Day 31- Jana Day

Anyone whose been around my blog for awhile knows about "Jana Day" or "PandaMom Day" as I might have referred to it before. PandaPop and I were engaged on Jan. 23, 1992. A few days later his love was just oozing out and I guess he couldn't contain it so he made January 31st officially Jana Day. I've celebrated it with joy ever since. Here are my sweet little gifts he brought to me for my enjoyment today. The card made me cry. There is no one on this earth better for me than him. I love my Man.

Day 30 - Thief

Do you know what this is? It is ONE earplug. I don't have two. They keep being stolen. I keep earplugs handy in several places like my toiletry bag, purse, nightstand...just to make sure I have them if needed. I wake up to a mouse breathing outside so I need earplugs if I know it isn't going to be quiet for the night.

Apparently, my DEAF Doggie needs them too.

He likes to steal them and eat them.

I should have learned my lesson by now and remember to always put them IN the drawer and not at eye-level for him to covet.....and steal.

Why does a DEAF dog need earplugs? Beats me.

Day 29 - Reading

These are the NINE 4-5 inch files that we have to have read by Monday morning. They contain all the info about PandaJOY and her case....mostly about the biological parents. So sad. We want our baby girl home where she belongs!!

Day 28 - Candy Land

I did the photos for this DARLING candy themed PJ night for mommies, pre-k and Kindergarten little girls at our church. Absolutely precious decor, games and fun! The lollipops in the pic are actually ball point pens. So cute!

Day 27 - A Slight Comparison

My BFF across The Pond was going to be getting this jar of Nut*ella in person when her mom delivered, however I missed the deadline for sending it along with her mom. The other day she asked what Nut*ella is. I wanted to send her some so she could enjoy it as much as me. Since it didn't get mailed it screamed whispered my name from the shoebox from which it was packed and I caved. I mean no disrespect to anyone who truly struggles with an addiction to crack. It's just how I feel when I eat it. Yum.

Day 26 - Left-overs

Love the left-overs from children's events.......only how am I supposed to keep on track with eating low carbs with THESE in my kitchen?!

A Little Flare

I made 10 pages of collages from my 4 Girls Weekend. (The collage on my regular blog is not even one of them. I just made that one for a quickie post). I can't stop staring at them and trying to relive our great time! I had them printed up in 8x8 size collages, put them in slip covers and made these oh-so-cute scrapbook covers for added flare. Mailing them to my girls today---I know they'll LOVE 'em! ; )

Day 24 - Personal Sanctuary

I ♥ my iPod.

The bright purple iPod with the screaming orange earbuds that were $4 cheaper than the purple earbuds become my best friends very often. I love to wear them while walking Deaf-Doggie.

I have a broad palette for musical genres. At any given moment I could be listening to Chris Botti, Third Day, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Van Morrison, Def Leppard, Journey, Susan Ashton, Boston, Dave Koz, Plumb, Sting, Chicago, Kari Jobe, George Strait, Newsboys, The Beatles......I love lots of different styles and my mood dictates what playlists gets chosen each time........for a few moments of respite.

Day 23 - Sunday Afternoon Nap

Notice PandaPop in the background snoozing away while Gandalf the White sits happily at his feet on the couch.

Days 21 & 22 Children's Ministry Winter Retreat

DAY 22 - LEGO theme for the games at the children's retreat

DAY 21 - The sunset at the children's retreat. I did not retouch this photo!!!!!!!! It was THAT beautiful in real life! Not quite that red, but the camera must have picked up some tones my eye couldn't see. That, dear friends, is a TEXAS SUNSET.

Day 20 - Bejeweled

Day 19 - Waiting

Day 18 - Perfect Quote

All four of us have had a couple of days to come down from our sweet high from the weekend. Today I returned the cute little picture and frame that was from Day 5. I decided that it wasn't exactly the decorating route I wanted to go with. I saw this 18x18 inch frame, read the quote and knew I had to have it. It fits so perfect for how I feel about my precious time spent with my girls.

Day 17 - Sneak

Fun new measuring cups that my sis-in-law and I bought FOR each other on purpose for Christmas. Very fun to open these cuties up at the same time in front of our family knowing full well we'd been sneaky since Thanksgiving. Little details in life are fun!

