tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86875522577134940462011-04-21T13:24:39.067-05:00Karennoreply@blogger.comBlogger1781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-20738796491260211562009-02-14T14:19:00.003-06:002009-02-14T14:31:50.042-06:00

I was tagged by Ginni for the 6th photo in the 6th folder meme. My sixth folder only has four pictures in it, so I'm going to use that 4th picture. So here are the rules:Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.1. Pick the 6th Folder, then select the the 6th picture in that folder.2. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-29806049595133201432009-02-14T11:44:00.003-06:002009-02-14T11:52:10.753-06:00

Yesterday I had the followup with my hematologist from the CT scans on Wednesday and the news is very good. All of the emboli that were in the lower portions of my lungs have either dissolved or there are now scars where they were. (It's okay, my lungs are still working fine!) There's still a big blood clot in the left pulmonary artery where it first divides, but they say it appears to be

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-5060177806831296922009-02-09T18:59:00.003-06:002009-02-09T20:21:11.666-06:00

Tammy called me this evening to see how I was doing. "No blog updates and I'm not afraid to use the phone."I'm doing so much better. I feel like I've got all my strength back, but just out of shape. They are still running tests to figure out what caused the blood clots to form. I'm hoping that they are able to figure it out and that's is not something sinister. I've been back to work for two

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-34794161148757677312009-02-02T13:30:00.002-06:002009-02-02T13:39:55.891-06:00

So I've discovered Facebook and like Lisa, decided to put this on my blog since some of you aren't on Facebook, yet (Ginni!). Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.(To do this

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-51835179733121085722009-01-21T17:36:00.003-06:002009-01-21T17:38:36.402-06:00

Take a look at what Queen & Co. has come up with for this year. They now have coordinated bulk embellishments in a single container. They come in different themes, so just pick your theme and off you go. I think that might revolutionize packaging for some of these companies that have more package than product. It's a great idea.

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-46717943140386702432009-01-21T08:18:00.003-06:002009-01-21T08:44:06.041-06:00

Since my last post (you know when I told you about getting pneumonia?) I have had a survival experience. Because of my inactivity during the pneumonia and some hormones I was taking, I developed pulmonary embolisms in both lungs. Those are blood clots. They are life threatening. I had no idea they were there. All I know is that it was hurting more and more to breathe and my doctor told me

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-11131352352879771392009-01-13T11:01:00.004-06:002009-01-13T12:45:52.107-06:00

Six weeks. A lot has happened since Thanksgiving. Here's a rundown:My truck was broken into and my external hard drive was stolen, which had all my pictures from the last five years on it.We had 19 people for Thanksgiving dinner at my brother and SIL's home, including DH's family from Pittsburgh. My niece and nephew (not related to each other) got to meet for the first time.Our church choir's

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-33639604049103960332008-11-24T16:41:00.003-06:002008-11-24T16:44:16.041-06:00

I saw this quiz on Ginni's blog and took it on a whim. I was bit surprised at the results. Who are you most like?Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...You Are a Marilyn! You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical." Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-52277854095831755462008-11-03T15:14:00.002-06:002008-11-03T15:23:32.383-06:00

I saw this on Cori's blog and thought that this would be a really cool one to do. Thanks, Cori!Since Blogger doesn't have strikethrough, anything that's not bolded I either don't like or don't care about. You can be sure that most of the disco-style music from 1980 would be on the "I really hate that song" list.The Rules:A.) Go to Music Outfitters.B.) Enter the year you graduated from high

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-20386906332996946292008-10-07T13:23:00.003-05:002008-10-07T13:27:49.827-05:00

I got this from Pam's blog:79 wordsSpeedtest

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-42474265622010755392008-10-01T14:31:00.003-05:002008-10-01T14:37:38.907-05:00

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last blog entry. There are some really great suggestions and I've already done my shopping for the stuff I'm going to use for the layout of the photo. I'll be going to a scrapbook retreat this weekend and I've already got all my stuff packed. When I return, I'll post a picture of the layout itself.And without any further ado, let me announce who won

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-87518513749971420792008-09-03T09:27:00.007-05:002008-09-03T10:02:53.870-05:00

I found this picture in one of the many boxes of photos I snagged from my parents' home last Thanksgiving. I have yet to actually make any pages with any of these old, one-of-a-kind photos because "I don't want to ruin them". I have some nebulous ideas about what I want to do with this one, but I would like to hear from you some suggestions for titles, colors, point me to a really cool sketch,

Karennoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-21100999076358626182008-08-11T22:12:00.002-05:002008-08-11T22:25:55.531-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Suzanne, for this lovely gift! It means a lot that you consider me a friend, as I consider you my friend, too.And what good is friendship if you don't pass it on?The rules for the "Blogging Friends Forever" award are:* Only five people allowed* Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog* One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog or lives in another part of

Karennoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-14727336274466971202008-08-08T12:46:00.002-05:002008-08-08T12:51:18.590-05:00

Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. We really believe that God chose us for each other and we are so happy that we found us. If I hadn't been a music major required to play in the basketball band in college and he hadn't had a bad day at work and wanted to play his sax, he would never have sat next to me at that basketball game and asked me out. There are so many "coincidences" that brought

Karennoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-34688736099726756322008-08-04T10:08:00.004-05:002008-08-04T10:33:07.493-05:00

I was kind of busy creating things this past weekend. I belong to a reunion group (an accountability group) made up of women who have been on the Walk to Emmaus, a spiritual retreat. I've been with this group of ladies for almost 12 years now. Some have gone, others have come, but there are a few of us that remain together. Although I don't get to meet with them often, because of my job, I

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-85108587518224546952008-07-29T10:54:00.002-05:002008-07-29T11:00:14.689-05:00

I read this on Pam's blog this morning. I hope you'll take the time to read it because it's a way of life in making choices. And it's based in part on my favorite scripture in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.So go out today and live your life with the choices you make, but not worrying about

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-60345589039104667382008-07-23T12:55:00.002-05:002008-07-23T12:56:00.763-05:00

What kind of fruit are you?You Are a StrawberryYou are friendly, outgoing, and well liked by many people.You are popular, but there's nothing you ordinary or average about you.You a very interesting person, and you have many facets to your personality.Sometimes you feel very conflicted. Your different sides of your personality pull at you.You are a very sensual and passionate person. You are

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-22279662715541434002008-07-02T15:13:00.001-05:002008-07-02T15:14:51.304-05:00

I received an e-mail link to this, but instead of forwarding it to everyone, I'm putting it here. It won't get any more coverage, but I would like it to be here as long as I can keep it.God Bless Our Troops.

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-1539151794431045772008-06-26T08:26:00.002-05:002008-06-26T08:33:36.070-05:00

I saw this video on Jennifer McGuire's blog and she was right. It made me smile. I even laughed. I hope you enjoy the enthusiasm in it. Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-34143727547919561842008-06-21T22:47:00.005-05:002008-06-21T23:03:43.417-05:00

I was listening to Verdi's Requiem this evening only because my choir director was in the chorus. Turns out that I could probably stand to listen to it again. Can you tell I'm not a huge opera fan? Anyway, while I was listening I worked on catching up with some of the YITL challenges from Suzanne. Here are the ones I did this evening.ProudHappyGardenSpringTimePinkFunBloomI still have a ways

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-62952860301527884152008-06-20T09:03:00.002-05:002008-06-20T09:21:47.272-05:00

I am not from this Congressman's district, but I wish I was. ( I really don't like my non-representative. I didn't vote for him and he hasn't had a challenger in many years, dang it! If I had the money, I'd consider it myself, but I'm not a politician. Aren't you glad?) If there was ever an argument for reducing government intrusiveness into Americans' lives, this little light bulb makes the

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-82575625447009450512008-06-17T11:05:00.009-05:002008-06-17T17:08:02.111-05:00

Do you like to read during the summer? I don't generally limit myself to reading in the summer, but that's traditional time for keeping the kids current. Too bad my kids don't like to read. A friend came to visit recently and on his drive up (about 5 hours) he was listening to a book on tape called The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans. Evans also wrote The Horse Whisperer. I hadn't read either

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-27705131958744495982008-05-11T23:02:00.003-05:002008-05-11T23:23:50.232-05:00

Well, it's been a long time again. I really need to get back on track with the blog, but life has been getting in the way. Today is Mother's Day. I hope you had a great one. Mine was better than I thought it would be. We went to church and sang beautifully. My saxophone playing kind of sucked, but it was okay. I hadn't played in more than two weeks, so it was about like I expected. We sang "Come,

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-36748546058599075602008-04-23T10:39:00.004-05:002008-04-23T11:52:41.336-05:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted anything. I'm going to start with Suzanne's blog challenges. If you aren't into reading long posts, now's the time to bail!Blog Challenge #16Do you have pets? If so, how did they come to be furry family? Write about them and their personalities. If not, write about a past pet that touched your heart. Please include photos!We have two cats

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-39432154500082056002008-04-09T09:29:00.003-05:002008-04-09T09:37:13.972-05:00

From Suzanne's blog:Have you ever lost anything special? What was it? Did you ever find it?I've lost a lot of things in my lifetime. Most things I've found eventually, but one thing I lost when I was a child was a special blanket that was probably a baby blanket. I used to carry it everywhere I went, slept with it, used it for a tent...all the things children do with a blanket. I even used

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-64569058067534121842008-04-08T16:27:00.002-05:002008-04-08T16:30:13.357-05:00

Here's a place to use it:

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-10753140267728469712008-04-08T14:33:00.003-05:002008-04-08T14:50:44.656-05:00

I've been tagged by Colleen. Thanks, Colleen, this is the first time I've been named in a tag! So without further ado, here is my response to the tag:1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours.2. Post the rules on your blog.3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post,

