Too much, too little

It's been a while, I know.

Not that I don't have anything to say. Probably that I have too much to say and can't whittle it down to a coherent post.

Excuses? Probably.

The truth? Yup.

One of those moments

A couple of weeks ago CVC finished a series called "Six Secrets of A Satisfying Marriage." I felt particularly captivated by this series since I am, you know, married.

One weekend Pastor John brought his wife Pam up at the end of his message to share some words. God used her to burn something on my heart. The way your kids talk to your spouse is an excellent indicator of how YOU talk to your spouse. Ouch.

My tongue gets me in trouble at home. I have a temper (which actually may surprise some of you) and I unfortunately have said things to Mark I would love to be able to take back and have needed much forgiveness for. God is hammering away on me in this area.

Mark is so much better at saying positive, affirming, loving things to me in front of Lance and Tyler. The other day at dinner little four and half year old Lance looks at me and says, "You're beautiful, Jeanne." I'll let you guess where he heard that from :)

Go SLTPCA!

What is SLTPCA you ask?

South Lake Tahoe Canine Association - visit their website (that Mark created) at www.sltpca.com

July 10, 11 and 12 SLTPCA hosted the 1st annual South Lake Tahoe Police K-9 Trials. Over 30 agencies from California and Nevada came and competed in:

Narcotics Search - dog teams compete to find hidden narcotics like methamphetamine, cocain, heroin and marijuana

Search Phase - dog teams compete to find a suspect hidden in an object on a field (like a car)

Obedience Phase - Conducted off-lead. Dog teams judged on how well they follow non-verbal commands

Agility Phase - tests the dogs ability to negotiate several obstacles and the handlers ability to lead his dog through the course

Protection Phase - dogs compete in how well they bite! (This is the coolest the watch...)

I am really proud of Mark and the team at South Lake PD. They did an awesome job putting the trials together. I can't wait till next year!

I'm gettin' my domestic on....

Nope.

I'm not talking about being a domestic diva.

I'm talking about gettin' my domestic disturbance on.

In two weeks Mark and I are going to be actors for the Western Nevada Police Academy practical training scenarios.

Part of your training in the Police Academy is being put in training scenarios with live actors that mimic real life calls for service...like domestic disturbances, car stops, etc. So I get to embrace my inner actor and yell at Mark and the "cops" and maybe get arrested or searched or something. How the cadets respond to the scenarios are closely watched by the instructors and they are graded on things like officer safety, knowledge of the law, when to arrest and not to arrest and interaction with the public (actors).

Many of the actors are police officers so they can give the cadets an accurate portrayal of what they will run up against on real calls. And then there are other actors who just happen to be related to a cop and therefore get to join in the fun!

I'll be sure to blog about my experience and let you know how I did! (and if I was the one arrested or not!)

Somthin' to chew on...

Check out Tony Morgan's post about ministry growth. Thought it was cool.

Recipe Site Review

Recently I have been on the lookout for some new recipes to try at home. I've looked on a bunch of different websites...but found one that rises above the rest: www.allrecipes.com

What I really enjoy about this website is the member reviews. When you find a recipe you think looks yummy - read a bunch of the member reviews. They often contain hints for ways to make the recipe better, hints on cooking time and tasty ways to modify the recipe. I'll probably never buy another cookbook again.

I've gotten several really good recipes that my family has enjoyed. Check it out if you are tired of your same old dinner standby's!

Meet Mario.

Our new lizard friend.

TV Rundown

Here's some shows I love right now...

1. Survivor - Mark got me hooked last season. I have no idea why I love to watch them stab each other in the back...but I do.
2. Mythbusters - it taps into my science side without all the boring research school required.
3. COPS - I only watch it to listen to Mark narrate what the cops are actually thinking... :)
4. Wings - gotta love Nick at Nite.
5. The Closer - hands down my favorite show on television. If you get TNT you have gotta check it out. You'll love it as much as I do.
6. Criminal Minds - seriously creepy sometimes. We have to Tivo this one and watch it on a night when Mark doesn't leave me in bed at 4 am.
7. Clean House - I have had thoughts of junking up my house just so I can get a makeover. Sick, I know.
8. Almost anything on HGTV.

Messin' with the template on my blog... I gave up last night when I got really tired. Hopefully I'll have enough energy to finish tonight!

Green Dinosaur?

I had an interesting conversation with Lance this evening. It went a little something like this:

"Jeanne, is that a cross on your shirt?"

"Yup. It sure is."

"Jesus died on the cross but now He's alive. Right?"

"That's right, Lance."

"Where does Jesus live?"

"Jesus lives up in heaven."

"The green dinosaur lives in heaven, too."

And then he walked away. I have no idea who the green dinosaur is. I must admit...I am curious.

Tagged!

Ok, Tina. Here goes!

Got this by email, but thought I'd post it here.. The way the game goes is if you read it, you must post it on your blog... Answer in 4s please..

WHAT WAS I DOING TEN YEARS AGO?

16 years old and getting my driver's license, playing in the band, singing in the choir, NOT paying a mortgage!

WHERE HAVE I LIVED?

Shoreham, Vermont; Washington, IL; Manchester, New Hampshire; Carson City, Nevada

WHAT SNACKS DO I ENJOY?

yogurt and berries, brownies, any little debbie snack cake, vanilla wafers

WHAT JOBS HAVE I HAD?

office cleaner, job coach for disabled adults, junior high history teacher, music director

IF I HAD A BILLION DOLLARS I WOULD?

pay off our house and LANDSCAPE.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY..

laundry, vacuum, weed front yard, clean kitchen and dinner with friends

4 THINGS YOU"D BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT ME

I was the runner up for Prom Queen Senior year of high school, I hate the sound of a bathroom fan, I really want to be a dancer

MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO ARE:

spend time with family, travel, be outdoors

O.K., YOUR TURN...

