Oh my shining stars...

Our newest family member...

2009-12-11T07:58:00.000-06:00

For months we have been looking for another mini schnauzer. We bought Saint from a first-time breeder and had a wonderful experience with that, but really wanted to adopt from a shelter this time around. The Humane Society of St. Louis actually has an online database that lets you look for and have them e-mail you information any time a dog meeting your criteria comes around.

The first time I got an email with a miniature schnauzer puppy I had to convince Wayne that we could, should, would. After a day or two of begging, he finally gave in and we drove to the shelter only to find the puppy adopted out a mere 5 minutes earlier. I won't lie, I cried on the drive home. I had already named and puppy and thought of her as mine and was so disappointed to see us cut off from getting her so close.

Did I call ahead before coming? Yes I did. Would they let me put her on hold? I was told I could not. This process actually continued through three more dogs, narrowly missing our chance each time. I was really starting to think we were just going to be a one dog family. I didn't want to bring a new puppy into the house much later than Saint turning two (I understand it just gets harder for them to deal with a new "intruder" the older they get) and November marked his two year birthday.

And then...Coal came along. I got the e-mail with his sweet little schnauzer face and called Wayne immediately. The shelter opened at 11:00 and I could take my lunch and meet Wayne to see if this pup would be ours. We drove up to the shelter only to not find him in any of the rooms. Wayne beat me there and was already upset about it by the time I came in and double checked--nowhere to be found. We finally tracked down a volunteer and had them check the database. At first glance on his info it appeared that he was unavailable because of illness. It may sound pathetic to you, but I felt my heart come up into my throat as I realized we were going to be disappointed a fifth (and likely final) time.

"Let me call someone in the back and see if they know what the deal is--he shouldn't have been on the website if he really is still unavailable."
After much waiting (hello! Lunch break ticking away!) someone finally brought him up from the back to meet us. He had come in dehydrated, but was available for adoption after all!

You just can't believe how sweet he was (unless maybe you see how sweet he is now) when we met him. So small and sweet with a big tangle of un-groomed hair. He shuffled up to us nervously begging to be petted and held and I knew he was going to be our dog.

Kept Wayne working this weekend

2009-10-26T11:55:00.001-05:00

BEFORE (no mirror...just the mirror they smacked on the wall with no flair whatsoever...)

AFTER!

It is amazing what you can accomplish with a miter saw, paint and a little trim! Wayne also put up crown molding in the master bedroom this weekend (SWOON :)), but will wait until he has finished all the touchups to it before I post.

Every time we do a project (or two as is the case this weekend--Wayne's parents were in town and are as sweet as pie!) I remember this is our house. Every new paint color, every piece of furniture, every framed picture. Our house...

Way to worry too much

2009-10-19T19:51:00.000-05:00

Only four from my class showed up! I was a little disappointed, but really it was a good reunion. A little depressing to see the school the way it is now, but nice to be there and remember how important it really is to me.

You know, it's amazing how you can hate a place and so many of the things that went on in it, but still cry when you hear that it is closed. Cry when you see what it has become and how it is being vandalized. Cry when you realize that no matter how bad things were, it is still a huge part of what has formed you into the person you are.

Going home to DVB

2009-10-13T05:53:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago I received an online invite to the DeValls Bluff Alumni Reunion. Since then I have gone from excited to go and see a few friends I haven't seen for a while, to a nervous wreck. You see, this isn't just a class reunion, it's an alumni reunion, as in ALL alumni. I could take a class reunion much easier, but alumni means there will be a ton of people there that I do not know.

Oh, but Ronda, don't you know everyone from your home town? You would think so, but honestly I don't remember many of the people I went to school with. A school with 400 plus kids K-12 and I don't know many of the people that were in the class above or below me! Shame. on. me.

I'm planning on sucking up my anxiety and heading down to DVB Friday with the folks, Saturday with my former classmates, Sunday in worship services in Hazen and back to STL that afternoon.

Here's to hoping high school dramas do not resurface, rivalries do not rekindle, and that the catered catfish does not make a reappearance from my nerves.

So cute!! XD

2009-10-08T20:05:00.004-05:00

Wanting one of these little cuties so bad! Wish they weren't so expensive for an instant camera...although really it's just another camera to use to pester Wayne.

On my mind...

2009-10-06T12:19:00.003-05:00

Something that has recently really hit me is how much I want to adopt. Not right now, but in a few years when we were already planning on starting a family. If you ask Wayne, that is all he wants to do. He just feels like there are too many kids out there needing homes for us to have physically have our own. I know myself well enough to know I want the experience, but I also have recently come to an understanding of my need to adopt a child as well.

I know the picture may not make much sense to most, but I found it at etsy.com and one of the suggestions for location was the city from which you adopt your child. I can't tell you how much that one little print stirred something in me.

Three years from now, I hope we are beginning this journey.

Just a little lomo editing I did the other day

2009-10-06T12:17:00.001-05:00

I lied...

2009-09-08T07:13:00.002-05:00

I could ask for long weekends filled with time spent with the hubby instead of a few minutes spent watching him get ready and go to work :) That and no going to bed alone...ahhh I so love being a night shift widow!! GRRR

Still enjoyed the weekend even though it was sans Wayne all but Monday. Picked out a new bedroom set (being delivered Friday, yippy!!!) and spent quite a bit of time with Christina and Roger. Josh and Vanessa are down for a few days and so saw them at worship Sunday night and having late lunch with them today. (another yippy! I miss those two!!)

Favorite thing from the weekend (sans Monday with Wayne anyway): Roger and Christina coming to get me to watch a movie with them. I was in Dierbergs and apparently Roger was joking to here about them probably finding me in the broccoli section. When they found me I just so happened to be picking out broccoli. LOL It was much funnier when it happened and maybe not so much on the blog. teehee

Well this was a pretty lame attempt at blogging once again, but at least I'm somewhat updated!

6 Years...

2009-08-06T20:39:00.001-05:00

I could not ask for more :)

25 lbs!!

2009-07-13T06:38:00.002-05:00

not bad for less than 4 whole months work huh? :) My goal is to lose about 5 more before the cruise and then to love 20 more by December. We'll see how that goes as I know you eventually hit points where you don't lose for a while...

Weekend at Rend Lake...I swear it rained every time we went outside to do something. I have never hear thunder like that before! It kept setting off a car alarm it was so loud! Made for us not spending much time out on the water, but do have some funny memories and a few pictures of us soaked from the rain.

HP6 comes out Tuesday and already have tix for us to go...will need to take a nap to pull this one off seeing as the movie starts at midnight and is at least 2 hours long...and I get up at 5 every morning! ICK!

Only a little more than 2 weeks left before our cruise!! I can hardly stand to wait! :)

2009-06-27T19:26:00.001-05:00

Weekend at granny's with all the fam 2gether :)

2009-06-25T21:09:00.001-05:00

20 lbs! Yay!

2009-05-26T07:13:00.001-05:00

15 lbs as of 2day! Woo!

Long weeks and longer weekends

2009-05-01T06:27:00.003-05:00

After all the crap we put up with in college, it's sometimes hard to accept that our schedule is still just as tight when it comes to Waynes time.

