Verse of the Week

So I've been following along with Little Thoughts and her "Verse of the Week" project that began this year. Each week, she posts a different Bible verse for us to memorize and to create some sort of artwork displaying.

As for the memorizing, I have been writing each weeks' verse in my trusty little index card book. Every night, I go through each verse that we have learned. By the end of the year, I'll have 52 verses memorized (and I may have to go to bed earlier to get through them all!)

But, as for the crafty part, I have been failing. I'm not crafty (like at all) so I just skipped then. Then, today I got this new idea to try and utilize my new photography hobby as my artwork for Verse of the Week.

So.....here are my verses for the first 5 weeks of the project. From here on out, I'll be adding my verse photo to the other photo challenge links I post every weekend.

Week 1: Matthew 19:26

This photo is of the staircase at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe. It was built by a mysterious carpenter who appeared after the nuns prayed a novena for God to help them with a staircase, and was built using no nails. I though it was perfect for showing that with God, all things are possible!

Week 2: Isaiah 40:31

I went for a little drive last Sunday and came across a race horse stable with this design on their gate. I love it for a visual of running and not growing weary (especially after just having watched Secretariat....great movie!)

Week 3: Lamentations 3:23

You guys have seen this photo before for my "dawn" theme, but I thought it was perfect for showing a morning, which always begins with a clean slate!

Week 4: 2 Cor. 4:16

This might be my favorite of the verses we have done so far. Especially as it came in conjunction with my reading the end of the Lou Gehrig book that I blogged about yesterday.

Week 5: Jer. 1:5

I really wanted a picture of a baby person, but all I had in my collection was this baby calf. I'm a farm girl, what can I say? He's pretty cute, so I guess he'll do! :)

Week 6: 1 Peter 4:8

I absolutely love this verse and it was actually this verse and this photo that inspired me to do this little project. I snapped this photo inside the Loretto Chapel.

The Luckiest Man

"His records will attest to future generations that Lou Gehrig was one of the greatest baseball players who ever livled, but only to those who have been fortunate enough to have known him during his most glorious years will realize that he stood for something finer than merely a great baseball player--that he stood for everything that makes sports important to the American scene." ~Richards Vidmer

I just finished this book about the life and death of Lou Gehrig by Jonathan Eig. It was an absolutely fantastic read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history or baseball or biographies.

I'm honestly not really into baseball (except for Baby Cousin, obviously), so some of you who don't personally know me may wonder why I picked up this book in the first place. Well, just over two years ago, one of my favorite people in the world was diagnosed with ALS. He was gone 9 months later. Knowing that Gehrig suffered from the same disease made me curious and interested in his story.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading about the Yankees in the 1920's and 1930's. About the games and the travel and about Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth......This was baseball at its finest, before all of the modern day crap (yea, that's the technical term) got in the way. These guys played through the Depression and managed to give hope to a nation. The book really was sort of a history lesson through the lens of the New York Yankees starting first baseman. This was something I didn't expect to get so into.

And I absolutely love Lou Gehrig. He grew up poor and had nothing. He was quiet and professional and not into the wild life that was available to him (think Babe Ruth, people!). He loved his mama and would do anythin gfor her. He worked harder than everyone else to become the "Iron Horse" who played 2,130 consecutive MLB games. About this streak, he said "I intend to play every day and shall continue to give my best to my employers and the fans. What about the guy who pays $1.10 to see th4e game? What if I sit on the bench and say I'm resting?" Seems like a lesson lost on many players today. As one former teammate said after Lou's death, "He was baseball and everything it stands for."

In 1939, he knew something was wrong at Spring Training. By the time the season rolled around, he was having trouble running, balls were bouncing off his glove at firstbase, and although he was still hitting the ball, his trademark power was gone. His muscles seemed to be wasting way. He lost weight and began to have a hard time walking. No matter what he did, it didn't seem to help. He tried to change his stance, he tried lighter bats....nothing worked. But he didn't give up hope. "I only hope. You never lose hope in baseball." In May 1939, he knew something was wrong, and he realized it was time to end his streak. He benched himself on a day that the coaches described as a "black day for the Yankees" and for the first time in 14 years, someone other than Lou Gehrig played first base.

