I’ve been in a nesting mode lately.  I’ve been cooking up a storm and making some fun things.  It totally relaxes me, and helps me procrastinate on my school work.  :)  Here are a few of the projects I am working on:  These are a few of my favorite scrapbook pages.

These are pictures of before Garon and I got married, when we were in the single’s group.

These pictures are of this past year.

A week ago I was trying to find a recipe to get rid of some cans in my pantry.  I stumbled upon this recipe and wasn’t too excited about it, but was shocked when I found out I loved it.  It was fantastic, easy to make, flavorful, and healthy.  I tweaked it a little though.  We also added chicken to make it a main dish.  My man has to have his meat. 

Black Beans and Rice

1 cup cooked long-grain rice

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar  (I didn’t have any of this, so I used cooking sherrry ) 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

I baked these muffins this week for something quick for my breakfast since I get up early now.  They are very good and are not that bad for you.  (other than sugar and flour) 

Country Pumpkin Muffins Submitted by: Kim Scott Rated: 5 out of 5 by 83 members Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes Yields: 27 servings “At pumpkin harvest time, these muffins are a favorite at our house. You’ll love the spicy taste, plump raisins and crunchy walnuts. They freeze well, too.” INGREDIENTS: 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin 1/2 cup water 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin and water. Combine flour, baking powder, soda, spices and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture; blend well. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Spoon into greased muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 11/17/2008

Well, this has been a crazy end of the semester.  I am in the middle of trying to plan my Infertility Support Group, which the first meeting will be December 1.  I have been advertising and scheduling for it.  Then of course I have been working, which exhausted me at first, so I would come home and crash.  I’ve also had a ton of papers these past two weeks, and I still have to finish one that is due this Wednesday morning.  Then there was the Open House at work, which I had to work an extra day to help get ready for.  Needless to say, I have not called anyone or talked to anyone lately.  We’ve just been in survival mode.  The good thing is there is only one more week of school, then Thanksgiving week,  and then Finals week and we are done for the year.  YAY!  I’m ready for a break.  I helped do a baby shower for a girlfriend of mine.  I was in charge of the games.  It was a lot of fun.  We also had to go to the dentist this week.  Garon and I both had to get our fillings fixed, but no cavities, then I got my mouth guard made.  I love it.  I have been using it this week and can already see a huge difference.  On Friday, Garon will be going to work with me to help my bosses put new Ram in their computers.  They are paying him to do it.  YAY!  I can not believe this semester is almost over, it seems like just yesterday I was scared to death that I would not be up to it physically.  The Lord has greatly sustained me this semester.  It was the best semester ever.  I have had so much fun.  This is the first semester we have gotten all of the reading done!  Well, I better go finish my last big paper.  Wish me luck!!!

So I am sure that most of you are aware that I got the Floral Design job.  I absolutely love it.  November 7th was my first day and I worked for eight and a half hours.  It is crazy busy there from 9 am until 2 pm.  We usually do not get to stop and take a break until two pm.  That’s when I try to eat my lunch.  It is a non stop kind of job.  I mainly do projects like pricing things and putting them on the floor (the showroom) and decorating with them (like our Christmas trees).  I also do greenery on arrangements.  I take the shipments, clean the flowers, and cut their tips.  Then I put them in buckets of water in the cooler.  I sweep a lot.  I clean vases and buckets.  I water plants.  I have also had to replant a pant.  Soon I will learn how to make bows.  I also add some flowers to plants.  I like when I have to wire roses or carnations for funeral baskets.  I am constantly doing something new or different.  I also blow up balloons, enter orders in the computer, and call for tech support.  I answer phones and take orders.  There is never a dull moment, and it is very rewarding because you can see when you have accomplished something.  Can you tell I like my job?  I can’t wait until I learn how to do arrangements.  The only thing is it is extremely physical.  We are on our feet and lifting stuff.  That wouldn’t be a problem normally, but I’m still recooperating from a summer spent in bed.  Please pray that God would give me strength and sustain me so that I can do a good job.  Gotta go finish writing a fifteen page paper!  Talk to ya later!

Had a headache Sunday pm, so we stayed home from church.  We spent a lot of time this week working on our studies.  We had a test, two quizzes, and a paper to do.  On Thursday evening, I took a friend who had just had a baby a meal.  Then another friend and I cleaned for her.  I had baked some cookies earlier in the day that I shared with her and her husband.  (Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies)  More on these later.  Friday, I was so sore and tired that I just moped around and rested.  When you have been in bed for two whole months, you do not realize how your muscles atrophy.  I am hurting in places that I did not know had muscles.  :)  Garon helped me to make some no bake cookies.  More on these later as well.  (Roberta, my mother in law’s, recipe)  Friday night was Reformation Day/Halloween.  In case you do not know what Reformation Day is, it is when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, that led to the Protestant Reformation.  We are no longer a part of the Catholic church because of him.  So our care group leader, James and Nikki, his wife, had us over to watch Luther and eat pizza and other goodies.  We had so much fun talking and being silly that we never even watched the movie.  Here are some pics:

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On Monday, I continued to look for a job.  I had been on three interviews for a tutoring position and did not get the jobs.  I thought I would be a shoo in since I was a teacher.  Obviously, the Lord had something better and different in store for me.  So I called them on Monday, and had a job interview Tuesday.  Wednesday, they called to tell me I had the job.  Yay!  I was scared to get too excited, since it sounded almost too good to be true.  The florist shop is called A Touch of Elegance.  It is very nice.  It is owned by a young Christian couple.  Her younger sister helps run the place.  The sister is probably only a few years younger than me.  The owner’s name is Patty, her sister is Amy.  Amy’s husband goes to Boyce College, the undergrad school at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  This sounds like a lot of fun, but quite a busy job.  I am to be an organizer extraordinaire, a janitor, a receptionist, a customer service specialist, and a floral designer.  In other words, I will be doing a little bit of everything to free them up to do more of the jobs they need to do.  I am a little worried about my health holding up, so I will definitely need your prayers.  I believe that if God gave me this job, that He will sustain me and give me strenth to do my responsibilities.  I start this Friday at 9:15.  It is part time now, but over the holidays will be full time.  This is great since in three or four weeks I will be out of school, and will have nothing to do during the day.  No more night owl for me.  I gotta get on a new schedule.  That is also a prayer request.  I am also excited because I love arts and crafts, organizing, and cleaning.  I did all of the flowers at my first wedding except for the huge arrangements up front.  Isn’t the Lord awesome!?  He always knows what we need.