Yes, now when Wayne is off work, he's not doing paperwork or studying like he had to in nursing school. There are no nights at home spent up late because he has an assignment he wasn't able to do until that night, but is all the same due the next day. The white scrubs of clinical rotations have been replaced with navy blue ones that signify payday rather than 'I'm paying for this?!'

BUT...some things have changed. Holidays are now work days and mean we generally stay in town, birthdays may be spent alone if the schedule falls that way, and three to four nights in a row I'm often alone all night. Alone while most people with a husband or wife are getting to enjoy dinner together, discuss the days activities...

And then the letter comes in the mail...Wayne has been accepted into grad school! How one letter can bring so much happiness and pride and yet so much sadness is beyond me. Three years of classes year round. Not a lot of classes at a time, but still added to Waynes current work schedule. AKA...more nights without him.

Oh well, guess I'm going to have to suck it up, enjoy the summer with Wayne as much as I can and just look to the future beyond grad school...

...9-5 Monday-Friday job for us both! :)

College spoils you...

2009-03-27T13:12:00.001-05:00

There it is, plain and simple. There are so many, many reasons why, but one in particular has been causing me grief lately. (Christmas it was all about the three week vacation...sigh)

I miss the unending pool of friends. Don't get me wrong, I'm more the type of person to prefer a few secret-sharing, private joke telling, irreplaceable type relationships rather than throngs of acquaintances, but there is something to be said about community....err the camaraderie I had at Harding. (after all those chapel talks, how could I still have to use spell check for that word???)

Friends graduate? No problem, incoming freshman and transfer students will provide new friendships. Social club hates you? (Or you hate it, lol) Ignore them and continue with the club you're a queen for. Graduate and feel out of place in the student center? No worries, half the people in Searcy are Harding alumni!

So, I totally love St. Louis, but I miss the freaking camaraderie! (Needed spell check again, sigh) In so many ways I HAVE left the south. The culture here is so much more...umm well, Catholic-based rather than Baptist-based and while I am neither of those religions--I'll tell you right now, it makes a difference! EVERYONE and their MOM drinks here. Like, really drinks. Really, REALLY drinks. I am literally the only person that does not drink in my office of 40 plus? Big difference from My Town where almost everyone was a MOTC (ha!) and an even bigger difference from HU where even if the staff did drink, they'd signed something that said they wouldn't and hence didn't talk about it.

I'm feeling so much more than this about this subject right now, but I know it won't help the many situations I find myself in. This has been on my mind more this month than any other as I've spent a lot of time alone the last few weeks than normal. So many of my relationships are proving to be less than what I once thought them to be and to say the least, it has left a huge gap in my heart.

Please. Stop. WHINING!!

2009-01-21T12:29:00.002-06:00

I have had just about all I can stand of this Republican party bickering!!

While Obama is not my ideal candidate in many ways, I refuse to assume he is a bad person just because his values do not line up totally with mine. I mean, really, McCain's didn't either!!

Can't we just try and be excited that we have come to a new point in American history? Even if you do not like Obama's platform, you should be elated at a new step further from racism.

I don't have time to go into more detail...just remember that as Christians we are to respect the government and just continue on our walk. What would you have done when Nero (spelling??) was emperor? Cry like this? I think not!!!

Red Robin.....yummmmmmmmmmmm

2009-01-02T11:59:00.002-06:00

So...I will attempt another blog.

Work is slow this week...that's okay because next week I start going in at 6AM!! (oh dear, getting up at 4:50 is just not that inviting!) and then the next week I swing to 5AM...at least traffic is super light that early in the morning!

Really enjoying the extra time with Wayne's fam this week...the kids are driving me a liiiittle bit insane, but it's been nice getting to share our "Christmas" time--playing games, eating ridiculously bad for you meals, and just spending quality time. Would be nice if this could happen with my siblings family...**EDITED**

Red Robin for lunch with the folks and then only 3 more hours before it's the weekend! I think they'll all be heading home tomorrow morning...I'm sad to see them go again, but will be nice to have a date night with Wayner. I told him we're doing something different or that just takes more time to do simply because there has been no time for anything the last 5 months.

I think I'm quitting at Pier 1 the end of this month...I'm simply tired of not having time and I don't believe Wayne will accept me working there any longer. He did a little song and dance the other day about me quitting soon... :)

I'm thinking about using vinyl decals to add some color and pattern to my kitchen and house...I got enough Christmas money from the in-laws so planning on ordering today! So exciting to put together something that is truly mine!

Well..heading to lunch...maybe I'll start blogging more regularly now?? Hmmm...

This year..

2008-12-30T13:26:00.000-06:00

...I am feeling especially blessed at Christmas. While there are several things that have gone wrong or could have gone better, there are many, many more opportunities and blessings that have headed my (really, our) way. I normally don't list out this sort of thing, but I'm a little nostalgic at the moment. (also very bored)

We are blessed to have...(not in order of best blessing necessarily)
1. recession-proof jobs (mostly anyway)
2. a new warm, cozy home to sleep in when so many have lost theirs.
3. a happy, God-centered marriage.
4. family that visits when normally they wouldn't leave their state so often. :)
5. friends we love, trust and can't go many days without talking to in some form or other!
6. cars that work (even if it does take a little extra money to pass inspection!!)
7. bosses that appreciate what you do with more than just a thank you. (although those are nice too!)
8. safely made it through our first "tough" winter.
9. a church we can be active with and that wants to follow God's will.
10. a pet that makes me feel safe when Wayne works night shift and is happy to see me no matter what.
11. lost a grandmother, but only temporarily.
12. a father (in-law) that made it home safely from Iraq for the second time.
13. money in savings.
14. health insurance (and good health so far)
15....can't think of any more right now but know there are many beside these :)

Only 3 days to go!!!

2008-12-16T11:42:00.002-06:00

and I'll be a home owner! yayyyyy!!

Wayne's Dad is back in the States as of Sunday--unfortunately Wayne works the day he gets into Arkansas as well as that being the same day we close and weekend we move! UGH!! There are always a million things going on at the same time!

My Mamaw passed away only a week and 3 days ago. Even though I saw her 'sleeping' it's still very hard to believe she's really gone. I felt a lot of the loss when we were at my aunt and uncle's house(where she lived the last several years) and her recliner was empty. I am so glad it is not my house to decide what to do with that chair, that area that was Mamaw's. I just don't know how you simply put things away when those you love are gone.

Well...that's all for now. I don't really feel like writing more at the moment...getting up at 5 with the prospect of not getting home until 10:30 that night will knock the enthusiasm right out of ya!!

Laziness and floor plans have taken over my blog.

2008-11-18T12:11:00.000-06:00

I think it's been months if not a year or so since I wrote anything of any consequence whatsoever. The last fews months at least it's been nothing more than an update on our house situation, which is indeed taking over my life at the moment, but good grief. There must be more than that! Or well...I hope there is. (and yet here I go into house stuff again, argh!!)

As with most every new thing that appears in my life I am obsessed. Any of my close friends know that until something is scheduled out, written out, just in general figured out for me, I fixate.

