At the beginning of this year we were looking for a car for Jordan, and she had a crush on Michael. Hannah had just started playing keys in youth, and my mom had renal failure and I began testing to be a donor.
Now, Jordan obviously has a car, and has Michael. Hannah is still playing keys in youth, and just today was asked to play lead keys on Sunday morning in the adults services to fill in for someone who is sick. She is VERY excited and she knows it's an honor to be trusted with such a responsibility. She has come so far this year in her talent. And has even added guitar to her list of skills. And my mom, is on the road to complete healing. No donor necessary.
God is good, all the time.
I am thankful for a year of progression. And am hesitantly excited about 2012. It will be a big year. Hannah will turn into a driver, Jordan and I should be going to Thailand, and then late summer, we have to face sending her off to college. Can't say I'm excited about that part. But God has been all over this year, as He will the next. I think the coming year will force us all to grow in every area, especially growing closer to Him.
I'm grateful for all of you and hope you have a blessed New Year.

<3 Shileen

 We went to my moms cabin in Utopia today, to go shooting. Josh and I and the girls and Michael met up with Mom and Steve. We had a pretty good arsenal of guns. For the most part everyone had their weapon of choice that they excelled at. 22's, 380's, revolvers, 9mm's rifles, etc.. We girls, I have to say, can shoot! It was a very fun day and exceptionally wonderful weather for this time of year. Aside from the cedar of course.

So I haven't posted in a while, like for real, a while. One, it's the holiday season, two I have been really sick. I feel like just today I came out of my sick coma. I half feel like I missed Christmas. I do remember Jordan getting ice skates and a nice underwater camera, and Hannah getting a new keyboard. I got Josh an El Capistan guitar pedal. BUT I, I got the worlds BEST beach cruiser bicycle! It is so stinkin cute.  

Well I rode it today cause I couldn't stand it sitting there much longer, and that was probably a mistake. I bit off more than I could chew because I was STARTING to feel better. I rode 3 miles before nearly collapsing my sick lungs. But man, it was awesome  :) 

Last night some of the boys came over for the first Spurs game of the season. They won, and from the sound of it they all had a great time. But I was in bed. Trying not to die. And reading The Hunger Games. Excellent book, very captivating. I finished it, so I had to go get the 2nd one today. 

Tomorrow is clean up day. Decorations are coming down.

Friday we're all going to Utopia to go shooting at my Mom's cabin. Really looking forward to that, and the weather should be beautiful. Josh is off all week and has been working on cleaning out the garage.

At the moment Josh is helping Chase root his Nook(that sounds funny), then we're watching Apollo 18. 

So goodnight to all, and I hope you've had a Merry Christmas. I'll talk to you before New Years for my final post of the year before shipping this thing off for its annual printing.

Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

Took the girls and some friends to see the lights in Johnson City last night

My favorite tree. This is why I planted it.

Had fun with my girls and the fog yesterday

Birthday was kinda crazy with the weather, Josh being sick, and being in  a car wreck. We were sitting at a stop light waiting for it to turn green when all of a sudden we hear these tires locking up and skidding, then all of a sudden, wham! Right into the back of us, going about 20-25mph. No one was hurt, just kinda sore necks, and the girls were pretty shaken up, but it could have been alot worse. The kid that hit us was 16, and his car needed a tow truck. Ours was still drivable, just some rear end damage.

But..in addition to the wreck, and photo shoot, we also managed to go to San Marcos to find my red bowls I wanted, and had a very nice lunch and dinner and saw some pretty lights. Was a good day overall.

My beauties, on my birthday :)

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Josh and I had 2 Christmas parties to go to tonight. His company party was downtown, and they were having a sit down dinner, so we went there first, then around 10, we headed to Rene's party, still going strong, in Gtown. Had a blast, it was a great night with tons of laughs. I really needed it..

