I LoVe Summer

WHEW!  What a whirlwind it has been since my last post.  And by the way the only "junking" I got done that day was cleaning my junk filled house and getting stuff ready for the party that I wasn't invited to.  And when that was all finished I got DRUNK.  Meghan and I felt the need to do a little celebrating of our own and we had a pretty darn good time if I don't say so myself.

And now I look around my home and some Easter and Spring decor is still up and ehh.. WHO CARES!!!  We've been outside working on little projects.  My "little" projects!  Do it yourself because your husband is too busy to help projects.  I've created a cute little fish pond.  No we are not trying to save on cat food.  The kids absolutely adore this little pond.  We bought 2 dozen goldfish thinking they would thin themselves out quickly WrOnG... I have never ever had fish that have all lived the 1st week.  Incredible.  Just so there is no snakes in my pond I will be happy.  I got most all of my "patriotic" garb outside and do have some flowers that are blooming pretty good.  Somethings in the front yard winter killed.  Not sure what happened there but I guess it was just their time.  Right?  :o)  

I think my husband is going to send me on my merry way one of these days if I don't get busy and do something inside.  I have this sign in my laundry room stating, "Laundry Today or Naked Tomorrow"  well we all know that isn't 100% accurate.  I need to find a sign that states,  "Chill the heck out, I will wash it when it is needed, and not a load before!"  And something to the tune of  "U wore it U fold it!" on my couches downstairs.  Ugh. 

We've been pretty busy with the usual May & June events.  We attended my cousin Hunter's graduation in Silver Creek and on the same day of course... we beat it back to Petersburg to celebrate with Eric's cousin and very special lady Breanna.  Then it was time to switch gears to bridal showers.  We attended Cecily's and Alyssa's showers but missed Kristen's.  Darn it.  I think it was the same day as both of the Graduations.  Then came Memorial weekend.  My 10 year reunion was held and I was the only one at the local establishment to celebrate...  I guess we were a party class back in the day but now.. not so much!  We also had a butt load of catering to do.  A wedding in Albion and 2 Alumni's so it was a busy weekend to say the least. 

Now up to the most recent event.... dun Dun DAAAA DUNNNN...   Jay & Kristen's Wedding!!!  That was a good time.  I think I did my yearly get drunk at a wedding dance and act like you are 17 for a night routine.  Geez.  Anyways, it was a blast and I attended the Wedding, Dance, Bar for last call, After party and the After the After party.... And the couch was my resting place on Sunday and Casey's pizza was my craving.  One weekend off and then it will be Scott & Cecily's Wedding!!!  stay tuned.

Junk Drunk

I have a craving...  I need to do some junking.  I have some things on my list.  The perfect gate has not been found along with the perfect bench.  I also feel as though I need to add some other orphans to my life.  I have my eye on some items at my mom and dad's.  I might just sneak over and raid their trees and garages.  I also have noticed lots of auctions coming up this weekend.  O and Eric has kicked me out of the house.  Saturday anyway ;) .  I think if your going to get kicked out you should be able to go do something enjoyable.  Right?  Maybe 5 years ago I would be off to the bar for the night and really tie one on but I just don't feel like that is what I want to do.  hmmm... anyone ever been on an all night junk fest!  I did get my new camera a couple weeks ago and I am still in point & shoot mode.  I have not taken camera college 101 (big book that came with my camera) nor have I looked at the CD that came with it.  Too Busy!  Anyway here is some of the things that I love that may otherwise be called "junk" 

This is my screen door that I conned my mom into letting me have.  I believe it came off of my grandma's house.  In Bartlett I think.  1st I thought it was from Raeville but I think she told me it was Bartlett. 
I just LOVE it and it takes on many faces throughout the year.  Here's it's Spring Do!

Here is my cabinet that I picked up at an auction in Neligh.  I had my eye on one of these for quite sometime and watched many go at auctions until finally I got my hands on one.  And it's perfect!  I guess good things come to those who wait.