And so it is with the house. Probably worse with the house because it's taken several months and me figuring out the what ifs and how will we's. I do want to announce that I will MOSTLY turn back to normal and find something new to worry over as of the second week of December (if all goes as planned anyhow). YAYY!! I cannot tell you how excited and just freaking ready I am for this! I still can't really believe I am choosing to live in suburbia, but I love it all the same.

On a weird and randomly inserted note, I have a 12-pack of hamburger buns sitting on my desk right now.

Does anybody read this anymore? I seriously doubt it and so even though I berated myself for only writing about the house lately, I figure noone will notice it anyhow.

Lunch hour...how can you be over so soon? Back to work I go.

Is it this cold in Arkansas already?

2008-10-27T19:37:00.002-05:00

Because it is CRAZY COLD here for an October!!

Here are some new pics...I'm too sleepy to write more:

Yayy progress!!

2008-10-23T07:18:00.000-05:00

There has actually been more since these pics but I don't have them uploaded to the iBook yet...we have brick and also plumbing and electric going on inside...

That's all I've got for right now...I'm too tired to blog lately.

There are walls!!

2008-10-03T22:54:00.002-05:00

..okay well sorta walls.

I'm too tired to really blog, heck, I've been too tired to put anything worth snot up the last several times I've posted. Oh well...

Progress so far...

2008-09-24T16:04:00.002-05:00

1.

2.

3.

Houuuuuusssssssseeeeeeee

2008-09-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

So. We picked out brick and siding and cabinets and all that good mess this weekend!!

I am totally worn out because some creepy neighbor blasted the same song over and over again at 3:30 am Saturday for 20 minutes and then again at 6:15 am Sunday....which only reminded me HOW HAPPY I AM to be getting a house!

3-4 months til' we move!! YAYY!!

Lots of good times with Andy and Erin and my mom-in-law this weekend.

Working at Pier 1 tonight, not say YAY about that but it means down payment money!!

Trying to pick a mortgage guy/gal. VERY STRESSFUL!!

and...that's pretty much it. yep.

Is the North color blind?

2008-08-19T16:49:00.001-05:00

Everyone always accuses the south of being full or racists ready to form a mob and hate on the local minorities at any moment...

I have encountered more racism since living in Missouri than I ever did in Arkansas! It amazes me that people will admit to being as racist as they are without already knowing a persons belief system. It just tells you that it is normal for these people to speak this way and feel this way.

Shame, shame Missouri. Shame, shame.

Prepare for lots of yayying for no apparrent reason. lol

2008-08-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

So...things are rather busy around here for me and Wayne.

I decided to be one of those crazy people with a second job. Yep, I know I'm an idiot, but so far I do like Pier 1. They don't stay open as late as a lot of alternatives, I get a discount (on things I already wanted to buy for our future house, yay!), and for the most part I like the people that work there.

I'm hoping I can at least hold it down til' December as that will definitely help us build our savings up and hopefully decorate said future house.

We're in the middle of countering back and forth on building new. Thought we were done with that last week, but they came back with another offer (magically more money disappeared from the price when they said it couldn't) and so we are back in consider mode. Or actually I said we would do it but I had a few things to change so I'm currently awaiting a phone call or e-mail from my realtor telling me it's ours. I will be happy either way...I love the idea of building exactly what we want since we plan on living here for a long time, but I know if this falls through once again then we will find an existing house we like just as well. I just hope it's all done and ready to move into (whichever way this goes) by Thanksgiving so I can do it while I'm off work a few days...I think it will be awesome to be in a house before Christmas this year! I have some hopes that I can conjure family up here for holiday celebrations since we'll have the room and Wayne works Christmas day--and nobody else in our family Christmas celebrations will.

We go to Cardinals vs Braves next Friday! Yayyy!!!

Andy and Erin close on their house next Tuesday!! Yayy for them!

I am sooo tired and ready to sleep in Saturday...but work Saturday night!! Yuck but yayy for sleep!

And well..that's pretty much it. Oh wait, except my dog tore up some of our carpet last week! WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT ABOUT!!?? He never tears up anything he's not supposed to (aka what I give him for my viewing enjoyment lol) but for some reason he decided to tear up our living room carpet right where two seams meet. MAJOR SIGH. Thank goodness my father owns a flooring company. :)

Thought I'd make a semi-long post, just because I could! Hope all is well for all my lovelies in blog land...

Here we go...

2008-07-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

I guess we'll have to wait and see. Tomorrow? Saturday? Monday?

sighhhh

I've got it good.

2008-07-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

I frequently forget and then God reminds me once again how lucky I am.

Quit whining.
Quit being sad.
Remember who you have on your side and count your blessings--there are more than you can fathom.

I'm home.

2008-07-19T00:52:00.000-05:00

I'm exhausted.

Busy, busy bees

2008-07-09T14:54:00.002-05:00

Tonight we have Bible study, pizza and ice cream to say goodbye to Amie (she moves when we get back from JA), and packing like crazy!!

Thursday I will be cooking like a mad woman after work to make sure Wayne has food while I'm gone (since we are in SAVE MODE we can't have him eating out all week...and honestly he will not have time (nor inclincation) to cook for himself. Erin is nice enough to feed him for me Monday. :) I will also be doing all the packing I did not get done with the night before.

Also Thursday we find out what the bank counters with and determine whether or not we give up the fight on this house. Although I will be very disappointed--I'm seeing some cute house prospects on the horizon and it makes the hurt dull a little bit.

Friday we will be meeting at the Arnold building at 2:45 A.M. and leaving for JA at about 6:00 a.m. I will be very, very tired.

Studies, studies, studies. Ting, jerk chicken, and meat patties. oh yes.

I get back and...??? Who knows...I know the next weekend is busy again. Isn't the summer supposedly known for "lazy summer days?"

I.am.in.the.worst.mood.today.

2008-07-03T13:20:00.002-05:00

I wrote up a newsletter only to have it almost completely re-written, we still have yet to hear back about the house we drew up a contract on SATURDAY, and I had a training on this particular application that I just hate teaching. (Because I suck at it)

But then again I have come to appreciate several of the people that work here more and more as we adjust to each others annoyances, mannerisms, etc

and that helps a lot.

That plus the inlaws are coming tonight!! (which I know most people think is a sad thing but I am always delighted with.) I am incredibly excited about the Cardinals vs Cubs game Friday with them and all the other happiness that I know will come to me this weekend.

Pray for me as we wait to hear about the house...my patience is no doubt wavering.

Hope you all have a Happy 4th!! Remember who sacrifices still today for our country as my father-in-law is one of those brave men not enjoying this weekend with his family as so many are.

today is the first day

2008-07-01T11:33:00.000-05:00

Absolutely
no way
they'll take
the first bid

right?

It's so hard to wait...not any better when you're sure the answer is no...

why am i awake?

2008-06-26T22:28:00.001-05:00

I so wish I could just skip out on work tomorrow....

a couple more...my favorites!! THE KITCHEN AND DOUBLE VANITIES!!

2008-06-24T14:42:00.001-05:00

For Jenny Lynn...

