December in Review

 Of course, the season can't start without posting a letter to Santa!  Elly and I went to Macy's over Thanksgiving weekend and wrote all the things she wanted.  The most important was a PINK BARBIE HORSE!

 Cheese!  This girl is hilarious!  I love her!

 This is Dink!  You might also call her Jocelyn....we celebrated her 2nd birthday over Thanksgiving as well!

 I took a day to decorate my house for Christmas...look carefully...what do you see at the top of the tree?  

Of course, it is a TOP HAT! 

 Team Switzer and I went to Bellevue for a day for some shopping, dinner and a visit to Snow Flake Lane.  The inside of the mall was beautiful!

 Part of Snow Flake Lane was the drummers playing and the snowing falling right at 7 o'clock pm!

 We love celebrating all holidays, so we celebrated Chanukah one night.  We, meaning Carter and Elly, lit the menorah and Holly read the commentary that went with!

 We also played the Draydel and guess who won?  

Oh yeah, the Lady who wore the "Lucky Shirt"...I took the whole shebang!

Christmas morning was spent down at my Mom's house!  My Grandma Pat was down here with us as well...love these women!

This is me!

Age 37

December 28, 2011

2011 was a good year, not the greatest, but good!

I'm looking forward to 2012 and seeing what God has in store for me!

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Did you take a few moments today to think of the 2,402 service men and women who lost their lives 70 years ago today?  

The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most devastating events to happen in American history (before 9/11).  You may read this having had a parent, grand parent, aunt or uncle at Pearl Harbor.  Some of you might have even lost a loved one that day.  While we can't bring them back, we definitely can take a few minutes to remember those individuals and send a thank you up for all their service and dedication to our country.  

While you're at it...stop a military man or woman and simply say, "Thank You", you never know when their life might be taken for protecting my life and freedom.

Stationery card

Peace To You Holiday Card

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Blessed

Today was my birthday! I am blessed beyond all means and measures with all that God has given me! It might not seem "right" in my eyes the place I am in financially, with relationships and everything else; however, God has everything under control! I am constantly amazed by how much he loves me and how He never will forsake me!

Hello September!

One says, "It's September!" and instantly your mind goes to all those cute kids going back to school.

I'd love to be one of those teachers going back to a full-time classroom; however, it still wasn't meant to be this year! I know that God has a better plan for me, but the willful human that is me would like to know NOW what is going on...but that is for another time and place.

I hear, "It's September!" and I instantly think that my birthday is almost here!

Yep, that's right! September 16th is just around the corner....I LOVE my birthday! I don't always get birthday celebrations but there is this little part of me that just gets giddy when September 1st is upon me because I like to celebrate all month long!

Do you get excited like me? How do you celebrate?

Any other September babies out there?

"What's Going on?"

Do you pray?

Do you expect to hear from the Lord?

I do! I do! I do!

But then again, sometimes I can't hear what he is trying to tell me. I get frustrated. I get discouraged. I get depressed. I get anxious.

It is a terrible feeling to not be able to discern the voice of the Lord during my prayer times. I think sometimes that I am so hung up on the big picture that He gave me a few years ago that my mind gets focused on how to achieve that big picture. And then when things are going desperately south (and I mean in a big way!) my brain is so far into overdrive that I can't stop and listen to the side trips that the Lord wants me to go on?

Make sense? If it does, please explain to me! :)

I know that the Lord called me to be a teacher! He gave me the means to go back to school a few years ago and get my teaching certification. However, the road since then has been filled with potholes, refining fires and many, many valleys! I haven't been able to get a full-time job. The first year I couldn't even get an interview. I've been going on interviews this summer (tons in fact) yet, I don't get the job. I've been subbing, but that doesn't give benefits or steady pay. I've had to work an additional part-time job to make ends meet. And as I type I have just about $75 to my name...bills aren't paid, credit cards are maxed, I'm not working and I'm feeling like "What the HECK!"

Someone asked me the other day over dinner have you just asked God, "What's going on?" It doesn't have to be a completed prayer, but a simple request. He told me, God will answer you. But I have to be able to hear Him. Sometimes I feel as if I've lost my hearing! But that's where I am right now, "God, what's going on in my life?"

