return to the blog

I can't believe it has been almost an entire year since I last blogged.  I never really meant to stay away so long.  It just happened.  We've had a lot going on in life, so I don't really regret the break.  I always want to be true about our journey (never fake) and I was fearful of being "too real" on the world-wide-web for all to see and read.  In order to keep those things private that aren't meant for all to know, I retreated and skipped out completely.  I kept a hand-written journal instead.

In the last year, infertility has taken us on a wild, crazy ride ... making our marriage tough, wreaking havoc on our emotions, causing difficulty in our friends/family relationships, straining our wallet, and deepening, yet questioning, our Faith.  But thanks be unto God, we have survived and survived well.  All praise belongs to Him.  God is so good.  And He never, ever fails. 

I want to continue blogging to chronicle our journey and to keep family/friends both far and near informed.  It is sometimes needful and enjoyable to look back and remember the path life has taken us on.  Thankfully, now many of those tough, rough miles are just a memory.

hacked

she's been hacked... :)

Happy Birthday

to one of the

sweetest,

most thoughtful,

fabulous,

one-of-a-kind

girls ever.

Sidenote:

Please excuse all the blogging adjustments.

It is in construction phase.

just thinking

I anticipate having internet available at home next week. =))
Blogging regularly again may happen soon. YAY!
I failed to blog about several important dates.
I have a lot of 'catching up' to do on documenting memories.
I've missed sorting through and spilling out my thoughts.
Fast-paced continues to describe our life.
But, I'm trying more and more to live in the moment.
Trying NOT to focus on tomorrow or the next big event.
Realizing that today matters.
Every single hour counts.
And I desire to accomplish a mission with lasting effects.
God has given me this day,
these hours, these minutes, each second.
I do not want to waste what I've been given.

blog post? what is a blog post?

Wow! It has been quite some time since I last blogged.
Actually over a month.
Our laptop has a virus.
And we're still deciding on what to do about that.
Working again has been a HUGE adjustment for me.
And life has just been plain busy, as you will see:

During the month of September:
My Tahoe spent nearly two weeks in the shop
with a broken AC and a non-functioning fuel pump.
It was a wonderful feeling to be reunited.
We partied with my sweet cousin/'sis'/friend, Ashley on her birthday.
The 6th marked 13 years of dating for me and Chris. :)
Swimming, pool parties, swimming, and more swimming.
Spent a weekend celebrating sweet Samuel's first birthday.
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with all the folks in Virginia.
Our church was in revival for a week with Rev. Lynn Head.
God is doing awesome things in the lives of His children.
On the 18th, we along with friends hit Dollywood for the day.
And that was a complete BlAsT!
At our church's ladies meeting, we shared DELICIOUS recipes.
I enjoyed getting some new recipes to add to my collection.
Chris had to work a weekend or too. (BUMMER)
Since he is sleeping during the day,
it is rather boring for me -- and too quiet!
I walked with some friends in our local Disability Awareness Walk.
My cousin, Adam, preached at our church on Sunday, the 26th.
What a great service that was!
And between all the activities, life happened ...
you know ... laundry, dirty dishes, etc.
I plan to be back to blogging regularly.

ain't feeling too bloggy

How's that for some southern talk?
It has been 6 days since the last post.
And honestly, that was an old post that I scheduled out.
Life has been busy lately.
(and that's mildly stating the facts)
I started a new job ... more details on that later.
I've been cleaning house like a mad-lady.
Organizing, organizing, and more organizing.
Spending time with Chris.
Helping my friend, T.
I've been rising early at the beckon of an alarm clock.
(sometimes before the sun rises)
And crashing after midnight on most nights.
So, when there is little time for blogging, I'm exhausted and tired
and well, my brain just isn't functioning properly to form a post.
So, there's the reason for my absence.
I hope to be back at it soon.
As soon as the pace slows a little,
and I find the new normal. :)
Tootles!

back to blogging

i'm back.

from the graveyard.
the graveyard shift, that is. 3rd.
I couldn't handle it.
the shift.
the manufacturing setting.
so much routine and monotony.
and working alone all night long.
very un-fulfilling.
so, I quit.-- of course, with Chris' urging.
it was driving me crazy.

