goodbye to 05

Well we are home now. It was such a good break and I really had so much fun hanging out with my friends and fam! We got there Friday and of course immediately went to Sonny's, yummmm. Saturday we spent the say relaxing, wrapping the last of the presents and shopping a little bit and then we went and got ready for the Christmas eve service. It was a good time and I always love the candlelight part! anyway, afterwards we came back home and the Guice's came over and Justin and the boys watched Christmas Vacation while us girls just hung out in the kitchen of course. That night we went to sleep and i was so excited about sneaking out and filling justins stocking! i like being sneaky! anyway, the next morning we woke up and opened presents and got our stocking stuffers. I got justin these Arnette sunglasses he likes and a cd and dvd and some jaguar stuff and he got me some cd's i really wanted and some candy.

afterwards we got ready for church and headed out. Church was...interesting...didnt really feel like church, but whatever, thats another blog entry. it was good to see a lot of old friends and friends of the family that morning. we took some pictures and then headed out to leah and dicks for christmas! it was so fun to be able to play with my little claire, she is the sweetest baby! i did however really miss asher, which is weird because i never knew him or saw him, but i feel like he should have been there and it was just weird being able to play and love on Rachaels little baby and all Leah had was a broken heart. it was neat being able to sit in his nursery with her though and just talk about stuff. She really has come through a lot and to see the way the Lord has healed her heart and continues to is just amazing to me. I love her so much.

Well the kids opened up all their presents, they really are the sweetest little kids in the world, i just love them! Afterwards we went home and took naps and then that night we basically just hung around the house and played Justins Tiger Woods, of which I beat him in! YEA! Monday we went shopping and had lunch with the Lohse's and Elizabeth! They are such great friends. Its so neat to come home and hang out with your friends, but now youre all married, it was different, but fun! anyway, we continued shopping and then that night we headed to Merry Beth's for what we thought would be a few minutes but was a couple hours longer. We played Tripoloy, which is my new favorite game, and then headed home after ward since it was getting late, and I felt not so good! the next day ash came and got me and we went wedding gown shopping. she seriously looks beautiful in everything!!!! it makes me sick, we met christi and my justin for lunch at paner and hung out. it was a good time. we found some dresses that day that she really liked and some bridesmaid dresses too, that girl really is on the ball! that night Justin and I went to Christi and Justins to hang out and have some dinner. I really do love hanging out with them. We had so much fun just talking and then of course bowling. I love watching justin when I take him places with people who are my friends because he seriously just starts talking to them like he has known them all forever, he is so easy and i love it! anyway we left the bowling alley and headed to the movies where the Croleys were waiting and we went and saw Cheaper by the Dozen 2. We took Grace to see the first one in Tallahassee last year and we told her we were gonna take her to see the second one, plus she loves Justin and so we just had to go and see them more than just at Christmas! We had so much fun with them. Those kids just love on you and i love being around them. I got to just hold little Claire during the movie and she is so sweet that I never wanna put her down. We got home and got in bed since we were waking up early the next day to leave for tally ho to see the Manny fam!

We got into Tally the next day and went to Longhorn and met Justins fam and had some lunch and opened Christmas presents. Justins parents got him some awesome Jaguar stuff and I got a really cute FSU fleece that I love! Not to the mention all the other stuff they got us and the cash that really helps out this poor couple! We really have the greatest most generous parents and are so appreciative of them. We went to the mall and to starbucks and then of course to MOMO's since Justin cant go to the hassee without hitting up momo's pizza! slices as big as your head i say! it was so great to spend the whole day with them. We came back home that night to Pcola and my brother was in town so I hung around the house with him and then we hit the hay. I was really stressed about Thursday, which I know you think is dumb, but I seriously had like 10 people that I love that I wanted to see so bad and had no idea how I was gonna do it all. Well I went said goodbye to Ash that morning and sent her off to Tampa, had lunch with Emily and then played at Target and loved on my little nephew pup Harley,
then I went to the credit union to see my sis B and also opened up IRA Roth accounts. Then we headed home and got ready to go out that night. Jo came over and saw me and then MB got there as we were about to head to Taras to go eat so then I kidnapped Jo and MB and put them in my car and took them with me. We all headed to Sidelines and had a good time with Tara and Morgan, whom are leaving for England in like 9 days and i cant believe it! Anyway, we spent the night laughing and loving on each other! I just have such a good time with those girls!
Friday morning came all of too quickly and it was time to load up and head home to Ohio. we left and stopped by the Croleys on the way out to see the puppies Grace was wanting us to see. I really do want one of those beagles, they are the cutest things! I am so lucky to have such an awesome family and it was hard to leave them all. it was so hard huggin my mom bye, and giving claire back to rachael, closing the door behind Merry Beth, all of it was so sad because I know I cant do it again for months. I was telling Justin that I dont mind living somewhere other than my home town, i just wish it was a little closer, that we lived in a place that made it more feasible to travel home when i needed to or really wanted to because a friend got married or engaged or was having a birthday party. i really am so excited about coming back for my little tori's wedding!

well this concludes our session of Everything I did Last Week. haha! have a good New years Eve!!!!!!

ill be home for christmas...

I am actually in the car right now driving to Pcola! Of course the roadtrip isn’t all fun and games because you get tired and antsy and whatnot, so I have decided to take this opportunity to update =) I have spent the week running around like a nut trying to get everything ready to come home today. Justin had another game on Monday night, which was annoying to watch, I just hate bad officiating. Tuesday night we hung out with Jenny and Kyle and gave them their Christmas present and played a game and just hung around the house. Wednesday night was Halo night at the house so it was hard to get anything done with 10 guys screaming killing spree every other second. Oh, and last night we had made plans to do fun fun stuff with the Dinclers and the Regans. Therefore, I had to work getting all packed up, working, and cleaning the house around these things. You may ask, clean the house? I just cant stand to go on a trip and come back to a disaster, which we do have a small one but its not such a big deal that I will feel overwhelmed once we return.

Well, last night was really fun. We all headed to Joe’s Crab Shack because little Haley had been craving some seafood. Our friends Korrie and Kenny met us there too. We stayed there forever it seemed and stuff ourselves and then headed out to Sawyer point to go ice skating. I was so excited and my friend Brian had never even been before so he was a little excited too to get to do it. When we got there however, it was closed, tear. So we walked around and looked at all the lights downtown and took pictures and played with a random horse that a police officer was riding. It was a good time, even though the skating did not play out. We all left and headed back home, but I was sad to leave our oh so fun friends back in Ohio. I never thought we would make such great friends but they really have made us feel like we have a home away from home now. Ohio still isn’t the greatest and of course I still miss everything and everyone back home, but its nice to finally feel connected and part of where we do live.

This morning Justin and I decided to open up presents from one another. It was fun to be able to have our first Christmas in our home by our tree. He was really cute and put sweet or funny things on my presents, like to: Beauty from: the Beast, or to My Beautiful Bride from: the guy you left everything for. It made me smile! Anyway, he also got me some good stuff and was really thoughtful about all the gifts. I just love that boy! Mostly I got clothes because that’s what I always ask for, well and a puppy, but that will come in time.

Well right now we are a little north of Birmingham and oh how I wish we were there, its been a long trip it seems. Justin got an iSight for Christmas though so he has been playing with that while I drove and now he is driving so Im trying to keep myself occupied. We’ll be there soon enough I suppose! YAY!!!!!

sniffles

I hate being sick. I seriously sneeze every 30 seconds. My nose is runny, my eyes are itchy, and my throat hates when I try to swallow. Its just not very convenient. I dont wanna get out of bed, i dont want to run my errands, and i certainly dont want to actually get ready. It really just is not very convenient to be sick.

On another note. We are heading to Pensacola on Friday and Im so excited!!! I just want to see my family and friends that I never get to see anymore. I cannot believe I have gone this long without seeing them. This past week has been a little busy trying to get everything ready to head out. Cooking all the food so it wont go bad, finish christmas shopping, taking care of all the bills, packing, its just crazy! Monday, Justin had his first basketball game! He did really well and his team won too! He scored the most points, I was so proud! haha! he is just the cutest little baller! We spent the rest of the week working and whatnot and then the weekend was pretty relaxing. We hugn out at the Regans all night Friday and played madden and went to ihop and stayed up way to late on Saturday. Needless to say since we stayed up way to late, we ended up missing the first service at church and rushing to the second. Afterwards we came home and watched the jagurs until Brian and Haley got home and then justin went to watch the game in HD since he loves Brians TV and me and Haley went and worked out. now let me tell you about our work out! i would be so skinny if i had a cardio theatre and could watch a good movie while running! I love that place! it was so awesome. Anyway, well we got home and finished watching the game, jaguars won! GO JAGUARS! this is for Justins mom since she got us these awesome shirts! Last night we watched Miracle on 34th Street, I really wanted to get more in the christmas spirit! Justin is so patient with me! I know he so does not enjoy any of the movies I like but he toughs it out. I just love him! Like I said, I have been sick, and he has cleaned the house for me and cooked his meals and not asked me to do anything! He is just the sweetest boy! Well, Im off to finish cleaning up and packing and whatnot. Got a few errands to run so please pray I feel a little better so I can function normally, im just so blah and i hate it! love you all!

