Gratitude Friday

Woohoo, living on the edge today and changing the picture to the left! :)

I have been relaxing (aka LAZY) all day and just know getting to Gratitude Friday, plus sharing a cup of coffee with the Company Girls. No school today so no job = no stress! Kinda nice.

Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate (it is rather chilly at my house) and share your Friday Gratitude list with me.

My list:

1. medical insurance coverage. I know I've shared this before but I had to go to the dentist and doctor this week because of TMJ pain. I'm being sent to a TMJ specialist and right now the case is being reviewed. I'm in a lot of pain with not being able to eat much or sleep a lot. Thankfully the dental visit was seen as an emergency, which our dental insurance will cover, and the TMJ visit will be covered, too, because it's seen as medical treatment. I also appreciate the free muscle relaxer samples I can take at night, too. It has made a difference. (Now if I can get the dogs out of my bed at night, I'd be ecstatic!)

2. coffee with friends. It was a very early morning Starbucks date with Polly. I so appreciate her! I swamped her brain with questions and she gave me back some answers to think about. Love those friends who give constructive criticism with grace!

3. date night. David and I are going out tonight to see "Up!" Looks like a hilarious movie, we get to have popcorn for dinner because it's a very early showing, and just spend time together out of the house. (GREAT MOVIE! Loved the story of Carl and Ellie. My favorite quote is "Russell: Sometimes, it's the boring stuff I remember the most." Remember to enjoy the boring stuff, too. It's what memories are made of. GO SEE IT or buy it!)

4. extra work. I'm headed out to camp tomorrow to help work in the kitchen -- serving, dishes and cleaning. I LOVE IT! It's how I paid for my car insurance in high school and college, working at Island Lake Camp's kitchen. I was jumping for joy when Jenny asked if anyone could help her out this week. Imagine getting paid, too! It will be a beautiful fall day out at the camp. Taking my camera.

5. The ease of the Internet. In less than a half hour, I booked a flight to San Francisco and found a hotel to stay at. I'm going in 9 days to see Ian, flying out of Seattle (amazing low fare!) I loved being able to book everything myself and saving lots of $.

Ok, I'm off to see the movie. Could someone feed the Beagle Boys at 5 PM and play with the kitties til we return? THANKS!! Help yourself to whatever treats you can find above the stove... I'm sure there's chocolate up there!

Random Dozen

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie. The absolute best way is to be with a great group of girlfriends, laughing and munching on popcorn. Of course, it's got to be a chick flick, too!

2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be? I do think about my own funeral. No sad music!

3. Are you more of a giver or a taker? I am both, but unfortunately I'm a giver that sometimes expects something to be given back in return. I'm learning about this!

4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear? It depends on the vacation. Often we play it by ear, but I love activities being planned. Esp. if it's a romantic getaway. Just something about everything being taken care of for me. Although, I love getting out the travel books and looking to see where we can go and what we can do. Money plays a big factor, too.

5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly? The microwave. Gross crusty stuff that seems to just appear on the top inside of the microwave or on the door.

6. Name a cause that means a lot to you. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have had MS for 8 years and am very ready for a cure for this disease!

7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly? Fresh white bread, yummy fruit jam and it's got to be cut at least in half. I had a third grade teacher who forces us to have our sandwiches cut. I don't eat a sandwich now unless it's been cut! Silly, huh?

8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous? I pick at my fingernails when I am nervous. I could also take a long time to come up with a word I want to say. Not sure sometimes if it's nervousness or just a brain malfunction. It drives me nuts!

9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of toothbrushing and jammies? just the basics

10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog? Wow, were you reading my blog this week? I made the worst blunder ever this week on my blog and I can tell you that humble pie and crow do not taste good at all. I will stick to keeping comments about others to myself, not on my blog!

11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree? I have been told I look like my principal. The kids often get us mixed up, more that I look like her, though, not the other way around. No other famous person or celebrity, though.

12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated? I would dedicate the song "Legacy" by Nicole Nordman, but I'm not sure who the dedication would include. It's more of a random song to get people to think about how they live right now! "How will they remember me: did I choose to love, did I point to Jesus? What type of legacy did I leave?"


For Random Dozen, head over to 2nd cup of Coffee's website! Thanks, Linda.

Friend Makin' Monday

Happy Monday! Friend Makin' Monday....what a great way to start a Monday!