He went to the Mayo Clinic and received the worst possible news. ALS. I was struck with how little has changed with regard to this disease in the last 80 years. Reading about his symptoms, and the progression of his disease was like re-living the same period of Mr. F's life. The book talked about hoping for any other diagnosis--a tumor or some sort of infection--I remember praying that same prayer. The prognosis then is the same as the prognosis now. Most people are dead within 3 years. How that has not been changed in all this time is beyond me.

Shortly after this, on July 4, 1949, Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day was held at Yankee Stadium. It was there that he made one of the most memorable speaches in all of sport. Watch a clip here. Or click here to read the speech in its entirety. In the face of the worst case scenerio, he stood before his family, his teammates, and his fans and stated the following, "For the past two weeks, you've been reading about a bad break. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth... I might have had a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for." He died two years later. He was 37 years old.
If you have never seen someone dying from ALS, I pray that you never do. But if you have, you understand how remarkable this speech, and his attitude, really were. Perhaps Eig put it best. "ALS is a disease of weakness, but Lou Gehrig's disease is associated with strength--the strength of a stricken man who said he felt lucky."

One Year (and nine months).....

"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."~Carl Sandburg

This past weekend I was supposed to be headed to Oklahoma for a very important event.....Little Linebacker's First Birthday Party! The snow storm of the century changed the plans, so I will now be going to the party NEXT weekend! Thanks to Southwest, my flights got changed....for free....so I'll still be able to be there for the big day! (And Mother Nature--it better not freaking snow me out again!)

But...since yesterday was officially his first birthday, I decided to look back on the most adorable kid in the world, whose photos now plasters my fridge, office, computer desktop and Christmas card! It's amazing how quickly a year (and nine months) goes!

Part I: The Call

I was studying for the bar exam the summer of 2009. I was walking up the stairs from the gym when SoulMate Friend called. I answered and she said, "Are you sitting down?" I said no, hang on, and I plopped down righ there on the stairs. And then, the news.....SoulMate Friend was pregnant! And I was the first one she was telling, because her husband, Tuba Man, was at band practice. And then, came the analysis. Well, she thought she was pregnant because one test said so, but do you think those things are accurate? What if she did it wrong? What if it was a false positive? What if it was a defunct stick? She didn't want to tell anyone and be wrong and look stupid! So, because this is how we are, both she and I ran to google to look up the odds of false positives on pregnancy tests. Yea...FYI....they are slim to none. I headed straight to the store where I bought an adorable litlte football onsie and a book called the Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy. And so it began....

Part II: It's a Boy!

SoulMate Friend and Tuba Boy didn't tell anyone they were pregnant for three months. Knowing this just about KILLED me.....I had facebook comments galore that I had to keep to myself! But, they finally told everyone, and then we had to wait for the 20 week mark to find out what they were having. (I say we because I was in on this from the beginning....well, not THAT beginning, but you know what I mean.) I was dying to find out and I finally got the text message I had been waiting for.....it was A BOY! And just like that, my Little Linebacker became a reality!

Part III: The Shower Suprise.

One item on my bucket list was to suprise someone. Well, that opportunity presented itself when it came time for SoulMate Friend's baby shower. Her sisters and I concocted a plan for me to come, but not to tell her about it. She literally had NO idea. So, everyone else knew, and her sisters announced that they had a littlel suprise for her. When I walked in the door, her face was priceless. She said, "Wait, this is Oklahoma! What are you doing here??" She then proceeded to announce to everyone that she was afraid her sisters had gotten a stripper. (She later said that wasn't true, but she just didn't know what else to say!) You can read more about that on a prior blog here.

Part IV: He's Here!

Super Bowl Sunday 2010 was the perfect birthday for my Little Linebacker. I got the text message and a picture of him all crying and nasty and I fell in love right away.

Part V: Meeting Him and Hating My Camera!

Fortunately, I was headed to Oklahoma the next weekend to go to a basketball game with Cousin Swiss Mister and to see George and Reba with the Oklahoma Girls and Cousin Whitney! Obviously, I trip to SoulMate Friend's house was in order. And there, I met the cutest baby ever. No lie--I think babies are scary and a little gross, but not this one. I took tons of pictures....and then managed to accidentally delete them all. I was heartbroken. No first pictures with Aunt Tiffany. But at least we do have one of him from that day (game day...Go Pokes!).