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Seriously. I am so excited right now I could just pee my pants.

I have had a long and frustrating history with Sprint PCS Wireless. My contract is up on July 5th and we were planning to make our escape then to AT&T (unfortunately having to pay Mark's early termination fee).

We get unbelievably sketchy and stinky cell coverage at our house. AND to top it off the screen on my phone broke so I can no longer use the PDA or see who is calling me. Really frustrating. Especially for someone who likes to know who is on the other end of the phone before she answers.

Cell phone companies make you sign a contract for a reason: They want your money. I totally understand that. But I thought it couldn't hurt to try and reason with them see if they would release me from my contract a little early. So Thursday Mark and I went into the local Sprint store. I pleaded my case. They told me to pound sand.

Ok, I expected that. Mark expected that.

But I still thought I could maybe reason with someone who would take pity. So today I called Sprint Customer Service. After a very rude encounter with the first representative I spoke to I was transfered to Account Services.

I pleaded my case. She actually listened. She tried to sell me a new phone. I thanked her and gently reminded her that a new phone would not solve the issue of coverage at my home. And you know what I found out?? Our home is OUT OF SPRINT COVERAGE.

Ha! I say, Ha! Mark and I are not crazy. We really don't get cell coverage at our home!

It also means that after I fax some documents verifying that we actually do reside at our house we get RELEASED from our Sprint contracts with NO PENALTY.

I know you can't see me right now...but I am doing a very fun and very crazy HAPPY DANCE!!!

This is the best day ever!!!!!!!

Yeah, but...

I have many flaws. Some of them small...some of them not so small.

One big flaw is my tendency to criticize my husband for what he doesn't do instead of appreciating the things that he does. I'll say "thank you" in one breath and add a " but you didn't..." in the next.

Example: Mark is extremely good about taking the full kitchen trash bag out to the trash can. He's not so good about remembering to replace the bag in the kitchen. Yet I am ashamed to admit that more often than not instead of thanking him for taking the trash out I am criticizing him for not replacing the bag.

So I am working on just saying, "Thank you" for taking out the trash and simply replacing the bag myself.

Or he'll do laundry and stop short of folding it. My gut reaction is to be annoyed that he didn't finish the job. But is it really a big deal that I have to fold the clean laundry? He washed it, afterall.

How about, "Thanks for washing the laundry. I appreciate it." And leave it at that.

We are less than a month away from our one year anniversary. The farther we get into marriage the more I realize how important every word I speak to him is. Careless words can wound where careful words can bring life.

How bout it? How often do you affirm or thank the people around you without tacking something you feel they did wrong to the end of it?

The Block has been blocked...

Read this and check out what my cute husband has been up to at work...read the whole article! I'm so proud of him :)

He's back...

I convinced Mark to join the blogging world again. His new blog address is www.warning-humor-ahead.blogspot.com. Check him out! He should be working on it in the days ahead!

Resurrection

Here I am at the end. I'm in need of resurrection.
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead.
What I've lost to the world, what seems far beyond redemption.
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again.

I've been thinking a lot about these lyrics since I first heard them a couple of months ago. Something about them strikes a chord with me.

Probably because I feel as though I too have lost a lot to the world in the last few months.

Time.
Health.
A baby.
Hope.

Trying to navigate the waters of this season have been no easy task. The water is rough and the waves at times, enormous. Hard going when there are days you feel like you are trying to make it in a battered rowboat instead of a cruise ship.

It's easy to try and tell God He's made mistakes in your life when you are trying to bail water out of your dilapidated little boat. "Sure God. Drown me. Super plan." Blame is no doubt the easier way to feel better temporarily. But I heard my pastor say something the other night - He said God will always use two things to grow you to spiritual maturity: suffering and obedience.

Crud.

Suffering and obedience.

The worst part is it doesn't explain anything. It doesn't make it hurt less. It doesn't change my circumstances. It just means that He who began a good work in me will see it through to completion.

Here I am at the end. I'm in need of resurrection.
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead.
What I've lost to the world, what seems far beyond redemption.
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again.

It means what I've lost to the world only God can redeem.

Buffalo Burgers and Grocery Shopping

Because of our schedules, Mark and I NEVER get a full day off together where it is just the two of us. One of us is either working or we have kids.

But not this week! I had the last couple of days off, and at the last minute Mark was able to get them off too. Short of us being out of state together, this was the FIRST time in almost a year of marriage that we'd had one full day off together alone - let alone two in a row! I almost didn't know what to do!

Thursday we decided to make the trek up to Reno to check out the new Cabella's . It's Mark's most favorite store and it was fun to see him excited about finally getting to go. They have a small but really good cafeteria in the store where we decided to eat lunch. They sell all sorts of game like elk sandwhiches, buffalo burgers, etc. I opted for a safe cheeseburger, but Mark ordered the Buffalo Burger. Turns out it doesn't really taste much different than regular beef. After we ate we wandered around the store and took pictures like we were tourists!
It was a blast! Even if you aren't a big hunter/fisherman/outdoorsman it is a cool store to wander around for a while.

Friday we didn't have any big plans other than just getting to hang out together. We went grocery shopping (yippee...) and spent the rest of the day at home. We've been talking for a while about moving the kids to the bigger bedroom and decided it was a good day to do it. It took us almost all day - sorting through junk, moving furniture and cleaning. It still isn't all the way finished but it feels good to have gotten so much accomplished.

The two days were really a gift of time that we are really grateful for!