Is it really only Tuesday??

So far I have managed to...

Rip a pair of pants {I will NOT go in to detail on this}

Mend said pants {First time for everything- the seem was pretty straight and I only poked myself once! Well, several times, but only once that bleed.}

Missed my mouth while drinking a piping hot green tea latte and pretty much dumped the whole thing in my lap {grrrr}

Get paint on that same pair of pants {not sure how to explain this either...}

Luckily the paint was water based and pants are safe once again

As if these poor pants hadn't been through enough...

I forgot to take them out of the washer and I tossed in my towels :-(

I then put the towels and the pants in the dryer...

I am now lint rolling this sad pair of pants and thinking of tossing them in the trash!

I feel like Desmond trying to save Charlie.

The End.

Hey Y'all!

You know I dislike Mondays...{Remember that time that I thought I had a brilliant idea and then it tanked} Anyway, this Monday is full of bad. Will had to leave again, it is rainy and nasty out and the overall mood in my office ranks somewhere in between "cranky" and "full-on grumpy". In an attempt to turn my frown upside down I am turning my focus to happier thoughts...

1. I am only working 4 days this week and 3 days next week.

2. My lovely sister will be here on THURSDAY!

3. I am having vision correction surgery {it’s like Lasik but different} on FRIDAY!

4. Last but certainly not least...I have the honor of giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate to The Vintage Pearl!! I am totally in love with this charming site!

So inventive, original and uniquely beautiful!

Take a look for your self...

My very favorite is the Heart and Circle! I will be ordering it very soon!!

So here is how this is gonna go down...

For one entry- Visit the very talented Erin at http://thevintagepearl.blogspot.com/ and become a follower

For a second entry- Visit http://www.thevintagepearl.com/ and let me know which piece is your favorite

For a third entry- You must video yourself doing a somersault followed by 3 back flips...No? Ok...Just become a follower of my little blog!

Leave a comment letting me know what you did so that I can enter you the right number of times!

Comments must be in by 8:00 pm {EST} on Thursday, April 1^st {no…I’m not joking!}

I will announce the winner that same night!

Good Luck!

I don't want to forget...

Sometimes there are moments that are beautiful,

Moments of perfection,

Moments of true happiness.

These are the moments I never want to forget.

I want to memorize them.

I want to let my mind take a picture.

I have many of these moments tucked away.

I keep them in a safe place that is just for me.

I go to this place when I need uplifting,

When I need cheering,

and when I need to be reminded of how blessed I am.

I created a new memory last night.

Laying in bed, snuggled close, with the faint flickering glow of the television.

I looked up at him and let my mind take another picture.

His sleepy smile, his loving eyes, the leftover smell of his cologne and his arms around me.

I immediately connect this memory to another...

The day that I became his.

I took a picture that day too.

It was late.

We were finally leaving the reception.

We had a two hour drive ahead of us.

I watched him as he drove {he was certain that I had been sleeping}.

His sleepy smile, his loving eyes, and the leftover smell of his cologne and his hand holding tight to mine.

I will use these the next few weeks while we are apart. I will be thankful for the time that we have together to make these memories and worry less about the time that we are apart.

Lovesick/Good News

Preface: I wrote this post awhile ago...I thought I posted it. Clearly, I did not. *Facepalm*

These last few weeks have been difficult. By difficult, I really mean nearly unbearable.

Will being gone has been so much harder this time.

I can’t put my finger on the reason…

This ain’t my first rodeo, after all.

I always have my transition time;

Where I sulk a bit,

Be anti-social,

Sleep on the couch instead of our bed and

Cry into my Ben & Jerry’s.

Then, I move on. I keep busy and spend time with friends.

I shop a little too much.

This time has been different.

[Will, if you are reading this…I am not trying to make you feel guilty. I’m just expressing.]

I have been so emotional, so unmotivated, so lonely and just plain old grumpy.

I have been thinking about this…why this time is so different.

Here is a breakdown of 2010 thus far:

January- gone

February- home 18 days out of 28

March- gone...well, will be home for 7 days at the end

April- will be gone

See my problem?? I freaking miss my husband. I’m totally lovesick!

I can't wait to see him. Really. Can't. Wait.

Bright side...I just have a few more days left! It may only get him for 7, but you better believe I will make 'em count!

In other good news...I have the best family EVER. No lie. They would do anything for me.