let it snow let it snow let it snow

well, Justin and I had a fun weekend, busy, but fun. the weekend basically started thursday for me since it snowed all day and i didnt really have to work and the whole city pretty much shut down. It took me three hours to drive home from like 25 minutes away. It was so scary for me, i am a bad driver as it is. Luckily everyone drives so stinking slow because of the snow so there was not much of a chance for me to get in a bad wreck since we were going 5 mph. anyway, thursday night everyone was just in their houses trying to stay warm and stay out of the snow since it was impossible to drive. we had brian and haley over to grill out and watch the snow fall and ended up just spending the night relaxing in our house. it was fun, justin is the grillmaster you know. anyway, friday justin ended up actually working but me and jenny both didnt have anything to do so we went and ran errands and shopped! for like the fifth day that week. we are addicts. anyway, friday night 6 of our friends and Kyles parents, went and saw the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and it was soooo stinking good! we all really enjoyed it. afterwards we came back to our apartment and attempted to play trivial pursuit but well, we suck at it. so saturday, justin and i relaxed and then he had to go practice with the band at church so me and jenny sat up at starbucks for like two hours just to get out of the house. That night Justin and i went to my work party with my highly intoxicated co workers who crack me up and i love to death. it was a good time, i won a doorprize! haha!

well sunday church was good! didi really got worked up and i love when preachers turn red because they are just so excited! anyway, of course after church we went to BW's and ate wings and watched the jags game, however the colts dominated like usual. at least my fantasy team won! so the rest of the night i sat at my house incredibly bored! and the night didnt get much more interesting. I ended up going over to brian and haley's to play madden but since me and haley arent that interested in the game we just sat there and watched and talked. next time our husbands decide to be nerds we are having a girls night!!! so tonight the boys have a basketball game so hals and i are going up there to watch them kick some butt! woo hoo! anyway, i guess maybe ill clean or something now, i really dont like not being busy, its a disease.

ill be home in 11 days and i cant wait to see everyone, get ready to play people!!!!!! and have a great week!

our stockings are hung by the kitchen with care

sorry im so bad at this guys. I really dont have much to do during the day so you would think i would sit down and write, but nooooo. Anyway, lets catch up...well as you know, we had thanksgiving, haha. well justin and i went to jacksonville for about 5 days and it was soooo good to be with family and back in the south. We left on a tuesday and picked up sara at Milligan college, where it was snowing, and i liked it, and then we headed home to florida! we got in about 10 and it was just soooo good to see his family. I love them so much. It was so neat to not be sleeping on the bunk bed in aftons room anymore, it was weird to be in Justins room! i know thats weird, but it was neat. well we had a great thanksgiving day and grandaddy loved my cranberry relish! and everyone loved my pumpkin cheesecake. i mean this was my first thanksgiving as a domesticated woman, i had to make an impression! well of course the next day i had to go shopping. i got some good stuff and then me and afton headed back home to relax for a while and then the whole fam headed back out to the st johns town center for the night to shop and eat. the rest of the weekend was spent napping, playing with friends, burning my lip on a skewer trying to roast marshmellows, and fsu losing to florida, boooooo. it was really hard to come back to ohio after the fun and warm weather, but it had to happen. we dropped sara off and headed back up here and got back sunday night. so all last week we worked and decorated the house for christmas, went to brian and haleys and stayed til like 1 am every night, i think they want us to go home sometimes, watched the amazing lost ( i cant wait til the new one tonight ) got a gorgeous christmas tree that i love looking at, and looked at our potential house. the house is soooo cute, behind all the junk. lets just say its a fixer uper. it has potential but it will take a lot of work. i think maybe we saw it too soon because it is being worked on and has a ways to go. even then, we will still have to do a lot of work once we get in. we'll see what happens.

oh yea, go noles! who woulda thunk we would blow up v-tech. we actually get to go to a BCS bowl. i was excited about that. we went to brian and haleys to watch the game thinking we were totally losing and we got there and brian was like, hey you guys are winning!

so even though jenny and i go shopping everyday and spend way to much money, and spent too much last night, im actually off to go shop some more, so i gotta go meet up with that chickadee and spend lots more money on all of you! i love christmas time! have a good rest of the week!

helloooo heifer butts!

well i basically just love you all! this past week has been a busy one but after much hard work and many days nuts i had a nice relaxing day of running errands, shopping, catching up on cleaning, baking, and finally just chillin'. Anyway, since the last post i gots a new hair do, bought a new living room set, have been house shopping, and bought lots of christmas decorations and made the homefront sooo festive! oh yea, and bought season 10, which i love! Friends is just so funny! other than that I had a busy week working and then over the weekend hung out with good friends and saw the new Harry Potter, it was awesome! we leave tomorrow for Florida so today I spent all day running errands. Last night was my last night at Dillards, thank the good Lord. its good to be done with that. now all i gotta do is make it through the rest of the year til January and then I start to nanny! if you wanna see the new pics of the house and the hair check out the recent pics link. Love you all!

Princess Jillian

i love her

this is just a picture of me and Jenny, I really do love her! she is just so much fun and a real blessing from baby jesus to me!

a moment alone

i just realized that i am alone for maybe the first time in weeks. i am either always at work or with friends or at church or small group or with justin and have not had one minute alone. not even when im in the shower am i alone because justin is at the sink shaving every morning while i shower. Its so weird to not have people everywhere right now, but its sooo nice. The weeks have been crazy, but i have to admit i enjoyed it. I have like feeling busy and always having something to do because for soooo long i had nothing to do and no where to be, and at that time i enjoyed that as well. Things are about to slow down a bit and for that i am grateful. I cannot wait to go home to Florida and see our family. I have missed everyone soooo much! anyway, i only have one more week at dillards, praise the lord, and then its home to florida. When we return it will be time to decorate for CHRISTMAS! my favorite time of the year. Im so stinkin excited about it all. I have already bought some presents and I really really wanna wrap them! they are good people!

well, lets start looking at whats been going on, because i knooowww you all wanna hear it! since the last time i wrote we have made some cool new friends. Their names are Brian and Haley. They are really nice fun and sweet people to hang out with. Last sunday they came over with kyle and jenny and we all made fondue and played Taboo! it really was o so fun. then monday came and i worked just about everyday until today. Im actually supposed to work today but am not because I really need a day off from everything. I havnt had time to clean the house or do the dishes or take a nap! I cant wait to do it all today, as dumb as that sounds! I like cleaning people, its a disease. Anyway, last night a bunch of us went to Joe's Crab Shack to eat and it was a lot of fun. This is Jenny with her king crab!

Our friends really do make me laugh so hard. I seriously about wet my pants when kyle says the things he says, as ridiculous as they are, its funny, i dont care who ya are. so kyle was talking about how jenny and I are nanny's and make more money than our husbands and so darrell said that lydia is their bread winner and so we started discussing how Justin kyle and darrell are kept men. The wives are gonna go to work and make the money and they are gonna sit around all day and play video games and make a tv show out of it. well darrell is mixed, half black half white, so kyle names the show Two and Half White Men. I about died and fell out of my chair. It really was the funniest thing i have heard in a while! anyway, needless to say, our men need real jobs! here is a pic of darrell and justin, sorta matching, oh, and justins muscles are getting big! and i think he is hot, so back off!

so in church today and recently, we have been talking about friendship and what it means to be a friend like Jesus was. i really have learned so much about myself as a friend and my friends and I really do just love you all. i have missed you so much while I have lived here and cant wait to play again soon! you mean so much to me and hope that even though i dont get to hang out or talk as much as we all used to, in my heart its still all the same and it never changes. I LUS YOU! =)

i know i know, its been a while

So after receiving serious threats I have finally found time to sit down and update. I have pretty much been crazy busy with my jobs and life in general that I havnt had a moment to just chill in front the computer but to check my email at work in between classes. Work has been going well, the girls at dillards and I have really made some good friendships, and there are definitly a lot of ministering opportunities there so thats neat. We laugh so hard and just crack one another up and really all work well together. Also the gym has been good. ive had some new classes start and I really like the. the kids in them are just so cute and fun. Yesterday i heard from a family that I had interviewed with to nanny for that they had spoken with other families but found me best fitting for their family and their child so starting in January ill start nannying and Im super excited about that! Alls i gotta do is just love a little baby. Its sorta weird because he isnt even born yet! She is due December 6th. Anyway, I have been running like ragged for the past week or so and have had so much that i have wanted to do or needed to do and just havnt been able to do so hopefully ill find some time to just finish up little things around the house or take a nap or bath maybe, i just need that so bad. im gonna burnout soon people! anyway, we are about to go eat with kyle and jenny so i gotta get ready. ill update more extensively later!

hope your halloween was good!

basically, halloween for the Manny fam consisted of working and sitting around all night. We did have a good time though. We did go to a halloween party earlier in the weekend and it was the highlight of our lathargic sitting around the house weekend. Anyway, on monday we came home from work and made some yummy chicken parm and watched some tv together. Then there was a knock at the door while justin was trying to give me a massage! anyway, we go to the door and he opens it o so slowly so I thought it was maybe some quiet little trick or treaters, but no, it was just adam, or what i was pretty sure was adam.

mwahahaha! it was awesome, anyway, so we hung around until, darrell and lydia got here to play and then we watched football all night and all the candy we got for the kids because none came really. it was a fun little evening. After darrell and lydia left Emily helped me get ready for the night. I was daisy duke for halloween, well, it was a private halloween, only justin saw the costume! but it was fun, he appreciated it! anyway, emily made my hair really big and then they headed out. I just love those kids!

