Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.



I love little bitty babies, I love the smell, the perfectness, the everything about them. I love that they make me go broke, always! I found out on Monday that one of my best friends is having a baby GIRL!!! I'm sooo excited for her!



We have been friends since her 8 year old son was 3 (so that's 5 years?). I was there when her 4 year old daughter was born (I played out in the waiting room with her son.. I love babies, but I do not want to see one born, I'm not ready for that, it's actually a funny story, for a later time)! I stayed the night with her that night (again... another story) and helped her that night when things seemed to be falling apart, but everything turned out perfect.

She isn't one of those girls who like to be pregnant, she just doesn't like it, or so she says. BUT she does admit that she wouldn't trade it for anything, because when it's said and done with, there is a beautiful child.

I can't wait for the shopping, the late night phone calls when she isn't sleeping, that baby shower, everything!! T is such a great friend, we always have a good time, babies and all. I'm blessed that I have friends with kids, I love kids - they know this about me - they let me love their babies as much as I want. It makes me soooo happy when another life is born.

God is amazing. Beyond the parts that make me happy, or a mom, or a dad, there is God... sitting there making this life happen, making the road this life with travel down. God is amazing!

Congratulations T! I love you and I can't wait for this little baby girl to be born! She will be a great addition to your family and will be loved so much!

I love you!
KJ

PS- If you didn't read my post from Wednesday - I'm out of town until Monday afternoon! So, have a great weekend and I can't wait for next week to share pictures and stories! Happy Friday!

I'm off...

Today at 4 pm cdt I'm off... I'm going to my frind L's house and we are loading up my car to hit the road.



We are driving to Galveston... I think we are going to take our time, stopping at this place (even though I have something against it, not sure why... but I do)



We are meeting up with her family, spending the night on the island. In the morning we will get up, eat breakfast, pack up and head to Port Galveston where we will get on one of these...



I'm sooo excited, I've never been on one before. I have saved and saved for pretty much a year to do this. It is soooo going to pay off! After we get on the ship, we are going to go to this place...

(Cozumel, not Playa Del Carmen)

While there we are going to zip line, eat great Mexican food, shop, and just hang out!! It's going to be a new adventure and I can't wait!! I do need your help though, cross your fingers that one of these doesn't head our way, while we are in the Gulf of Mexico or still not home (diving back to SA) for that matter...



I'm going to write a Fingerprint Friday post but I'm not going to be able to link it to Beki... so, come back and see it! I hope you have a great couple of days... See you back next week with some trip recaps and pictures!

Love,
KJ

Not Me, Monday!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.



This week MckMama is doing a Not MY Child, Monday!! I don't have any babies so I'm sticking to Not Me! Monday!

This past week:

I most certainly did not do laundry and find clothes that I forgot that I even owned... if I did that, it would mean that I had a lot of laundry to do... Don't you know I always do my laundry... every week!!!

I also did not pull cloths out for the cruise I'm going on later this week, that way I wouldn't have to do laundry again! Not me, I love doing laundry!!

I did not almost fall asleep while being out this weekend. I did not have a million people tell me to wake up. I did not tell a million people that I just wanted to go to bed. This of course didn't happen all weekend!

I am not leaving on a cruise this week, I am not sooooo excited to not only be with my friend, to go on a cruise, but to be away from work for 3 days!!

I also do not come back for 4 days and then have another day off (Labor Day), nope, I would plan trips around holidays...

I of course have not written a couple of blogs for this week to post while I'm gone... nope, I wouldn't care if someone wanted to read my blog, because I would be gone!

I am also not excited to come back and post all the pictures and document every.single.day of the cruise... nope, I"m pretty sure no one cares!! ;)

ON that note, you should share what you DID not do this week... or share what your child would not do... soooo much fun!!

Love, KJ

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.


(these are a little old... from St. Patrick's Day this year... I couldn't get my phone to email the ones I wanted... I still think they are stinkin' cute though)!

