The need is great

This past Wednesday I did something I've never done before, and that is volunteer for the salvation army.

When I was younger, my mother and I would get an Angel off of the Angel Tree and pick out some gifts give them to these angels.  I've known about the program for a few years, but didn't realize exactly how big it was until recently or that it was headed by the salvation army.  Last year, a co-worker and I were chatting and thought it would be a good idea to have a Christmas "giving back" drive that the office took part in.  We discussed toys-for-tots, and angel tree.  I personally like angel tree better because you are actually buying gifts for one person.  Well it was actually Christmas time last year when we thought about this, and it was to late.  So the plan had been in place to act this holiday season. 

  We collected donations from the office and went out on a great hunting mission for toys for our two angels.  It was quite the experience navigating through the toy aisles, when you haven't looked through them in years and all of these toys are foreign.  We ended up finding a bunch of toys and hope that the two angels we chose have a wonderful Christmas. 

A higher power:

While getting ready for work last Sunday I was listening to the radio, I heard the salvation army talking about the angel tree program and the volunteers that they needed.  Now this was interesting, because 1. I don't usually even like the news radio shows on Sunday morning's, so usually don't listen to the radio. and 2. I'm only up and listening to the radio between 7 and 8 AM when I'm on a short term forecast shift.  While listening, I learned a little more about the program and what was needed.  With me going into evenings, I decided I could and wanted to help volunteer.  I did just that.

The never ending rows:

  I didn't have any idea what I was getting myself into, and that usually brings about a certain amount of fear/uncertainty/uncomfortableness.  I knew that if I just did it I would enjoy it, so I pushed through.  I arrived and had no idea which door to go in, let alone what I would find inside.  I found this HUGE warehouse filled with rows and rows of trash bags, numbered and filled with toys for families.  There were over 4000 families.  The need was great! I couldn't even see the end, because it went into another room.  I was paired up with another gentleman that arrived when I did.  Our job was to make sure everyone 14 and under had gifts in the family.  So we got numbers and started walking around to those families number and checking.  If a child had not been fulfilled, we would go "shopping" in the donated toy area for a few toys to give to them.  Then we would mark them as complete and move on to the next. 

  4000 families...wow.  I am glad that I was able to help out for the little bit of time I did.  I enjoyed fulfilling the gift of Christmas for these families.  I can only hope that it brings a smile to these kid's faces. 

  I cannot wait to take part again next year, except this time I'll know exactly what I'm getting myself into, and be ready and maybe able to volunteer more. 

If you have the opportunity to take an Angel off of an Angel Tree, please consider it.  It is a wonderful way to give back to those in the community. 

Love

Giving Thanks

This post is a little bit overdue, as I really hoped/meant to post it back a week and a half ago.  Alas, I was a little busy and did not get to blogging.  This does tie into my last post though.  An old high school friend is deployed with the Navy, and this deployment lasts through the holiday season.  I cannot even imagine what it is like to be away from a loved one in this manner, especially during the holiday's, but I can say I understand it would be difficult.  Last year I had another friend deployed over the holiday's, and I sent him a goodie box for Christmas.  This year, I decided it was a nice tradition to start, so after consulting with my friends wife, I baked my little heart out and baked about 10 dozen cookies to send to him. 

  I've never in my life sent food via mail, so this was a new experience.  I found some helpful tips online and in my cookbook.  I packaged them two by two...and then again in Ziploc bags.  I can only hope this keeps them fresh enough to enjoy when they do, in fact, reach their destination.  (See cookies a few posts below).

  I just wanted to bring a smile to someones face, and hope that I have been able to do this for my friend.  I want to say Thank you to all of those serving our wonderful country.  Your sacrifices are great, and are appreciated. 

Love

All in a day's work...or two

Well yesterday I spent the day working 9-5, then headed off to bells.  That lasted 5:30-7:30. I then headed to Walmart and to grab some din din...that took me to 8:30.  Get home, eat said din din.  Bake 10 dozen cookies between 9:30 and midnight-thirty.  A busy day. 

Today I spent the day workin 9-5, then got to come home for an hour.  Cooked some din din, ate and headed off to my band concert while stopping at the bowling alley to pay for this week's bowling on the way to said concert. Fun.  Played and socialized after concert 6:45-10pm.  Stop by post office 10-10:15pm.  Start packing package 10:30-midnight.  Do some research online midnight to present.  Write some blabbering blog post...now.

These are the last two of my days, I miss being at home, and I have plenty to do, but I also enjoy the activities I'm in.  I often wonder what it would be like to have another person's activities to deal with as well...I can barely see my cats some days.  Oh well.  Life really is grand.  It is after all, the holiday season.

Love.

Sit down folks!!!!

