TWENTY YEARS???????????

image_main, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Can you believe it's been TWENTY YEARS.

As the video to your right proves - they are quite young aren't they???

Sting and Bono crack me up - at how young they look.....

Self Portrait Tuesday

The angel on the tree, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I had a hard time with thinking of one last ROLE that defines me....

Then I realized, as we were decorating the tree, that it's just being a mom.....

Dec 2005, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

to two AMAZING lil girls........

Every year Christmas is such a blast decorating.....

This is me.....

Be sure to click on the pictures to see more of them....
and especially be sure to go to Self Portrait Tuesday to catch other awesome SPT pics!!!!!

The turkey

The turkey, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I trust everyone's Thanksgiving was grand.
We had a great Thanksgiving - despite me working thru the weekend.
Food, fellowship et al!!

First though - the girls got up bright and early
they went downtown for the Marshall Fields Thanksgiving Day Parade

parade 3, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I understand it was VERY cold this year!!!!
I made the girls wear three layers before they left!!!!

parade 18, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The Last one........

parade 5, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I am thankful that my girls get to see a parade up close and personal - of this size.
The parade I went to in Daytona - growing up - was not like this.
Balloons were small enough for Rowan to drag down the street......

parade 22, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Christmas in the big city doesn't get any better than this......

After the parade, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

After the parade the girls hung out at STARBUCKS for a HOT hot chocolate.
They were a lil chilled despite the three layers of clothes.....

After coming home, getting warmed up.... the girls got busy!!!

Thanksgiving dinner, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Alot of the recipies were from Emeril's show this year.
The turkey was brined overnight in the fridge in citrus water, brown sugar and something else - don't remember......

Daley Plaza 2005, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Then.....
girls then went BACK downtown on Friday to see the tree lighting at Daley plaza.
Rowan called me at work to tell me that they said "3....2.....1..." and there were fireworks and bamm - the tree was lite!!!!

Snow angel city style, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The first snow fall - the first snow angel of the season - City Style!!!

All in all - it was a GREAT holiday weekend.
I now have several days off from work....
I went shopping today and spent WAY to much money at...

Target
Whole Foods
Gap

Now ... shocking as it may seem....
I have to get ready for a DATE with my hubby.......

Baby sitter will be here soon!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

My girls are off to the LAST Marshall Fields Thanksgiving day parade....
I am curled up in my jamies and bed trying to listen to Joyce (or will be shortly).....
It's a brisk windy day in the City of Gale (love you Michelle....)
Snow likely.....

Turkey is started....
Pies are cooling on the rack.....

What a day of praises.....

THANKS to GOD for Life in Abundance!!!!!

Walking the line

All I can say is WOW!!!!!

We went to see this movie on Saturday. Not only was it sold out (in a theatre playing Harry Potter AND Walk the Line playing every hour) but it was unbelievably well done.

My daughter has not stopped talking about it (Nat - the 8yo).

I downloaded the soundtrack tonite - amazing. Joaquin Phoenix really transformed himself into the Man in Black.

You HAVE to see this movie whether in the theatre, dollar theatre or Netflix - you gotta see it.....

Interactions

I know that we are suppose to be in the world and not of the world but sometimes I feel like it's harder to do than believe in. I have no problems casting Legalism aside. However, I have a hard time living IN the world when the world around me is so secular, pluralistic and self absorbed. (The latter being the majority of the issue.)

I guess I just spent time in prayer today asking for strength, grace and mercy to be IN the world and feel comfortable. That's the bottom line - I just do not feel comfortable.

Please do not misunderstand - I am not judging anyone. I myself feel uncomfortable. My heart breaks at all the people who do not know God's Grace or refuse to accept his unconditional love. And - I am equally broken that I am uncomfortable reaching out to them.

I feel so much more comfortable with my Christian buds and bible thumpin bloggers..... I feel like a failure alot of the time....

Just wondering if anyone else ever felt this way???

I'm FREE!!!!!

I'm FREE - free at last free at last!!!!!!!

I am WIRELESS!!!!!

I am wireless at the green crack house at the end of my street
(Starbucks)

I am wireless at home.....

and I am wireless about town......

This is so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a mac user and LOVIN it!

My latest obsession

My latest obsession, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

SUDOKU

It's the latest thing....

I got hooked at work.....

I love math and I love manipulating numbers.

I can't put this down now....

Now if I can just get it on my MAC?????????

SPT 11/15 Tools of the Trade

SPT 11/15 Tools of the Trade, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Self portrait Tuesday
11/15 - tools of the trade.
Note the theme "red."

Nothing defines me as this group of tools for work.

Schew..... just got it in under MN. Just got home from work.....

It's official

I am a CONVERT.

I have converted!!!!

I LOVE MY MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!

What took me so long???????????????

(note red head poised over Ibook stark raving mad at all it's capabilities......)

Look what came today

What is White, less than 2.27 KG (5 pounds) and is my new best friend?????

IMG_3459_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

MY NEW G4 APPLE BOOK!!!!

Isn't it just adorable!!!!