anyway, i have the day off today! yay! well from dillards anyway, i still gotta go teach gymnastics for a little while tonight and then go take care of the kiddies in the nursery. Hopefully I wont have to work at dillards too much longer. Please be praying that this family I want to nanny for wants me! i would just love it. Well, have a good hump day!

i love the fall!!!!

i really am such a kid! yesterday i went running and i was watching these children from the elementary school that is next to the park that had come over to play. As I watched them i just thought about how much i enjoy doing those same things they like. i really have not grown up at all. I love rolling down hills and i love swinging and i love getting ice cream. Those things are still "treats" for me. i love dressing up at halloween and pretending that im something im not just for the night and the imagination of it. the children were rolling down the hill in their hats and big fluffy coats, and about 99% of the children were black, and it was just the cutest thing! i just wanted to do it too!

ok, so, i know im not a professional photographer or anything, but i like to pretend! So today i took a little drive to find pretty trees to take pictures of. i just love it here right now, its so cool to look off into the distance and see not only green but orange and yellow and red and amber colors all over the place, its just so neat! and it only makes it better when the sun is shining so brightly onto all of it!



well, the week has been pretty good thus far. I started working at dillards and i hate it, of course, i knew i would. I just dont like working in that type of enviornment. Hopefully a nanny job will work out so i dont have to do it any longer. also this week i attempted to make my first batch of food from scratch. i attempted to make potato salad, however boiling peeling mixing and chopping became a more difficult job when it came down to it. needless to say, i sorta screwed it up and the potatoes were a little hard, but my bible study friends ate it =)

well, i really havnt had that interesting of a week, but im so glad the weekend is here. its supposed to be in the 50's and sunny all weekend so im real excited about it. well im off! gotta get ready to go paint pots with Jenny, who is the sweetest girl in the world and is paying for me because she is just that cool people! well, tata and have a great weekend!!!!

good friends, good times

Im just sitting here watching Desperate Housewives, of course, and I felt that I would write all about my weekend o fun for you to read while you are bored at work. Well, it all started last Thursday when I got home from work and Justin and I decided to go to the care group bible study thingy with Kylifer (this is what I now call kyle and jennifer). Dont lie Kyle, you think its o so hilarious. Let me first say that I deeply enjoyed care group because well, they had some really yummy soup there and I can always go for good food! The time together was pretty good. The book we are reading is about evangelism and we sorta read exerts from it and discussed stuff. There were some really good points made and I feel that we learned a little bit from one another. There are so many times when I assume everyone thinks the same as I do or knows the same stuff as I when this is not the case. It amazes me to see how complex we all are and the way that we can all grow from one another. I really feel that the people in this group and especially our closer friends can "tell you like it is." I understand that there is a time to be supportive, however, I really feel that society is pushing this supportive thing. Its almost saying tolerate anything to the point where you always support your friends, even if you know that what they are doing is just ridiculous or wrong. As Proverbs says, As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. I really feel that with these friends I am speaking of, that we can be honest and admonish and edify one another. I love this!

Anyway, so after bible study that night drove home and Justin and I got into bed and had just a relaxing evening watching friends and snuggling. The next day his cousin Nick was coming in town with his girlfriend so I woke up and cleaned the house and then Jen came and got me and we went running errands allll day. It was pretty fun just driving around. I like seeing all the different places in Cincinnati that I never knew existed. Also, the trees are changing so a drive is always fun because its just so pretty. Well Justin got off work and nick arrived and we all hung out at the house for a while and then we went to eat some mexican with of course, the Dinclers. Its like their our other half, I swear. Anyway, after dinner we went to bowl a couple games. It truly was like the worst bowling night of my life. We said bye to everyone and sent Nick and Kara, his girlfriend, back to Indy, and Justin and I came home and got into bed. Soon after, the phone rang and it was Nick. He got in a wreck. Justin and I hopped in the car and drove out to where he was. We felt just awful for him because he is 18 and this is his first time driving anywhere far away from home, with his girlfriend, in his brand new car. It just was a very bad thing. He was so afraid to call his dad, which i understand being in three wrecks, its not fun to call home and report to the parents what you have just done. Luckily him and Kara were completely fine and it was just a fender bender on the guard rail. After a few hours with them, we met up with Justins aunt and uncle and dropped off the kiddies and went back home and got in bed. It was a late night so Saturday we slept in.

We had a really good saturday, it was a gorgeous day and we woke up and I made a big breakfast with Mickey Mouse waffles and what not. We then went and ran some errands and then came home for Justin to go to work. Luckily, he got to work and they sent him home so we got to play all night! Kyle and Jenny came over and we got some KFC and then watched a movie. It was o so fun, as always. We went to bed and watched some more friends, of course. See, season 10 is coming out on November 15th, so Im trying to catch Justin up. So today was church day!!!! We went to church this morning and then afterwards were headed to BW3's, however, we got a call from a friend that it was sooo packed out so we had everyone over to our house. It was really fun, I always love being the host, you know how I am. I wish we had more room and more furniture, but its still fun to have all the friends over. Me and Jen basically got in my bed and watched a movie in order to avoid the testosterone in the other room. It was a good time. After all the guys left me and Jenny got some stuff to make french bread pizza and the four of us ate and watched some tv and thats where am I now, watching tv.

Well, I guess ill leave off here, sorry its not so interesting but a simple list of alll the things done over the past four days. Enjoy!

its just that simple

Right now im just sitting at my friend Jenny's house waiting for her to get home from work so we can watch Lost. I just wanted to write a little entry because today was seriously just the most beautiful day. I love driving to work on days like this. I was just thinking about how gorgeous God is. How everything he has made is perfect. The leaves are changing right now and I love driving down the interstate and seeing the hills all around me in such varying and vibrant colors, it looks so cool. Its times like these when I enjoy the simplicities of life and that I realize what its all about. This morning I was running and I was just talking to God asking Him what I was supposed to do, what my purpose is, what is the point in my existence when it comes down to what He has me here for. He didnt obviously didnt audibly speak it to me but Justins words from a few days ago echoed in my head. Sometimes i try to complicate things and over analyze them. Lately I have not been giving enough credit to the grace that we as Gods children receive. I have felt like I wasnt good enough and that I needed to work harder, or do more, or be better. I was telling Justin all of this recently and he just said, "Jill, you dont have to do any of that, Jesus took care of it all when he died for us and you know that." Which, I do know that, but sometimes I just feel like something that good has to be more difficult to obtain. I know this totally contradicts the doctrine of grace, i just often times feel this way. I feel as if I need to be doing something more with my life. To which all of this Justin replied, "All we are supposed to do is spread the love of Christ and enjoy God being God." First of all let me say that I love my husband soooo much. There are times when I wished Justin was a little more detailed or deep in some situations, but in this, the simplicity of the gospel of Christ and life in and of itself was just what I needed to be reminded of. So today while I was running this was what I was thinking about. I could just hear God saying, Jill, its not that hard, just relax, I have and will take care of everything and i love you so much that there is nothing you can do that will make me love you any more or any less. This might sound simplistic but since when does the love of God and the gospel become mundane? Never. I understand that life comes with unexpected disappointments and hurts and there are problems, but today just running and looking at all the dogs playing and the kids in the park and then driving to work and seeing the beauty of what God has made, and then tonight taking care of the kids in the nursery and seeing their smiles, it all seemed so simple. I really did just enjoy God today and the astounding grace that He offers. I know I can never be self righteous and so there is not point in pining over what more I should be doing; I am Christ righteous, and that is awesome.

Anyway, I think Jenny is almost home so we are gonna chill and watch some TV while the men play their Halo. I love you guys and hope the rest of your week is o so good =)

much fun, not so much sleep

This weekend was jam packed i tell you. We had little time to relax, but it was all so fun. Friday night we went up to Joe's Crab Shack to see our friend Darrell who got married on Saturday! woooooohoooooo! Anyway, he was a having a bachelor bowling extravaganza and of course Justin and I were not gonna miss out that! mmmmhmmmm! So we left Joe's and headed to the bowling alley. It was all you can bowl from 12 to 2:30 so we bowled like four games. It was like 3:00 when we got home that morning and we were sooo tired and had to leave for indy the next morning, but we had a great time and Justin bowled like 203 and he was sooo happy! Well we woke up the next day and just layed in bed for a little while. I just love rolling over and looking at his cute face every morning and rubbing his tushy til he wakes up, its really funny. he just rolls over and says, hey, what are you doing??? I cant help it, i love that butt! anyway, we slowly got up and got packed and ready for Indy. We left around 11 and drove straight to this little shopping area, and met our friend Adam for lunch. It was one of those upscale outdoor shopping places so we had just the best time sitting outside and eating and walking around looking at everything, it was just such a gorgeous day. After that we ran some other errands and then headed to our friend Rhetts house to get ready for the big night. We all got our fancy stuff on and headed to eat dinner. We ate at this really yummy italian place and then went and picked up our friend Aaron and his sister to head to the Conseco Field House in indy for the Heartland Film Festival!!! Please excuse my husbands ridiculous stance and smile in the pic, he is quite the nut!


