- I pass a business downtown called Moonlight Staffing. Their phone number is 1-800-Work-Late. I just wonder what type of "work" they do late.

- I was listening to Dustin's Ipod and wishing for the millionth time that I had a beautiful singing voice. I love to sing, but I really suck at it. When I'm by myself, I belt it out, knowing that God doesn't mind. But when others are around I whisper sing which really sucks. All of a sudden today I had the desire to learn to play the piano. I have never been interested in the piano before, but listening to Keane today made me appreciate anew the beauty that the piano brings to a song. I want to be a part of beautiful music so bad, maybe this is a way. I've never been very musically inclined but I also don't believe that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

- I was thinking of the life lessons that I want to pass on to my children. The number one financial lesson I will teach my children is how to save money and how not to depend on credit cards. We live in a society that assumes we all must use and abuse credit cards, like without them we would all starve or freeze to death. I am so impressed with people who don't use credit cards, or who can pay them off every month. I am realizing that how you handle debt really is a lifestyle choice. I believe to be the best stewards with our money we need to save and make proactice decisions about the future, rather than using credit cards for last minute decisions. I want my children to understand delayed gratification in a way that I have yet to learn. I don't want to raise brats, I want to raise appreciative and free children. Having credit card debt totally takes your freedom away. It may seem like it gives freedom but that is a lie. Using a credit card is like paying $12 for a $4 frappucino. Who wants to do that? Today, I am saying NO to you credit cards and YES to you savings account with $3 in it. I guess you've got to start somewhere, right??? =)

- I kept thinking about this report on homelessness that I recently read. I will write more about this later, but I just can't get it out of my mind. I see homeless people every day, on the max, in the park, downtown, outside the grocery store. My heart breaks for them. I feel so helpless when I only have $2 to give them and get so mad when I don't have any cash on me at all. I can't imagine how they feel. I'm at a loss.

On Friday night Dustin and I went out to dinner with Jason, Kim,Dan and Molly. The restaurant was called Montage and it is known for it's flavorful mac & cheese. They seat you family style at long tables with parties sitting right next to eat other. I must say the food was pretty amazing. Dustin ordered the Spicy Mac and was pleasantly pleased. I ordered the Famous Linguini with Vegetables. It was very delicious as well, although a little too hot. I don't mind spicy foods, but I feel like overly spicy takes away from the eating experience. Instead, I'm downing water all night long trying to cool down my tongue. But I digress, the best quirk about this restaurant was their version of the "doggie bag". They wrap your left overs with tin foil in different animal shapes or flowers. Naturally, I requested a turtle and Dustin got a crab. As you can see below they were fighting a bit, but in the end my turtle won!! =)

We saw a few giraffes that were over 3 feet tall, so crazy!! Kim got a penguin that was so cute and Molly requested a spider. It looked awesome, very scary!!

We had a really great time hanging out with friends. It was especially nice when I dominated at Nertz!! I am the card playing champion!!

- Well, tomorrow is my very first business trip with the Salvation Army. I'll be traveling to Eugene, Oregon for the night and staying in a Quality Inn. High class!! It will be nice to meet other employees and make sure I'm doing what I'm suppose to be doing!!

- Dustin and I have been watching the DVD's of The Office. I felt like I wasn't truly appreciating the new episodes and I was right. I appreciate them and laugh so much more now that I've watched from the beginning. (Let me just say that TV shows on DVD's are the greatest invention ever!!) I am a little concerned, however, that we might becoming obsessive. For example, this past weekend the guy that lives above us left for the weekend but forgot to turn off his alarm. So on Saturday morning we heard from 6-7am the constant beeping of the alarm. We obviously couldn't go back to sleep while it was beeping, so our first thought was to watch an episode of The Office to kill time. That night I wasn't feeling well so we watched about 6 more episodes. If that's wrong then I don't want to be right.

- Dustin and I went to hear Brian McClaren speak on Friday night. He was in a word, "amazing"! As I knew he would be. Sitting there listening to him speak reminded me of being back at Lincoln Christian College, sitting in the dark chapel for Focus, and just being floored by what the speaker for the night was saying. Brian, like those speakers, are passionate about God and so incredibly insightful. I was like a sponge when I was at Lincoln and I was blessed to be in the presence of so many incredible thinkers, communicators, and livers. Thank you to Brian for moving me in a way that I haven't been moved in quite some time. And thank you even more for your incredible insight.

- Before Brian McClaren spoke, a couple of ladies led us in worship through music. They sang a song that I had never heard. It was written by Angie and Todd Fadel (I have no idea who they are but want to give them props b/c I'm about to write down their lyrics!!) I loved the lyrics so much because they are just real and true. I didn't write down the name of the song, but the lyrics are as follows:

Some things are worth the fight,
so I won't walk away.
I won't walk away this time.
Your Majesty, as plain as day.
But you choose the small and weak,
so I can say that

My joy is my peace on its feet
Your Spirit makes us all the same underneath
My joy is my peace on its feet
Your Spirit makes us all the same underneath.

Help me believe in You,
Help me believe in You,
Help me believer in You.

p.s. I apologize for the picture. I am at work and this is all I could find. =)

I will be praising my husband more throughout the week as we celebrate his 27th birthday on Wednesday. But I had to start singing his praises today because of this past weekend. Dustin fixed me dinner on Saturday night and I was so impressed!!! He lost a bet and therefore had to fix dinner. Instead of sulking like I know some guys might do, instead of fixing grilled cheese and soup, he went ALL OUT!! He took so much time picking out the perfect dinner and desert for us, purchased a bottle of my favorite wine, Reisling, and made sure it was a complete surprise! I was and am still so appreciative. He fixed a lime salsa chicken with cheesy salsa potatos, (Yum!!), a gorgeous salad, and banana something with whipped cream for desert. It was the best meal of my life for the following reasons:
1. I did not have to cook it.
2. I ate it in the comfort of my own home.
3. It was made with determination and love.

Doesn't it look delicious?? He even cut up limes for presentation!!


This is a picture of my joy at this surprise meal.


This is Dustin's look of joy at having completed the much anticipated meal.

At one point throughout the evening as I was leisurely reading Harry Potter, I thought I heard curses coming from the kitchen. I asked Dustin if everything was going ok. He replied, "This is the most stressful and frustrating thing I've ever done. There's so many things to keep track of and remember. It's hard!" Ah, the joy of multi-tasking.

Here's to you my sweet. You can cook for me any day!! =)