Things I learned over Christmas

1. I'm old.

2 .Don't give children presents in come in boxes bigger than the child.

3. Be sure to supervise aforementioned child, especially if child is excited.

4. Don't play Apples to Apples with a bunch of cousins that are 10 years younger than you.  You will answer a lot of: what's this, who's this, and can you simply questions.

5. Don't plug too many crock-pots into one outlet.

6. Aforementioned action will result in a fuse being blown sending the entire basement into darkness.

7. If aforementioned fuse blows it is a good idea to have a flashlight.

8. Since most people don't carry flashlights around with them it is helpful to be in a room with 30 people. 20 of which have cell phones.

9. Singing "Silent Night" with 30 people while holding up aforementioned cellphones is fun.

10. Cousins grow up too quickly...

11. It takes 3 cousins to figure out how to get the DVD player to work when there are 3 remotes.

Questionarre I was talking to Debi and Lydia about

1. Put Your Itunes on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.
4. Tag Your friends! (or not.)
(I found 2 of these quizzes so I put a quiz together with questions from both. I know som e ofthe questions are goofy, but it's just for laughs...)

1. How are you feeling today?
Suppe - Poet & Peasant - Overture - Janos Sandor - Hungarian State Opera Orchestra 

2. Will you get far in life?
Silver Arrow - Robin Hood Soundtrack

3. How do your friends see you?
She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain/What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor/Yellow Rose Of Texas/It's A Long Way To Tipperary/ Glory Glory Hallelujah/ Oh Susanna (medley) - Andre Rieu Orchestra


4. Will you get married?
Will Of The People - Amazing Grace Soundtrack

5. What is your best friend’s theme song?
Auld Lang Syne - Chris Bathgate

6. What is the story of your life?
Just In Time - Bobby Darin

7. What was/is high school like?
10,000 Miles - Mary Chapin Carpenter

8. How can you get ahead in life?
Live - Nicole Nordeman

9. What is the best thing about your friends?
Violin Concerto in E Minor  Movement 2 - Felix Mendoelssohn

10. What is in store for this weekend?
Pirates of Penzance Finale - Simon Gallaher (boy am I going to be tired by Monday morning....)

11. To describe your grandparents?
Parliament - Amazing Grace Soundtrack


12. How is your life going?
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

13. What song will they play at your funeral?
Marian's Punishment - Robin Hood Soundtrack

14. How does the world see you?
When I Look At You(reprise) - Scarlet Pimpernel

15. Will you have a happy life?
Act 3 Prelude - Richard Wagner

16. What do your friends really think of you?
The Sheriff's Plan - Robin Hood Soundtrack

17. How can I make myself happy?
He Hideth My Soul - Kathryn Carpenter

18. What should you do with your life?
Overture - Scarlet Pimpernel (I should become the Scarlet Pimpernel, COOL!!!)


19. Will you ever have children?
It Is Well With My Soul - Kathryn Carpenter 


20. What does your mum think of you?
Completely - Ana Laura

21. What is your deep dark secret?
How Beautiful - Twila Paris

22. What’s your personality like?
He's My Brother - Robin Hood Soundtrack

23. Which song will be played at your wedding?
Courting - David Arnold (Amazing Grace Soundtrack)

24. If someone says "Is this okay?" U say

What Ought We To Do? - Pirates of Penzance

25. How would you describe yourself?
No More - David Arnold (Amazing Grace Soundtrack)




26. How do you feel today?
A Dance Around Memory Lane - Oren Lavie (Prince Caspian Soundtrack)


27.What is your life's purpose?
Stay Frederic Stay - Simon Gallaher (Pirates of Penzance)


28. What do your friends think of you?

Amazing Grace - Kathryn Carpenter

29. What do your parents think of you?
I've Got the World On a String - Michael Buble


30. What do you often think about?
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need - Anne Martindale-Williams


31. What is your life story?
Blaze Away - Andre Rieu Orchestra


32. What do you want to be when you grow up?
No Way Out - Robin Hood Soundtrack


33. What will you dance to at your wedding?
Butterfly Kisses - Jeff Carson


34. What will they play at your funeral?
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Kathryn Carpenter


35. What is your biggest fear?
Where's the Girl? - Scarlet Pimpernel


36. What is your biggest secret?
Marian's Theme - Robin Hood Soundtrack - (Apparently I am Maid Marian and I should be the Scarlet Pimpernel.... interesting....)

39.What do you think of your friends?

All Houses Have Secrets - Northanger Abbey Soundtrack

Why do I live in Wisconsin again??

Today the high was 44. It is currently 10. But with the wind chill, it feels like -10. They are predicting it to get as low as 1 overnight with a wind chill of -21 and only up to 9 with a wind chill of -7 by tomorrow night. On the bright side, a lot of snow melted, on the not bright side. The ground is frozen solid and there are puddles of ice everywhere....

This one is for David

Overcoming Discouragement Part 3

I thought for the final article instead of doing small segments on a few different things I would just list out things that helped me.

Let's start with:
Don't lose the paper with the notes for your article on it.  Yep, I  lost my notes.... so... I'm going to leave you with 2 things I remember off the top of my head.

1) Don't keep it all to yourself.  If you are struggling, talk to someone about, encouraging yourself is not always the answer.  Don't hold it in!  Talk to someone, it does wonders!

2) Know and remind yourself that people care about you.  This was actually a pre-overcoming one that I realized.  A few days after I really had victory over the discouragement, we went to my grandparents house.  I had posted part 1of Overcoming  Discouragement on my regular blog as well as IDD.  And my grandparents had read it.  My grandpa was of course worried about me.  But then, he started talking to my sisters and I and just encouraging us to keep doing what we are doing, and walking with God, etc.  I tell you what.  I love grandpa so much, he encouraged so much in those 30-some minutes.  When we left, I felt so loved, appreciate, taken care.  I was so... hyped is the best word I can come up with.  Know that someone loves you.  It makes a world of difference in your life.  I love going to my parents house, cause you see, the second I walk in the door at least 2 people say "hi", 2 little children from all corners of the house shout "Katie's here!" and throw themselves at my legs and I get a kiss, hug and an "I love you" from mom.  They care about me, think about me, love me, care what is happening in my life.  And you know what, for what it's worth.  Not only does God love and care about you, but we care you.  My fellow Bloggers and myself care about you.  Each and every single person who reads the blog.  That's why we are here.  If we didn't care, we wouldn't be writing.

I found this today and thought it was adorable.  So, I thought I would share.