how freaking cool.

I grew up wanting to be just like this woman and to see her take her current path, I'm wowed.
when I was a tween, there was no one cooler than DJ Tanner.....

It's not Wednesday so I guess I have to use words.....

Today, I'll share a recipe.... for one grinning husband....


start with some yummy peppers, onions, garlic and spices





















then tomatoes...crushed and diced... (and of course more seasonings....chili must have KICK)




















three kinds of beans.....



YUP! Veggie Chili!





Simmer it for what can seem like an eternity when the house smells this delicious...
don't forget to make cornbread....




















and voila! one grinning husband!

This is Priceless.

Happy Christmas Season Y'all!!
Ok this cracked me up and blogger is having kittens about me embedding it...so I'm sorry....but go check it out

Marriage....

So...I was talking with my other favorite newlywed....and we were reveling in the amazement of marriage. We've both been friends with our spouses for quite some time and before our weddings would have told you we knew them very well...
amazing how much more you learn even in a few days...weeks...months of marriage. (you married people are all nodding, aren't you?)

Anyway, yes I'm stating the obvious for some...but for others...wow...it's just incredible...the overwhelming blessing....the FULL understanding of two becoming one....the way we miss each other during the day even though we've kissed goodbye that morning and come home to each other every night...despite the fact that before we were married it was rare to see each other during the week....we had to wait agonizingly for the weekend to get here.....you'd think that we'd never miss each other.....but the two became one....and when we're apart....for work or play....it's amazing the way you sense and feel it....there are reasons that marriage is such a sacred bond, and once God has joined two hearts no one should even try to set asunder....two lives knit together for life....

Sounds daunting to some...life...one person....that's it...
and yet....those of us whom God has already blessed with marriage thank Him for it....

The way that no matter how long, hard or insane my day was....coming through the front door to his embrace and kiss...soothes it all away...the way that doing dishes stops being a chore when we do them together....

I guess what my wordiness is trying to say is....Thank you God for the blessing of marriage, for seeing to every little detail....for loving us enough to share this with us....

I've mentioned it before....
it's pretty cool how God works....he designed our relationship with him to be like a marriage. I always had an ok grasp on it....daily communication, intimate through worship, hearing His heart....but never was prepared for the eye opener of being married and realizing a whole new dimension to God and His love for us....

Now that Thanksgiving is officially over...

It is actually time for this....

May you and yours have a blessed Christmas Season.
Love,
Bug and Eye

oh yeah...

it's the "the wedding is over, I don't need long hair for an updo anymore boy do I feel better 'do"

and yes....the Bug likes it..... *phew*

whoops....

Yes, I'm horrible. I've been neglecting our blog.
What have we been up to? Cleaning, settling into our nest, searching for the directions to put our desk together so we can set up our home computer, download pictures from our digital camera and have more interesting posts to share....

I am having a good giggle this morning.....when I moved to my current location my mother's largest worry was the snow....she's got a few inches of it this morning....while I drove to work on bare roads....nothing at our place....kinda funny if you think about it.

anywho....yes, it's short and less than exciting...but it proves we're still alive.

We're enjoying married life to the fullest and still grin and glow when someone calls me Mrs. or asks about the husband or wife :-)

tis good stuff!

2 down....

So N brother got married on Saturday! It was awesome. They got married in a hayfield and then we had a pig roast...
it was a little chilly, but we were all warmed by the love in N&B's eyes.
here's a sampling of pics....

Blessings....

When we booked our honeymoon, we were pretty sure we would be saying goodbye to Grandpa L....that's a big part of the reason we went to that location....before we went in, Bug prayed....he thanked God for the opportunity to come to see Grandpa...for allowing us at least one more visit...he prayed for my strength as he knew it would be hard for me....and it was...but I kissed my Grandpa, I told him I love him and I said goodbye.

Grandpa looked pretty good, his nurse said his quality was good and didn't agree with me that it wouldn't be long....that was six weeks ago.
Grandpa went to be with the Lord in his sleep yesterday.
I'm almost afraid to react....I feel like if I start crying now, I won't stop....been a long few weeks...
Our pastor is convinced Satan is trying to attack a young marriage....since we got married, one or both of us has been sick....(I'm fighting off a nasty cold now...) a co worker passed away, and now Grandpa has gone home....daily challenges seem to be more challenging when you're run down....and this is where I try to make myself remember that His strength IS perfect when my strength is gone, and He will carry me when I feel like I can't carry on...
I am blessed though...I have a wonderful husband carrying me to Jesus when my feet can't quite make the journey....he is amazing and I daily thank God for him.

Speaking of husbandly things.....N brother is getting married on Saturday - I am so excited for him...

talk about a roller coaster year emotionally!!

So.....

How is married life, you ask....

It is wonderful!! I get to come home to him every night, wake up with him every day...we get to make meals for each other and its funny....even the chores aren't as annoying when we do them as a team :-)

Methinks I was made for this wife stuff!

and more pictures!!

This is a link to the pics Brooke took...she's continuing to add more so feel free to check back :-)
She did such an amazing job...the pictures are beautiful and I was so comfortable with her in the bride room :-)
So here's that link

a few pics by our photographer....

some pics :-)

These are the one's Bug's SIL took....and these are the ones Pauley took...(thank you both!!)
We should have the ones from Brooke soon
love y'all
~The newlyweds

know what??? know what???

we are now Mr. and Mrs. Bug!!!!!!!!
off to finish enjoying the honeymoon......

whoa!

We're in the single digits and for once I'm not talking about the weather!!!!

FAQ's

With the wedding quickly approaching, there are a handful of questions we are asked nearly daily....so here they are :-D

Q. How many days left?
A. Today is July 31, which means 16 days to go!

Q. Are you nervous?
A. No, excited....little details are making me crazy but that was a short drive :-D

Q. Is Bug nervous?
A. Nope...his buddy asked if he's getting cold feet and he gets a huge grin on his face and says "nope. not even a little."

Q. How goes the moving in of the Bug's belongings?
A. Good - he calls it his invasion.....he's been bringing a few boxes over every week....what's great is that he lives with his parents so he doesn't have a lot of furniture or stuff for us to figure out where to put.

Q. Where's the apartment pictures you promised?
A. Yeah.....about those.....my phone sucks and we got a digital camera for our bridal shower....so I'm gonna take new pics and figure out how to upload them to my flash drive and then I'll just create a massive slide show of apartment pics.

Q. How was the shower?
A. Great!!! Check out pics here

Q. Are you all set for the wedding?
A. Pretty much....we still have to get a cake cutter and turn in our headcounts - we just made it in on budget, praise God!! Although, we are very sad that we can't have everyone we love there and promise to be quick about the pictures.

