A Christmas Fiesta!

So I am sitting in the San Antonio airport and figured this would be a great time to write all about our Christmas vacation. I really am so exhausted from this past week, but its all because of the amazing time we had. It didn’t exactly start off smoothly however. We drove to Indy from Cincinnati on Friday night after we got off work and packed up. On the way there that night we got an automated phone call from American Airlines saying that our flight was cancelled and we had been rebooked on a flight that was leaving at 2pm the next day. I was a little sad because we could have stayed in Cincinnati that night, slept in our own bed, helped our friends move, and then left the next day. Oh well, we were already almost there, so to Justin’s uncles we went. The next morning around 1130 we were dropped off at the airport. We went and sat at our gate and around 115 I told Justin, hey we get to board in about 10 minutes. However, in about 5 minutes we would learn that our flight was yet again, delayed, 3 hours or more. Well, it was definitely more. There were hydraulic issues in the engine and we had to wait for a new plane and crew to come get us. This new plane arrived at 1030 that night. It was a long day in the airport, I felt a little like Tom Hanks in the movie Terminal. It was actually not bad, Justin was constantly telling me how amazed he was that I never reacted to any of the unfortunates. I don’t know why, I guess I just figured we couldn’t do anything and eventually we would get there. Plus, we met a lot of really fun people, who were all over the age of 50, one had to be at least 80, but I loved her! She was such a sweet little old lady that was just so confused about all the changes and Justin actually started a conversation with her to help her. I don’t know if you know this about me, but I know you all do, I love meeting strangers and feeling connected to people that are around me, and this was the perfect opportunity to do that! I loved it! I will forever remember Barbara, she was so light hearted and just what I needed to have around in a not so fun situation on a very long day. When she introduced me to her family when we finally did get to TX, she said I was her angel, but I am very sure she was mine.

Well we missed our connector in St Louis, we rerouted to Dallas, missed that connector, were put in a hotel for a whopping 4 hours of sleep, and put on a morning flight on Sunday to San Antonio. So our plan to get here on Saturday at 1140 am, didn’t work out.

After that incident, the rest of our trip was absolutely fabulous and I loved Christmas in TX with my family. It was so fun having Christmas morning with little kids who are excited about Santa. I cannot wait for that in my own home! This trip included lots of laughing, lots of eating, lots of napping, lots of presents, lots of movies, and lots of love! Here are some of my best memories and favorite pictures!We got to the house on Sunday from the airport and Justin really wanted to see the Alamo, it was important to him to experience the American History that occurred in that building. After we saw it we took a walk over to the Riverwalk and we passed by this little statue. Im holding Taylor’s hand and we stop and I look up and ask “What is this?” To which she replies very matter of factly, confidently, and loudly, “Its Jesus Christ!” so funny, I still laugh just thinking about it. So, the next highlight was our riverboat ride. We all rode the boats around downtown being told the history and stories of the city. Afterwards we walked around shopping and listening to the live music. We did happen to stumble upon a tour of a different kind, a Segway tour. Basically you just rode your Segway around in a line and listened to your tour guide. The best part was when my mom said to the tour guide, “Are there motors in those things?” As tho they just rolled around on their own. Amazing…

Tanner and Taylor are the funniest kids with such great personalities. I loved being with them and making memories since we don’t get to see them that much. We slept in Tanner’s room on a blow up bed and every night he would come tell me, “Hey aunt Jill, Im gonna sleep in you guys’ bed.” Haha, and a couple nights he did, it was a little tight, but totally worth it. He also likes to stand next to the shower while im in there and talk to me. Mostly its me saying, “Dont look in here!” He is so funny…one day Justin and I took a nap and we didn’t even know it but when we woke up tanner came out of his closet and he had been in there the whole time. We asked what he was doing and he said, “I was sleeping on Justin’s cwothes.”

Christmas Day was a lot of fun. I woke up to Tanner trying to sneak out and go downstairs and so I stopped him and made him wait for Taylor. We all went downstairs and they opened up their presents. Taylor got a real digital camera from Santa and I loved watching her with it the past couple days. She takes pictures constantly, its adorable. She really is the sweetest little girl, and the funnest! My last night there we had an awesome Dance Party to the Hannah Montana CD, she has some moves I must say. It was so much fun! I loved being there and seeing my parents and going to my brothers work and seeing him in his element, just doing the normal things. We took the dogs for a walk yesterday and the kids rode their bikes and I was so sad that Im not there with them all the time to do this sort of thing. I just wish I could take them all back to Cincinnati with me! One thing we are taking back tho is our new love, the game of Chicken Foot. It’s a game you play with dominos and basically Justin and I are addicted now.

So I think that’s about it for our Christmas vacation! I hope all of you had a blast this Christmas and that you have a great time ringing in the New Year!

For those of you that dont have a Facebook, the links should take you to the rest of the pictures from our trip:

http://fsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2360763&l=6ddcb&id=5213138

http://fsu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2360953&l=83f11&id=5213138

jesus is so cool

so yesterday justin and I went out and got our christmas tree. i love going to get the christmas tree, its an experience to stand out in the cold and search for the one with the right height, fullness, shape, etc. and then load it in the truck and get it home. we later that night got enough lights to make me happy, im a little light happy, i like lots of twinkling =) when I began to decorate the tree justin put on a cd of christmas songs. i really enjoy this guys music that he put on. its not typical christmas songs. i think the whole cd is just beautiful, but one song in particular towards the end brought me to tears. i dont know what it is about this song but it created such a reality of what it was like the night Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. i felt as though we were connected and I knew what happened in that moment. people always tell me that I take everything personal, even things that happen halfway across the world and have nothing to do with me or will never effect me most likely, but i feel it, as though im in it, im there, its strange. i dont feel that my reaction to this song had something to do with that personality trait, i know it wasnt. it was the fact that she and i have the same saviour, the same christ that we love and he creates that connection. he can make me, 2000 years after the fact, feel something. i dont know if this makes any sense at all to you, i may sound crazy. i just felt love for her, as though mary is a friend, and im grateful for her and the role she played. God is beautiful that way. I often feel that way when Im reading the bible, the ancestors and people that went before us and paved a way, followed our Lord, they are my brothers and sisters and sometimes more than others, i really feel just that related to them. i just think its pretty incredible is all...

oh yea, the song is by on the Andrew Peterson Cd, a girl sings it, its called Labour of Love. its on my myspace too, if you were wanting to listen to it.

fall time festivities

nothing new is really happening here. it has gotten really chilly and im not so much a fan of that. i went for a walk today and needed a scarf and gloves which sort of made me want to cry. i suppose it only makes me look forward to being in Jacksonville in just two short weeks! i cannot wait!

i dont really have a lot to write about, which makes me sorta sad bc thats probably bc there isnt much going on up in the ole head of mine. ill try and write about something real next time. for now, here are just some fun pictures of the past couple weeks =)

here is one of the many cutie patooties on halloween getting some candy =) this past weekend was haley's birthday so we all went out for mexican. ole!
well we are heading to TN on friday with the high school kids from church. ill post on that trip when we get home. i hope all of you have a fun wonderful weekend! tata

going home, homegoing

Our computer broke last week and I have no way to update this until now. Many things have happened since my last post so I apologize if this is random and doesnt quite flow.

