N Is For North Carolina

Christmas Day 1994, I packed my Oldsmobile Cutlass and drove to the Milwaukee airport to meet my boyfriend. He was flying in from Charlotte, NC and together we were going to make the drive back south and begin a new life. I was quite excited. The farthest I had ever been from my hometown was Chicago and now I was going to move 1000 miles away. It was a little scary starting over but at least I would not be alone.

We had planned on spending the night in Milwaukee and leaving the next morning. On the way to the hotel, Bill took out a ring box and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes. (We have been married now for 17 years in January) I almost crashed the car in my excitement.

The drive to NC seemed to go by quickly. We stayed with Bill's sister for a few days before moving into our own condo in Pineville. North Carolina was beautiful but I did miss the snow. It didn't seem like Christmas anymore. We lived in that condo for a few months and shortly after having William, I went back to WI for a visit. On my return to NC, we had moved into an apartment and I found a job in a daycare. Teaching was my passion and it all started in NC. We did move to South Carolina in 1996 and in 2004 I moved back to WI. My hubby and children moved shortly after.

On cold winter days, I sure miss the warm sun of North Carolina. I also miss the people. Everyone in the south is so friendly and willing to share a smile. You don't get much of that in WI. Someday I hope we can return to NC but in the mean time, I will enjoy the snow.

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M Is For Magic Eraser

If you have any children, especially under the age of ten, you need to invest in a stock pile of magic erasers. These magical sponges erase MOST marks on walls, floors and more. They are great for crayons and markers but in my experience, they only lighten permanent marker and ball point pen. I hope who ever invented these, got a promotion and a big fat raise. They have come in handy on numerous occasions when nothing else would work. Today was one of those occassions.



See that Lane Hope Chest up there? I bought it yesterday at the thrift store. It isn't new and already had some dings but now it has blue ink marks all over the vinyl, lovingly put there by Ryker.



So what to do, what to do? I didn't have any magic erasers. I got some dish soap and a rag. No success.  I tried Goo Gone. Unfortunately this product only managed to lighten the area around the mark. I tried steel wool. Not any better. As a last resort, I tried the white pasty toothpaste. Nope, nothing. I decided to go get a Magic Eraser. I got back home and hoped for the best. Mr Clean could not work his magic on my top. The pen marks were lightened but not removed. What did I learn from all this? Make sure to keep your pens hidden from your toddler and never never go to the bathroom when your child is awake, unless you take him with you.

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L Is For Let It Go

I did not write this essay but it is beautiful and the message is awesome. Please read it to the end.

By T.D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you.

And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you:
let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into
staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to
see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never
tied to anybody that left.

The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made
manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt
they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not
joined to you, you can't make them stay.

Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their
part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in
your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead..
You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something.. I've got
the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in
good-bye..
It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever
God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much
sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.

Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was
never intended for your life, then you need to......

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains .......

LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your
worth......



LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you.

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge.....

LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction... ..



LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or
talents

LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude.... ...

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......

LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level
in Him.........

LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship. ....



LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help
themselves..
....

LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ............



LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling
yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need
to......

LET IT GO!!!

'The Battle is the Lord's!'

posted by Nisha

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K Is For Katie

Katie is a 2 1/2 year old from Arizona battling cancer. I do not know Katie or her family but I have been reading about her journey on Katies Place. Her family seems very religious and believes that with the help of God, Katie will overcome her battle. I believe this too. If you have a chance, stop by her blog and keep her in your prayers.

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Why Oh Why Did You Email Me A Virus?

I sold a lamp on Monday to a buyer in CA. I went to ship it this afternoon. I took my package to the postal store (note to self: never go there again Do labels on line They rip you off) to ship by Fed Ex. The lady at the counter said fed ex would email me a tracking number. I paid $80 and went on my way.

