and Monday never comes.

Oh well, I guess tomorrow is Monday anyway. Too bad.
The only day off I get this week is Thursday so I will be putting up some Christmas decor and we will probably get our tree next Sunday ( a week from today so I have some time to locate what ornaments there might be here and see what kind of shape they are in....)
To answer some comment questions: the Smokey the Bear tattoos came from Chad's work (he works for the forestry service). We put them on ourselves (as well as Uncle Jay and Elaine) as sort of a joke for the Turkey Trot. They take them to schools when Smokey the Bear goes and talks to kids about preventing fires, etc. (Yes, a man in a smokey suit). The best part is the instructions on the back go something like this...place tattoo...wet thoroughly with towel and hold in place for approx. 30 seconds...use this 30 seconds to teach child about fire safety....blah, blah. Yeah, so they hold you down for atleast 3o seconds to teach you about fire safety while you get smokey on your arm. It's great!
And, I have no idea when I will be home for Christmas. But, looking at it realistically, I realize that I work in the retail work so chances are I am only going to get Christmas day off unless I ask for other days off. I will talk to some coworkers and see what is typically done and maybe ask off the 24th or 26th. Too bad it doesn't fall with a Sunday, that would be perfect!
We just bought groceries for the first time in almost two weeks (woohoo!) so we can take lunches all week and eat at home for dinner....trying to save the money!!
Well, its been a nice weekend (except for the whole working on Black Friday and Saturday part). Church was nice tonight...music was a little loud for me and Chad, more like a rock concert than Chad but since there was probably only 20 or 30 people there they probably should have turned it down a bit. Not enough bodies to absorb the sound. Sang some songs I didn't know...new stuff is fun!
Headed to bed...yes, still with out-of-control eye brows. We REALLY gotta work on that.

where it is Sunday every day

I wish I lived in a place where it is Sundy every day but I still got paid to work, without having to work...oh well. I don't.
But I plan on enjoying today...Chad and I found Lord of the Rings (the whole trilogy) on TNT today so we might just hole up and watch the entire thing!
Maybe some art projects too!

to a place far, far away.

Black weekend in the retail world is over for Hobby Lobby employees.
Thank You God.
Ok, so it wasn't that bad but it was busy. Very busy.
But I am glad that it is over. Very glad.
I have another headache. Came home and took some tylenol and drank Dr. Pepper (Chad says something about caffeine helping.....whatever, I just like Dr. Pepper so any excuse will do!)
Its getting better now but we are talking about going to see Madagascar 2 but I am not sure that I will be able to handle the booming sound and bright screen.
Going to hang out with Chad and his friend Jessie and eat dinner with Dad B and Mom S AND Jay (he rocks, ps....and I say that because he just did the dishes...yes, from Thanksgiving. Yes, it is Saturday night. Seriously. I am almost embarrassed to tell you that. Almost.)

Have you every noticed that when you don't get to see people that you miss them more (oh, wait is there a saying that goes with this...something about absense makes the heart grow fonder? People, Its true.) Jess - I miss you. Lots. You are the best friend that any girl could ask for. You are caring, honest, true to your self and your word, beautiful inside and out and I wish I got to see you every day. When are you moving to Chattanooga? Dani - you too. I hope your hospital is treating you well. I read your blog! But I wish I could see your face and hear your voice a little more often (its just not the same!).

Tomorrow is Sunday. That means sleeping in (the only day of the week I get to) and then hanging out with my sweetie ALL FREAKING DAY....I am so excited. We are going to (trying to go every week but we aren't so great at it) this church service at Christ UMC that is on Sunday nights (works best for our schedules) that is for "young" or "young at heart" folks and is supposed to be a "deeper" discussion of...well, all things Jesus. We like it so far. So, Sundays are fabulous.
More later...from the still out of control eyebrowed Paula.

take me away

I am blogging twice today.

Mostly because I can and felt like it.

I've never told the blogging world (ha!) about my trip to India so I will just post a few pictures and tell my story...

I love India. I mean, I LOVE it. Something about that strange, beautiful place has gotten in my blood, in my heart, in my spirit, and I will never be able to get it out. After a very short trip (2 weeks) my sophomore year of college, I knew that I would always feel some sort of kinship for the people there, a draw to go back. And I did. I spent about three months living with 17 strangers in New Delhi about two years ago (Jan 2007 to April 2007). Some of those strangers remained strangers and some of those strangers became my friends. There are a few with whom I keep in touch with, people who had such a strong impact on my life in such a short time that I know we will always be friends.

I read a book recently that talked about cultural history in that part of the world (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan) and they talked about the meaning of family and being literal blood relatives. There is something about that bond that you will always feel, you will always know is there, you will always understand. I feel like there are people in India who are blood relatives to me. It is a tie that binds me.

We spent the majority of our time working in an orphanage, a couple of leper colonies, and a few slum areas. It was not a mission to "convert the unbelivers". It was a love mission. It sounds strange but we talked about just going to "love on" the people there...the unloved children, the untouched lepers, and the unlovable outcastes. Why not love on them? I guess it isn't really strange at all...we all need to be loved by someone who means it.