Today's topic is to list a few things you can't live without:

1. Jesus!

2. my family

3. coffee/Starbucks

4. MnM's

5. friends

6. laughter

7. warm jammies for those cold Spokane nights

8. Tahiti Sweetie lotion

9. books

10. the Internet

What would be on your list?

Gratitude Friday

Hello! Whew, I made it with about 45 minutes to spare for my Gratitude Friday list. I am, in fact, drinking a Starbucks vanilla latte right now as I type this out. I can go get you one, too, if you'd like. There's a 24 hour Starbucks just a little bit away...what would you like?

My Gratitude list...

1. the ability to LAUGH! We had Mud Pit this week at camp and boy, did I get m-u-d-d-y! Stay tuned for pictures.

2. time to relax! While the rest of the camp was floating down the river on inner tubes, three of us floated on this big yellow float thing (it was round) and it took about an hour to go from the bridge back to camp. We stood up on it (and didn't tip!), we suntanned, we laughed, we just looked off into the distance and contemplated life or took time to be quiet. We decided we should do it every day.

3. my friend Robin! She was hired today by a school district in Anchorage. She and I have been friends since I started in the Whitworth cohort. Robin leaves on WEDNESDAY to start her new job the very next day. I will miss her dearly. She's been a great friend and support. Thank goodness for email and texting!

4. flip flops! I have been wearing different shoes at camp because of safety when we're doing the challenge course. I had some other cool slip ons that I LOVE when I'm off duty but I was getting a thick line of white on my feet. So I've switched to flip flops (good ones, not the 2.99 type!) to get a thinner white line. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to have an even tan line...white feet look funny.

5. time to look, in what seems "FOREVER", for a teaching job! If I had tons of major responsibilities around the house besides three cats, three dogs and a hubby, I wouldn't be able to spend this much time in front of the computer. I did turn down an international job in Baku (google to find out what country it's in!) because of lots of reasons. I won't say anymore but please pray that something opens up here in WA State. I am getting discouraged as it gets closer to start time for school.

Alrighty, it's been a pleasure to sip a Starbucks with you late into the late hours of Friday night. Hope you have an excellent weekend. I have NOTHING planned this weekend and since I've been experiencing a bit of vertigo and some other weird symptoms, I'm going to lay low. You can pray that the extreme heat hasn't made my MS flair up....I'm going to be bummed if this is what it's all about!

Share your gratitude list here with the group....check out the rest of Company Girl Coffee and see what Home Sanctuary has posted for us to do with the Small Things in Life.

ps Pictures are coming tomorrow!!

Gratitude Friday

Good morning! Grab a big cup of New Guinea coffee and enjoy the chaos with me. At the moment I have five dogs (three beagles, one border collie and one chow mix), four cats (two kittens, one young cat and one old cat), two adult kids and the one & only husband at my house! When the house is only 900 sq feet on the main floor, it's definite chaos when the four legged kids start running through the house! What a time of laughter, though!!

Here's my Gratitude Friday list:

1. strength to do pilates and circuit training! I might be sore tomorrow, but I did the classes this morning and made it through the entire hour & a half. Whew~ these last few pounds have been hanging on so I wanted to up the workouts. Tomorrow I'm doing a fun run, next week is the Seattle RNR Half Marathon.

2. my friend Polly! She and I met this morning for coffee at Rogue. She surprised me with a little birthday gift of a coffee journal and gel pens for writing about my summer adventures.

3. the rain! I don't have to water the lawns today.

4. Half.com! I have been able to purchase some amazing teacher types of books for dirt cheap, thanks to Half.com. When David lived in Germany, I was able to purchase DVDs and music for 75 cents, plus shipping. Check it out yourself!

5. little towns! I've applied for a 5th grade teaching job in the rural community of Tekoa,

Tekoa

The school is cuter than a bug's ear and only has about 100 kids enrolled in its elementary school. David and I are going down to the town tomorrow for the fun run because I truly believe in getting involved in the community where you work. I feel really good about this job and I'd love it if you'd join me in prayer about my application finding favor in whomever reads it & interviews me.

Tekoa Elementary School

This Monday I leave for camp so I won't be updating the blog except for Gratitude Fridays. You can send me mail at camp: Tshimakain Creek Camp (Attn: Kerri York) , 6088 Martha Boardman Rd, Ford, WA 99013.


Until next time, bottoms up on your coffee cup! And if you think of me, I could use a Starbucks run way out in the middle of nowhere -- venti nonfat vanilla latte!

Pack ONE suitcase!

