Still Here...

The last few days have been pretty uneventful. Sunday night Stacy, Eric and baby Landen came over Sunday evening for dinner and visiting. We had chicken parmasean, salad, breadsticks, and cake for dessert. Stacy and I enjoyed some good red wine and chatted. It was really nice to play with baby.

I was looking into my blog archives tonight and realized that I have been blogging for awhile now. I realize I only have 2 readers... (Jill & Kelli) but I am finding this to be a great outlet to express feelings and frusterations. Although you may not want to hear them all, it's still nice to have an outlet where you can let it all fly. So, thanks for reading and commenting (although no one has commented in awhile....)

Gary and I just got back from our evening walk, so no I am going to settle in, and watch "American Idol" and "America's Next Top Model" Have a good night!

"Regulate'n"

The weekend is finally upon us. Saturday, Gary and I ran to Lowe's looked at everything that there is to look at Lowes. We bought a lanscaping magazine for all the wild landscaping ideas I have bouncing around in my head, and then we bought some potting soil...Fun, wild crazy stuff, I know. Anyway, we then stopped for lunch and headed home. Gary then got a wild hair up his you-know-what and ran 5miles. Gary is going to be running in the "Race for the Cure" at the end of April, so he is training now.

After our crazy day (not really) Gary and I were asked by a co worker of Gary's to help chaperone her daughters 16th birthday party. Now, I was thinking party, not a big deal...right?....wrong. We got our invitations, and formal wear was requested, and just not in any color, it had to be black or white. Once we got to the party, there was a DJ, bar tender (non alcoholic drinks of course) and the dinner was fully catered. After all 86 teenagers ate, they got on the dance floor...my, oh my... it was dry hump'n central.. Gary and I were laughing, as were maintaining the crowd. Gary and I were out dancing in the middle of the crowd, just to let them know that there were some adults watching. All, in all, it was a great time, and in all actuality the kids behaved themselves.

Today is blessed Sunday, and the plan is to do some cleaning and relax. Gary is cleaning the laundry room as we speak. Gary likes to get on these kicks and tear a room a part and clean and then he puts it all back together...although he has a bad habit of throwing things away...things that I don't want thrown away... auuuggh! men!

Anyway, I hope that everyone has a great rest of the weekend...it's back to work tomorrow.

484 and counting...

Yep, only 484 more hours and I will be a full time employee, and not just a temp. The last few days have been good. It's so good to get up in the morning and go to work.. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. And, I feel this work is important work. I just can't explain to everyone how at peace I feel with everything right now. I know everyone is probably tired of hearing me go on and on, and I do apolojize and I thank everyone for listening....However, with the doors opening up job wise, it's like a piece of the puzzle that has finally been put into place.

On a different note, this cold is kick'n my butt! I am tired, and my sinus's are going to explode! But don't worry (kelli, you didn't give this to me.) I will come through it, I am just going to take it easy this week.


I hope everyone is doing well... blog at ya all later..

Work'n Nine to Five

Actually it's 8-5 but it was good to be back in the groove of things. Finally after almost of seven months working here and there, it was almost nice to get up to an alarm this morning. I know that give me a few yrs, and it will loose it uniqueness, but getting paychecks will never get old.

As many of you know, I started working at a place called "Maximus." They do contract work for the state. I am working in the department that does work for the Michigan Department of Community Health. I am excited because the office area is small (like 50 people) and the people were very, very nice. Everyone is nice, and helpful and there is much room for advancement .... it's mine for the taking. Our supervisor even mentioned bonus's today, which was brought up during the interview, but in my mind I was thinking "yeah, right bonus's." I just thought it was part of a ploy to get aboard. But when everyone was talking about them, I thought "well, maybe they do really happen." It just seemed comfortable today. It's an answer to prayer!

Lately I have been so sick! I don't know what is wrong. I have been coughing, sneezing and just feeling horrible. I have congestion and achy all over. Thank goodness for cold meds! I hope this doesn't last too much longer, because I am keeping Gary up, coughing and blowing my nose!....AAUUUGHHH!

Well, I think I am going to take some cold meds and lay down..

Reflections.....

As many of know, I turned 31 on Saturday. To put my age in perspective, it's really not that old, however thinking back to when I was 21, many things have changed.

Such as, my weight. I use to be able to eat all day long and not really see any weight gain. Now, I look at food and I put on 10 lbs.. at least! When I was 21, I use to be able to stay up all night, and work all day the following day. Now, if I don't get a good 7hrs of sleep, you can forget it! When I was 21, things like 401k, and "benefit packages" really didn't matter too much to me. Now that I am 31, I can't be without them. When I was 21, I worked to have just enough money to have a good time. Now, I have to make enough money to pay bills, and have a good time. When I was 21, I didn't really understand what was important in life, and although I may not understand it completely yet at 31, I am at least headed in the right direction. At 21, I didn't have the love of my life and best friend, now that I am 31, Gary is in my life. I have a wonderful joy knowing that Gary and I have a bright future!

Although 31 is getting closer to the "middle aged" bracket, I am glad to be where I am today. I have a lot to look forward to, and a wondeful man to share it with!

I am amazed

Do you ever sit back and think why am I here on this earth? I have pondered this question for many yrs. However, the past few months, God has seemed to answer this question for me.

