Veruca Salt...I Want It Now!

My goals of selflessness and being content with what I have are at odds with the fact that I am incredibly in love with "stuff."  I love my stuff.  I want more stuff.  I dream about stuff. 

Let me clarify something...I also like to give to others...in fact, buying for other people and then presenting them with beautifully wrapped gifts is one of my favorite things...but if I'm going to be honest...it's the receiving that gets me all worked up! 

And so when hottie husband casually hints around that he needs gift ideas...well, I have found a casual way of hinting to hottie husband what I would love to receive....(after all, hottie husband does read my blog):

1.  Lindsay Phillips ballet flat with interchangeable jewels:  Can be found at Carrie's Hallmark, Downtown

2.  Travel bag for Lindsay Phillips Ballet shoes: Can be found at Carrie's Hallmark, Downtown (hello? All shoes should have their very own separate travel bag)!

3.  Burberry Brit Perfume: Can be found at Dillard's, Capital Mall

4.  Pink stripe ruffle shirt: Can be found at Gap, Columbia Mall

4.  Sequin sweatshirt: Can be found at New York & Co., Columbia Mall

5.  Mizzou sequin long sleeve tee-shirt: Can be found at Carrie's Hallmark, Downtown

6.  Proud as a Peacock Family Tree Print: Can be found online at My Tree and Me (http://www.mytreeandme.com/)

7.  Heated mattress pad (thanks Leah and Paul)!: Can be found at Target, Walmart, JCPenney

Now, listen up hottie husband...all of these things are things that I "want". I don't necessarily "need" any of these things...just remember where you get your sugar from, babe.  ;)

Dear Christmas, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly...

Every year I attempt to write the "perfect" Christmas letter...you know the one...bragging on my three "precious", "angelic" and "oh so intelligent" little boys, my "strong", "hard-working", and "sensitive" hottie husband and the job that I "absolutely love."  Christmas is a time for joy...the spreading of good cheer, so naturally we write Christmas letters to our family and friends of only the pleasantries from the past year.

Last night I sat with my laptop, cursor blinking on a blank Microsoft Word template, awaiting my first tap tap taps of my "jolly" news from 2009. 

"Dear loved ones,

I hope this letter finds you rested and content during this busy time of the year.  2009 has certainly been...."

And then I paused, searching for the perfect word to describe what 2009 brought for the Dudenhoeffer family.  The year flashed before me, and a thought crossed my mind...what if my letter wasn't all rainbows and bunnies?  What would my letter look like if I was honest about it all and I didn't leave the "bad" out?

"Dear loved ones,

We are flat broke.  We embarked on a basement/master bedroom remodel that is now going on year two.  All of our savings is going into this major headache of a project and we had to use the Christmas money that we get from my father to purchase gifts for the kids...from "Santa."  Hottie husband and I have had four major arguments this year, one in which I stomped out and "hid" at my office for eight hours (but boy, did I get a LOT of work accomplished)!  I've been diagnosed with diabetes on top of my epilepsy and my skin cancer returned for the fifth time, requiring me to receive radiation (golly, that's always fun).  Jackson still struggles with his reading, Benjamin quite frequently gets a spoonful of horseradish for foul language and Hayden...well, he's a teenager (that should sum it up for you).  My job is extremely stressful and the probability of me meeting my goals are slim in this economy.  Hottie husband has traveled more this year between his job and his obligation with the National Guard than he has in the eleven years we have been married, leaving me (sometimes weeks at a time) to be alone with the three boys and all of their extra curricular activities.  My license was taken away for six months due to the epilepsy, and so I was dependent on anyone for small things such as going to the grocery store for a gallon of milk.  Hottie husband had to have a root canal, which set us back a house payment and the family doctor had to write him an excuse to give to his commander stating that a bad knee would keep him from completely participating in the National Guard PT test.  My father is suffering from MS, my mother suffers from...craziness (but we love her so much) and my siblings...well, that's another letter.  Some days I feel like I'm going to explode, other days are great...that's the beauty of mood swings..."

