We're the Farmer's, Part 4

Remember my post about going here

Well, David and I checked today to see what time we are leaving from DIA.
I knew it was early in the morning on January 9th and my best guess was around 6 or 7 am.

Well I was WAY off...0130 in the MORNING!!!!!!!!

What????
Who booked that flight???
Mom? David? Turbo?

nope...it WAS me

What was I thinking?
Was I sleep-walking and booked our flight?
Was I hoping for some quality sleep in a window seat on a dirty airplane?
Did someone hijack my Travelocity account?

Oh wait, I remember...we couldn't use our frequent flyer miles on our flight to Ft. Lauderdale because Frontier doesn't let you use them for that destination (yes, I am working through my bitterness!).

I wanted the cheapest flight and I guess flying at 130 in the morning is cheaper.
In David's words, "it will be an adventure!"

Here's to hoping I get an airplane pillow for Christmas,

"The Granddaddy of them ALL..."

I am pretty sure I am going to get the "wife of the year" award for 2008 and 2009 from David.

Why am I so blatantly confidant, you ask?

Let me explain my hubby ...
HE LOVES SPORTS!!!!
More importantly, HE LOVES FOOTBALL!!!

And I (the Lord really) managed to get him tickets to the ROSE BOWL when we are in Cali for this.


Getting the tickets should cover all the times I have cried, begged for back rubs, made gross dinners and nagged him about folding laundry for 2008.

and....

Going should cover all the times I will cry, beg and nag in 2009

So don't you see, I am pretty much guaranteed the award!

MeRrY cHrIsTmAs!

For those of you whose address I don't have...

or

If my sweet hubby accidentally wrote your address wrong and the Christmas card we sent was returned...

Here is the picture we used for our Christmas Card this year:



Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

mmm, mmm, good!

One may think that my new craving for Chinese food and oranges is a result of me being with child...

Don't jump up and down just yet,
I am NOT preggo.

For some reason when I am sick, I start to crave certain things.

Last time it was Lemon Berry Slushes!
Now, it is Asian food and Oranges (Cuties to be exact!)

Last night David and I went to Pei Wei... I ordered the most spicy, delicious tasting Kung Pao. Today I ate the left overs for breakfast and lunch.

Not to mention, I have eaten almost a whole crate of the cuties that I bought on Tuesday..oh my!

All I can think about right now is convincing David to take me to Pei Wei again tomorrow after church...any suggestions?

Now, let me be truthful...I anticipate my new love of Asian cuisine to quickly fall by the way. This will happen when head is no longer congested and my brain can hear common sense yelling louder than my taste buds,"Eating Pei Wei every day is NOT healthy!!"

Until then, where are my chop sticks???

Honest sCrap???

Oh the joy, Oh the bliss...I have been nominated for my very first blog award by Vanity. If you haven't read her blog, go check it out...she has great stories! :)



Here are the rules for the Honest Scrap recipients:

♥ list 10 honest things about yourself. Come on, don't be shy...

1. I love Ketchup...on just about anything...and my friends know that and even give it to me for my birthday

2. Sometimes I hide my dog in my bed at night so he can sleep with me (completely against the rules, sorry babe!)

3. I can spend hours reading about other people's lives (whom I do not know) on their blogs (do you think this is the effects of being a practically only child??)

4. I loooooove shopping and spending money even though I try to come across thrify.

5. I wish I had been more social in college because I think I missed out on some great friendships.

6. Sarah Palin seemed like a great choice to me!

7. I like attention (so please comment on my blog)

8. I still miss my dad and frequently think about other people in my life dying

9. Sometimes I am too critical of others

10. I was engaged once before I met my wonderful, handsome, sweet hubby.


♥ pass the award onto 7 blogs that you find brilliant in their content or design

Cassie--she is one of my favorite friends
Whittaker Woman--always has something good to say
Audrey Hannah--best photographer, I could look at her pictures for hours
here's how--talk about honest...
Jen--her and her hubby have such a full life, I love it!
Joanna--Her blog is always fun to read...check out her cute kids
Ashley--heart of gold, love her!

♥ link to the blogger who gave you this prize
♥ link to the blogs receiving the prize
♥ notify the recipients

So Fun!