I have found God has put me on this earth to perform such wonderful tasks, and He has blessed me with all the talents to do it. He has seen fit that children are not a part of this plan at this time.. for that I am so thankful. You say, thankful for infertility?? And I say "Yes!" Gary and I have been given time together to work together on figuring out why we are on this earth, and to do it. There are many people that were never given that oppurtunity. Gary and I have been brought together and been given the job of comforting and blessing people. Gary and I seek out the need of people and meet it. If they need a sister, I become a sister. If they need a place a comforting place to stay, we welcome them with open arms and treat them as royality. If they need a family, and don't have anywhere to go on the holidays, we call them family and they are welcomed to share time with us. This is Gary and I 's calling. This is why were put on this earth. To bless. Not to attend church (not that going to church is bad, it's actually very good) and go through the motions...Gary and I are to bless... And through blessing people, we become blessed.

You know what's funny? Gary and I don't ever look at this as a job. We love to have people over. We are known around these parts for our summer patio parties. Not a weekend goes by that we don't have someone extra out on our patio. It's been a joy to have people that are tired, overwhelmed and just worn out from life come to our summer parties and kick back and relax.. It gives us joy as people unwind, and are able to push aside life's worries.

I am very thankful for the job God has given us, and for all the talents and blessings He has given us to do the job.

HIRED!....Well, for the most part...

Yes, you heard me right! I had my interview, and got the blessed call this morning. I am hired! Well, almost. It's a temp to hire position, so I will work for 500 hrs and then I will be hired full time. It sounds like an interesting job, because the company does contract work for the State and federal governments. Also pay wise, once I am hired full time, I will be making more than I was at Auto-Owners with quarterly bonuses. I am hoping and praying this all works out for me. It's very interesting work, and for an up and coming company in our community. I am so thankful for this new position.

Good Times

Another fun weekend has come and gone. This weekend my friends Jill and Kelli came down. Jill came Friday night around 6pm and then Kelli came Saturday morning around 11am. We then traveled to the fun town of Grand Ledge and went to the store " About the Home." This store is my favorite place to be. It sells beautiful things and is just a great place to be. After "About the home" we went to a little cafe' for lunch. After our lunch, and almost running out of gas, we ventured up to the Eastwood Towne centre and did some shopping. After our shopping we went back to my house and relaxed. In the evening, we then went to Bravo's for some yummy Italian food.. I stuffed myself silly!! All in all, it was a great weekend, and it was nice to see the ladies.

Today I had my interview. My interview was with a company called "Maximus." They do contract work with the state. I felt the interview went went well, and it looked like it would be a great place to work. It seems to have some great opportunities for advancement and the monetary end of it would be great. One of the other great things of this job, is that it is temp to hire, so if I didn't like the job, I could keep looking for something else. So please pray that this works out for me...

Tonight Gary and I just relaxing...... We are watching " Deal or no Deal" Gary and I seem to find ourselves yelling at the TV... it's really pathetic. Anyways, have a good night.

An Interview

I am so excited! I just got off the phone with Sue from Career Quest... I have an interview!! I am very happy about it! It's Monday, so I have a little time to prepare mentally. My interview is with a company called Maximus. They are a consulting company with the government. I would be doing research along with some data entry. This position is temp to hire, so it will be nice because then I will know if I really like the job. So, for those of you who are prayers, please pray that the interview will go well, and I will have this job.

On a different note, I have been cleaning like a son of a gun! My next step is to clean the laundry room and family room....it's really sad that I have to clean the laundry room, but it gets kinda nasty because that's were the cats have their litter box... Lovely! At any rate, I hope everyone has a good night, and a good weekend just in case I don't blog ...JILL AND KELLI are coming!

Spring Cleaning!

Since the sun was shining, and the temp was around the fifty degree mark, oh, and my house was just plain gross, I decided to get my butt in gear and do some spring cleaning. I started in the living room moved all the furniture, cleaned the wood floors and mop boards. I even locked the cats in the basement for the day. I don't think that they were impressed, but I really don't care. It's crazy how I can spend all day cleaning and still have more to do. What a feel though, having a sparkling house! It hasn't sparkled in awhile.

I am looking forward to my weekend, Gary is going to guards, and Kelli and Jill are coming for the weekend. Jill is coming Friday night, and Kelli is coming Saturday morning. We are going to hit some cute little shoppes, eat lunch, sit in a cafe and chat... who knows.. it will be nice!

It's four o'clock and Gary will be home in 45 mins and I have ton to go! Talk to ya later!

Jen & Gary

Turning Over a New Leaf

The sun is shining, and the weather is getting warmer.. spring is in the air! ( I hope) Therefore, I decided it was time for a new look for my blog.. what do ya think? It looks fresh and happen'n. I am so ready for some warm weather. I have decided that I am planting roses in my back yard this year and have been doing some research on it... it should be fun! Also, my guest bedroom is looking pretty good and I am getting excited about it!

This weekend, Gary has guards and my girlfriends are coming down! I am hoping to take them so some fun little shoppes, and have a relaxing time not dominated by time restraints. It should be a good time.

Well, I better get back to work!

Nothing New

I would love to come to my "blogging Session" and tell you something new and exciting, but there really is not too much going on. However, we did get Microsoft Office which is nice since I am taking a Microsoft office class.. however, Excel still sucks. Anyway, yesterday, I cleaned, and washed some rugs and chair cushions and went with my sister to her hair appointment. Today I got up and did a few misc. items, ran to the bank and then stopped in and saw Stacy's new baby.. he is soo cute! It's amazing how much babies change on a daily basis. Anyway now I am sitting here doing my homework for class, but I am going to finish it tomorrow when the house is quiet. I came into the office awhile ago, but now that I am in here, I have a cat laying in front of the monitor, Coco on the floor and Gary is working out on the eliptical watching TV very loudly.. AAUUUGGH! I think I am going to paint..