We got downtown to the fieldhouse and went in and it was decorated really pretty. We went into the actual stadium and sat on the front row. It was so neat, I felt so special. Anyway, basically what this festival does is it awards film makers who have made inspiring or emotional type movies money in order to make more. We saw a lot of movies that have been released or will be. The films were often times hilarious because there was actually a story about a lady who loved Nuts and it was the story of her life. Then there were some like that movie coming out Dreamer, with Dakota Fanning, that were just movies maybe based on a true story. Anyway, it was interesting to see what these filmmakers had come up with. Afterwards there was a party outside in the lobby area and we had some snack type things and mingled. The only person there that we really got to see was Bill Paxton, ya know, the guy from Twister. haha! oh yea and Patricia Heaton, the wife in Everybody loves Raymond. Well, we headed back to Rhetts house and got all our stuff and said goodbye to the boys. They were so fun to play with all night, they make me laugh so hard. me and adam got really tired and started acting reallllly stupid. We always have so much fun!

So we got to Justins aunt and uncles house and went straight to bed. It was like 2 am and we had to get up the next morning for church and then get back to Cincinnati. We woke up and apparently Justins fam had left for church and wanted to eat with us when they got back so we just hung around the house til they got home and then me and his aunt made brunch! I made personlaized pancakes with everyone's initial! hehe, it was much appreciated! anyway, we had a good time with them and then had to head to Aarons to watch the Jaguar game, of course. Well, it was actually a very intense game, and I could not handle all the emotion, but in the end after and crazy overtime, the Jaguars won. Go Jaguars!

Well, we headed back into Cincinnati and headed to straight to Kyle and Jennys and the boys went and worked out and we watched Desperate Housewives. when the guys got back home we spent the rest of the evening laughing so hard we couldnt breath. I have so much fun with those kids! They are so funny and so full of love! Just what i like =)

It was good to get home and get in bed. I really just wanted to sleep a good nights sleep and o i did. I did however wake up to a freezing cold morning. Its nice, but it makes me not wanna get out of bed. Well, im off to run errands. hope everyone has a great weekend and has an awesome week!

the Jane Fonda Honda

I have yet to make an entry giving all those the insights into the car accident that was Tuesday. It really sucked, basically. For those of you who havnt been told the story, here is the jist.

I was driving to work, I was going through a construction zone where there are only two lanes and then they split back to four. I was in the right hand lane and the guy in front of my was sweerving to maybe or maybe not go around the city bus in front of him that was stopped. He then got back in the right hand lane and so I went around him because he was being retarded and then the left hand lane stopped suddenly and boom, there went my front end.

So, my neck still hurts, and the honda looks rough. Its gonna take $4300 to fix it all so thank the good Lord for insurance. Nobody else was hurt and the other car only had paint damage to the back bumper.

After learning of the expenses from this, like the ticket and the deductible and all, I decided the career hunt is over and the whatever I can get hunt has begun. I had my friend jenny come pick me up from the crime scene, shes a doll. We then went to target and I applied there. The next day I went to dillards and was offered a job in cosmetics, which Im really excited about! So I start there in two weeks. Im going to keep the other job since its only 12 hours a week, I can obviously work both. Im just really excited because now we wont be stressing over money, hopefully. ill be working about 35 at dillards and then the 12 at the gym, so its all good people! The stress is slowly fading! Well, since the wreck I have just been hanging out around the house. I also have been looking for a pretty dress to wear to this Film Festival Justin and I are going to tomorrow. i found a beautiful one at parisians yesterday and justin thinks it is o so sexy so im excited about wearing it with all the fancy people and my cute little husband in his suit! Anyway, I also get to meet Dakota Fanning at this thing, and im super excited about that as well!

Well, the muffins are done so Im off to get them out of the oven. have a great weekend everyone!

cinnamon rolls, friends, and jaguars

I seriously just had one of the greatest weekends since moving here. Thursday night me and Justin went and ate at Kyle and Jenny's and then headed to get some ice cream. AFterwards we met up with our bowling friend Darrell and we all went bowling. I just have so much fun with all of them! Kyle makes me laugh so stinkin hard that I want to pee my pants! Anyway, i ended up bowling really badly. The next day Justin got off work and came home...with a treat for me! The night before when we went to Graeters for ice cream i saw a cinnamon roll that looked soooo good and I said, "Justin I want that!" and he said, "You just ordered ice cream." So I said ok dad! Oh yes, you guessed it, the next day on his way home from work he went and got me that cinnamon roll and I ate it up and it was so yummy! He has just been so sweet lately I cant take it. He always ask me what I wanna do and where I wanna eat or go hang out, and last night everyone came over and when they left he cleaned up everything. He is just the sweetest boy!

Anyway, after my amazing cinnamon roll, there was a knock at the door. Kyle and Jenny had stopped by to bring me a card and some gerber daisies which are beautiful!!!! They are just such amazing people. I love that God gave justin and I the two coolest funnest sweetest people ever to start a new friendship with. They have only known us for a short time, but they give love to us as if we have been their friends forever. Its so cool because everyone knows how I felt when we first moved here and I just thank God for the blessing of this friendship. The card they gave me was just to encourage me and to say they were praying for my family and my sister. Its so cool that God can do that. He is the common ground on which we all have our foundation. Therefore, these people that we just met can encourage us and pray for my family who they dont know, because of the faith that we all share.

Well, after they left Justin went and got us a yummy pizza and we hung out at the house for a little while until the night of Dorks began. Apparently there is a professor at the Seminary who loves Halo2. This professor also happens to be Darrells' future father in law. So Darrell calls up Justin to play with them. We drive out there and this guy, who has a doctorate, is like five feet tall with white hair and glasses is sitting in his basement playing XBOX live. Justin and Darrell sit down and they all get hooked up playing the halo with like people all over the country and Im just sitting there thinking, you guys are losers. Its insane how sucked in they get. Well, we ended up not leaving til like 1 am and we came home to no toilet paper, so this was not the funnest night of the weekend.

Saturday came, and I love Saturdays! Justin and I just get to hang out allll day. Except Kyle called him and wanted him to help move a lady from the church into her new house. They were gone like alllll afternoon so Jenny and I hit up the mall! thats right, window shopping! I HATE BEING POOR! We had a good time just trying on clothes and looking at cute stuff, but it really can get depressing after a while when you have no money. Well we ate some lunch and then headed back home to find our husbands sitting in my living room playing hockey on XBOX. i really am going to throw it out the window one day. So, me and Jenny went to the store and bought some stuff to make enchiladas.

Our friend Rhett from Indy was in town on some sort of trip for the church he works for so he stopped in. Its always good to have friends from back home visit! HINT HINT!!!! We all ate the yummy enchiladas and then everyone left for the evening. Justin and I ended up getting in bed early and watching lots of friends episodes! I LOVE THOSE NIGHTS!

Sunday rolled around and we were soooo late for church. It was a good day thoughl. we ended up going yet again to the Dinclers house for a yummy lunch. Jenny can cook people. Then Justin and I came home and I definitly took a FOUR hour nap while he did homework. I woke up totally in a daze and we got ready for Refuel. Refuel is this once a month thing up at the church for all the youth kids. Justin had to play the bass for it so I went up to hang out and watch. Afterwards everyone headed to our house to watch the Bengals Jags game.

GO JAGUARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There were like 10 bengals fans and then me and Justin who were rooting for the jags. It was an emotional night, but it ended on a very good note, well, for us anyway. I also won like my first fantasy football game in a while. Which could be alluded to the fact that Jo forgot to replace one of her players who was on a BYE week, but I still would have kicked her butt anyway! Mwahahahha! well I just went running so I must shower off! have a great day everyone! i hope yours doesnt invovled peeing in a cup =)

glory baby

so I finally talked to my sister Beth today. She said everyone is just so incredibly sad that there are no words to describe how everyone feels. Leah and Dick came home from the hospital today and B said it was just so sad. The screen saver on the computer said "It's a Boy!' and the nursery was all ready for little Asher. I just feel awful for them. My heart is with them and my knees to the earth for them. I really dont like being so far away now. They still dont know what caused this or how his heart just stopped beating. They arent planning a service of any kind but they are burying him this week. B said that she had him natural delivery and they cleaned him off and bundled him up and let Leah and Dick hold him and be alone. I just cant imagine what was going on in that room. The emotions, the hurt, the questions, the wondering of what he would have been like. Im so incredibly heartbroken for her. My sister also told me that our other sister Rachael who just had a baby feels so much guilt. She just had Claire a month ago and feels awful being able to love her and take care of her and be with her. Having her newborn and yet Leah feeling robbed of something she created with her true love to enjoy, yet she has to bury him. Please continue to pray for my family in Florida, they are in so much pain right now. Please pray that they find peace and contentment, and maybe some joy soon.

the picture is the only one of Leah on my computer. Its a pic of the fam at the wedding, I promise no more wedding pics after this! Leah is the one on the left in a Pink shirt. Just thought Id put it in here.

"baby let sweet jesus hold you, til mom and dad can hold you...
you'll just have heaven before we do."

sad news

uh, today was such a good day. It was gorgeous outside, I was basically just pumped about life and so happy to be driving down the road to work. My mom had called me earlier today and so I returned her call. She asked me to call her once I got to work and I was confused as to why she wanted me to call her once I got here. I asked her about my sister, Leah, and her baby because I knew today was the day that Leah was having her little boy. She said she his hair was long and black and he weighed 9 pounds and 6 ounces and they decided to name his Asher Graham, so cute! Then she told me that he however had no heartbeat and was delivered this morning at 9:30 still born. I was in shock, I didnt know what to do. I immediately wanted to turn my car around and go south to get back to Florida and just hug her. It breaks my heart. So much planning and anticipation and excitement all taken away by such an interuption. I can remember just touching her belly at my wedding and talking to him and at one of my showers her lying on the bed saying I gotta sit down he is going crazy in there. I just wish she could have had her little boy, she would have loved him so much. I know Jesus gets to hold him first now and that is so cool. I cant wait to meet my little nephew in heaven one day. Im sure he is really cool! Please pray for my sister and our family. We are all so heartbroken over this and heartbroken for her and Dick and Reagan.

the triple x church

"its not the darks fault for being dark, its the lights for not shining on it."

