Choose Life!!

"Hypochondriac: A person who has hypochondriasis, a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and pains) as portending problems of major medical moment. Reassurance by physicians and others only serves to increase the hypochondriac's persistent anxiety about their health." (Source: MedicineNet.com)

Do you know somebody like this? Somebody who is so afraid of dying that they constantly look for a medical problem within themselves? All the while, they are missing out on the opportunities open to them here on earth.

Hypochondriacs are the extreme case of this problem, but how many times have you been so preoccupied with death that you didn't really live? Look at your life now. Can you honestly say that you are living, or do you catch yourself thinking, "As soon as ___________ happens, I will really live." How about, "I will be so happy when ____________ happens." Or "I'm just passing time until _________."

What is holding you back from truly living? Do you think it's money? Fame? The perfect relationship? Success in business? A promotion? A child? Retirement?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you will never truly live. If you are not living, the only thing holding you back is your attitude. As the saying goes, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." Which do you choose?

Crafts: Monkey Baby Shower Thank You Card & Box

For the same baby shower as the Monkey Diaper Cake I made a box filled with thank you cards. I used simple stamps with colored pencils for the thank you cards. I bought the box from the unfinished craft wood section at Hobby Lobby. I didn't take before pictures, so I cannot show what it looked like before I decorated it. It looked like a wooden book, though. I stained it, then added a piece of cardstock to the top with the same stamp design as the thank you cards. I added a little ribbon and... voila!

Front of the single-fold cards:

Back of the cards (I left the center blank):

Card Holder Box:

Never Give Up!!

In 1998, a beautiful wife and mother of three was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was originally told that she had six months to live. The positive, Godly thoughts of this woman said otherwise. Her youngest child and only daughter was a senior in high school at the time. By that doctor's calculations, the lady would not live to see her baby graduate from high school. This Godly woman, though, assured her daughter that not only would she be there for her high school graduation, but she would also be there for her college graduation, she would be there to watch her walk down the aisle, and she would be there to see her children be born. Today, that incredible, beautiful lady is a happy, energetic, cancer-free grandma.

You will encounter times in your life that people put you down, discourage you, beat you up, take away your hope or give you negative responses. How you handle these responses, though, will determine their outcome and the effect they have on the rest of your life. Staying strong, thinking positively and keeping your head held high are the keys to reaching the destination you desire. And no matter what, Never Give Up!!

Yummy: Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili

I must thank Pinterest for this recipe, as I often do. I love getting recipes off there. Slow cookers make life so much easier and keep my husband happy. This recipe was no exception. I will definitely be doing it again.

I added sour cream and cheese to the top, and it was incredible!

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili
Servings: 10

1 onion, chopped
1 16-oz can black beans
1 16-oz can kidney beans
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
2 cans whole kernal corn
2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
chopped fresh cilantro

Combine first 9 ingredients in your slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half an hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Top with fresh cilantro. For added flavor (but also added calories) top with sour cream and cheese. It may be more fattening, but it tastes so good!

Difficulties

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

~African Proverb

Life is Hard??

"When I hear somebody sigh that life is hard, I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'"

~Sydney J. Harris

Travel: New Mexico Roadtrip ~ New Year's ~ 2010

In November 2009 Tim was transferred to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. We were engaged at the time, and I still owned a business. Therefore, I was stuck in Arkansas while he was stuck in Oklahoma. We wanted to spend some more time together before we got married, so we decided to take full advantage of his leave over Christmas. Since we had a big trip to Tahiti coming up, we decided to get away by loading up the truck and driving. We took our sweet little beagle/dachshund mix, Bentley, loaded up some clothes, a cooler full of food and drinks, an air mattress, a space heater, and a generator, and we started driving. As we got on the road my husband asked me which way I wanted to go. I thought for a second and said, "How 'bout west?" And so we did. We drove from Arkansas into Oklahoma. The sunset was beautiful as we drove through the plains part of Oklahoma, and we loved seeing the many windmills along the highway.

We drove through the panhandle of Texas and into New Mexico. We decided to stop there. We found a truck stop in a safe area, parked in the parking lot, set up a generator outside the vehicle, blew up an air mattress in the bed of the truck with a camper shell over it, and plugged up a space heater. We taped black trash bags over the windows for privacy.

Because it was New Year's Eve, we broke open a bottle of champagne with some styrofoam cups, and we rang in the new year in the back of our pick-up truck. It may sound redneck, but I must say it was the best New Year's ever!

The next day we hit the road again. We picked a spot on the map and decided to head to it. We were so excited when we finally hit snow, though, so we had to stop for a picture.

Then we headed on to our chosen spot on the map of Taos, New Mexico.

Unfortunately we were not as excited about Taos as we thought we would be, so we continued on. We came upon Red River, and we fell in love with it immediately. We decided to set up shop there for the rest of the day and night.

We decided to get a room in a motel so we could curl up by the fire and get plenty of rest for the drive the next day. We splurged on eating in a restaurant in that quaint little mountain town, too.

We got up the next morning and walked the shops in town a little more. We let Bentley play in the snow before climbing back into the truck for the road trip home.

The drive was just as incredible as the destination. We saw some beautiful sights along the way, and we frequently pulled over to take in the views. Hey... we were on no schedule, right? There was no reason to rush down the road.

Although apparently we really did decide to "rush" down the road without realizing it. We got the wonderful opportunity to meet one of New Mexico's finest on the side of the road. Tim was 40 years old at the time, this was the first time he had ever been pulled over, and it was his first and only ticket ever.

We continued on, stopping at each state to take a picture, and all the while enjoying the views.

So... an incredibly awesome trip, and it only cost us diesel for the drive, one night's stay in a motel, and dinner in one restaurant (which was very moderately priced).... well.... and one speeding ticket. But all in all, it was a trip worth way more than what we spent.