Very early Friday morning I leave for Dallas/Ft. Worth to see not only my very good friend Lisa but I get to re-meet Rachael Anne! I'm starting to get the travel bug tonight & want to get the suitcase out. Hmm, puppies would probably help me in this endeavor so I think I'll wait til tomorrow afternoon when I have more time.

What to pack? Running clothes and shoes for the Buffalo Boogie, comfy clothes for just lounging around with friends, perhaps the new fun dress I got a few weeks ago. What else? We're talking four days including travel, one larger type of carryon bag. What would be in your suitcase?

ps... Don't worry, Lisa! The curry ketchup is on the top of the piano waiting for first class placement into the suitcase tomorrow!

Humble Pie

When I was on staff at a local church, I was always making blunders and needed to apologize quite often to my co-leader of Children's Ministries. Because pie always tastes better with coffee, I would bring in two mochas & we would drink it as I apologized and we talked through the problem. The system worked well for us!

So today I needed to do an apology to a very good friend because it'd been about 48 hours since we last talked. I hate not having everything right and with my rotten track record of close friends, I don't want to build a wall between us. I didn't take the coffee like I did for my co-leader but I did take a piece of Godiva chocolate for this friend. The chocolate was NOT her humble pie...it was mine along with my words of apologies but she didn't get it!! And it frustrates me to have to explain my thinking to her because I feel stupid. So I just left it and moved onto my shoes I bought. I guess I could have bought another piece for myself and told her I was eating my piece of HUMBLE pie. She could have just enjoyed the ride and eaten her own heavenly piece of Godiva!! I so wanted to have things right with her today. I did say "humble pie is when you want to say you're sorry to another person and this is my way of saying I'm sorry!" Just like we all have different learning styles, this way of apologizing does not work with this particular friend. I'm learning. I hope it's a quick lesson.

Why is it that we "eat humble pie" when we're need to make an apology for a big blunder? What is its recipe? Is there anything else I can do with humble pie, e.g., bake it and feed it to someone? Hmmm, I don't think humble pie taste very different from crow. I must have left something out of today's recipe.

Ezekiel 18:30b-31a says "Repent! Turn from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart, and a new spirit." That's what I want...a clean heart, a new spirit... and my friendship to continue strong with this friend!

MS Walk 2009

My friend Aline talked me into going on the walk with her and the staff from the MS Center today! Lots of people there to raise money to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis and to support those of us with MS.

Here's two pictures that were taken today:

The Providence Holy Family MS Center group

Aline and Kerri

(Aline is my prayer warrior physician assistant at the MS Center!)

Sunny Thursday morning~

I'm sitting in my dining area this morning, looking at the bright sunshine that's reflecting off of the snow in the backyard. It's pretty! I'd been excited about seeing the yard again, though. Spring is just 8 days away, according to my calendar! MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR!!!

I will post some pictures when I get home from teaching today. Lots to share~ you'll love the Disney pictures!

I think the neatest thing about being in Orlando wasn't just seeing the girls and doing the Princess Half Marathon or enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warmth or laughing all the time. (all very imporant things by the way and I know I was blessed!) The neatest thing was seeing my chaplain friend Charlie and soaking in his words of wisdom in the short time we had together as he drove me to the airport. Ever hear the verse "Be still and know I am God" ? Charlie reminded me of this verse and I said "I can't do it...I can't be still." He replied, "You can but you won't because you are scared of what might happen!" Wow, what do you think?! Any words of wisdom from you?

This and That

It's a rainy Sunday night. I've had a busy day so I thought I'd share a smidge with you.

I had a super bad headache since Friday and when I woke up this morning, it was finally gone. I tried almost everything to get rid of it. I didn't even go to church last night because I knew that the beat of the drums and the bass would make my head hurt worse! Thank goodness for extra strength Tylenol and a nice comfy bed to snuggle into to sleep.

I took time this morning to go shopping. I bought clear storage containers for my walk in closet. I seriously need 9-1-1 Housekeeper or an Organizing Coach to help me with this "room." I have teaching stuff in there, Christmas, rubberstamping, all seasons of clothing, shoes, kids' momentos, pictures, etc. WHAT A MESS!! Plus the two dressers and David's clothes when I allow him the room! :)

The gym and I became friends again. I did three miles on the treadmill. My foot doesn't hurt at all so I think I might be okay for the half marathon. I loved being back in the gym with my new earphones, listening to great Christian music. Definitely uplifting!