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-70989708017798784612008-04-04T11:41:00.001-05:002008-04-04T11:42:32.947-05:00

Found this on Tams' blog and thought it was interesting. Which theologian are you?created with QuizFarm.com You scored as AnselmAnselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?' Anselm 93%

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-5303271643297070662008-04-03T22:09:00.002-05:002008-04-03T22:15:35.621-05:00

April Fools! What memory does the word 'prank' stir up for you? Write about a time someone played a prank on you or you played a prank on someone else.I think the best/worst prank anyone ever played on me was in high school. I drove a '67 Volkswagon Beetle then and usually parked it in front of the band hall when I drove to school. One Saturday, a large group of us went to Solo and Ensemble

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-27914196421313991182008-04-03T14:11:00.004-05:002008-04-03T14:51:34.136-05:00

My choir director, Jeremiah, asked me to play clarinet with his Junior Varsity girls' choir at concert and sight reading contest on Monday. I actually didn't find out about it until Sunday evening after I got home from the Kairos Outside retreat. No problem, though because he said it was easy and it was only about 16 measures.I left from work with just barely enough time to get there. I had

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-77768851407293907192008-04-02T09:35:00.002-05:002008-04-02T09:37:17.431-05:00

I saw this quiz over on Pam's blog and being the stickler that I am about spelling, I just had to take it.Your Spelling is PerfectYou got 10/10 correct.Your spelling is excellent. You also have a great memory and eye for detail.How's Your Spelling?Okay, I'm proud of myself.

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-51244118187695808892008-03-31T09:52:00.004-05:002008-04-01T11:50:56.817-05:00

The title is from the Bible, Matthew 25:36. My weekend was spent with a group of ladies whose lives have been interrupted by a loved one in prison.Kairos Outside is a ministry aimed at women who have a relative or friend in prison. Or they may have been in prison themselves. It is sponsored by women and attended by women. The only men serving were in the kitchen cooking and serving meals.

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-77845748266042257252008-03-28T11:15:00.003-05:002008-03-28T11:49:25.876-05:00

What's Your True Color?My Result: BrownYou're brown, a credible, stable color that's reminiscent of fine wood, rich leather, and wistful melancholy. Most likely, you're a logical, practical person ruled more by your head than your heart. With your inquisitive mind and insatiable curiosity, you're probably a great problem solver. And you always gather all of the facts before coming to a timely,

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-29852429997098413912008-03-26T16:19:00.001-05:002008-03-26T16:19:37.985-05:00

You Are Flip FlopsYou are laid back and very friendly.Cheery and sunny in disposition, you usually have something to smile about.Style is important to you, as long as you can stay casual.It takes a lot to get you to dress up!You are a loyal and true person, though you can be a bit of a flake.You tend to "play hooky" and blow off responsibilities a lot more than most people.You should live: By the

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-5574444314367822952008-03-23T18:47:00.002-05:002008-03-23T18:54:44.149-05:00

Easter is the most important season of the Christian calendar and as such it gets a huge celebration at church. Ours was no different this morning. We had a sunrise service at 6:30 this morning, which was very nice. It was lead by the youth and the message was inspiring. The pastor's daughter did the homily and she pointed out that growing up, when she wanted to learn about Jesus, it was from

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-19090966187407077592008-03-22T17:04:00.002-05:002008-03-22T18:06:57.826-05:00

I finally am updating my blog after returning from the high school band trip. This may be a bit long, so my apologies up front. The photo album can be viewed from the link below.WHS Band Trip 2008We left on Friday after school was out for Spring Break. We took three buses, three directors, 104 kids, 13 chaperones, and a van with the banner in it. The trip was scheduled to take about 20 hours,

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-24732574710726979132008-03-14T00:12:00.002-05:002008-03-14T00:16:40.460-05:00

I'm preparing to take my son and about 100 of his closest friends to Disneyworld tomorrow, so I'll be missing out on one of the coolest things to do for a weekend (outside of visiting the Mouse). 123-Scrap is having their 4th Birthday Cyber Crop and everyone is invited. There are games, chats, lots of challenges, lots of prizes and lots of fun. I'll be thinking about the girls while I'm gone,

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-30161314940728989542008-03-10T13:32:00.007-05:002008-03-12T15:10:32.254-05:00

Warning: This post has a lot of photos and is a bit long. Thx.Over at 123-Scrap.com we're doing a Picture A Week thread. It's not really a challenge, just something to do. Since December, I've not taken my camera everywhere with me and when the call for this week's favorite picture shows up, I remember that I haven't taken any, yet. Saturday I saw the posting about an hour before sunset. So

Karennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-27887548225237908912008-03-04T20:49:00.003-06:002008-03-07T09:51:31.698-06:00

Singing the National Anthem is very important to me. I don't know why, it's probably just because I love my country so much and want to honor it. Maybe it's because I'm able to sing it. I always sing the National Anthem and I sing it out loud and proudly. I've sung it standing next to the marching band in the stadium stands while the home band plays and have had the kids near me turn to stare

