Here we are last weekend planting tulips (you can see the boxes in the background) and daffodils. We got about 150 in the ground, only about 300 more to go. :)
11.09.2006
Nothing Like the Rockies...
I cannot believe that it is mid-November.
I knew it would come fast, as soon as my mom got here it was 2 weeks with her, a week with Meredith, election day (Don't get me started), then fly to Idaho and before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and then I will be leaving for India...
I am currently in Boise, Idaho visiting my best friend from college, Heather, who is getting married while I am in India. (Yay for heather, sad that I can be there). So, I am here spending a few days with her, helping with wedding plans, and a bridal shower and whatever else. :) I had forgotten how much I LOVE the mountains. There is something that feels so safe about huge rocky mountains. Not to mention that Boise, is just a fun city... full of cool coffee shops. :-D
So far, Heather and I have been to lunch, a coffee shop, two florists, proofed wedding invitations, looked at Thank you cards, visited a hair dresser/massage/make-up/pedicure place, had dinner with her fiance (and his massive dog/wolf pet) and watched a few episodes of LOST.
I am hoping to finally figure out how to download pictures off of my new camera... so you may get some random pictures soon. :)
L
I knew it would come fast, as soon as my mom got here it was 2 weeks with her, a week with Meredith, election day (Don't get me started), then fly to Idaho and before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and then I will be leaving for India...
I am currently in Boise, Idaho visiting my best friend from college, Heather, who is getting married while I am in India. (Yay for heather, sad that I can be there). So, I am here spending a few days with her, helping with wedding plans, and a bridal shower and whatever else. :) I had forgotten how much I LOVE the mountains. There is something that feels so safe about huge rocky mountains. Not to mention that Boise, is just a fun city... full of cool coffee shops. :-D
So far, Heather and I have been to lunch, a coffee shop, two florists, proofed wedding invitations, looked at Thank you cards, visited a hair dresser/massage/make-up/pedicure place, had dinner with her fiance (and his massive dog/wolf pet) and watched a few episodes of LOST.
I am hoping to finally figure out how to download pictures off of my new camera... so you may get some random pictures soon. :)
L
11.03.2006
Vote Early & Vote Often
On Day 1206...
Well, I at least followed the first part of the statement. Today I voted. Odd, because it is Friday, not Tuesday, but apparently in Buncombe County, NC the week before election day you can vote early at the courthouse. It was nice because since we just moved I didn't know where my precinct was, so it solved that problem and I could do it before there were thousands of people in line.
Can you vote early where you are? My mother-in-law is not going to vote early because she says that half the fun of election day is standing in line with friends and talking. I guess I have never lived anywhere long enough to make friends with the people in my precinct. :-P
OK, that is all for now... just remember to VOTE!!!!
L
Well, I at least followed the first part of the statement. Today I voted. Odd, because it is Friday, not Tuesday, but apparently in Buncombe County, NC the week before election day you can vote early at the courthouse. It was nice because since we just moved I didn't know where my precinct was, so it solved that problem and I could do it before there were thousands of people in line.
Can you vote early where you are? My mother-in-law is not going to vote early because she says that half the fun of election day is standing in line with friends and talking. I guess I have never lived anywhere long enough to make friends with the people in my precinct. :-P
OK, that is all for now... just remember to VOTE!!!!
L
11.02.2006
Visa Issues
My Dad is My Hero.
Well, in preparation for our trip in December, not only do you need a passport (my first one expired 8 years ago :-P), for India we need a Visa as well.
If you think our government is slow, try theirs. I am positive that all of the employees in the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy are individuals who were "promoted" from some other government office, because of their amazing ability to do nothing 8 hours a day for years on end. According to the paperwork it takes 10 working days from when they get your paperwork. Well, I sent ours on Oct 3, and as of yesterday as still not received the return receipt let alone our passports with that lovely little stamp. So, three days ago I started calling...
I probably called 30 times. (They are only open for inquiries from 9:30-12:30). No one EVER answers the phone, AND all of the mailboxes are full, so there is no possible way to even leave a message. I was beginning to get nervous when the Calvary arrived...
They must have a special hotline for Indians because they answered my dad's call AND they even answered his questions!! And thankfully our visas are in the mail. I won't rejoice properly until I have my passport back in my hands, but I am very thankful for dad's... especially Indian ones. :)
L
Well, in preparation for our trip in December, not only do you need a passport (my first one expired 8 years ago :-P), for India we need a Visa as well.
If you think our government is slow, try theirs. I am positive that all of the employees in the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy are individuals who were "promoted" from some other government office, because of their amazing ability to do nothing 8 hours a day for years on end. According to the paperwork it takes 10 working days from when they get your paperwork. Well, I sent ours on Oct 3, and as of yesterday as still not received the return receipt let alone our passports with that lovely little stamp. So, three days ago I started calling...
I probably called 30 times. (They are only open for inquiries from 9:30-12:30). No one EVER answers the phone, AND all of the mailboxes are full, so there is no possible way to even leave a message. I was beginning to get nervous when the Calvary arrived...
They must have a special hotline for Indians because they answered my dad's call AND they even answered his questions!! And thankfully our visas are in the mail. I won't rejoice properly until I have my passport back in my hands, but I am very thankful for dad's... especially Indian ones. :)
L
10.23.2006
10.20.2006
10.12.2006
Passing
Andrew's paternal grandfather Earl went home to be with the Lord early this morning. Although it is never easy, there is a peace that comes from knowing he knew the Lord, and that he has lived a long (92 years), blessed life.
Andrew & I will be driving to eastern NC tomorrow for the funeral.
Please pray for his grandmother Helen, their 8 children and many grand & great-grand children.