Twenty minutes later, I check my email. There is an email and the sender just says FedEx. I open it thinking it is my tracking number. The email states I need to pick my package up and there is an attachment I need to bring in. I have never shipped with Fed Ex before and thought there must be a problem if I have to pick my package back up. OK I was not thinking. I opened the attachment and bam virus!!! My computer went blank and then a pop up appeared. It looked like it had the windows logo on it and it said something like running a scan. I thought it was windows on my computer. After it ran a scan it said to fix the errors. Then it said BUY here. Damm They wiped out my system and now want me to pay to restore it. Yup I'm screwed.

I sheepishly call my husband. I can already hear in my head what he is about to say. Yes It was stupid of me to open an attachment but the damage is done. How do we fix it?? All my programs are on the computer. The bad program is just preventing me from getting to them. Like under All programs it says empty. But they are there. Bill was able to access the control panel through the recycling bin and he managed to turn the program off but he can not remove it yet. The only thing I can access is the internet. Which is good because I can check my email and my ebay but I won't be able to upload any pictures so I won't be able to add new listings to my ebay. This really sucks. I know better!!! But the damage is done and I need to deal with it. It sure would be nice if I could sell enough stuff on ebay to get a new computer. But until then, my blogs will be picture less.

J Is For Junk

One (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure. I love finding treasures in other people's junk. No, I don't go through their trash cans. I shop the thrift stores. The one t.s. I love is crowed with junk. Some of the items are not priced so you can negotiate at check out. There are boxes and bags of junk to dig through. You may get a little dirty but the prices make it worth it. Where else can you get a vintage kitchen table for $15?

Or a kitchen step stool chair for $3?

How about a pair of owl lamps for $6. I sold one on Ebay for $100 Unfortunately the post office broke it in transit but I did have it insured.

A lighted globe for $3.99 which also sold on Ebay for $89.99

My favorite Christmas decoration only cost me $5

And toys. So many toys its hard to choose from and most are under a dollar. I paid $6 for everything pictured below.

The thrift store is a great place to find junk items for your family or to resell on Ebay. To read more about my junk finds and Ebay selling, click here.

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I Is For Ink

I currently have 10 tattoos. The first tattoo I got when I was about 22. I had just separated from Matt (my first hubby) and my tattoo represented that. It is a heart with a dagger through it and a banner that reads "Love Hurts". I was a big Nazareth fan at the time. My friend Keith went with me to get it done.



My second tattoo I got in 2004. At the time I was a big Family Guy fan and Brian was my favorite. I got my initial and my children's initials in paw prints around him.



My third tattoo is my favorite. My hubby emailed me this picture and I thought it was so beautiful. It can be either a butterfly or two fish kissing.



I am a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan and wanted them dancing on my hip. So they were my fourth tattoo. (They are not really on my hip. They are sort of in front.)



I am a Christian so I have a cross on my back. The colors are the same as my butterfly. This picture was taken before I cleaned it so you will see the rub off ink around it.



I thought my butterfly sat a little too high on my back so I got another tattoo underneath it. I do not like this tattoo. It is nicely drawn but it was a stupid idea and I wish I had chosen something else. The word means "always".

When I got my 7th tattoo the Movie Saw IV was out.  Jigsaw's wife, Jill, ran a recovery clinic for drug users, to which Jigsaw gave his belief, "Cherish Your Life" I thought that was a good reminder. Apparently my sister did too as she also got the same tattoo but in a different font. I got it on both wrists.



Have you ever heard of the graffiti artist Banksy? He is in England. His work has been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Balloon Girl is on my left side.



Next came a locket on my wrist. I love the shading. I have always felt I wear my heart on my sleeve.



My favorite flower is a cherry blossom. In Japanese culture the cherry blossom symbolizes the brevity of life. You see, this flower only blooms for a short period of time. It encourages everyone to appreciate what little time they have on this Earth and it promotes gratitude for what they are given. I have those on my neck.



The last tattoo I got for Breast Cancer Awareness month. One of the parents at the daycare I worked at passed away from breast cancer. I did not get this from my usual artist and I wish I had stuck with the original placement. I was going to get it above the words but the artist said he though it would look good over the words on my wrist.

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