And my beloved TV stand and Coffee Table.  I sat at an auction in O'Neill all day just to get my hands on these.  I think the auctioneer thought I was off my meds or something wandering around amelessly waiting for those tables to sell and of course they were like the last thing to sell.  In their original form they were covered in some lovely 70's contact paper but I knew they were beautiful under that old crap.  And the auctioneer now knows a crazy redhead who sits around all day to buy 70's contact paper covered heavy as shit tables.  If he only knew.  Silly Man!

Never mind the mess... Easter was rough on this poor guy ;)

I now have a shed full of windows that I LOVE but haven't been inspired enough to put them to work for me yet.  I guess word got out, "Anney really likes those old windows!"

This was a ceiling tile that my mom purchased when her old elementary school got tore down.  I wish I would've been a little older when this auction took place I am sure I would've found lots of treasures.

Yep, another auction find and something I stole from mom.  She is my favorite store!  I believe the iron struction and the shelf are auction goodies, the berries and the candle were garage sales and the lantern is from mom's.  Hobby Lobby had these adorable rabbits I just couldn't resist them a few years back. 

And now that spring has sprung and my yard looks wide open and green I NEED to get some junk out there to fill it up just like my house!  I am aware that Easter is now over and the Stars and Stripes are on their way... Stay tuned :)

Was This Written for ME?

by Kathy Downey 

As summer approaches, the weather gets hot,
and women face something that we'd rather not.
Yes...wearing a swimsuit, because as we know,
the flesh we've been hiding will all have to show.

I do some weeping, and gnashing my teeth

but it does not provide very much relief,

So I head to the mall to begin my quest

for that one perfect suit that will make me look best.

As I search through the racks, I mutter and sigh,
"How can swimsuits so tiny have prices so high?"
A bikini won't do, I am too old for that.
Ah, here is a one piece, this might hide my fat.

Harsh, glaring lights in a small, mirrored cell,
a dressing room cubicle, welcome to hell!
I look pretty ghastly, my skin kind of green,
when I take off my clothes it just might be obscene.

I squeeze into the suit and suck in my gut,
while attempting to stretch the cloth over my butt.
I look like a sausage link, latex encased,
a visual image I would like to erase.

Pale, dimpled slabs that used to be thighs,
rolls of fat round the middle that rival the size
of a diminishing bust line, squashed flat to my chest.
I am feeling discouraged, and very depressed.

When a voice rings out loudly, a woman shrieks, "NO!"
"Pay that much to look like this, I don't think so!"
Dead silence follows for one moment or two,
until someone else shouts, "Honey, I'm with you!"

Then the whole place erupts into cheers and applause,
as women emerge in our panties and bras.
Trampling the suits that we sling to the floor,
we dance and scream as we cause an uproar.

Someone starts to chant and we all sing along,
sharing our strength in the words of our song.
"We are women with curves, please heed our cry.
Make swimsuits that fit us or we will not buy."

"T-shirts and gym shorts will be our swim wear.
Bathing suit makers had better beware.
Your profit margins will feel the bite.
We are women, united, and ready to fight."

Pumping our fists and slapping high fives,
we are ready to take control of our lives.
Giddy with power, a loud happy bunch,
we decide to get dressed and go out to have lunch.

My questions in my life.... Why

Well it looks like the weather has decided to make us all feel miserable again today.  I believe that the clouds in the sky directly affect my moods.  O and wind too.  Wind pisses me off!  Why can't it just be nice and when it is nice why can't I be home to enjoy it?  I guess I should be happy that I can go outside and breathe clean air and listen to the birdies chirp, but I just want more.  So anyways now that I have decided that the weather despises me... I have gotten off of the time to garden and work in the yard wagon and hopped back on the "OH SHIT ITS GOING TO BE SUMMER SOON" wagon.  Yep, here it is another year and I still cannot fathem wearing a swimming suit. ICK!  It gives me the chills just thinking about it.  Why o why do I go through this every year?  I say next year will be different and then the next year rolls around and its either the same or worse!  I am not getting any younger.  Maybe I should go on one of those "fad" diets again :)  Those always work!  Why can't I just be naturally thin and have something else to worry about like having ugly toes or something.  I know nobody is perfect, but I would rather have some other issue to deal with.  I just got to get with it and get the heck in shape!  NOW! 