Over the past month, there have been some fun times, but also some stressful situations. Our small group is going great and we have also started back up our high school small group which justin and I lead. Its going really well too. The girls and I from our adult small group had our first girls breakfast, which was so awesome. I really like doing that with them, and really keeping each other accountable and talking girl talk. We also attended a Cubs/Reds game a couple weeks ago, which was SO FUN! Go Cubbies! Here's a picture from that...well other than that I did take a trip home last Friday. Last Thursday my grandma passed away. After years of Parkinsons disease and not being able to walk and function like she used to, she is now perfect and able to run around with Jesus. This is the hardest thing as of yet that I have had to deal with in my head and heart. I dont do well with deaths really, mostly because I just miss people so hard and so much. I cant stop thinking about the reall great times we had together and the fact that we wont have them on this earth again and I wont see her for so long. Then Im reminded that I havent been able to do those things anyway because she has been so sick, and Ive lived 10 hours away for the past three years. I just love her so much and I liked being able to give her hugs and talk to her. I was able to speak to her on Wednesday night, knowing she might not wake up the next day. It was so sad, she was gasping for air. I know she was so uncomfortable and I know that she is the spunky grandma again that I remember. I will forever remember our fun times, and our last time together, me doing her nails while she rubs my leg, telling justin how pretty my skin is. Its hard losing someone who has always been in your life and always loved you and been proud of you. she was one of my champions and ill miss that. She left quite a legacy behind and Im so thankful for her.
anyhow, i have cried enough tears and im almost dry, so i need to stop writing about that.

we are back in Ohio now and back in the swing of things. I did have such a great time in Pensacola tho, other than having to say goodbye to my grandma. I was able to see allll my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. That was such a blessing. I very rarely get to see my brother Brian, and I cant remember the last time all 6 of us were together. I guess grandmas always bring their families together. Also I got to meet my new niece Charis, she is beautiful and perfect in every way. I spent awesome time with my sisters and my brother Kevin. We went up to BeefoBradys in the Vette on Sunday and I was able to scare the mess out of him. I also got to see him play some flagfootball. It amazes me, his athleticism and agility at 40! I also got to go shopping with my little niece Grace for her 12th birthday! I cant believe it, I was 12 when she was born and now she is that old. Its all happening toooo fast.

I miss all my family so much and I cannot wait to go home and see you all again!

We dont have too much coming up, but I will try and update this again soon. I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have fantastic weekend! tata

Labor Day Weekend

So last weekend was officially Justin and Jill's weekend of fun! We had such a blast hanging out with each other all weekend, mostly just us!

It all started on Friday when I got off early and Justin hadnt worked that day so I left work and went to the gym and then met him at home around 2. We ate and then went to a matinee movie. We saw the Nanny Diaries which I enjoyed for obvious reasons. Justin was hilarious tho, he of course was not interested in the movie but he tried so hard to act like he wanted to see it, so not to take away from my joy of getting to see it. no fooling me, i know its not his style. That night we went to the usual Roy Rogers and then went home and started watching Kingdom of Heaven. The next morning we slept in and then ended up just sitting in bed all morning talking and giggling. Its very rare we have a saturday where neither of us have anywhere to be or anything to do so it was nice to just relax. We had some chik fil a, I went for a run and then fell asleep in the sun, and then we made supper and headed to the AVP tournament. Justin and I both love beach volleyball and were so pumped to go see a bunch of pros that we love play here in cincinnati. It was neat seeing so many Olympic players and of course the all time best ever, Karch Kiraly. He is like the michael jordan of volleyball, if none of you know. Im sure youre not impressed, but it was neat to see him for us! We did gets some free stuff, of which ill put in the mail on monday for you bubba, some stuff for tanner and taylor in there too =)

So Sunday arrived and we got ready for church and got to go together! Now see I love getting to go to church together, but ever since Justin started working there he has to be there at 830 and well, I dont so much need to be or want to be there that early. This day, youth service was cancelled! Afterwards we went to the new Sonic and had lunch. We finally have a sonic here! its my favorite fast food place, in case you were wondering. We sorta sat around and then eventually i fell asleep, its how i roll on sunday afternoons. Justin went to Jimmy's house to play some Madden and I later went over there and we had a sleep over at the Winkelman's. I like sleepovers there, always a good time. the next day was labor day and it was nice to not have to go to work on a monday. we made our way home and then got ready for party time at trent and kala's. we went over early and kala and i laid out while the guys played wiffle ball. everyone else got there later and we grilled out and played more wiffle ball and cornhole and bachiball. and yes, that is my husband in a speedoi have no idea how to spell that. we went home that night and watched the oh so disappointing FSU game and then hit the sack.

now see, wasnt all that fun! oh, the next night we watched Shooter, and it was a good movie. just so ya know, in case you at some point thought, hmmm Shooter, I wonder if that is good?

Well I just got back from a wedding of which my husband did not attend and am going to play with him some. everyone have a great sunday!at the wedding with amanda

oh yes, this is a picture of a tent, in our living room. justin thought it needed to be set up before we went camping to make sure it functioned properly and therefore set it up in the house. Zoe was highly entertained by this. it was pretty hilarious. we hung out in there for a while, but no worries, i made him take it down.

August

at our friends wedding
its been so very long since ive posted, and since the FL state game seems to not hold my attention since we are AWFUL, i finally feel that its time to update you all =) the month of august was quite amazing. I was totally spoiled with family, friends, and so many good times. it all started when I got back from BIGSTUF and my Merry Beth was here for a couple of days. we stopped in Birmingham again on the way up from youth camp and so i was able to get off there and ride to Cincy with her. We had an insanely fun road trip and such a good time while she was here trying to take advantage of every second together since the visit was so short. I was sad to see her go but the in laws would soon be here! a week later Justin's parents and Afton came up to stay with us for a few days. that was also a total blast. we of course ate out A LOT, were totally spoiled with gifts, but most of all with so much love and tons of good quality time with them. I always love being around them! Soooo...next...TARA CAME! this was so exciting. She was going to be here for a whole week so I was super pumped about her showing up! I was so excited to see her and have her alllll to myself. She got here on a Friday while I was at work and the Manny's were just heading out. So we had the whole weekend ahead of us. I of course took her to Roy Rogers on Froyday, and then the rest of the weekend was pretty relaxing. She had some family to meet up with on Saturday and I had a meeting to attend and so that night we got back together and had a low key evening, Sunday we had church and then a girls night with all the ladies here while our husbands had their ridiculous football draft. they are a little too hardcore. So the week was beginning and Tara was just to go to work with me. It wasnt all that bad. I thought I would be really stressed out about entertaining and having something for her to do everyday, but it was so totally fine! She was so great and I never felt stressed about whether or not she had fun. She loved Alex, and Alex loved her. The next week when I was on the phone he thought it was her and he kept saying Tar, Tar. haha, so cute! I loved her just being here and doing with me what I always do, Roy, Softball(where I hit a homerun just for you tar!)Target runs, smoothie making, etc. I felt so happy having her here. It was like the good ole days when we lived together, she was just always there, and it was definitely a good thing!