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has something SPECTACULAR for my life. I'm being refined in the fire and molded by the master sculptor for a reason! The verse I've leaned on for years and years is "He will never leave me nor forsake me!" God isn't done with me yet...nor is He done with YOU! Thankfully I stand before a God who is mighty and I stand with friends and family who are praying for me daily!

A friend messaged me these verses the other day and I will leave you with them:

Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

Yummy Goodness!

I love these!!! What is your favorite candy?

Happy Father's Day!

Money doesn't grow on trees!

Have you ever heard your Dad tell you that? Mine told me that over the years of growing up...but I'm not sure I believe him...I think he is still keeping it from me! Maybe I need to go money tree hunting late at night...


What Dadism's has your Dad told you over the years?


In honor of my Dad...Arthur McAskill, here are some "throwback" pictures of him and his three girls!

I'm first~me and my Dad!Shannon getting some tips on how to walk from Dad


And last, but not least, Camille

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

This last week a group of us went to go see Mary Poppins at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle! What an amazing musical!

So I was taking a picture of myself (my favorite way to take pictures) and I forgot that I had the zoom on...but I kind of like how it came out so I kept it! :)

Girl's Night Out!

Mandi, Me, Holly, Sue, Barbara and Heather!

I think I can fly...but I might be missing my umbrella!

Dinner beforehand was at the Cheesecake Factory...yummy goodness!

The girls at dinner!

PBR

PBR in Seattle! Yee--Haw....8 Seconds Baby!

Barbara and I enjoying the cowboys...well, I was enjoying the cowboy butts!

Me and Sean Willingham

ME!!!

The Nun that overlooks the kitchen table at Bucca di Beppo's in Seattle! We had reservations for dinner and were surprised when we were seated in the kitchen! The food was scrumptious and the company was great too!

"I still have my feet on the ground...

I just wear better shoes!"

~~Oprah Winfrey~~

Happy Easter

Hallelujah!

He has Risen!

How can a person not be excited for this weekend? We, as Christians, have the opportunity to worship Jesus Christ who was crucified on a cross for MY sins, buried in a tomb and rose from the dead three days later!

If you happen to stumble across this blog and don't know who Jesus is and don't have a relationship with him...please stop a moment and ask me about Him. I know that He would want to know you!! Even through a blog such as this God can find you just where you are. Please know that He loves you and wants the best for you!

Happy Easter All!

Please have a very Blessed weekend!

Book Review

“Follow the drugs.”

Her sister’s last words shake FBI agent Heather Sloan to the core. They also convince her that the helicopter crash only Heather survived wasn’t an accident. Sheriff’s deputy Jeremy Latham is assigned the case—he’s the one who can help Heather find the person responsible. Once she convinces him they should work together. As they dig for the truth, they learn to trust and care for each other. Will they lose it all when the killer targets Heather? She’s willing to risk her life to find her sister’s killer—but her code of justice could cost her the chance to win Jeremy’s love.

I'm not usually one for suspense books, but I love a good romance and Liz Johnson delivers both a good suspense and romance all in one! Not only does Liz deliver romance but she also makes her characters believable! She explores the sister/sister bond...I have two sisters and know that I would do anything for them, just as I imagine others would do the same for their siblings. Although I'm not sure I'd put myself into the position of offering myself as bait to catch a killer! Would you?

Dive into this great book which can be found at places like amazon.com or cbd.com!

It's raining, it's pouring;
The old man is snoring.
Bumped his head
And he went to bed
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

Rain, rain, go away;
Come again another day;
Little Johnny wants to play.

Bath Time

I went to my Grandma's house this weekend and scanned pictures all weekend! In total, I scanned over 650 pictures...pictures of old black and whites of family members I don't know and lots of pictures of us as kids!

Me and my sister Shannon sharing a tub outside!

Can't believe we were ever small enough to both of us in that tub!

What a cute tush that is!

Tampon Anyone?

Girls, we've all seen the tampon machines in any public bathroom that we've gone into (in fact there are a few arenas that I've been to that they have them sitting out free!) Can anyone tell me if they've actually purchased merchandise from one of these machines?

Here is my quirky thought for the day...

My work (which I suppose should remain anonymous...but hey, why? Babies/Toys R Us in Tukwila) just reopened its new store and this machine is in our womens' restroom. The thing that I don't get is why is it still EMPTY after five months of being open. The next thing I don't understand is why are companies still putting them in bathrooms? Do they really think that we don't carry female items in our purse?