Days 15 & 16 4 Girls Weekend

Day 16 - bracelets bought as gifts for us from one of the girls to remember our birthday weekend

Day 15 - Unbelievably fabulous weekend with my college best friends. We have been friends for over 20 years and celebrated our 40th birthdays all together this past weekend. Though we all live apart and have different lives we still keep in touch (thank you Face*Book!!).

So. Much. Fun.....and I seriously NEEDED it right now.

Day 14 - Delectable

I will be having these tonight. With my college BFFs. Celebrating our 40th Birthdays. All weekend. I so wish I wouldn't have just discovered the DARK chocolate with CARAMEL from the best chocolate maker in the world (in my humble big-haired-Texas-hick-girl-opinion). It's just one more thing to CRAVE. Ohhhhh.

Day 13 - It's the Little Things That Mean So Much

Can't wait to give these little goodies to my sweet college friends this weekend! They turned out way too cute, I think!

Day 12 - Fire & Ice

I love the extremes in these two pics! These were actually taken on Sunday night, but I could easily have taken them today as well with the temps still freezing, the ice hanging around and the need for the warm cozy fireplace.

Day 11 - Copy Cat

I love to copy something great from someone else. I rarely come up with something fabulous all on my own. I usually see something I like and copy it, tweak it or am inspired to try a new thing from it. A blogger I adore had a post about making signs so I gave it a whirl for some gifts for this coming weekend with old college friends. (Term "old" used literally....we are celebrating turning 40!!)

Day 10 - Enjoy Winter

Day 9 - First (probably only) Snow of the Year

Day 8 - Sizzle

Day 7 - Just When You Think.....

.....you are about to turn the corner you realize it's just another cliff.

Unofficially found out today that the mediation date of January 18 has been changed due to a lawyer's need to change for another case. Don't even know when the next date could possibly be.

I was so mad that I went numb and didn't feel anger or tears or anything. Just numb.

It's all quite sickening. When is enough, enough?

All I could do was listen to Bebo Norman sing "I Will Lift My Eyes"....two hours later.

Day 6 - Cautious JOY

We were blessed yesterday by our dear church staff and some friends when they told us to plan on a "toddler shower" on January 30th. Hmmmm.....no child yet, but a shower already planned.

Been there, done that in that general arena.....got burned.

PandaPop and I cautiously went to Tar*get today, got a little red gun and had a blast scanning this and that for a toddler-almost-preschooler. We skipped right over the itty-bitty baby stuff and went right for the sippy cups with straws, cute bath towels, books and of course, TOYS!

If anything should happen for us to NOT need the blessing of a toddler shower.....God is still God and good.

Day 5 - A Splash of Color

We have ripped off the old wall paper (THREE layers!!) in our kitchen from the previous owners. I love rich, dark, warm colors, but I am now in the mood for white, bright and splash of color. When I saw this collection at a store I knew it was just the splash I was looking for. Not too much, but enough to keep the white from looking too sterile and to make it interesting. By the way, PandaPop did 99.9% of the paper removing. I was the clean-up girl. Can't decorate until the walls are done so it will be awhile before the finished project is ready for pics.

Day 4 - Children's Ministry

PandaPop and I love working together on ideas for the children's ministry and did so today. Not so high on the pay-scale as compared to our peers, but the work is awesome, rewarding and downright FUN!! We serve with a fabulous staff, have a great church family and the best kids! I adore the ability to see my husband during the work day and not have to send him off on a plane weekly like several of my dear friends have to do. That would rock my world and not in a good way. So thankful for my Children's Minister.

Day 3 - Reality

It starts today. Not just a diet, but going back to the mindset that helped me lose 30lbs before. Change my thinking and actions for more than just a couple of hours!!!

(Inspired for this pic by another 365 blogger from last year)

Day 2 - Technology

Sometimes Skype works great and other times it's just plain weird. I skyped with my BFF across the pond just a few minutes before they had to take their teenage son back to his boarding school far away from them. Tears. I kept telling them that they looked pixelated and were hard to see....then the colors did this freaky thing which screamed for documentation!

Welcome 2011-Day 1

Here's to a great kick off to 2011!

I am hoping and praying that I will be a better me this year. A better version of who God created me to be. There is so much potential in this lump of clay and I really, REALLY want the Potter to mold and make it into something colorful, beautiful and in His image.

This pic is a set of markers that PandaGirl received from her great-aunt that has 217 pieces of art supplies just waiting to create a masterpiece. Yes, TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN.

I LOVE the image of these markers all neatly lined up in rainbow form......just waiting for something fabulous to emerge.