I go all week, looking at things, seeing picture perfect moments, thinking... I wish I could pull over take a picture and save it for Fingerprint Friday. Well, 99% of the time I can't but I still think all week long, what am I going to do? As always I can go back to E and O. I know they are not my kiddos but I love them, I call them my kids. I love that J and S will let me come over every week to play with them to hold them and tell them I love them... then even let me take them places, to me, that says a lot!! O is still going strong, nothing has changed with his heart... this is a great thing! I feel that God has put them in my life to show me a great family, let me love them like family, to show me that just because these bad things happen... you can still be strong (they are the strongest family I know). I feel so lucky that God has given me this family to be close too, I really do love them and enjoy every moment that I have had with them. So, today... I am using another pictures of my loves - playing, being kids, showing me that God has plans very everyone. Even if he puts a hole in your heart (like he did with O), there is a reason behind it and nothing is just by chance. I love you guys very much, thank you for letting me be part of your life!

Love,
KJ

My Crazy Saturday...

So, after my Not Me! Monday, I've wanted to go more into detail about my fun and memorable Saturday afternoon, so here goes nothing -

It all started out with a trip to a local location (this will still stay a secret because some people can not now, as of right now, what we were up too) where I meet up with a friend. I decided to leave my purse in the car - grabbed my camera, phone, money, bank card, cash, and keys (now, looking at this, I should have taken the purse... that's a lot) put them in pockets and we did our thing! While we were there, we decided that we were going to go to lunch and then we both had some errands to run and running errands is ALWAYS more fun with a friend then by yourself (at least it is for me)! So, we went to Panera and then around the corner to Paciugo (it's awesome Gelato - the best! If you live or are in San Antonio, go to this place... it's sooooo worth it)! After that we ran to a photo shop and then to this place:

I love this place, I love the deal, the quality of the things, the people... everything makes me happy. I need to get a birthday present and some small things and some other things, that like always Target can convince me that I need!! Well, while walking through the store (remember, I do not have my purse with me) I sat this down on the seat of the cart:

We finished walking through the store, went to check out, as I was checking out my friend told me she was going to put the cart away, while I finished and before her turn! Awesome, one less thing to do as we walk out of the store! Well, when she got finished checking out we left and started to get in the car. This is when I realized that I did not have my phone, so, we walked quickly back up to the store and inside... no one could have taken the care that fast, right?! WRONG!!! It was gone, no where to be seen! The nice people helped us look in the carts as my friend called and called the phone. Nothing, not a peep came from any of the carts! I was crushed! This stupid phone was an early birthday present from the boyfriend, it had my life on it, passwords, bank accounts, EVERYTHING! I was soooo mad at myself!! Why couldn't I just put the phone in my pocket!! Well, we left Target, no phone and my friends phone number with the people, hoping someone out there would turn in my phone! Saturday came and went... no phone call, no nothing! Sunday got here, still no phone... lots of telling people at Church that I lost it, I had no phone numbers anymore, let alone the times and dates people needed me to watch their kids!!

So, on Sunday I had been planning on going to my other friends daughters 5th birthday party! I was taking Ella with me, so I got her from Church, went and got the boyfriend and started the drive to Boerne (it's about 20 min from SA). While we were there, I had to inform more people that the phone was gone and I had no phone numbers anymore. As we were there, another friend came out with the boyfriends phone, said it was ringing, she looked and it said my name and number!!!!! So, of course she answered, she knew it was lost and I was there, why would I call him?! So, a great, kind lady was on the other end, telling me she found it... in the cart!!! She wanted to know what to do with the phone, should she hold on to it and I can meet her some place or should she leave it there?! I told her to leave it and when I took Ella home I would pick it up. I called Target, talked to a manager (at the advice of the boyfriend, and told them the situation. The boyfriend didn't like that I was going to wait all day (I was not about to load a 4 year old into the car, at the birthday party to leave, get a phone and go back to the party, to turn around later and do it again), so he went allll the way back to SA to pick up my phone and bring it to me!!!

I love this story, not only because I got my phone back but because it made me see that there are great people out there. That if you're a good person, and try to do the right thing that it will come back to you, when you need it too. My faith in people was reassured that night, knowing that lady could have taken my phone and sold it, used it, did what ever she wanted with it. BUT she didn't, she called people to find me (she even called my dad, he called me back, very confused of course - he didn't know it was lost yet) I wish I could have met this lady. I would have told her how awesome she is, how when she needs something good to happen for her, it will because she did it for me!

I know that the next time I find something that is not mine, it's going straight (not that I wouldn't anyway) to someone who can take care of it, until it's owner is found. Thanks Lady for being awesome, you really did make my life so much better, even in ways you will never know!

