The Final Countdown

It is the final countdown.

I will be leaving on a jet plane in just under a week to an unknown land.  A land on the other side of the world. 

A land filled with strife and unfulfilled needs that I can not even fathom to imagine.

But I will not have to imagine for much longer.  I will be there walking along side of the people of Garmaam and Hurso sharing their stories.  The stories of their needs, their desires, their dreams, their happiness, their sadness.  I will be sharing it all.  The good, the bad and the ugly.

I hope you all come with me on this journey.

New to my blog?  Want to read about what led me to take this trip to Ethiopia?  Read this.

I am linking this post to Diaries of a Grumpy Grateful Mom
Good News!

Confessions Of A Non Superwoman #17

Hello we meet again. 


1.  If I have to vacuum up another bowl of *dumped* cat food I am going to scream!  Why oh why must my daughter like to dump the cat food almost every time?  Really?

2.  My to do list for things I need TO DO before I leave on my trip has reproduced like a rabbit.  Seriously, the list is like two pages long and there is no possible way that I am going to get through everything. 

3.  I pulled out my luggage this past weekend and there it sits, empty, in our hallway for us to trip over.  I know I still have some time to pack but I would really like to be organized and not procrastinate.  Nice thought, huh?

4.  Kaylyn the toilet paper is for in the bathroom, not to unravel and decorate the house with.  Uggh!  Yet another mess to clean up.  It is NEVER.ENDING. Calgon take me away...

5.  I have only decided on 4 freezer meals for while I am gone, so far.  Need help.  Any ideas?  I really don't want to be cooking all this weekend but I also don't want my family to eat out of a box or take out the whole time I am gone.  Hmm, what to do.  Maybe a frozen lasagna?  Corn dogs?  They would probably love that.

Any confessions you want to share?  Pretty please so I don't feel so alone.

Music To My Ears

Music speaks to me.

So often times I find myself lost in the music as I am driving into work. 

This past week I found my Beaches soundtrack and played several of the songs over and over again as I drove.  Memories.  Music brings back so many memories.  Good, bad, indifferent.  Give me a "hit" song and I can probably tell you the singer, what year it came out and what I was doing that year.  One of those silly personality quirks I have.  That and silly Pop Culture.  Love it! 

My husband and I love music.  And it is looking like the littles are liking it to.  Kaylyn is so cute she bops her head back and forth when we turn on any music and Hayden, well, you know he is a drummer (LOL).  Tyler loves music and loves to sing.  At any given time, you can find him in his room, rocking out to Christian contemporary (or sometimes not).  He is a teenager so there is definitely some music that I find excruciatingly painful to listen to but I try not to shelter him to much. 

During the summer here in Portland, there are lots of FREE outdoor concerts that we go to.  And of course we try and go to as many Christian Concerts too.    And if you have never been to a Christian concert, you are missing out.  Religious or not, they are so uplifting and cheap! 

This past weekend we went and saw Jimmy Needham, Trip Lee and Andy Cherry in their  Grace Amazing Tour for $10!  And while I am gone in Ethiopia The Rock & Worship Road Show is in town which has 7 well known acts for $10 at the door.

MercyMe
10th Ave North
Lecrae
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Many others....

This will be the first RWRS that I have missed in several years, a little bit sad BUT the silver lining.....

I am going to Ethiopia!  (I leave next Wed!).


How does music impact you? 



Music is the universal language of mankind~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

RIP Whitney Houston.  A star dimmed to soon.



Ticker Tape Ramblings

Insomnia, it sucks.  I have had a lot of it this past week.  I sleep for a few hours and then I am up. Not sure how I am functioning through the day.  Especially since I am still not drinking caffeine.  Day 43.

1.  Got my luggage out of shed on Sunday.

2.  Now I just have to start packing (but not right now).

3.  Need to come up with a menu plan for while I am gone.

4.  Think I am going to do freezer meals to make it simple.

5.  Which means I have to cook TONS this next weekend.  Fun!

6.  I hate insomnia.

7.  My kitchen is thrashed.

8.  Maybe I should clean it since I am up.

9.  I think Tyler made the AAU Basketball team (tryouts were on Sunday)

10. Wow, that means some traveling for games.  Hmm...

11. Both Hayden & Kaylyn have colds.  Of course, right before I leave.

12. I hate insomnia.  (Do you see a pattern?)

13. I got my hair cut this weekend but not sure I like how they styled it.

14. I got my eye brows waxed and upper lip too.

15. What a difference all that makes.  Anyone else growing mustaches these days?  LOL! Gotta love aging and hormone changes.

16.  Went to a Jimmy Needham, Trip Lee and Andy Cherry concert Saturday night.  It was awesome! When Trip Lee was on stage felt like the oldest in the crowd, but luckily wasn't.  Probably 60+ year old man in front of us getting his groove on.  It was cute.

17.  Ok, I think that is enough rambling for now. 

18.  Wouldn't it be nice if your brain had a purge or delete button? 

19.  My husband vacuumed my car today. How sweet was that?

20.  Ok, for reals this time.  Good night.

Actually I just looked at the clock and I have to get up in about an hour to get ready for work, think I will stay up and clean up the kitchen.

Have an awesome Monday!

Make Valentines Day~Everyday

Valentines Day, as some might say a day created by Hallmark is quickly approaching (as if you didn't know that already).  I read somewhere recently that Americans will spend $17.6 billion dollars on just this one holiday!  Let me repeat $17.6 BILLION dollars on flowers, dinner out, chocolates, cards, jewelry...

Read more...I'm over at Parent Palace today!