make ya laugh....'quick thinking'....

Here is a story about a new clerk in a supermarket. A customer asked him if she could buy half a grapefruit. Not knowing what to do, he excused himself to ask the manager.
"Some nut out there wants to buy half a grapefruit..." he began, and, suddenly realizing that the customer had entered the office behind him, continued, " ... and this lovely lady would like to buy the other half."
The manager was impressed with the way the clerk amicably resolved the problem and they later started chatting. "Where are you from?" asked the store manager.
"Lancaster, Pennsylvania," replied the clerk, "home of ugly women and great hockey teams."
"Oh, my *WIFE* is from Lancaster," challenged the manager.
Without skipping a beat, the clerk asked, "What team was she on?"

It's been 10 years.....

I find it quite humorous that my friend Jen posted today, celebrating her third year Anniversary. Happy Anniversary Paul & Jeni. I had planned to post today that October celebrates when Bryan and I first got together. We will be married for nine years this coming January. However, the other day Bryan and I were talking and I said you know we've been together for ten years now and have known one another for fifteen? Unbelievable!!! Time sure does fly. These pictures were (ironically) taken by my friend Jen in her home ten years ago. I laugh at the pictures because both Bryan and I had long hair. He shaves his head now and my hair is only a few inches long. =) We look soooo young. It seems like just yesterday....then again it seems like ages ago. I remembered the first time we kissed, it was on the couch in the picture. Wow!! It gave me butterflies in my stomach, it was really good. I never once thought at that time that we would be married and living the life we are right now. I'm happy to say that my husband still gives me butterflies when he kisses me! We've grown so much, inside and out! lol Bryan was 19 in that picture and I was 21. I was also two months pregnant with Saige. I never would of thought then that Bryan would choose to be his father. I'm am so thankful to God that even though we ( me & Jen) made choices that didn't benefit us at the time, God still prevailed to make sure that we would end up with the 'perfect' matches that He had picked out. I know that Bryan and I being together was divine (Same with Paul & Jeni). Bryan is my soulmate. It's been an honor to see him grow as a father and husband and even more of an honor to see him grow in the Lord. His excitement and dedication for Christ is so awesome. He leads our family as a man ought too. He's an excellent father who unconditonally loves all three of his sons. They have such a role model in him. He's a wonderful husband, he makes me laugh until my sides hurt and tears are coming out of my eyes. He is strong and I feel safe with him. He's a very hardworker, most of the time. lol He desires to be the man that God wants him to be. He can also be quite romantic. Every year I get some surprise, either on my birthday, anniversary, Mother's day, or Valentines Day. Whether it be a candle light dinner in the woods by a pond, hotel room filled with rose petals and candles, candle light dinner at home, (boy there sure are a lot of candles*lol), taking me on an excursion to a winery, a scavenger hunt which led me to getting a facial and lots of chocolate, and even a spa day. Not to mention all the things he does to help me with the kids. He can work a twelve hour day and still find time to help the kids with their homework and read to them. Not a day has gone by during our marriage that he hasn't called me from work, just wanting to know how I'm doing. He usually doesn't leave the house with out giving me a kiss. Wow!!! I have such a wonderful husband. How blessed I am!! It's been ten years.....I can't wait to see what it's like after twenty!!! lol

On to the pictures....I know that it looks cruel but we (Jen & I) use to put panty hose on Cody's ( Jen's dog) head. It was hilarious to see him try to take it off. He looked like a seal. Personally I thinked he liked it. lol Also, don't make fun of my 'scrapbooking'. These are pages that were done ages ago and I'm still trying to update all of my photo albums, I haven't gotten to this one yet. lol Memories.....I love them!!!

Cell Phone saved my life......

Friday the 13th ....what a day! It was by far the scariest day of my life.

I left my weight watchers meeting and had quite a few errands to run before I had to pick up Asher from pre-school at 11:30. As I was driving I felt 'T.O.M.' coming back for a little visit. I knew that I needed to find a restroom to check. I was going down Taylor Street and thought about running home but didn't want to fuss with the dog and parking. I just wanted a quick stop. I was passing RockHill park and remembered that the other day I took Asher there to play and the restrooms were open. When I was there with Asher about 7-10 cars came through. People on there lunch breaks, people walking their dogs, and some stopped just to use the restrooms. It's an open park and pretty spacious.

It was around 10:00 on Friday morning. I pulled into the drive and noticed that a two door black car was parked and a man was in the car. I didn't think much about it, because I knew that people parked there to eat their lunches or to take a break. I parked and fiddled around with my purse. I got out of my car and started to walk towards the pavilion. The pavilion is facing east to west, the east side is facing the parking circle and is solid stone, the middle of the pavilion is open and filled with tables, the west side of the pavilion has the restrooms. The men's is on the left, south side and the women's is on the right, north side. I parked my car on the south side of the pavilion and the black car was on the north side of the pavilion.