Q. Yeah, about the pics.....tell me when I can see them?
A. Brooke is taking digital pics, so probably pretty much right after the honeymoon....I think K is going to take digital shots too and I'm gonna hand our digital camera to a couple of trusted folks so we can have at least a few wedding shots to show the Uncle and Grandpa that can't make it to the wedding.

Q. Where's the honeymoon?
A. I could tell you but then..... *gryn* We're going to the Adirondacks


I think that about covers it :-)
We're doing great, we're exhausted and as much as we are looking forward to the wedding, we are really ready to get through it and get to the marriage. Please keep us in prayer for sanity, peace and focus and our families for safe travel and also, if you could pray for great weather, we'd appreciate it.

Thanks for stopping by....have a wonderful day!

*ahem*

ONE MORE MONTH!!!!


YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I had a craving....

....and one simply does not turn on an oven in a kitchen without a/c when it is 80º outside.....

so...

I made summer's favorite cookie....




















And be quite proud....I only ate one last night. :-)

Happy.....OTHER.....Anniversary, Bug!

Two years ago today, we walked to breakfast....we took a funny picture and walked home...I had no idea what you had planned.....it didn't occur to me to think anything of you sitting on the coffee table when you called me to the living room....and when you showed me the picture of my ring I thought "oh wow, this has to be it, here it comes...." and then you pulled the ring out of your pocket and dropped to your knee.....


















and in 39 days, I will walk down that aisle toward you and promise before our friends, family and God the things I have promised to you...to love you, honor and cherish you and to be a Proverbs 31 wife.

I love you so much honey, and I can't wait to marry you and have a wonderful life together as we journey on...

good weekend.

I got to see my momma!

and we went shopping....in the pouring rain.....which produced many laughs...

AND I hugged HER!! (and now I know the secret and feel all special like)

was a nice relaxing weekend....and then Monday came...ugh...

Remember this one?

o/' This is the day, this is the day!
That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made!
This is the day that the Lord has made!
I will rejoice and be glad in it!
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made! o/'

hmmmmm

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up with the time comes.
Matthew 6:34 MSG

Time's Fun When You're Having Flies!

Wow. June 26 already? Where did the time go? Although, given what's happening in 7 weeks....I'm kinda glad it's flying!
Our church is doing a free concert this weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it....and hoping that my saxophone is ready so I can play at the concert....although given the loverly brace on my wrist, it would be nice to get it a few days ahead of time so I can practice playing with the brace....

oh wow!!

so.....if you've been watching the clock...we're under two months! We picked up our wedding bands on Saturday and they are perfect...lol, Bug wondered if we could just start wearing them now....I must confess I am not opposed to that idea :-D
I have to say, as excited as I am for the wedding, I'm very much ready for it to get here and go so we can get on with the marriage!!

it's FRIDAY!

Which means I survived another week! and I found the floor in the spare room which is becoming the closet/office. I also found out that there is actually a floor in the hall between the bedroom, bathroom and office/closet.
interesting.

Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. Psalm 55:22

Amazing Savior, Wonderful Lord.

I needed tissues for this.

Good morning!

Nope...no pics today....but how about some praise to lift your countenance instead?
Thought you'd like that :-)
This Psalm is also a praise song and one on my heart this morning...so here I share!
Psalm 8
For the director of music. According to gittith [a].


A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [b]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Isn't it amazing how much God cares? As I was sitting on my couch this morning, enjoying my quiet time with a cup of coffee and my Bible, I looked around at the new place and was filled with joy, gratefulness and a sense of awe - amazed by all the ways God has blessed me and us....yes...there are many things in my life right now that are stressing me to the point of naming chocolate my sole source of "nutrition." However - there is that "BUT, God...." see....we all thinking of that "BUT GOD!!!!!!" and forget there's a big comma there....But, pause, breathe, calm down....God IS and WAS and isn't done taking care of me yet...so here's where it comes to "Ok Eye, carefully put down the chocolate, breathe, eat some vegetables and remember there's a much bigger pictures going on here and I'm not about to drop you."

My new favorite worship song....

I hope it ministers to you as much as it did to me...

It's Official!!

The apartment is now a home.
No...I didn't finish unpacking....
"then how is it home?"
simple:




mmm....home......

OOH!

Check this out!
I love learning other uses for stuff I tend to keep around anyway....
so the weekend was good...unpacked a few more bags...assembled the dining room table...starting to look a lot more like a home....we (ok, Bug) put in the new showerhead...now we just need to go lawnsaling or thrift store shopping and find a cabinet for the dining room so we can put away the rest of the kitchen gadgets...then it is a matter of putting the pictures on the wall, deciding which decorative items get put out and which go to the attic...and THEN I'll take pics and post them ;-)

The Stuff

Ok...so these are admittedly not quite as "AWW!! YAY!" as her new pics but seriously, what is as aww yay as a new bundle of joy??
anyway....these were taking by the wonderful woman who is our wedding photographer, Brooke

Slowly getting more settled...found the kitchen floor, which was wonderful...made my first "real" meal....and forgot to take pics (lemon pepper fish, garlic and olive oil with pasta and a salad)....we hung out in our new place for the first time on Sunday so that was awesome.

This morning I did something that I'm a bit ashamed to admit has been a while since I've done...I sat and read my Bible before I left for work....got up a bit earlier...showered up and packed my lunch....and sat and soaked in God's goodness...and you know what? I ended up leaving the house full of peace and in a great mood. (yes, shocker....) I've started reading a women of faith series devotional called Receiving God's Goodness it's all about how we think we deserve to stay in chains and how we can't seem to grasp that grace really did cover us and it's not a just this once type of thing...
and then of course, being Satan....he attacked what I had just learned....brought up sins long forgiven and I started to feel horrible...but then....God reminded me...forgiveness is forever. And then it hit me - we cannot be saved by deeds....we can also not be taken from God by deeds. Just because I screwed up doesn't mean that's it, you're toast, head on back to your shackles.....
Our Pastor was talking about the unpardonable sin on Sunday....he said that a lot of people worry that they've committed it. Pastor said "If you're here, and you're concerned about it - you didn't do it." That's the big thing - if you actually care about what you did - then that deed isn't about to take you to a place where God's grace cannot reach you. You just have to crawl back into his arms...tell Him about it...be sorry and mean it and take those actions to turn away from whatever seeks to take you from him.
and then....of course....a song started playing in my head....
I posted about it once before...(listen here)
but here's the chorus...

My chains are gone I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace

and then...of course....my VOD solidified what I knew and what God has been pounding into me all day....Satan can't have the victory, he can't steal the seeds that God has planted because
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 NIV

God's cool.

Drink it in...