2008-06-24T13:51:00.001-05:00

who knows if we'll get it..but a couple of pics all the same! :)

...and then reality set in

2008-06-18T21:36:00.002-05:00

So we talked with our mortgage lady this afternoon...it's hard to realize you can't always get what you want. I've moved on from that though and am looking at other possibilities.... trying to remember that this will be our first house and not our last necessarily. I think it's hard to feel that way when you grew up in the same house all your life and never moved--you just don't see yourself moving after finally getting there yourself.

Looking forward to this weekend...the parents are coming and plans are for sushi, house shopping and just a nice visit.

2008-06-14T20:49:00.002-05:00

So we went out "shopping" today with our realtor and we think this one is quite possiblyTHE HOUSE. I know it doesn't necessarily look all that amazing in this pic...and this isn't the actual house, just a pic of the same sort/model but oh my goodness--I SO WANT IT!!

Only two things stopping us...the house is move-in ready, RIGHT NOW. Yeah, hmm...still have about, oh yeah, 6 months left on our lease!!! So...we may be looking into getting out of that early, IF we get a good enough deal on the house. That and the laundry room in this house is set up for a stupid stacked set, uh yeah that cool!

Anyway...it was so cool to find this house! The location is perfect, the house has a beautiful layout, and the lot is sooo nice!! (that's not all I like I'm just limiting myself, lol)

So even if we don't get this EXACT house...we'll probably be building one almost exactly like it. YAY!!

Anyway...we'll see. :)

House Hunting

2008-05-29T16:28:00.001-05:00

Is scary and tiring and exciting!

We drove around looking at houses Sunday...I found the one I know I'll be set on, but don't tell Wayne because he hates when I get stuck on something like that. He doesn't like it when I get too caught up in what I want...I am a bit of a dweller as all my friends that have to put up with my current topic of convo know well. :P

It was a cookie cutter house that would sit next to other cookie cutter houses. The rebel in me says it is unacceptable to have something so like what others have, the I want a house that I get to pick stuff out for and that doesn't look like crap and doesn't requiring the sentence "I could do that" from my husband says it's beautiful.....and I loved it and it's not built yet and and..

sigh

I've already imagined my stuff in it...where I would hang things, the whole nine yards.

We'll see...

We are playing Guitar Hero...

2008-05-23T13:25:00.001-05:00

at work today. How fab is that?

My idea. XD

I need to go to bed...

2008-05-21T23:18:00.001-05:00

...and I need to update like nobody's business...

Maybe if I at least start with this nothing of a post, I'll be able to tomorrow.

Sure...we'll go with that.

XD

:)

2008-03-22T22:38:00.002-05:00

So it's blue graphite, not black.

Leather interior, 6-disc cd changer, sunroof, 6-speed auto tiptronic transmission (which means we can drive it auto or manual!!). Lots of other things...that I love, love, love!!

I'd feel bad about braggin on it....but anyone who knows me knows about my crappy red car and all the grief its put me through this last year!!

and I'm super proud to say that we didn't need a co-signer!! I know that may sound ridiculous to some people....but it's just nice to be able to do it all on your own! :)

Well, Wayne's sister and fam are coming tomorrow night until Wednesday so that should be nice. :) Ready to spend lots of time with them showing them STL. :) Anywho...I forsee an afternoon drive tomorrow. :D

Oh my Jetta...

2008-03-20T16:06:00.000-05:00

What do you think? One of these in black maybe? :)

2008-02-08T23:12:00.000-06:00

2008-01-08T00:15:00.001-06:00

so I'm up late with the dog so that i can sleep in in the morning (yes I realize this may or may not make sense to some of you....) and thought i'd make a banner...but b/c I am sleepy (wayne got up at 5:30 this morning for work :P) it pretty much is distorted and not so good. But it is a cute pic of the pup...so please don't judge my photoshop skills on this one!! I should probably take it down...but honestly I don't care and I needed a new banner anyway. :P

Yayyy furniture!!

2008-01-04T20:56:00.001-06:00

We're actually only getting the couch and loveseat but their in the chair color. :) Unfortunately....they're not in stock until Febuary 2nd so we will be without any living room furniture aside from the recliner until then...sigh.

so...

2007-12-29T13:06:00.001-06:00

I'm sitting here at my parents closed store freezing my butt off and checking all our emails. It's weird to be home again after just moving. We went to Little Rock the other day and were talking about getting Starbucks. Wayne mentioned we could just get it in Jacksonville on the way home at which point he remembered...that's not our home anymore.

Completely and totally in love with the apartment. The three things I'm TOTALLY in love with are all in the kitchen...kitchen island, ice maker, and dishwasher baby!! After 4 1/2 years of hand washing all of our dishes...I am totally enamored with that thing. :)

Picked up the puppy the day after Christmas. I have never seen a dog hop so much. He is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I ended up staying up with him from 4am on the first night but made him sleep in his kennel the past two nights. He is more fun than I thought he would be...now we just have to learn how to get him to NOT pee on everything in sight and we'll be doing great! lol.

We've really enjoyed time with both our families this week...I'm sooo ready for next Thursday to get here though!! Ready to get back up there...do some furniture shopping, unpack some more of our crap, and just enjoy our new place. Wish Andy and Erin would be there when we get back but it won't be long til' we see them all the time I guess. It's so stinking weird to go "home" to a different place...different state!!

oh and just in case you weren't sure...we are ALL ABOUT having company. We have a spare bed so just ask and we'll be ready to have you over friends!! :)

ps. (for Christina and Kayla) I am seriously 5 minutes from Target! I know right?!?

Real friends...

2007-12-19T23:56:00.001-06:00

...help you pack even when they don't want you to move.

...scrub your oven for half an hour just b/c they know you're worried about it.

...clean the floorboards of every room in your apartment.

...spend hours lugging boxes and furniture down stairs even though they're on vacation.

...make sure they say goodbye--even though it's the busiest month of the year.

Are so hard to leave and bring tears to your eyes--even when you know you'll see them in a month...

I love you guys so much. You know who you are...it is so hard to leave you all.

Things are really starting to kick into gear today...

2007-12-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

We were able to sell our couch, chair, and entertainment center all to one girl (yayy for not dealing with all that furniture when we move!) and she is coming to get it today as well as another couple coming to get our desk tonight.

Wayne has a rose ceremony today at 4pm that includes honoring family...then I'm sure we will go eat with Wayne's fam and visit some.

I should be going into hyper cleaning mode tonight after all that furniture has been moved out of my house! The living room is really going to feel strange...

We set up our official checking out of our apartment time as 8:30am next Thursday so we have GOT to have EVERYTHING PACKED and LOADED Wednesday night for sure now. I am hoping to recruit a few friends to help Wayne with that b/c I will be at work at least part of that day...hmmm...(gotta get as many full checks as possible before we move!! It will be a few weeks I think before we get Wayne's first checks and that can be rough...especially with Christmas shopping and a new puppy!! :)

Saturday is graduation in the morning of course and then that early evening Wayne's (extended) family Christmas. I'm hating the timing on that, but originally we weren't going to get to go at all

gotta go , will finish later!

what?!?! two days!?!?