Christmas Traditions

David and I both agree that it is important to have "family traditions" around the holidays. It keeps everything fun and produces great memories.

One of our Christmas traditions is to build a gingerbread house around Christmas time. This is the 3rd year that we have done it and this time our gingerbread house has progressed to a gingerbread train.

Last year:


This year:


What is a holiday tradition that you have?

Public Service Announcement

Want free food?

Go to Chick-fil-A on December 13th and save your receipt...

Then take that same receipt (in January or February 2009) back to Chick-fil-A.



They will give you all that you bought on Dec 13th for FREE!

Enjoy,

In one month...

We will be boarding this...


Going somewhere that hopefully looks like this...


And I will not be touching this...


I can't wait!

We are not usually "fair" weather fans!

Here in the Farmer household, being a Bronco Fan is next to godliness. Not really but David's sisters better not marry Raiders fans or we might have to go on Dr. Phil to sort out the problems that will arise from that union. Ever heard someone say that is is not good to be unequally yoked? Well that counts for football teams as well!

Last month we were able to go to a Bronco game for David's Birthday. It was a lot of fun even though the Bronco's lost to the Miami Dolphins (how embarrassing!).







I think it was the first game I have ever been to where there was no precipitation falling from the sky and I wasn't freeeeezing to death. Ahh, the good things in life. :)

All Done!

I am all done with Christmas shopping minus a few things I need to pick up for David. We started shopping the weekend before Christmas and finished on Black Friday.

Here are all the presents:


I know the brown wrapping paper is kind of boring but I wanted them that way. Next week my friend Cassie and I are going to make some sweet-looking gift tags at Archivers.

How much Christmas shopping do you have left?

Trotting like Turkeys...or something like that

Here are some pics from our 2nd Annual Farmer Thanksgiving Tradition:


--Before the race--
I am a little excited, David is a little sleepy


--Our group--
(Kim's Mom, Me, David, Kim's Dad, Kim)



Thankfully it wasn't as cold as last year and we both improved on our times. :)

"Jennifer"

is a name that I will NEVER consider for my future daughter! No offense to those of you named Jennifer...there are just too many people with that name in my world.

Jennifer P. -my boss
Jennifer L. -my co-worker
Jennifer M. -my co-worker
Jennifer K. -my co-worker
Jennifer W. -my co-worker
Jennifer T. -my co-worker
Jennifer F. -my friend
Jennifer G. -my friend
Jennifer V. -my best friend from Elementary school
Jennifer H. -my sister's mother-in-law

Is there a name that you will never use for your children and/or pets? :)

I WAS hopeful, but...

Here in Colorado (as most of you know), it has been unseasonably warm for November. Yipeee!

Therefore, I got it in my mind that there was a small glimmer of hope that it may just be a little warmer on Thanksgiving this year. Why do I care??

You see it is a Farmer Family Tradition (aka David and Ali's family tradition) to run the Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving.



Last year it was SOOOO cold that I thought I was going to cry because every appendage of my body was FrOzEn! This year, I thought I might even get away with running in shorts since I have been doing that the last few weeks.

Well today I saw the 5-day forcast projection for Thursday:
rain/snow showers, high 40, low 30

ugh! It will be chilly and hopefully we won't freeze to death!

Movie Recommendation

Just saw this movie and loved it!

Where will you be on New Years Day?

David and I will be on an all-expensed paid trip to sunny California to watch the Rose Bowl Parade!




No we didn't win the lottery or rob a bank to pay for such an excursion....I won the "creative challenge" at my work!

Yes me, the left-brained, numbers girl, won a right-brained contest...nothing short of a miracle, I know

Let me explain...

Each year the Rose Bowl Parade has a float that honors organ and tissue donation across the country. Each year my work sends a donor/recipient family to walk with the float and two employeese to help with the final touches on the float. One of the employees is chosen by a drawing. The other employee must submit a creative work that communicates what donation means to him/her. I chose to compete and spent many hours in prayer trying to come up with something meaningful.