It never ceases to amaze me how God blesses me with His word...when I'm up, down, overwhelmed or even blah....
Today I'm calm....tired...sad...excited....a little anxious and yet....there is peace to be found in His words....

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace Psalm 29:11

The apartment is looking less like a storage area and more like a home...a friend came and helped last night by washing the mountain of dishes I own....and we had a good chuckle about what doesn't match....and how little room there is for the coffee mugs (I'm sure she is laughing right about now as she's seen my mug cupboard before) ok...so I like coffee...and many cups to put said coffee in....I was missing my dishwasher last night....but alas....I shall survive.....

yes....I will post pictures...but first, we find the floors and put the furniture where it goes.....

Where do I even start?

With a song I suppose...
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King, His love endures for ever
For He is good, He is above all things....

A lot has happened over the last week. Last Wednesday I got a call from Bug - (quick backstory his aunt (age 94) has been living with them for the past 4-4.5 years, wonderful sweet lady and more like a grandmother than an aunt)
Anyway - this aunt was on her way to the hospital, they feared she had another stroke...later that day Bug calls - she had a massive stroke. My heart hit the floor. Later we were told that she would be moved into hospice....Thursday night I went to the hospital, kissed her and told her I love her and said goodbye....

Meanwhile...we are planning a move from Cville to Ktown.....and I'm being, well, me and stressing about it because I do not want to take Bug away from his family while all of this is going on....Bug says we should go anyway....so Friday after work, we head for Cville, stop for some food and head to the house....a few minutes later, Bug checks in with his sister...I'm lighting the furnace and hear his side of the conversation and him hang up. Then he said the words. "She died." Our hearts immediately broke. I can't even begin to tell you how special a lady this woman was and is. I am happy for her because she is no longer in pain and is dancing with angels and walking with Jesus whom she's loved for so long....but I ache for us....

I expected we'd pack the car back up and head to BCityarea.....but Bug said we'd stay....so we packed up the house for a few hours...slept very little and began the move from a very hot place the next day around 7....but first we had to go get a new battery for my car. (left the lights on a few weeks ago and totally killed it..nice AAA guy told me to replace it soon....so of COURSE the light would come on while we have a million things to do!)

Well....we take care of that...head to the "booger fling" to grab some promised breakfast....of course they screwed up the order...

Go to get the UHaul....that was an adventure....
head back home to start packing it up.....

We had the usuals....."where does this go?" "ummmm in a box" (I seriously had no capacity to even think of what should go where...so I said box it all, I'll sort it later....which hasn't necessarily been a bad thing on the Ktown end.....)
We had the "oh cool I didn't know you had this...." "oh wow, I forgot about that" "ew, what is that" and a couple of broken dishes - but I'm told I handled it all well (which is amazing considering that I'm me and we were grieving!)

So we got it all packed up and then the hard part....baby girl says goodbye to daddy. (and those that asked "were there tears?" just remember who typed this post....)
Daddy hugged me and said "Big move little one." I lost it. He said "it was ok before because you were always coming back" It's all official now...I've changed my address and no longer "live" 10 minutes from my daddy and what a feeling....suffice it to say it was an emotional drive to my new home.
I took one last walk through my first home, thanked God for it, prayed that it would be a place of refuge and blessing for my sister and locked up one last time....
Thankfully the drive back was uneventful....we packed up what we could fit in the truck from my TTown room....and headed to the apartment....did I mention it is an upper?
The couch and bed ended up going up over the balcony....the stove came a couple days later....that was an adventure....

Saturday we finished everything around 9ish and then went to break bread...well pizza with some of the wonderful friends that helped us move....by the time I got back home, I was so tired I didn't bother looking for sheets...I found a pillow and a blanket and curled up on my mattress....it seems like I barely closed my eyes and the alarm was telling me it was time to get up for church.....so I brewed some water in the coffee maker to wash up with....took the plunge and washed my hair in cold water....only to discover as I blow dried it that I had not gotten all of the soap out...so I decided it would be a good day to wear my hair up....and finished getting ready....off to church....a quick bite to eat and then we went to Aunt's wake.....it was every bit as hard as you would expect it to be....my throat still hurts from trying to hold back sobs. Between viewings, we spent some time at one of the Seneca relative's home, a little to eat, some family time...and back to the funeral home (side note, this funeral home did an absolutely amazing job. The decor made me feel like I was grieving in my mother's living room....the funeral director stayed in the wings, providing what was needed but other than that, letting the family deal....it was a great comfort.)

Got home somewhere around 10ish....off to bed....and then up for the funeral on Monday. I'm not going to lie, the tears started when I opened my eyes. I got up and brewed coffee and prayed for peace....sat out on the back balcony and drank in the sunshine and God's love and then began to get ready to pay my last respects.....it was a lovely service (Have you ever heard a Seneca hymn sung? Beautiful does not even begin to describe it).

They sang "amazing grace, my chains are gone" (which if you've never heard, you need to look it up on God Tube)....

I took an exhausted Bug home after the post-funeral dinner and headed home....my wonderful friend M came over with cheeseburgers and we sat on the balcony with our feet up and just talked.....amazing how much that helps....

I guess I'll tell you more about the new place and put up some pics once I get more unpacked...

Successful Weekend!

So...
I left work at noon on Friday...drove to Cuba and cleaned house...ya know, all those things that look clean, but you use the disinfecting wipes on anyway to make it smell all nice and fresh...then I went and hung with my H sister...and got new hair:

















Then I went home....waited for the Bug to get there, ate some yummy takeout and fell asleep...woke up and got ready to meet with our photographer.....met with her and had her take some practice pics.....went for some breakfast and then met up with the realtor for the open house....and then instead of our original plan of hiking....since it POURED...we went to see my momma....then we went shopping for the last few things for Dad's retirement party....so I started with a little parboiled chicken...and prayed I had enough :-D
















Dad and brothers arrived....Dad got comfy....
















And N went to work at the grill....
















And what party is complete without cake??

Smile on a Thursday....

So...got a call yesterday....the woman that looked at my house loved it...so we see what happens next! Open house on Saturday....and you know what? I'm actually not all that anxious. Because either this woman buys my house or my sister moves in. Either way, I'm blessed.

As I was maneuvering through our parking ramp this morning Todd Agnew's Grace Like Rain was playing....
Bug led worship this past Sunday morning, and that was one of the songs he chose....and no matter how many times I hear it...it always gets me...and I want to close my eyes, throw my hands toward Heaven and get lost in praise....granted, I can't so much do that while driving...but it never ceases to astound me what a peace comes over me during worship....no wonder we are told to rejoice ALWAYS....God's desire for us is good things, peace, comfort, love and joy - and we find those things in His presence...and how do we enter in? Worship.