Part VI: More Visits, More Presents.

Like I needed another reason to go back to Oklahoma on a regular basis! I have made two trips since that first meeting and gotten to spend time with SoulMate Friend, Tuba Man, and Little Linebacker. (You've read about these before). My favorite was homecoming, when we were all decked out in orange.

In between trips, I try and keep Little Linebacker happy with frequent gifts including the ducky bath towel, "I'm a Great Catch" onesie, and any football-related clothing I can find!

Part VII: Happy Birthday!

So, finally, when the first birthday rolled around, I knew I had to be there. And even when the blizzard tried to ruin this, SoulMate Friend managed to re-arrange the party so that I could be there. Pictures to come next week! (By the way, Southwest Airlines should send Little Linebacker a present for all the business he keeps getting them!)

Meet the Cast Monday #6: Teacher Friend

I am so excited to introduce you to one of my oldest friends today! You've met college friends and law school friends and a couple of family members already in this little Meet the Cast Monday project, but there is something really special about a childhood friend!

Teacher Friend and I literally grew up together--we've been friends since the 4th grade. (I am including photos to prove this....let's hope that our friendship doesn't end once she sees them!) She knows who I was and where I'm from, and I think that having friends who understand those parts of you is really important. We've been through good and bad and funny and funny now, but not funny then. :) Anyway, Teacher Friend lives with her husband in Texas where she teaches high school science. Oh, and she's the biggest Packers fan that you'll ever meet....so needless to say, she is in a good mood this morning!

So....with that, this is Teacher Friend!

We've been friends for a long time....since we were 9 years old.....what is your favorite memory with me?
Have to be when we dated those Grady boys and went on some crazy double dates. They were so much fun and I think we laughed pretty much the entire time we were together. I still remember the parking lot at Grady-did he kiss you? NO! Did he kiss you? NO! haha! {There was significant analysis about this the entire drive home! :)}

You've been through a lot in your life, but you have remained strong in your faith. How have you done that?
Day by day-I mean when you look at something that seems so steep and hard to climb, you just put one foot in front of the other and eventually you get to the top. It has been a struggle, of course there have been times where I was like 'Why me?' and I have had my fair share of pity parties, but in the end I remember that God loves ME and put me here for a purpose. Everything I go through will help me reach out to other struggling people, and that keeps me going. Plus, if I didn't believe God and trust in Him, there wouldn't be ANY hope, and I just can't bear to think that. {For real, she's amazing!}
You are a killer fantasy football champion.....tell us a few of your secrets!
Overanalyzing is the major player in losing seasons-the years that I have printed stats and really studied were the years I failed! When I go in there and do my homework, but not to an obsessive extent is when I do best-I just go with my gut. Of course, I have a key rule that I ALWAYS draft by no matter what: NO vikings, NO bears, NO cowboys. That has served me very well. Also, find a sleeper-you usually get a great player really cheap! My sleeper this year was McFadden and he was awesome.
Your wedding was one of the most fun and of all of them that I've been to, I think it might have been the most "you." What was your favorite part?
I think walking the horses down with my dad. We were supposed to ride in, but I'm sure you remember I got bucked off! Instead we decided to walk them in before we got to the aisle and I love those pictures. It really summed up what we are-plus I got to wear my cowboy boots! {Please let me share this from a bridesmaid's perspective....we knew she was supposed to ride, but she was walking and she looked kind of shaken up, so we're quietly whispering to each other standing in front of everyone. Then her mom sits down and whispers something to her grandma. Well, grandma basically screams, "WHAT?? She got bucked off??" so that everyone there knew. I still remember looking at her with this "OMG are you okay" glance and her nodding like everything was just perfect. The first thing she says to me after the wedding? "Good thing we took that shot beforehand. It really calmed my nerves." Ha!}
What was your favorite part of college at Colorado State?
Working at the Meat Lab-that was the place to be and everyone knew who worked there. I learned a whole new side of an agriculture industry that I have always been part of. I really enjoyed learning the cuts and actually knowing how different products are processed. Plus, I did meet my husband who was my boss at the meat lab! Another great part was meeting my awesome roommate, Danica! She is great and we are still great friends-she is getting married soon and I am in the wedding! So excited for her!

