Bacon Queen

What is your favorite bacon memory?
All of them

Why would you be a good bacon queen?
I’m awesomer than awesome.

What is your favorite way to prepare bacon?
Naked

AND the answer that made me the 1st Annual Bacon Queen:

Bacon is its own food group.

(Me and the founder of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival!)

15 Things...

Yes, I’m copying my sisters idea.
Fifteen interesting (?) facts, that you may not know about me.

1. Out of Jessica, Sam and myself, I am the only one with brown eyes like my dad. Jess and Sam have green like my mom.

2. I have a stuffed ‘dog’ named ChrisMutt. It is one of the Target holiday stuffed animals they used to have each year. I got him when I was about 8. He has flown on a plane with me, taken trips with me, and currently he sits on the floor of my bedroom. I can’t bring myself to pack him away.

3. For a tall person with long legs, I have been told I take very small steps.

4. I am the only one of my sisters to not go to college, live in a dorm or move more than 20 minutes away from the house I grew up in.

5. I love riding four-wheelers and getting dirty. Would love to own some land in southern Iowa.

6. I am not afraid of snakes or mice – but a spider, no matter how small, freaks me out.

7. I wrecked my parents van one week after getting my license. I over corrected when getting cut off by another car and hit a pole.

8. My favorite number is 8. I have a tattoo on my wrist of an 8 and Sam has the same one on her side.

9. I got fired from my first full time job at Wells Fargo card services. I was 19 and thought my fake ID and staying out all night was more important than going to work.

10. At 21 I bought a brand new car that cost more than I was making in a year.

11. My freshman high school soccer team - I scored the most goals on the team. I scored two goals.

12. I’m not afraid of heights, rock climbing, sky diving – but I hate having to go up a ladder.

13. I am a dork – I like Harry Potter, LOTR, unicorns and I often dream about having super powers (which I can never decide on one super power, so I usually dream that I have them all).

14. My dream car is a 1963 Corvette OR one of the new Audi A8’s.

15. I’ve been in Oprah’s audience, and she even called my name so I could ask a question to Bachelor Bob.

Help Raise Money for a Cure!

Imagine if this was a conversation you had:

"Mrs. Rider, I need you and your husband to come to the hospital- with your daughter - to discuss her test results."
"Doctor, please tell me what's going on."
"I think it would be best if we spoke in person."
"If you don't tell me right now, I think I'm going to lose it."
"I'm so sorry, I believe your daughter has cystic fibrosis".


It has been 10 years since Susie Rider got this call about her 4 year old daughter. Andrea is now 14 years old and she appears healthy on the outside, she is pancreatic insufficient, has the start of liver cirrhosis and frequently battles intestinal issues. CF wreaks havoc on the body.

CF is a progressive disease giving one a life expectancy about 37 years of age.

37… I'm 30 and if I had CF, statistics would be telling me I have about 7 years left. Puts things in a whole new light, doesn't it?

Andrea is an amazing teenager, who I have known since she was about 6 months old. I have seen her grow up, brave hospitals, endless tests, breathing treatments and having to take multiple pills every day. She is much braver then I am. She is smart beyond her years and one of the most caring, unselfish people I know. She lives life to the fullest everyday - she is an example that many of us should follow. Never take your health, childrens health or a single day forgranted.

Please donate to cystic fibrosis to help find a cure for this fatal disease.
Any amount is much appreciated.

You can donate online at http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=7229&idUser=246618

You can even register to join the walk in May!

On behalf of Andrea's Angels - Team Moeller - THANK YOU!

My Valentine

Valentines Day for me is usually spent in 'bitter mode'. In fact I said many times that I am anti-valentines day kinda girl. The only Valentine I have had every year is my dad. He gives all us girls a card and a little gift. (I have kept all the cards - why wouldn't I?)
Last year I watched a movie with my friend Dan, probably something violent with a lot of blood shed and hate. It might have been episodes of Band of Brothers….. We were both bitter and against all things romantic or lovey.