So Tuesday I decided to finally take her somewhere fun, so we headed to the Reds/Braves game. We had such a good time with justin and jimmy as our dates =) The next night I took her somewhere probably even MORE fun. The GAP distribution center, where you can get GAP, Banana Republic, and old navy clothes for like a dollar! she was excited and got lots of great stuff there.

Thursday came all too quickly, it was her last day with me =( we went to work that day but it being my birthday and all I was going to make it a real fun day! We had lunch with friends and then went to the pool! It was so fun having here for my birthday and being able to celebrate with such a great friend. That night was small group and it was neat to take her with me to this group. These are the people I live life with and it was cool to have them mix. Everyone loved her so much and they all talk about how great my friends are that they have met so far. I feel so proud to have you all!
at Texas Roadhouse for Birthday Dinner
My little Tar left the next morning and I was so very sad to have her leave, it was so much harder than I thought. I just never wanted her to go. I really was so spoiled having her here. I loved our talks and laughs about ridiculous stuff and nutty photo shoots! I cant wait to meet up again for more adventures!

So everyone is gone now =( things slowed down finally. We had our last softball games. Both mine and Justins team went to the finals and lost so both men and women were number 2 in the league, not bad, it was pretty exciting i suppose. we had our last get together with our high school small group before all the seniors left. that wasnt really fun seeing them go but it was exciting to send them off knowing that God has really cool stuff for them to do out there.

Well Im going to get back to the game and pray that FSU will figure out a way to get out of the backfield. Have a great week everyone and I pray your long weekend was....rejuvinating =) ill update on mine later. tata!

BIGSTUF 2007

I had such a good time at BIGSTUF. Im not sure if you all know exactly what that is or how it so awesomely came about that I was able to go so Ill explain that real quick. Well BIGSTUF is a youth camp/conference type thing in Panama City. It was 4 days long and I needed to take those four days off work. I dont really have enough vacation days so eventually I would run out and not get paid if I went so I told our youth minister I couldnt go and help/chaperone. Well about a week before it was time to leave my bosses told me they were going on vacation to Canada the exact week BIGSTUF was, so I was able to go! I was so pumped, bc now I would get to go to FL, not be without Justin, and experience BIGSTUF, and I heard it was soo awesome so I really wanted to go!

We left on a Saturday morning and stopped in Bham that night and went to Barons game and then stayed at a hotel and finished the trip the next day. BIGSTUF was incredible, I really like how they run things and their scheduling of the days. Its not overwhelming and it seems to be more effective. There were 1500 of us staying in the this hotel attending this thing on the beach! might I add, it was beautiful. I loved waking up and looking out my window and seeing high schoolers sitting on the beach reading their bibles, it was amazing.

So BIGSUTF's theme for the week was RHYTHM. I like this concept and line of thought, that the world was created with a RHYTHM, and that we are to be in tune with the way God created us in order to function properly and be who God initially created us to be. ill give you a quick exert from the booklet we got to give you an idea of where they were going with this idea.

"The word RHYTHM is indicative of a natural flow, being in step with, or in sync with, harmonious. God created the world with a rhythm. The world turns every 24 hours. The tide comes in rhythmically. The seasons change rhythmically. Our hearts beat rhythmically. We were created to live in the order of God. Sin destroyed that rhythm and messed up the song of creation."

my thoughts:
i really liked this concept bc i love me some music. and i think its funny that you dont really notice rhythm but you notice when its missing ...

ok so basically, think of inventing something yourself, like say i made a toaster. i am the inventor of the toaster! and people bought it and took it to their homes and then didnt plug it in but used it as something else, lets say, a filing device or a mail holder, it has good slots for holding mail i think. anyway, that would frustrate me. I would look at them and think, "What a dork! That is not what its supposed to do, its way cooler than that, it heats up and toasts your bread, bagel, toaster pastry, and so much more. Why are you using it to file your mail?" God made each one of us to be in a relationship with Him, to follow him, to love him. He made us each with special gifts, each one of us has the ability to do something really amazing. However, did we take this life God gave us and choose to do with it something other than what it was made for? Sure, it may work for what we are trying to do with it, but its capable to do so much more. It has way more potential.

for some reason we think God created us for something else, satan has convinced us of that any way. or we dont recognize Him as the creator, the designer, our inventor. either way, the only reason God made the world, and each human in it, was for Himself, to commune with us, to have a relationship with us, how do so many people not see that, and revolve their lives around other things. why do we not seek Him to find out what He wants from us? i would hope that the person who bought my toaster would just ask me how to use it, I could help them do more effective things with it if they would just ask, or maybe read the manual.

ok, enough metaphors. =) i am married to a youth minister, i get a little cornballish sometimes trying to relate to middle schoolers. anyway...

so this is pretty much what i got from this week at camp. I want to function properly, I want to do what God designed me to do and not something thats only half as good. I want to be in rhythm with Him. may sound corny, but i did like this concept. especially for high schoolers. I think they can relate a lot to music and dancing and whatnot.

