Evan Almighty.

For Christmas, Jim bought me the movie, Evan Almighty, with Steve Carrell and John Goodman. Although I was a fan of Bruce Almighty, Jim and I were a bit skeptical when Evan hit the theaters, so we never made it to see it. On Wednesday, after a long day at work, we decided to rewind in front of the television and watch my newest gift!

If you don't know the movie, the plot is simple. God appears to Evan because He wants him to build an Ark, in an effort to change the world. After a bit, Evan's wife leaves with the kids because she thinks he's suffering through a mid-life crisis.

God (in the form of Morgan Freeman) appears to Joan (wife) at a restaurant and talks about the endeavor her husband is on. He talks about how He's inspired by Evan's willingness to follow God and how the animals and humans entered the Ark, two by two, together, as partners. He then says the following to her:

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

Sometimes, I think we expect God to simple give us what we want, without actually working for it. I asked God to increase my faith recently and I thought about this quote. I realized that God wouldn't just magically send my faith skyrocketing, He had to give me something to have faith in Him about. And He did.

Bandits strike again...

I thought I'd give a quick run-down of all the fabulous gifts we received over the past two days. We are thankful to everyone for everything!!!

My hubby: Jim and I had already gotten our big gift, the television, so Christmas was mostly gifts we knew this year! He also got me a cute mixer (i picked it out), some socks, three DVDs that I gave him to wrap, a beautiful watch, a ferris wheel picture holder, a small ceramic heater, a $5 target gift card in my stocking, Evan Almighty DVD! He also got me an incredibly sweet card that I will tell you more about later!!!

Mom and Dad: $ towards entertainment center, 2 shirts for me, 2 sweaters for jim, socks for jim, small bag for me, bag with haircare products for me, an appetizer book, tie rack for jim (that moves and has lights), and my usual disney snow globe (snow white this year)

David, Marisa, Kaeli, David, & Jonathan: George Foreman Grilleration for Jim (AWESOME!), something small for me, awesome black fleece comfy pants, and a red shirt that says "Shake & Bake, that just happened!!!" Gotta love it!

Riya & Bill: Star magazine subscription, I Love Jim mug (those are for me); Jim - nice work shirt

Aunt Lois, Aunt Paulette, Uncle Tom: Beautiful red satchel bag for me, with small brown flat bag and 2 awesome work shirts for jim with ties

Sera & Ryan: black flats with a sparkly bow for me and something else later

Erica: something adorable

Jason&Jessica: Game for the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy something or other (it's awesome, I forgot the name)

Schultz Family Grab Bag

For Jim's family, we've done a grab bag the past two years, which is always a lot of fun.

From his mom, I got a cool new game for the Wii with Skeeball and darts on it.

From his brother, Dan, Jim got a game for the Wii, Pirates of the Caribbean, where you use your controller as a sword!!!

Murphy Family Grab Bag

At Jim's aunt house, everyone gets involved in a larger grab bag with items anywhere from $5-$15. It's pretty neat and always turns out great. I had vowed no more fleece blankets this year, since their shape is easy to tell!!!

In a simple drawing, Jim received a $25 Kohl's giftcard and we didn't have to do anything!!!

For the grab bag:

Jim: Speakers for computer or new tv, $15 blockbuster gift card

Me: $25 TGIF gift card with picture frames (uncle terry and aunt shirley spent too much!!!), a cd player discman, and a beautiful chenille BLANKET (jim and I were actually okay with this because it's gorgeous.


Our luck is phenomenal!!! And Christmas was truly amazing and blessed more than you know!

Like Bandits.

This year, to the Mulick Christmas party, we brought one old-fashioned popcorn maker (I had wanted that) and one Disney Scene It! Second Edition game.

At the end of the night, we ended up with one box of ten puzzles, the old-fashioned popcorn maker (thanks daddy!) and a box 'o' knives. Thankfully, Josh offered to take the knives off our hands and exchanged for a Family Fued DVD game (YES!) We definitely made out like bandits this year!