Blessings,
L
Andrew & I will be driving to eastern NC tomorrow for the funeral.
Please pray for his grandmother Helen, their 8 children and many grand & great-grand children.
Blessings,
L
10.10.2006
10.09.2006
Life Without Internet Access
On Day 1181...
It is hard to imagine that in 2006 some people do not have access to the internet, but I think that we could qualify for some sort of "unplugged" prize. Although, our cell phones do work at home, the development we just moved into has not run phone or cable lines... so until that glorious day we are forced to live in the dark ages. :)
Here is a Top 10 List from the past few weeks:
(in case you were wondering what we have been up to)
10. Dealing with the ramifications of having my purse stolen.
My mother-in-law got a call late one night saying that someone had found my check book in a parking lot on the other side of town. They called her because I am not in the phone book, thank goodness she is related to me. The offenders also made a bunch of charges during the 24 hours before they shut my work credit card off. Thankfully they like junk food, gasoline & subway more than electronics, clothes and cars. :)
It is hard to imagine that in 2006 some people do not have access to the internet, but I think that we could qualify for some sort of "unplugged" prize. Although, our cell phones do work at home, the development we just moved into has not run phone or cable lines... so until that glorious day we are forced to live in the dark ages. :)
Here is a Top 10 List from the past few weeks:
(in case you were wondering what we have been up to)
10. Dealing with the ramifications of having my purse stolen.
My mother-in-law got a call late one night saying that someone had found my check book in a parking lot on the other side of town. They called her because I am not in the phone book, thank goodness she is related to me. The offenders also made a bunch of charges during the 24 hours before they shut my work credit card off. Thankfully they like junk food, gasoline & subway more than electronics, clothes and cars. :)
9. Cooking
There are four women in our church that have just had/are having babies in the month of October. One who is having twins!! So, Saturday Drew, Ryan & I spend the day cooking up a storm. We made 4 batches of chicken noodle soup, 2 pans of layered meat loaf, loads of cookies & 2 pumpkin pies to distribute on Sunday.
8. Youth Group
Our church has started a great new study, it is called The Person of Jesus study. It is discussion based and going through different attributes of Christ, honesty, compassion etc. If you have not done the study I would strongly recommend it. I have been teaching it to the middle school girls twice a month. And next week we are having the entire youth group (40+ kids) over to our house for a cookout and game night. It should be crazy :)
7. Landscaping
Since we only plan to stay in this house 2 years, we are trying to get as many plants into the ground this fall as possible so that when we put it on the market a year from this June the potential buyers will be so overwhelmed by the cuteness of house, that they will make a full price offer on the spot. I am sure that my viney pink flowers growing all over the porch and the thousands of tulips and daffodils will go a long way toward this end. Not to mention the mums, japanese maple, nandina, holly, asters & black-eyed susans. They say that landscaping makes the difference... I hope they (whoever that may be) are right. :) I will post pictures once I get a new camera.
6. Mailbox
We finally have a mailbox at our house! It may sound small, but to have a mailbox, and a number on your house goes a long way toward getting you mail. The fact that we were told the wrong zip code and didn't find out until last week has set us back a bit, but Fed Ex has found us... now we just need to get the post office & UPS to find the house and we will be good to go!
5. Camera - The Canon Rebel XTi
I have been researching cameras for a while now. I have been saving for over a year for the perfect camera. An SLR, but nothing huge, one that I won't hate carrying around with me throughout our Malaysia & India trip, but big enough that it can take nice pictures. Well, I have found it. 10 Mega Pixels, automatic (for the lazy me) and manual (for the person I want to be). Drew & I are taking a 1 day Digital Photography class this month and I hope to take a class at the local community college in the spring. :) (Jen, I wish you lived closer so I could follow you around... sadly I will just have to enjoy seeing your pictures).
4. Furniture
It has been a long time in coming, but we finally have something to sit on!! When we moved in all of our dingy college furniture moved to the Bonus Room, and our main level was left practically bare. There were 2 folding chairs, and I made a bar stool using one of the chairs and my little step stool, but it was far from comfortable. After many many hours of looking I finally decided on some bar stools (thank you BBB clearance) but they had to be shipped from Kentucky... so last Monday they arrived (as I said before, Fed Ex has been the only one to find our house) and Ryan spend many hours putting them together. But we now can eat breakfast sitting, not standing. And then Saturday, the couch arrived, so it is beginning to really feel like a house! Now all we need is a rug and a fire in the fireplace. :)
3. FALL IS HERE!
Fall in the mountains is one of the most beautiful things on earth. I wait all year long for the temperature to drop, and the leaves to start changing and pull out my sweat shirts and jeans. Growing up in Utah fall was the month of September, but now in NC, fall is September - November and I LOVE it! The leaves are just beginning to change, and the temp has been a consistent 65 for 3 weeks now, and it is supposed to continue for at least that long. Hopefully Mom, Buzz & Meredith will be able to enjoy it with us... which leads me to my next point...
2. Visitors!
My mom and my youngest brother will be here a week from today!! They are going to be here for 2 weeks, just spending time with us (and maybe doing a few projects... hint hint mom :). The 2 bedrooms have clean sheets and by the end of the day they should have lights that work, and a bathroom to use with towels and a shower curtain. :) I can't wait!!! AND, Ryan's girlfriend Meredith is also coming to visit. Her trip will overlap a little with my mom, so it should be a continuous party!
1. Trips
And finally, I will be taking one short trip before we leave for India. I booked my tickets yesterday. One of my best friends from college, and the maid of honor in my wedding, is getting married!!! Sadly, I will be out of the country on her wedding day, so I am flying out for her bridal shower and to spend a few more days with her before she becomes Heather Jennings. :)
L
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