Speaking of which, all us girls had a dance party while we were there in the hotel room. I really love those girls! We had such a good time! I loved getting to know all the kids better and building deeper relationships with them so we can talk about stuff.

other highlights of the trip included lots of beach volleyball, Guthries, Jeff Foxworthy, a children choir from Kenya, amazing worship, awesome speakers, the beach, and yummy fresh seafood. Ill blog a different blog about Compassion, 410 bridge, and wells in Kenya! I loved how BIGSTUF really encouraged the kids to change the world. It wasnt only about an inner change in each of them, but an eye opener of whats going on in this world and what they can do to make a difference. I was pumped, and justin is ready to move to kenya. i love it! ok well thats all for today!

cant a girl catch a break

i know ive gone a little while without posting, there just hasnt been too much going on that was interesting enough to write about. i did however promise my fourth of july story so ill start with that =)

so on the 4th, justin and i worked a certain communities carnival for all the residents there. at this carnival there were two blowup rides. one was a just a regular bounce house and the other was this ship that was tilted, it was supposed to be the titanic sinking or something. the kids would climb up the middle and then slide down either side. so first of all, i had to wear these bold white and red striped pants 8 sizes too big, white suspenders, a hat, and a red t, there is a pic of justin wearing it a few blogs below this one i think. anyway, ridiculous outfit. so justin decides he wants to stand at the bottom and send the kids up so ill sit at the top and send them down. well i climbed on up and we waited for children to arrive. we had been having problems with the generators that the blowups guys were plugged in to, but we thought we had it figured out, until they turned off again. let me just tell you how fast those things deflate, especially with about 140 pounds on it. i kind of felt it get a little too soft of there and said, "Justin, IM FALLING!" and so he ran over to the generator but couldnt get it back on so i just started crawling down the side, it was too mushy to actually slide. anyway, i made it about halfway down and then just rolled off the sides because the barriers on the sides were now deflated and not holding me in. i fell about 6 feet, it didnt really hurt, i just thought it was sooo insanely funny. later, after about an hour of being up there and sending kids down, i started to get nauseous. it was just rocking back and forth with the kids on either side of me, so we switched places. justin got a little sick too, there was a strong scent up there, and with all the moving, its not so much fun. So, to wrap it up, on a fake boat i got sea sick, and on a fake titanic, i sank! ridiculous

well since then its just been the same ole same ole. work, small groups, church, attempting to run, roy rogers, you know. i laid out the past couple of weekends, did a little shopping. i did go see harry potter, that was very good, im gonna read some of the books this week hopefully so by the time justin buys the 7th and finishes it, ill be ready to read it! oh, and i did find out that i have a week off and its the same exact week the church wanted me to go to Big Stuf youth camp with our youth, so now i get to go and i didnt have to take off, or go that week unpaid! God is Awesome. So we will be in Panama City in a couple weeks. the beach again! YES!

ok, well justin and i have this bet that every time he says iPhone, I get a dollar. i am getting so rich. can someone please tell that boy he does not need one. i dont know how to make him understand he is not getting one, at least not right now. i really dont understand why he thinks he needs a phone that is $600. he can get a perfectly good one for like $50. i tried to guilt trip him and make him see that we could feed an entire aids orphanage for whole year with that much money, but that didnt even work. anyway, its just driving me crazy bc i dont get him and all his gadgets, but he doesnt get me and my shoe obsession so ill just have to try and understand and pray that he gets over it. why do you need a phone that does all that, why can you have a phone that just makes calls, you know, what phones were made to do???

well thats all i really have today folks! im gonna take a nap, too much Wii and too late an hour. have a great week everyone =)

feels like home to me

well pretty much everyone who reads this was with me last week and already knows everything that happened and whatnot, but there are a few who do not so i will just do a quick recap of our vacation to Pensacola! We left Cincinnati on Wednesday of last week and took the very long drive home and got in around 2am. The next day I went to lunch with some of my girlfriends and was so happy to see them all again! That night we took some pictures on the beach, just us girls. My friend Tara has started a photography business and so she wanted to take some pictures of all us girls, she took some awesome shots! Afterwards we went over to Hemingways on the beach for Heather's lingerie shower. we ate and opened presents and then went out for the bachelorette party portion of the night! We went and watched the Dueling Pianos, which I had never seen before, but they were very entertaining and I really had a good time with all those girls, they are so much fun! My little Jus got buddy buddy with Jo's Justin as they went out to see Die Hard and played Wii all night!

I was so excited for Friday to come because all I wanted was to go to the beach! I havent been in so long and I really wanted to play in the water, and take a walk, and be out on the sand again. Im a beach baby! we stayed there for a little while and then came home and swam in the pool before all the girls had to go get ready for the rehearsal. Then me and justin went with my parents to a newer restaurant in Pensacola, The Oar House. It was so fun and the food was delicious. My sister Beth and her husband came out too with us and it was good to see my big sis again.

Saturday I got to go to a bridal shower for a woman in my church that I just adored when i was growing up. She finally found a love that was exactly what God has wanted for her and I am so excited for her and was so happy to see her glowing like she was. it was at the Fish House, another restaurant that I love in town. It seemed my whole vacation was about getting from one meal to the next. There is just so much good food to be had there! Anyway, after the shower I came home and got ready quickly so Ashley could curl my hair and then we left for the wedding!

Heather was such a gorgeous bride! The wedding was so sweet and the reception was so much fun. We girls always act like fools at weddings but we love each other and have such a good time, so we dont care how silly we look! I was so sad when it was all over. Afterwards some people came over and we had a late night swim while the boys played Wii. im glad we brought that thing, everyone was all about it!

Sunday came all too quickly and I realized that my vacation was almost over! I did convince my jojo to stay just one more day and so that made me very happy, but I knew that I couldnt change Kristi's mind and that she was gonna leave me =( After church we had lunch with Danielle to say goodbye and then we headed home to get ready for the good bye party for Kristi and Ruco. I just didnt like that in one day I had to say Goodbye to everyone! I felt like I had just got there and now everyone was leaving. Im not much a fan of the goodbyes. The Bon Voyage party was fun and nice to have another chance to be all together. My little heart just broke saying goodbye to my soul mate, can you come back now tor?

well after the party i finally started to unwind. the whole weekend was jam packed, not that it wasnt fun, but i wasnt really rejuvinating and recharging like i like to do when im vacationing. us girls just sat on my bed talking. it seems that we always end up on my bed hanging out. i guess its a good place to talk for some reason.

Monday we woke up and headed out to the beach. it was a beautiful day and the water felt good and there tons of dolphins swimming so close to us! we laid out and swam and then got some food and all went home. Later that night we went with my parents to Peg Leg Pete's for dinner and then walked along the boardwalk. It was a such a nice relaxing day and a great way to finish off our vacation. The next day we had to leave and I was so sad about my vacation being over, but it is nice knowing that this week is only a two day work week! it was a long drive home but we finally got in around 1130 and i was very happy to see my Zoe. she grew so much! i know you think im dumb for loving my cat as much as i do, but she is real cute!

well ill write later about my interesting 4th of july evening. i miss you all already and cant wait til we play again! ill post some of my favorite pictures below and the rest on facebook or our Website. TATA!

watching the Dueling Pianos
the beautiful Bride and I
at Peg Leg Pete's at Sunset
Me and My daddy at the Oar House
Me and Kristi at the Goodbye Party, so sad
at the wedding with my girls!
the Bon Voyage Party

too much fun what's that mean?

i am aware that i look nasty in this picture, i just love it because we had been running around like little kids and i have so much fun with this boy, and i love this picture because it captured that! =)