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-88031309958442030912008-03-04T11:47:00.004-06:002008-03-04T14:57:43.822-06:00

When I first told my husband that I was going to meet a lady that I knew from online, he freaked a bit. This lady is a scrapbooking buddy from 123-Scrap.com. Chris lives in California and when I went out to Anaheim for a class, I made arrangements to meet her. We had a lovely time eating dinner and getting to know one another. We had wine on the deck of a restaurant that sat high above the

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-6290326273428198252008-02-29T11:02:00.003-06:002008-02-29T11:13:19.310-06:00

I have a little time off and needed to catch up on Suzanne's YITL challenge. I know there are a couple that I still need to do, but I haven't forgotten them. Today I created cards for "Friends" and "Escape."Whenever I think of friends, I think of the song written by Debra Smith and performed by her husband, Michael W. Smith. I discovered this song about the time that my best friend was about to

Karennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-69547915512445086822008-02-28T09:16:00.003-06:002008-02-28T09:36:13.006-06:00

The blog challenge from Suzanne this week is "What is your favorite household appliance? Why? We want details! Include a photo if you can."My favorite household appliance is my washing machine. This little gem is a Miele washer from Germany (although we bought it here) that can do amazing things with laundry. It's a front loader and is water efficient. I don't have to use a lot of soap,

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-53904050270429637012008-02-26T09:24:00.002-06:002008-02-26T09:26:37.452-06:00

I got this from Mary Elizabeth's blog:What Karen MeansYou are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip.People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.You

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-59625700711663919292008-02-22T15:59:00.001-06:002008-02-22T16:01:09.886-06:00

You Are a Conservative ChickLike Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Ann Coulter, you're conservative and proud of it.You speak your mind, even if everyone else around you disagrees.As you see it, you have to stand up for traditional values and what's right.Are You a Liberal Lady or a Conservative Chick?That's right, I'm conservative and proud of it!

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-23239643593634859842008-02-21T10:25:00.002-06:002008-02-21T10:32:40.632-06:00

Notice: I've put a new widget on my sidebar to the right. Down near the bottom you'll find Dilbert! There's a new strip daily.In response to Suzanne's Blog Challenge #8: Complete this paragraph. "Ten years from now, I..."Ten years from now, I will be playing with grandkids on weekends, taking them to Sunday School and church on Sundays, and hoping their parents are mature enough to be parents

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-64304592548289090752008-02-15T09:24:00.002-06:002008-02-15T09:46:55.953-06:00

I'm playing catch-up here. The first challenge I'm writing about was Blog Challenge #5: Post an entry about a positive customer service experience you've had. Who was it with? Did you praise them on the spot? Did you go home and write a letter to the company management?My best ever customer service experience was with AT&T, believe it or not. DS#1 has had more trouble with his cell phone and I

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-71467857164455886872008-02-14T08:07:00.006-06:002008-02-14T08:24:32.971-06:00

A friend of mine sent me this e-mail and I felt I needed to share it with anyone who will read it. I consider myself conservative and will support whichever Republican candidate gets nominated (unlike some who will sit out the election rather than vote for McCain, allowing the Democrat to be elected). Whether you're rich or not, the following data should prove that Democrats want the government

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-44702115698181873622008-02-09T07:55:00.000-06:002008-02-09T07:58:57.571-06:00

This week's challenge from Suzanne is the word "LOVE." I hardly had to think about this one. I am always inspired by 1 Corinthians 13 in the New Testament of the Bible.1 Corinthians 13 LoveIf I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-23342976965090109022008-02-02T23:43:00.000-06:002008-02-02T23:56:25.045-06:00

It's 11:42 PM, I'm still in my scraproom printing out the RSVP cards for the wedding invitations and I have to leave for church by 7:00 tomorrow morning. What's wrong with this picture?It's been a busy day. We met DS#1 for lunch before baseball practice then went home to change the leaking cartridges in the bathroom sink and shower faucets. I don't know why they only last less than two years. The

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-62581274743406969252008-01-30T12:11:00.000-06:002008-01-30T12:29:13.633-06:00

I took off a day from work last week and, while I was off, had lunch with DH. I picked him up at his office and as we walked into the restaurant he pointed out that I was missing another hubcap. This is the third one gone! I think they disappear from the parking lot a work. I work downtown and you never know who's walking around where I park, even though we have "security" there. Many is the

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-49967432454713249432008-01-28T10:25:00.001-06:002008-01-28T10:40:35.457-06:00

Our conference holds the Adult Choir Workshop annually, usually the last Friday and Saturday in January. We went primarily because it was in San Antonio, but also because we just love going. It's a time to read fresh music and learn from a nationally known choral expert (usually). This year's workshop clinician was Dr. Eric Nelson from the Candler School of Theology Music Department at Emory

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-50457597126083959252008-01-26T22:08:00.000-06:002008-01-26T22:33:19.236-06:00