Today I did something I don't know that I've ever done before in my life...bought Peanut Butter! I severely dislike peanut butter. Everything about it...it's smell, consistency, taste.  The worst is the smell though, it just lingers there even when the actual substance is gone.  Yucky. 

Now you might be asking me why did you buy this if you dislike it so... well I decided to make some cookies that were peanut butter-chocolate cookies.  They smell awful, but do look pretty.  And they aren't for me, so that's why.  I'm excited to have made them, and I now have a jar of peanut butter in my kitchen, that who knows when it will be eaten. 



Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cookies

You can all rest assured that I will not touch those cookies.  Now the Snickerdoodles...they were yummy...I might keep a few of those. 



Chocolate Crinkles and Snickerdoodles



I probably made 10 dozen cookies between 9:30pm and 12:30am...I'd call that a good night's work. 



I sleepy...night.

Love.

December 7th a day that changed history...

Today, when I finally got out of bed (boy do I love days off!) I turned on the tv, and that vile adult cartoon, American Dad was on TBS, my usual default tv station.  So I did something I don't normally do, I flipped through the channels and the tv guide.  I stopped upon the Military channel, this is a channel that never makes it in my viewing channels, that is unless my dad is here.  What stopped me was the tv shows about Pearl Harbor.  I love learning about all things World War II.  No I don't research it a lot or anything, but I do like hearing it.  The shows I watched were about myths of Pearl Harbor.  They discussed the surprise element, whether the US or the Japanese fired the first shot, and other very interesting topics. 

Oh this December day, a day that changed history in 1941...I again send a thank you to all of those who have and are serving our wonderful country. 

Love.

My sillyness

Today is a day I enjoy only because I'm silly.  I don't know if it's because I like my birthday so much and that it is on a super cool day with the same number for the month and day, but I've for some reason always enjoyed my "half-a-birthday" too.  That would be today!!! 

From now on, another thing this will always be...is the "half-a-versary" for my best friend and her husband.  Now this was originally the anniversary of their first date, so these dates hold a lot of important meanings for different people. 

Yay for sillyness and half-a-birthday's. 

Love ya!

Tis the Season

This morning I played bells at church, and got to take part in one of my all-time favorite things to do at Christmas time...and that is singing Christmas Carols.  This morning we got to sing Joy to the World, Oh come all ye Faithful and Away in a Manger.  Now the kicker for me is that I prefer all of these Christmas Carols at church singing to my little heart's content.  Now one of the odd things, is that you will not see me playing Christmas music on the radio in the car or in my home.  I much prefer singing it the way I'm use to with the piano or organ at church, and not the way some artist has decided to sing it.  Which is their right, and that doesn't make it a bad song, they are great singers and songs.  I just don't enjoy singing to them like I do at church.  You might say...well let them sing it, you don't need to.  But a flaw I have is that I sing with all songs I know, whether that is country, rap, pop, or church hymns.  Thus singing along is the way I listen to music.  Weirdo...yes, I accept, but I'm ok with that.  I love singing. 

This does, however, create a problem when the only places I can hear my songs are at Church and that is only once a week during  the 4-5 weeks leading up to Christmas.  Sad, so I make the best of it when I can!  Yay Christmas!

 I hope you enjoy your Christmas songs, wherever  you may listen to them. 

Much love!

To Husker or not to Husker...is it even a question?

Tonight is the Big 12 Championship, which pits my two allegiances against each other.  My home team, the Huskers vs. the team from my Undergraduate Degree, the Sooners.  People always ask me who I'll cheer for when these two teams are playing each other, and the question is not one I ever have to think about...I will always cheer for the Huskers!

I challenge someone who grows up being loyal to one team, to automatically change it up when you go to college at another school....it's not just that easy.  Being a Husker fan is ingrained in you from the get-go and is the only team in the whole of Nebraska for any college/pro team.  Thus a Husker fan I will always be.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE my Alma Mater, I am so proud to be a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, but this has nothing to do with football, absolutely nothing. 

Who will win out tonight? I don't know, they are both great teams! However, I know who I'll be cheering for!

Go Huskers!!!

Love!

Spring day in December...?

Today it got to 62 degrees in Wichita, which is only 5 degrees from the record high. Yay!  I took this opportunity to do some outside work, well after I slept.  I tried to mow up a good bit of the enormous amount of leaves covering my back yard, then I cleaned out the flower pots and moved them to below the deck for winter storage.  All in about 1 hour and 15 minutes in a race to beat the sun going down.  It was nice to get this work done before it gets cold tonight and stays cold!  Yuck! 

Christmas decorations will come out soon...but I would like to have a day off to complete these tasks. 

An ode to spring....

Love!

Picture for the day





Margret and I at Amy's Wedding...she's such a pretty girl!