As I was walking I noticed out of the corner of my eye the man in the car got out and was walking towards the restroom. I got a very uneasy feeling in my gut. Something was wrong. I wanted to turn around and run to my car but couldn't. I didn't want to turn to my back. I continued to walk to the restroom but picked up my pace a little bit. When I got to the west side of the pavilion I passed the men's room and then passed the man. I had my head up high and made direct eye contact with him. I turned and went into the women's room. By now my knees were shaking and I knew in my spirit that something was amiss.

I locked the door (or so I thought) and just stood by it. I couldn't hear anything, no noise, no toilet flushing. A minute or two went by when suddenly my door swung open. I was standing right there and I grabbed the handle, I was shocked because I thought I locked the door. As I looked up the man was standing less than a foot away from me. He had opened my door. I made eye contact with him and he looked shocked, his eyes opened wide and he drew his head back a little. I scared him, he didn't expect me to be at the door. I slammed the door mumbling that I thought that it was locked. He stuttered saying he was sorry. I held on to the handle tightly while I fiddled with the lock again and making sure that this time it was latched. For about another minute or so I didn't know what to do.

Maybe the men's room didn't have toilet paper or was out of order. Maybe he thought that I wasn't in there. Reality set in and my knees and hands were shaking like crazy. I spun around the restroom looking for any kind of weapon I could find. Of course everything is bolted to ground and walls. I had nothing except for my car keys. Then it hit me, he thought that I'd be on the toilet with my pants around my ankles. He would have came into the restroom and locked the door and ...... I don't want to go any farther. I saw his shocked look when I was right there at the door. He didn't knock he opened the door. He must of known that the locks on the doors were funky. I turned my lock 180 degrees thinking that it was locked, it needed to turn 360 degrees to actually be locked. A couple of minutes went by and all I could think of was getting someone there that I know and quickly. Kim. Kim is Bryan's sister and she lived less than 5 minutes away. Thank God I had my cell phone. I called Kim, which was quite difficult with my shaking hands, and told her that a guy tried to walk in on me in the restroom and I was afraid to leave. He had a two door black car. She said she would be on her way.

During the next 10-15 minutes was pure hell for me. I felt for the first time in my life like a helpless woman. Knowing that more than likely he could over power me. I was alone. There was a brief time that I thought I was being paranoid. I debated leaving the restroom but my spirit kept saying NO. I waited and waited. Trying to listen to see if I could hear anything. I heard nothing. Kim text me to say she was on her way. I called her back and she said she was pulling into the park and yes there was a black two door car there. I heard her walking up the restroom and she said my name. I opened the door and she said that the man heard her car come in (she made a lot of noise on the gravel) and as she was walking up to the pavilion he came out from around the restrooms and tried to cover his face and went to his car. He was waiting for me to come out for 15 minutes. He was behind a stone wall where I would of been unable to see him when I left the women's room. Right then it hit me that I could of been beaten, raped, or even killed.

I went to Kim's apartment and she called the police. They filled out a report and got a description of the man. The police officer asked me why I didn't just call the police. My jaw dropped, until that moment I didn't even think about that. Why didn't I call the police? I had no reason except that I was scared and wanted someone I knew to be there and quickly. I just wanted out. To be safe. The officer told me that that would of been the best bet but the fact that I was able to get out of situation with out an incident made it a success. I said that I was stupid to use the restroom and should of just gone home or to a gas station. He said that I did nothing wrong and had every right to use the parks restrooms and should of been able to do it safely. Let's face it it was 10:00 in the morning. Things like that don't happen in the morning and they don't happen to me. Well, my thinking has now been changed. Things like this can happen at any time, any place, and to anyone. God saved my life. He gave my spirit the discernment to know that something was wrong from the very beginning. Even though when the door opened and the man was standing there I was scared to death....if that wouldn't of happened I probably would of left the restroom and been attacked. I think that even Kim at first might of thought that I was being paranoid but definitely wanted me to feel safe. She said it got her when she pulled in and saw the car I described and didn't see anyone. She was kicking herself too that she didn't call the police. I think that she just wanted to get to the restroom to make sure that I was there and alright.

Bryan left work when I talked to him and needless to say has stopped by the park many times since then to see if the car and man I described was there. I can't stress enough that a cell phone is great to have with you at all times. We will be getting some mace too to keep on my key chain and in my purse. It's one thing to hear stories on talk shows about assaults and rapes but to know that I could of been some sicko's victim still bothers me. Last night I couldn't sleep and the situation still runs through my head. The only thing that I could of done differntly was to call the police. I must admit though that I don't regret any choice that I made. I was not a victim. No harm came to me and I was able to keep myself safe. The first thing I did right was to not look like a victim. I held my head up high and looked him in the eyes as to say that I'm not intimidated by you. I was aware of my surroundings and followed my gut instinct. I got someone to come to the scene knowing that there is strength in numbers.

