Bumpersticker of the Day

Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities
Can Make You Commit Atrocities

TRADITION!

I can't believe it has been a year since this picture was taken... this will be the 5th year that we have braved the crowds and ventured into downtown DC to see the cherry blossoms with some of our best friends from our college days. Every year we meet on the National Mall, walk around all the monuments and finish with dinner at Uno's in Union Station. 5 years ago at the Cherry Blossom Festival A & I had just started to get to know each other, 4 years ago we were engaged in front of the Lincoln Memorial and we have gone back every year since then... and we are leaving in 2 hours and 58 minutes to do it again... I can't wait!

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

Anarchy is Inevitable

When it Rains it Pours

On Day 1185...

As many of you know, two of the five people in our office quit within a week of each other, and without notice almost two months ago, so needless to say since Jan. 23 life has been less than fun. Andrew has gone from 40 to 60+ hours every week and weekends are for nothing more than recovery. Well, poor A has been really stressed, and this morning he looked up the definition of burnout, and we found that he fit every part. Well, 10 minutes ago he called saying he was on his way home, and 5 minutes ago he called to say that he had rear-ended a woman at a light (it turned green and she didn't go) and that he wouldn't be home for a while. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I guess we are going to find out.

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

My son was INMATE OF THE MONTH in the County Jail.

Here is Your Post Ryan!

This weekend A's uncle from NYC visited with his wife and son, Fessil. We had a blast with the little boy, who is two and knows what a helicopter is, and pointed out the cockpit of an airplane for us. So here is a picture of Fessil and Kristin, A's sister. :)

Bumpersticker of the Day

America Eats its Young

Not Home Yet

It has been a while since I have blogged about our house, and that is because it was moving so slow and taking so long, and we had to deal with so many awful (that is a REALLY nice term)people that all I could do was scream, and the post would have looked something like.... AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! And nothing else... so I thought I would save it for when there was something to actually show.

Well, here is a picture of our practically completed foundation, taken last night. On the left is the garage and on the right you see an outline of what will be the front porch. We will frame the back portion of the house up to the same level (since it is cheaper to frame than to lay block), but the front walls had to be level with the road.

Below area few pictures from the process.

L :)

And this is Andrew standing next to the back wall of the garage. Yes, we should have put a basement in, but it didn't look THAT steep when we started. Oh well, live and learn. We will do it better next time. :) 

And this is the front porch, to the right of the garage. Can't picture anything?? Me neither. 

You are looking at the front wall of the garage... exciting huh??? I am standing on the road. 

This was taken earlier this month as they started the foundation for our house. L 

A Blast from the (before they existed) Past

My church at home had an 80's Game Night. The drawn on chest hair and cut off jean jacket are nice touches. Are everyone's brothers so "unique?" :) Here are a few more pics.

Nate & Buzz.... the New Kids on the Block. Ek. 

How Do You Spell Sanity?

In an attempt to make my part-time job less than 45 hours a week, I have been taking every Wednesday off. ( It is a lot harder to get sucked into working longer when you aren't at the office. :) Yesterday was my third Wednesday, and each one is better and better.

I love having a day off in the middle of the week, it is nice to do errands on days when the rest of the world is working. And I love my husband A LOT, but he is so very distracting that I don't get much done when he is around.

My first Wednesday I puttered around the house, worked out at the gym and answered email, but last week I did over 20 errands and spend some time with a sick (as in morning-sickness) friend and even had time to be home and make dinner. And yesterday I woke up with more than my usual allotment of energy so I attacked the house with everything I had. I finished listing to The Great Gatsby on CD while thoroughly cleaning the kitchen and even mopping (I figured that when I stuck to the floor it was probably time to break out the mop). I stripped the beds, did 5 loads of laundry and took out the trash (although I had my manly-helper's assistance on this one). I went to the gym (in the SNOW, which took supernatural power), the grocery store, the dry cleaners and even baked bread for a friend before choir. :)

And the best part is, when I get back to work there are only 2 more days until the weekend!

L

P.S. This post was sponsored by the GREATEST MOST AMAZING husband in the world, because without his hard work and selfless attitude I would not be able to work part-time and have my weekend in the middle of a week.

P.P. S In case you were wondering, sanity is spelled

W - E - D - N - E - S - D - A - Y

Bumpersticker of the Day

American by Birth

Southern by the Grace of God

ESS COP A! (Think Finding Nemo)

On Day 1179...

This weekend A & I left the cares of the world (meaning cell phones and internet connections) behind, and enjoyed a weekend together (staying at a Hilton didn't hurt anything either...). We attended a Weekend to Remember Conference about 2 hours away in Charlotte, NC. It was an amazing time of reflection, relaxation and meaning conversation. We ate at an Indian Restaurant and the Cheesecake Factory... in addition to a couple trips to Starbucks. :) And listened to about 4+ hours of Anna Karenina in CD... only 34 hours left (no, I am not exaggerating).

Someone once said that the only things you really believe are those you act on, not just what you think. This weekend was a perfect time to be reminded of all those things I "know" but don't make a conscience effort to put into practice. I just pray that I can keep it going once we re-enter real life. :)

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

Lefties Do It Right

Count 'em - 6!!!

Well folks,

Apparently there was something added to the water across the nation at the beginning of the year...because in the last week or two I have found out that SIX of my friends are expecting babies. I am just going to rent a room at the hospital at the end of October. :) So, to all of my friends... CONGRATULATIONS!