I used a lot of pictures to communicate what donation means to me and I don't have a release to post the picture mosiac that I made on the internet so you will have to ask me to email it to you if you want to see my work of art! :) Nevertheless, the panel selected my picture as the best and that is why we have been blessed with a free trip to Pasadena.

Thank you Lord!

House Shopping

Last Saturday we went shopping for our new house! We still need our townhome to sell but we wanted to check out some houses in Denver so we would know what we wanted. It was quite the experience seeing how some people choose to live and show their houses. Trash everywhere, beat up walls, crazy colors and then they want you to pay 270,000! No way!

Here are two of our favorite houses. The first one is my FAVORITE! I am such a porch girl--love them, need them! Just imagine white rocking chairs, hot chai tea, a blanket (depending where you live) and a great book ...perfect! The garage is in the back of the house (which I love) and it is brand new (fun!). The second one is in a better part of town, has a good layout, and is very clean (even though it has been lived in it). We don't really need a three car garage but it is the same price as the other house so we won't complain. Both houses have 3 bedrooms so there will be plenty of room for our friends to visit (hint! hint!).

1.)Porch House


2.) Great-Area House


I know you can't judge a book by it's cover but which one is your favorite? Would you like either of them?

Tagged (by Jen)

I think I did a post like this a few weeks ago but who can resist talking about themselves on a blog? Not Me! Jen tagged me in her blog a last week and I am just now making the time to fulfill my blogging duties.

6 things about me (different from the last post!)

1. I love the feeling after a run. I am completely hooked on endorphins. The actual process of getting through the run isn't always fun but I never, ever regret it once I am finished.

2. I had virgin hair until this past May. I had always prided myself on being true to my natural hair color but all I needed was a couple gray hairs to push me to the other side! I was 24 when I found the first 3 gray hairs and you better believe that I am in no way ready for the "silver" look!

3. I like Ketchup (enough said)

4. I have had two implants...ha! Not the kind you are thinking...tooth implants. That isn't really that interesting but I thought I would trick you for a second. *wink*

5. When I was in fifth grade I had my teacher, parents and friends start calling me "Ali" instead of "Alison" after I saw a beautiful (photo-shopped) model named Ali on the cover of Seventeen magazine. Oh how vain I was...

5. My favorite thing about God is how He never changes. Meaning, no matter what may happen to me in my life, no matter where I may find myself or what trials may come nothing can EVER seperate me from His love. Oh what peace that gives me!

We're the Farmers...part 3

He Speaks

During the recent months, I have truly wanted to hear the Lord speak to me that this is truly His will about us believing for Him to sell our house. He has already done many miracles in this new season (my job for one) yet I still need Him to reassure me. So I did what any child would do, I asked Him to give me a word.

Now I was a bit unsure how He would speak to me but I knew that He would. I always fear that I will read the Bible looking for Him to say something and that my mind will create a message from the Lord from my own understanding. So I just began to pray and ask Him to speak very clearly...HE DID!

On Monday, I was at one of my hospitals speaking to some staff about organ donation. While I was on the elevator, around floor 8 or 9, an older looking man (probably in the range of 50-70 years old) got on the elevator.

~

I smiled.

He smiled and said hello.

Then he said "do you take gifts from strangers?"

"Only if it isn't candy." (me trying to be funny of course)

He said "well here, keep this if you like it."

It was fake coin with a verse from Matthew 28:20

Jesus said, " I am with you always..."

"I would like to keep it, thank you!"

The messenger gets off the elevator

~

It was MY message from the Lord telling me that He is with us through this process.

Oh how it comforted me.

If you are needing a word from the Lord in some area of your life.

Don't hesitate to ask.

He will answer.

Then you will have peace.

We're the Farmers...part 2

I ordered this salad at a VERY NICE RESTURAUNT in Keystone.

Pretty don't you think?

Well when waiter placed it infront of me David exclaimed (not in his inside voice),

"Wow! That's cooool!"

I guess us Farmers don't get out much because no one else got that excited about their salads!

Our FCA family

Last weekend we had the pleasure of going on a all-expense paid retreat to Keystone. Not only was it beautiful up there but it was a great time of rest, relaxation, and relationship building. We ate great food, played lots of games, had massages (the girls) and played golf (the boys).