Love,
KJ

After thought- I have also learned my lesson - if I'm going to have any thing with me, I need to make sure I have my purse. No more laying ANYTHING down, ever!!

Not Me, Monday!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.




I of course do not LOVE Not ME! Mondays... nope, I of course do not look forward to doing it, reading other people's or count down the hours until I can do it!! Nope, not me...

I also do not look forward to the time my boss is not in the office! I of course do not wait for him to leave so I can play games, read news articles, or write blogs... No way!! I have WAY to much work to do around here!!

I am soooo not annoyed that work as slowed down, meaning everyone is hanging around the office more then ever, including the guys who work outside! I of course LOVE that everyone is here, all the time! I of course do not mind that they are here, making me look like I'm working! Don't you know... I have TONS of things I could do, I would NEVER want to play on the Internet at work! NOPE NOT ME!!

I did not go to a 5 year old's birthday party and have a blast this weekend! I of course did not chicken out to go down the 18 foot water slide they had! I of course did not laugh at every single person (adult) that managed to get up and go down... flying full speed... and manage to hurt themselves in some way (not serious... at least on the slide)!!

I did not FINALLY get back to Church this weekend. Don't you know, I go every weekend that I'm in town. I really do love my Church, so I would NOT have a hard time waking up Sunday mornings to get down there!

I also did not go on a super secret mission. Taking pictures of things, to keep an eye on things... I don't sneak around anywhere, I of course would not pretend to be a visitor in the city I live in!!

I did not also have a blast doing this with my friend, who after wards went to lunch with me, then we did not go and get the most amazing Italian Gelato ever! I also did not get the medium size when the small would have been perfect... I also did not eat EVERY bite. Nope, no way, no how... I can control my urges to eat sweets, always!!

I also did not set my wonderful iPhone down in the cart at target... two weekends before school starts (so crazy busy), forget that I set it down and leave it in the cart. I DID remember not even 5 minutes after we returned the cart, tooooo bad someone had taken the care already! Nope, I always carry my purse with me and make sure I have EVERYTHING before I leave a store!

I also did not put my blind faith into karma and God, that it would bring me back a phone, nope... I do not ask silly things from God and karma. I did not tell myself a million times that I'm a good person, who does good things... so there are other good people out there who would do what I would... turn the phone in.

I was not told by everyone that I would not get my phone back, that I needed to cancel service right away, I of course listened so well (I was giving it until this morning). Nope, I listen to ever single piece of advice I'm given!

I also am not soooo happy that I soooo didn't listen to those people. I did not get a phone call (while I'm 30 min outside the city, at a birthday party) that a lady had found my phone! That she wasn't calling me too ask what she should do! That she didn't find it IN THE CART at Target! YAY!!! I was not of course happy, my friends of course were not stunned that there are good people, and of course did not thank God and karma for making good people!! Nope, not me!!

I also did not get yelled at by said friends for not leaving right that second to go and pick up said phone from Target... So the boyfriend, did not drop everything, leave the party, and go pick up the phone for me! No way would he be that awesome and do such a great thing! I of course do not love him at all ;)!

I hope you have a great Monday!!

Love,
KJ

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.


I HATE (I know that's a strong word, but it's the truth) thunderstorms. They scare me to death, I know it's due too many years living in central Kansas, in the middle of tornado ally. To this day, I know when one is coming, I can feel it in my bones, I can tell by the look of the clouds. My friends in Texas think I'm nuts, that I should just enjoy it, I think they should live for one tornado season in Kansas... after that I'm pretty sure they would get it. BUT as much as I hate these things and I as much as I go running for the hills, I have friends that love them. My friend Jacki is one of them. She can't wait for the summer nights, the clouds, the lightning. She follows them, looking for the best place to snap some of God's amazing work and amazing it is. I can't help but admit, that I'm breath taken by her photos, that she can capture these things. God is amazing, even when he's throwing things at me that scare me to death, but I'm pretty sure that it's to make me stronger both inside and out! And to tell you the truth, we need these thunderstorms so bad, I wouldn't complain one ounce if he sent one (or 5) my way! :) Thanks Jacki for letting me use your picture (oh, she sells these amazing things, she has TONS and she has one of Fireworks that also take my breath away, she really is talented, another gift from God)!

Happy Friday!

Love,
KJ

Not Me, Monday!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.