Party #2

Story of my life

There's always the possibility of tomorrow. Tomorrow things can change. Tomorrow could be better. Tomorrow could be your season. Tomorrow could be your breakthrough. Don't give up hope for a better tomorrow. When you lose your hope, you lose everything. Don't make decisions on the bad emotions of today. Your feelings today shouldn't change the decisions you've made in a calmer day. Tomorrow may be better and you would regret it.
Life goes on. Ride the roller coaster in anticipation of the next peak. It always comes, just not always today.

(added a few hours later)
Just returned from Wednesday night service where Joe preached on finishing strong. Coincidence? I think not. He says we are all influencing others and encouraging someone just by staying in the race and not giving up. He spoke directly to a group from a rehab facility and told them to walk proudly in our church, and to not be ashamed, because he is impressed at their strength and honors their commitment to stick to the plan. He also said that God would redeem their life 100 fold. I so badly wished that he was speaking that to me, but I believe the Lord was speaking to my heart through him, because I could hardly choke back the tears.

8 hours of running camera, 2 hours of bowling at the 3D Christmas party, and tons of driving make for a very long day. My body hurts.
This morning right after first service, our camera 2 operator David had to take off in a hurry; we found out a few minutes later that his son had died. I believe he was in college in Houston, but he just didn't wake up this morning, they don't know why yet, just that he's gone. It was quite surreal and shocking. One minute we were having a great conversation about some good news he had gotten this week about something work related, then minutes later his son is gone. Makes you remember how your life can change in a second. Pray for the Higgins family, please.

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Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

Spent the whole day doing set decoration, which included building and painting 5 trees. Love the group of media and production women I get to work with, we all seem to be cut from the same cloth. Hard, but productive and fun day.
Here's a cool pic from service tonight..

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What a long day. Worked for most of the day at the agency, then finally decided to go see a dr about some illness I have. I am a stubborn patient and it takes alot to get me to go in, but when Josh started to worry, I decided it was time to go. I have been having vertigo for about 3 weeks now, along with flu like aches and pains and headaches, and a low grade fever. Today the dr said I have a bad bacterial infection in my nasal cavities. Random. NOT a sinus infection he says, but a rare infectious disease that is easily fixed with strong antibiotics. Should fix all my symptoms. Well I certainly hope he is right, cause I'm tired of being sick. Plus, his diagnosis is better than what I had come up with… either mono or a brain tumor.  :)    Anyways, after that I had to go to HEB, then a quick trip home to fix dinner and throw it in the crockpot before heading to church for rehearsals. I feel like I could sleep for a week. But instead, tomorrow I'm going to help decorate the stage at church for Christmas. That should be tons o fun, no really, it will :)
gtg..

Any of my out of town friends live or work near an H&M store? I need this dress in a size 6..

Maybe need is a strong word, I would strongly desire this dress, and this stupid store doesn't have online ordering..   :)

Happy Birthday to my husband Josh. I am so thankful for you! And Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
And congrats to Joe and Lisa!

It's the most, busiest, time of the year.. 3 birthdays down, and one to go, mine, and of course Christmas in less than a month. Definitely my favorite season. It just gets a little expensive with everyone's bday in this house being within 6 weeks of each other, and being right before Christmas.
I didn't plan that very well...

Happy 15th Birthday Hannah!!!

Can't believe my baby girl is 15!!!! She is beautiful, sweet, helpful, compassionate and incredibly TALENTED! In addition to her amazing piano skills, she is picking up guitar at a lightning pace..  Oh, and she got to sing front line vocals this morning in all 3 adult services! So proud of my baby girl.

Picture from my brothers wedding last night... more to come, ...  of the actual bride and groom :)

For as long as I can remember I have gone to Junior League Christmas Affair on this day with my friend Sarah. Except the last 2 years. We kind of fell apart when I, well, fell apart.
So anyways, today I decided I didn't want to miss it so I was going to go by myself. I whined and cried quite a bit to God on the way. Not that it was His fault, but that I was just sad to have lost yet another relationship.
So I get to the place, walk in, turn the first corner, and guess who I see? Of course it's Sarah! We were both so excited to see each other and immediately decided to hang together today and to never let the tradition falter another year.
God is so good to me.