Work has been interesting.  I guess its a turnover year.  In my world that means it's a year to get a bunch of paper work filled out for staff that is leaving and get a bunch more paper work filled out for the new staff and try to get them to understand what is going on with their benefits/payroll.  I hope they all enjoy their new ventures and find exactly what they were looking for.  As for the new staff here I hope we can be all they dreamed of and they decide to stay awhile!  I often think about not working and being a pest to everyone in town.  I know some folks like that and I think they have it pretty good.  Just go around taking up peoples precious time with my HUGE EMERGENCIES and expecting everyone to been grinning ear to ear when I walk in the room because I am so delightful to be around and everyone just waits for me to stop by and express myself.  Why can't I be that person?  Why do I have to be the person who gets to deal with those folks from time to time and paste a fake grin from ear to ear and pretend to care?  Maybe I am a pest and just don't know it.  Gosh I hope so :)

The Master Plan

I must say I have a serious case of Spring Fever.  I have big plans for my yard and most of it includes some serious manual labor.  I wonder if I will ever learn to just let things be?  It seems I always have this big master plan and then it changes and changes and changes yet again.  I guess changes are good and goals certainly are so I will just keep plugging away and work on the master plan.  If you question what I mean by changing, here is an example:  We have lived at our house in town for three years now and I have moved the garden three times.  Hopefully, the next move will be permanent and I like it!  I plan to create a triangle garden in the back corner of our yard and surround it with white lattice and a trellis and the perfect iron gate (yet to be found)  inside I will split the garden into sections with a path splitting the middle.  My perfect little garden will have tomatoes and peppers on the south side and cucumbers and pumpkins on the north side and in the back corner in line with the "perfect iron gate" I will have a the "perfect bench" (also yet to be found) under the mulberry tree that is going to have to be included in the garden due to its location.  That is phase I.  Then phase II is to plant some black berry bushes on the front side of the fence.  We always had backberries while growing up so I feel I need to have them for my children to grow up! 

Also, I have the "perfect cast iron tub" that is going to house a little strawberry patch.  I will call it The Tub O'Berries.  Now you see I have some serious work ahead of me.  HELP!  And did I mention I don't like to pull weeds...  I have a new camera set to arrive soon so I will hopefully be able to get some "as I go" shots.  hmm. shots sound good and make me think of more yummy frozen treats.  Maybe that is why I am so obsessed with the berries!  I am thinking some strawberry margarita's sound delightful!  For now I will just sit here and dream up more ideas for my "master plan".

Faith

The Marker family has lost one of its own.  It seems as though it has been quite sometime since anything has directly hit the Emmett and Darlene Marker family.  My dad's sister Kathy has gone to heaven.  Word is that she passed away in her sleep.  Lucky lady!  Although it only makes sense... She lived a quite life and died a quiet death.  May all of her obstacles that she faced in life be no more and she be the happiest most beautiful angel in heaven. 

To Kathy:  I wish I would have gotten to know you better.  It seems there are many folks feeling as if they missed out on a lot of you life and feeling somewhat guilty as they feel they should've done more to see you than they did.  I hope your passing brings all of them to God and makes them understand the importance of their faith.  I feel as if God does give us second chances and they are eternal chances so for now until I get to meet you in heaven I will forever keep the faith and look forward to seeing you with your beautiful wings. 