I sat back in my chair to evaluate what I had just typed.  I smiled...this is why Christmas letters are limited to only the "good", my goodness, I want to jump off a bridge after reading all this...

I continued my letter...

"and yet, despite all of the struggles, God is so good to us.  In February I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.  In April we became members of a church that we adore!  In May, hottie husband and I were baptized.  The boys have made new friends through youth groups and Sunday school.  Hottie husband and I have been blessed through the church with new friends that have the same morals and life goals as we do.  Just last week our oldest son Hayden was baptized, having accepted Jesus has his Lord and Savior.  We have a roof over our heads, food on our table and we both have jobs that we are passionate about!  And so...2009 has been life changing for us.  We are coming to know Christ in a more intimate way and we are amazed at what we were missing out on before! 

And so I write to you, wishing you a very Merry Christmas...may the Lord bless you as he has blessed our family...with Faith, knowing that He is God.  With Commitment...to build on our relationship with Jesus, and with Light...the light of God to chase away the darkness."

There it was...my "perfect" Christmas letter.  The good, the bad & the ugly...because it doesn't seem as "bad" or as "ugly" when you can say that Jesus is beside you!

Merry Christmas,
The Dudenhoeffer's

Blessed Assurance...

How proud am I of my thirteen year old son?  So. Very. Proud.

Believing that Jesus is Lord and placing his faith in Him, Hayden accepted Jesus into his heart a few weeks ago, and this morning was baptised.

We are so proud of Hayden and his decision.  This is a picture of Hayden before the baptism (freezing in his swimming trunks, ready to submerge into the warm baptismal waters).

This is Hayden and our pastor, Mark.  Pastor Mark is a HUGE reason for our family's decision to make "real life change".  We adore Pastor Mark and his family! (I know what you are thinking...is Pastor Mark the same age as Hayden?  No...he's my age...he just looks really young...see, being a believer has it's benefits)...(that's just a little humor)....

 
Hayden walking into the water (not on the water...not yet).  (More humor)...

Hayden proclaims that Jesus is Lord and is immersed into the water...

Hayden is now "right with God."  He has three principles that will now become very important to him.  Foundation, Motivation and Consistency.  If his foundation is the Bible, and if his motivation is being like Christ, and if he consistently seeks to live like Christ, then he will know that Jesus covers his sins, and he will still be right with God.

Celebrity Crush...He's Gonna Hate Me For This One...

I can't just let this go...at least not without a few smarta** comments. 

Did you happen to catch my movie review this morning?  Oh...didn't you know, I'm a movie reviewer on KWOS, a local radio station on Friday mornings...tune in next week, you won't want to miss it.

Anyway...

In my post last week regarding the movie The Blindside, I mentioned that I would have a special guest reviewer today.  If  you were able to catch my review this morning, then you were introduced to Paul (I'll refrain from last names here, but we did broadcast his entire name and place of employment for all to hear on the radio).  Paul was introduced to me by my boss (and friend) Darla.  Paul is a client of Darla's and proclaimed mentioned that he is enamored, in awe a fan of mine. 

Listen...I'm not one of those "big-headed-I'm-better-than-you" celebrity types, I stay pretty grounded, so I did only what was natural...I graced him with an invitation invited him to review a movie with me. 

Of course he lept, somersaulted accepted the invitation and we met at Capital 8 Theatres.  He was all starry eyed when he met me He is a very nice gentleman and I have enjoyed getting to know him...

And his celebrity crush on me is kinda cute.  ;)

Shout To The Lord...

Worship...it's my favorite part of Sunday mornings.  The congregation stands together, the lights are often dim, the praise band stands in front on stage, and we sing our praises to the Lord.  I feel it, I feel the Holy Spirit, I focus on the words that I sing to my Savior.  Often I watch others around me.  Many raise their hands to the skies, glorifying their King, inviting Him into their hearts deeper and deeper.  So full of passion and faith, I envy those that are not "embarrassed" or  too "self conscience" to share their passion and raise their hands, to sing loudly, to open their hearts.   I feel it.  I want to raise my hands to the skies.  I want to open my heart wider.  I want Jesus to know that I love and adore Him...