I really wanted to get on here and record all the fun i was able to have on my four day weekend before monday settled in and i forgot about everything! My bosses both had business trips last week so they left on Wednesday and I got off around 230. I love getting off early and being able to go for a run and get all my errands done and be home before anybody else even gets off work, and i miss allllll that traffic. That night at small group we got with our kids and had them write 5 year letters to themselves. I wrote one when I was a senior and just got got mine last week and it was so neat and hilarious to see what i thought was going to happen and the person i was then and how i was feeling back then. I thought since they just graduated this would be a good time for them to do it. We later went out for ice cream with all of them and then headed home so i could watch the season finale of one tree hill, ha. anyway, thursday I had nothing to do! i LOVE IT! i went for a run and then headed to the pool with jenny. it was such a perfect day, i was so happy to be spending it all outside. i swam like a little fish and dove off the diving board more times than i can count. i really think i belong in water more than on land. we, as always, had small group that night, and it was so nice and relaxing. we just all grilled out and talked. it was a laid back small group night, just everyone mingling and watching basketball.

friday i decided i had been laying out and running too much so i just slept in and got up slowly, got up and did some stuff around the house and then went to the mall for 4 hours. i love window shopping. i left with nothing after that long, but it was so nice to just to go look. i came home and did more cleaning. i realized if i didnt have a job my house would be clean all the time. it really is only clean when im off, or people are coming over so i make time. we are messy. anyway, jenny called and wanted me to go to the pool so i did and swam like a fish some more! it just made me want to go home so bad and swim with my little tara in the pool the whole time. she loves swimming. after that i went home and got ready and justin and i had a little double date with josh and sara at ruby tuesdays and then came home to watch smoky and the bandit. justin now wants a cb radio and it trying to think of a good handle for himself. saturday i did absolutely nothing. i didnt even know what to do. it was my third saturday in a row so by this point i was out of things to get done. i had a bad headache all day so i didnt want to really be out in the heat so i spent most the day inside talking to good friends on the telephone. later i hit up hobby lobby and then headed to kyle's football game to work the gate like the good little gate keeper i am. after the game we went to friday's for a late night fried food meal, thats always good for ya. i think this is becoming a bit of a tradition. i like traditions

me and chase making funny faces at the football game

so sunday finally came and i realized my weekend was now over. it was very rejuvinating and i feel recharged. i enjoy that feeling. ok so, sunday...we did church and then a run, and then i went to the pool with sara while josh and justin did some random errands, boy type stuff, and then they came and swam with us, and then we all went and hit golf balls, and later had dinner, and then... we got rid of them because it had been a Manny/Tysinger weekend and im sure they are sick of us by now.

overall, i had such a blast being off for 4 days and i cant wait til im off for 6 days in pensacola with so many people i love! only 10 more days til we are all together!

also, my nephew tanner is in his first golf tournament today! haha, i love it, you have to be 5 to be in it and he i barely 5, so he is in! bubba is his caddy, haha, so cute, i soooo wish i was there to see this! good luck tannerboy!

summer weekends

What a beautiful wonderful weekend! It was absolutely perfect weather, and packed full of fun. Friday night I got off early, PTL, and justin and I went to indy. Justin's friend Aaron Pelsue, of the aaron pelsue band, was having a birthday party at his house so we headed over there first thing. It was just mingling and hammock swinging, and then later that night they had a little bonfire thing and everyone swam, i love nighttime swimming! at one point i had to run inside to use the bathroom and on the way in ran straight into the screen door, that i was not aware of, and you could TOTALLY NOT SEE! i swear, you really couldnt see it. it wasnt that i wasnt paying attention, it was invisible! anyway, that was embarassing. Saturday we were supposed to go out on the boat but my tummy hurt real bad so I took a little nap and when I woke up we went downtown, and shopped at H&M and ate, and went and saw Oceans 13. It was a pretty good movie. Its pretty much just like the other's, so nothing phenomenal or new, but entertaining, and Brad is beautiful. I just like those movies. Afterwards we headed back to Justins uncle's house and he grilled out and we ate and then actually left that night to come back home.

Sunday came too quickly I feel. All day I thought it was Saturday, and that I still had the next day to do stuff, but I didnt. Luckily this week is only a three day work week for me, so Ill get some more down time. Not that everyday isnt down time for me =) Anyway, I loved sunday, so nice and relaxing and fun. I woke up, went for a run, and then layed by the pool for 4 hours and got nice and tan. Justin was at the Red's game and when he got home we went to a graduation party for one of our high school girls, and then went to the Regan's for a cornhole tournament. It was a fun fun day!

So like I said, I do have two days off, and Im trying to find something to do with them, somewhere to go, I dont know really what Im thinking I want to do. I just want to take advantage of them. Now see, if I lived closer I would come home or visit one of you fine friends, however i live a plane flight away and that isnt feasible for me. Tear. Plus I will see most of you in two and half weeks anyway!

Oh yes, my little MB has a new neice. I think her name is Elizabeth MerryAnne. Cute.

Have a good week everyone! I hope its beautiful =)

flowers, football, graduations and birthdays

This weekend so so jam packed with fun! A little stressful at times, but for the most part fun, and worth the stress.

Friday night was Justin had told a friend he would help him paint his basement so we went over to Kevin and Audra's and i hung with the girls and the babies while he painted. Later on Shannon and I went to wal mart and left the kids with audra and carlee to bathe, and we got some flowers for my flower bed, which you will see later. We headed home that night and hung out together, something we never get to do on friday nights, be alone. i really enjoyed time with my jus!

Saturday was a crazy day! We had about a bagillion things to do and all had to be done before 100. We woke up around 8 and I started cleaning the house, and justin started in the yard. when i was done i went outside and pulled weeds and then we headed to home depot. We got some flowers and mulch there and then came home and i planted them! i was seriously so glad to have the patio and flowerbed alllll done. it just felt good to have a project that started LAST year, finally finished and so pretty. Its nothing extravagant, but its just right for our little house and for me and justin. We just love it, and couldnt wait til Sunday when we got to enjoy it finally. After we finished all that we got ready for the graduation parties we had to attend. We had one at 1 and another at 4 and the two were about 45 minutes away. We didnt leave til about 2 for the one party so we were late to it, but it was perfect timing because as soon as we were ready to leave that one it was 4, and we got to the next one and got to spend about an hour there until we had to leave. Let me just say, there was some goood cookin'. Really, there is nothing I love more than party food. Such good food, really good snacks, yummy desserts, party trays too; i mean its all fantastic!

