Thirty-Three

This month I became older. 

This month was a hard month.

For the past 32 years, I figured by 33 I would have my life together.

It feels more confused and tore apart than ever before.

I need to remember the saying that to make something better you have to tear out all the old.  Maybe in the remodeling stages of my life, the tearing out process is over and the rebuilding is soon to begin??!!

Anyhow.

This was the first year I dreaded my birthday. 

I told my mom I wanted a tea kettle for my birthday.

I love my tea kettle.

Which makes me sad.

Only an old person would get excited about a tea kettle.

But I do really, really love my tea kettle.  And I use it. A lot.

My siblings had all chipped in and bought thick fleece for a blanket for me and Tricie knotted it together.  This made me want to cry.  When I move it will be like taking part of them with me and when I sleep they will be keeping me warm.

We had my birthday dinner a couple days before my actual day.  So when Tuesday rolled around and it was just a normal work day, I was really dreading it.

But I have amazing co-workers who made it great.

Everyone remembered.

Brandon wished me a happy 53rd.  Thanks.so.much. Brandon.  {Insert sarcastic font here}

Norma treated us to Cinnamon Rolls.

Eugene gave me a Tootsie Roll.  Which made me smile.  Then I realized he gave everyone a Tootsie Roll.  Let's pretend he did it in honor of my day :-/ 

Doug took a picture of me which then Mike blew up and printed.  It was taped on the wall with a note "Happy 37th Birthday Julie"  To which I promptly changed to '27th'. 

That night I had 15 dozen cutouts to make so I ran over to mom's to use her kitchen.  She surprised me with dinner and (a second) angel food cake- my favorite- with DQ ice cream.

What was expected to be a miserable day ended up being pretty good.

What is so hard for me is to look around and see most everyone else my age is married and settled while I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I 'grow up'. 

Then I thought about it.  Growing up is boring.  I'll just take life as it comes and laugh through every moment.

Small Valentine

Last Thursday was Valentine's Day.

Some years it bothers me that I'm single and other years it doesn't.

This year wasn't the best of years.  Just days after turning another year older and then waking with a migraine didn't set me in the best of moods.

Certainly not in a mood to help at a 2nd grade Valentine party.

After drugging up on Advil and chugging caffeine, hoping the headache would subside a bit, I drove up to the school.

The party was so much fun, dipping snacks into a chocolate fondue and playing games.

While we were passing out treats and rearranging desks, I heard one boy say to another "You don't deserve a chair." 

I was fired up when I heard this.

I can't stand when kids are mean.

 I was picked on in school and I knew how the other boy felt. 

His eyes dropped to the floor and he just stood there digesting the thought that he didn't deserve a chair. 

I went over to the mean kid and made him walk over and apologize and say something nice.

After he apologized I walked him back to his desk and told him "Everyone is fighting a battle. Be nice to everyone." 

Not sure if he understood it.  But hopefully it sticks in his memory.  

I resolved the situation and let it go.

What touched my heart was when the little boy who was picked on soon walked up to me and tapped me on the elbow.  He handed me a Valentine, smiled, and walked away. 

I slipped the Valentine in my pocket and enjoyed the rest of my day.

It made me realize that sometimes sticking up for the underdog or doing a small gesture of kindness can go a long way.

The little boy will never know how much that little Valentine meant to me. 

Instead of being sad, it made me smile the rest of the day.

My Sweet Valentine: JulseyMarie

Whatcha gettin' your sweet Valentine this year?

How 'bout some chocolate?

Or more chocolate?

 

 

 

 

Some  Peanut Butter Love?

 

 

 

Check out JulseyMarie for some fun ideas for your sweet Valentine! 

 

Whether you ship Chocolate Truffles to your mom, Chocolate Cookies to your sister, Caramel Chewy to your bestie, you can know that she will be delighted on Valentine's Day!

 

Your son might enjoy some Chocolate Chips and your hubby might enjoy some Super Stuffed Chocolate Chip.  Either one would show how Monster -much you love him!  

 

Order by Saturday, February 9th for Valentine delivery!

 

A white box filled with goodies wrapped in red or pink tissue will be delivered to your honey at work or your friend at home with a simple Valentine inside with your requested message! A simple way to show the ones you love how much you care!







 





 

 

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Sugar is sweet

and cookies are too!

 

 

Enter LOVE13 for 15% off all JulseyMarie products!



Ask

I timidly walk to the throne.

I'm scared. 

I'm unworthy.

I'm so, so small in comparison.

I reach out and touch the hem of His robe.

I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I turn.

It's my Brother.

I relax.

I tell Him I need to talk to the Father.

But I'm unworthy.

For even on my best days

I'm as filthy rags.

He says He can help.

He pulls me into His arms.

And tells me I'll be okay.

That He has been walking with me

all along. 

He goes to the Father.

He tells Him I'm weary.

He tells Him I'm weak.

He tells Him I'm in pain.

He tells Him what I need.

He tells Him what I want.

I stand with my head down

away from the throne.

Knowing how unworthy

I am

To speak to the Father.

The creator of the heavens and the earth.

Soon my Brother returns.

Places His hands upon my shoulders

Looks me in the eye

And reminds me that He loves me

Enough to have died for me

Nothing can change that

Or make Him stop loving me

Or wanting good for me.

He gently turns me

towards the throne

He guides me to His feet.

Instead of turning me away.

He reaches down

And picks me up.

He curls me in the crook of His arm.

He wipes my tears.

He waits while the sobbing subsides.

He lets me rest.

Then Father tells me my Brother

has told Him my fears.