I have come over to the dark side (or the lighter side depending where your PC choices sit).
I am now learning the APPLE system.

I kinda like it.

I can't wait to get the wireless up and running!!!

**********************
Sooooooo excuse me if I am still absent from the blogging for a while longer........

And I wonder what could be in this lil box that also came today????????

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

What's in the box???????, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Can't be opened till Dec 25th!!!!
It's a Gift for the hubby!!!!

I am just so giggly about this gift.......

Beautiful Child of God

My daughter typed the most special message to me today........

I started crying.......

Every morning I recite this little saying to Natalie that is meant to inspire and solidify her stronger in God. Nat struggles with insecurity and gets stressed about going to school every morning. I see a difference in her after I say it and consistently said - she becomes more self-confident and full of life.

It goes like this......

You are the Head not the tail, Above not below. You were designed well before time began to fulfill God's purpose for you on earth. I PRAISE HIM because YOU are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made my BEAUTIFUL CHILD of GOD.

So today on the computer I found this note typed out to me from Natalie......

dear bonnie, i love you. you are the best. you are the head not the thale. you are above not baloe.... and that is why you are specile to me. love Natalie

It actually made me shed a tear of happiness...... That's my baby girl....

SPT Nov 8

SPT Nov 8, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

This month's challenge (now that I have time to do it...) was to journal our roles.

I happen to snap the first pic at the salon last week getting the do done. You know the do that hides those maternal gray roots I know are hiding in there...

My biggest fear is helping Nat with her homework. I can calculate a liafe saving drug in a blink of an eye, run a code and do an across the room assessment but lately her homework has been kicking my butt!!!

My favorite part of being a mom is the snuggling at the end of the day. All three of us ended up on our couch this evening - all were out in moments.....

Who is this girl?????????

Who is this girl?????????, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Who is this little GROWN up girl?
She's my baby!!!!!!
My eight year old baby who looks like she is embarking on her teenage years.
She has style, she has grace, she has sensitivity and she is sold out for GOD.
I just pray she stays that way......

Speaking for girls sold out for God - our Missionary student friend from down south
is going through "times." If you get a chance to stop by her blog - she's a very talented, sold out for God, beautiful, woman. Say hi!

And another fellow blogger (friend) is getting very close to getting her baby from China!!!
Priase God for Leah and Jason!!!
Just reading her blog makes me so happy. I hardly have time to tell her - but I am just so happy for her every time I read her blog updates. The baby girl is BEAUTIFUL!!!

If you get a chance - stop by her blog and say hi as well!!!!!

Pumpkin time

Man am I behind on posts.

We were able to get to the Apple Orchard outside of Chicago - at the last minute.

pumpkin search, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The girls had a blast picking out pumpkins, playing games and of course - the cotton candy.

Butterfly kisses and cottton candy, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

And yes mom gave into the temptation.
There is just something about fresh made cotton candy..... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Cotton Candy, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Note - we are in the middle of NO WHERE (which is about a 2 hour drive away from Chicago). Yet - there is still an ATM. Mind you it's in a trailor....
but it's an ATM. Says alot about our society no????

Pumpkin time, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Afterwards - they decorated their pumpkins....

Speaking of pumpkins.... I just love baking with pumpkins and squash....
LOVE fall.
It has to be my favorite season....
JUST HAS TO BE.

All the colors, all the scents all the tastes. Hands down Fall wins!!!

Pumpkin time, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I just realized those are my GOOD knives that dad let them use... My really good cooking knives.....
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I heard it was just for the pictures - but it makes me wonder if he used them......
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

thank u for working

This is a thank you card I made for a co-worker that picked up my 7P to 11P shift on Halloween. (Praise God)

thank u for working, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I was so happy that she volunteered to pick it up. I took the girls out to treat n treat and had a BLAST! I found out AFTER the switch that it was her birthday as well. Therefore I included a birthday card on the inside.

Inside I included a card to the Green Crack House on the corner (Starbucks).

Stuff....... stuff..... and more stuff.....

Agggggggggh!!!!

Ever feel like the world around you is speeding up but you are getting slower and slower?

I have tons of stuff to do for school in January....

I have tons of stuff to do for my trip in January (including the vain need for CLOTHES)....

I have tons of stuff to do IN my house......

I am desparately seeking to do more "in the word" time (STUFF) but find that my life is going faster and faster, busier and busier (I know it's not a word).

I think my prayer lately has been - God just get me thru the next few hours, minutes, shifts, days, weeks.....

Today - I had a breakthrough. I have been trying to get up and do a "moment in the word" before going to work or starting the day. I have been rather sporadic (to be honest). Today I had to get up for a MANDATORY meeting (don't go there) and got up ONE HOUR early (color me shell shocked pink) and actually had a LONG moment in the word and was able to get some STUFF done.

PRAISE GOD!

Now if I only had ENERGY. I feel like a slug. I have migraines almost daily, lately I vacilate between Aching all over and feeling okay on an every other day basis...... (personally - and I will deny I said this - I think night shift is getting to me.....)

I NEED ENERGY.....