Fabulous site that will make you giggle!

I found this great website by reading other's blogs:

www.pioneerwoman.com

This website is developed by a lady that lived in Los Angeles as a child, went to college there, then married a cattle ranchman. Crazy life!!! She has great insight into photography, gardening, cooking, and relationships. I thoroughly enjoy the site and I think you will too...it will make you giggle =).

Countdown that will NEVER end!

So, I have had a countdown clock on my myspace page since Christmas time for our vacation to the Caribbean. I swear it doesn't seem to end!!! I know I posted it when I had about ummmm...150 days UNTIL 12 Days of Caribbean bliss, But gee-mi-knee-Christmas, it's still not here. I am just constantly thinking about it and wishing it were tomorrow. We received the condo keys, maps, etc in the mail about a month ago (yes, really early). I have my travel folder set up with our airline information, car rental information, and of course a recipe list. We have our finances down to the penny for the trip. AND we aren't leaving any time soon...the wait is killing me. I am going to send hubby a countdown clock too, so he can go through the same agony as me. =)

Homecoming Celebration!

A dear friend of mine, Garrett, was deployed to Iraq nearly a year ago. It was a shock to us all because he and I sat in our work kitchen talking about "how it will be a while before I get shipped off." The time came the following weekend when he was told he would be deployed in the summer months. At work, we had a mini celebration with breakfast tacos and then another celebration with cake to make sure Garrett knew he would be missed. He left in the May-June time frame of 2007 to go through some training in California and North Carolina, then he was off to Iraq. After he left, his sweet girlfriend, Leah, was left behind (if you will). She had moved in from Louisiana to be with G and now he was leaving her (because he had to). I made sure to always be there for her...when she was crying she would IM and say "I am crying right now." I would always try to make her smile and send me IMs that said LOL. Leah and Garrett's family were sooo very strong during the deployment. While he was in Iraq, it was nervewracking because you just never knew what was going on 100% of the time. He would get on IM and not really communicate that much (we are sure he was told to keep secrets, hehe.) BUT, Leah and the Brazell's made it through the year long deployment. Garrett and his unit returned to Austin safely on Saturday. I was fortunate to be there for his return and it will be something I remember forever. There were newborn babies there that had never met their fathers, fiances that were planning weddings without their men by their side, and lastly family and friends that were overjoyed with the homecoming of their marines. Welcome Home Men! =)

Must be Spring!

When we bought our house 2 years ago, Eric and I promised to grow a HUGE garden. We have accomplished just that this year. Last season, we planted the garden, but we didn't get much out of it. This year we doubled the amount we planted and it's already looking fabulous. We planted everything from tomatoes, basil, mint (chocolate, orange, peppermint and many more), squash, cucumber, all sorts of peppers and the list goes on and on. Not only do we have a veggie garden, we have a rose garden that is blossoming by the day. I love to look out our kitchen window and see my pink roses. The things we get excited about when we are married, hehe. It's a fun hobby that Eric and I both enjoy! Here are some pics:

To complain or not to complain

I have really been paying attention to my complaints lately. Eric has told me that EVERYONE complains too much, including himself. I never have paid attention to this because #1 I like listening to complaints and #2 I love to complain, well ladies and gents, I am attempting to lower my complaint count. I really really think this is going to be a hard task ESPECIALLY because I dislike my job ever so much. I am going to be positive (think oh well, I am supposed to be here for some reason). I am going to be happy with myself and my situations. We shall see how it turns out! =)

Dear Friends...

One of my dear friends here at work is going through a tragedy, in which the majority of people can never say they have been through...suicide. His father's bff from college to today decided to take his own life. It's been all over the news here in Austin because he was found floating in Town Lake. At the first glimpse of pictures and reports, it seemed it would be investigated as a homicide because of duct tape on the body, BUT after investigating the evidence it's unfortunate to report it as suicide. K continues to say, why, how, it doesn't make sense, it hurts, I feel bad for his family, he left so much behind...all of this is true. No one understands suicide and no one will unless you are the individual contemplating. I have dealt with suicide due to my brother's friends taking their own lives. It's hard, yes. It's indescribable, yes. It hurts, yes. And there is no answer that can solve these mysteries. The only thing one can do is realize people hurt in soo many different ways. People show their feelings in multiple ways through anger, through criticism, through drugs, through alcohol. When someone is crying out, take a moment out of your life and let them know they are loved, let them know you are there, and last, open your heart to listen.

Inspiration!

Author~Unknown.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else; the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all yourtime and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. "I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend."

Be the Voice!

I have been saying this a lot lately. I have been telling friends, family and coworkers to speak out and say what you want to say. At my place of employment, people are very unhappy, the morale is down and no one is doing much about the whole situation. I am called "The mother of Engineering" because everyone seems to tell me how they feel (I am sure so I will go tell my boss). Well, I did just that...I had a sit down come to Jesus meeting with my boss a couple of weeks ago for 3 hours. I layed it out on the table and told him how I felt (actually being the VOICE for everyone's feelings). Then our President gave a lovely speech about "not caring, blah blah blah" on Friday. I guess a lot of people took this speech to heart and felt disturbed that the leader of the company would make such remarks. Well, my boss had a follow-up meeting yesterday to reassure his department that the President didn't mean anything negative...we all laughed. My boss attempted to show us his care and loyalty, but did it work...we will not know until the 14th employee quits this week...

Scrapbooking...on the internet

Do you love pictures? Do you love the internet? Well, put them together and have fun: http://www.scrapblog.com/

Cannot Wait!

Eric and I are going on vacation in no time and I CANNOT WAIT!!! I have been repeating our plans and adventures over and over and over again. It's quite funny! We sit down for dinner at our little table and I am ready to discuss not only our days, but our future (VACATION future). I am not worried about what happened at work (well, I am in a sense) and I really don't care how much I hate my job...I just want to get to the beach. I think Eric has our itinerary memorized at this point...ok we leave then, we get there at this time, we are going to do this and that, blah, blah. Well, needless to say...I CANNOT WAIT for our 12 day adventure.