Tell us about living in NYC for a summer. What were the best and worst parts?
NYC-everytime I see a famous landmark, I think I am SO glad I am not there anymore! I am so grateful for the experience and all the people I met, but that is a huge city for a small town country girl! I enjoyed the Broadway shows-I saw The Producers by Mel Brooks-which was hilarious and then when you (Tiff) and Whitney came up we all saw Phantom of the Opera. It was amazing. I really want to go back to see the show about Vince Lombardi's life. Maybe we will just have to do that! {I don't know if by "we" you mean me and you "we" or you and your husband "we" but I'm offically inviting myself to come!!} The worst part was there was not a single country station! I had to have Eddie send CD's so I could hear George. It was neat to experience, but scary just because of the crime rate. That really kept me in when I should have been going out and seeing the sites. While I was there, I had a strange allergic reaction though where my eyes were so swollen I couldn't see and that was scary. It only happened a couple of times, but I think it was my body telling me that we needed to get out of there fast and back to the ranch.

What was your favorite part of growing up on a family ranch?
That is a tough question-the ranch is part of me in everyway. I am so grateful for the lessons it taught me and how it shaped me into a better person. I know all about troubleshooting and making something work with what you have, a hard days work, chores coming before fun (thought they were fun in their own respect), respecting animals and enjoying them (on the table too!). I think the hardest part is being away from it because it doesn't bring in enough capital to support our family, so just dad lives there.

What was the best part of growing up in a small town?
No traffic, wide open spaces, friendships and close knit ties. There is just something to say about growing up in a small town!

What is one (or more) item(s) on your bucket list?
I have never really thought about this-I guess I really want to go back to Lambeau and see us play a division game-maybe even the Bears in 20 below, snowing, beer freezing weather. Go see Ireland, I just think that would be a fun experience.

Photos of the Week: Week 5

And we continue on in this little photography journey. Hopefully you guys enjoy this week's photos! One month already down!

This week I added one new challenge in addition to my others....the Happy Monday Photo Challenge! (I'm all for anything that makes Monday happier!)

Theme: Black & White

I absolutely love churches---and over the years have gathered up a pretty large collection of church photos. I took this in Santa Fe at the Loretto Chapel.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming of my usual challenges. :)

Theme: A Piece of Furniture

Last week I was over at Aggie Friend's house to pick her up to go take some pictures at the river (which you saw here and here). As I was waiting for her to get ready, I saw this chair outside and knew I had to snap this shot! I love the contrast of colors and the perfect shadow of the tree.

Theme: Sleep

I have to confess that I didn't take this picture this week....it's from Thanksgiving. When I originally saw this theme, I knew I wanted to take a picture of Little Linebacker sleeping in his crib this week. But....due to the storm of the century pounding Oklahoma, my trip has been delayed a week. So I had to dig back into the archives and find a "sleep" picture to share.

Theme: Ball

When I saw this theme I knew I wanted to do something with a basketball. At first, I thought about trying to snap some shots of the neighborhood kids playing at the park. This ran into two problems. First, I worried about being the creepy lady at the park with her camera. Second, the sub-zero temperatures that we've been having here sort of killed any outdoor ball games. So, I opted for a more artistic shot of the court instead.

Theme: Me

As I was putting some things in my closet one night this week, I laughed when I saw a pile of boots and stilletos. Then I decided that this would be a great "Me" picture! My life sort of wears two shoes (instead of hats) and I think that this picture does a good job of describing that.

Project 64: Week 5 - Grey

I'll admit that this color had me stumped. And even when I shot my photo for the week, I didn't realize that I had gotten something grey. I just thought that the sunset on the water was beautiful, so I snapped a few shots. When I uploaded them to my computer, I noticed that the picture not only contained the amazing colors of the sunset reflecting on the water, but that the water was....you guessed it......grey!


So, with that little intro, I give you my photo of the week:


Be sure you go over and check out the amazing photographers who take part in this project every week (including my co-worker who took an AMAZING photo of her cat, Woody! If you missed any of my photography challenges, be sure to check out the prior ones here.