I have a few 1st shift jobs that I am applying for.
although, Chris and I will no longer be on the same shift.
we feel that I'll be happier and less stressed.
and he'll just sleep while I work.
and I'll sleep while he works.
so we'll spend time together each evening.
pray for us that all falls into place as He would have it.

my March & April 2010 picture folders has over 300 pictures.
pictures and memories i need to blog about.
so get ready for regular posts and a picture overload.

pure bliss

nope,

D and I didn't make it to the Blissdom conference for bloggers.

we're just amateurs at blogging.

with a handful of readers.

but whether we chat on IM,
text a lengthy conversation,
make a phone call to each other,
or our paths cross on the street
in a small town at a funeral home
visiting our family who sadly lost a loved one,
I always walk away smiling, feeling encouraged, and blessed.

it's bliss. pure bliss.

happy 100th!

wow! i can't believe

i actually "stuck with" blogging
i've really and truly written 100 entries?

sort of an achievement {i guess}

blogging has definitely proven to be

an enjoyable pastime, (if you can call it such)

an up-to-date connection with my family&friends,

a thought processor and sort-of stress reliever,

and an online scrapbook/journal.

(one day, i can print into book form, if i so choose)

so, i'll keep plodding blogging along.

in celebration of my 100th post,

i have one single wish:

to know who YOU are.

could you? would you leave a comment on this post?

just say "hi!" or let me know you visit.

to make your 'trouble' worthwhile and for a good cause,

and as part of an ongoing fulfillment

of my 2010 resolutions,

i'm going to do something different,

for every person who leaves a comment on this post,

i will donate $1 to our local pregnancy care center.

[with a minimum of $25, in case no one plays along. ha!]

and now, i'm off to celebrate!

um, not really - um, not at all, really. lol.

there's dinner to be made.

and a to do list waiting.

it's life.

every mile a memory

Life has been happening fast for me and mine. I feel like I'm on an endless trip. I want to safely come to a complete stop, climb out, and run home! But, I am trying hard to hang on, trusting God who knows all ... and cherish the moments together.

With the real estate markets suffering most in our nation's current economic situation, builders have fallen in line behind realtors as fewer houses are being sold, and fewer are being built. With little work in our area, Chris has taken advantage of an opportunity with friends in North Carolina, constructing storage buildings for Graceland Portable Buildings (http://gracelandportablebuildings.com/).

I have returned to work. I am teaching kindergarten at a small Christian school in Virginia, while Chris and I live on-campus in a furnished apartment there. I only have four students and I am enjoying it. I also work with a wonderful group of teachers. This keeps me busy and occupies my time so that I don't think about missing home so much.

I've enjoyed making our little apartment cozy and feel like home. We've definitely learned that we can live with a lot less "stuff" since we chose not to move everything. (in hopes that this move is only temporary) We found that all we need is a few sentimental items, our blankets and pillows, clothes, food, and many pictures of all our friends and family ... of course most importantly, we have each other.

While being so far away from home is not ideal, nor our primary choice, but we are thankful for the many friends and church family that have reached out to us with open arms here in Virginia. It's been wonderful to make new friends, renew old acquaintances, and spend more time with friends whom distance hindered previously.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make the best of this journey and every mile a memory.

why blog?

1. Everyone else is doing it.

2. Blogging is "cool". (ha! ha!)

3. I surrendered to friendly peer pressure.

4. To keep in touch with my family and friends.

5. It is healthy. Friends say it's therapeutic to process thoughts/feelings on their blogs. I could use less stress.

6. To journal our life. I don't have a lot of spare time; so scrapbooking has become a hobby of my past. Although blogging takes time, it is quicker than cutting and gluing.



So here I am: blogging.

progress

I am working at this thing called a blog.
It's a tough task.
I want it to be good.
I want every detail to be correct.
And I lack time to do it all.
Slowly, but surely, it will get there.
A little at a time.

(Thanks to my sweet cousin, D. She worked on it for me today)