2007-12-13T22:45:00.001-06:00

My husband graduates in two days...I just have to say,

I'm so proud of you honey. I love you.

You have to at least admit...He's a great speaker

2007-12-10T08:48:00.001-06:00

and he doesn't hide the truth here.

Lalalalalalalala....

2007-12-09T21:52:00.000-06:00

that's exactly how I'm starting to feel with all the things going on lately!! lala...

I can hardly believe it:

Countdown: 6 days til' graduation, 11 days til' we move!

What's going on...

2007-12-06T11:50:00.000-06:00

Counting down...9 days til' Wayne graduates and 14 til' we move!!

I'm getting a cold. Figures, I just packed all the meds away last night. Sigh.

Named the puppy. His name is Saint. Ps. I don't care if you like it. I like the name..it stays. Less than a month and he comes home with us!

Talked to Fawn on the phone today. James comes home (to Seattle) Saturday. I sure do miss Fawn, James and the kids. I'm still having a hard time dealing with the fact that it's been a year and 2 months since I've seen any of them. I hate missing Christmas with them for the fourth year in a row.

Lost 14 pounds as of this week. I wish I had time to loose 6 more by next weekend but I doubt it. I suppose I'm not doing too bad for someone whose only been working on it since Mid October...especially with all the holiday parties we've had!

I seriously tear up every time we go to Four Mile lately...Wayne is preaching our last Sunday...I can guarantee you I will just cry the whole time.

I miss Ms. Mary...

I think it could be love...

2007-12-02T22:44:00.001-06:00

I have an apartment, I have an apartment, hey hey hey hey!!

2007-11-30T13:05:00.000-06:00

I can finally and officially say that Avion Ridge Apartments is where we will live!! All our paperwork went through today...and that has just made my weekend!! (Even without all the happy plans we have for tonight and tomorrow. :) ) It is wonderful to know we have somewhere to live for sure...

Also..this weekend I'm buying the Sunday paper and going to start looking for puppies!! I have a $250 limit I have set for myself so I'm hoping to get lucky with that. I want to be able to take it home after Christmas vacation! I'm super tempted to go out and buy all this cute puppy stuff, but I won't because I do enjoy being married to Wayne...lol

It feels ridiculous that this is practically all I write about on my blog lately...but honestly nobody really reads this anymore and it's the main thing going on in my life right now. I can't help but be excited!!

Tonight we have a get-together at the Sciba's and then tomorrow at the Lee's. In between I'll be packing and hopefully finishing up some Christmas shopping! Sooo ready for this weekend!

20 days...

Time just keeps flying by...

2007-11-26T14:53:00.000-06:00

My days seriously drag on while I'm at work, but can you believe it's almost December already?!? Almost 3 weeks from now Wayne will be graduating...and 5 days from then we will be moving! It is increasingly chaotic looking in our house and I can barely keep from bouncing off the walls I get so excited about it!

But I know I post a lot about that and so I will post about last week.

Last week, was horrible. Or well, just the first three days because I didn't have enough vacation to be off the entire week. It was slow and boring and UGH.

But Thursday, ahhhhhh Thursday. I do so adore time with my family. We had lunch with my Dad's side of the fam in Cabot. I really cannot tell you in words how much I love being with them. I am truly blessed with an amazing Christian family. The only thing missing every year is of course my brother, Fawn, and the kiddos. If only they were there Thanksgiving would be oh so perfect!

For dinner we went to Wayne's side of the family. Same thing can be said of them (minus the Christian family part--but other than that they are as good as can get!!), I just love spending time with them! We ended up spending the night at their house...and Mandy talked me into getting up at 3am on BLACK FRIDAY and shopping til' about noon. Talk about tired!! But it was SO MUCH fun. :) Freezing cold and tiring, but fun.

Can we say WOOOOOOO PIG SOOIE!!! The game Friday was awesome! Dontcha love a non-ranked team beating the TOP ranked team? I so do.. :) We stayed and ate deer steak with Wayne's fam and then came on home to do...

NOTHING on Saturday. It was glorious...we were totally lazy..

and now here we are to another week. Lots of plans already...here we go crazy holiday season!

always excited...

2007-11-18T17:06:00.000-06:00

...right now. :) Have a hold on the apartment we wanted, still packing, have a few Christmas presents bought and wrapped already. Things are a little stressful but everything is still so much fun to me right now. I would write more but my stupid computer is taking forever to type.

Anyway, point is I'm pretty happy right now. :)

I just keep laughing at this headline...

2007-11-13T10:39:00.000-06:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310878,00.html

Friday was a long day...

2007-11-12T12:38:00.000-06:00

Wayne was near giving up on hearing back about the Barnes-Jewish jobs. He called and said that he had called only to find out they wouldn't know until (what was then) next week. I could hear defeat and disappointment in his voice. He said if there was no call by Tuesday he would take the job he was offered at Missouri Baptist. A good job, a good hospital--but totally not in his area. (pay and benefits were the same...happiness had nothing to do with money here) I told him he couldn't do that...that if he were deciding this based on the apartment we were getting (you have to have proof of a job and we want to be set up soon) that he couldn't just take a job he wouldn't want--that we would get a different apartment. I could tell that made him feel a little better, but still very down. It was probably a little after lunch time when we had this talk...

Friday afternoon about 4:00 Wayne called again. (He caught me mid-rant on this blog actually...) Barnes-Jewish called--they offered him a job in the MICU (Medical Intensive Care Unit).

I couldn't help it. I cried.

Wayne has worked so hard and so long and all I really wanted for him was a job that he would be excited about and, I think, deserved.

As usual, God showed up right when we needed to hear it the most. Every time something has happened--whether we're lower on money because of unexpected cost, need a plane ticket and can't afford one, or just have a washer and dryer that quits on us--God has used the people around us in ways that have made our life better.

Now, I'm not one of those people that believes God has something to do with everything. To be honest, the one thing I hate hearing most is: "I'm sure that didn't happen for you because God has something better in mind for you.." So many things in life are because of choice and actions we make and I am careful to say what it is that God wants most. But the timing with some things in our life...

You just can't deny He's watching.

Waiting...

2007-11-08T09:08:00.000-06:00

is so very hard to do.

Waiting to hear whether Wayne will get a job at Barnes-Jewish...

Waiting to be able to apply for housing at Avion Ridge apartments because they want proof of Wayne's job...

Waiting to see when I need to give notice at my job...

So far in preparation for moving we've:

1. Packed up books, pictures, summer clothes, board games...
2. Opened a bank of america checking account so it'll be there when we get there...
3. Picked our apartment out
4. Looked up info for moving trucks.
5. Started eating things from the freezer so we won't have to move them (LOL)
6. Thrown away things we never use and sorted some things for goodwill...
7. Looked for a puppy to occupy our new apartment :D
8. Worried a lot. :P
9. Created a monster.com account and looked for possible jobs
10. Talked to Erin on an almost daily basis about how excited I am that we're moving there! :)

Looking for somewhere to live

2007-11-07T09:04:00.000-06:00

is hard.

Here are a few choices...

