Not so convinced...

So I'm not 100% sold on the iMac yet. Mark just got one for his office at church (but has brought it home several times for me to "play" on- who doesn't love PhotoBooth and Garage Band?!). We're seriously considering using part of our tax return to get an iMac, but I'm SOOOO having a time converting over. I understand it's simpler, more powerful, and beats the living daylights out of a PC, but I just don't know how to use it. It's frustrating to me (somewhat of a PC geek) that it takes 3 times as long for me to do a simple function on the Mac that I would normally speed through. Sooo, we're still considering whether $1,300 is a good investment for playing on a cool photo-taking-computer.
I am SUPER impressed by the sheer speed of the machine, I can only imagine what playing in Photoshop would be like... It was kinda embarassing when Mark was buying it at the store and the guy asked him what version of Photoshop we ran if it was CS3 or 4 and Mark said, "Uhhh, 5.5..." HA- I got it as a high school graduation present (a step up from what I learned on: Photoshop 5)! So there's another multiple $$$ investment to put on the Mac...hmmm we really need to talk this over.
I do have some time, though. We just got our W2 and I, after having done our taxes by myself the past 4 years, am having trouble doing them because of all the extra things I need to fill in, IRA's, HSA's, etc. I may break down and give H&R Block some of our money to get our money...
Yup, there's my ramblings for the month- enjoy!

Seriously

I've written in this blog like 14 (or 2) times and tried to put up a sweet video of Caedmon, or a few pictures and it wouldn't work! I'm thinking the issue is with the computer as I can't load any pictures onto Facebook right now either *sigh. So my writings are going to have to paint a picture until we can get something else going here.
Mark has left for Nebraska and I'm feeling lonely (he's been gone for 2 hours now). Of course Caedmon is here with me (Mark toyed with the idea of taking him, but I convinced him that taking a 2 year old to Nebraska in January to snipe prairie dogs and coyotes is just not smart) and my dear mother in law has come to stay (it really makes the nighttime less scary!), so I'm not alone. I'm just sad that my best friend is gone for a few days. Once when we were dating Mark and I fell asleep on the couch at my parents house in Colorado--my parents were MAD!!! (We only slept for an hour or so, as Mark got in really late and we had just stayed up talking) My dad said something wise to me later saying, "Once you sleep next to Mark it'll be really hard not to want to." And he was right. It's so wonderful to have your best friend always with you! Oh well, I'll not mope about it. How's that for a lovely word picture? (we'd better get this computer problem fixed, fast!)

Carried Me (OK, I'm Avoiding Laundry)

1. Put your iPod music on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!




IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY?
Deck the Halls

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Within Me

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Life, Love, and Why

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY
Siberian Sleigh Ride

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Power in the Blood

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Mistaken

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Love Them Like Jesus

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
What is This Thing Called Love

WHAT IS 2+2?
When You Say Nothing At All

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Longing Heart

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Why Walk When You Can Fly

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
You Do All Things Well

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Let Us Pray

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE
Bubbly

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU
Remedy

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Can You Feel It

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Mighty To Save

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Laurie De' Tullins

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Father Your Glorious

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
On God's Green Earth

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Whisper to Me

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Remember

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
He's the King

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Let the Church Rise

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Stained Glass Masquerade

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Before the Throne of Grace

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
For Freedom

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Fearless Heart

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Power of Your Love

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
You Are Good

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Carried Me

2008 (abridged, written by Mark and published in our church newsletter)

Christmas of 2008 has come and gone; 2008 has come and is almost gone! This year has been one of many blessings, and much heartbreak. In the last year I can see how many blessings God has given us as His family. From where I sit I can see so many people who have a renewed vigor for serving Christ. I love to see people in this [church] family that love to be here and love to bring people here, who love to sit and listen to God's Word and share with others what they've learned. People who have felt an urgency to tell someone about this Jesus that we love and serve.
Yes, the economy may not be what we would hope it to be, there may be some tougher times ahead, but this God we serve is bigger that all of that. He is bigger than the fear we feel when the boss says, "you aren't needed anymore." He's bigger that the news that the "cancer is back." He's bigger than the words, "I don't see a heartbeat on the ultrasound."
We serve a big God and we need to remember that. Look throughout the Bible and you will find many times when people are at their lowest and God showed his "bigness." When Joseph was in prison for something he didn't do, it was God who brought him out. When Daniel was in the lion's den, God's angel shut the [lion's] mouths. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a fiery furnace, someone like that "Son of God" was there with them. And He will be with us, so long as we love and serve Him.
As we start this New Year I was to tell everyone that when our focus is on Him and on serving Him, He will do great things. Bigger than anything we could imagine.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" (Ephesians 3.20-21)
Happy New Year

I'm Calling it a Survey--that's what it is

1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Fill out the questions below
3. Tag 5-7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag. Have FUN!!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Choco​late?
Egg Nog in Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa​ wrap prese​nts
No

3. Color​ed light​s on tree/​house​ or white​?
White lights

4. Do you hang mistl​etoe?
Yes, then burn it (so our trees don't catch the disease!)

5. When do you put your decor​ation​s up?
Saturday after Thanksgiving

6. What is your favor​ite holid​ay dish (​exclu​ding desse​rt)​?
Warm rolls with real butter

7. Favor​ite holid​ay memor​y as a child:
After Christmas Eve service grandma and grandpa as well as all aunts, uncles, and cousins would come to our house for chili and soup (HA- Joel's beer cheese soup, unforgettable!), Christmas cookies, and sparkling cider. Then we'd all open our one Christmas Eve present (PJ's!)