We had to be at Anderson high School by 6 because Kyle's football game started at 7. Kyle started this football team this years as a ministry type thing. It was so neat to sit there and think, Wow, all of this, these 200 fans, these 40 players, these coaches, this is all happening because of Kyle's vision for this football team. They are called the Mt. Carmel FIRE and are considered a semi-pro football team. They have sponsors who support them, and off course, make money off the games as well. I worked one gate with Julie and Jenny worked the other. At the end of the night they had made more than enough money to cover what it costs to put the whole thing on. It was so cool! Justin happends to be the voice of the FIRE, he is our own little gene deckerhoff.
I was so happy for Kyle, and so proud of him. We had a good time at the game as well in our F-I-R-E shirts Julie and Jenny made us. They did score two touchdowns, but lost however. They played a well established team, and this being their first time in pads and everything, playing against somebody, with all of their team there together, it was better than expected. Afterwards we went to Fridays and ate, and Justin had happy birthday sung to him, again. Justin as of recent has thought birthdays are stupid and could care less if i recognize its his birthday or have a party for him. So I tortured him. Our highschoolers threw him a party, we had a cake at small group with candles and singing, they sang at fridays to him, we had a party yesterday, and brian says tonight after softball we are all going out for his birthday again, he's joking, but its because justins birthday has been a week long celebration. its just funny seeing as he thinks birthdays are dumb. BIRTHDAYS ARE NOT DUMB!

Well sunday came, all too fast. when its a busy weekend it flies, and before you know it, its the last day before you have to go back to work. boooo! Well we had church and justin preached and then we got ready for the party and i ran errands. It rained a little bit, but not enough to ruin the partay! We had lots of good friends there, and their awesome kids that we love so much and everyone had a good time! We played cornhole and grilled out, and ate cake, even after it fell on the ground. it was still yummy. I loved after it got a little slow and people had left that friends were just sitting on my front porch talking and swinging. I like that sort of thing. Well, here are some of the pictures and ill post more on the manny website for you people who dont have facebook. mainly our families need that =) mom, dont forget you can click on the picture to make it bigger. have a good week everyone!



and here is the picture of our lovely back patio all done!

San Antonio, TX

Well Im back from San Antonio, alive, and missing my family already. I really did just have such a good time! My flights there and back were wonderful and Jesus really is so cool. Once Justin dropped me off at the airport i was totally calm and ready to just get on and go see my family. It was amazing! And Justin was so sweet, he called me about 10 minutes after he dropped me off and was crying because he said he just hated to see me scared and didnt want me to feel like that and wished he could go with me to make me feel better. I love him for that! Anyway, well I got there and the whole fam was there to pick me up with signs and all. Taylor immediately ran up and jumped up on me and stayed that way the remainder of the trip pretty much, right up on me, but i loved it! I thought maybe they have forgotten me! We went to the Rainforest Cafe to get some food first and I just was in heaven being with all of them. It was so good to see my dad again and talk with him. I love how everywhere we went when we couldnt find him, he was off talking to somebody, he always finds someone to listen to him. haha. After lunch we walked around the Riverwalk and then headed home to go to the opening of the new pool in their neighborhood. The kids really wanted to swim so we all got our bathing suits on and went back up there and i played in the water with them. it was sooooo fun!

Well while was there I got to sleep with Taylor every night in her little bed, and it was so awesome. She would always throw her little arm across me and get real close, not that you could help but be really close in a twin. It was just the sweetest thing. In the morning she would wake up before me, but she would lay there until I woke up, sometimes just staring at me, or playing with her baby doll. My mom said after I left she said she missed me and wanted me to come sleep with her again. I always thought I was a bad bed partner but she loves me! she really loves me! haha

Well Saturday we lounged around and got stuff ready and ran errands for the birthday parties on sunday. We went up to my Bubba's work too for a BBQ and met lots of people there that he works with. My mom and I also did a little shopping which never hurts, i like shopping with my marms! That night we grilled out and played games outside and watched basketball. Tanner is an insane jock. He plays it all, hockey, golf, baseball, football, soccer, its nuts. He is so hardcore about it too. I was playing paddle ball with him and he stands like he is ready for andre agassi to hit to him, all positioned correctly and whatnot. its really funny. He's only 5!

So Sunday was the day of birthday parties. There was one at 2 and one at 5. It was so neat getting to see the kids with their friends and meeting Bubba and Chris' friends too. I ate way too much cake though. Diets are not in affect for vacation though, thats what I say!

Monday morning I woke up and was sad because I knew I had to leave later that day =( My brother really wanted to take my dad to a car show, my dad just loves that stuff! Whenever I couldnt find him on a Saturday night I always drove to BK on 9 mile and there he was talking to a bunch of people. He really loves cars. We had a good time there, me and the boys, and I was glad me and bubba were able to hang out with dad. We got home and I packed all my stuff and we went to a good burger place before heading to the airport.

When I got to the airport I found out my flight could be delayed over two hours! That stunk. However, Jesus rocks and we left only about 30 mintues late and so I made it to my connecting flight two minutes before it took off! YEA! perfect timing! I actually realize that I love flying alone. I like to talk to strangers and what better place to meet one than on a flight. I had such fun people sitting next to me on every flight. On two of the planes I sat next to a pilot and he told me all about flying and planes. And I sat next to a pastor of a church here in Cincinnati and he was coming home from a Mission trip in Guatamala. I liked talking to all those people. Well when I got in Justin was standing there with a sign that said "Hey Jill, You didnt Die." haha, i love him! I knew Id feel ridiculous for worrying and Im hoping to remember this next time. I really did feel just so close to Jesus through all of it because I would pray when I got nervous and it was incredible to see the peace that passes all understanding calm my heart.

So Im home now and back at work and all, and cant wait for my next trip to Pcola to see all you gals that I miss so much! Oh yea, and Justin finished his HOLE! did I spell it right that time Jo? haha. It is now a beautiful patio and we went and got some furniture for it last night at Target. I cant wait to cook out and eat out there on it!

oh yea, i put all the pictures on our website, the link is to the right and says Our Photo Albums, I know you will be looking for it bubba.=) hope you all are having a wonderflastic week!

blessings

just a few things im so thankful for today,

first, my dad's voice last night on the phone. im so glad he's back, i called my mom as soon as i knew he was off that plane and probably with her.

also, the gap distribution store, where i bought a dress for 10 bucks whereas it is still at GAP stores for $70, and i love great finds, i also got a great pair of running shorts for $2, and lots of other great deals, but i wont bore you with all of it.

next, the sunshine, i love sitting outside, playing with alex, reading a book, taking a walk, all with the sun on my skin

and my favorite thing of all, this mornings kiss. i usually wake up when justin gets up and get ready, but this morning i didnt because he woke up earlier and i guess i was just still so sleepy. but then right before he left i felt him kiss my skin on my back, it was such a great feeling. i really love him

funness

I had such a good time this past weekend. It was nice and relaxing and I was able to spend a lot of good time with Justin. I mean we always hang out but we are usually in groups every time we do anything or if we are at home we are both working on our own little projects. I just like feeling very connected to him and I need our one on one time to do that sometimes. Here is a little recap of our weekend!

