A few reasons why I love my mom...

1. She waves at people with her index finger

2. She calls everyone her "friend". "I was at Rite Aid the other day and my little friend Lucy was working...."

3. She calls people "fart heads"

4. She doesn't kill insects...she sets them "free" outside.

5. She defends other people and makes up stories for them... I would say, "Mom, that person just cut me off in traffic..." And she would say, "Well honey they're probably having a bad day. Maybe their boyfriend just broke up with them...you never know..."

These are only five of the many reasons why I love my mom...

Thankful for Thanksgiving...

This year Thanksgiving was filled with family, good food, and Wii! We bowled, boxed, played doubles on Tennis and had a great time. Of course my brother HAD to win at everything we played, but I would just like to say I held my own in Mario...

I am thankful for Thanksgiving and for family to share it with. The Thanksgiving break was also filled with meals with other good friends, including a "Three Hot Chica" reunion night at Starbucks (that would be Jen, Nina and myself). It was good for the soul.

On Saturday Derek and I went for a brisk walk at Woodward park (it was a BEAUTIFUL morning and we were planning to just meet up at the gym, but once I walked outside and saw how beautiful it was, I knew I couldn't be stuck indoors on treadmill...yuck...) And apparently the High School Cross Country National Championship...or something like that...was taking place at Woodward, so there were a TON of people there. We dodged all of them and took a trail away from all the people. Unbeknownst to us, we walked longer then we set out to...but a little extra walking never hurt anyone...except Derek's hip :(

The Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close, but that means Christmas is just around the corner...!

Bon Qui Qui...

You may have seen this before, but if you haven't, you should watch it.... Super funny stuff...

Mr and Mrs. Andrew DeWitt...

So, I've been told I've had too many "wedding posts"... And I'm trying to cut back...but here's just one more...

Steph and Drew got married this weekend in Napa, CA. First off, it is BEAUTIFUL there. It was a really fun day and a super fun reception with good food, good wine and dancing! I feel like I say this a lot, but it's true...Steph and Drew make a great team and both love God and love people in very real ways. It was great to be able to be a part of their special day with them. Enjoy a few pics...


I caught the bouquet and the best man, Daniel, caught the garter... haha...

Happy Birthday Derek!

Today marks the day that Mr. Derek Abbott is officially a quarter of a century old. We celebrated last weekend (because I am out of town for a wedding right now) but his fingers show how old he is...


Happy Birthday D! Hope it is wonderful (well as wonderful as it can be without having me there with you to celebrate :) And remember, age is nothin' but a number!

Mars and Venus...Men and Women...

A friend sent this too me and I have to say, it made me laugh. Just a reminder of how differently God created men and women... To the men who read this blog, I hope you enjoy this and for the women, hopefully you'll get some laughs too...

We always hear 'the rules' from the female side ...Now here are the rules from the male side.

Man Rules:

Please note, these are all numbered '1 ON PURPOSE...

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports - It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Please just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying,

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...really.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

The Future Mr. and Mrs. Art Negrete

It's official as of yesterday!

What are the odds...

Check out Dani and Mallorie's blog for the full story...

Really, what were the odds...!

We Need One Another...

I thought both Obama and McCain's speeches were phenomenal. I've watched both of them quite a few times. For the first time during this entire season of campaigning I saw grace and dignity from both parties. Whatever our differences, we do need one another...

And I agree, "Yes we can"...and it's only by God's grace and because of God's grace that we can...



"A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they’ve achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.

For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."



"I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."

Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone,

I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.

Americans never quit. We never surrender.

We never hide from history. We make history.

Mr. President Elect...

I am SO glad this election is over. I'm sure both Obama and McCain are too.

Oh How Time Goes By

The picture above is of my two brothers. Okay, technically I only have one brother, Tim (on the right) and Brandon (on the left) is Tim's best friend. They've been friends for over 20 years now...since they were about 5 years old. Tim and I are two years apart, so I was about 3 years old when they became friends, so really, I've grown up with both of them as my brothers.

We, along with a few other kids always did stuff together. In our neighborhood would play cops and robbers, baseball in the front yard, (using both trees and sprinkler heads as our bases), football in the street, Royal Rumble on Sega Gensis, have water ballon fights, play catch and "pickle" with the baseball in the backyard, walk to the near-by convenience store and stock up on way too much candy and soda, and at the end of each summer we would walk together to school to check the posting to see what teacher we had for the upcoming year.

Lots and LOTS of memories. I just found out tonight Brandon is engaged. His fiancee Jessica is a wonderful girl--I really like her. She's real...and funny. They haven't set a date yet, but today my brother jokingly said, "Yeah, you might be invited to the wedding..." To which I responded, "Trust me, I've been to plenty of weddings and this will be one I will surely crash if I'm not invited...!"

Congrats Brandon and Jess! Oh how time goes by...