Happy November

Well, October flew by. It is hard to believe it is November already. It'll be 2009 before we know it. School is getting more demanding, and we've started leading a small group with church. Brad finished the shelves in the closets in the basements, so we had an organization-fest weekend. It felt so good to purge a ton, yes a TON of stuff.

I'm really asking God what it is I'm supposed to be doing with my life. I feel like something is missing, that there's something more that what I'm doing now. And, having that realization, it's hard for me to be patient for Him to reveal exactly what it is that I need to do or what change I need to make.

But, I'm very blessed. I have a FABULOUS husband, two cute puppies, a comfortable home, and a good job. I have family and friends who love and support me. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Brad got me a piano for my birthday. I have some pictures I'll try to post.

Dug the Pudgy Pug

So Dug is officially fat. We took Ebert and Dug to the vet yesterday, and Dug has been put on a doggy diet, complete with certain target number of calories and everything. I've already picked up his diet dog food, and we're transitioning him over to the low cal stuff. He doesn't seem to mind. It's all food to him. They told us he needs to shet 4+ pounds. That's a lot for a dog. And here we thought he was actually getting smaller. Not so much.

life goes on . . .

I had a sad moment today. I was listening to our wedding CD, with all of the music from our wedding and other songs we really like, and I was really enjoying listening to Pachelbel's Canon in D. I've really been missing my piano lately, and that was one of my favorite songs to play. Anyway, all of a sudden, I remembered that Aaron, Jen Ruth, and I and someone else I can't remember at the moment had played that song as a flute quartet. I really miss Aaron. It is still hard for me to believe that she's gone.

But life goes on. That's kind of been the theme of the month. Susan, my boss, has left MVP, so things are kind of crazy for me there. There's a lot going on, and hopefully I can post more about it later. All I can say is pray for me.

Brad has been battling some pretty bad allergies lately. He's even been home from work. That lets you know how serious it is. He never stays home sick.

Mom, Dad, Leah, and Micah came up for Labor Day. We had a great time, and Leah found her wedding dress. I really want to post pictures, but I don't want to run the risk of Micah seeing them. I'll see about posting the pictures of the dresses that didn't make the cut. She will be a beautiful bride. She looked stunning in all of the dresses she tried on.

More to come later.

Back to School

We just got back from spending a great weekend with Brad's parents. I actually played a little golf--only five holes. I'm still learning. I get nervous when people are behind us. Other than golf, we spent some time by the pool and watching Michael Phelps make Olympic history.

We got new phones while we were in Conway, too. These actually have cameras that you can hook up to the computer, and I can e-mail pictures now, too, so hopefully I'll get some photos posted soon.

Brad heads back to school tomorrow. He is just thrilled, let me tell ya! He has to take two accounting classes for work. I head back in a week. It will be interesting to see how the night classes go.

I'm going to try to convince Brad to take the puppies for a walk. We all could benefit!

Working Hard

So, now that the basement's done, and I'm between classes, I don't have a good excuse for not working out. So today, I'm going to try to start back into the routine of both eating healthy and exercising. We'll see how it goes.

I'm really glad for the weekend. This week went by in a blur. I worked over 42.5 hours, which may not seem like a lot, but it's a lot for me. My work week is supposed to be 37.5 hours.

We're really starting to pray hard for God's direction and guidance again. He always comes through when you ask, usually better than what you had in mind.

Okay-I've delayed the inevitable exercise long enough. When I'm done, maybe Brad will take me for a Starbucks date. And no, I'm not above bribing myself to get on the treadmill.

My Grown-Up Life

Leah and Micah came up tonight to spend the weekend with us. It's neat to enjoy a grown-up relationship with my sister. We had dinner - make-your-own burrito bowls and apple enchiladas. I need to post that recipe. Delicious, and totally easy.

I'm looking forward to enjoying this weekend. Brad and I just had our fourth anniversary on Thursday, although we celebrated by going to his softball doubleheader. But, that's life. We bought a pool table for the basement. I really need to get some pictures posted here.

Okay--it's late, and I'm rambling off on random tangents. I'll try to post again tomorrow when I'm more coherent.

Dog Days of Summer

Ebert and Dug love to go outside and just hang out in the yard. They'd been out there a while this morning when I stepped outside to check on them. (Sometimes when we're in the basement, they forget and try to get in through the deck.) I found them in a small corner of the yard laying in mud. Yes, laying in MUD. They were covered in mud. I know it's cooler, but if they were hot, all they had to do was come inside. Brad grabbed Dug, and I coaxed Ebert close enough to get him inside and carried them to the tub. Baths for all.

I'm really enjoying a Saturday at home with Brad. Just the two of us. I'm ignoring the fact that there are dishes and laundry to be done and bathrooms to clean. I want to enjoy us.

Craziness

Okay, so I have done a really poor job about posting here over the last . . . well, I guess it's been a month now. I was a little hesitant to say anything about Brad being gone on a business trip. I don't know how traceable this kind of thing can be, and I'm sure you could say that I'm a bit paranoid.