This one I'm in love with...but is a little more expensive so it'll depend on whether the prices online are accurate or not.

and this one is where Andy and Erin live.

We like both of them...but I REALLY like the first link. They're just a little bigger and I prefer the layout (the kitchen has an island and a microwave that is off the counter!! love, love!!) along with a few little extras they have like covered parking...

On another nervous-making note (anybody out there read Uglies? lol) we're waiting to hear whether Wayne got one of the two jobs he interviewed for at Barnes Jewish Hospital. He was told they would let him know by Monday, but now he wont' know til' Thursday and NEXT Monday. It's really making him nervous, so keep this situation in your prayers. Wayne has worked hard the whole time he's been in college and I believe he deserves one of these jobs--they are both ICU jobs (MICU and CICU), one in exactly the position he wants. (CICU) The hospital is also one of the top in the nation and he liked the layout of everything....I'm trying to give it over to God...and I think to some extent I have but it's so hard to give it ALL over...

Did I mention that I will be living within a 15 minute drive of a TARGET? Just thought I'd throw that in there... :)

Today is my Friday...

2007-11-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

...and it's dragging slowly by like nobody's business!!

Wayne called during my lunch break--interviews went well and he's totally in love with the hospital. Apparrently it's huge and one of the top 10 in the nation. They told him he would hear from them in a few days. Apparrently the drive is manageable from Arnold as well (about 30 minutes) so that's a very good thing.

They do offer relocation bonuses. :) Can we say big smiles? What a relief that would be...

SUPER PSYCHED about tomorrow!! It's going to be a completely awesome girls weekend out and I can hardly wait to catch up with everyone!! It's going to suck being on a diet, but I'm just going to take it a meal at a time and see how that goes. While 5 lbs isn't much, it is a good starting place and I would like to continue...if I could do 5 lbs every 2 weeks for the next 3.5 months I would be at my goal. This is all about becoming healthier and having a true lifestyle change and if I can only get that through my head I think the next months will be great. I'm REALLY hoping on the next 15 lbs though...if nothing else I would sincerely like to be slimmer by Wayne's graduation. (Who wants to have all those great picture opportunities and hate yourself in them all?)

Hmm...I know all of you are sooooo very excited about me posting about being a fatty...

Back 2 work....

Tomorrow Wayne heads to St. Louis...

2007-10-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited for him!! He's getting a little nervous, but he's ready too. If he didn't have so much due in the next week or so I think he'd be boucing off the walls excited!!

I've been trying to look up apartments from time to time online...it's hard when you don't really know where anything is yet. Unless it is going to slow Wayne down too much I really think we'll probably live in the same apartments as Andy and Erin. I know Wayne doesn't want to live too far from them since getting to hang out with them is half the reason we're so excited to be moving there. I know it's going to be hard for me to leave so many people, especially my bff--but it really is his turn. Hearing him talk about how excited he is to finally really get to hang out with Andy (I mean really hang out--no homework!!) well, it makes me happy. He deserves it after all the hard work he's done and how he's always worked so hard to keep us afloat. I complain about him from time to time...but honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better husband. He is more than I deserve...

I'm packing this week...there are Staples boxes all around our apartment now...it's really strange seeing our pictures off the walls and shelves but they are the easiest things to pack at this point...

5 pounds lighter this week...moving on!

MIssing the Gospel Meeting this weekend...

2007-10-26T08:03:00.000-05:00

No doubt I'll get a lot of crap for that...unfortunately this weekend just happened to coincide with my cousins wedding in Cabot. Last night was spent visiting with family over dinner and then helping make wedding favors (I can't help today while they decorate so I helped last night--Liz (the cousin) and Aunt Caroline (her mom) helped with my wedding a lot so it's the least I can do!

Tonight is rehearsal dinner and I will be there as well...I'm hoping to be put to some use there too b/c I think we'll be decorating after it's over...and Saturday the wedding is at 2pm but I will have family in from Georgia and Oklahoma that I see about twice a year.

Bad timing no doubt...but so is everything this month and the next two I think!! Wayne is getting sick...which is very bad b/c one: He works a 12-hour shift tonight and two: he has job interviews this Thursday and Friday.

Sometimes the cards just fall that way I suppose...

Rained out...

2007-10-24T10:29:00.000-05:00

Well, door knocking was rained out this week--As much as I don't actually enjoy doing it, I'm disappointed about all the people we didn't get to/talk to this week. I have no doubt we'll still get to it but winter seems to be a hard time to schedule anything outdoorsy...

Only a week and 2 days til' Extravaganza!! YAY!!!

On a super strict diet for the next two weeks...it's time to get healthy again!! I actually think I've lost 3 lbs. already...that kinda makes it easier--especially after last night when all I wanted to do was grab some fast food and go home! (I worked all day, got home worked at the scrapbook attic til' about 8:30....STARVING!!)

Constantly getting excited about the move...tried to find cheap Schnauser puppies to no avail last night...sigh...No I am NOT interested in paying $500!! UGH.

Anyhow...I feel very happy today...for no apparrent reason..

Oh actually, could be b/c I actually slept last night..hmm

It's gonna be a long week

2007-10-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Plans, plans, plans....all this month...

It's only going to get worse of course...Next week Wayne now has three interviews, one at Missouri Baptist and two at Barnes Jewish Hospital--both good hospitals and good positions. So Wednesday Wayne will be driving up to St. Louis and staying with the Northern McD's (lol, well they're farther north than the rest of them..lol).

Anyway, seems like everything is moving along rather fast...I can hardly believe that it's already near the end of October!! Soon there will be graduating, and uprooting, and puppy buying..whoohoo!! :)

Good News

2007-10-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

Wayne was called and scheduled for his first interview November 2 at Missouri Baptist Hospital.

Yay first interviews...he's hoping to set up as many as he can that day since he'll have to drive to St. Louis anyway...

He's SO going to get lost...I can't even go with him b/c I've already got/had plans for months for that day!

Wish him good luck!

Another weekend gone...

2007-10-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

Oh weekend...where did you go again?

sigh

Got to hang out with the parents Friday at lunch and then they ended up staying the rest of the evening...
Ladies Prayer Breakfast Saturday morning and then Kayla and I went shopping for the afternoon...
Dinner at Case & Kayla's....
Read all of Austen's Persuasion...I think I may love it more than P&P...

Oh weekends...you are so planned out from here on out...

$700.00

2007-10-10T15:40:00.000-05:00

Any ideas on how I can get ahold of this much money??

I really want to go to Seattle for Christmas this year...

and actually have Wayne go too!!

Unlikely.

Lonnnng week

2007-10-09T11:36:00.001-05:00

Wow, company, company, more company! Last week was a lot of fun, but I am definitely in need of recovering from being up all week! As much as I hate it I'm an 8-hour gal and so this week will be spent getting everything in order and going to sleep at a decent hour...

Very proud of Wayne right now--he has been kicking some major booty in nursing lately--passed a VERY important test (one required for graduating nursing!) and has just been aceing a few other tests/papers that require praising. I'm so glad he loves what he's picked as a career..he really will be an awesome nurse.

