Thanks-mas

OMG it has been way too long since I last posted! But we have been insanely busy with holidays, family, friends, and Pampered Chef!! Haha! So I have decided to title this post "Thanks-mas," stealing the name from our friends Adam and Laura.

My parents came to visit the week of my 28th birthday, and it was so nice to see them after 11 whole months! For the record, that is FAR too long! We carved pumpkins, laid around, went shopping, while the men went shooting. They left and I cried like a baby, but don't I always?

Thanksgiving came and went like usual, but we were once again reminded of how blessed we are to live in the USA and have such wonderful and secure jobs. Mike and I took most of the week off, and it was just the vacation we needed, except I found myself doing nothing but cooking, cleaning, and organizing all week long... at least I wasn't at my real job! We had Thanksgiving dinner at Ryan & Laurel's (sister-in-law and brother-in-law) house with many visitors who were unrelated, but it was great. Laurel gave us an idea for a tradition that I would like to start once we start a family, based on the tradition of going around the table and saying what we are thankful for. Everyone had 3 small kernels of unpopped popcorn at their placesetting, without any explanation. At the end of the meal, Ryan passed a little bowl around the table, and one at a time, we had to say something that we are thankful for. The bowl went around 3 times, and hearing everyone's thanks really inspired each one of us to be thankful for everything in our lives.

In these economic times, especially with all the layoffs happening all over the country, Mike and I are very grateful for our jobs, even though we may not be happy in them all the time. Mike is in his dream job, while I'm still waiting for mine. He has been placed on a new project and will start that venture next month, which will bring many changes to his job description and to be honest, he's pumped. My company has hired about 60 people in the past 3 months, with no sign of slowing down. A big change for me is that starting on January 12, I will be working from home! This is something that I've been wanting to do for quite some time, mostly because I hate hate hate hate Indiana weather and don't see the point in risking my life each day in icy traffic to do a job that doesn't need to be performed in an office. Home will work just fine for me, thank you. Goodbye to the days of getting up 30 minutes earlier to scrape off the car and dig it out of the snow. Bring on work in the jammies. Bring it on.

The day after Thanksgiving Mike headed out to the stores to do his Black Friday shopping and I decided last minute (when I learned how cold it was and how early it was) that I would stay in the rack. I told him to call me if and only if he absolutely needed my help. Well, about 20 minutes later I got a call, and he needed some shopping help. I went to Meijer and struck out on the digital photo frames... all gone. Then I headed to the DVD section.... struck out again. Then he asked me to wait in line outside Target and he would meet me there.... well I was not dressed to wait in line outside... but I did it anyway... and we got the TV!!!! Plus, Mike had a $300 gift card so we barely spent a dime! YES! After that I headed to HH Gregg to get a digital photo frame for Nanny and Papa and finally had the sweet taste of success! Then I headed home and went back to bed. Nice.

Since then I have been super-busy with Christmas parties, baking, Pampered Chef Christmas orders, and getting ready for our TX trip. December absolutely flew.

On Thursday, 12/18 Mike and I headed to Texas to spend some time with my family down there. What a sweet time it was. I got to hang out with my sisters who I love more than anything and enjoy being a complete goofball. We got to double-date with Erin & Ryan Welsh, do lunch with homeschool girls, and see old church friends! And can you say LOS CUCOS? FREEBIRDS? RUDY'S? Oh it was wonderful! Finally some good food! I really did not want to come back to Indy.... every time I go back to Texas, I think to myself, "Now this is where I belong," even though I know that's not true. It's hard to be left out of so many relationships that I grew for so many years. I miss people's weddings.... babies.... new families... life events.... I hate it. If a family member happened to die, I would probably just have to stay in Indiana and deal with it. And I have 3 grandparents who are getting older every day.... and it stinks to think that every Christmas may be the last time I see them. However, I know that God has me here for a reason, and that is to do a good job at work, serve Him, and love Mike. Sounds easy, huh?

Anyway.... here we are, back in Indiana. Today is my first day back at work and BOY it was hard getting out of bed today! There was a bright spot this morning though... I walked into the office and saw my picture on our "Wall of Fame," where I was named "Health Educator of the Month" for October 2008! They spelled my first name wrong, but hey! Its still me!

Here are some other random things that have been going on since I last blogged:
-I'm in a great new Bible study with girls from church. It is Beth Moore's newest study, "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman." It has been so nice to gather with these wonderful ladies and study this amazing book!
-I've been reading books like crazy recently, which is weird because growing up, reading was something I really hated doing. In the past few months I read: The Secret Life of Bees, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Get Out of That Pit, Corrie TenBoom, and I'm currently reading Mistaken Identity. Next up are Marley and Me, 90 Minutes in Heaven and Fahrenheit 451. Good luck, huh?
-Pampered Chef has been going amazingly well and God has really shown me that it is where he wants me. I would give my right arm to do it full-time, but part-time will work for now! I had a lot of shows and individual sales in November and December, and all of the money goes straight to our house savings!! Yes!! It's so good to know that I'm doing something so fun to contribute to our new home. Pampered Chef has allowed me to get out of the house and meet new people, and cook for them! Cooking is truly something that relaxes me, I'm just not crazy about the dishes.... I hit my $5000 in career sales in November, which was encouraging. I really love this business and all the ladies I've met along the way. They encourage me in what I do and give me constant affirmations, because I don't receive those very often in my regular job. If you would like to order anything or host a show, feel free to visit my website! www.pamperedchef.biz/mrscouts. I'd love to help you pamper yourself!

I am excited for the year to come, and I even have some New Years Resolutions! There are only 3 right now, and knowing me, this list is sure to grow.

1. Train for and compete in my 2nd half-marathon in May (2009 500 Festival Mini-Marathon)
2. Blog more (haha we'll see)
3. Read the Bible more consistently (hopefully this will be easier as I start working from home)

OK that's it for now. That was a long one, but hey it's been a long time since I last posted. Maybe pictures some other day. Then again, maybe not. No promises. Love to all my homies!!!

Rachel <><