--Our FCA Family--

--Lee and Julie--

(David's boss)

--Rex and Vicki--

--Eric and Michelle--

--David and Ali--

Sundays = Bronco Apparel :)

Drained

Two Families this week both suffered much in the last few days
Two Families had the opportunity to have their loved one save lives
Both families said no.
I am sad...

You see organ donation (like most things in life) is not cut and dry. There are so many variables and different circumstances with each potential donor. Everything must somehow align for it to even be an option for families--its truly a miracle.

The circumstances are always horrible. There is much tragedy and I get thrown into the mix of it all. I do everything in my power to make sure that the opportunity to donate, to save lives is preserved. When it comes time to speak with the family, the naivety in me always hopes that it will be the easy part in the whole process. If I were approaching myself, then that would be true; however, I am not.

I am drained today because two times this week I poured myself into the mission of Donor Alliance. Two times I prayed fervently that the Lord would make it possible for 18 of the people who die every day to live. Two times I tried my best and it didn't make a difference. I keep running all the events around in my head and thinking about what I could have done better. But truly, it just wasn't meant to be.

I may never understand how people say no to saving a life
I may never understand unless I myself am experiencing tragedy

For all those on the waiting list...I will keep trying because I want you to have more life, I want you to know Jesus if you don't and if you do, then I want others to know Him because of you.

Little Miracles

I want to share a story with you-- one of the many God-stories that have been happening lately in our lives. David is now working with FCA in the South Denver area. I am proud of my man that he has such a heart for the lost and the faith to believe that God can move mountains.

FCA relies on many different types of partnerships to reach the lost. Well David (loving Chick-Fil-A) and knowing how generous they are with helping non-profit organizations was praying for the Lord to help him find a connection with the owner of a Chick-fil-A in the South Denver area. Well this Sunday the Lord gave him that connection.

Each Sunday David meets with high school kids to disciple them. This Sunday only one guy came to the Bible Study. He is a swimmer and has a desire to improve his relationship with God. At the end of the night, David and him began talking about their lives. Oddly enough this kid's dad is the owner of the Chick-Fil-A in the South Denver area!!!!! Tomorrow morning David has a meeting with him and God is even blessing him with a free breakfast. :)

I hope that this is can be as encouraging for you as it is for me. When you believe and ask, the Lord answers. If He has called you somewhere or called you to do something, be specific about your requests. He will open doors for you to answer your calling.

Ben and Cassie

Gabe and Ashley

Heather's Happenings

Here's How

The Fulkerson's

Michelle's Blog

Kurtz Family

Cheap Therapy

Because We Can...