He tells me to leave those aside.

To worry no more.

I tell my Father I need help.

I'm so tired.

So weary from this journey.

Even my physical body cries out in pain.

He tells me that He has a plan.

And He does have good for me.

To doubt that no more.

He holds me some more.

While the sobs turn to whimpers.

He reminds me that my Brother has been carrying me.

Even when I couldn't see Him

through all my tears.

Even when I was frustrated

And didn't want to talk.

He sets me down.

Tells me to journey on.

That good is right around the bend.

To never give up hope.

To anytime come to Him for comfort.

To never fear.

Always knowing

That He will pick me up

And hold me in His arms

Anytime.

I just need

to come

and ask.

Living Bible Museum: Day trip

To fight the winter blues I have decided to do something besides work, school, and sit at home alone with the kids.

I've been trying to do fun day trips or find cheap things to do for fun on the weekends.

Last Saturday we took a day trip to The Living Bible Museum in Mansfield. 

I invited Maddie, my niece, to come along but she had been sick all week and couldn't come. 

Instead I asked Molly, my other niece, if she wanted to join in on the fun.  We were so excited when she agreed!

I had heard about the museum before but had never been there.  Actually, mom said she took us there when we were little but I don't remember it. 

I wasn't sure what to expect.  I knew it was a museum of wax figures or of mannequins displayed to show Biblical stories. 

There were four tours.  Old Testament, The Life of Christ, and two others more suitable for older children. 

I told the kids we would pick one tour (each an hour) and do that one but if they were really good and wanted to do the second one we could.

They all voted for Miracles of the Old Testament.

It was awesome!

All I can say is if you have a few hours one Saturday and need a fun day trip, go take these tours.  They were very interesting, very well-done.  The art was amazing and the narrating of the story was great as well.

Once the tour was over, the guide commented on how well behaved they were (I told him bribery of an ice cream cone does wonders:-) and also that he could tell they know their stories!

The kids begged to go on the second tour, The Life of Christ.

How do you tell 4 darling kids 'No' when they are begging for more time spent 'in' the Bible?

We took a quick potty break and headed to the next tour.

Funny thing was after the tour 4 out of 5 of us said we liked the Life of Christ tour better, but 5/5 voted we do Old Testament first.

I went to the website and stole a few pictures.  Just to show you how amazing it was. And seriously.  These pictures do not do the tours justice.  Much, much better in 'real life'.

23rd Psalm

Almost all of the animals were ones they purchased from a taxidermist. 

We saw sheep, cows, donkeys, doves, you name it.

The art was incredible! 

The Last Supper

One of my top ten favorites.  The narrator goes through each disciple posed here and tells their name and a bit about them.  It also describes what they could have been thinking during this time based on their personalities. 

 Definitely brought The Twelve to life.  Extremely educational and realistic.

   Jesus loves the little children of the world!

One of the kids' favorites!  Shows Jesus sitting with all nationalities of children .  Beautifully done.

On our way out, I grabbed a quick pic of the kiddos:

 

As promised on the way home we stopped at McDonald's for a quick ice cream cone. 

 

I'm planning on taking Riley back for a one on one trip to see the other two tours.  We can't wait to go!

 

I can't tell you how many times this past week I have said "Oh, remember that story!  We saw the display of it at the museum...remember it looked like such and such" and the kids' light bulbs go off in their heads.  It ended up being more than a fun day out.  I'm hoping they'll remember it for a long time. 

 

I would highly recommend this tour to everyone!! Adults and children alike.

 

We can't wait to go back!

T-roy Boy!!!

Almost two years ago I wrote about my sweetie little nieces.

You can read about them here

I found this comment in the first few phrases:

 "There is something special about nieces (nephews too, I'm sure...I just don't have any)"

 

Well, guess what? 

 

I finally have a nephew!!!!

 

 

K&K welcomed Troy Eric on January 10th.  He was a husky 8'13". 

 

I couldn't wait to run up to the hospital to kiss on his fat cheeks.  

 

After giving them a day to recoup, I ran up to MGH and did just that. 

 

All four of my siblings and my one brother in law all have had nephews before.  

 

Troy is my first!
 

That puts me in the front running for favorite auntie?

 

 

Right S&T? (haha)
 

 

 





Coasting

Remember me posting about Kayaking and then This one about being thrown back out to sea?

Well, seeing that they both carry the theme of me floundering in a boat at sea I thought I would continue to analogy.

I'm still in my little boat.

I'm still at sea.

But my arms are weary. 

I'm thirsty from inhaling the saltwater.

I hunger from the effort.

My body aches from the effort and the lack of rest.

So I decide to coast.

I'm tired.

Four years ago I started back to school.

Two weeks left.

But in those two weeks I have a final presentation, regular classwork.

And two CLEP tests to test out of. 

Three and a half years ago I became a single mom.

Its been the best three and a half years.

But with few breaks its slightly tiring.

Tuesday brings the final court date.

I'm not overly stressed; but there is the anxiety knowing that the fate lies in the judge's decision.

Each scenario: school, single mom thing, and court are each in their own right kinda stressful.

What I have stopped doing in the past two weeks is job hunting and apartment hunting. 

Still figuring things out.

Just a lot on my mind.

So I'm coasting.

The chest gripping anxiety has went away.

I'm going to get court over with.

I'm going to finish school.

I'm going to stop.  And enjoy my children. 

Then I'm going to pick up where I left off and pound the pavement looking for a job.

I'm just going to enjoy the next few weeks, sitting in my little boat being refreshed and renewed.