i am giving up chocolate for lent.

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i'm giving up chocolate for lent.  and last i checked, chocolate is needed for life.

i wanted to choose something that would be a challenge.  and dark chocolate is something that i have a little of often.  this is the first time i have given up anything for lent.  i was raised non-denominational and we just didn't give up anything.  or maybe we did, maybe i just wasn't paying attention---

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remind me not to look at this blog again until after easter.  because strolling through pinterest looking for chocolate pictures...well...

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i am really looking forward to this season.
and giving up something silly like chocolate is nothing compared to what jesus gave TO us.

what are you giving up for lent?

inquiring minds want to know...

here's the latest in this journey of life lately. (i'm tired)

- dad is doing better.  he is less confused today and last night they were able to move him to a private room on the trauma unit which is a step up from the room he shared with six other severely injured patients.  last night when i saw him, he wouldn't open his eyes and was really confused and then today he is sharp as a tack.  so maybe the fall knocked some sense into him.  too much?  bad joke?  yes, i think so.
seriously,  from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the sweet messages, calls, text and prayers.  i have felt so popular the last few days with my phone lighting up like a christmas tree every five seconds.  i mean, you make a girl get a big head people.

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- and in the midst of chaos, life still goes on.  brad started a new job today that he will totally rock.  i might have went a little overboard with "you need new clothes for a new job" on sunday, but GAP was having a sale and then macy's was too...and then, you know what happens then.  

three large bags later, well...he looked real cute HOT today in his new duds.  yay for a new job for him, he is so excited.  i am cooking a celebratory dinner for him tonight.  and then he will try to talk me into watching wrestling or star wars...and will succeed.

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and this has nothing to do with anything other than when i searched "new job" on pinterest ole will smith was the first thing to come up.  random.

and it cracked me up.

so lucky you, you get taaaa crack up too.

and again, seriously y'all, thanks for the prayers for my sweet dad.  he is the best and i know he feels it from his head to the soles of his feet.  

p.s. the trauma unit is a weird place, sad - yet hopeful.  if you think of my dad today and lift him up in prayer, say a prayer too for those that he is sharing a floor with. because on the tenth floor at venderbilt hospital, there are some really hurt and hurting people and some waiting rooms full of people that love those hurting people and are hurting right along side them.  

one lady has been in that waiting room since december 31, when her son had a wreck and he has been in a coma ever since.

thats a mothers heart and love, and devotion.  and you know what? a few more prayers for her today wouldn't hurt a thing.  

another man, his wife has parkinson's like my dad and she fell too like dad.  and the sadest part of it all, is she doesn't know her husband anymore and as he sat and told mom and i about his wife...he said, "she knows everyone, her kids, people she has met a few times...but she doesn't know me."

that's rough stuff.  

and that's just a few in the waiting room.

a thought for saturday.

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like my mother does...

last week as i was cleaning the stove for the fifth time of the evening, i had to laugh at myself and immediately thought, "lord, here is one of those things i never said i would do!"  my mom always said the kitchen was not clean unless the stove was clean.  and when i was sixteen...

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whatev.

you remember rolling your eyes too at all those DUMB things your mom told you or asked you to do...they were

dumb.

today though, i...ALWAYS clean the stove more than once per night to make sure it is spotless. and also never ever set anything on the stove, even if just for a minute because you just never know when i fire will start, jessica...

i clean my hair brush often and after brushing my hair always clean out the sink from all the loose hair that has came out during the latest brushing...

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and then there is the closet doors.
the CLOSET doors.  my nemesis. 