Vanity's Fair

Pioneer Woman

Whittaker Woman

Greater Things

Audrey Hannah Photo

Jaimie Lynn Photography

Bring the Rain

MyCharmingKids

Esther

BooMama

6yearmed

I Should Be Folding Laundry

Beth Moore

About Me

I named this blog "ENJOYING NOW" as a reminder to myself to enjoy where my life is right NOW instead of always hoping to be at the next stage and therefore, end up missing out on all the pleasures of today.

~~~

Almost 3 years ago (on August 31st, 2006) I married the man of my dreams. We live in Parker, CO where he is a sports minister and I am a nurse. He works for Fellowship of Christian Athletes ("work" is a term I useloosely since we have to raise our own support) which is a ministry that teaches high school athletes how to have a personal relationship with Christ and disciple others. You could say we both save lives: I work for the temporary and he works for the eternal. I always wanted to be a teacher and when nursing gets tough, I often wish I was a 3rd grade teacher with the summers and holiday's off. Our lives have the expected ups and downs but we are MORE than blessed with a great family and some really good friends.

Christ is the thread that keeps us together and makes us valuable, without Him we would be nothing.

Turbo is our 5lb little boy dog. While we are trying to start our family, he doubles as our pseudo-child. Don't worry though, I don't dress him up in dog clothes or push him in a stroller!

I never quite know what to put here about myself so check out my 101 things post to learn a little more.

Thanks for checking out my blog :)

Random Ramblings

• Today we had our second official showing of the house (in the week that it has been on the market). God is so faithful! The first guy didn't like the laundry room location which happens to be next to the bathroom. I wish I could correct him because it is more of a laundry closet than room. However, I can understand and this is the kind of market where you can be picky... I plan to be picky myself. :)

• I am really enjoying the fact that the house must be "show ready" at any time. This is the type of environment where my perfectionist tendencies are truly able to shine! Therefore my husband must also go along with it (all in the name of a quick sale of course...) and allow me to complain about any crumb he drops on the kitchen floor. I know, I should enjoy it while it lasts.

• My friend Heather is interviewing for a job at Donor Alliance (where I work) and I am SO excited. She is such a sweet, genuine person. I love her heart for others and look forward to spending more time around her.

• I have several names for my dog: Turbo (his actual name), Turbinator (his superhero name), Turb (don't mistake this one for TURD...), Turby (given to him by my sister-in-law Lori), poochy-poo (in a baby voice, of course).

• I absolutely love this new Crystal Light that we got yesterday. I tried it at my friend Cassie's house and I practically drank the whole pitcher. I got some at Wal-mart (yes I shop there, I am a woman on a budget!) and I am addicted. You should know that my addictions come in phases. I absolutely love something, then consume it whenever and wherever possible until I never want to see it again. We shall see how long this love with Crystal Light Strawberry-Orange-Banana lasts!

• I am going to go do my wifely duties now...laundry, emptying the dishwasher, taking a nap with Turbo (shh, don't tell David) and playing some Mario Cart (another addiction I can't seem to shake. Maybe I should read a book instead of shooting flying turtles at Luigi and Mario...na!)

We're the Farmers...part I

So remember me telling you about the Brown Palace?

Well this is how the Farmer's do the Brown Palace...

D: "Let's watch cable on the sweet plasma TV since we have neither at our house"

A: "Ooohhh Sleepless in Seattle is on! Can we please watch it????"

D: "I am going to need some popcorn to get through this one. Let's order from room service!"

($8 for the popcorn, $2 to deliver it, and a 21% tip on top of that)

A: "No way that is too expensive. The movie theater is just a block away, lets go get some from there and bring it back"

D: "That's why I married you...you are so practical!"

And there it is...our $7.50 popcorn

Oh and I forgot to mention that it was pouring down rain when we went outside the hotel to go get it.

Palm

"35 Percent Of BlackBerry And PDA Users Would Choose Their Device Over Their Spouse"

I am guilty...

I would never consciously choose the phone over David

But, just ask him how he feels...

He calls my phone "palm" and says that I love "palm" more than him.

I say I need it for work but then it wheezels it's way into my life even when I am not on call.

I confess, I am addicted to the email, to the texting, to the web...I can't stop!

2 years and counting

August 31st was our 2nd Anniversary!!!

I know I am a little late posting but we have been working non-stop on something (I'll tell you about it a little later...)

The weekend of our anniversary we went camping with two of our good friends, Jeff and Dawn. We had a blast but unfortunately I did not plan ahead enough (aka I forgot to bring more batteries for our camera = NO PICTURES!).

So visualize this: two great looking tents (one from REI and one from Target); Two fearless dogs (one a black lab and the other a small Maltese who is deathly afraid of the big black lab); Smores (3 marshmallows toasted golden and one burnt, mine); no indoor plumbing for miles (ask David about that).

Now onto our actual anniversary day...

If you don't know David, the man likes to celebrate! :)

David surprised me by taking me for a romantic dinner at the...

(here we are with the Mona herself)

(for some reason he couldn't keep his eyes open for the picture and it wasn't because he had too much wine!)

It was a great night talking about our marriage, remembering the wedding, and eating great food.

For our "planned" celebration, David had gotten one of his friends (who conveniently works at the Brown Palace) to give us the employee rate for 2 nights (that is $65 a night instead of over $200 a night). So last weekend was our trip to Denver and it was great to just get away, even if it was only 60 miles away.

The hotel was built over 100 years ago

The bed was just divine!

Babe I adore you even more than I did the day we were married. I never could have fathomed all that we have done or where the Lord is taking us. You are an amazing leader and great friend with such a kind heart. There is no one else in the world I would rather wake up to every day or tickle me till I can't breathe.

I love you forever!