Church was awesome today, as usual. We are still on the series of Sex. today was xxxchurch day, and one of the two men who started xxxchurch.com was there to talk about it all. He explained to us how his friend Mike one day was taking a shower and God spoke to him and basically said, "porn." he said that Mike felt God drawing him to call up this friend of his, Craig, and start a ministry centered around helping out those with the problem of pornography. The story is really neat, and if you want you should check out the website, its actually titled the #1 Christian Porn Site. They started the ministry by traveling out to Vegas with their wives one year and setting up a booth at a porn show. They felt that porn wasnt something that people necessarily talked about when discussing their weaknesses, but that it was a very damaging thing to relationships, family, and souls. They wanted to create a space to learn how to deal with the addiction or desire to view porn and some where that people could talk about it, anonymously or not and get feed back from people who care and want to help them. It also has a thing that you can actually have all the websites you view sent to two people that are close to you that will help keep you accountable. I thought it was really neat that these men werent afraid to address this issue or openly talk about it, because it is an issue and needs to be dealt with. i think its awesome how God used these two men to start such an awesome ministry to help the struggling men and women out there who have been too ashamed to talk about porn or tell someone they are pornographic actors. As humans and christians we can be so judgemental and look at these people who take part in this and think, they are perverted, they have issues, blah blah...and these men looked at these porn stars and porn addicted people and thought, Jesus loves Porn Stars =) i thunk of this whole xxxchurch to be neat!

mom update

So, my mom went it to have surgery this morning and her vitals were all nuts and her heart was out of line so they could not do the surgery because its 6 hours long and they werent positive that she could make it through it with her heart like that. She has to go see a cardiologist and then reschedule the surgery. Thanks to all of you who prayed for her and please continue to pray that everything works out. Love you all!

jill =)

Prayer Requests for you Praying folk

Last night Justin and i had an amazing time just lifting up our friends and family to the Lord. There seems to be so many things going on around me, and at times its hard to be happy because i just hurt so bad for all those hurting around me, but i know its all bigger than me and its all gonna be grrrreat! so here is a little prayer list for you all when you are bored at work or driving in the car, or just think about it

my mom, as i mentioned in the previous post and her dr.'s and what not
my moms cousin Mike, has cancer on his esophagus
Kristi's aunt with cancer and their family
my pops, he fell down and is a little sore and bled a lot
the spiritual warfare that is going on with a lot of our friends
and anything else you may think of!

also, if you have anymore just post them as a comment! i love you all!

river dancing's a bia

I had a long weekend full of meeting new friends, watching lots of football, and sleeping alone for the first time in a long time. It all started Friday night when Justin decided to go camping with the mens group from the church we have been going to. It was sorta neat at first to have the whole night to myself. I had some friends invite me out but I really did just want a whole night to do whatever and just chill. Well, 10:30 rolled around, and as we all know, I dont go to bed til like 2 or so, the night was still young and i was very bored and very lonely. I got in the bed with Friends on TV and didnt fall asleep til about 5. It was so hard to sleep number one, in the house all alone, and number two, without justin. I missed him so much. I woke up the next morning thinking about how hard it will be one day if for some reason I had to wake up without him there. I just love him so much and never like being away from him.

Pause: Boston Legal is on!

ok, im back! btw, boston legal was amazing tonight! so...where was i...ah yes, i love my husband, but you probably already knew that.

Justin came home on Saturday and we spent the day watching football and a good movie, and then we headed to DQ to get some ice cream and then later that night met up with some friends to eat Mexican. I, of course, was sick when we got to the restaurant, this is becoming a trend for me. I seriously get sick in some sort of respect like EVERYDAY! I cant take it anymore, with my constant weird feeling and justins constant burping and gas issues, we are just not fun to be around. Anyway, after Mexican we all headed over to the Levee to walk around and go to Barnes and Noble and listen to the live band. Justin and I decided to skip the movie with everyone and just come home since i was sickly and what not. I took some medicine and got a cold cloth and got in my bed. Sunday morning i still felt sick so i ended up skipping our leadership meeting and church.

I decided I could no longer sit at the house feeling nasty alone anymore so Justin came and got me after church and we went to BW3s for the traditional Sunday afternoon football and wings. It was a good afternoon of football, the bengals won amazingly and so everyone with us was happy, and then justin and i were super happy since the Jags won in overtime, yea!!!! so i also was excited because I met this girl named Jenny. She is the wife of one of the guys Justin plays volleyball with. She is really sweet and fun and i had a really good time getting to know her. We ended up going to lunch and looking at a fun store on Monday and getting me a packet to start subbing. i need to do something to make money until i get that amazing job i know is out there waiting for me!!! Anyway, I really like my new friend Jenny and I am excited about our weekly running schedules so i can get skinny!

So tonight after justin and i ate at moes we came home and i began to river dance just to be retarded and basically feel as if i broke my ankle (this all to explain the title)

Well, I had a long day of sleeping in and working a full two hours today so im off to bed. If you think about it and love me and my crazy mom, please pray for her, she is having surgery thursday morning at 7am, and im a worrier but im trying to trust that it will all go well. i might be going to pcola soon to see her and dad and check on them and help them out. anyway, thanks guys for all being amazing friends! love love love love love love love love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it brought me to tears

The other day all the guys were over, as usual on wednesday nights, playing halo2. I was soooo bored and had no TV to watch and no one to hang out with so i grabbed a book that i have had for about 6 years that has just been collecting dust on my book shelf. i went in the bedroom and began to read. I had no idea how this book would affect me within the first few pages of the introduction. Im sure most of you have heard of the book, Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel. For those of you who dont know what the book is about ill give you a quick overview. Basically the book tries to answer questions and give us a substantial case against the intellects of this world and therefore support Faith. The introduction discusses a time when the author goes to a former minster and former journalist named Charles Templeton. Strobel discusses how Templeton was once a friend and colleague of Billy Graham. There was a point in Templetons life when the questions and doubts of this world overwhelmed him and he began to question the existence of and all loving God. He put a hault to his ministry and actually wrote a book called Farewell to God: My Reasons for rejecting the Christian Faith. From a minister to an agnostic this man went, and he began to attmpt pullin Mr. Graham in the same direction. To make a long story short, the obvious is that Mr. Graham stood on his faith and is not an agnostic as you all know. Charles Templeton stated that he wasnt an atheist; he says the difference between an atheist and an agnostic is that he isnt saying there is no God, he is saying he can not tell you if there is or isnt. It broke my heart to read about this man who in Strobel's words, "wanted to soar to God, but his intellects kept him tied down." Is it possible for faith and reason to coexist? Does it really take a person doing away with reason to have faith?

Strobel goes on to describe his visit and interview with the 83 year old Templeton with alzheimers. Templeton tells Strobel of a time when he saw an african american woman on the front of a magazine, holding her dead baby. There was a drought and it had killed many people and children. Templeton says it was at this point that he questioned whether or not a loving God existed because how could He if He made the rain, yet didnt allow it to rain for these people. He said that this began a snowball effect of all the evil that had happened in the world until he began to believe that the evil and a loving God could not coexist. Templeton said he would love to believe that a loving God existed, especially as he is dying and getting ready to face death, he would like to believe he would meet this God face to face, but it would be denying the brain he was given and for him, it was impossible to believe it.

This is where it got interesting for me. Strobel then asked Templeton about Jesus. He stated that he believed Jesus lived and that he was the greatest human being to ever exist. Templeton said, "he was a moral genious. his ethical sense was unique and he ws the intrinsically wisest person that i ve ever encountered in my life or in my readings...what could one say about him except that this was a form of greatness?" he went on to say that "he adored him" and that he was the most important thing in his life. Everything good and right and decent he learned from Jesus. he sort of stopped speaking and redirected his thoughts and then he uttered these words, "If I may put it this way...i miss him." with that, tears began to flood down his face and his shoulders bobbed.

It broke my heart and brought me to tears to see that this mans intellect had torn him away from the greatest thing he has ever known. it showed me that doubts and reason can truly take over your heart if you allow them to. I believe that reason and faith can co exist and that many people go throughout their lives in disbelief of this fact.