So I leave you today with my VOD (Nope, not video on demand....verse of the day)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 MSG

Interesting.....
I hear a lot of government bashing....I hear some government praising....but how much praying is going on? If we spent equal time praying for our government as complaining about it....I wonder how huge the difference would be...
hmm.
Food for thought, I s'pose.

another day.....

so it's Wednesday! the week is half over! and I am taking a half day on Friday to go home to CVill and get ready for the open house on Saturday and dad's retirement party on Sunday....going to be a busy weekend!! We are also hoping to start packing....t-10 days until my move!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about that - what a huge relief!
not too much else going on today.....

Monday.....

It's Monday.
The weekend was pretty good...saw the fam for my cousin's grad party....got to see the newest little family member...she is SO cute!!!
celebrated being under 100 days to the wedding....drove home....tried to sleep....usual stuff.

House is being shown today......

100 Days!!!!

Did you happen to notice the countdown clock? 100 days to go!!
Things are falling into place quite nicely - T has our rings cast and just needs to put in the stones....we're going next weekend to hang with our photographer and then go check out the honeymoon site (we're going camping!)....then just minor things like figuring out the rehearsal dinner, making the invitations and mailing them...then hanging with Nana to make the bouquets.....it's gonna be great!

It's May!

and it was 33º this morning. How messed up is that???

But spring is here...and summer is coming! So that's good.
Bug and I went to dinner last night and figured out more little details to getting me moved into our little nest and wedding stuff....we think we've decided on a honeymoon and that was the last "how do we want to work..." thing on our list!!

It's been a long week, but today I find myself feeling very calm...which is wonderful.

I leave you with today's verse - which again - fits perfectly...Imagine that - God sent me a perfect verse!

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26 NIV

halfway through.....

The weeks are long these days....
but I know I will get through...one foot in front of the other.....
and then I open my calendar to today's verse and...

Now unto Him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his presence, fresh and celebrating - to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, to the end of time. Jude 1:24-25 MSG

I borrow lyrics once again...."Truly amazing...is our God."

Rejoice with Me!

The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like the hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19 NASB

Anyone feel like counting blessings?
If you've been watching the countdown clock...the number's getting small....(YAY!) and if you've been reading the posts you know that the writer has been getting anxious and trying hard to pray and to trust...
Amazing what happens when God breaks through. I read an incredible book my momma loaned me.....and it's very interesting what happens when you get out of your own way...get out of God's way and into His will....He doesn't want me to lose sleep and to ache every day from the stress and tension....He wants me to do what I can - to go to work, to do my job to the best of my ability, to trust Him and to pray for my needs....
well.....
The wedding is planned. We're talking about a few options for a honeymoon.
oh yeah....did I mention we found a place to live? With Christian neighbors and landlords!
I move in June 1 and the Bug will move in after the wedding....it's kind of perfect....it's above the apartment where our Bible study is hosted and owned by the man who runs our Bible study....and at least one more family on our street goes to our church :-)

"so whatcha gonna do about the CVill place?" Well...I have always prayed for that house to be a blessing....My sis is gonna live there for a while :-)

We have an open house coming up on May 17....pray that God's will be done and I have the good sense to accept whatever that may be :-D

So....in the midst of all of this, I am reminded of a conversation the Bug and I had earlier this week...or maybe it was last week....but still.....
I had come to the astonishing (ok....not so astonishing...but still) revelation that prayer can't just be whining and that we have to take time to thank God for the heaps of blessings He has already poured out....and that is when that wonderful man I am marrying reminded me that yes, we are told to present our requests to God....but WITH THANKSGIVING. That prayer MUST include praise....duh Eye.... :-)

I thought about that a lot on Sunday while I got lost in the praise....I just didn't want to stop...and as I signed and the tears flowed down my face at the wonder of the intimacy with God that worship is....I realized that none of my concerns really matter....in the long run...I've got God - what more do I need?

Yes, the house and wonderful husbandtobe is great, BUT I have to make sure they are in proper order....
hmm....food for thought....

May your day be blessed.

Who's hungry?

Start with lovely olive oil infused with a touch of garlic, rosemary, sage, sea salt and pepper....toss in some carrots, wax beans and green beans....
















mix with ww linguine and hand over to the fiance!

I found it needed a little lemon pepper but the Bug liked it just fine without it :-)
Have a great day

I think this is one even she will be proud of ;-)

Four Months!

Yesterday was four months until the wedding....now we deal with the "little thing" like deciding what to put on the plates at the reception.......and making sure the guys get measured.....and ya know that annoying little having t pay for it part :-)

But you know what? I am bouncing off the walls excited. Bet you didn't see that coming right? ;-)

It's only Tuesday?

so someone explain why all these weeks are so long?? I woke up convinced it was at least Wednesday...hoping for Thursday and dreaming of Friday :-)

We're going home this weekend - I am fighting the urge to make all sorts of plans - we desperately need a rest....we hope to visit our buddy's new pizza shop...but other than that....well...maybe a stack of movies and some bread and soup (gotta love crockpots and breadmakers....)

I'm feeling sort of quiet today which I'm sure amazes most....so I will end with my verse of the day....savor it.

I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26 NIV
Thank you, Lord! I receive that!!

It's wet out.

yep. coming down in drizzles then in buckets....but it's a soaking rain....drink up ground and bring me back some pretty flowers!

I'm so glad to see this week come to a close...it's been a long one...physically, mentally and even some emotionally.

Today I'm kind of in agony....rain reminds my knee of all the times I mangled it in my years of soccer and stubbornness....so I'm not moving overly well today....my body must be mad at me because the scar tissue in my abdomen is pulling and throbbing and I've even got some acidic pain from my non-gallbladder.

Sheesh. what a depressing post.
let's instead move on to my verse of the day

So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth. Hosea 6:3 NASB

Well. that certainly fits this day! I love how God does that.

Can I get an "amen?"

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Psalm 34:8-9 MSG

And in the vein of worship....my latest favorite worship song....
I hope it blesses you as much as it has me....I am told that you can hear this song at Leadworship.com

Hosanna (Paul Baloche)

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
[Chorus:]Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
[Chorus:]Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
[Chorus:]

Wednesday! Finally!!

wow....it has been a long week hasn't it?
Tonight I'm getting my hair trimmed up and then meeting Bug for some dinner and then exchanging the movie I've been trying to remember to exchange for a week......hmmm maybe I should pick up some fish oil too....
It's finally actually really spring here! Yesterday, when I walked to my car it was 69º!!! yay!

We have a birthday party for his niece P Saturday....and then next weekend it's off to C Village....we need to head to B Village and try out our buddy's new pizza shop (Mrs. G - did you hear about that one? It's the guy from the pizza place in your town....he's branched off!) and then a relaxing weekend at home...we hope!

prayer....and yay....and please oh Lord grant me patience!