I worked in the closet for a bit. It was a little overwhelming but I also got some items ready to take to Disneyworld. I am determined to have NO turtlenecks or heavy sweaters with me. If it snows while I'm there, I'm going to cry!!!!!

Then I zipped over to the mall to look for a new suitcase. Check this out....a Liz suitcase, orginally $200 and I got it for $19!! WOOOHOOO~

Robin met me at the mall and we had Starbucks at Barnes and Noble. It was nice to get caught up with her. We called our other two Whitworth girlfriends and left voice mail for them. I miss being able to spend time with each of them. So, I try to call at least once a week, email, or stop by their homes for random things.

Funniest thing tonight is that I stopped in at Victoria Secret's to browse...always looking for cute essentials. Anyways, I tried some lotion on my hands, not realizing that it has SPARKLES in it. I really like the lotion... it smells great!!!! I might just have to get some anyways and remember it's for at home only. ::::smiling:::::

Now that I'm home, I'm enjoying a glass of wine as I type this. It's a definite "this and that" type of blog posting.

Happy Sunday night, everyone! And in honor of Paul Harvey, "stay tuned for the rest of the story!"

Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away...

I have learned an important lesson today about grey clouds and how I happen to like having them be a part of my life! No more, thanks to a very good friend's words of wisdom. I am grateful to this friend for loving silly me, being brave and bold enough to tell me "STOP!" and promising to gently remind me when the grey clouds seem to be drifting back in.

(Other friends, you are welcome to do the same!!)

So, here's the song that inspired today's post:

Sunny Day, Sweepin' the clouds away, On my way to where the air is sweet, Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street? Come and play, Everything's A-OK,Friendly neighbors there,That's where we meet, Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street?

Sesame Street Theme Lyrics by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone & Bruce Hart

What have you?

I always like the part of the staff meeting where the principal says "What have you?" Kinda like cleaning up house and what's left to say. It's my turn to talk! :)

Today's "what have you's" are:

• I made the phone call that was part of my homework from the series "One Month to Live". It was one of the hardest things ever. Especially since it was to my mother-in-law. I took alllll week to make the call. I finally picked up my cell phone when I was in the Safeway parking lot and knew I had one day left. (Did you know that I am a professional procrastinator?) I ended up just asking if we could start our relationship over again and be friends. I felt like she didn't like me and I've been part of this family for 25 years. She told me she had no hard feelings against me but never could put her finger on what caused us to be like strangers. I didn't go into exact details because there are definite reasons but this wasn't the time to share. I just wanted to take that first step. So, we've turned the page and started afresh. We'll see what happens in the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law arena next!


• Results from my 100th post giveaway: The winner of the Starbucks' card is JyLnC! Congratulations to you and send me your snail mail address so I can get it in the mail! Thanks to everyone for sharing your gratitude thoughts with me. I am thankful for you.


• I have continued to workout every day (2x each day!) at the gym. While on the treadmill, I have my MP3 player on and have the fast inspirational songs turned up LOUD while I'm running or walking. (fyi: slow songs aren't very good motivaters!) I wrote earlier that I'm at 172 lbs and not liking where I'm at. However, one of the songs by Big Daddy Weave talks about that He loves me just the way I am! He's ever patient, accepting me, committed to the process of making me more like Him. He loves me just the way I am, not just when I'm good enough, not when I clean up my act, not when I cross the line for the thousandth times. His grace is enough.


• Siestas Memory Team. I was sharing with Melissa about the verse we're memorizing for these two weeks. I'd told her that I've been writing down a daily verse, too, and it was amazing what I'm being shown each day. She posted this on my blog "The Word of God can really cut deep into our lives, can't it? After all, it is 'sharper than any two edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Hebrews 4:12" Thanks, Melissa, for sharing that verse with me! Exactly where I'm at....thoughts and attitudes.


• I think that's the bits and pieces of my brain today. Mr. York and I are headed to watch the Whitworth University men's basketball team take on Pacific Lutheran Univ tonight. It's Alumni Night so I'm excited to see friends and root on my favorite team! Go, Whitworth!!

Gratitude Friday AND my 100th post !!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie ~

It's Gratitude Friday and my 100th post! To celebrate, I'm going to give away a $5 Starbucks card to someone leaving their own gratitude comment on my blog today! I'm not sure how hi- tech the drawing will be, but I'll have Mr. York help me out. I'll draw tomorrow morning before I post my Photo Hunt picture!

My own list for today....