So, I'm back on the no-eating-out-for-two-weeks thing this month. I do and don't like that...there's something about being forced to come up with a menu for each week that is actually not so bad...

This month marks a year without seeing my little brother and his family. I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that we will probably not see each other for another 8 months or so. It really isn't right and it seems like that realization is taking it's toll on me today. If we weren't moving in December I would jet my butt out there in December where my parents will be with James for Christmas...but I just don't see how that's possible right now.

Do not take family for granted...this Christmas will be the 4th without James, Fawn, Tristan, and Emily...

yay for friends coming into town!!

2007-10-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

Andy and Erin made it into town last night in time for bible study...and then we all ate mexican food and ice cream at the hubs and my apt. Time with the McD family always makes for lots of laughs and last night was no different.

I stayed up wayyyyy too late all weekend. Ugh. Friday Jenny, Caroline and I all cropped at the scrapbook attic til' about hmm....4:30 am? I still can't believe we stayed up so late...didn't even go to bed immediately after all arriving at the apt...we still talked until about 5:30 and then I stayed awake til' 6 hoping to be awake if Wayne needed to call to stay awake on his drive home from work...We had an awesome time though...it's always so good to catch up and just hang out like that :)

Saturday was Madison's 3rd birthday...but she was sick so it was not such a good experience...she was super cute in her little Cinderella dress though! Love that little girl...I'm sure I'll have to post a pic from that soon..I just need to get them from her Mom first..hmmm

So Wayne and I have added another show to our "love" category. Office Space. I fully blame Morgan and Stephenie for this one...they got us hooked and so Saturday night we stayed up til' around 2am watching season 2 and then last night after everyone left we stayed up til' 1am watching the first few of season 3. Really...I hate liking TV...I just keep telling myself...DVR is only a matter of months away and then we'll only watch things when we have nothing better to do!! ha..

Welp...Happy Monday...

Friiiidaayyyyyyy

2007-09-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

finally...I swear the weeks are getting longer and longer!! Thankfully I've managed to save up enough minutes to be off early every Friday and this one is no different! Especially since half the crew is out today...I just don't think I could make it past 3:00...ugh

Working at the Attic tonight...I'm feelin' pretty craft and Jenny and Caroline are supposed to be joining me so it's sure to be a good night. :)

Poor Wayner works night shift tonight...He really is a good hubby--it's not easy working night shift when you have to be up all day AND THEN be up all night...especially since I know he was up past at least 1 last night working on paper work. :( His random checks sure do help though...

btw...My house...looking fabulous lately. I finally got out of my I don't want to clean slump and feel muuuuchhh better! :) I'm not super cleaning woman but I am keeping it all under control again. Sometimes you can't tell but when things are messy for any length of time...it realllly starts to unnerve me. (example: Wayne's school books and paperwork...only 2 1/2 months til' I don't see that anymore!! whoohoo!)

Welp...this post has been long enough and relatively about very little. But nobody said I actually write it for you...it's for me so I'm okay with being a little boring!! :P

Faith Like That

2007-09-27T13:03:00.000-05:00

I Have Heard about the Days of old
About the men who followed You
And how they saw the Supernatural
And became the chosen few

So I come before You now
Tearing off my earthly crowns
for this one thing I have Found

I want a Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want a Faith Like That

I'm not Looking for a miracle
Signs and Wonders are things thereof
I caught a glimps of what You want from me
and what I have is not enough

I read the story one more time
of Those who gave to You Their lives
With no fear or compromise

I want a Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want a Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want the Faith That can move any mountain
and send them to the sea
I want the Faith that can break every stronghold
That keeps you, keeps you from me

I want a Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want a Faith Like That

I want a Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want a Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want a Faith Like That, a Faith like that

Premiere Week

2007-09-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Why yes...I have become one of those sad people who watches TV. I will not be ashamed...I have free time at night and honestly I would never watch TV until I had nothing better to do if only I had DVR....

Oh DVR...when will you be mine?

Oh yeah..probably January :)

On another note...my hot hubby finally let me add another cell phone! And for the price of not eating out for two weeks in September and two weeks in October...this is mine:

Honestly...it was about time we had another line! Wayne didn't want to do it at first...but I think he actually likes having his own--there's no discussion over who's driving farther...who's in the worse car...None of that mess.

Well...I'll quit for now..but honestly I'll probably end up posting again...My boss is out of the office until 12 and I don't have a lot of work to do while she's gone...sigh

Weekend Blues.

2007-09-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

So it's Friday and while I'm super grateful to be about two hours from getting off work in the library...I'm not all that excited about the weekend. Which is sad because if you have known me the last year and a half you know I currently LIVE for the weekend...

Could it be because I'm working 12 hours for the Scrapbook Attic Saturday?

Why yes, that is why I'm not so happy. I SERIOUSLY need the money if I want to be able to enjoy myself without feeling guilty at the Extravaganza come November 2nd(YAY!) and I'm super glad to be able to even have the hours...But honestly all I really want to do is sleep in tomorrow...

Oh and I've had a slight catch in my throat and growing cough the past week and a half...I have a bad feeling I will be joining the ranks of my sick friends soon enough.

On a happy note I came in early today and have forfeit my lunch break so as to be off by 3:15 today. :) Yay for early Fridays!!

So.....

2007-09-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

Do ya like my new banner?? :) Played around with Photoshop the other night and this is what I came up with...I like my graphic designs to be simple and clean usually...I gotta say I really like it. Although with certain things (like how I antiqued everything but the hands) I find myself wondering if people just think the picture came out that way.

Anyway...I really love this picture. Mostly because the hubby took it...

Life as we know it...

2007-09-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

is going to change.

To be honest, I can hardly wait for it to. There are so many things that terrify me with upcoming graduation, job search, new home search...but honestly a change will be good for us. We don't even have a clue what marriage is like outside of school life! I mean...I know it won't be super different or anything...we'll still be Wayne & Ronda...but we'll be Wayne & Ronda minus school work. Minus living on campus. Minus feeling stuck between student and employee.

I realize that means there will be a lot of +'s coming up too. I prefer to think of the good ones right now. Plus a puppy. Plus new furniture. (whether Wayne wants it or not dangit! lol...j/k...sorta...we'll see) Plus Wayne's wonderful nursing income year-round. Plus the possiblity of adventures with Andy and Erin in a new city...it's exciting to think of all the things that are going to change come December.

And then there are the minus signs I'm not excited about. Minus Four Mile Hill. Minus fun times with the Searcy McDonald's. Minus the apartment we've lived in since we've been married. Most of all minus my best friend and our families. These are the things that I hate to leave. I know they won't be permanant minuses though. Stina will always be my best friend and I feel confident that even if we do leave that friendship will never die. She knows things about me no one does...she knows when I'm down...why I am...she knows all the stupid things I like...I just can't imagine weeks where I don't see my buddy. And then our families...I know they will come and visit too but it's crazy to think I'm leaving them behind a little. I almost feel guilty about that with my parents, specially with James and Fawn and kiddos so far away.

We've finally reached our crossroads. I have never been so excited about something but I have never been so terrified.