Two weeks ago I sat in the back of the church, alongside my dear friend and her two precious little girls.  The music was loud, the words were displayed above for all to follow and the congregation stood together, singing to the Lord.  I was focused.  I was deep in the words.  I was singing my prayers and opening my heart...and then I heard a voice.  A sweet, tiny, voice...as if it was the only voice in the sanctuary.  I looked to my left, and there, standing next to me was my friend's oldest daughter (she's all of nine years old) and she was singing.  Her eyes were closed, her head was lifted, her little hands in the air and she was singing so loudly to her Savior.  Often she would nod her head as if to validate her love and faith in her Jesus.  She wasn't self conscience, she wasn't embarrassed...she was pouring her heart out to Him.  It stopped me.  I looked at this small child beside me and I thought to myself, "that is what I feel." 

And that little nine year old girl pushed me out of my comfort zone...the Holy Spirit spoke through her to me and I lifted my hands and I sang loudly.  I closed my eyes and I let the tears fall down my cheeks and I prayed deep inside my heart a prayer of thanks to Jesus for placing this little angel in my life!

I'm Gonna Let It Shine...

I had an interesting argument conversation earlier today.  I had an appointment with a client of mine to discuss an upcoming printing project.  This is a client that I have worked with since the beginning of my career in printing.  Often when I visit with this client we engage in small talk, but today it became much bigger. 

In the middle of our conversation regarding printing, my client said to me, "interesting blog."  I was flattered, as I took it as a compliment..."Thanks!" I replied.  My client continued, "I find it interesting that you are so open with your Christianity."  I was puzzled..."hmmmm, why?"  My client raised his eyebrows and smiled, "because you insinuate that you are perfect, without fault, above others."  My gut tightened, "then you must not know me well, and you are not reading between the lines, so to speak." 

"I don't mean to offend you, it is just an observation" my client responded. 

I quickly reacted, "I am offended.  I am open with my Christianity because I am passionate about Christ and what he has done in my life, how he has changed me for the better.  I am open about my Christianity to share with others that I am NOT perfect, in fact far from it...hoping that my desire and decision to accept Christ into my life will inspire others that may not feel worthy."

My client sat back in his chair and chuckled, "I am simply sharing with you that sometimes your posts hint that since you have become a Christian that you are without sin, and that your life before didn't exist."

"Seriously?  I would like to know exactly what entry I posted that would give you that impression.  My goodness...of course I am not without sin...in fact, I struggle with sin every single day.  Everybody does...including people who you might say are more 'Christian' than me!  The difference between the me now and the me in the past is I have a relationship with Jesus and an open heart to allow His power to bring about needed change.  And by the way, my 'life' before has been forgiven."

Silence.

I looked at my client and smiled, "one more thing, I found a Savior...and I'll shout it from the rooftops, every. single. day."

"Good for you."  That was his response.  That was all he had. 

And it was enough. 

Yes, good for me. 

"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lamp stand, in order that those who come in may see the light." Luke 8:16

All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front...

Dear Santa,

You seem like a reasonable kind of guy, so I'm going to give it to you straight.  I'd like a new set of boobs, please. 

Now, I'm a somewhat grateful kind of gal (admittedly there are a few times where I've been selfish) and I really don't ask for much (please don't check that out, nobody likes a skeptic).  I realize that I should be happy with what I have, and truthfully, my ta-tas probably contributed in some way to landing hottie husband.  The size is not my concern...it's the gravity.  I need a lift, and I am convinced that you are just the person to leave me a nicely sized check made out to the best, experienced and local surgeon (if you can find a "McDreamy" that would be the icing on the cake)! 

All I'm asking for are a couple of nicely rounded out, lifted C cups that I can display proudly, with a hint of cleavage and I promise not to overexpose myself in inappropriate times because nobody likes a bragger either. 

Is this too much to ask?  Haven't I been an angel all year?  I am certain that I made the "nice" list this year.

Thank you Santa, I know you won't let me down (no pun intended).

Love, hugs and a "flash" for good measure,