DS#1 has been anxiously waiting for tonight for nine months. We just returned from the UTSA basketball game vs Texas State University where the baseball team received their Southland Conference Championship rings. They won the title in May and had to wait until tonight for the rewards. We are so proud of him. After the ring cermony we stopped to congratulate the manager of the team, also, since

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-56363643219370621752008-01-25T23:24:00.000-06:002008-01-25T23:25:30.385-06:00

I saw this on Pam's blog.You Are a Plain Ole Cup of JoeBut don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicatedYou're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guysDown to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites.And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-81072630923228289742008-01-23T10:19:00.000-06:002008-01-23T10:46:52.436-06:00

A friend sent me this hilarious video of President Bush at the White House Correspondent's Association Dinner. I don't know when it took place, but it is quite entertaining. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-82919838162821813472008-01-22T11:30:00.000-06:002008-01-22T11:40:58.893-06:00

This is for Suzanne's YITL Challenge #2. The word is "winter." Winter in South Texas isn't idyllic by any stretch of the imagination. It's kind of frustrating that all of the winter scrapbook supplies include snowflakes, snowmen, things of that ilk. Here, winter is brown and dull. Although the live oak trees still have their leaves, the leaves are old and getting ready to fall in the spring (yes,

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-34859932790389482312008-01-20T22:07:00.000-06:002008-01-20T22:14:35.379-06:00

I know I'm out of order on this, but somehow last week just slipped past. I didn't get last week's word done, but I will. The picture a week I posted was really lame (a monogram stamp I created), especially compared to the baby pictures from Bonny that showed up the next day. Oh well. I did get this week's word done. I've been working on wedding invitations for some friends who mean a lot to me.

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-15590871589661952222008-01-16T09:55:00.000-06:002008-01-16T10:31:02.630-06:00

From Suzanne's Blog Challenge, Blog challenge # 3Rant and rave! What holiday drives you nuts? Think of a holiday people fuss over. Write about loving and/or disliking that holiday.What holiday drives me nuts? Any of the ones that causes merchandise for that holiday to be put out two months in advance of said holiday. Valentine's Day, Halloween, even Christmas. I love Christmas, but I despise

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-28541289779147449732008-01-10T18:28:00.001-06:002008-01-10T18:33:12.041-06:00

Okay, I'm going to try to keep up with Suzanne and her "Year In The Life" challenge. The first word of the year is "resolve." I made a small card to reflect what I would like to work on this year.As part of the monthly challenges at 123-scrap, I altered an acrylic box to put my cards in. I think it turned out really cute.It's not too late if you want to come play along with us!

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-11449666062538578342008-01-09T16:24:00.000-06:002008-01-09T16:33:16.072-06:00

Today's entry is from Suzanne's weekly blog challenge. I intend to go back and do the first one at some point, but when I get home, I forget about the blogosphere sometimes. Anyway, the challenge this week is:Focus on JUST the first half hour of your waking day. Write a blog entry describing it in depth. Include details such as what time you wake up and what your mood is generally. Are you

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-77619667915533070902008-01-08T15:11:00.000-06:002008-01-08T15:14:01.962-06:00

If the music on my blog-music player is coming through your speakers, scroll down and pause it before starting this video. It's got music which makes the whole thing just a riot.glumbert - Bad Day at the Office

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-5816119450774179182008-01-07T11:03:00.000-06:002008-01-07T11:08:41.291-06:00

I learned about Spark People from Cindy's blog and joined up. I'm still getting my mindset for losing weight, but I wanted to share about it here. You'll find a button like this:on the right side of my blog if you ever need or want it. I'm trying to get comfortable in my clothes again. I've seen pictures of myself and reflections lately that show just how bad off I am. So I know that I need

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-43353720619161116882008-01-06T22:28:00.000-06:002008-01-06T22:42:57.390-06:00

We just returned home from taking the newly 21-year-old son to Las Vegas for his birthday. No more Chuck E. Cheese! His little brother made the mistake of telling the sound guy at church about the birthday party and now everyone at Cowboys, where they both work, know all about it and rag him about it. Big brother wasn't too happy.Any way, I discovered that I haven't lost anything in Las Vegas (

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-41478846544677863222007-12-31T10:17:00.000-06:002007-12-31T10:28:36.568-06:00

Well, today's the last day. I wanted to get today's picture in early because I have so much stuff to do today before going to play music for New Year's Eve. Recently, on 123-Scrap, the question of the day was "What is your most favorite Christmas present?" My answer was all my new camera gear. I got a master flash, a monopod, and an electronic picture frame to view the photos. Well, it's hard to

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-11875648493005681572007-12-31T10:02:00.000-06:002007-12-31T10:16:43.918-06:00

We went to New Braunfels after church to rehearse with the band for the New Year's Eve gig that DH and I are playing in. He's been with this band for over 30 years and I've sat in with them a couple of times. The first time we rehearsed this year it was playing 2nd Alto Sax, but the second time (Sunday) I played Baritone Sax and sang. This will be my first non church-related singing. I'm afraid