Christian theism must be rejected by any person with even a shred of respect for reason.
~George H. Smith, atheist

"Humans are inherently religious beings, created to be in relationship with God - and if they reject God, they don't stop being religious; they simply find some other ultimate principle upon which to base their lives." - Nancy Pearcey

hmmmmm, just a bunch of random thoughts

I havnt written in about a week because well, I have acutally been soooo busy! Which I love! Dont get me wrong, I understand everyone needs a little down time and relaxation and time to meditate and focus on things you arent usually able to in your busy life...but i have had down time a little toooooo long. Anyway, I do like my new job. I am pretty much doing what I have always done over the past six years, teaching gymnastics, go figure. Its the only place in the entire city of Cincinnati that wanted to hire me. Also, I started helping out with the nursery at the church down the road. its actually the church that Justin and I have been attending because when he moved here he knew a guy that went there and is the youth minister there. I like the church alright, I just dont feel like we had a chance to find something that was, for lack of a better word, fitting. However, last week when i was driving to work, I passed by a church and it had a huge sign out front that said SEX Whats the Big Deal? It was called Crossroads Community Church and so when I got home I looked it up online just to see the sort of ministries it had and the sort of goals and missions this church had. It was really interesting to see how the church started. It pretty much started out as a just a small community and has grown into a large super church, but somehow still keep that sense of community. They had in their bulletin on Sunday that they try to keep church relevant, so they dont try to make church super different than real life just because its church and its Sunday. The minister talked about Sex and different issues surrounding it and pornography, and he was just real about it. They played a little Marvin Gaye and some other fun music, I really enjoyed it. They also seem to have a really great childrens and youth ministry that I would really love to be involved in. We arent really sure what we are doing about the whole church thing, it was just really neat to go there and see people our own age. The other church we go to has really young kids and old people, not so much people our age. im trying not to look at church as something that I have to get something out of, I understand that its about me serving as well. im not looking at it as feed me, teach me, serve me...i would just like to find a place where I can fellowship and relate to people better and maybe make a few friends, as well as serve.

So, oddly enough I have this new job right, and i love it, and they all love me and we have so much fun just goofing off and teaching kids at the gym. Well, this week, within two days, i have had three calls for interviews. I mean where were the interviews a month ago when I had nothing to do and was really really really needing a job? Such is life. Well Im going on 2 interviews Thursday and another one sometime next week. We really just need the benefits. Right now im actually really sick but I dont wanna go to the doctor because I have no insurance and it would cost an arm and a leg. Hopefully ill get some full time work soon and have benefits.

Well Justin and I had a really good weekend. I love our times together. We always have so much fun just chilling on the couch or eating with all the guys at BW3's to watch the games. We had a little date night on Friday night and saw Just Like Heaven, which was such a good movie! Then on Saturday we ran a bunch of errands, in our Florida State gear of course, and then we came back home to watch the game. Oh yea, and we won, GO NOLES! Anyway, Sunday we had our meeting at Starbucks for this new 20 something ministry we are trying to start up. Its really a cool thing and the guy who started the thinking on it is really passionate about it and has some good ideas. We have just been meeting up on Sundays to brainstorm things like where to have it, how to format it, what to call it, etc. The goal is basically to make disciples who will go and make more, go figure huh, seeing as that is what we are supposed to do. A lot of times people sign up for a bible study to learn about dating or the end times, but we want to focus on the gospel and not ever saying that the gospel isnt enough. We want to start these community groups so they can go and find lost people and share the gospel and then they will start more commnunity groups and so on and so on...

Well, I have a bunch of errands to run before work so im off! have a blessed week!

i love spaghetti night!

i never posted a wedding pic, i keep getting pics from random people emailing them to me so i figured i would share them with the world, even though, im not in denial that no one probably cares!

anyway, today was slightly more productive in the life of Jill. Justin had class allllll night and worked all day, so the job hunt continued. I actually found a place that wants to hire me! Not the job i was really looking for, but whatever. Its also not full time so Im going to keep looking for something else but at least im getting somewhere. A little money is better than none at all. I also got a call from an agency I applied to about how I wasnt qualified for the job I applied for but am more than qualified for a different job that is open. The woman I spoke with told me she would pass my resume along and I should get a call soon. Its an Administrative assistant job, which I have kind of done before and could do, its just still not what I went to school to do. I definitly dont want to do it for the rest of my life or anything, but whatever pays the bills right now. I just wish I could go back to pensacola and work at the American Red Cross. I felt so useful there and like I was actually helping people. Im a little frustrating with the stagnance I feel.

Well, something that will make me feel like I am actually useful will be starting up tomorrow night! I am starting to teach preschool at the church we go to now. They have like class type things on wednesday nights and then on Sunday mornings I am going to take care of the nursery. Im really excited about that, however Justin thinks I am going to get baby fever, which I wont. Im no where ready to have a baby, i mean, if God sends one our way, thats cool, but for now Ill settle for a dog, which I want so bad. Justin says I need to get a job first before I can get a dog, and well, you see how thats going. Anyway, Im off to bed.

the website

i forgot to put the url to the website i told you about in the previous blog, "holy spirit rain down." its www.rickpearson.org

sorry bout that!

it hurt real bad

Since my last post so much has been going on. Wait no, that was a lie. Um pretty much yesterday I did absolutely nothing but watch college football, which by the way is still awesome. Basically i sat around all day while justin was at work and wrote endless amounts of thank you notes, did laundry, cleaned the house, and watched football until justin got home. After he got home we cooked hamburgers on the grill, which I iknow realize i hate onion burgers when i accidentally buy them...gross! After that we went outside to play a little football tossing. Basically this is what happened

I put the tea on 3:17

I then changed my clothes into some football type attire 3:22

Justin and I went out side and threw the football 3:24

Justin threw the ball at me with the sun in my eyes and it stubbed my finger 3:35

I cried like the little girl i am 3:36
(ok, i didnt actually cry, but it hurt real bad)

We stopped the playing of football and came inside 3:37

I wined til I got some ice for it 3:40

Iced my finger 3:41

So basically, it hurt real bad and today it was the size of the average pickle. luckily immediately after the hitting of the finger, I removed my wedding rings, which if i would not have done this, i would have had to get them cut off!!!

Anyway, to more important stuff...

i won my first game of fantasy football, however, peyton could have done better.

Also, this morning justin preached in the youth thingy. he did pretty good, he is a little random i must say, sorta like my dad. i kind of feel like im listening to my dad, just a slower version of him. I mean I can understand the words justin is saying, its just that all the statements dont exactly make sense. i think he is learning how to better present himself and the "sermons." I just love him! anyway, also today we went to BW3's to watch the jaguar game, of which WAS NOT ON! freakin northerners dont even care about floridians! eh, they won anyway, even if we didnt get to watch them, and i got to wear my sweet mark burnell jersey!

well, im off to bed with my injury and all. NIGHT!

yay for babies!

good news...I have a new little neice! She was born this morning at about 8 and her name is Claire and I LOVE HER ALREADY and i just wanna see her! Yay for yet ANOTHER Croley!

holy spirit rain down

there are many times that i find myself overwhelmingly emotional and I sort of chuckle at myself and the ridiculous way I cry about everything. However, sometimes I fail to recognize that sometimes my tears are not emotions or me being silly, but the spirit of the living God falling all around me. Tonight has been an interesting night. I first received a phone call from my dearest friend that a boy we knew passed away today. The guy and I werent friends by any means, we had met once, and I remember who he is and that is about all. When she called me I for some strange reason just typed in his name to google and oddly enough his family had created a web site about him and his progression through his illness. I wont tell you all about it, however you should visit the web site. I began to read what had been written about him passing on today into eternity. The words these people spoke were incredible. The peace and contentment the Lord had given them was incomprehendable. As I continued reading, music started to play, it was the great old hymn Blessed Assurance. It was so amazing to hear that song about the assurance of Christ and the amazing praise that will take place when we meet him in heaven, forever and ever. It was encouraging and inspiring to me to read what his family felt and the song that was written so long ago. It was so neat to see how everything in the world can change, but what God offers to His people always stays the same. His promise never changes or falls short, He is always faithful and He always receives the glory. I kept looking through the website and read blogs written by different people, saw engagement pictures of when he asked his fiance to marry him, and much more. The strength of these people and of him was so impressive. I just wish and pray that I could be more like that. They saught Christ on their faces everyday in such an incredibly powerful way. It was amazing

As the night went on and I kept writing thank you notes, I was waiting for the Shelter from the Storm special on television to begin. there were many celebrities there singing, others giving short speeches about why we should donate money, and others answering the phones taking down the donations. It was unbelievable to see the devastation and the brokeness of the people of LA, MS, and AL. I have been watching it for a week now and it never becomes mundane to see. I still cry everytime and just want to give those people everything I have. I have missed so much working for the American Red Cross and just wish I could move back down south and help them again to better those communities that have been affected. i seem to have failed praying for those people enough, but was incredibly burdened tonight for them while watching this special.

i now realize that these tears tonight were not my usual emotional floods but rather that of the holy spirit placing on my heart a burden for these people who are hurting and a challenge to be more faithful to the God that is so faithful to me. This family that has lost their brother/son/friend to lucemia and those that have lost their homes and families to a storm are so much more incredibly stronger than I have ever thought about being. I HAVE to be more effective, I HAVE to be more faithful to the calling of God's will for my life, and I HAVE to depend on God as if my life was being pulled out from underneath me by storm or death.

taras wedding and mexican feasts!

since the last update I have been to pcola, seen one of my best friends get married, done the Fantasy football drafting, had a mexican feast, and bought 6 seasons of friends!!!! Last thursday Justin and I headed out of Cincinnati for pensacola to see my little Tara get married! We stayed in Nashville thursday night with Jo and the Corzines. Chaz and Deaver got us some tickets to the Titans game so we went and watched them play Green Bay, and I sorta like Green bay, not so much the titans, but it was so fun! The Corzines really are just the greatest people! They are so fun to be around and so generous and an all around great family! Their children are the cutest! I woke up Friday morning and eight year old ali had crawled in the bed with Justin and I and hugged me and asked if we could stay longer. It was just so cute and such a reflection of her parents. They really are sincere, and accepting, and sweet people. Well, Deaver cooked up breakfast and then Justin, Jo and I were off to Pensacola. We arrived and got all unpacked and Ash came and got me and us girls headed off to Hemingway's for Tara's bachelorette party! It was sooooo fun! After we ate we headed outside to get ready to do the video scavenger hunt. oh my goodness, there is nothing else I love better than being retarded with my very best friends! we walked around the boardwalk acting ridiculous and asking complete strangers to propose to us, and cops to handcuff us, and performing mock weddings, all in honor taras upcoming wedding. it was so hilarious to get back home and watch both teams videos.