Faith.  I have been stricken with Faith.  I have always been "catholic" and "religious" but not until recently have I really gotten in tune with spirituality.  I wonder what took so long or if I am normal.  I just seems that as of late something has hit me right in the face with this idea of eternal life and a greater being.  Yes, I know all the bible stories and said all my prayers but what I am talking about is a true belief and understanding.  I love it and I am going to run with it and live my life to the fullest not afraid of the unknown just maybe putting it off if the good Lord allows me to.  I feel as if I need to get into shape and live out a healthy life teaching my children the ways of the world and the church.  This is me and I am spiritual and I do have FAITH it is not just a wooden cut out in my living room anymore!  O and I also feel like getting a new tattoo but that is beside the point :)

Heavy Heart

I have spent the last week with a very heavy heart.  I never would've thought that beautiful little blondie that I used to spend many summer mornings watching Spongebob Squarepants would go to heaven at such a young age.  I do believe in heaven and all things eternal and I am elated that she is now an angel looking over us and has passed to a beautiful home with the Lord.  My heart just breaks for her family and her dear friends.  I hear the song, "If heaven wasn't so far away" several times a day it seems and that song is SO true.  Also, "God only cries for the living" (or something like that) it really hits home as well. 

I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to really get to know Mitch and Sara while I worked at the bank in Bartlett.  What good people.  They have gone through so much in just a few short years.  What is Gods plan for them?  I hope he guides them to whatever he is intending soon.  I just don't know how much one family can take.  I know he never gives us more than we can handle and I will keep faith in that and try not to question his intentions.  The entire community seems to be grieving the loss of Katarina and I pray that they find comfort in each other and can go on with loving memories until their day comes for each of us to meet her again.  I also wonder if the Methodist Church has flood insurance because I tend to have a tough time controlling the tears. 

For now I will hold my babies tight and hope everyone near and dear to me knows how much they mean to me and how much I would miss them if their tomorrow never comes. 

Catching Up

Gosh its been a long time since I have signed in... Not much has changed.  Jeslynn is now 7 as of Jan. 14th.  Lipstick was the highlight of the party.


We have done a lot of work in our home.  That started one Saturday morning in January and is still classified as a project.  I will get some pictures posted when we get a little more done.  Girl Scouts has been super busy with cookie sales.  The 18 girls sold over 1800 cookies this year!  Wow.  Sara and I had a good time sorting them out for the girls to pick up. (I guess I should say I had a good time, not sure I should speak for her)  Eric has been very busy even making a few trips to Texas.  Doesn't seem like we see much of him. 

At school we are doing a Wellness Challenge.  It has been an amazing motivator.  Meghan is my partner and she is such a trooper.  I wish I could get in all the minutes that she does... She's a workout warrior.  And bless her heart she even decided to let me talk her into trying some Yoga... (we thought we could do that on light days..)  Yoga is tough.  It isn't so much getting your heart racing and breathing hard as your body stretching and toning.  I was dead wrong about it being easy!  We are also doing the C25K training.  We are on Week #3 now.  Eyeyeyeyeee my calves feel as if they are ready to escape my skin and run to the whirlpool when we are getting close to finishing.  It feels so good to get done and know that you gave it all you had.  Yesterday we had this bright idea to do a little Yoga and then do the C25K.  So after 40 min of Yoga we headed over to the gym to do Day 3 of C25K.  Silly.  We did make it through and when I got home I was planted in front of the TV for a night of Biggest Loser and Husker BB and American Idol AND Charlie Sheen (nutso).  Wow. Tuesday is a big TV night for me.  O and Monday is of course the Bachelor.  I think those are the only days that I devote my evening to the tube though.  I think :) 

I cannot believe in 3 months I will be graduated from high school for 10 years.  Unbelievable.  I shall spend the next 3 months shaping up for summer and the events that come with it.  It is going to be another crazy busy summer and school will be started again before I know it.