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-33814382153137411202007-12-29T19:42:00.000-06:002007-12-29T20:37:36.222-06:00

Well, I forgot to tell you the big news from yesterday. I took DS#2 to Boerne (pronounced ber-nie for you non-natives...) to take his driving test. I took him there because the lines at the local office are always long and I just didn't feel like standing in line for an hour before I got my number to be called an hour later. Small towns usually aren't a problem. In fact, we were number 44 and

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-53676861385019919932007-12-28T20:04:00.000-06:002007-12-28T20:23:54.583-06:00

One of the many "events of the season" takes place tomorrow night at the Alamodome, our indoor American football stadium. The Alamobowl featuring the Texas A&M Aggies and the Penn State Nittany Lions is tomorrow and we have people from all over wandering around downtown. Two of my co-workers and I walked from our office to the Rivercenter Mall for lunch because I needed to exchange a pair of

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-37247578563080588652007-12-27T10:49:00.001-06:002007-12-27T10:53:24.817-06:00

Well, I'm caught up on the Picture A Day as of today! As I mentioned in my last post, I'm running out of steam. Today's photo is of a Christmas ornament that one of my co-workers gave me as a gift. He put a lot of thought into it because as you see, it's an angel singing from a book. When I pointed it out, he said that he chose it specifically for that reason. I talk about singing in the

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-5538740051205214562007-12-27T10:10:00.000-06:002007-12-27T10:26:05.813-06:00

I can tell I'm starting to get tired of taking pictures. I didn't think it would happen, but I had my camera with me all day and didn't take a single picture until we met as a family for supper at Mamacita's Restaurant. Mamacita's is DS#1's favorite Mexican food place and we usually go there on his birthday, but it didn't work out this year. So we made up for it a few days later. They started

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-79878593391616570192007-12-26T09:53:00.001-06:002007-12-26T10:31:48.319-06:00

Well, I already posted a Merry Christmas wish, but I'll do it again, since I'm catching up on the picture a day entries. Part of the challenge is to post every day, but I think with Christmas preparations in the month of December, we should get special dispensation for at least a couple of days, don't ya' think? Any way, I hope that you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.We went to the

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-67974527212502316092007-12-26T09:19:00.001-06:002007-12-26T09:53:01.247-06:00

Christmas Eve. This is traditionally (for the last 14 years) one of the busiest nights of the year. Our church used to have four services on Christmas Eve, but it was eventually cut down to three to allow people more time with family between the second and third services. This year we went down to two, one at 6 and one at 11. We used to have snacks in the conference room between services

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-19578311533139574362007-12-26T08:53:00.000-06:002007-12-26T09:17:08.208-06:00

Since DH had to go to work on Monday, we held Christmas with my family after church on Sunday. We drove up to Austin and had a wonderful supper prepared by SIL's mother, who is Canadian, but still very German. Her parents are visiting from Edmonton through mid-February. They are very nice people, but my brother gets tired of them easily. But then he gets tired of everyone easily. He's such a

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-7760985846244823372007-12-25T08:29:00.000-06:002007-12-25T08:34:19.459-06:00

I know I'm behind in my PAD, but I will catch up, probably tomorrow. But for now, I want to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.I hope that the joy of the season surrounds you and your loved ones. Have a wonderful day!

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-3675979090496027622007-12-22T22:47:00.000-06:002007-12-22T22:57:00.753-06:00

Happy Birthday to my 21 year old son!My oldest child turned 21 today. It's been a somewhat bittersweet day because I'm so proud of the man he's become, but saddened by the fact that he's not my little baby anymore. He spent the first hours of his day where his night job as a spotlight operator at a dance hall where everyone wanted to buy him a drink. They apparently think it's great fun to get

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-22274246688473694032007-12-21T08:20:00.000-06:002007-12-21T08:42:32.387-06:00

I took a picture of a Christmas gift I plan to give my father which I made last night. But as I was driving to work this morning, I watched the most beautiful dawn. Since we started this challenge, I have become more acutely aware of light and shadows. I'm not just seeing objects, but the light on them. So, because the dawn held long enough for me to park my truck at work, here is today's

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-17120647409766779622007-12-20T23:57:00.000-06:002007-12-21T00:10:44.109-06:00

Tonight was DS#2's Winter Band Concert. They should have called it the Christmas Concert since all the music was Christmas related. Harumph on public schools! One song that every band plays at Christmastime is the Leroy Anderson arrangement of Sleigh Ride with the sound of the whip in it in various places. DS is a percussionist and had the covetted part of playing the whip. It's not a real whip.