Bored...so here it goes :)

2007-08-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes! My first name is from my Dad
(Ron-->Ronda) and my middle name is from my Mom's middle name (Ann-->Diane) I love that I carry a piece of both parents in my name! My brother does as well. :)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Oh crap I dunno...I'm sure it was last week--I cry at sad country songs so easy there's no telling...

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Hate it

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT? Sun-dried tomato turkey breast (with swiss cheese...oh my it's good!)

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope, but people always ask this question when they realize how young I married...sheesh c'mon--I got married 4 love! :)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Definitely...I'm a good friend (I think & hope anyway)

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Does a fat kid love cake? (why yes i do. ;) hahaha)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep, wisdom teeth too.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes--especially if I were in another country taking it allll in....

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I wear flip flops--shoes are evil. :P

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Not so much..

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Bunny tracks if freezer, Blackforest dream if Coldstone

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their eyes.

15. RED OR PINK? RED--but I'm really a blue gal.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? How nervous I get about things...

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Mrs. Mary

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Biscuits and bacon--someone cooked breakfast for the library! :) YUM

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Blue

23. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Lavender scrub, mushroom rice cooking, and Wayne.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I stoles it.

26. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Anything as long as it's in person--nothing on tv.

27. HAIR COLOR? I am multi-colored hair girly! Dark brown with blond and red streaks on top.

28. EYE COLOR? Blue-green.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Since I was 11

30. FAVOURITE FOOD? Right now...On the Border's Flauta's..oh my I want one.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings!

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? in the theatre Harry Potter OOTP

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? I'm a winter gal--love jeans and hoodies.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs...especially after a few days of not seeing Wayne because of night shift...

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Just finished Mercy by Jodi Piccoult--starting Lovely Bones tonight.

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Footsteps down my hall in the a.m. after night shift :) .

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Jamaica--although...I suppose Seattle or Buffalo, NY might be just as far from home for me 2.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I run into things--mostly walls.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Little Rock, Arky.

47. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE? I would love to be able to change my looks on a whim--like that chick from XMen..Mystique

Four happy years...

2007-07-30T09:19:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was my 4 year anniversary with Wayne--7 years if you could the 3 years we dated into the equation. I can hardly believe I have known him that long...let alone been married for four years! Some days it feels like life is creeping by--but then all of the sudden you look up and time has flown by you again!

We didn't get to spend our actual anniversary together this year...I actually saw him all of 15-20 minutes Wednesday since he was coming in from work when I left for work and then leaving for work when I was getting off work...but he did send me 4 beautiful calla lillies at work! I was so surprised--I just thought he would be too busy with work to have thought about it...especially since we knew a month ago that our anniversary would have to be celebrated over the weekend instead... :)

We celebrated Saturday at Gaucho's over on Shackleford and man was it good! They set bowls of mashed potatos, rice, black beans, greens,etc on your table and then bring freshly cooked meats to your table. We tried their lamb, prime rib, pork tenderloin, alfredo chicken, meatballs, and my fav--New York strip! YUM! It was very expensive but very much worth the try if you ask me.
*Bryan--Wayne said he was up for going with you and Jenny some time soon since I know you wanted to go again!!*

Anyhow...we did a little shopping for Wayne's clothes for the wedding Saturday and then our usual Barnes & Noble trip and even a little truck shopping on the way home...it was a reallly nice time all in all... :)

BTW, we truck shopped in Searcy Friday night as well! Wayne is actually all for going ahead and getting what we want...but I think we will at least wait a little while--I'm afraid to get one before Wayne graduates since we'll be moving in Dec... But I think we're in love with getting a Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab. :) The one we saw and loved was right here in Searcy...I've got my little heart set on it already--Wayne wanted a Chevy Colorado but I gotta veto that pick--the front of it is pretty nice, but the rest is U-G-L-Y! And the price is not much different and the Tacoma has a V6 while the Colorado has a icky 4-cylinder...soo here's to TACOMA'S!! It's sooo exciting to get to start thinking about a new truck!! :)

Anyhow...here's to another year with my cutie! This next one is going to be quite the ride I think--Wayne graduating, taking his NCLEX, becoming an RN, buying a new vehicle, moving into a rental house (Ihope!), getting a puppy, having money (well comparatively anyhow!)....so many changes! I could not be looking forward to anything more than this year...and yet scared to death of it all at the same time!!

Here we go...

Yes, I really am posting at 3 am!! :)

2007-07-08T03:11:00.000-05:00

Wayne slept from 2 am last night til' some time after 4pm today and so here we are...still awake. I could easily go to sleep but really I don't get to go to bed with Wayne as much anymore and so I don't want to go without him when it's not necessary. (I am starting to wear down really bad though...sleeeeepy!)

Interviewed for a job as administrative assistant to Ann Dixon in the library yesterday afternoon. I really liked her and think it would be a nice fit so we'll see. I like the registrar's office too, but I have no proof that I will have a job there--right now I don't even know how long I'm a temp there b/c the girl I'm replacing had her first baby and apparently no one is really sure when she'll be back. Anyhow, we'll see....I just hope it all works out seamlessly since we will have to move at least to some extent this December and Wayne will soon be in his last semester of nursing school and therefore it will just be me working again come mid August.

Just finished the 6th Harry Potter. It's weird how you look forward to something so much but dread it all the same. Only two weeks now til' I'll have the 7th book in my hands...I know I'm driving Wayne and Christina crazy talking about it (thank goodness for Kayla and Jenny!! They understand, although I think they started on this trip later than I. I read the first three my Jr/Sr year and so I've got at least 7 years in this!! :) )

Well...think I'll end there. Without my xanga my posts are longer and farther apart and I just don't think anyone cares to read loads and loads about my everyday life.

Seems like

2007-07-01T21:14:00.000-05:00

my posts should be much more important or specific on blogger...but honestly I just haven't got it in me to write too much of interest. I'm still severely ticked that my xanga is blocked--I mean really! If you're going to block something under "Dating/Social" Facebook would definitely go first...but seeing as so many teachers have facebook nobody would dare. ;)

The past few weekends have been lazy and uneventful for the most part. It's still kind of weird to have Wayne gone 3 nights out of the week...especially since for the past three weeks (four maybe??) he's been gone on Friday night and most of the time I'm leaving for work as he comes in from work. Oh well, at least I've actually been able to sleep alone--I wasn't sure I would be able to--it's one thing I think to be alone and stay alone, but another to sleep with someone by your side for 4 years and then suddenly it's supposed to be a normal occurrence when they're gone 3 nights a week. I'm still well aware it could be worse alright, I'm just saying.

Finished Book 5 tonight...Started re-reading them all a couple of weeks ago. I can't believe the last book will be out this year. It's just crazy to wait so long for a series to finish. I have a looming sense of dread about it along with my excitement!! I just hate when a book is over......

Should be off word Wednesday for Independence Day....but no plans...for then or for the coming weekend really. We just haven't planned a thing lately. Just let life happen.

Okay, well...back to life I suppose.

my first post....

2007-06-22T18:29:00.000-05:00

is just here to be here...

I'll say something of importance later...well, important to me anyhow. :P