I still don't know if I would of fought or froze if it would of turned out differntly. I assume that my adrenline would of kicked in and I would of fought. I know enough self defense that I would gouged his eyes out and continued to stab him with my keys, but not knowing if he had a weapon, like a gun or a knife, who knows what I would've done. Kim said as he passed her the thought went through her mind to kick and knock him down, but then she to thought, he could have a weapon. It's amazing just how helpless and weak a woman can feel. I am so thankful for my sister in law and I'm so glad that I called her. I'm also grateful to my God for protecting me and for allowing the situation to play out as it did. I'm still a little freaked out and I encourage all women to carry your cell phones with you at all times, get some mace, learn some self defense, and never walk around like a victim and making yourself easy prey. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your head held high and make eye contact with people. Scum like that man like to be in control, they like to have it planned out, they like to have victims. Me making eye contact with him at the beginning probably stopped him from attacking me the first time, then when I was at the door waiting and he opened it and saw me - it shocked him- ruined his plan of attack. Then he waited for me to come out when I thought it was safe. Of course he didn't know that I wouldn't think it to be safe until someone else arrived. I ruined his plan every time and took the control, the surprise away from him. All women who read this please share this story with your daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends. Let's all be aware of how not to be a victim and remember if you are ever in a situation like this, call the police. The one thing that I didn't do.

Just rambling....

Things have seemed soooo busy since school started. I'm not doing very well at my posting! Last night was Wil's first Power Soccer practice at Turnstone. It went pretty well. Bryan and Saige helped coach and Asher helped at getting in the way. =) Saige felt like a 'hot shot' because he has his own whistle. Actually, he is very helpful and they all appreciate his help. There were only about eight people there. With in the next few months more will show, once other activities are over. Wil had a blast and he did really well.
I have to laugh.... when Asher gets excited and is talking to other people, he sometimes jumps up and down or rocks back and forward. Wil was talking to his coach and was very excited and he kept rolling around in circles. It was a sight to see. It still makes me chuckle. It just goes to show that people do adapt to their circumstances.
Today Bryan and his sister Kim left to go to South Bend, Indiana. Their brother Scott (who is in the army) is there doing some sort of hum v training. They should be back late tonight. I'm glad that they were able to go. Last winter Scott was sent to Chicago to do some sort of combat training and when the kids got out of school we drove three hours to Chicago to eat dinner with him. We got home at two in the morning and still made the kids go to school the next day. =) Don't act like we're bad parents. lol They slept from nine on. We were the exhausted ones having to get them off to school. Bryan works tomorrow and has to get up at four and work a twelve hour shift. Poor baby.

My cousin Teresa had her baby on October 2nd. She had a little girl. Elizabeth Grace, 7 lbs. 2 oz. , 20 1/2 inches long. She and my sil, Lisa, had their babies one week apart and they were both girls. Finally, the girls on a comeback. We have been out numbered by boys for so long, it feels good. Even though I'm not helping with this comeback, I'm still on the girl team. I will post her picture on my wigge pics later this week. She is adorable, I think she looks like her big sister, Emily, only with dark hair. Babies are so sweet. I love to hold them and smell them. Yes, smell them. Babies smell sooooo good. I miss the smell. I have growing boys that think its fun to smell their farts and burps. Yes, how I miss the baby smell.

Fall is here....

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Things seem more crisp and clean, the sky looks prettier and the air smells cleaner. It's not too cold nor is it too warm. Baking and cooking is much more fun and the food just tastes better. Fall brings in the holidays and the 'fun' season starts. Some look at fall as the death of nature ready to bring in the cold winter. I don't know if it's because of school starting but I look to fall like the beginning of the year. As summer draws to an end so many things start up in the fall and it becomes one of the busiest times of year. It's the time of year when families come together to celebrate the holidays and it makes the beginning of winter much more exciting. Of course once January hits I'm ready for spring. Around February I'll be just a excited for spring.

I look forward to what the year will bring and I look forward to apple pie, pumpkin pie, chili, turkey, and baked ham. I look forward to the bonfires and time spent with family stuffing ourselves and playing games. I look forward to shopping for my loved ones and decorating the house for the holidays. I look forward to watching the same old 'holiday' movies. Once fall comes I feel like a little girl anxiously awaiting for the Thanksgiving dinner, and picking out the Christmas tree while all having some hot chocolate, reading the real Christmas Story to the kids and singing happy birthday to Jesus and and having birthday cake on Christmas Eve. Watching my kids eyes light up at the sight of gifts.

How grateful I am to be able to have what we have and to enjoy what we have. We all should really examine hearts and instead of being disgruntled or depressed around the holidays realize how fortunate we are to have the freedom to celebrate them. How fortunate we are to be able to celebrate them with our loved ones. This is such an exciting time of year for me. I wish you all a 'Happy Autumn' and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.