another post! get excited now...

Today was a great day! We have recently implemented many changes at work, most of which i think are for the better. That is running smoothly. Thanks for all who have been praying for me in that.

Michael is going through some HUGE changes! God has revealed Himself to Michael in a mighty way. Walls are coming down and my loving husband is showing up to me daily. it is really a joy loving God and attempting to live in His will.

Michael and i were listening to a teaching together last night and the teacher was saying that it is easy to rest in God's love and be a follower of Him when things are going our way, when He is doing things according to our will. it is more difficult to live in his love when he is disciplining us, or doing things we dont agree with.

*at this point, i set my pen down and found myself starting to tune out the message*

later last night, we were going to talk about what we heard. I shared with Michael that this is how i have felt about God for a while, the last few weeks. When actually, i think i have been upset with God since Dad died. Not upset "i dont believe in God" but upset "i dont understand this" Michael, ever so sweetly, prayed for me and asked God to reveal to me the real reason behind my mistrust of His goodness. What a wonderful moment to share as a married couple.

then tonight we were devotioning (Michael-ism word) with Hannah and telling about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. When Jesus accused her about not being married to the man she was living with etc, she totally changed the subject and tried to get away from the discipline. Isn't that what i had done the night before? why, yes it was.

I guess i still have some growth to do. i'm glad i can trust in His love for me, even when he 'gives and takes away'

here you are Jolene, a new post.

I am trying to adjust to working full-time. i barely have enough left in me to spend with my family, let alone on the internet with blogs, maybe someday i'll be used to it and can get more better at blogging.

things are good here 515. Michael is watching the NCAA basketball tournament, i could care less. Hannah is wondering between the two of us, playing in her bedroom and having a jolly 5 year old time. i am sitting at the computer looking at nonsense and trying to get things done.

so far, i have gotten pics ready to hang
ate pizza, and peanut butter cookies
changed out of my church clothes
did our bills for the month

okay, so it doesnt sound like a lot, but it has been a lot to me. i think i might craft for a bit this afternoon. either that or purge Hannah's toys, my winter clothes and other things around the house i think are getting cluttered and out of hand.
i need to go to walmart to get some hair clips-i have 2 and both are broken and Chapmanized! hee hee

i cant think of anything of real substance to share today, so i think i'll get back to my wonderings.

have a great day! (with fist held high! and smiling)

do you ever have days where you want to stay mad at your spouse? well, today is one of those days for me, and I know i should just call him and apologize for my nasty behavior and attitude. I am upset because he called me out on a selfish behavior and i continued to fight with him about a trivial stupid matter. Oh, Jesus, please forgive my sinful nature and help me to realize this life is fleeting and be thankful my husband is a Godly man who loves you, and loves me too.

so i'm sitting here thinking, I'll look and see if people commented on my last post. well, i forgot it was all Dad. The tears are here...

In other words, how can one nostril produce so much snot and really nothing come out of the other? random, i know, but it is starting to bother me.

I am going on a field trip with Hannah's class to HyVee, i went with her preschool to HyVee last year. fun, i know. i am excited to spend some time with her in her environment. should be a fun morning, i have my camera ready.

work is going well. we are having a good sale, but not a lot of people buying stuff. Production wise, we are busy, we have 20 or so pieces due every day thru Friday, so that will keep me busy when i am not doing manager things. you know, bossing people around, working on nonsense paperwork, answering questions/complaints with authority. HA! it is a good fit for me.

I worked out this morning. i have been up since 5 am, which is good for me. i will go to the field trip and hustle to work and will prolly ahve to stay there till 7-7:30 to get my 8 hours in for the day. i am getting more and more used to fulltime hours.

The emergency sirens are sounding. which takes me back to a funny story when Hannah was a wee little babe. We had had some severe weather for a few days and as a stay-a- home mom, i was home a lot with Hannah. THis is before Michael, so i was at mom and dad's house. IT was a weds morning, and the sirens went off. Mind you, i hadnt heard the man tell it was a warning. so i headed to the basement with Hannah and Buddy. After a half hour or so i called mom to ask if they were okay. She said yes and wanted to know why. well i told her i was in the basement 'taking cover' HA! that was and still is a good JoAnna moment!

so i'm trying to get ready for today, and just dont have motivation to do any more to get ready. i already showered this morning before i left the Y, so that is done. i have on my Michael's uniform wiht a Green top over my white work shirt, that way i can make a clean getaway from HyVee :) always planning ahead. maybe i'll throw ona bit of makeup... hope you have a great day!

Guess who i'm thinking about?

Hannah with Bumpy at Donughts with Dad. Now i know why Michael wasn't able to get the day off work.









Hannah and Bumpy at one of Michael's football games, Michael was so glad and proud to have Dad come and watch him coach. Michael never had really supportive parents, so to have such a good Friend and mentor with Dad was really great.









Hannah with Bumpy and Sydney.








Now for a bit of comedic relief..

Hannah trying on some of my shoes, my boots actually.











