Fortune cookies sometimes have very insightful sayings – Jared found this one at his favorite Chinese restaurant in Wellsboro – read more about this phrase @ his website.

As for me – today IS the tomorrow I worried about yesterday – never seems nearly as bad as I think. I had a long conversation with a friend yesterday about leaving my position at the clinic – when we determined that we are two very different people with different things we hold dear and important.

I truly believe that barden photography will kick off and I can be truly happy at work. They say it’s called a job for a reason – and I have worked at several jobs and understand that reason. I am putting everything in God’s hands and feel a peace that I don’t normally feel. When Jared and I sought God’s advice on the device for my jaw – I felt a peace about the decision – and for good reason – this little “retainer” has greatly improved my pain and comfort.

I truly believe that God will bless our lives when I leave my position at the clinic. I am not afraid – I am not worried – and if you know me – I am always worried.

I think we could all benefit from knowing that today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.

Yesterday I had my dreaded stomach scope …. (cue scary music) – but luckily it wasn’t as scary as I thought.

I went to the GMACC meeting at 8 – then work at 9ish – with no breakfast. I had to stop eating at midnight – not fun. I am such a breakfast person and didn’t think it would effect me too much – just ask the people I was with in the morning – it did. I was starving and nervous about going in the first place – it was not a good morning.

Mara took me over – ‘cus she is AWESOME – and dropped me off since they told me it would be about 4 hours. I filled out the paperwork – filled out some more paperwork – gave my health history a few times – changed into a robe and waited – and waited and waited.

I hate needles – HATE them – I know not many people like them but I have one of those irrational fears of them. I was so nervous about the IV – only ever having had one once before. The nurse was so nice and made me so comfortable – I barely felt it – but it’s the fact that it’s there that bothers me.

Then I waited and waited and waited when they finally came in to wheel me into the OR – which is very chilly – but they have TOASTY blankets to wrap you up in – the doctor and nurses were SO VERY nice to me – and then I was OUT – the next thing I remember is being wheeled back into my room.

Ginger ale and a bagel were waiting for me – finally food at 3:30 PM after having stopped eating at 8:30 the night before – YAY – but the excitement was not long-lived. The happy drugs they give you in the OR don’t have such a happy effect for long. I knew that I had to get up and change back into my clothes but was dreading any movement – but I managed. I watched a little TV waiting for Jared to come get me – but I was really wanting my own bed and warmness so I texted Mara to see if she would continue in her AWESOMENESS and come pick me back up – she did.

The nurse at the front didn’t let me go without Mara coming up to prove that I wasn’t driving myself home – there is no way I could have driven myself home – I barely made it out the front door. Mara went to get the car while I said goodbye to my bagel.

I made it home and got cozy in the recliner thanking God that all I had eaten was a bagel.

SO – the diagnosis – I don’t have an ulcer – YAY – I have bad acid reflux – who knew – I only ever have stomach pains. So I have to change my diet – yet again – and it should be under control.

Thanks to everyone that prayed for me. I am still feeling a little wonky today but much better than yesterday afternoon.

And I made it past my fear of IV’s – seeing as how I have to have one when I have a wee one – so that was good.

OH – and thanks again Mara – you are an AWESOME friend! I owe you!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS – always have. I love the music – the smells – the coziness – the decorations – the season – the reason – ALL OF IT.

Out wood stove – which we no longer have to use – YAY!

My Grandma Geiger got me this when I was in middle school – I think. She got us a different ornament every year – I have always loved this one.

The more I seek You – the more I find You.
The more I find You, the more I love You.

I wanna sit at Your feet – drink from the cup in Your hand.
Lay back against You and breath – here Your heart beat.
This love is so deep – it’s more than I can stand.
I melt in Your peace – it’s overwhelming.

I go through periods with certain worship songs – lately this one has been a favorite.

I can’t imagine walking through this life without the mercy of Jesus!

I bought some shirts for barden photography to wear on shoots and just to promote

I got one of these button-up shirts with the logo embroidered – I love it.

I got four t-shirts and one extra for Jared – I figure I can wear those for summer family and graduate shoots.

I got four polo’s to wear to weddings and more “formal” events – so EXCITING!

My mother-in-law spent some time with me the other day encouraging me about this endeavor.

Thank you to all that support me in my dream to be a full-time photographer – the more and more I get into it – the harder and harder it is to not be shooting all week – I can’t wait till that time comes when it can be what I do – along with motherhood ;).

Without any spoilers – I say don’t waste your time and money on Bond. The last one was a little much – but was okay – I thought the cinematography was awesome and I really remember the distinctly sharp scenes.

This Bond had neither.

Jared and I have an angel in our backyard.

My sister called me this morning with sad news. My aunt and uncle experienced a house fire last night. They have their son living with them along with their daughter – her boyfriend – and their baby boy. Everyone escaped the fire safely but they have lost everything. I am sure that they would appreciate prayers and any items that can be spared – clothing is mostly what I have in mind. My cousin’s baby will be a year old soon – I think.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

I have Tuesday afternoons off work at the clinic – and Jared did not feel well yesterday so he slept all morning. I came home from work- made lunch – took some clothes to the dry cleaners – dropped off *K*’s senior pictures to her mom – did laundry – and worked on my ideas for updating my website.

At 3 I has an appt. with my doctor for my recurring stomach issues. Lately I haven’t been able to get up or go to bed without a nagging stomach ache – I am thinking it’s just stress. My appt. was at 3 – like I said – at 3.30 I got up to ask the receptionist when I would be taken in – she said I was next. At 4 they called my name – and 4.30 the doctor came in. Now – I know that I work in a PT clinic so it’s a little different but I have never EVER had to have a patient wait that long! So I described my symptoms and they want to test me for an ulcer! So I was right – ulcers are caused by stress, right? Wrong.  Seems that they are caused by a bacteria in your stomach. So we have to set up that fun appt. (if you could pray for me that God heals me without even having to go get checked out – that would be wonderful)

So I thought we would stop at Verizon on our way to vote ‘cus my phone has stopped alerting me of missed calls and voice mails. We were at Verizon for about 50 minutes with the guy on the phone with the tech and resetting my phone and then reinstalling my phone and then resetting my phone and good news is that the VM and missed call alert works but now my phone goes straight to VM when I get a call. So now after almost an hour wait I am getting a new phone shipped to me!

Verizon is right across the street from the Boro building so we walked over to vote – the line was out the door and around the sidewalk up to the church! We voted in 2004 and we had to wait maybe 10 minutes – if that. This year – 42 minutes later – we voted. I was numebr 1212 at 6.42 PM. It will be interesting to see how Tioga County voted as a whole.

It was an afternoon and evening of waiting – which tired me out – I fell asleep at 9.30 while Jared and I watched coverage of the election!

I think I must have been in line waiting for more nervousness and worry to be handed out when God was giving out the qualities of patience and sympathy!

Christmas wish list time –

I don’t need a new camera bag – but I would sure like this one.

While we are at the camera bag – I wouldn’t mind this cover.

This one would work too.

I don’t want a new computer – I NEED one. This one.

With a new computer comes Photoshop and other fun programs.

A new camera too?

Lenses and more lenses …

Oh and how can I forget – more bookings!!