1. Wonderful service people who take care of my little needs! I have a broken car mirror because I hit the neighbor's garbage can with it on Wednesday (see yesterday's post for the picture!)...Lucas at Foothills Mazda is always my hero for getting my car fixed! I also took the snifferdoodles to 5 Mile Pet Clinic to get their 2nd round of shots, plus they went to Dee's Dog Grooming to have their first pedicure. Tracie at Dee's is such a caring person with our dogs and they love her lots!

2. The gym! I got on the scale yesterday and it said I weighed 172! YIKES....how'd that happen? I was this weight when I was pregnant with each of the kids. (And I'm definitely not pregnant now.) So off I've been going to the gym, truly working out with my trusty MP3 player and great music to set the pace. Last night I was there for an hour, doing weights with the exercise ball and walking on the treadmill. This morning I was there bright and early for a half hour on the eliptical. I have at least 20 pounds to lose and bunches of inches. The gym and I will become very good friends within the next six months.

3. Random people you meet. Today at the gym I met a retired school teacher on the treadmill next to me. It turns out he taught a long time ago at the school that I used to work at. Small world! It was fun to talk to him, hear about the people he worked with (some I know and they have inspired me in my teaching journey) and also share about my teaching job in Nespelem. (I shared about my love of teaching and love of missions...woohoo!) You never know who you can meet to share Jesus with!

4. A day off from work! I took today off so I could get the little things done, regroup for next week and possibly take a nap, too. Between working four full days and shaking up my body's metabolism, I'm sluggish today. Plus, it's soooo grey out today. The frost covered trees make for pretty photos but I am such a sunshine person! I'll be even more grateful when Mr. Sunshine comes out to play again.

5. Christmas cards that are still arriving in the mail! It's never too late at my house to send your Christmas cards/letters to me. :)

6. My blog friends!! What an inspiration you are to me. It means a lot to have you share your daily life with me, to know that you're praying for the things that are important in my life and that you trust me enough to ask me pray for you, too. Your comments touch my heart. I will probably be sharing even more over the next couple of months -- I'm ready to shed a few more layers of the "mask". It is an honor to call you FRIENDS!

Happy Gratitude Friday, everyone!

Coffee and Friends!

Good morning, girlfriends! I am headed over to Starbucks this morning to meet with my beautiful friend Polly for a venti, non-fat, extra hot vanilla latte. It's an early morning meeting because she is headed to work. (and I'm headed to the gym!) It's been awhile since we've connected and I can't wait to see her. I'm so grateful for Polly and her friendship. She's a Whitworth University 2007 graduate just like me. I absolutely could not have finished my degree without Polly and the rest of my fantastic teaching cohort! Polly and I been through a lot together and she's always an encouragement to me, even when she thinks she isn't. We're both learning to trust in Him!

Take time today to reach out to someone you haven't connected with lately...you'll be glad you did!

2 Corinthians 3-5 (The Message) says "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too."

Gratitude Friday list...

Welcome to Gratitude Friday and Company Girl Coffee! Grab a cup of Tazo tea today and enjoy a quiet moment of solitude at my house. Here's my Gratitude Friday list....

1. A fabulous new hair stylist!!!!!!! Thanks, Melissa, for the beautiful hair cut! I love it.

2. Warmer temperatures and the sunshine! The snow is melting and school is open again!

3. Great price for a gym so I can start training for my half marathon in March. I'm a walker, not a runner, though! (My first marathon was in 2004 and I finished in 6 1/2 hours!)

4. Fantastic friends that have a heart for God and as we plan for a ladies' retreat, seeing the awesome way God has brought us together just amazes me every time we meet! (even if it's through a conference call on a little green phone!)

5. True Blue Spa Foot Cream "shea it isn't so" -- I love having pretty feet/toes and this foot cream works wonders to keep my feet soft. If I'm not able to get a pampered feet treatment at the spa, thank goodness for this cream!

6. Our good friends, Jackie and Jim, who came over for dinner tonight and played the fun game "Mexican Train" with us. We've known them for years, all because of their youngest son floating off on a blowup raft on the lake and I saved him! They're my pick for Project 365 today~

Gratitude Friday list...

1. Company Girl Coffee Friday. Woohoo -- I'm always game for more coffee and friends. Rachel Anne's daily challenges help me to remember to be "Jesus with skin on", making life more enjoyable around my house!

2. Early mornings when no one else has been outside yet. This snowy picture was taken out my back door at 8 AM.

3. The Snowblower! It's been a lifesaver these past few weeks. (although after falling today, I'm officially retiring from the snow removal team at my house!)