Little Chappy and his first bath. Look how he looks like an alien dog.







i'm feeling a little better. Yesterday i had to leave work due to a severe dizzy spell. A couple years back i had numerous dizzy spells and went to the doctor about it. he perscribed Dramamine, a motion sickness medication to help with the dizzy spells. Well, yesterday it came on out of nowhere and i had to sit in the breakroom with my head down and eyes closed. When i was able to get back to the frame shop i could barely walk straight, i paged the manager and told her i would be going home. the poor frame shop was a mess and i felt bad, but when you cant stand up and/or see straight, there is a bit of a problem.
today, i am hungry! i have already eaten, but should prolly get some more food in me. hope your all having a great day!

new day, new post

Hannah is sick:(
she just isnt herself and you can tell she isnt feeling too red hot. she is currently playing me songs on her piano :) how cute to hear nonsense piano playing.

After such a good day yesterday, i had to endure a long, boring day at work. we are so far ahead on our production, we have no more supplies to work with to complete any more jobs :( today was truck day, so i did have some frames to put out on the floor and get put up into the overstock section.

NOTE: anyone wanting to shop at Michael's, Tuesdays and Thursdays are truck days and will always have lots of crap laying around in the aisles. if that is a nuisance to you, shop on another day :)

I was surprised to see my husband a bit ago, he had come home to eat and is now back at work. He is working at a new place and will work till about 10PM. it went well last night, although he was a bit perturbed at the placement of one of the clients there. he explained to me that he had taken him through 8 bathroom routines and the only thing the guy could remember was that you do the mirrors first :( poor Michael, yet at the same time, Praise God for a patient man to work with the clients.

Book Club friday night at my house! i am excited and looking forward to having people to fill our home again. i really do like to hostess. it will be nice to see what everyone says about the book.

i cant really think of anything else to write. how bout some photos?
This was at a Wash Football game like 3 years ago! Meghan and Marta, and Myself


This was 2006 winter, at Bever park, we went sledding.

Nice photo of meself, look how short my hair was! HA


Hannah and I at the YMCA, look how short she was in this one! When she stands next to me now, her head reaches to my elbow!





























Our cabin, we took Buddy for a night or two and Hannah and him played a lot.

sittin on top of the world:)

i have made the switch!

Hello bloggers, i have made the switch from Xanga and am now here! Yee Haw!


Here goes:
today has been fabulous! i decided, since today is my day off that i wanted it to be the most productive day i could have. Whilst doing my devotional this morning, i prayed and asked God to help me prioritize and get things done today. What a great prayer to pray, and what Great God we serve!

Michael will be working second shift hours this week, so i knew he'd be home until about noon.
For those of you who don't know, Michael is a police officer, and often works late hours protecting our city. . . . Just kidding, this was his Christmas present, a handgun, yeah, i know, kind of odd, but he has always wanted one.
I awoke at 7, which is good for me, i slept in a bit, and took Chapman outside. I then got out some paint to do paint touch ups in our house. Mom and Dad painted before we moved in in July and i have yet to do any touching up! you'd think i was raised around painters or something. I started in the office. Michael had installed a mirror for me to use while getting my hair and make-up done, and left some holes which needed touching up. Check, check!

I then got Hannah ready and off to school, and headed for the Y for aerobics! while warming up i heard a woman talk about Celebration and Vivace, and knew she must be a Washington mom. i told her i was Andy's sister and she told me Andy had been to her house before and she knew who he was! how small is our world? after aerobics i went to the front desk to talk to Vera, a woman who had recognized me months ago and had known Mom and Dad through a bible study. She told me she was sorry for our loss and that she had been praying for mom a lot. we talked a bit about how God understands loss, being that He sent Jesus to die for us sinners. I was a great little chat!

I stopped at Aldi for detergent and milk and on the way home decided to call Sheila. we havent talked, really talked since before Dad was sick...it was a wonderful homecoming talking with my sister/friend after so long. when it was time to get off the phone i said "so Hannah and i will see you after she gets off school?" they ended up coming over here for lunch and hanging out! Priceless! we shared our hurting hearts and spent some nice time just hanging out! i love you sis!

once they left i touched up more paint, the living room and kitchen. it is very nice to no longer see white peeoing through at me :) Before Sheila got here i went to Dollar General to get some sheer panels for our bedroom windows. What a difference that makes! very nice touch to help finish off our bedroom.

After sheila left, my friend Sarah called.

how very nice to chat with her and share what God has been doing in both our lives.

i just recently finished the 1st coat of borderpaint in Hannah's bedroom.
i am doing glow-in-the dark lime green to match her bedspread! fun huh? i hope it glows really, if so, i might do a design on the ceiling?! we will have to see, if that isnt an arm workout i dont know what will be.

i have laundry ready to fold and the last load to put in the dryer, then i have my to do list finished for the day! God is so good to give me the strength and drive to get these things done. i also plan to watch a movie and hang some pictures in Hannah's bedroom. My arms are tired so i should be stopping typing now. Have a blessed day!