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-66746244382177726492007-12-19T09:03:00.000-06:002007-12-19T09:42:42.725-06:00

This morning we woke up to some of the densest fog I've ever seen. The radio personalities were talking about how they got lost on the way into work this morning because they couldn't see the street signs. Sure enough, they weren't kidding. The first picture is what my street looks like in the fog with a sodium street light to illuminate the mist.I drove to work again today. (I have a hard

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-51581849251160662772007-12-19T08:53:00.001-06:002007-12-19T09:27:49.647-06:00

A Christmas Party?No. A baby shower!Tuesday evening was the Band Boosters' Christmas party, but we actually held a surprise baby shower for one of the band directors and his wife, who is having a baby. She's due January 7, so she's ready any moment now. They are one of the first first-time parents I've ever met that had everything ready for the baby. The room is ready, the car seat is out of

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-56417099914605856572007-12-17T10:02:00.000-06:002007-12-17T14:42:32.624-06:00

I left home this morning at dawn, when the sun wasn't up quite yet, but the sky was lightening up. Those are the times I hate driving in for two reasons. First, the sun will be in my eyes below the sun visor and I'll be driving with all the other sun-blinded folks. Second, there are some wonderful photo opportunities when the light is that color and I can't stop to shoot them. Even after the

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-43579923668151488842007-12-17T09:48:00.000-06:002007-12-17T10:02:53.288-06:00

It was another long Saturday night and going to church with no sleep. It's getting to be a pattern that I don't like. It wouldn't have happened except for a recalcitrant computer that wouldn't get itself on the network. At work, we rotate on-call every week and each person comes up every four weeks. The third weekend (generally) is the scheduled maintenance weekend and unless we're doing

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-36783891970295906192007-12-16T01:48:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:30:54.417-06:00

I was in my first opera this weekend. When I was I child, I had a secret wish to be an opera singer. To this day I'm not sure why because I'm not a big fan of opera music. But I guess my wish finally came true, even if I wasn't really on stage. Our choir director is a graduate student at a nearby university and they put on a travelling show of Amahl and the Night Visitors in several cities as

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-48733031346545014052007-12-14T14:33:00.000-06:002007-12-14T14:40:12.313-06:00

Ever wonder what a three pound cinnamon roll looks like? I can show you what about 3/4 of a pound looks like:One of the guys went to Lulu's to pick up one of their famous three pound cinnamon rolls yesterday. This is what is left today. The Styrofoam tray is about the same size as you'd get with a point of hamburger meat the the grocery store. That thing was a good six inches high. We

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-59878961315889549342007-12-13T09:33:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:31:17.219-06:00

I love making crafty things. Sometimes I'm not so creative, but given instructions I can do just about anything, I think. Today's picture is an ornament I made. But first I have to tell you how I got to this particular ornament. I got an e-mail from EK Success marketing and one of the items they had for sale was a Martha Stewart Vintage Paper Ornaments Kit. I thought it was so cool and since

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-59595522095305595142007-12-12T22:38:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:32:12.832-06:00

I adore the music staff at my church. Jeremiah is our choir director and he's a graduate of the music program at a local university majoring in opera. He's taught us how to sing and we have a wonderful sounding, albeit small, choir. David is our accompanist. He's a Jewish-born man who converted to Christianity, got degrees in music, teaching, has a Principal's certificate, and is attending

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-40735693117568135282007-12-11T14:35:00.001-06:002007-12-11T14:53:56.298-06:00

What is the commercial Christmas season without a bit of window shopping? Our Rivercenter Mall is anchored by Dillard's in a building that used to be the historic Joske's of Texas. The building features detailed art-deco styling. An interesting story about the building: There is a church in the block called St. Joseph's. When Joske's wanted to build their flagship building, they wanted to

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-50612580280398252082007-12-10T14:56:00.000-06:002007-12-10T15:12:03.522-06:00

I love my kitties. Okay, love is too strong a word and should be reserved for people. I really like my kitties a lot. Jericho has taken to curling up beside me at night when the lights go out. He doesn't stay all night, but he stays 'til I'm asleep most nights. Jessica is the little princess. She has a high pitched squeaky voice that is always asking for something. Usually food. This is

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-1134917063765352632007-12-09T19:38:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:31:43.022-06:00

My December is so busy every year that I get fewer and fewer decorations up each year. So far this year, I've got one decoration up. It's the door cross made of Mt. Rainier greenery from a fundraiser for DS's band. Hopefully I'll get more up this week. This picture has been Photoshopped because I took it sans flash on the front porch in the dark. I tried to highlight the cross, but I couldn't

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-76886466704362087412007-12-08T21:46:00.000-06:002007-12-21T09:08:13.343-06:00

San Antonio is a well-known tourist destination for people all around the world. They come first for the Alamo, second for the Riverwalk. This time of year the Riverwalk is espcially beautiful with the Christmas lights hung in the trees. In keeping with the title of this blog, I took today's picture from the window of the conference room we're working in over Saturday night.The hotels that you

Karennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-56495889556810382722007-12-07T17:00:00.000-06:002007-12-07T17:03:11.792-06:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1225801826

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-46820665481278530892007-12-07T10:56:00.000-06:002007-12-07T11:34:18.011-06:00