House was shown on Sunday.....I'm told they loved it but are still shopping and will let us know....but that it's like number 2 on their list......pray.....
I think it's no secret that I would love the Lord to lift the burden of this mortgage - especially if He would do it BEFORE the wedding!!! I'm trying so hard to be patient and to wait on his timing and not be anxious...but let's face facts...I'm not doing so well with it....
And then I come to work and flip to today on my verse-a-day calendar....and once again smile at the provision of hope...

Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! Romans 15:13 MSG

hope you're having a delightful day with the sunshine!

Successful Weekend

So Mom and K made it up safely and we had a great time....we met at the church so they could see where we are getting married....our worship team was practicing so they got to meet a few people and hear our team so that was cool...then we took a spin past the reception hall and then it was off to T Town to see where I'm renting and meet the landlady - who was overjoyed to meet my momma so that was cool.
After that we headed off to Big Bridal Chain for K to try on her dress. She loves it - side note....she swam in the size four...it was at this point I decided she seriously needed a cheeseburger.... so we ordered her dress and headed off to Guitar place to get Bug some strings and then to lunch....where K did actually order the cheeseburger - oh to have a 15 year old metabolism again!!! Then we adventured to a nearby mall where K fell in love with the many stores....we looked for a dress for mom but didn't find much...so I guess that means we have to go shopping again...oh darn right? ;-)

After our shopping spree, I took the gals back to the church to pick up Mom's car and then head to Bug's where Mom and K met my future in-laws, which went very well.

I introduced my mom to his dad saying "dad, this is mom" only to have Bug's mom come in and say "no, that's me!" with a big smile as she hugged my mother.

I have to say I am tickled pink at the way things are coming together for the wedding!!!!

It's FRIDAY!!!

Yesterday one of the attorneys said "it IS Friday right?"
There's nothing worse than thinking it's Friday only to learn there are still work days ahead of you...but today really is Friday and even though it's rainy....I think it will be a good day.
After work I'm going to go pick up Bug and take him for a ride in my new car and then exchange a movie (we went all thrifty and bought it used only to have it skip and freeze....so back to the store to make them give us one that works), and then probably some dinner and home I go to make sure my rooms are spotless as my mom is coming to visit tomorrow. (We never outgrow that do we? I mean, I'm a generally neat person (if you don't count the laundry) and yet...I'm going to scramble to make sure everything is just right and that the room smells of nice cleansers....strange.....

If a picture is worth a thousand words...

....then enjoy this short story about a very happy woman....

Don't mind the frost.....winter is still working on that clue.....

Her name is Makaio - which means "Gift of God"

And I'm even smiling this big before a cup of coffee!!!!

Busy Day....

Today is going to be a busy one...meeting during lunch, followed by a training, followed by the afternoon, followed by going to the dealer, returning the rental and picking up my new (well, new to me) car and then heading off to a dinner meeting before pouring myself into bed sometime later tonight...sound fun?
Maybe I should get some more coffee.....

Talked to my mom for a long time last night.....it's getting to that point in the wedding planning where we need fittings and hotels and my grin just keeps getting bigger :-)

Excited on a Monday

I should get my new car today! Pray all goes well!!
It's gonna be in the 50's weatherwise today
and my Momma and K sister are coming to visit Saturday to do dress fittings and such!! Color me excited! This has to be a good week - it just has to!

Seriously?

Someone needs to get old man winter a calendar.

pensive on a thursday.....

did you check out our countdown clock?
It's amazing how quickly it's coming up....and I keep getting more and more excited....
the wedding is pretty much planned and now we wait for God to rain down money...but really....as long as there's him, two rings and someone who can legally pronounce us man and wife....the rest doesn't even matter.
At the risk of appearing like a bowl of oatmeal....
I never imagined it was possible to love someone this much....to be able to put another human so far above myself and not feel like I was subservient....to WANT to cook for him and meet his needs and never have it occur to me to feel like I'm beneath him....for "submit" to be a welcome word....it's amazing how just the sound of his voice can soothe a hectic day....how his arms around me make me feel like there is nothing that can ever hurt me....
Interesting huh? as little girls, daddy can do anything - when daddy gets home, the house becomes safe, the monsters, boogie men and other such nastiness all goes away....and we get a little older and he promises to injure the boy that makes us cry....and then we get a little older and daddy starts to pass the torch to the husband figure...no wonder women tend to look for men like their father.
I tell ya, my daddy has always been my hero....I can remember, I was around 17 or 18....and had a BAD reaction to an antibiotic and was convinced I was going to die alone on the floor...my dad came home and held me and got some honey in me and looked up the medication and those simple words "I've got you pumpkin" and I no longer thought I'd die.....
...and then I can remember lying in a hospital bed with tubes in my arm and monitors beeping and doctors rushing around trying to slow my heart down and I looked up and there was my Bug....and I knew it would be OK....

Why? because these are good men...which goes beyond the whole hero thing....they are men of God and they pray and they take their roles as Godly men very seriously.....and that right there is worth more than any gift, any medal any anything.

hmmm

19º yesterday morning. 39º today....maybe spring is getting the hint that it should get here....

I'm one sore woman today. I've discovered muscles I didn't know I have...and I apparently use all of them when kickboxing....
But it will be worth it when I don't huff and puff up a few flights of stairs and when I can run around with my nieces this summer and not have a coronary :-)

rise and.....shine?

nope.

there is far too much blood in my caffeine stream for that......



However, three or four cups of coffee might just do the trick.

...........................................................better make it four....


I'm freezing today....my dear friend L posed an interesting question in her blog this morning....doesn't old man winter know he's not welcome? and if it'd old man winter...are we waiting for young girl spring?

Speaking of young girl....this angel is my cousin's new blessing....isn't she beautiful????

She made her appearance last week...and though she was about a month early, she is healthy and happy and perfect and mommy and daddy are tickled pink :-) I can't wait to get down to PA to hold her!!!

Can you believe March is almost gone? It seems like just yesterday I was going to sleep at 9:00 on New Year's Eve.....

The EWLW Challenge is going pretty well, although yesterday I only got in 4.5 cups of fruits and veggies.....today I need to remember to run to my car during lunch and grab another bottle of juice as I'm finishing the last of this one for breakfast....which means more steps!

I discovered this morning that my 10 minute solution kickboxing workout is 998 steps :-) Now if I just combine all 5 workouts and do a full workout, I'll be off to a great start....but baby steps here people....

My goal? I'd like to lose at least 1 if not 2 inches from my waist by the wedding....so it's mainly a tone up thing for me.....although I could stand to drop some poundage...I did put a little of what I lost back on (lost 25-30 after the gall bladder came out....who knew those were so heavy? (ha ha) but anyway....)