Example: I am scheduled to have eye surgery April 2nd. I was going to cancel cause I am a big baby and didn't want to do it while Will is away. Even though all of my sweet friends AND my boss offered to help me...I still wanted to chicken out. Until I got this text late one night from one of my big sisters...

Amanda: I have thought about it. I want to come when you have your surgery.

Me: Really?

Amanda: Yep. You say the word.

Me: No. It’s Ok. That’s too much trouble.

Me: Well...Are you sure???

Amanda: Yes. I don't want you to put it off. I would really like to help you.

Me: It would make me less nervous. Wow. I feel better about it now. {totally crying and feeling very loved}

We continued to text back and forth and I booked her flight that night! I have no idea what I did to deserve such love. This surgery has been making me very nervous. I want this so bad but I am not sure what to expect. I had this big cloud of uncertainty over my head...until  Amanda offered to be there for me. I am still nervous. Still uncertain. Somehow, how knowing that she will be here helps me to push all that aside. It helps me to be excited. To focus on the fact that in 15 days I won't need the glasses or contacts that I have relied on for 20 years. Now I can focus on what it will be like to wake up on April 3rd and SEE! It may sound silly...but this is a dream come true for me. I have wanted surgery for awhile but I never thought it would happen. Well it is going to happen in 15 days!

Thank you Amanda! I love you and I owe BIG!

Women

Women are interesting creatures. 

Obviously, we differ from men.  We differ physically as well as mentally.

This isn’t ground breaking news…

However, I have learned something about women.

We are beautiful, we are thoughtful and we love on a thousand different levels.

We can be so completely different…yet put us in a room together and we find common ground.  We will relate.  We find a love and respect for one another in under an hour. 

I had the pleasure of having lunch yesterday with some extraordinary women. Some I knew and some I didn’t.  Thanks to this great lady we all had the opportunity to meet.

We all hailed from somewhere different {3 from the same state…Texas is so big that we still all came from different worlds}, we are different places in our lives and yet we talked for 2 hours without a single awkward pause.

I would have to consider myself the odd woman out.

I lack a college degree, though I have attended A LOT!

I do not have children.

I am not a gifted writer or photographer.

I am just Kimberly and that is ok.

I never felt left out. 

Because women will see what you are instead of what you are not.

We found away to communicate and discuss our lives in a way that included the group.

One major thing that we have in common is our outlets of expression.

We blog.  That’s right.  We write and share our lives on the world wide web. We know its kinda weird...that's cool with us.

Our reasons are the same but different. 

We also share a love of pizza and brownies!

I really enjoyed our time together.  It was something I needed. It was thought provoking and…you know what?  It was fun!

Thanks again!

**PS. I’m not knocking men. I happen to be the proud wife of a great man.  I’m also not saying that all women are perfect…I’m just sharing some thoughts.  After all, that is what this space of mine is for.

Cell Phone Photography

One of my favorite technological advances is the camera phone.  Yes, I am aware that we can now surf the web while flying across the country.  Yeah, I heard about that iPad thing.  Come on...a camera and a phone!  Brilliant!  OK.  I'm easily amused.  

Anyway, we take oodles of pictures with our cell phones.  We always have them and if it is something that we want to share we can text, tweet and facebook that baby all over the place {because we know that there are so many people that are on the edge of their seats anxiously awaiting our next self-take...}.  Back on track. I was flipping through our photos trying to find some from our recent adventures and I was coming up empty.  Then I check my phone...TaDa!  I found 347 little gems just waiting for their time in the spotlight.  So now I will share with you what has been hiding out on my blackberry... This may to be spread over several posts.

{Do be afraid…I am not going to post all of them.}

New Years Eve/First Moments of 2010

Yes...I am totally ashamed.  I can't believe I forgot to blog about this.  Who forgets the start of a new DECADE???  Really, Kimberly, REALLY?  On with the story…

We made our way to Boston via the good old MBTA, which is always free for holidays!  Our friends, Ethan and Laura, braved bitter cold and the crowded city with us.  We had an early dinner {Sushi...the norm when we are with Ethan and Laura} and checked out the fireworks and ice sculptures in the Commons. Once we had our fill headed for the car.  In order to "head for the car" we have to pass Mike’s Pastry...oh how I love me some Mike's!  We stopped in and fought our way to the counter, in true Mike’s tradition, for our treats!! We were home and in our pjs in time to have our last '09 kiss and out first in '10!  It was a great night...