The next day I went and got tori and we headed off to Taras bridal luncheon. it was really neat because tara wanted all of us to wear funny/huge/ridiculous hats! We were all in our fun hats and ate bagels and then made all the flower arrangements and bouquets for the wedding. that night we had the rehearsal dinner on the beach and me and justin and tori and ruco all drove out there together and played. I just love being around people like them. we always have so much fun and are so open and real with one another and laugh about the craziest things. i miss them so much when we are way up here in ohio. anyway, the rehearsal went really well, it made me sooo anxious for the wedding. Tara and morgan are such amazing people and its amazing to see their obedience to God and the ways that He reallly has richly blessed them...it is so cool! Tara's sweet spirit is so inspiring to me and i cannot believe she is so far away now. I think part of the reason that i miss all my friends so much is that they are so encouraging and uplifting, and genuinly so. i understand that i need to make new friends here and try and bless them. i just miss that sincere love from other people, knowing they have my back and have an encouraging word and sweet hug to offer to me whenever i need it.

eh, anyway, the wedding was amazing! tara did such a good job planning it and making it fun for everyone! From the ceremony to the cake to the music to the fun little details it was just perfect! anyway, after the wedding i went and got out of my pretty little bridesmaid dress and we all went to SONNYS! i never knew how much i would crave sonnys up in here in ohio where we HAVE NONE! after dinner we went to emily and heathers apartment and went swimming! basically it consisted of me and heather wripping apart toris bathing suit and her sitting topless in the hot tub while we all tried to cover her up while attempting to reassemble the bathing suit. FUNNY!

Well I had so much fun, however, it made me not want to leave. i just love those girls so much and i love the comfort i feel in my home and the safeness i feel when im with my parents...i always feel at ease and comfy. i assume that i will find contentment and comfort in my new home. Justin is comfortable to me, and the rest that he offers me when im with him is awesome. Its just those times when he is away from me or when i have been away from a fellowship or any sort of edifying relationship, that i get a little sad. i just want some fun awesome solid girlfriends! there are just some things you gotta talk to your girls about! boys just dont even get, nor should they try...it can be dangerous! haha

well, im back in ohio now and jo is here again! woo hoo! tonight we made a mexican feast for some friends of ours. we seriously cooked pretty much everything from scratch and all by ourselves! it was so fun! we made real mexican flan, which isnt my favorite but it was pretty good and we actually made it right! also, everyone likes my sweet tea! its so important to me that they do since im from the south and i love sweet tea! my mom gave me her recipe and i have been practicing! its really good i promise!

well, thats pretty much all i have been up to. i have no points in my fantasy football team yet but ill keep you posted so you can see how much i am kicking butt!!! i have peyton manning, and he IS my boyfriend! well, back to watching one of my many new seasons of Friends! night night all!

crack/cocaine/halo2

the obsession that has become of this snipe hunt is unreal. Every wednesday night, all the of justins friends come over to blow each other up. There are only two tvs in our house and only 1 xbox, yet somehow 15 guys manage to play all at once. Its unbelievable. I came home today and as i was walking down the sidewalk to the house i can hear the screams and the shrills. "Triple Killlllllllll" and "Im still respawning, Come on." I mean, i cant take it. These boys are nuts. I just need estrogen around me! I have no female friends here that i can run to their house and watch sitcoms with them while all the guys congregate at my house, and drink my amazing sweet tea. However, the boys call me the cool wife, and so its not as if I can be like, Justin, baby, can you do this somewhere else. And truth be told, I like being a host. I love when justins friend adam brings me something to bake for all of them. Thats fun for me, but it only lasts about an hour, and then the other 4 hours im so bored! i either need to learn to play, or find some friends. the friend hunt is coming along. Its just going to take some time until I meet people that i can just drive on over to their house and crash on the couch and watch tv and just talk. I am so hungry for that sorta relationship here right now. Well tonight I escaped to the gym, and then target and wal mart to get some supplies to make some stuff for taras wedding weekend! i am soooo excited about it! So I came home and made all that stuff and then talked on the phone for a bit. However, i cannot continue this for too many more weeks. It really is quite the delimma.

So, tonight i joined in on the fantasy football league that we all got going. Our league name is League Hova, and my team is the Dirty Dixie. Pretty excited about it! Anyway, i have never really gotten into pro ball but I suppose I will this season. Tomorrow night actually justin and i get to go to the Tennessee v Indy game in Nashville, Jo hooked us up, or should I say Chaz hooked us up. either way, we are going and we are pumped.

Well, justin and i are leaving tomorrow for nashville and then to pcola, and i still havnt packed. I probably should go do that and get ready for the long trip home! im so excited!

Wow, it is really pouring out there! i love the rain though. I slept soooo good last night and slept in way too much today because it was raining, and i was sleeping just too good to get out of bed. So, first let me say that I feel so terribly bad for all the people who were affected by hurricane Katrina. I dont know if it was working with the Red Cross for a while or what, that got me really emotional about hurricanes. I suppose I just didnt see how they affected peoples lives and their homes before I started working there. Its just awful that so many people died and so many homes were destroyed, I really do just feel so bad for them. I pray that the Lord will heal those people who lost their loved ones and their homes. Hurricanes really are a huge interuption, but I think interruptions are needed because they cause you to focus on things you might not do on a normal day, however now the days arent normal because of this interruption and you focus and rely on things you dont usually focus and rely on.

Second, i feel so much better this week. i was telling ash last night that i wasnt sure if it was because jo was here and all of a sudden normalcy came back into my life or what, but i just feel like me again. I did feel so good when jo was here, i felt like me, i acted stupid like me, i didnt feel uncomfortable or weird ever, and i was just happy again. the familiarity of her face and her presence here made me feel so much better. The word home is so delicate to me now, its almost like the word love, well not really, but i just think more before i say it. this really isnt my home, maybe one day it will be but right now im still adjusting. I always just call it, "the apartment." Home really is florida, not necessarily pensacola or tallahassee, just florida in general, where justins parents are and my parents and our friends, thats home, and i do sincerely miss it a great deal. However, I realize that for the next two years, ohio is where i live and so i need to try and make this place a second home to speak. i cant continue to think that I live somewhere else or ill always be as sad as i was the past two weeks. it really is a mind over matter situation, and the thing is is that i always thought i was so good at that. no matter what was going on or how scared i was or how bad things looked or seemed to be, i could always convince myself that it was ok and i was fine and i would have fun and just go about my business. Then, all of a sudden I couldnt do that anymore. I told justin i thought i was actually depressed. I was so sad all the time and just moped around and never genuinely smiled anymore, it just stunk. Now i think God has really healed that part of me that longs for home. Ive been trying really hard to just make heaven my home and long for that and long for fellowship with christ one day. I find that when i focus on that, i dont miss my earthly "home" so much because God is showing me so many amazing things to even focus on all the other stuff that is going on. Its just so cool.

Justin and I had a big talk the other night about our expectations and wants and needs and what not. We talked about getting out of debt, what our plans are, how we feel about stuff, sex, of course, and God. We just talked about how since we have been married we really just slacked off on our alone time with God. Justin suggested we do stuff together, and Im not all against that or anything but I really just need to be alone with God right now. I just want to long to sit at the feet of Jesus, I dont wanna work it into my day, or read the bible as a means of "checking it off the list." I want to really want Him.

Well, I have been looking for jobs, I have applied at about 5 jobs since I have been here and about 20 over the summer, but apparently NOBODY WANTS ME! and they always say that they want someone with experience. how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me, huh, HUH? it doesnt make sense. anyway, if I dont have a job by the end of this week, when i get back from taras wedding im getting whatever and i mean whatever i can find because even minimum wage is better than no wage. Plus, I cant take sitting on my toosh, any longer!

So, Tara is getting married in just five short days and i am so excited! I love her and morgan and they are soooo made for each other and I cant wait til they are Mr. and Mrs. Lohse! its gonna be so great. and i get to wear a pretty little garnet dress! Woo hoo!

Well thats enough for today. Hit ya back lata!