I know...such a random thought/picture, but had to share with someone!

Way too HOT!!!

I am sitting here multi-tasking as usual....laptop out, tv on and a book nearby! Right now I'm watching The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

I just have to say that this man is just a wee bit hot!

However, no matter how hot Mr. Reynolds is...my all-time love is David Boreanaz, aka, Seeley Booth! YUMMY!

Um, do you forgive me?

Yes, I am a slacker!

I have come over to my blog throughout the last year and keep thinking to myself, "I really need to post something to my blog!" I had been so faithful in writing on my blog and sadly, I have let it go to the wayside the last year.

Do I have excuses? Nope! Not one! But do you forgive me anyway? I know that there is at least one person out there that reads this...so please forgive me! I promise to write a bit more faithfully this year.

So what have I been up to this year?

1. Still, and I mean still, looking for a full-time teaching position. Since last summer I probably sent out or filled out online applications for at least 50 openings. I even applied to the Houston, TX, school district...moving forward and even getting a phone interview with one school. I have had a few interviews during this school year for positions that I am not fully qualified for (but was favored with interviews anyway)....but did not get the jobs. I have been subbing frequently this year, but really need and want a full-time position! I know God called me to be a teacher and I know that he has the best job out there for me.

2. Church: I started attending Lifespring Foursquare Church a year ago and I am really liking it. It took me awhile getting into the groove and getting involved but I am slowly but surely getting more involved! I attend our young adult group (Converge) get togethers and try to make it to the events for women. It is a part hard making all activities as I am working a part-time retail position in order to make extra income.

3. Family: most of my family...meaning my two sisters and all their kids, live in Idaho Falls, ID which is a 15 hour drive from my house! My Dad and I made the trip over at Christmas time but holy camoly that is a freaking long drive! I do see my Dad every 4-5 weeks (should probably be more since he only lives 30 minutes from me!) and I need to see my Mom more (she only lives 3 hours away!). Still missing my Grandpa who passed away last March and visit with my Grandma on the phone frequently...I get to go see her in a few weeks!

4. Finances: Mine SUCK! Not having a full-time job right now has been very difficult. There have been weeks that I have very, very little in the checking account! The reason I even say anything is to let you know that I firmly believe that I serve Jehovah Jireh...which is God my Provider! He never lets me down...He never forsakes me and He always is watching out for me!

Even though this has been a very difficult year for me in regards to job and finances, and I have felt like I am being crushed and suffocating many, many times MY GOD WILL SEE ME THROUGH!!!

If you are facing circumstances that stretch your faith and you feel like there is no way to get out from underneath everything that is holding you down...please, please know that God loves you! He wants the best for you and He will help you succeed! Place Him first in your life and all the rest just falls into place!

Thanks for catching up with me and I promise to do better at keeping up with you all!

Blessings and Happy Second Week of February!

Family Pictures

Back in May, my Dad and I made a trip over to Idaho Falls, ID, to visit my two sisters and their families. I had been thinking about family pictures for a long (long, long) time and had actually planned them for a year ago Thanksgiving.

In my family you (meaning me!) just has to make things happen. So I scheduled the appointment, told everyone what to wear and made sure everyone made it the studio (yes, they were late!). My Dad was the worst one to drag his feet...he hates pictures. But he told me (and yes, I am quoting), "I am only doing this because I love you!"

So here are some of the shots from our pictures. I have individuals of all the kids, but need to rotate them before I can upload! We are missing one grandchild...Cassie wasn't with us! And Mom, I promise we will get some done with you in the near future!

Three Sisters!

Rachel (That's me! The older, bossy one!), Shannon (She's the middle child...sitting down) and Camille (Yes, she's the baby of the family!)

Dad (Art) and his girls!

Siefert-Ramirez Family

In the back (L to R) is Josh (20), Brittany (16) and Ernie

In the front (L to R) is Maddy (12), Shannon holding Jocelyn (1), Brandon (20) and Mason (7)

The whole family minus my Dad...Mason is looking a big manic!

The whole crew with Grandpa Art in the middle!

Dragness Family

Joe, Camille, Elliana (2) and Dajia (6)