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My brother is in town for my other brothers wedding on friday, so tonight we got together for a family dinner down south, followed by a family talk that was long overdue. It was a good night.
Thankful today for family. They love you no matter what, just as Jesus does. He loves us through the good, bad and downright ugly. I've learned recently that this is the real meaning of love. It is not conditional, it is not based on how you feel on any given day or your circumstance. It is either born by blood or chosen, then strengthened, through time, but it does not go away.  In the same way, God will never leave us nor forsake us, because HE is love.

I think I may have caught something on board. I have been feeling progressively worse all day, and right now I feel positively dreadful.
:(

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Found this pic on Carnivals site today...if you look at the bow of the ship I'm standing to the right of the flags, above that microphone :)

Spent the day and about to spend the night on board the new Carnival Magic doing what they call a ship inspection, in Galveston. Part of my job. Rough, I know, but someone has to do it. Maroon5 put on a show and are rumored to be sleeping on board the ship. So completely cool. We (meaning me, Debby, and thousands of other travel agents) are having a blast.

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Thank you to all who have served, and are serving. I honor you.

It has been a really long time since I was a ballerina, but I miss it. I want so badly to twirl on my toes and glide across a wooden stage right now. I remember vaguely how my toes used to hurt so bad at the end of practice, and how I was seemingly always turning my ankle, and also how my lower back hurt. But it was worth it. There was nothing like it. I remember how important and grown up I felt when I got to wear toe shoes for the first time. I remember the way they smelled, and the little pads you put around your toes to cushion the wood tips when you're spinning on the top of your toes. I loved the uniforms and tights and skirts. It's such a beautiful art form.
I really love dancing, and I wish I had the time, energy and talent for it now.

 

TEXT: An elderly lady did her shopping and upon returning to her car found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!" The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and then got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken she could not get her keys into the ignition. She tried and tried and then she realized why. It was for the same reason she wondered why there was a football, a frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat.
A few minutes later she found her own car parked four or five spaces further down.
She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the other end of the counter where four men were reporting a car-jacking by a mad elderly woman described a white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair and carrying a large handgun.
No charges were filed.
If you're gonna have a senior moment, go big.

Yesterday I, along with most of the Celebration church production team, were invited to help out at an all day photo shoot for the Story Conference for 2012. It was a long, exhausting day, but a honor to be invited, and fun to get back into something creative.
Every time I think I'm leaving it, it comes back to me.
At the end of the day we were supposed to shoot a cemetery scene with smoke and strobes and the whole thing, but we were late and there was no one to let us in, so we just jumped the fence and hauled all our gear over this thing, except the generators, which we left on the sidewalk outside. Crazy wild shoot I won't soon forget. Here are some pics I took on my phone, and others people took with me in them..

Matt Garner - " Story location 2 - Great shot...on your phone! Shileen Elizabeth Hollis Karnes photographer extraordinaire."
Kip Farrar - "Amazing! Shileen Elizabeth Hollis Karnes is brilliant. "

I just found out that my best friend from my 'former life' became a grandma this weekend. If I weren't such a screw up I'd have been there with her.
R - if you still read this, first of all, congratulations! (I can't believe we're old enough for these things to start happening. )
Second - I'm sorry I'm not there with you celebrating this joyous occasion. It breaks my heart all over again.

When you commit a sin so great that you forever live with all the consequences it's really hard not to get down on yourself. Even being forgiven and loved again can't take away the long term consequences. I feel helpless that there's nothing I can do to change it either. No amount of good I do can undo the bad.
I miss being respected and trusted.
I miss having close friends. Seems these days, all the new ones keep disappearing. There's nothing like being known by someone, for a long time. I desire it again so much.
I miss being excited about my work.
I feel like I'm aging, but not progressing. It's a scary sensation.
And the worst part is, it's all my fault. No one but myself to blame. Do you have any idea how hard it is to convince yourself you're good? When all evidence is contrary?
If I can't convince myself, I have no hope. Why invest in the future of someone that's been labeled defective.