Happy Friends

This weekend I went to Atkinson to witness the most beautiful winter wedding I have ever attended.  Kim has chosen a fantastic husband and he seems to love her so much.  He is a quite hard working hunter :)  It was fun to see her dad all fixed up.  I have never seen him as he was saturday.  I hope he realizes what a great bunch of kids he has.  Eric was pretty nervous all morning about missing the Husker game.. Ugh.. should've missed it. (don't want to get started on that as this is not a novel just a blog)  So anyways... we watched the game during the reception and took part in the dancing.  Our kids love dances!  It makes me motivated to get through the winter and get on with the summer of weddings.  Sunday I put Eric to work in the house.  I nagged a little and suggested that he get my ice maker hooked up (on the list for over 2 years now) and that he finish up his lighting job in the basement that has been a ongoing project from last fall.  YIPPIE he got them both done.. there is still stuff laying all over from the jobs, but that can be cleaned up!  Good Boy.  I spent most of Sunday working on school stuff.  I just dread the board meeting work.  I feel like I am ready to throw in the towel and find another occupation.  Then when it is all done I don't feel so bad and have a great sense of relief.  Now if I would just get back to work on next month NOW I wouldn't have the same problem next month.  I think I will never learn.  Next up we go to Be Bendy in Norfolk.  more on that to come.

Taking Time to Breathe

MARKERS MARKERS EVERYWHERE..  I spent Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family.  The term "Quantity over Quality" comes in mind, but that is not actually completely accurate.  There is plenty of "Quality" people there, but you just can't spend much "Quality" time with them as the "Quantity" is a little overbearing.  So YES Quantity is plenty and Quality time is a little scant.  Amazing things are going on in the Marker family.  I have two cousins from Wyoming that are going through the roller coaster cycle of surrogacy.  How amazing to give your sister the ultimate gift.. No I am not talking about your life I am talking about life.. I would say by far my children's lives are much more precious than mine.. So for this I am saying she is giving the "ultimate gift".  Amazing... During Thanksgiving they were in the middle of the waiting period to find out if they had indeed succeeded only to find out a few short days later that the news was again NO.  They are very strong women to go through such a journey.  I would like to think that I would do the same for someone that I loved.  I wish them the best of luck on their journey.  Also, another cousin has now adopted two foster children.  Pretty lucky little kids to end up with such of loving family.  I hope they are forever grateful and have a beautiful new life!  Congrats Crystal & Craig.  We gathered in the new home of my Uncle Ernie & his wife Marcy which was perfect for all of us to fit in.  It is estimated that there was nearly 100 people in attendance and since it was freezing it was a good thing to have room INSIDE!  My aunt Karen is recovering from cancer and heart trouble.  It has been a long road for her and I just hope there is light at the end of the tunnel and she can enjoy life again.. someday.. So it looks like everyone has a clean bill of health and that is simply amazing for such a large group of folks.  I sometimes worry about how healthy we all are.  Seems like at some point things will go downhill, but until then I will be thankful for all of the Marker blessings we are a part of.  After a day with the Markers we headed in to Lincoln to check out the stadium & UNL campus without 90,000 people around us.  Eric is always awestruck by anything like that.  He becomes this 9 year old kid again that is just so happy and impressed.  Me, I tend to be to grounded for that and just don't find much exciting about things.  I am blessed to have Eric in my life to remind me that it is OK to get excited about something.  No one cares if you get all giddy about things and no one cares if you don't get all giddy about things.  I need to be more exciting and not so passive with things.  Maybe that will be a new years resolution.. Maybe :) 

I Love Fall

WOW what a beautiful day it is today!  I know it won't last, but I feel like I cannot complain as it is November 8th and we have only seen a trace of snow and only a couple frigid days.  I went to Kim Genereux's bridal shower yesterday all by myself since Jeslynn wanted to go trucking with dad.. I wish she would have went with me, but oh well.  I think they needed some dad time anyway.  Saturday I got the yard all ready for winter.  The thought crossed my mind to possibly work on Christmas lights, but that soon passed and I ran out of time as the football game was starting and then I wanted to get to the Premier Jewelery party hosted by Heidi.  Turned out to be a great evening.. Huskers WON!!! and the party was a good time.  This week is going to be a little busy, but I am looking forward to taking Friday off to go to Mannheim Steamroller with my mom and Sarah is possibly going to have Hudson this week.. I am so happy for her and hope all goes well.  ( I know it will )  Feeling like I definitely have the cart before the horse lately... Ugh.. wish I could catch up with myself and my commitments!