8. When and how did you learn​ the truth​ about​ Santa​?
I probably suspected in late elementary, but he still visits me!

9. Do you open a gift on Chris​tmas Eve?
Yes, PJ's and slippers (although my mom will deny every year that she got us pj's again.)!

10. How do you decor​ate your Chris​tmas Tree?
Lights, garland, special ornaments, and then the generic colored balls

11. Snow!​ Love it or Dread​ it?
Love, love, love it, I'm a Colorado girl! Every time it would snow my sisters and I would sing "Let it Snow!"

12. Can you ice skate​?
Heck yes, I pretend to speed skate when I get out on the rink--yup swingin' my arm and everything.

13. Do you remem​ber your favor​ite gift?
There are so many, but I do mostly remember when I got my Adidas jacket in Jr. High--I cried.

14. What is the most impor​tant thing​ about​ the Holid​ays for you?
Celebrating the birth of our Savior with family

15. What is your favor​ite Holid​ay Desse​rt?
Christmas cookies/goodies: toffee, peanut butter balls, puppy chow, and Scottish shortbread

16. What is your favor​ite holid​ay tradi​tion?
All of it from decorating on Saturday after Thanksgiving to opening our advent calendars each day in December, to the Christmas Eve with our family, Early morning Christmas day, family Christmas dinner, and our family's (Mark, Caedmon and I) newest little tradition of having Little Smokies and Orange Cinnamon Rolls with Egg Nog for Christmas breakfast.

17. What tops your tree?
A star (coordinating colors, of course)

18. Which​ do you prefe​r givin​g or recei​ving?
Giving, definitely--I much prefer to see people's faces when I get the "perfect present" and the anticipation of giving the gift! But it wasn't until I was old enough to make money to buy "perfect presents" that this became true!

19. What is your favor​ite Chris​tmas Song?
White Christmas, or The Christmas Song

20. Candy​ Canes​!​ Yuck or Yum?
MMMM- yummy

21. What do you want for Chris​tmas?
I'm not really sure (and it's driving my husband and mother nuts!)

22. Do you atten​d an annua​l Chris​tmas Party​?
no

23. Do you dress​ up on Chris​tmas or wear PJs?
Dress up, then go to the aforementioned PJ's

24. Do you own a santa​ hat?
Of COURSE

25. Who do you norma​lly spend​ Chris​tmas with?
My family, Mark and Caedmon and either my in-laws or parents


Here's the kicker- I don't know how to tag people on this! Plus I'm pretty sure everyone else has already gotten it (except you McON, if not then just copy and paste, ok?!).

There is Nothing Going On

YES!!!

Nothing is going on here right now and it's GRRRReat! I have to host Women's Council at my house Thursday evening (I say "have" but it's my choice to have it here). Then Thanksgiving with the Anderson super clan (I've decided we're super-sized, even though we're still in the intermediate family--you'd understand if you'd ever seen us all together). Then there's the Christmas parade--which we HAVE to enter again this year. Last year we won Grand Prize for our float, by a stroke of genius the theme was "Unwrapping the Magic of Christmas." Uh how easy is that?! It fit perfectly with our Children's Christmas musical, Angel's Aware.

And then after that my friend, Leslie, and I are catering a Christmas dinner for 60-100 people. Then we have the Christmas program for the kids. That will entail 2 dress rehearsals and lots of painting/set work. Luckily I have my "work horse" friend, Misti, who is ready and willing to help with anything I need help with! And sometime between Thanksgiving and the parade we need to get the house decorated for Christmas--inside, and out.
Ok, so I've now realized I'm in down-time for all of 36 hours. *sigh* Oh well, down time is down time I'll take it anyway I can!

Hap-ee Halween

We had a fun (if not a bit stressful for me) Halloween. Our Fall Festival was great, we had tons of help and everything went well. I managed to sew Caedmon's costume a week early so I wouldn't stress about it the night before so that was good planning. Also, I can't take all the credit, Mark (who is a jack of all trades, seriously!) designed, patterned, cut out, and SEWED Caedmon's fake slip-over boots. They were the best!
It was so wonderful to have family here for the weekend. LouLou and Pappa (Mark's mom and dad) came down Friday to hang out with Caedmon while mommy and daddy were living at church! We managed to come home, get Caedmon dressed, and get him to a few houses to trick-or-treat before rushing back for final preparations for the evening. We got to then experience the joys of having grandparents to have fun with Caedmon during the night. It was great, he got to have fun and is really enjoying spending one on one time with "Pappa and Llll00-oo" (roll an "L" sound around your tongue a few times--yeah, that's what it sounds like).
Here are some pictures from yesterday:

Last week: doing a final fitting on the costume...

AHHHH! He's SO cute!


He sang the Backyardigans Pirate song: "Arr, arr, ar, ar, ar. arr, arr, ar, ar, ar, ar...(etc.)"

Oh my, he's ADORABLE!!!


Trick-or-Treating...



Off to the the Fall Festival at church (aka our backyard)


A favorite...we always played this game at my birthday party when I was little. Here Caedmon's playing with his Pappa.


Totally worn out...LouLou put Caedmon to sleep this afternoon (after we all, ALL went to church and cleaned!)