Good Weekend

Friday....we hung out...it was great! We haven't hung out on a Friday in forever...granted we ran errands and such....but it wasn't a sleepy meet somewhere in the middle and try not to fall asleep during dinner and then go home!!

Saturday we met for lunch and then a little shopping and then birthday dinner at that awesome restaurant...which was perfect.....I felt like a celebrity :-)

Easter Sunday was interesting...for the first time in 27 years I did not attend a family function. Our plan was to grab some pizza and look at tuxedos...we did not count on the mall being closed....so we ate at Red Robin (YUM!) and headed back to my place where we attempted to watch The Longest Yard....which is going back to the video store at our earliest convenience for one that does not skip and stall.

So instead we watched some Sports Night and then he went home, I reheated my fillet Mignon from the night before...inhaled it and worked out...then fell asleep...fascinating yes?

Spring?

It's supposed to be the first day of spring. I drove home through snow last night....strange.
It's not frigid today....but it's not all promising of warmth and I don't really see any twitterpated birds flying around....
However....the promise on my calendar this morning made me smile...those that email with me may recognize this as my signature....
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I love that scripture...and what a wonderful reminder - especially this time of year.

Saturday I went to bed around 10 and never really fell asleep...around 3:00 a.m. the dam broke and the sobs racked my body....which woke Bug. He held me until I stopped crying about an hour later....and then I got up and painted the kitchen...went back to bed sometime around 6...I think I slept for an hour and a half....woke again....dozed off...up at 9....baked pumpkin bread and muffins and invited the J brother over (mom was already scheduled to come). Cried some more remembering how much S loved pumpkin bread...cleaned my kitchen...cried some more...let J brother in, woke Bug....fed the menfolk and watched "the Burbs" (very strange movie)....talked to a good friend who was sweet enough to put palms on S's grave....cried....went back to strange movie....finished it....J went home....tried to rest....Bug made lunch, mom K and K's best friend came....ate lunch and visited with mom...cried...packed up and drove back to the city. By this point, my body hurt so much from the work and the crying I could barely turn my head....took some lovely theraflu and put myself to bed at 6:00 p.m.
Amazing. six years later and that day still rocks me to my core. I miss S so much. I know he's in glory and I'd never want to take him from that....I've been told I'm selfish for missing him...which always angers me because it's like hello, there is a big hole in my family now. You don't just forget about it....
I long for the day when we are all reunited.

Oh yeah...did I mention...

So......last week.....
My little brother N bought a sparkly something....dropped to a knee and asked a question :-)
I got a text at 7 a.m. Thursday saying "B decided she'd wear the ring I bought her"
OOH!!!! Color us excited! B&N are adorable together, and I gotta say, she's really terrific for him....it's great to see him so happy!!
Pic to come if they send me one (and if you two are reading this HINT HINT)

So that's why my calves hurt...

I took 10,406 steps yesterday (which translates to a little over five miles). I also consumed 7 cups of fruits and veggies!
This challenge could not have come at a more perfect time...I've been griping about wanting to get in shape and lose some weight before the wedding....and having a challenge to be accountable to (I have to log my steps and cups every day) takes the focus off how many pounds did I lose, did I exceed my points? (I'm not as disciplined as she is - I give that woman lots o' snaps!)

See....I'm focusing on getting all my cups in...which means I'm eating a lot less of the other stuff 'cause by the time I get all my cups, I'm usually not hungry anymore....and please be sure you are seated for this next part....
Yesterday....I ate grapes instead of chocolate....and DID NOT WANT THE CANDY.
See - proof that God performs miracles every day :-)

So...let's see what happens today!

Tired Tuesday...again....

So I've joined up with the Eat Well Live Well Challenge...
My goal is to take 10,000 steps and consume 5 cups (total) of fruits and veggies....
So far I'm doing ok....I was about 900 short on my steps yesterday, but I had 8 cups so that's good :-)

I put on the long white dress for my momma and sister over the weekend...and happily it fit!

detailed version to come

Got home safely Wednesday evening....book and bed....
Thursday...the troops arrive, we take inventory and shop for materials.
and lunch....
we eat.
We begin extreme makeover of house.
We get very far.
C Cousin has a beautiful baby girl, 5 pounds, 9 ounces, momma and baby are great!
The troops leave.
Friday a.m. Bug calls - in severe pain, thinks should call doc on Monday....Eye says call today...Bug calls doc...doc says come in....sends Bug for many tests....thinks he has diriticulitis (someone better at spelling than me help?)....scans were clear, on meds, see next steps.
Troops arrive again, this time Brother J comes....clean clean clean clean clean finish makeover
Troops go home.
I can barely move and yet, find myself wandering my home saying "wow."
Bubble bath.
Bed.
Saturday a.m. Bug arrives.
loves the house.
quick nap.
Trip to O town to drop off saxophone, say hello to father and see the wax versions of our wedding bands...go home....relax for a bit....H sister comes for a visit...bake banana bread....Bug takes nap.
Sister leaves, wake Bug, go to Dad's for birthday dinner....
come home, take shower, watch movie go to sleep...well...he went to sleep...
I never got there....and the rest of Sunday and the fill ins will come later when it's less likely to make me cry.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go....

but this is the last day of work for this week for me! Tonight I venture for homeville....and spend four glorious days on "vacation!"
Which means...I'll cook, clean, redecorate and then need a vacation to recover!
But I am very much looking forward to it.....Mom's got some great ideas and two of my sisters are supposed to make an appearance...H said she'd fix my hair....we're also going to play with wedding hairstyles!
So...should I talk K into actually emailing me the pics she takes...the update post could get fun!

That's a lot of snow....

We got around 1-2 feet in the City and surrounding area....which means we cancelled dinner Saturday...which bummed us both out...but not as much as not seeing each other...
By noon I was ready to climb the walls...I ventured to a local store to pick up a handful of things...slipping and sliding around....glad I didn't have to go far!

Now it's Monday and some of the piles of snow are higher than I am! (sorry, no pics...new phone in September....)

This is going to be a fun week...Today, tomorrow and Wednesday I'll pack up my desk and everything to prepare for our office move...and then Wednesday night I venture home....
Mom's got some really great and creative ideas for sprucing up the house to make it scream "BUY ME!"
Maybe I can get her to take some pics when we're done....