I love the people, the political history (the good and the bad), the rich culture, the colorful saris, the smokey air, the color of the sun, even the smell. You have to be there to understand.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about India. I think I have finally convinced Chad to take a trip with me there, to spend some time trying to understand what I mean when I talk about the cows in the street, monkeys, children with outstretched hands, and the spicy smell as soon as you step off the plane. He said, when I went, that he would never go there (I would like to believe that it is just because it is what took me away for 3 months but he isn't that sentimental). But I need him to go. I need for him to try to understand and to finally see...open his eyes and see the beauty and the wonder that is India.

because he offers to...

offered to pluck my eyebrows.

Seriously.

And I think I will let him.

Thanksgiving was crazy.

There were a lot of people here.

Chad and I, Megan, Uncle Jay, his friend Elaine,

Dad B and Mom S, our neighbor Snickey (yep, that's her name),

and Grandmother (yippee...she got to come home for Thanksgiving).

(I have a couple of larger art projects that will go on walls that I have been putting off because I didn't want Grandmother to come in and think we had done so much stuff that it didn't feel like "home" to her because she kept talking about wanting to go "home" for Thanksgiving. So, I tried to leave it looking like home as much as possible, as long as possible.)

We ate too much, laughed a lot, ate some more, and just enjoyed each others company.

It was nice to have everyone over but I did miss my family quite a bit.

I called my parents house Wednesday night and my sister answered the phone and it made me a little sad that she was going to get to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and I wasn't going to...but we WILL be there for Christmas. Chad and I have already talked about it so...

Mark My Words.

We goofed off a lot. Gwen slept off her one bite of turkey (though earlier she stole a whole block of cheese of the coffee table and took us on a wild goose chase to get it back before she made herself quite ill).

I had to work at 8AM today. It wasn't NEARLY as bad as it could have been. Customers were reporting that they had to wait in line like an hour and a half at other places just to check out.

Way to go Hobby Lobby for a quick check out...woohoo!

I am finally back at home and what did I find...a messy kitchen.

Chad did most of the dishes last night (I am so thankful!)

but since I was the only one who had to work today and every one else got to choose what they did all day I had hoped that I would come home to a clean kitchen.

No such luck. Its ok...I will just clean it and be thankful again.

Off to find Chad and have nice eyebrows.

I married a wonderful man.

I know, I know, this isn't a "worship Chad" blog. But today, again, just a little more.
I had a good day at work, we were crazy busy and it makes me dread Friday and Saturday a LOT. But I came home with a headache. That got worse. And worse. And worse.
And tonight, I took some Tylenol and laid on the bed for a while.
And my headache got worse. So bad I thought I might be sick.
In the middle of all this, some of our Turkey Day company arrived and brought their dog with them.
Not good.
Really, really not good.
Stella (the dog about 8 times Gwen's size) and Gwen are not friends.
Not even sorta friends.
Not even acquaintances.
Matter of fact, I would go as far to say enemies.
So Gwen barked. And barked.
And then barked some more.
And I laid on the bathroom floor, shivering, under towels, praying that Chad would come.
And he did.
And he laid beside me, with his hand on my face. Loving me in my tears and headache.
And made me hot tea.
And brought me a blanket.
And provided light with his headlamp because it has a red light which is (beautifully) not painful to the eyes when a person honestly believes that a drill to the brain would be helpful.
And now he is cleaning up the kitchen (with a little help...if only those dishes were a little quieter)

And yes, my head still hurts.
What did he say? "As soon as you get insurance, you're seeing someone about this. It should have been done a long time ago." Always practical that man.

He found the ONE THING I wanted for Christmas, cheap, on Amazon tonight and tried to buy it but someone beat him to it by just a few minutes. Bummer. We'll keep trying....

Chad and Jay are running a 5k in the morning and his sister, Megan, and I are walking a 3 miler...fund raiser. Its called the Turkey Trot.

I realized

I think I am a boring blogger because I don't particularlly have anything interesting to talk about but then I guess most bloggers just talk about their lives and that's what is all about (sorta like the Hokey Pokey...Sis.) I will do my best here folks.
Tonight going to dinner with Chad, Jay, and a family friend K.
Chad and I have been doing so good eating at home and not eating out but I guess it is ok since we are eating with people we like to hang out with (and sometimes they pay and THAT is wonderful for my wallet though not my waistline). I guess I will forgo the eating healthy this week and just focus on being thankful and being with the people I am thankful for. Admittedly, I am pretty bummed out about not being with my family on Thanksgiving.
It will be the first that I spend with my Chad's family and not my own but I am still thankful.
I miss my Papa more on holidays that we spent at their house. But I am still thankful for the family I have.
I miss my parents every day but I am still thankful for my new family and for Chad...oh so thankful for Chad. Thankful that he never leaves without kissing me in the morning. Thankful that he keeps up with the bills. Thankful that he is responsible and caring. Thankful that he loves me even when I screw up, or cry, or don't do the dishes (I am sadly, not thankful for dirty dishes), or the laundry, or don't feel like making dinner. Oh so thankful.
and even more for the way he just walked through the kitchen singing..."two turntables and a microphone...two turn tables and a microphone..." (I guess you have to know him).