4. Friends who came over for dinner last night and played games, too. What a great time!

5. Continual supply of dry socks. There's puddles of melted snow on my floors and I'm always stepping in those puddles. Thank goodness for dry socks (and slippers when I finally put them on!), plus David who keeps my supply stocked!

6. A new camera. I was able to buy my camera on base this week for a great price. Keeping this one up high from puppies and kitties!

7. Living Proof Ministries! Beth Moore has challenged us to memorize two scriptures a month. I have chosen this verse for the first half of the month: Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

O Holy Night!

We sang "O Holy Night!" on Saturday night at church and I just sat to listen to the words (My hubbie was singing next to me & his voice sounds AMAZING with this song!!! So I was quiet and listened!) There's two lines that touched my heart -- "Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices" and "The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend!"

I really thought about the words..... the weary soul rejoices and He was born to be our friend! How many of you can relate to these words today? Take heart and rejoice in our friend, Jesus!

Christmas Cookie Rules

Christmas Cookie Rules

(from my Dallas/Ft Worth friend Lisa, who is the cookie baking monster during the holidays!)

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.


2. If you drink a diet soda after eatingyour second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free, rule#1 is yours also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.


4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many caloriesto lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!


7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street"have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!


I ALWAYS trust Lisa with her words of wisdom!! I'm sure Fitness Boot Camp is happening right after Christmas, huh?

Gratitude Friday List...

Another day off from school because of the big snow storm! Christmas break has officially started here. Hmm, what to do, what to do? First, grab one of my Christmas Village mugs out of the cupboard and fill it up with Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee. I think there's creamer in the fridge (sorry, no Reddi Whip yet!) ....and then you can sit down to read my Gratitude List. Please add your own Gratitude list to mine~ after all, it's Company Girl Coffee time!

1. Laughter! You should see the puppies run as fast as they can through the house and then belly slide under the couch. Stay out of their way -- they're quick. You have to see them in their snow maze, too. Mr. York and I created a maze for them in the backyard. They don't like the snow but they love running through the maze and snow flying everywhere.

2. The US Postal Service! I LOVE getting snail mail, anytime of the year. But yesterday was a sad day because the mail didn't get delivered because of the snow. Those poor people! I think I'm going to make some brownies in a little bit to give to my wonderful mailman when he arrives around 3 pm, 4 pm or maybe even 5 pm today. (Hmm, no mail at all!)

3. My kids! They're coming home for the holidays~ one from a teaching job five hours away from us and the other one hopefully flying in from college in CA. We haven't been together for Christmas for three years. Mr. York and I were in Germany for the last two Christmases.

4. Friends who truly know what the little things mean to me-- papertowels and Starbucks delivery to me today!! I still can't get out of my drive way nor have I tried. I've had enough exercise of shoveling snow to last me for a bit. So I was very thankful for the delivery~ I know, how'd they get here?

5. And...my last gratitude item ends on a bittersweet note: Today would have been our friend Uwe's 45th b'day. He and his beautiful wife Veronika lived next door to us in Germany -- they were our family and we spent so many fun moments with them over the two years!! He passed away unexpectedly in October and I know that he is very much missed today. Would you please remember Veronika and the boys in prayer? We love them tons and wish we could be with them in Germany during this holiday season.

Taking the Day Off!

Taking today off! But I want to say thank you to Holly at Hog Wild About Stamping! She presented me with my first award today!! Thanks, Holly! I haven't posted ONE stamping item yet, but perhaps I'll get busy in that department, too.

I decided that I needed to take today off and re-group. Not sure what that entails yet -- do I just crawl back into bed and sleep the day away? Do I clean the house from top to bottom and then finally put some Christmas decorations up? Do I shop for presents? Do I bake for my family? Do I meet up with a friend for coffee? Or.....do I first spend time with the Lord and see what His plans are for me today? I think I'm going to choose the latter. It might be a much productive day!!! Do any of you remember the song by Sarah Groves called "How is it Between Us?"

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, The wrong side of the room, The wrong side of the world Can't put my finger on the mood. It's not melancholy, anger or the blues. I love my husband, my house, my job. Couldn't be any better, and really what else is there? Then I realize I'm forgetting God, and that's the root of all my misery. Lord, first of all, how is it between You and me?
CHORUS:How is it between us? How is it between us? When did I talk to You last, and what has happened since? How is it between us? How is it between us? When did I talk to you last, and what has happened?