PS: FOOTBALL SEASON IS STARTING! THE NOLES PLAY IN JUST SIX SHORT DAYS! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in a funk

Well, today was better than the past week that I have been here, so thats good news. yesterday was my birthday and it was such a strange day. I have never had a birthday without all my friends and family being there. I did get a lot of phone calls and that made me really happy and justin was pretty sweet and got me a fish and we cooked out and went to the movies. I just feel like I am so outside of myself right now that it was hard for me to be truly happy. I just want my joy back. Today was a little better. I didnt really think about how much I missed everyone and everything and I didnt really think about how im in such a funk. As the night went on I am thinking about it a little now, but it was cool this morning to wake up and be in a good mood and be sorta happy. I just want to be that way all the time. I have been praying about it and trying to get out there and meet people, but every single day, as night nears, i start to get sad again, its really weird. Anyway, I really need some encouragement and prayer so if anyone reads this feel free just to pray for me.. I need to learn to depend on God and depend on Justin now moreso than before because he is my husband. Its weird for me because Im so used to having like 50 people to talk to and be with and rely on and now I really only have God, which He is more than enough, Im just having to learn that I need to let Him be my everything. Well, I suppose Im gonna continue watching Justin play halo2 and then go to sleep. Night

The Wedding

So, where did I leave off last, ah yes, MY WEDDING DAY! So its finally here and I wake up and Ash spent the night with me, so she has gotten in the shower, and I roll over and all I can do is quietly say, "Oh my gosh." All of a sudden everything was so real and so weird! I was excited but I was like WOW, its really my wedding day. Its a day i have dreamed about forever and spent the last 11 months planning and here it was! WHAT THE HECK! Well, I got up and got all my stuff together and went to UWF to see the reception and then headed to the church to get my hair done. Dad dropped me off and I got all ready and my mom and Myra got there and then one by one the girls rolled in. All of the girls were beautiful and looked so hot in their hot pink dresses! I loved it! we all got ready took pictures, and then sat and waited til it was time to walk the aisle. We went around to the back of the church and I watched them all walk in, and then tanner, with my brother helping him, he was a little irritable, then Taylor and Reagan with their pettles, and then my Bretty, with his bell, ringing and running, it was so cute. And then, I heard the music, and I grabbed my dad so tightly and we were off! It was so exciting, I couldnt believe that many people were there! It was a little scary but so cool, I just get nervous in large crowds and 400 people is a large crowd to me. Anyway, looking at Justin the whole time I was walking down the aisle was really funny to me actually. I was kind of cracking up inside. I have watched so many corny movies and what not with this particular part and was thinking haha, im doing it, haha, weird! anyway, I am just so emotional I had to think of other things so i wouldnt bawl the entire time! Which I did cry a little bit, but I didnt break down like I thought I might have. so, dad gave me away, and we said our vows, and exchanged our rings, lit the candle, which from what I hear was a tearjerker. Not so much the lighting, but when Justin and I prayed, my emotional friends! I love them! anyway, we kissed, and we were married!!!!! We took lots more pictures and headed off to the reception. it was so fun just dancing away with all my friends, shakin my booty and all! Dancing with my dad was immensly fun, and justin wasnt too bad either. Then I heard the last song, Lets Get It On. I knew this was it, the wedding day was almost over! its time to go, you know, ah!!!! So we danced and ran down to the car with the Just Married on the back window and the preverted things inside! haha! Off to our honeymoon!

We spent the first night in Destin, it was, fun, and interesting, a real learning experience. The hotel was beautiful though and we were on the water on the 20th floor. We just left the door open and slept to the sound of the waves, it was awesome. We woke up the next morning and checked out and headed to Atlanta. we got some food on the way, of course crunch wrap supremes, yummy! We got to Hotlanta and found a hotel and slept there that night. the next morning we headed to the airport to catch our plain to Jamaica! It was soooo fun! It was beautiful and peaceful and so much fun. We ate everything, slept in and layed out and swam all day. Justin played lots of volleyball, we went out on a paddle boat and a sail boat and the island was beautiful from way out there! I just loved the whole week! It was awesome! Then we had to head back to the good ole USA. We arrived in Atlanta Friday and drove to Pensacola. We spent that Saturday and Sunday packing up, with the help of Kristi and Ruco, and headed out on Sunday afternoon. It was all good and what not and then, we got to Ohio.

Come to find out, I freakin hate Ohio. I have not one friend and not one clue as to what to do or where to go. im not gonna lie and act like its all ok because its not! it gets better every day, it is just a HUGE adjustment. I have been having a good time with Justin but when Im alone, i get so lonely and just want my family and friends, and my normal life back in Florida. I have been praying really hard about it and I know that God can use this time to help me and Justin grow so close and help me to depend on the fellowship that God gives and depend on his companionship and let him teach me and grow me. however, I am just sulking like a little baby and I really need to get over it. its just hard to! I just want peace and joy again, I havnt been myself really.

Well, basically it is getting better, I feel great today, i actually feel like me. Im just doin my thing and happy. Hopefully its all gone and my emotions and sulking will subside. I just have to realize that yes I am out of my element, but this has to become my new element. this is where I live now and yes its different, but I knew it would be and Im not going back to Florida.

all this to say, God is awesome. I had an amazing wedding and an amazing honeymoon. I am married to the most wonderfullest husband ever and I need to just allow God to use me where Im at, and give me joy and peace about where I am now. I mean ohio is kind of cool, its shaped like a heart!

a message from: Mrs. Manny!

So guys, Im married! Thats right, I live with a boy! So, it was the greatest week and a half of my life! It all started the week before the wedding. I had my last day of work, which made me sad a little. I had grown to love that job and all the different fun people I worked with. I loved loved loved working with Tara. She is the greatest and we had so much fun just running errands together and doing wedding stuff for hers and my wedding. My boss shannon is sooo cool, and irish! and I will miss her dearly. Anyway, so the next day Thursday, Justin and his fam arrived in town and the fun began! I was soooo happy to see him, I mean, we were getting married in two days, i hadnt seen him in weeks, I just HAD to jump on him like a dog in heat! Im gonna wager that his family thinks Im nuts. So that night we had a couples shower at the Parazines and it was fun and we got a lot of fun things and I had a great time just talking with everyone there. I really do love all of my friends and my parents friends and just the people from my church, it is amazing fellowship and I cherish it. After the shower, we went home to find Tanner and Taylor had arrived with my brother and Chris too. I WAS SO EXCITED! I hadnt seen them in months and they are so adorable, I wanted to hug them more than anything! it was awesome.

The next day I woke up and got ready for my bridal luncheon at Norma's. It was a good girly time and we had fun eating and chatting away like girls do! I love all my girls! Espeically those with spanish in them ;) After the luncheon, me Merry Beth and Tara went to get our toe nails done. Afterwards me and MB rushed home to get changed for the Rehearsal, which was country themed. It was super fun though! We all had our hats and boots and belt buckles on, it was soooo cute! We rehearsed at the church and then headed to the Mesquite Charlies Saloon for some steak and all the fixins'.

Later that night, we left the saloon and headed to my house for the bachelorette extravaganza! HELLZ YEA! It was so fun with all my fun girls and I got lots of good lingerie and l had to wear a shirt that said, "Boys this is your last chance!" After we ate my cake that looked like a piece of lingerie and opened the presents, we headed to fridays for a few shots, well I only had one! Anyway, after that I went home to get rest for the big day! Which, I will tell you about later because Im tired of typing!

Princess Jill

Dennis the Mennace

Hurricanes suck. They interupt so much. Not only do they mutilate trees and wrip apart homes, they ruin perfectly good bridal showers! needless to say, my bridal shower was so beautiful, but very small. I was a little sad, not so much about presents, just about the fact that this was the ladies shower at the Morris'. Its something that every bride to be gets and mine was somewhat ruined by a stupid storm! So basically, what this has me doing is stressing out thinking that this will ruin every plan I have. Not only have I cancelled my shower for this weekend, but next weekend Tropical Storm Emily is thought to be a Hurricane in the Gulf. So who knows what will happen in three weeks when Im trying to get married. I just cant have expectations I suppose, because really, you can only plan so much and the rest is up to God and what He has going on. Its just hard to say that I trust that, because I just dont want what I have been planning for allll year to not go as plan. I am trying to be content with what I have already been blessed with through all of this engagement and my relationship with Justin, which is the greatest blessing of them all. I know God is faithful and that He is above all things and the small tiny so so so minor things will work themselves out to His glory and I need to just get over and be content with however things work out.

I was encouraged by these words:

"Every word in Zephaniah 3:17 is so real and true about God and what He was doing for me in that moment. The verse says, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." I knew He was with me. He is always with me- but sometimes more than others I realize He is with me and I have more faith to believe that He is with me. But really- He is always with me and I should always realize this and live a bold life knowing the Lord my God is with me and He is mighty to save. He is mighty to save! He has what it takes; He knows what it takes to save and He is faithful. He will do it. He is doing it now. He has begun a good work in me and I know He is faithful to finish it as it says in Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."I'm realizing more and more that God really does take great delight in me. He takes great delight in all of us because He loves us and we are His children. His love for me is so overwhelming that it takes my words away and it takes the concerns and anxieties of my heart away. His love quiets me. Because of His love I am speechless before Him. His love gives me peace and comfort so again it quiets me because it is sufficient for me. With His love I do not even need anything more- there is nothing to ask Him for. His love is enough. His love quiets me.He loves me so much that He rejoices over me with singing. I know when I am really happy a song is the only way to best express that joy. God delights in me and when He looks at me. He rejoices over me with singing. He has special songs that are just for me. How intimate is His love! How sufficient and wonderful! God is so good. These past few weeks have been so encouraging and refreshing for me. God has been giving me ears to hear and heart to understand His love and His perspective. I will continue to walk with my eyes firmly fixed on Him or I won't walk at all. Apart from Him I can do nothing. Apart from Him there is no life or true joy or peace. I am content with my life and the things I have and do not have. God is showing me just how very sufficient He is. He is proving to me that He really is more than enough for me. I have joy unspeakable and a peace that passes all understanding."