The good 'ol Ohio valley....sneeze

Ohio! The heart of it all! What they really should have named it is Ohio! The heart of allergies!
I just sneezed for the 453rd time today, and it’s 9:33 a.m. “It’s gonna be a good day tater.”

Ohio summers are hot & humid, the spring is wet and dreary, and winter is bitterly cold, dark, and way too long. Fall is our only reprise. So….why do we live here again? Actually, I know why I live here. I was born here. Not that I haven’t thought about it! I guess I’m just too lazy or stupid to move? I digress.
So the flip side of that question is why would anybody in their right mind move here? I’ve met several transplanted Ohioans. The general census seems to be they did it for love. All I can say to that is……???
One person I’m aquainted with even moved here from Hawaii. Um, hello? Hawaii? Couldn’t you have made HIM move THERE? Would you really have to MAKE him? I mean beaches, ocean, breathtaking beauty, and perfect sunny weather year round or OHIO. Is that really a contest?
I know Ohio does have beauty. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that -SNEEZE- the pollen and mold have colored my opinion. – SNEEZE-

Things on the house are moving along. I spent last night in the ditch around the foundation spreading gravel and hay. Why? I don’t know. Something about drainage. All I know is Scott said it had to be done so I grabbed a shovel. That was good for the allergies!

Finally, I would like to say that I am having “one of those days” for the following reasons:
#1 I am wearing a skirt w/ a slit in the front –mistake- it’s bugging me
#2 this slip WILL end up in the trash before the days over
#3 My hair is pulled back in a circa 1989 ponytail b/c there is NOTHING else to do w/ it, and if it gets in my face again I may snap
#4 I have sneezed 455 times today. Thank you Ohio valley, I love you. And so does Merk Medco.
#5 this bra may just drive me to the edge today. If my chi chi’s were smaller I might just let it rip
#6 my legs are blinding white. I think I might be legally obligated to hand out sunglasses to anyone that comes near me
#7 if I hear that STUPID song “poker face” by lady Ga Ga –whatever that means- again my radio is going in the trash

Thank you for listening. Amen.

Rainy day? No Way!

Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day
If you don’t, I don’t care
I just got some AWESOME news!!!

It may be raining outside but I’m walkin’ on sunshine!

Scott called and said that he picked up the building permit, and the bank called and said everything is done! We have a green light to start digging! OH. MY. GOODNESS. The dream is real people. Scott called the excavator and he said he would break ground Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Somebody pinch me! I think Scott and I have dreamed and planned, and dreamed and planned and been disappointed, and dreamed and planned this house for so long that neither one of us we’re willing to believe it was really finally happening.

It makes me want to throw myself down and pray and cry and sing praises to God for what He’s done for us. God has done so much for us! This has been a long journey, but when 2009 rolled around it was immediately evident that His hand was in this.
We are so blessed. Let me say that again…we are soooo blessed. We have found so many good deals. So many doors have been opened. So many things have fallen into place. That is such a big deal. Scott’s talents are allowing us to build this house for literally half what someone else would. This house is going to be exactly what we want. I can’t think of one thing we are compromising on. Scott and I will be 37 and 35 years old; the kids will be 12, 10, and 7 years old when this house is done. It will be a place our kids can grow and bring their families home to someday.

We are so blessed. Thank you God for the many things you have done for my family. Thank you for the big picture. Thank you for sunshine in the middle of a rainy day!

My favorite things

I am not a worry wart. Sure, I have concerns about money etc. –And that’s a BIG etcetera but overall I don’t worry much. I have strong faith, and God hasn’t let me down yet!!!
In the middle of this exciting time in my life where it seems like Scott and I are finally going to fulfill our dream of building our own house, I have started to worry.
I work in health care. Yesterday I was told that if the proposed Ohio budget passes in June my pay will be cut by 10% and I will start paying more for my insurance.
What?!!!!!!! That is not good. – Those are the 4 most understated words I have ever written.
SO. In light of the fact that I’m a bit stressed right now, but do not want to talk about it,
I have decided to write about some of my favorite things…..

♪ These are a few of my favorite things ♫ In no particular order:

Laughing
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Frisch’s diet VANILLA Coke
McDonald’s Diet Coke
My Honda Pilot
Forrest Gump – the movie “you ain’t got no legs Lt. Dan”
Snuggling in the covers with my rug rats
snapping a really good picture
Smiling “why are you smiling? I love to smile. Smiling’s my favorite” -Elf
Sleeping past 5:30 a.m.
My anniversary ring
A good hair cut and color
Lazy Sunday afternoons
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer “hi, my name is Charmaine and I love the Twilight books”
Beautiful blue skies
Sunshine!
Autumn
The smell of rain –even better is the smell of dirt or concrete right after it rains in spring
The smell of bleach
Laying in bed talking and watching TV with Scott at the end of the day
Chocolate fountains –hello? Best invention ever!
Clean sheets
When Harry met Sally – the movie
Dirty Dancing- the movie
Seinfeld re-runs
Lunch with my girlfriends
Date night
Watching my kids laugh and play
Johnson’s baby lotion
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picolt
Board games
Coloring
Chi tea lattes
Grater’s black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream -mmmmm
Dreaming about building our house with Scott
Finding a really good bargain
my sister-in-law Jodi’s homemade chocolate chip cookies
antique handmade quilts
fettuccini alfredo from the Olive Garden
bear hugs from my rug rats
pink gel ink pens
a new book
organization!
Tide with bleach detergent
April fresh Downy fabric softener
a day off of work with pay!
Cracker Barrel biscuits

I could go on and on, but I better quit now.