Sorry folks, just one of those days I suppose, when I remember what I've done

Happy 18th birthday to my fabulous firstborn!!!

For her gifts we got her a ticket on the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Cruise, and also some pearl earrings and a purse. Michael brought her a huge thing of roses and a diamond heart necklace. We got to take her to lunch and shopping, now Michael has taken her for the evening.   For the rest of us, it's pizza and game 7 of the World Series..

Ladies!

Grab a girlfriend and get away next March for a long weekend trip to Mexico. You can go for around $500 per person. Where else can you get that kind of price for a vacation?? Only a few days left to put down your deposit and secure your cabin. Final payment not due until January. Email me(shileen at 3dcruiseandtravel.com), call me, something!! I will be on this boat! That's incentive enough! (j/k, j/k) Seriously, come join us, it will be a ton of fun..

I met a sweet old man while working the travel booth today. I asked him if he wanted to go on vacation and he said he'd love to but he won't  leave  his wifes side, and she is in a nursing home.  As if that wasn't enough to make me tear up, we then got into a conversation about him being a Vietnam vet. Near the end of our conversation I thanked him for his service, and then he turned back to me and said, "thank you, but when I came home from the war, they spit on us and threw trash on us, treated us like dirt." I was horrified to say the least, and not knowing quite what to say, I apologized and said that wouldn't have happened on my watch. He smiled and thanked me again, then left. I can't even imagine the pain they went through, to come back home to that response. It sickens me. I LOVE our fighting men and women. I honor them for their courage, and for laying it all on the line to protect us. How could anyone not honor them? I don't care how you felt about the war, they are  US soldiers who defended our right to live free. They should be the most honored among us.
Sorry for the rant, but that man will stick with me for a long time, he totally broke my heart.

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Ok, senior year is really expensive. I guess it's to prepare us for the even greater expense of college. All the college application fees, dorm deposit, camp, graduation fee, cap, gown, etc, senior pics, prom, dress for prom, senior trip, good grief it's out of control.   I need another job.
Michaels meeting with his parents went really well. He's actually going to apply to law schools in Houston. His mom insists he chase her down there so he can marry her eventually. Apparently she LOVES Jordan and doesn't want him to lose her. She has good taste, I like her already :) So she'll only be alone down there for a little over a year. That makes me feel a little bit better about the whole thing, but not really.

Had a great time in downtown Austin today with Josh, Michael and the girls. City wide garage sale, lunch, Texas book fair at the capitol, Amy's pumpkin ice cream, and then Music Makers, where we purchased Hannah's first guitar. It's a month early, but when you find the 'right' one, you buy it or it will be gone .


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Hannah's first guitar. Early 15th bday present, she's very happy :)

One of the proudest moments of a homeschool parents career. The day your first child gets their first college ACCEPTANCE LETTER!!!!!!!!!!! This one is for A&M Galveston. (marine biology)
So proud of my girl Jordan, she has worked so hard for this. Oh happy day! :)

Ok, since I'm so bad at remembering to blog, I'm gonna give you declutter friends the whole weeks list.
spice cupboard, refrigerator, office desk/drawers, and nighstand drawers.