Well, it's Friday! and color me happy!
This has been a very long week!! My firm is moving from one building to another...so that's been an adventure. Half of my floor is moving today and the other (my half) is moving next week....so it's been adventures in packing and cleaning!
Bug took me out for a cup of coffee and some contact last night...I've been just ugh lately and not so much sleeping and it's aggravating...which doesn't so much help with the not sleeping thing....
I think it really helped seeing him....just that short time next to him at the table with his knee pressed to mine....amazing how a little contact makes a huge difference.
Tonight I think we're laying low since tomorrow will be a late night for us...yes...we're sad......9:00 is a late night.....especially with daylight savings time this weekend....did anyone else hear on FLN that they don't actually think that we're saving energy? That we may be losing out on sleep for no reason? That's kind of tragic....

Thrilled That It's Thursday?

From my brother...
GOOD FACTS TO KNOW:

1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair
2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes
4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair
5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off
and
see the dead skin and blackheads if any

6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea
7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water
8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste
9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!
10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too

11 Bee stings - meat tenderizer
12. Chigger bite - Preparation H
13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H
14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead
of
sutures at most hospitals)
15. Stinky feet - Jello !

16. Athletes feet - cornstarch
17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
18. Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the
detergent
section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink
this stuff)
19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in
Dannon
plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt
them if they eat it!
20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off
with a
coffee filter paper

21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray
22. Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep
a
can in your garage for your hubby
23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls
24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn
starch and watch them slide on
25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar !

26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the
Crisco in
the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the food
color of your choice!
27 Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container,
tie
a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak
28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda
and
cup of milk of magnesia , soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for
many
years!
29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!
30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate
toothpaste

31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb
into
the salt.
32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.
33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!
34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce
paper
softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on
food
to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets ,
soak overnight!
35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!

36. Dirty grout - Listerine
37. Stains on clothes - Colgate toothpaste
38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup
39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola , it will also remove grease
stains
from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car
batteries!
40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let
stand
for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.
41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox , or 2
Bayer
aspirin , or just use 7-up instead of water.

42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever
wondered which is the freshest, so you 'squeeze' for freshness or
softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a
week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different
color twist tie.
They are:

Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red Friday = White Saturday = Yellow.
So if today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with
the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday! Enjoy
fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping.

Don't forget Gatorade for Migraine Headaches. PowerAde won't work.
Interesting huh?


So...the weekend is in sight!
I'm excited for several reasons....sleeping past 5:45 is one of them!
The next would be that Bug is taking me to a fancy birthday dinner! We get to get all dressed up! Oooh darlin' and this place we're going to??? Magnificent!! So that's good stuff.

This morning I've got my cranky pants on and I'm desperately looking for a wardrobe change...I came in to work and flipped my calendars....
and this is what they said:

"When I nail my hypersandals in a quiet place and lean in to hear His voice and then respond accordingly, I often receive cheer and comfort." ~ Patsy Clairmont, Under His Wings
You believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you re receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV

and the other...

Psalm 104: 1-5 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

Interesting how that works, huh?

Worn out on a Wednesday.....

Today's gonna be a long one...started with an extra long drive to work due to the slush and such....have a two hour meeting today and then a dinner meeting....I should be pouring myself into bed around 10....but that feels awfully far away.
I've once again begun my quest for pictures...my sister in Florida has offered to put the pictures together for us (she works in PR so this should be awesome)....so now I need to dig through, find pics of us together, growing up...and hope I can find the ones of when we dated as teenagers.

BTW, if you're reading this and have pics of us I'd so love it if you'd email them to me :-) and if you've got interesting pics of one or the other of us that would be amusing in the dvd, feel free to send those as well....I've been told Bug had a great mullet as a preteen...tee hee....this could get to be fun!!

We're down to 5 and a half months.....in one aspect the time is flying....and in another...it just cannot get here fast enough! (Partially because it doesn't snow in August.....)

Well....off to another fun filled day.

say huh??

It was 63º yesterday.....59º when I left for work at 6:45 a.m.....
This morning....at 6:45....it was 30º.
Does anyone else see a misfire in that logic? *pout* I was all excited at the warm stuff....all the snow in the front yard melted....I didn't need to wear four layers to bed last night...it was great....and then....today.....with a winter storm warning in effect and "significant icing" possible. Man...they had better be talking about frosting!
So far it's been an OK week I guess....still rebounding from being sick....looking forward to next week...leave work at 5 on Wednesday.....head for Homeville.....and stay there for five nights and four days....*sigh* it's gonna be GREAT!!!

Monday AGAIN???

Well....we survived the weekend.
Friday....drove through the yuckiness to end up at urgent care for three hours to try to determine why Bug was doubled over in pain...my money was on gall bladder.....after xrays, two meds that didn't work and a cat scan because they thought he had a bowel obstruction....they send us home, stumped at what was causing his pain.....
we spent most of the weekend sick...which sucked....
But Sunday was good....we both felt better and had the surprise housewarming for the J brother....I have to say, the smile on his face was entirely priceless!!

So now we're back in the city and gearing up for another fun filled week....I'm hoping to hear soon when I can get my "new" car....waiting for my renewed registration to come in the mail and such....

We're supposed to go to a financial planning seminar this weekend and then we're going out to dinner for my b'day on Saturday since we don't do late nights on Mondays :-)
I'm stoked! We are going to this incredible restaurant in the City....the owner is a real sweetheart which makes it even better.

Today, I hope to survive the work day, do some laundry and clean my room....ooh...wild woman on the loose!!
The saving grace is lunch with M....that should be awesome.
what are you up to today?

TGIF!!!

Yes Friends! It's Friday!
I am thrilled.

This has been an incredibly long week...I've been attempting to not allow the drama surrounding me to infiltrate my shields and bring me down...as I have plenty of my own drama to contend with...but that is neither here nor there.

It's leap day....and I think that we should get the day off of work....but I'm afraid that's just not going to happen. I'm hoping today flies by because at 5, I'm picking up the Bug and then we're headed off to the C Home for a whirlwind weekend which hopefully gives us some time to veg....

Tonight's activities shall include some food ....probably from Charlies....and then....wait for it.....
CLEANING!!!
Hopefully the house is being shown tomorrow and I want it to smell all fresh and clean like I do nothing but stay home to polish the place...tee hee....yes, I'm pathetic......but ya know....it's better when the place smells of Mr. Clean :-D

Tomorrow Mom is picking me up bright and early and we're venturing to the baby shower...then venturing back....hopefully early enough so I can enjoy dinner and a movie with the Bug.

Sunday we're going to J brother's to see his progress!! I have SO got to get a new camera phone so I can post pics.....

Do YOU know why I'm smiling?

Well...in this pic it's because it's warm where I was...I was laying down....being taken care of my momma and K....oh yeah...and doped up on Loritab so not feeling much pain....