Friday night we of course went to Roy Rogers and then Starbucks spending countless hours cracking one another up, being completely retarded, and I then shook my toosh for complete strangers that I did not see sitting on the patio outside of Starbucks. I could have sworn we were the only ones there, but apparently I was wrong and ended up putting on quite a show. Oh well.

Saturday, Justin had to work for the circus walking on stilts and juggling at a little after party for the Cystic Fibrosis walk at the Levee. I went with him since it was only an hour long job and I sat at Barnes and Noble looking at magazines and books. I love doing that! I did go down and see him for a bit and took pictures since all of you seem to be confused when I say Justin is in the circus! Haha. I posted a couple here so you can see what he does. We had lunch on the deck at Moe’s and then took a walk over the purple people bridge. It was a really nice day and I didn’t want to just leave and go sit at home so I figured a little walk would be fun! Afterwards, we stopped at the Mariemont Carnival on the way home to see all the kids Justin subs and the teachers he works with sometimes. It was so cute watching them all do the cake walk, and bounce house, I just loved being a kid and doing that.

Ok, so you all hear me talk about Justin and his whole. Well, here is a picture of the whole he dug, LAST YEAR! It is finally getting finished. We went to Home Depot Saturday afternoon for like three hours and got everything we needed to finish our patio. Ridiculous. Anyway, he started laying the stone last night with one of our youth kids and its about halfway done now. I cant wait til its all finished and we can eat outside under a cute little umbrella and I can lay out on a chair on the patio and not in the grass.

Also last night, after the patio laying, the JR’s and SR’s had a banquet to raise money for their mission trip to Jamaica that’s in July. I really really love our kids and just the connection we have with all of them and the relationships. They just love on us and make us laugh and make us feel cool. It was a silent auction/dinner so when you got there you got a number and were able to bid on stuff. I only bid on one thing and it was only to counter-bid kyle and make him frustrated and wonder who was doing it! Haha, im sneaky! Neither of us got it though. Hehe. After the bidding there was dinner and the kids served us and everything was black and white with a splash of hot pink! I LOVED IT! Just my style! When we walked in Jenny was like, “Jill I know you love this!” I love how my friends know me so well! After dinner there was also a live auction. That was so exciting! I loved how everyone was just nuts about getting what was up for bid, and just when you thought it was SOLD someone else would raise their hand. Haha, I know it sounds silly, but it was so thrilling! Some of our kids did some singing, they are just so talented and Im so proud of them, and so proud to know them and be able to pour into their lives whatever I can. I know they are all going to have such an impact on those children in Jamaica.

Usually I am sad the weekend is over but this week has so many fun things planned so Im not too sad about it! I have softball tonight, tomorrow some of us girls are going to the gap outlet. Wednesday is patio finishing, and LOST season finale. Thursday is small group and we are having breakfast and that’s my favorite! And Friday I leave for Texas and I cant wait for that and to see me family and my dad will be there and back from Kazakhstan! I hope everyone else has a really fun week ahead too!

Ciao =)

i love the fishes cuz their so delicious

i basically just have random thoughts, feelings, stories, and pictures to share

first, im addicted to goldfish! i dont know how this happened. i guess i just started eating what I feed alex and well, that happens to be goldfish. however for me, it is somewhat of crack/coccaine. on the days when im not at work i feel that these are good times to not eat goldfish since i eat half a carton everyday, however i walk into target and am like, hm i guess ill pick some up. i have a problem!

well, we have been back from our mini vacation for about 4 days now and i really did have such a good time. you all of course know how much i LOVE justins family but the thing i loved other than that was the hotel room. dont worry, no raunchy stories will be told. so, the bathroom was huge! im used to our little bathroom with a countertop big enough to hold a curling iron barely, but it burns the other things because everything is so close, and a shower, and an old toilet. well this past weekend we had a huge counter with TWO sinks, which i loved, (no looking down to spit out toothpaste and seeing justin loog) and i got to take a bath! because there was a shower and a big tub! also, we had the AC on as cold as we wanted, our huge bed was made when we got in and we had a clean bathroom and more towels. i just like the way it feels to be on vacation! i really wish we could have a honeymoon every 6 months or something. also while there, we went to Bristol, its a racetrack for those who didnt know. anyway, i think my husband becomes a little more redneck everyday. wanted you to know.

as most of you know, i have talked about it a lot so you proabably all know, i am afraid to fly. i am going to texas May 25th for my twin neice and nephews birthday and im really happy about seeing them, but anxious about flying, well more like anxious about crashing and dying. dont make fun of me, everyone has their irrational fears. well, i have decided that i am going to go for sure, with a smile on my face because i look at this like something me and God are doing. i have been reading stories in the bible lately about certain characters situations they went thru with God. i have began to see this as something God is doing in me and with me, to get me over a silly fear and let all worry go and let him have control. it may sound weird to you, but its hard to explain. its like me and justin working through something, but its me and God working through what i am seeing as a trust issue. so, now i just wish it were here already so i can do it, get it over with, and see how cool it will be to have God do this in me. im sure many of you are glad to hear that after my psychotic break downs.

also, next weekend most of my girlfriends are all going to be in pensacola and well, im sad i wont be able to hang out with all of you! jo, emily, kristi, heather, danielle, have a good time and call me when you are all together and know that i wish i was there, but will be in june for the summerford nuptials! YEA!

ok, im going to take alex on a walk! have a GREAT weekend everybody!

Contentment

I cant think of much to blog about, most of you who read this blog read kristi's and have already read about our time together here in Cincinnati and seen all the pictures. I have been reading a really good book though and so maybe ill just post some of my favorite parts of it here for you. Its called Calm My Anxious Heart, and I love it! I really do suffer from anxiety or paranoia or something so this book is perfect for me, the worry wart. The book deals a lot with worrying, but also with contenment and being happy in your roles and relationships, and with who you are and what you have. Some of these are convicting, and some just enlightening.

"Contentment is essentially accepting from God's hand what He sends because we know that He is good and therefore it is good."

"Two women look through prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars."

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Be careful what you dwell on for that you will surely become."

"You will never really enjoy other people, you will never have stable emotions, you will never lead a life of godly contentment, you will never conquer jealousy and love others as you should, until you thank God for making you the way he did."

"A Christian is a candidate for confinement and unspeakable suffering until her or she fully and completly forgives others, even the others may be in the wrong." this was a big chapter for me, forgiveness. Not because I dont want or like to forgive but because I dont think I really do it like God wants me to. I may get over what somebody has done or continuously do, but I dont let it go to the point where I stop identifying them with what they do that hurts me. Hebrews 12:15 says, See to it that no one misses the grace of God. I need to forgive and see those people the way Christ does.