  

Good times, Y'all...real. good. times.

We frequenters at the New England Aquarium!  We both have a love of nature and all the things that God has created to make our world unique and beautiful.  We love the water and the creatures that abide there.   Here is a sample of what we love about visiting aquarium!           

{Yes.  I am aware of the poor quality of these photos.}

Last one...

In an attempt to embrace winter an all that comes with it...here is us playing!

Snow Angels...

Lazy Snowmen...

Crash landings...

Zipfy Mini Luge= $30.00  Fluffy Warm Jackets= $60.00  Snow Boots= $50.00

Hours of Fun Together and New Memories Made= Priceless

Coming Soon - Cell Phone Photography: B-Day/ V-Day Edition!

Flashback Friday: Musical Memory

This will be my first time to do a Flashback Friday post!  I will be linking up with Mylestones!

The prompt this week is Musical Memory.

Music is and always has been such a crucial part of my life.

I have loved to sing for as long as I can remember.

My Mama and Daddy were passionate about that good ole classic country.  So naturally, I grew up knowing all the words to every Patsy Cline song.  I don't discriminate...I love most all music.  When a beautiful melody walks hand in hand with meaningful lyrics it is quite literally music to my ears.

Music stirs up memories and can bring on laughter and tears.

We use songs to mark moments in our lives...we use them as soundtracks.

My strongest musical memory is in the love of a hymn that my Daddy and I share.

How Great Thou Art

Have you heard it?  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  Tears spill from my eyes each time I hear it.  

I have sung this emotion filled hymn at more than one funeral...honored to have been asked.

The last time I did it was with Daddy at his Father's funeral.  My Grandpa had requested it a long time ago.

So, holding tight to my Daddy's hand we sang...

**O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all

The works Thy Hand hath made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout

The universe displayed;

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

I hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come,

With shouts of acclamation,

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim,

"My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Hardest 2 minutes of my life.  I even screwed up the words...but no one cared.  It wasn't for those in attendance anyway.  Salty tears stream down my face even now as I think on that day.  As I think about my Daddy and my Grandpa.  That is my Musical Memory...do you have one to share?  Does music have a special place in your heart?

**How Great Thou Art 

Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940

English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 - 

Fill In The Blank Friday! 3/12/2010

Its time again to link up with Lauren over at the little things we do for another edition of Fill in the Blank Friday! 


1.  The best day ever was  our Wedding Day.  I already knew that he was mine; I knew that we would be together but it felt good to make it official in the company of those we love   .

2.  My favorite meal of the day is     breakfast   because   I love to eat and that is my first opportunity to do so. ;-P

3.  This weekend      will be a lonely one... again.  I do have some plans for Saturday!! 

4.  Never in my life have I     smoked marijuana or done any other illegal drug…Drugs are bad, mmmkay  .

5.  The only thing better than    Ice cream is      Oreo-Ice cream McFlurry, Anyone?

6.  I could really do with some     sushi, miso soup and pad thai 
7.  The most recent thing I bought myself was 2 pairs of Old Navy Jeans ‘cause they were only 19.99!!!

Blog Failure

Each time that I sit down with my laptop, with the intentions of writing a new post I get overwhelmed by how much I have to catch you all up on.  Because I know you are all dying to know...right?  

Anyway....

So tonight I PROMISE to do a fun post about what we have been up to...be prepared for photo/cuteness overload!

In the meantime you should head over to The Kitchen Table.  This site is full of beautiful words from some beautiful women.  Today, you will also find yours truly on the front page in Just a Taste!  If you have a moment and if it interests you, read some of the wonderful posts on Today at The Table.  I think you will like what you read.  

OK. Back to work I must go!  TGIF!!!!  Check back later tonight...


**Update**


Here is what is post on The Kitchen Table Site...

To be a Vase

I don't like fake. I don't like pretend. I like real. I like honest. There was a time in my life that I wasn't honest, that I made mistakes. Little ones. Big ones.

I didn't arrive here without struggle. I haven't forgotten where I came from and I don't intend to. I need those experiences to keep me grounded and to remind me that we are allflawed...

I would rather not pretend that I am perfect. 

I like being the vase that was broken and carefully put back together.

-Kimberly