This picture a day challenge has got me really trying to figure out better ways to use my camera. I've even pulled out the manual to see what the different settings do. That and seeing photographs from a friend's wedding done by an art photographer, I've started experimenting. I also read a little bit at the Confessions of a Pioneer Woman's blog about how she uses her camera and I learned more

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-1383365464958099832007-12-06T10:49:00.000-06:002007-12-06T13:17:06.039-06:00

I decided to drive to work today because the bus made me mad yesterday. I know, I'm not hurting anyone but myself, but I can't help it. I got to my stop just as the bus was pulling up and I started waving from across the street, but the traffic was just too heavy to get across before the jerk took off without even looking up! It's really not that big a deal, usually, but I had someplace to be

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-71927303115557713392007-12-05T13:56:00.000-06:002007-12-05T14:11:24.155-06:00

I decided to take my camera on the bus today because when I got off yesterday at my stop over the Riverwalk, the light was just beautiful. The giant cyprus trees along the river bank have started "rusting" as the leaves turn. They're still somewhat green, but their full color hasn't come in. And the holiday lights are on on the Riverwalk, and although it was already daylight when I took this

Karennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-61819761100553246602007-12-04T16:42:00.000-06:002007-12-04T16:46:41.224-06:00

Since I wasn't going to take my camera on the bus and I didn't know what the rest of the day held for me, I took a shot while I was driving to the bus stop. This is what winter in South Texas looks like early in the morning. All that's left of the summer plants are their skeletons, making them look so very stark. We don't get snow here to cover things up.

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-62831352850594725032007-12-04T11:19:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:29:23.864-06:00

It's kind of hard to get all the colors of the sunset sometimes. I was driving home and saw these incredible clouds at sunset. I know, don't take pictures while you're driving, but it was impossible to pull over and I was at a perfect place to capture this (except for the billboard!). If you can look past the billboard, it's a typical sunset after a beautifully sunny and cool day.I'll take all

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-50103157747565311782007-12-03T11:30:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:30:06.782-06:00

Yesterday was our church's major kick-off for Advent. The Children's Department provided the Journey to Bethlehem which was followed by a worship service we call the Christ Child Service. This is when we make our special gifts for the month of December in support of ministries outside the walls of our church.The Journey to Bethlehem was great for children because it gave them a sense of what

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-50853730961532828332007-12-03T11:19:00.000-06:002007-12-03T11:29:34.722-06:00

Lisa at 123-scrap offered up a really neat challenge. Post a picture a day to your blog and write about it. At the end of the month, print them out and make a scrapbook about it. I haven't totally committed to it, but I'm going to try. I actually took pictures on Dec. 1 and 2, so I'll start with those.Saturday morning was balmy and warm, so Breakfast with Santa could be slightly uncomfortable

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-10221089283082512262007-11-29T15:03:00.000-06:002007-11-29T17:32:23.739-06:00

Well, I've been in Chicago since Sunday and have managed to get myself lost once. I'm here for training for my company to learn about cisco MDS SAN switches. I know that's a little too technical for most of my readers, but suffice it to say, I'm learning now why I do some of the things I do in my job.I arrived on Sunday evening and found my hotel via their shuttle and got settled in. It's

Karennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-15580476041039850462007-11-20T09:23:00.000-06:002007-11-20T09:56:26.928-06:00

I heard about an article from the Wall Street Journal on the radio this morning talking about the school superintendent of Argyle High School, Jason Ceyanes, banning "freak dancing" and "grinding" at the winter dance recently. There's a video at the link above, too, that adds a lot of information to the story. Let me just say this, as a chaperone for the band and a prude femme, I want him as my

Karennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-68345393950295976702007-11-15T10:45:00.001-06:002007-11-15T13:57:52.732-06:00

It's been a while since I blogged. Bad me, I know. It's been kind of hectic what with working on weekends, working evenings, band stuff, enchilada dinner, etc. And in the midst of that, my baby turned 18. Here's the rundown:Enchilada Dinner - one of the band's two major fundraisers where the boosters make enchiladas, rice and beans and sell plates for $5. We use the cafeteria at the school

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-66135171215286518942007-11-13T08:22:00.000-06:002007-11-13T08:43:40.213-06:00

I took this little quiz when I found it on Cori's blog. It seems surprisingly accurate.What Your Handwriting Says About YouYou are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress.You are very extroverted and outgoing. You are loving, friendly, and supportive. However, you are also manipulative and controlling at times.You are balanced and grounded. You

Karennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687552257713494046.post-43929844173912068762007-11-08T08:46:00.000-06:002007-11-08T08:52:32.422-06:00

I found this on Rach's blog this morning and thought it looked kind of cool. I haven't done one of these here, yet. If you decide to do it, leave a comment in my blog so I can read yours, too.House meme:1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Dove Aloe.2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No.3. What would you change about your living room? Change the carpet to wood

Karennoreply@blogger.com2