The food was great, the company was better, and a smile (mostly) never left my face!

Wow...life is great!

Christmas Time.

It seems like the past few weeks of this season have simply flown by! I thought I'd share my agenda, since that seems to be the trend in the blogs I've been reading.

Thursday, December 20: Wrap and Deliver gifts, clean, last-minute errands

Friday, December 21: Niece & Nephews over for a sleepover to play the Wii, bake cookies, and watch movies

Saturday, December 22: Wake up and hang out with kids, make dessert, wrap gifts, and head to Mulick Christmas party

Sunday, December 23: Chillax! Finish gift buying and the like!

Monday, December 24: Movie with Jim, Finish wrapping, and prepare appetizer. Aunt's house for Christmas Eve get together

Tuesday, December 25: Morning with Jim and home, Mom & Dad's for gifts and early dinner, Jim's aunt's house for grab bag

wOOt! I can hardly wait for all the excitement to begin.

God is good.

A friend spoke with me the other day and ended the conversation with God is good.

I realize this season how truly awesome and great God is.

Please bless and keep me in this time, to know that you planned my life out far before my parents even knew I was there. You know each and every thing about me, my past, present and future. May this next year be one of health and happiness for my family and friends. thank you. i can't stop saying it. thank you. Amen.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Happy Birthday, Jim!!!

Twenty-five years ago today, James Eugene the III was born. As was his twin brother, Jason Matthew (four minutes earlier).

This morning, I woke him up the usual Hostess Hurrah and a nutcracker for our collection and a small bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee beans.

I also sent him a myspace message.

Jim never ceases to amaze me with his willingness and discipline in all he does.

Thanks for putting up the tree and for helping me decorate!

I look forward to many more Happy Birthdays together!!!

A Christmas Tree Story.

For the past three years, Jim and I have had a fake tree from Kmart that cost us $20. Last year, our little tree died. Since then, my mom handed down a fake tree from my aunt joan. I was eager to open it up and set it up. We wanted to get a real tree, but decided to try my aunt's tree first. Although the branches were sturdier and fuller, the tree only came up to about Jim's abdomen. Therefore, we moved that tree into our bedroom to become the "Heritage Tree."

After much hemming and hawing, Jim finally agreed to at least go look for a tree. We needed a stand to go with it too. I had some errands to run, so I told him to try Menards and then I called to inform him that Home Depot also had some good deals.

When I got back in my car, after a 15 min. store run, I saw I had missed a call two minutes earlier. I called Jim back and he stated that he couldn't find Menards behind the movie theater - even with following the big signs. He seemed frustrated. He decided Home Depot would be a better, especially since it could be found! There were three different trees, in various sizes. 3'-4': $16, 6'-8': $26, Over 9' or a different kind of tree: Over $40.

Within three minutes, Jim found the tree he wanted (middle category) and had found a stand for a good price. He arrived home and armed with a knife, I met him in the driveway. He untied the tree and met me upstairs. The process was incredibly quick and within a half hour, we bought a tree, bought a stand, drove home, brought it upstairs, set up the stand, set up the tree, cut the string, fluffed the tree, watered the tree, positioned the tree skirt and placed the star atop it. Not bad...this experience was memorable without being stressful.

Now if we could only find Menards...

w00t, w00t!

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Check it out.

w00t is now officially a word.

Wrong Foot.

Sometimes, I just start off my day on the wrong foot...does that ever happen to you?

I rolled out of bed at 6:15 a.m. I literally had to DRAG myself, even though I had gotten plenty of sleep...I turned on the computer and started getting things together for the day (my book, my Metra Pass, my keys...) I waited a lifetime for the computer to boot up (it takes FOREVER for some reason!)

I jumped in the shower (too late to do ANYTHING with my hair) and picked some random clothes out that didn't turn into the greatest of outfits. Jim went downstairs to warm up the car and clear the snow. I stayed upstairs to finish some things up.