Family Farm Friday #40: It's In Your Blood

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.” ~Hodding Carter

My parents love me. But they get sort of impatient when our phone conversation goes some what like this:

Me: "Hey, I need a favor."
Dad: "Oh crap."
Me: "I need some pictures of ____ for the blog."
Mom: "We aren't just at your beck and call. We have other things going on you know."
Me: "Like what? You're retired."
Mom: "Grrr."
Dad: "Well is it for Family Farm Friday?"
Me (knowing those are the only ones he reads): "Yes."
Dad: "Okay, I'll go look."
Mom: "Youl always do whatever she wants!"

In order to stop some of this animosity, I decided to go through photos while I was home for Christmas and pull some that I thought might be useful for future blogs.

When I sat down and went through the pictures, I realized that when I say that the family farm has been forever in my blood, I mean it. Since before I could walk there are pictures of me on horses, in front of tractors, feeding ewes and baby lambs....you name it. Here are just a few of my favorites....

1. This would be me and my dad and my horse, Baldy, who my dad bought for me when I was 6 months old.

2. I call this one "A girl, her dog, and a John Deere tractor."

3. This would be me and Cousin Whitney feeding my Mom's favorite ewe, Whisper.

4. Notice the same girl, the same dog, and what was probably my own bottle feeding the lamb.

5. At some point, a little brother came along and joined in the fun with the sheep.

6. Gran taking all of her grandikds on a picnic at the White House corrals.

I've said it before, and you'll probably hear me say it countless times again, but I honestly do not think that there is a better place to raise kids than on a farm. My childhood might not have been glamorous, but I'm here to tell you, it couldn't have been any better. The family farm is in my blood, and I couldn't be more grateful!

Who Doesn't Have Fun With These People??

"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." ~Arthur Rubinstein

Okay, this isn't a Throwback Thursday blog, but it relates to a Throwback Thursday from a couple weeks ago.

So, here we go: first off, who doesn't have fun with these people?? (I'll let you guess based on the facial expressions....)

You read previously about our Family Ski Trip to Red River. Everyone had an amazing time, except for Quiet Cousin's Girlfriend. I don't say this because I think she had a bad time.....no, no....she actually told me she did. We were all out on New Year's Eve so I asked her if she was having a good time on the trip.....that was my attempt at being friendly. She said, "No." I was shocked....first off, who doesn't understand that the socially acceptable response in that situation is to lie and say that things are good?

Secondly, who doesn't have fun with these people??

So anyway, I was sort of bothered about this for the rest of the weekend. And, because I'm nosey, I started watching her to analyze this situation further. She didn't talk to anyone, spent most of the time locked up in her room, seemed to take offense at anything someone said even when it was not offensive in the slightest, and basically just had a terrible attitude.

Now, this is probably no surprise to you....but I'd say that is the complete opposite of how I try to live my life. You know what, Quiet Cousin's Girlfriend? Every experience that you have is what you make it. If you come into something with a chip on your shoulder or a bad attitude or with an unwillingness to make the best of a situation, you're setting yourself up for a miserable time. And if you would at least try to enjoy the positives in a situation, and to look for the best in the people who you are around, you wouldn't need to lie when someone asks you if you are having a good time (not that she understood the need for that anyway).

I ask again...who doesn't have fun with these people??

So...I urge you not to be like Quiet Cousin's Girlfriend. She'll never get that time back and she wasted it by having a bad attitude. Don't waste your life locked up in a room alone because you don't make the best out of a situation.

Oh yea, and seriously, who doesn't have fun with these people??

P.S.: I can now report that Quiet Cousin's girlfriend has a new name. Quiet Cousin's Ex-Girlfriend. See what happens when you don't have fun??

A Little Pointer

“Wise men are not always silent, but they know when to be.” ~Unknown

This is one of those girly blogs that Cousin Kevin will not like. Fair warning.

I feel the need to just give a little tip to all of you boys out there. Guys say that girls are complicated, so I figure that some honest advice might help to dispel this notion. This situation appears to happen rather frequently, at least to me, so I figure maybe boys just have never been told to knock it off. So, I'm telling you all now....knock it off. (To give you a visual, here is a photo of me lecturing Cousin Swiss Mister about who knows what with my "knock it off" face).

You should never tell a girl who you had any sort of relationship with in the past that you have found a new girlfriend and proceed to explain how the new girl reminds you so much of the old girl.

I'm sure that in some deep, dark, twisted part of the male brain, he feels like saying this is flattering to the old girl. I'm sure that he think she should appreciate the fact that when he is looking for a girlfriend, he looks for someone who reminds him of the old girl.