Then, school really kicked into full gear. The only reason I have a few minutes to post something now is that I'm waiting for PowerPoint slides to print. But, I should be finished with this class on Thursday, and things should get back to normal then.

There hasn't been a whole lot of exciting stuff going on, though. Brad's parents, his brother and sister-in-law, and grandparents came up for the 4th of July. It was good to see everyone and watch fireworks from our back deck. Aside from that, it's just been work and homework, work and homework.

We babysat our neighbors' kids again. They're great, but boy do they wear us out! I chased Brant all over the basement, and we made cookies with Breanna. Brad was a champ--he put Brant to bed. It took about three hours, but he finally fell asleep. He's going to make a great dad someday. (Note: I said "someday" for those who continually ask the question "When are you guys going to have kids??)

The printer just kicked off, so it's back to the grind. At least the end is in sight.

Dandelions

I got a call from our neighbors as I was getting ready to leave work last Friday, and they needed a babysitter for a couple of hours. Brad wasn't going to be home that evening, but I decided I could handle the two of them (provided I didn't plan to get anything else done) and agreed to watch their four-year-old girl, Breanna, and twenty-two-month old boy, Brant.

While we were playing outside, Brant found a puffy dandelion. Breanna thought that was awesome and started looking around the yard for another one. Then . . . she discovered that if you blow on the puffy dandelion, it blows away. Great, I thought. Brad's going to be thrilled. Brant and Breanna combed the yard for every puffy dandelion they could find. I think they found a total of four of them. Brant, however, couldn't tell the difference between the dandelions and any other kind of flowering weed in the yard and blew on all of them. A moment to make you smile.

It's the simple pleasures in life.

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Many of you already know that I recently lost a very good friend, Aaron Reed, in a tragic car accident over this past Memorial Day. She was my age, very happily married with three very young boys. Today would have been her 26th birthday. Even as I write this, I can hardly believe it. Things like this don't happen in real life. They happen in books, in movies, in made-for-TV miniseries, but not to real people. Not to the really nice, really good people.

Aaron was one of those people who inspired you to be a better person. To be a better wife. To be a better mother. To be a better friend. To be a better Christian. She was one of the kindest, most truly good-hearted people I've ever been privileged to know. She was very thankful and grateful for her life, her husband, her kids, even in the face of adversity and challenges. And she wasn't afraid to let you know it. Her blog Fabulously Frantic provided some of the inspiration for me to start my blog. She is a reminder to be thankful for every single moment. They are precious, numbered, and fleeting.

Remember her husband, Cameron, and their three sons, Ben, Sam, and Levi, in your prayers. They need God's grace and comfort for the long road ahead.

Blessed

Sometimes I wonder why it is that I am so blessed. I really have a great husband. He works so hard to provide for us, and then he also takes care of things around the house. He's always willing to pitch in to clean the house, and he takes the initiative to load or unload the dishwasher. And really, he does most of the laundry. I know I really did well when I married Brad. He helps out around the house, takes care of the yard and the vehicles. He's incredibly handy. He finished most of our basement by himself, learning how to do all kinds of new things.

And even better than all the things he does, is who he is. He is incredibly loving and kind, patient with me and my shortcomings. He loves God first, before anything or anyone else. Then, his next priority is family. We can talk about anything, and he is always so knowledgeable. And we can be quiet together, just enjoying each other's company. He is my best friend, and I never get tired fo spending time with him. I have great respect for him. He is truly my spiritual, emotional, and intellectual match. He deeply loves me beyond reason. And I love him the same way.

I am blessed to be Brad's wife.

Sorry for all of the mushy stuff. I have a great husband, and I don't tell him enough how great he is.

Peanut Butter Pie

This has been a really busy week. After a business trip on Monday and Tuesday, we had dinner with friends from our small group on Tuesday night. I made peanut butter pie with a sour cream chocolate ganache. INCREDIBLE!!

Here's the recipe . . .

Peanut Butter Pie with Sour Cream Ganache

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 - 3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 small tub whipped topping
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 graham cracker crust

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl, blend cream cheese with a mixer. Add sugar, peanut butter, and whipped topping. Blend until very smooth. Fold into crust.

Place chocolate chips in a double boiler and stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and transfer chocolate into a medium bowl. Add sour cream and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Spread onto pie.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.


I don't think I'll make Peanut Butter Pie again without the ganache. It was like eating a very large peanut butter cup. Chocolate and peanut butter together have to be one of God's greatest creations!

Get It Started

I've been trying to get this blog started for about a week now. It seems that something is always coming up that feels like it should take priority over this. ANYWAY, I've decided to start this blog as motivation to do better about journaling and to help people keep up with us. I'm not very good at journaling on paper, so the goal is to do better with it online.

Married with two dogs (Ebert and Dug), I have a great husband of almost four years. I'm still trying to find that perfect balance between work and the rest of life, while trying to squeeze school into the picture. I've started on a masters degree, and the first day of summer classes was yesterday.

I hope this blog allows us to stay connected!