This has been quite the long week...I've been sick all week...this morning I woke up wondering if someone had put an ax in my face while I slept...so I got up and swallowed a couple of Excedrin and went back to bed for a bit....now I'm upright and at work and wondering how long the day is going to be....
I had hoped to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed by this point in the week....talked to C last night...all is going well....after this weekend they are taking her off the med and she can deliver any time...the baby looks good, is near five pounds and trying to "breathe" on her own :-) So that is a huge answer to prayer.

It's 15º outside...um, yuck? I keep trying to convince Bug that we live in the wrong state.....he just laughs at me......but spring IS coming, right?

So I'll take a deep breath and get through this day and know I can veg tomorrow night...and in the meantime meditate on this:

"You're all I want in heaven! You're all i want on earth! ...I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is!" Psalm 73:25, 28 MSG

I love it when they're wrong....

the weather man was wrong! we got about 4 inches...but not too bad! wahoo!
It's still bitterly cold and my sinuses are so packed my face hurts....but such is life....you'd think I'd be smart enough to stay home in bed...but I'm not....I'm....dedicated...yeah. we'll say dedicated!

Heading "home" for the weekend...my cousin C's baby shower is Saturday.....this baby is such the little miracle...C has had a few miscarriages....and has gone into premature labor a few times with the little one she is carrying now...she's due mid-April but the docs don't think she'll hold out that long....a couple more weeks and they think it will be safe for her to deliver. I am so excited :-)

Snowy Tuesday.....

The weather man says 6-14 inches of the white stuff today...ugh...I pray he's wrong!
The people that looked at my house on Saturday aren't interested....so we'll see what happens with this other guy...I'm refusing to get discouraged or sad this time....something will happen when God says it needs to....so I am attempting to stock up on some patience...too bad they don't sell that at Wal-Mart!
We're both fighting colds....ugh...Bug went back inside at work so he's adjusting to the weird schedule again....I'm still plugging away between work and babysitting....and waiting to hear about the "new" car.....
hope you're having a good day

Saturday was good....

We tasted two more flavors of wedding cake...We are ending up with a main cake and two side cakes...so the baker suggested we do three flavors....so we loved the white cake we tasted the day we ordered it....and this week tried raspberry and strawberry...ohmybob....the raspberry marble was the best cake ever!! SO! we're pretty sure we're going with that!

Then my wonderful Bug....he fixed my car again....Thursday night I was driving down one of the lovely expressway type routes and I hear something under my car.....yep. my muffler.
So I pull over and Bug comes to my rescue and we finish pulling it off and realize that the exhaust pipes we bought labor day weekend have rusted straight through to the point of unraveling. So Saturday we take it to the auto parts place...I set it on the counter and ask the man if they warranty their parts. He looked at it and asked "what is that?" So I tell him it's the exhaust pipe I bought from their store labor day weekend....we end up getting new parts and Bug gets me all squared away (yes....I am looking into replacing the car.....my wonderful mechanic is looking for something for me).

Then we head off to run a million errands.
but the part that was good...you're looking for that....

In the midst of the euphoria of eating good cake....my phone rings...it's my realtor....my house was shown that morning....she's putting a call in later to find out how it went....another person is interested....needs a ranch style house for his mother in law....maybe show the place next weekend....
wahoo!!

Update?

We ordered our wedding cake!
and next weekend we'll taste some more flavors to decide if we're going with the phenominal white cake we tasted or a flavor....wicked cool yes?

Not quite what we planned...

When we planned our weekend....it went something like this:
Depart B City around 6....get to the C Village around 7:30....make some dinner, read....sleep...Get up Saturday....visit O Town and get my ring fixed and cleaned up, make a payment on our bands...venture to A Village to pick up K and her boyfriend....venture to W Village or H Town to let teens be teens....take them home....visit dad and fix my sax....venture home...dinner...sleep....get up Sunday, clean the house and "lock down"....venture to H town to hug people....venture back to B City.....sleep.

Went more like this:
Friday...Eye worked until 6....Bug until around 7....got to C Village around 8:30-9ish....scratch penne, garlic, olive oil, three kinds of peppers, asparagus and mushrooms....instead...have macandcheese....sleep....go get ring fixed....make payment...pick up K and best friend...stop in S Village for some food and arcade games...Head to W Village....let them shop at two stores in plaza...try to bowl...but it's tournaments.....go to B Village for another bowling attempt.....tournaments again....so we take the girls back to mom's and end up making a stop at brother J's house (saw flashing hazzards by his house and being....well...me....had to make sure everything was alright ...it was. flashing lights were the tractor coming home with hay.......shush....I know.... :-P)
anyway, that ended up being cool because Bug hadn't seen J's house yet (he's building it himself!) so we hung there for a while which was cool....then to dad's to fix the sax...had a "gut busting" moment when dad was checking the sax and Dad's austrailian shepherd mix decided to sing along....
head home...order food...have a happy conversation about maybe possible potential interest in the house by the nice man that delivered the food....eat...sleep....
wake up to snow and yuck on Sunday...talk to one of the ones we wanted to hug and discover they're all sick and the weather is nastiness....and the other ones can't make it...so we decide to postpone the visit....take care of some things around the house....head back to B City....without our power steering....yeah. fun adventure.
We left and Bug says "steering is a little stiff." I tell him to kick the ice out from behind the wheels. he does and says it's a little better.....but still stiff. I tell him to pull over at the gas station and I'll check the power steering fluid...it's dry. so we add some and venture off...stopping halfway to put in more fluid....now, I know it needs fluid, but have no idea how much so, no, it didn't occur to me that it was leaking since it was dry again half way...I thought it was just funneling down to where it needed to go. yes. laugh at me. silly girl.
so anyway. we get to W. S. Town and we stop at an auto store...I get a can of stop leak and more fluid.....we put it in and head to Bug's house....steering still not playing nice. so we put in more fluid...I work the wheel to see if it's working....take the car around the block...add more...we do this a a few times...and then....on our last trip back around....I see the puddle of pink snow....yep. leaking right back out.
So of course, I handled it like a mature, responsible woman.
I cried. then I called my daddy, my mommy/stepdad and then my brother. My brother was kind enough to tell me it was going to be alright, don't cry, I'm not going to die....I can drive the car without the power steering, it's just going to be hard (yeah you should see my biceps today...strong like bull!!)...so I stop blubbering....Bug comes back out and says that his dad said the same thing as J brother...so I pull myself together and venture back out with the sweet offer from my brother to call if I get shaken up again (awwww! what a good boy!). So I kiss Bug goodbye, pray for safe travel and venture out....man alive, I will never take power steering for granted again!!
Got it to the shop yesterday....apparently the power steering fluid filter froze and cracked. yep. that was all. So the wonderful mechanic replaced it and around 8:00 last night I once again enjoyed the beauty that is power steering...
I think I've had enough adventures for this week......