I made my sandwich (crumbs everywhere), made a hot chocolate to go (a bit too watery) and grabbed my things to meet Jim, turning off all the lights on my way out.

He finished clearing off my car as a courtesy and the alarm started to blare! I had to sift through my overstuffed purse for the keys to STOP IT and then finally found them...in the meantime, my book was sliding off of the car and my cocoa was balancing precariously. (Keep in mind...we were already late...) Jim went barreling down Wolf Road and turned the corner, I had a realization as my train was pulling up and opening its doors - I didn't think I had my work key! I frantically searched my purse and finally discovered it! I waited a second too long and missed my early train...

TWENTY minutes until the next one...I begrudgingly got out of the car and waited in the station until my train arrived. I sat down towards the window and quickly became claustrophobic as someone took over almost the entire area with newspapers and body...I felt like I was going to pass out.

At Union Station, I finally BURST out of my seat into the fresh air...thankfully, the worst was over.

I vow to make this day better than it started out to be - a perk: was not nearly as cold walking to work this morning, thank Heaven for small blessings!

Winter Walkway.

This morning, Jim and I looked out our balcony doors to a beautiful scene: white snow topping the crisp tree branches - a sight so beautiful, I truly felt the season.

I trudged through the snow today. Not the nice pretty white kind, the dirty kind that comes from car exhaust, dirt, and grime. The kind that's leftover after everyone's had their way with it. The kind that no one bothers to look at in awe or wonderment because, quite frankly, it doesn't look as nice.

I wondered whether we as humans don't do the same thing - trudge through all the "dirty" people and complain about the stains it leaves on our clothing, never bothering to see that at one point, these people were all pure and white as snow, at their core, they are all created by Him. Sometimes, I think we just trudge through life, hoping to bypass these people as quickly as possible, after all, who wants to deal with their "mess"?

Walking downtown causes my heart to hurt - wondering where all these people go at night, how they stand the cold.

I know I can't clean the dirty snow on my own, but sometimes, I just wish I'd take more time to consider where it came from.

"Sparkle Season."

Ah...another day, another tirade.

Read this article. Are you kidding me? Thankfully, Pittsburgh had half a mind to remove this tradition in 2002. Unbelievable.

Yet ANOTHER ridiculous name. Thoughts on this "Sparkle Season"?

"Holiday" Tirade.

Forgive me in advance if you find this blog offensive, but sometimes the things people do daily OFFEND me.

Last time I checked, CHRISTmas was a religious holiday. It represents the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without the Christ, you just have "mas," which means nothing. Because of this OBVIOUS connection, I struggle with how people can celebrate CHRISTmas with little to no recognition of its religious beginnings.

For example, why do we say Season's Greetings? Technically, couldn't I say this at all points of the year, "Welcome to Summer, Season's Greetings." What exactly does it mean?

Next, "Happy HolidaysSSSSSSSSSSSSSS." Exactly what holidaysssssssss are we celebrating? I know that when someone tells me that, I'm baffled, I only celebrate ONE holiday and you may as well say MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This morning in the post office, the clerk asked the woman in front of me, "CHRISTmas stamps?" The woman replied, "Yes." The clerk then said, "Religious or non-religious?" The woman said, "non-religious." ERROR, ERROR, ERROR! NOT POSSIBLE. You cannot celebrate Christmas non-religiously, if you do, then you are clearly celebrating something OTHER than Christmas because Christmas is inherently religious.

Please explain to me how a person is celebrating Christmas if they do not believe in Jesus or recognize his connection with this holiday. If this is the case, then you are celebrating, Santamas or St. Nickmas. I'm sorry for being harsh, but I'm sick and tired of people taking all the perks of Christmas, like presents, days off and parties, but they choose not to take the MEANING of Christmas with it.

Feel free to lend your insight.