My daughter is sick, I have to go

For those following the declutter plan - today is your bedroom dresser drawers, and this includes all the stuff on TOP of your dresser :)


So this weekend the sweet young couple got into their first "disagreement". He has been harassing her about A&M, calling it a lousy school, etc.., basically trying to convince her she doesn't want to go there. (because it's too far away from him in Waco) Well she finally had enough of it and let him have it. She said this is where I want to go, where I need to go for her major, and he needs to be supportive. After a kind of rough weekend, he went back to Waco in a foul mood. He called later and apologized, saying he was just scared of losing her. So he's decided to follow her down there. He's going to check into getting his MBA at Rice or another Houston area college. That way he can be less than an hour from her in Galveston.  But his dad will not be happy, and he's the one writing the checks. However, his mom adores Jordan and will hopefully convince his dad to support the move.
Pretty heavy stuff they're having to deal with so early in their relationship. They have to make huge decisions about their future together. I think it really finally hit him that if he wants to be with her he will be living on the beach somewhere most of his life. His previous plan was to take over the family business in Georgetown, which he doesn't want to and can't do anymore if he wants to be with her.
I don't envy him right now, but I think Jordan's worth it. Apparently he does too.

Ok, sorry guys about the week long absence. This garage sale business really messed with my progress. I am so glad it's over. I promise to start up on the second half of our declutter party Monday morning. We need to finish getting our house in shape for the holidays. Tomorrow I'm on camera 1 most of the day, then we have to try and find a way to get this bird out of our house. It flew in friday night and has been stuck ever since. We can't ever find it long enough to try and catch it...

Jor and Michael took some cute self portraits this weekend

Well our sale got rained out. We'll try again next Saturday, and in the meantime enjoy the rain!
Texas Fight!!

Garage sale in the morning 8:30 -1 , Shadow Valley cv, Cedar park. All proceeds go to fund Jordans senior trip to Thailand.

Another legend has passed. He changed the world of technology forever.

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs

I am starting to get addicted to this decluttering thing. There is something freeing about purging unnecessary things from your home. And I'm not sure why this is, but I haven't been shopping since this started.
Today I worked, so I wasn't going to do a bag today, but tonight while Josh and Hannah were at practice I couldn't resist and cleaned out the 2 pots and pans cabinets which were on tomorrows list. So there's your assignment, while I work on organizing garage sale stuff.

I just finished reading To Kill A Mockingbird. Great book. Now starting The Great Gatsby.  Jordan is hooked on reading the classics; she has inherited my mothers love of books, and talks frequently about her desire to have a big beautiful library in her own home someday. Her enthusiasm has spread and now I'm reading them. I'm sure I've read a lot of these, but I just don't remember them.  Her most recent accomplishment was getting through Moby Dick. I don't think I'm gonna follow her on that one..

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If you or anyone you know homeschools, this is going to be the garage sale for you to come to. Lots of stunning, beautiful DK books, and lots of comprehensive childrens encyclopedia type books, as well as teachers manuals for popular curriculum, and some basic texts as well. Basically an entire large bookshelf full of resources. Plus some educational board games, etc..
Oh, I might even sell our beloved talking smart globe that we have loved so much. Maybe..
Saturday morning, 1005 shadow valley cove in CP. I might do a friday morning too, I'll let you know, or you guys can let me know if a private hs showing would be helpful.  I have collected sooo many books over the last 15 years, and most of them are in near perfect condition. So many hs resources, and I want to sell them to other hs families, not just garage salers looking for a bargain..

On a completely different note.. I was reading this today and it made my heart happy, so I thought I would share..
Isaiah 57:15,16 "... I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me - the very people I created.
18 - I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to them creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel."

Such a beautiful picture of our God, the father.

Today - clean out the closet under the stairs. Another scary place.. If you don't have one, then pick another scary closet..

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Today's project - the front hall/coat closet. This is probably the one I have dreaded the most, surprisingly enough. It is jam packed with sports gear and old coats and hats and scarves, gloves, etc.. I have been trying to figure a way out of doing this one today, but it needs it, and it's next on the list. I figure the only way it's going to get done is if I post it here. Accountability.
..1 hr later..
DONE!!!! That wasn't so bad.

I found the most wonderful thing in my closet today. A love note from Josh written 19 years ago this month. Before we were married. It was like 10 pages long in this otherwise blank notebook. What a treasure to find. Had to share a couple of pages..
<3