Yea.....it's not flattering. It's annoying. You are basically saying, "I like certain things about you so much that I want to date someone with those qualities---but I don't wnat to date you because I clearly don't like EVERYTHING about you." No girl wants to hear that.

So even if you find some new girlfriend who you'd swear was the twin sister of the old girl, separated at birth, don't tell her that the new girl reminds you of her.

Save your breath and buy her a drink or some pie instead. Now that's flattering.

Happiness Project Month #6: Grown Up Adult Stuff

"I am old enough to see how little I have done in so much time, and how much I have to do in so little." ~Sheila Kaye-Smith

Fact: this blog is going to be boring. I understand if you want to stop reading right now. But you know, I seem to keep becoming more and more convinced that a lot of things about being an adult are boring, so bear with me.

For this month's Happiness Project goal, I wanted to focus on some adult grown up stuff that I have been trying to tackle for over a year. (See a list of all my goals here).

When I got started, I knew that there were a minimum of four documents that I wanted to create to accomplish my Happiness Project goals: (1) a will; (2) an advanced healthcare directive; (3) a power of attorney; and (4) a list of all important account information.

(Sidenote: Learning to edit my photos--took both of the ones you see here!)

I know this is not exciting, but I wanted to give you a quick summary of the documents that I drafted up just in case you might be interested in doing the same thing. Mind you--I am NOT giving any legal advice whatsoever--and laws vary by state, so be sure you consult an attorney in your state to be sure everything is done in accordance with the law. (My boss would be proud of me for remembering the disclaimer!)

Here we go--

(1) A will. Because I don't have any kids and I don't have that much money or property, having a will was probably not a necessity. States have what are called intestacy statutes that provide who gets a person's estate if she dies without a will. In my case, my parents would get everything, which would be fine. But....I wanted to do a will for two reasons. First, as an attorney, I feel like I SHOULD have one. Second, let's be real.....I sort of like the idea of being able to control a few things even after I've gone onto my reward (as Gran would say!) A will does not have to be complex--mine is pretty simple--it gives a few certain material things to certain people and directs some money to go to certain things, and that's about it. One important consideration is to decide who will be the executor of your estate---the person who will ensure that your wishes are carried out and who is responsible for a lot of the paperwork necessary when a person dies.

(2) An advanced heathcare directive. (Also called a healthcare power of attorney) I think you probably all remeber when this was thrust into the news back in the day with Terri Shivo. Well, an AHD just sets out your wishes with regard to medical treatment in the event that you are incapacitated. At least in my state, you can either make your wishes clear (i.e. I do/do not want life support) or you can have your agent decide for you. Some important considerations: (a) what do you want to make the decision?; (b) does your agent know what you want him/her to do?; (c) will your agent be able to make a difficult decision?; (d) do you want more than one person making the decision (this would be called co-agents)? It's not fun to think about, but it's important.

(3) A power of attorney. Again, all states are different, but here, you need a separate document to allow a person to care for your finances/property than the document providing for your medical decisions. The POA deals with the former. There are a few different kinds of POA's (some that are effective only upon your incapacitation, some that end at the time you become incapacitated) so it is important to understand what you are creating. POA's terminate once the person dies.

(4) A list of information. I'm crazy independent. This could be a problem one day. So I made a list of information that someone might need if I was hit by a bus. I listed out each account that I have, where it is located and the account number. Similarly I listed out any debts/credit cards with account numbers. After that, I listed out all of my insurance information (health, car, house) including the agent names and policy numbers. I also made a list of my monthly bills so that if someone had to try and keep my credit rating in tact, they could do so easily. This kind of list is also important in the event that a person dies because their executor will be responsible for certain things (like taxes) and, in order to complete his job, he will need to locate all of the person's accounts and assets. Along those same lines, I listed out any material assets (car, cows, sheep, etc) that I own.

Okay....boring lesson over! I know you are all bored and are wondering, "How did this make her happier when it made me want to poke my eyes out?" Well, I love to be able to cross things off of a list. Getting this done had been on a list for over a year, so I'm really glad to have it over with! Of all the HP themes I have done so far, I will admit, this was the least fun....but I am happy to know that all of this is in order and behind me! Stay tuned next month and I'll do my best to spice it up a little!