This year was very different.

Mike, the guy I have mentioned before, normally works Sundays - he took it off so we could spend all weekend together and celebrate V-day. Saturday night/Sunday morning - he asked if I wanted my gift, and he presented me with a card board box. I opened it and it was a Kindle. I cried. He went on to tell me that he put my favorite book "Tell No One" on there for me already. So I cried some more. He knows I loved to read, remembered what I said my favorite book was, and got the best gift for me. He put thought in to it and was excited to give it to me.
I can't remember a time I have ever felt so special. He makes me feel that way every day, but this was more then I expected.
I felt kinda bad that all I got him was a homemade construction paper card with a cheesy poem I wrote - he loved it though.

I'm slowly realizing that if you quit worrying about all the bad things that could happen, you'll finally see all the great things that are happening right in front of you.

Thank you Valentine. XOXO.

Sisters - I'm lucky enough to have two.

Not my own words - but I love all of these.

Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer. ~Louise Glück

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against them?"

“A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.”

Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.”

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you. -- Winnie the Pooh

The mildest, drowsiest sister has been known to turn tiger if her sibling is in trouble.-- Clara Ortega

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine

You can kid the world. But not your sister. ~Charlotte Gray

A sister smiles when one tells one's stories-for she knows where the decoration has been added. ~Chris Montaigne

How do people make it through life without a sister? ~Sara Corpening

An older sister is a friend and defender-a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too.

~Pam Brown

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child. ~Barbara Alpert

Love you Jessica and Samantha!

Packers Victory!

My sister has the best blog dedicated to this... check it out.

http://thegoodlife-jgo.blogspot.com/

How am I doing?.....

I've been feeling very stressed and very angry lately. People who know me, know that I am not an angry person. I hate the feeling. I don't know exactly who I am angry with - the world? My job? God? Chevy Trucks? Des Moines? ...Brendan…?
Friday I was exceptionally miserable. Frustrations at work were escalated due to my anger and very simple things made me very mad. I had plans with Mike, but told him to find something else to do, as I would be poor company. To my surprise, he didn't care what my mood was, he wanted to be there for me. He let me cry on his shoulder...

Saturday was P's 2nd bday party - and it was fun! I love seeing the Goodrich family and my family all together. My Aunt Ellen had come down for the weekend and it was fun to have her there. She met Boston for the first time too! We had a girls night/birthday party for Jessica and had fun at Mi Mexico with some shaker margaritas - then head to Bombay Club for a couple drinks. Mike was nice enough to pick Jessica and me up from the bar.

I am struggling. Every day. It seems somehow every situation can tie back to Brendan. He was in my life for 9 years… we have a lot of memories. I know I need to remember the good times, and I do. It just hurts...

With out my friends and family I don't think I'd be functioning at all. I have some of the greatest people in my life and I am so thankful for that.

I had a friend say that it will get worse before it gets better - he was right. I just hope this is the worst, cause I can't handle much more.

Random Quotes or Song Lyrics

I love all of these.... I didn't write any of them.

I am wonderfully and fearfully made. Psalm 139

No Teacher, Preacher, Parent, Friend

Or Wise Man Can Decide

What's Right For You- Just Listen

ToThe Voice That Speaks Inside.

I dig my toes into the sand

The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds

strewn across a blue blanket

I lean against the wind

pretending I am weightless

and in this moment I am happy.

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

Did you hear the ocean singing?
Did you sing along?

She said she usually cried at least once each day
not because she was sad,
but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.

We have to distrust each other. It is our only defense against betrayal.

Tennessee Williams

"Only heroes die. Villains and cowards are left to suffer."

―Adalric Cessius Brandl[src]

"O God, Help me believe the truth about myself, no matter how beautiful it is."

Macrina Weideker.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level the paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
-Proverbs 4:23-26