L

P.S. I have a good water purifier.

Bumpersticker of the Day

SILLY COWBOY!

Trucks are for Girls!

Bumpersticker of the Day

LOOKING FOR YOUR CAT?

Try checking under my tires.

Prayer Request

3 1/2 years ago my mom started working as an in-home nurse for a little girl named Michaela, who was at the time less than a year old and had many health problems. If any of you have seem my mom interact with children, you know that she is just magical, they love her almost instantly. So, it didn't take long for my mom to become Michaela's (and her family's) favorite nurse, and for my mom to fall in love with this little girl. Well, less than a week ago Michaela had a seizure and my mom called this morning to say that they had decided to take her off of life support, she is 4 years old. My mom spent all day yesterday with her family at the hospital and was heading back this morning. Please pray that my mom could be a witness to Michaela's family, who don't know the Lord. It is a very very sad situation, but it has opened up a door for my mom to really show them Christ's love in a way that they have not been open to before, from writing her obituary and finding a burial site to being their to comfort her family. Pray that God would pour out his love and comfort on my mom and Michaela's family.

Thank you-

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

If You Want to Wear Fur

STOP SHAVING

Accosted at Blockbuster

Such was the scene at Blockbuster on a Saturday night, not so long ago...

Innocent Man and Wife wandering through movie isles in search of nothing in particular, when Tall-Over-Zealous-Female-Employee approaches:

TOZFE: Hi! I'm Kat, can I help you find something?
Wife: Perhaps, if I knew what I wanted, but right now I am just looking...
TOZFE: Well, what kind of movie are you looking for, I can help you find something!!!
Wife: Something funny.

At this point the Man ABANDONS his WIFE!!!

TOZFE: Well, do you like dirty funny or dark funny?
W: (thinking to herself... do I look like the kind of person that would like either of those options???) Neither.
TOZFE: Oohhhh. I don't know of any good funny movies. JOSH!! (yelling across the store) Do you know of any good witty/smart funny movies??

Man smirking at predicament Wife is in and relieved that he managed to escape.

W: Thank you for your time, I am sure I will find something (turns to walk away).
TOZFE: Oh Wait!!! I have the perfect movie! But first, I have to ask if you are like one of those super-religious people? 'Cause this might offend those people. It is a weird question, I know, but I just like have to ask.
W: Ummm...
TOZFE: Well, anyway... You should watch this one. (Handing Wife Saved). I mean, most people don't like Mandy Moore, but it is funny... I think she is like Catholic or something... well she is just super-religious and then she gets pregnant by a gay guy and well, you should watch it. And......

Man practically laughing at his poor defenseless Wife.

W: (Taking the movie, just hoping to get her to stop!) Thanks, I'll check it out.

Man & Wife reunite and leave Tall-Over-Zealous-Female-Employee talking to anyone who will listen.

Man: See what happens when you talk to those people!?
W: YES, I won't ever again! Here! (Handing over Saved). Ditch it, and let's get out of here before she catches us!

Man & Wife leave store without Saved and manage to escape with out more trouble.

Moral of Story: Always look down when at movie store and talk only to those you with which you came.

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

Better to TAX and Spend than to BORROW and Spend

VOTE DEMOCRAT

Daffodil Digging

I love spring, and I LOVE daffodils, I have loved them for as long as I can remember. There were a few wild ones that grew by our house in Utah... one of the few things that grew there. :)

On Saturday A & I (and his parents) spent the day digging up daffodil bulbs at one of our construction sites (it is about to be leveled) and replanting them at in buckets until we can plant them at our home where they won't be run over by bulldozers and oblivious construction workers. I am anything but a green thumb, but thankfully A's mom is very good, and what she doesn't know she can find out. :) I can't wait until we have daffodils growing next to our house... but for now I have withering green leafy things and a mud pit. Check back in 8 months.

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

I'm Happier than a Carp in a Septic Tank.

Some People Never Learn

On Day 1162...

I have been feeling very "gray" lately. I can't really find another word to describe it. Do you ever wake up some mornings and realize you are soo far from where you wanted to be at this point in your life? That you are just living moment to moment, without a purpose, no goal, no motivation to move beyond the urgent...

Well, that has been my life of late. I have been working far more than full-time, which was a main reason we moved away from Washington D.C. and yet now I find myself falling back into the same patterns. The perfectionist in me takes over and overrides my reason/better judgment and life falls by the wayside... being a good friend (to others and to my husband), exercising, regular quiet time with God, healthy/real meals, a clean house... you name it. The calm is gone and frustration and exhaustion have taken its place.

I guess baby steps are the only way to quit the cycle. I have stopped working one day a week and have started getting up earlier, exercising and making time with God. It is a step, but I still haven't found the balance between living with purpose and enjoying each day... I suppose it will probably be a life-long question.

L

Confession

I admit it. I have become an addict.

L

Late Night at the Office

Well, as I write this post A & I are still sitting in our office (yes, it is almost 9:00pm). I am so glad I had my camera, so we can remember this moment forever... or something... Andrew was feeling a little (or perhaps a lot more than a little :) overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done, so after our regular busy day was over, we had dinner delivered and have been working all evening. I am calling it quits for the night (hence the post), and hopefully he will finish soon. I promise to post more soon... maybe even this evening if A works for much longer. :)

L