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lord help us all.  i can not tell you the daily times my mom would come in my room and get onto me because my closet door was open.  and i can not tell you the number of times i rolled my eyes as she slammed it shut while i was rolling those eyes talking on the phone, probably sneaking three way.

why does it matter if the closet door is opened or closed!?

and today, every night before we go to bed, if i happen to forget i will ask brad on his way to bed, "hey, babe.  will you shut that closet on your way to bed?"  and as soon as i get to work in the mornings and walk the house and do my ten minute pick up...i scowl under my breath at the if there are any drawers or closets open...

i have become my mother.
but come over anytime, the house might be a mess, but the stove will be clean.

p.s.  my mom is also obbbbseeesssed with picking up sticks outside.  i still think this is dumb.  and refuse to oblige her.  when i am fifty and begging my children to pick up sticks i will remember this...maybe i should just give in and start helping.  shoot.

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what do you do, only because of one of your parents?

eat IN november. {anybody wanna buy me a starbucks?}

what is this you say?  girl, you sooo crazy?  or maybe this is no different that what you normally do.  well here's the deal.  this month is 'eat IN november.'  which is what is says it is...keep it simple, stupid - that's my motto.

it's really not my motto, but it's a good motto to have...by the way.  so here's the deal, this month brad and i are eating in.  all meals will be cooked at home, there will be no eating out.  which may not seem like a big deal to you, but here's what we do...we go in phases...we will eat out all the time or not at all. lately, it's been a lot.  sometimes when you get home at seven, cooking is the last thing you want to do - so you do what's easy, and go out.

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we just decided to have "eat IN november" and save the money we would on eating out.  really we just like challenges and things that might kill us.  that's a joke...i love to cook and am ready for the challenge. as i wipe the tears from my eyes.

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i can't wait to see what i can come up with...or what brad comes up with...so this month, i might be posting more about food than normal.
1.  because i might be hungry because dinner was gross.
2.  because a picture might be as close as i get to chic-fil-a.
3.  because if i can't go to cheesecake factory, i might have to blog about her greatness.
4.  you get the point.
5.  please tell me you do.
6.  i'm hungry.

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and just in case you are wondering, yes all our dinners will look like the above entree.  why do you ask?  who DOOOOOO you take me for?

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and we are going light on bread and carbs at night.  heaven help me and you.  i might be a nightmare.  and not a happy blogger, light on carbs i said!
are you crying with me?  
are you drooling over this bread?  
why do i do this to myself?
please make this bread and eat it for me?
please?
and tell me it was GROSS.

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think this counts as healthy dessert?  i think so.
i'll tell brad, "ohhhh honey, i made this low fat.  it really is good for you.  and dr. oz says a little dark chocolate is good for you!" think he will believe me?  he should, after all i am his bride, he should believe me.  

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honestly, there will be more of this than the pie.  buuuuuuuuut maybe the pie might have to make an appearance.  because i mean, if i am not eating out, no carbs...girls gotta have a little chocolate.

you can take the girl out of the chocolate but not the chocolate out of the girl.  oh, that's not how that goes is it?  oops.

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no eating out means no pumpkin spice lattes or salted caramel mochas the entire month of november.

what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

i died a little when i wrote those two sentences above.

and on december first...i am making this.  oh yes i am.  because i will be that talented in the kitchen and we will deserve it.  only it will be filled with coffee and bread.  

and i will love every bite.

"eat IN november" ----- wanna join us?

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happy fall. [my favorite]

here's some little things i have been loving lately.  brad and i are going out of town over thanksgiving and having our family to our home the weekend before.  i am SUPER excited because i LOVE LOVE LOVE to host and plan a party.  so thanks to pinterest i am as inspired as a thanksgiving turkey.  <--good joke?  bad joke?  you get the point.

here's some things i am luuuuuving today.

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seriously cute.  and seriously in my backyard.

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this girl is obsessed with burlap.  so naturally i adore this.

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seriously.  why didn't i come up with these?  it makes me mad when i see something this cute and easy and perfect...because i didn't think of it!

and then there is this.  off the subject and probably preeeety sure i won't have one on display thanksgiving...inappropriate perhaps, but i did laugh!

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it's thursday people.  and that just means we are that much closer to f.r.i.d.a.y.

uh huh.  that's right.

come and follow me on pinterest.  [jessica dukes] and i will follow you too.  and then we can be friends!