Life is good.

Do you ever have those days where you just feel really happy? When you just know that life is good? God is in control, and everything is exactly as it should be. Too often I focus on the negative things. Troy works too much, the kids are rowdy, I can never get the house clean . . .

One of my favorite blogs is Holy Experience I just love how she is focused on gratitude. I want to focus more on that. I have so much to be thankful for. Troy does work a lot, but in this time where so many are out of work, what a blessing it is for him to have a steady job. What a blessing it is for us to have a beautiful house, and three children who are healthy and happy.

And I am so thankful for church friends. I go to a small group every Thursday night, and I just love it. It's one of the highlights of my week. They are such wonderful people, and I thank God that I am able to be part of it. There's nothing better than meeting with other believers and talking and praying together.

I'm so happy to have wonderful parents and siblings. I got to visit Mindy for a couple of days, and we had so much fun together. I love having a sister who is one of my best friends, and I feel very blessed by it. It's nice that we only live 3 hours apart from each other, instead of the 13 it used to be.

Here's the one and only picture I took while we were there. I think it's such a cute picture, that this one is enough. ;)

Basement Finishing

We are getting close to having our basement finished. I think it'll only be a couple more years, and we'll be all set.

Actually, we're getting carpet in on the 2nd of December, so I think we pretty much are planning to have everything else done by then. I'm so excited. This has been such a huge project, and I really want to be done with it. I think it's looking great, though, so it's been worth the extra time.

We got our bar countertop in today. I think it looks so pretty. Troy was nice enough to repaint the center thing brown for me, since I am wishy washy, and like to change my mind. He's a good husband.

In this picture you can see our countertop, and one of the columns. On the other side of this is a bench (the bench is in between the columns).

This is Kaitlyn's room. I think it's all finished except for carpet. It turned out really cute, and I just wish we had enough extra money to buy her some cute new furniture to put in it. I painted the stripes on the walls myself. If you know me, and know how uncrafty, and ungood at stuff I am, you would know that's a pretty major feat for me.

When it's all done, we expect people to come visit us to enjoy our fun basement with us. So keep that in mind! :)

Pictures guaranteed not to interest you

The other day my friend Christy came over with her daughter Sunny. She brought stuff to make and decorate cookies. Ethan wasn't really interested in the cookies.

This was more his thing:

I always like sleeping pictures. That's when my kids are at their cutest.

Here's the obligatory Halloween picture that I haven't gotten around to putting up. These are not all my children. Thank goodness. Not because I don't like them, but because three is plenty. And, as Troy likes to tell me when I bring up adoption, I can't even handle the ones I have. Thank you, Troy. Your confidence is inspiring.

Can I Bottle This?

I wish I knew the magic secret that would bring this about whenever I want.

Putting in a movie is one of the key ingredients, but it doesn't work every time. Usually they watch the movie for about 10 minutes, and then are off wrestling, throwing toys around, and being loud again. There must be something else to it.

If I could just figure out the other ingredients, I'd be all set. I could bottle it, sell it to moms everywhere, and I'd be a billionaire.

Typing

I took some time out of all the very important things that I have to do (in other words, sit around, sit around some more, and then sit around further) and took a typing test to see how fast I could type, the first time with both hands, as you do, and then the next time with just one hand. Here were my results:

Both hands: 106 WPM
Right Hand: 30 WPM
Left Hand: 26 WPM

I wasn't surprised that I could type a little faster with my right hand than with my left, since when I usually have to type one handed, it's with my right.

How about you? http://www.typingtest.com/

Thank you, Dr. Ron Paul

A message from Ron Paul:

Dear Friends,
Our journey together has been truly historic. As the final votes are tabulated and the curtain closes on this election, we must take time to reflect on our successes even as we turn our attention to the task before us.
Our campaign has stirred the sleeping giant by showing millions that freedom, peace, and prosperity are achievable. We know that these things can come about only through sound money, limited government and a respect for the inherent rights of every individual. We have awakened the political class to the popularity and viability of Liberty. And, most of all, we have awoken within ourselves a spirit of freedom and independence that cannot be suppressed by any ruler, army, or philosophy of subservience and fear.
Yet we must not reflect long. We must press our efforts and lay the groundwork for the future of our movement and our country. The 2010 election cycle is just around the corner. We must redouble our efforts to educate our fellow citizens, recruit and support liberty candidates, and marshal our resources for the battle ahead.
Ours is the most solemn charge of all: to defend Liberty in this bleak hour lest the very notion that man might best govern himself be scoured from this land and from the conscience of mankind.
In our campaign for liberty, we’re just getting started. Let the Revolution begin.

Campaign for Liberty

Voted!

I went and voted. I only had to wait a few minutes in line, which was nice. I was expecting longer. I cast my vote for Ralph Nader, which I know doesn't make any difference in the outcome of things. It just makes a difference to me. I only wish there would have been a true Libertarian candidate on the ballot, because there wasn't. I also wish a write-in for Ron Paul would not have been literally thrown away, because I would have done that.

Oh well, I feel good about my vote, and I don't have to feel like I voted for the lesser of two evils, either.