Two whole weeks in a row that I've been on top of doing my thing, but you know that is normal but it's Not Me that wouldn't blog for a week or longer!

This weekend I declared that today, Monday, that I WILL be going back to the gym, to get my butt back in shape for a cruise I'm going on very, very soon. BUT it's Not Me who is sitting here, thinking that I soooo don't want to go today and I will start back on Wednesday, nope I'm top of feeling good again, I would NOT put if off a day longer!!

I'm not sitting here trying to recall things that I want to write about today, that isn't ME, I remember EVERYTHING, I of course do not ever forget what I want to NOT ME about...

I of course DO keep thinking about things to say, but can not post... they are not family friendly... BUT that is also not ME! I do not partake in things that I can not post about, I'm a 100% good girl, 100% of the time :)

I am of course NOT counting down the days until my cruise, nope, I'm not excited at all for this to happen! NOT ME!

I also do not think that I'm going to close this down for the day, do to me being able to thing of SOOOOO many things that I DID NOT do this week!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Love,
KJ

Fingerprint Friday...

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.





I love going to Kansas, now that I've been gone for so long, it always brings back memories, good and bad. I love going to my dads house, it's not the house I grew up in, it's new and different but the love is still there. It's built on 10 acres of land, right down the street from my childhood home. I love looking into the back yard at different times of the year and seeing what God can do. At winter I get my Winter Wonder Land, tress and grass filled with snow and ice and even though I despise the cold, snow and ice it's still so pretty. In the spring and summer it's even better, especially this year, all the rain that they have gotten has made everything so green, full of life, thriving. So different then San Antonio, everything seems so dead, dry, and just hanging on to what it can to pull through this horrible horrible summer of heat and no rain. It amazes me what God can do... that just 600 miles away things are so different then my everyday. BUT God makes everything beautiful in his way, weather we see it or not. I'm thankful for what God has given me, even if we could use a little rain so we can look a little more like Kansas right now :)

Happy Friday!

Love,
KJ

I ♥ ....

Sweet, Sweet baby feet! They are the best... I would eat them up if I could. I'm sad this picutre isn't a little bit better but you get the idea! I can't wait until Christmas when I get to see feet again, they will be bigger but I know I will still want to eat them up!

Love you Fiona!

Not Me, Monday!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.



I have not missed Not Me! Monday! once again... remember I'm on top of this ALL.THE.TIME I would never, ever not post.

Oh, I also would not have slacked for an entire week either! Nope, not me. I love to blog, so it would be silly for me to go an entire week of not blogging!

I also did not spend an extended weekend in Topeka/Kansas City, Kansas. Nope, I would never go THERE! ;)

I also did not have some of the best times helping Clare move from Topeka to Kansas City while I was there... and love it!

I did not enjoy the time I got to have with her in the car, talking about everything... like we see each other everyday. Not that we live miles and miles and miles apart!

I did not LOVE spending some much needed time with Fiona, nope, I do not love that girl more the life it's self. I did not enjoy giving her so many gifts for her birthday (okay, some were STILL from Easter, but I don't care... ;).

I did NOT have to use a bigger suite case to fit all her gifts in the airplane... I also did not have to STILL carry one gift on the plane.

I also did not try to take said bag onto the airplane, realized it was to big but still shove it in the overhead compartment... nope, I follow ALL rules. ALWAYS!

I did not only see my dad for a little bit of time while I was there, this did not upset me, I'm strong.

I also did not try to convince him to come to Texas to see me, nope, I'm fine with only seeing him once a year. It doesn't make me sad at all, not.one.bit!

On the way back to Texas, I was not stuck in airports or airplanes for 12 hours. Nope, things run on time when I'm around... always, nothing ever brakes

Oh yeah, the airplane did not have a fuel leak... nope, not at all

I was not annoyed, not one bit, I took it with stride and was able to not have a mental break down in the Kansas City Airport! I do not have break downs, I'm collected at all times!

I also did not FINALLY get back to Texas to yell at the boyfriend when he picked me up, due of course, to not being stressed out from sitting in airplanes and airports for 12 hours (I could have drove from KC to SA in that amount of time... at least I would have been making progress!).

Life is crazy, I know this but sometimes I just can't help it, and I didn't do... because you know... it's NOT ME!! :)

Happy Monday,
KJ