A.W. Tozer, one of my favorite writers said, "Within the human heart things have taken over. God's gifts now take the place of God and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution."

"Happiness is getting what we want, Contentment is wanting what we get."

ok this chapter was one of my favorites, read this poem by a 14 year old

It was spring but it was summer i wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors
it was summer but it was fall i wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air
it was fall but it was winter i wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season
it was now winter but it was spring i wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature
i was a child but it was adulthhood i wanted; the freedom and the respect
i was twenty but it was thirty i wanted; to be mature and sophisticated
i was middle-aged but it was twenty i wanted; the youth and the free spirit
i was retired but it was middle-age that i wanted; the presence of mind withouth limitations
my life was over but i never got what i wanted.

how many people do this, walk around waiting for the next season of life to come, or wishing they could go back.

"You can mimic goodness, but godliness cannot be imitated."

"anxiety is that which divides and distracts the sould, that which diverts us from present duty to weary calculations of how to meet conditions that may never arrive. Its the habit of crossing the bridges before we reach them."

"worry doesnt empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."

"worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do but it wont get you anywhere"

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."

"Faith is the bulwark that keeps us strong even when we're assailed by agonizing thoughts about what might happen or by what has happened."

Contentment is a soul sufficiency available to everyone, a peace separate from our circumstances

Contentment comes from a proper relationship to God, not from a response to the circumstances

"Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past, nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future, but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His."

and last, i love this poem by Helen Keller. A Lot of times, esp us women, complain about our "frame" and when i read this i was so convicted to stop complaining. Everytime I look down at my chunky monkey legs i thank God that they both move instead of wining about them. try to be grateful with whats so awesome about how God made you instead of the tiny things that you dont consider perfect.

They took away what should have been my eyes
(But I rememberd Milton's Paradies)
They took away what should have been my ears
(Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)
They took away what should have been my tongue
(But I had talked to God when I was young)
He would not let them take away my soul,
Posessing that, I still possess the whole.


I dont know if any of this means anything to anybody but me right now, but this is just a lot of what God has been teaching me and I just love it all so much. Everybody have a good weekend!

happy early birthday to my husband!

Well, i was planning on going car shopping with justin around his birthday and getting him a new car but the deal just was too good to pass up, so its a little early of a bday gift. that’s right, justin no longer drives Ese the green machine! he has a new truck! im really so happy for him. he has had the same “piece” since he was 17, its so messed up and everyday i worry that he will be driving it somewhere and it will just explode. justin doesnt really need a nice car or anything, he really was fine driving a piece of junk, but i really think he deserved a little spoiling. it was such a good deal and was a “special” truck on their lot because the dealer bought it for a specific customer and then the customer didnt buy it. so since its a new 06 and the new 08’s are coming out soon, this dealer basically wanted to move it off their lot and was selling if for super cheap. God is seriously good and we are so thankful. This is the truck justin has wanted since we were in college and never thought he would be able to afford it and its got everything he wanted on it and it was affordable. Its so neat to see how it all worked out, and just in time, Ese could kick it any day now. I just wanted to share that all with you since its sorta a neat story. God always provides and blesses us!

Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend

i know i know, its been a while. i guess i just really hate blogging about non sense that tortures people to read, but then thats all i really have to talk about i suppose, so if i didnt blog that, i probably wouldnt blog about much at all. so, onto the fun non sense i have been having! it finally got warm here and springtime has arrived! i love my walks with little alex and seeing all the beautiful flowers blooming and feeling the warm sun! im so glad that time is here now. i have been trying to find any sort of activity the requires being outdoors. it just seems like a crime to be indoors when its so awesome outside. Last weekend we spent the whole time doing fun stuff outside. Saturday haley and I went for a stinkin 6 mile run in the middle of the day in the hot sun! that night we all cooked out and then went bowling, which is where the picture up top is from. i havnt been bowling in a really long time and i forgot how much fun it is. sunday after church we went and got some sandwiches and all ate outside and then got some icecream! yum! that afternoon i went over to haleys and and me and her and kala layed out for a little while and then had a nice walk. since we were all already together we cooked out AGAIN that night. i love grilling out, its so fun and always so yummy. cheeseburgers are my favorite.

well the rest of the week has been pretty slow. i really feel like the past weekend was soooo fun that this whole week has been so slow because i just want the next fun weekend to come along. we still did some fun stuff in the evenings after work, like ultimate frisbee on tuesday, that was soooo fun, but i still love the weekend because i get to sleep in and then think about nothing all day, or what i have to do or where i have to be, its just completely open and i love that feeling! so, im so glad its finally FRIDAY! im so pumped! i get off early today because my bosses are going on a trip this weekend! i cant wait to get off and go for a run, its so beautiful and sunny and warm outside right now, and i definitely need a run after my three bowls of turtle cake last night at small group. i just love food ok! oo, and i get to mow the lawn! the weather finally allowed the grass to grow and so now it needs some cuttin, and i like doing it! oh yea everybody, by the way, i finally have internet at work as of today! yes! something else to do while my buddy is sleeping and im bored. well i think my little alex is waking up so im going to get him and we are going to have some lunch. i hope everyone’s day is as beautiful as it is here. have a really fun weekend everybody!!!

I love Snow days!!!

I just got home from work, 3 hours early, i might add. its snowing like crazy here and so my boss came home early and told me to get the heck out of there and hurry home before it got even more crazy. im a little worried about justin though, he went to play video games at this store, and get paid for it. it sounded good, but now he is really far away from me and it’s going to take him forever to get home. the snow is really beautiful though, i just love it! hopefully when he gets home we can play in it!

well, i suppose i could tell you all the fun stuff that happened in the last couple weeks, but first i cant remember it, and second, it really wasnt allll that interesting. Justin did finally get his christmas present, a Wii. he found one when his friend Rhett was in town and they played while Rhett was here. Its sorta funny to watch them.

The weekends have been pretty redundant with Roy Rogers on Friday then the guys play basketball, and the
girls hang out. Saturday I work out run errands, and then we all hang out on Saturday night. Sunday church, and lately we have started having lunch after church with someone every week. I really like that. When I lived in Pensacola, you always went to lunch with someone after church and when we moved here we just go to church and then go home. Well, unless its football season, but thats not really a nice meal after church and conversation, its more like a bunch of guys and me, eating overpriced wings and watching football. Anyway, I know thats dumb that I enjoy it so much, I just love the brunch feeling and conversation with good friends. This Sunday we had everyone over for the Super Bowl. It was sooo fun! We all had yummy food, and the guys watched football while the girls played games and the kids hung out in the basement.

isnt the snow so pretty!!! i have no idea why justin brought the cat out.