 pkg of Bacon
1 yellow onion
3-4 celery stalks
1 cup of White Long Grain Rice
salt

In a good sized pot fill with water half full if you like lots of broth, less if not
Begin boiling water, Once water is boiling add chicken breasts to water
Cut bacon into small cubes, fry in large frying pan.
While bacon is frying chop onion very small. I use about a third of a regular yellow onion. Chop celery into small pieces.
Once bacon is fried crispy, add onion and celery to frying pan, simmer until onion,and celery appear somewhat translucent. When this is done drain excess fat, and set aside.
Take fully cooked chicken breasts out of boiling water, and shred with two forks. When done add chicken back to pot with original water. Add bacon,celery and onion mixture to pot. Add about a tablespoon of salt. Add 1 cup of long grain white rice. Let soup boil. Keep checking, you will be able to tell when the rice is cooked. Taste, add more salt if needed, I always add more as I taste. Serve with crackers, and enjoy!

Veteran's Day

So today I was off from work, because it is a Holiday. A very special Holiday. Veteran's Day. How often do we stop and say thank you to a solider? A solider who has a mother, a father, perhaps a brother or a sister? He/She has grandparents, and uncles, and aunts, and cousins. Maybe he/she has a wife/husband, or precious children. This solider has a multitude of people who love him/her, and he is sacrificing. Sacrificing for America, for the American people. Dear Solider, I say thank you. Thank you for putting yourself on the line for my freedom. Thank you for being brave, and strong. I appreciate it. Thank you God for America's soliders.

Weekend Update

So this weekend was good...pretty much like every weekend it went fast! Friday evening we didn't do much, just relaxed... I spent way too much time on line, and actually created this blog. Saturday morning we woke up, went to eat breakfest at Cracker Barrel, then we came home, and I did what any wife would do... I cleaned. In the evening we went to dinner with our good friends Chad and Linda. We had a lot fun. It was a cool place called Vernon's... my first time there. It dosen't look like a resturant from the outside, just like a store. You walk in to what looks like a liquor store, and there is this door.. you knock three times and a little window on the door opens and you have to say "Joe sent me" the door opens, and you walk into a very nice resturant. It was very good, although a little pricey. All in all a fun expierence. Then Sunday morning we woke up early had some much needed coffee, went to church which was very nice. Then we surprised visited my brother in law and hung out with him for the rest of the afternoon. So now I am snuggled in my pj's, while my precious cat Ginger is snoozing next to me, and hubby Cory is watching the game, rooting fro the Eagles, because their win would mean his win on his football pool. Heck he wins... I win too! So I guess this counts for a post, although not too interesting. Ohwell...until next time. Oh here is a pic of Linda and I at Vernon's. Also here is the group picture, I was going for the cross eyed look. I hope the pictures post right..if not sorry! Goodnight!

So This Is What It's Like To Blog??

I have often kept journals, filled with thoughts, poems, doodles, you name it. Since I came into the world of reading blogs, I became somewhat addicted. I love reading about people. People that are just like anyone else...living life, chasing dreams, mending broken hearts, hoping for friendship, reaching out to other people. Today I got an email from my dear friend/cousin Kiera that said she ventured out and got herself a blog... I thought what are you waiting for. So I created this blog. Now I don't claim that it will be interesting to anyone, but I love the idea of having a place to ramble about my world.



I am married to my bestfriend.... I am not just saying that ...Mr. Cory Dupuy really and truly is my bestfriend. I just know that God brought us together, and I am so thankful for this man who loves me for me. Cory and I love to hang out together, and that is a good thing since we are married. Just like any marriage we have our little squabbles, but at the end of the day we always know that we are a team. Currently our kids are our pets. We would love to have children. We believe that God will bless us in his time, and that is fine with me, because I am not sure I am totally ready. What a job motherhood is... so a shout out to all you mamas out there...you rock!



I grew up as an only child raised by a loving mom. I was also very close to my dear grandma Mayme. I could never say enough good things about my grandma. In a lot of ways her love is what makes up a lot of me. She was an absolute inspiration, and I am so grateful to have had her in my life. She passed on, and is now in paradise. I can't wait to see her again one day.



Right now presently I had a friend pass away from cancer. She was 28 years old. leaving behind her husband and little boy. Her passing has been difficult as I followed her journey from 2005 to 2008 on her carepage website. She was a most remarkable person who guided me by example. She was ever faithful and trusting in the Lord until the very end, and I will be forever changed because of her life. My own cousin Erica passed away 7 years ago from cancer, also leaving behind her husband and young son. She was also a wonderful person.



Stories like these always force me to step back and look at my life. We are not promised tomorrow, so we should make the best of today. We should Thank God for our blessings, for the chance we have to make what we do today count. I am learning that we are always an example to someone else. So whoever, if anyone stops to read this blog.... I hope you like what you see.



So I guess that is the end of my first post... if anyone wants to read about Tara go to http://www.carepages.com/ register and her password is healedbyhisstripes It is an incredible story.