Work

"All work and no play Johnny becomes a boring boy."
Gramps told me that not too long ago.


This evening we had a guest for dinner. Gramps gave this guest a little piece of his mind.


The guest complemented Gramps on how well he has done for himself and his family.
Gramps replied, "I've worked hard. No one in my family has gone in need. I make sure of that."


It was really cool to hear my Gramps say that, because its so true. He makes sure that his family is taken care of. I like that.  


He knows the meaning of having nothing.
He knows the meaning of working hard.
And he knows the reward of hard work.


His story is inspiring.
hah.
Sometimes little stories like his are all it takes to get the Mojo back.
:)

Dear Natalie

Modern Family=Goodness


And I am proud to say that I am responsible for a new Modern Family Follower :)

a Tid Bit from my heart

If you didn't know, there are some things i struggle with. 
lol
Cooking for example. 
Ab exercises is another one. 
Learning every known medication known to man is a STRUGGLE to say the least. {thanks go out to nursing school}


But the one thing that I have been struggling the most with lately is trusting God with my future. Trusting God with my future is giving God all my plans and letting him do his work in me. 
Thats a scary word: Future. {if you just say it in a deep voice it sounds scarier!}  
I think it scares me so much because it's fear of the unknown. 
Its something that I can't control; something that I have only a minor say in. And even then, I can do my best to give myself a good future but thats it.


So yea, lately I have found myself getting all hot and bothered about the future, which is silly because I can CHOOSE to either worry about it and stress myself out or give it up to God who is in control of it all anyway. 


When I say "I worry about the future", there's no 1 particular worry I have in mind. They come in a variety of categories that vary from my dog to freaky illnesses to school to finances to relationships.


I can do everything in my power to be in control of my future and what I want, but   at the end of the day, it's all in Gods hands and I need to trust that. 
So i've been praying...asking that I would be able to cast all my cares on Him. Giving everything up to God is hard, and scary, but why should I fear trusting my Creator with all aspects of my life when I know his plan is what's best for me.

Today I prayed, I need to trust Him with every aspect of my life, and I need His help giving up that part of me. He answered. It was  so good. I was searching and stumbled across a message called "You can't Control the Future" {click on the link if you want to listen to it. Its kinda long, but if you got some time, I would recommend it}.


Anywho...alllll that to say ask and it will be given, seek and you will find...i trust that :)






 

Blockbuster and Bill McDonald

Its a tradition...when summer comes along, Elyse starts watching a new tv series. 

Last summer it was Rescue Me...

This summer it's Nurse Jackie. 

{my dad thinks that this show is teaching me to be a drug dealing nurse. hah. 
that guy sure has a sense of humor}

I'm not a big TV watcher, however I do have a select few shows that I follow. 

But every summer, I pick up a new show and lose an old one.

And so begins the 
Nurse Jackie/blockbuster/Bil McDonald/Directionally Challenged Elyse adventure...


The other day
Mike {yes, he made the cut to debut in elysepisodes} and I drive to blockbuster to rent Season 1 of Nurse Jackie.
We start out in San Carlos and he asks which blockbuster we're going to. 
I say "the one in Redwood City."
he asks why.
"i think its the closest one. but you can look it up if you want."
He says: i think there might be a closer one, but it's no big deal.
Now if you know anything about me, there are 2 things i'm not so good at:
1. cooking   
2. directions
{really though, i can't go anywhere without my GPS. 
i am my mothers daughter}

I should have listened to Mike. 
But being the nice boy that he is, 
he let me continue on my way
as my heart desired.


i get the DVD.
I wait in line. 

I get to the checkout where the blockbuster guy scans my card and asks me my name. 

I wasn't sure where he was going with this and the account is under my dads name, so i say "Bill McDonald." 

Obbbviously I am not Bill so i followed it with an, "Or Elyse McDonald."

The guy says he wants MY name: Elyse, not the account holders name. hah

"My name is Elyse."

He then informs me of a new policy that requires anyone that rents a DVD needs to be on the account and that Elyse McDonald is not on the account (but Bill is). 

He said he can call the account holder to get me on so i can rent my summer show.

Blockbuster Guy calls up Daddy-O and asks if he wants to add me to the account. 

This is what i hear the guy say while talking to my dad on the phone:

he explains the situation.

"Sir I have your daughter Elyse here and would it be alright if we added her the account?"

he laghs nervously.

pause.
still paused...

"Sir I can't tell if you're kidding."

pause.

he laughs.

"Ok, thanks. Bye."

After all that, I get on the account. I called up my dad and ask what he said to the guy. 

During the long pause my dad was telling him that he didn't have a daughter!!!

HAH! 
thanks dad.
oh, and there's a blockbuster 
in walking distance from my house :)
no need to drive to 
Redwood City anymore

My Peeps

Yes, I am Dutch. 
I got it from my Mamma. 


And no, i never follow soccer. Ever.
Except for yesterday when the Netherlands lost the World Cup to Spain.

It was a bummer. Sorry Peeps
But all that to say, even though we lost, i still have some pretty good genes 

More Cal Pictures

Ok, so here are some more baby pictures that i got via e-amil

Auntie Elyse

On Sunday morning, July 4th I got a call from my mamma.

She told me that my very pregnant sister, Tirzah...

was in LABOR!!!!

My brother and I drove from the Bay to Sonora Regional Medical Center where just 10 minutes before we got there, the newest member of the family was born.

Callahan Steven Woodward (Hector for short), was born at 12:51 PM weighing 7 lbs 6 oz. 

{there are 2 baby's in this picture. hehe. Cal is the one on the right}

Due to hospital policy, Tirzah could only have 3 guests in the birth center with her for her entire stay.

Those three guests {and rightfully so} being Steve (baby daddy), my mom, and my dad. 

Will and I spent a lot of time outside the birth center which was great too. We became very familiar with the art work in the hallway. Good Stuff.  Unfortunately we couldn't go inside and hold the baby, we had to view him from behind a glass window or an open door.

We did however, get to see Tirz when she came out to the waiting room later in the evening. She was doing great.

Cal is pretty much the cutest thing ever! Seriously.

I showed my gramps a picture of the kid. He said it was a good looking baby.   

He said {dad, you might appreciate this} that his kids came out looking like little aliens and he was tried to figure out a way to send them back! hah!! 

Baby Cal with Mimi (aka my mom)

i threw this one in here because i need some pics of GrandDa (aka my dad) and Steve (baby daddy) to make this blog post complete. But for some reason i dont have any pics with them and baby.

and so it begins.....a new life, a new chapter