Trick-or-Treaters

We had an amazing weekend.. (mostly)  Friday night we went to Columbus to get a swing set/playhouse for the kids that my sister was looking for a good home for... boy did she find it!  I think that Jeslynn & Taylor will spend most of their time on there.  Eric still has some finishing touches and then it will be perfect for them.  Saturday afternoon the Huskers WON!!!  Saturday night we went out and about and the kids stayed with Paul & Connie.  The theme at Boomerang's was "The Zoo".  Eric decided I should be a skunk.  I dressed in all black and cut out of some sheets the white stripes.. didn't get any pictures...  Eric was a donkey.  He had a lot of fun with that!  Sunday... not so fun... We both came back to life just in time to go trick-or-treating with the kids.  Fortunately they were a little tired from their exciting night as well so we weren't out to terribly long.    We celebrated Connie's birthday at the Knotty Pine Monday night.  That ended up really nice.  Anita and her family were there.  Sandi stopped by and ate with us and Bernard & Bernice were there as well.  It is a busy board meeting week and I am hoping to get lots done tomorrow as we don't have school so it is a good uninterrupted day to get a lot done...  as long as I am in the right frame of mind to get things done!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Just seen the first flurries of the season fly by my office window today.  It sure has the kids stirred up.  There is definitely excitement in the air at EPS.  The kids are crazy.  I think it is a combination of Football Playoffs tomorrow NVC Volleyball championships Friday and Halloween and Snow.  Eric is headed off to Montana today and I hear that they have Blizzard warnings up there... BE SAFE ... Jeslynn has started CCD so she has that tonight.  I hope it goes well for her.  She seems really interested in the learning aspect of it, but wishes that there were more kids in her group and of course that I would give her more time to play on the playground before and after class with her friends.  Never enough time is there.  I guess that starts as little kids.  You never have enough time to play in the park, haven't been to the swimming pool enough times and so on.  Now it is never a long enough weekend, never enough money, and certainly Never enough time with the kids!  I think I will enjoy the evening with the heater working hard and some warm comfort food perhaps I will bake up those apples on the counter and enjoy some pumpkin spice coffee.  Cuddle Up..

Taylor's 4th Birthday

Sunday we celebrated Taylor's 4th birthday.  I was really nervous at 2am Saturday night that it may be a bust as he was up with the stomach flu and I was up with him and dreading the morning of cooking and cleaning.  He decided to watch cartoons at 4:30am and was up from then on.  After a few tense moments Sunday morning everything settled down and all of the guests started to arrive.  Taylor is such a caring little guy.  He said, "Mommy I wish it was your birthday today too".  I just love him to pieces.  His one request was to have a green cake and the only thing me and Jeslynn could find was Frankenstein.. I was a little nervous about whether he would like it or not, but when I showed it to him he was so excited he just couldn't wait to eat it.  Pass!!  Eric did some Traegering and I did the inside cooking and the meal was pretty good if I may say so myself.  Taylor got just what he wanted for his big day.  He got a new working chute for his farm, some baby calves, a JD shirt, puzzle, pickup and horse trailer (Chris took him to Bomgaars to pick out) some play dough and some real dough $.  He was so excited and appreciative of everything he got.  It was really nice to have everyone together during a busy fall.  I hope he realizes just how special he is to all of us.  Happy 4th Birthday Buddy!