Yesterday was our 10th anniversary. JJ sent me a gorgeous arrangement of white roses even though he's all the way in Montana. Let's just say that he scored some major brownie points! I just can't stop looking at them and they are so fragrant.
We will celebrate when he gets back, which probably means sometime in September. At least it will be cooler then!!!
In honor of our special day, I thought I would share the lyrics to a beautiful song called "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. I know that our marriage has nothing to do with luck. First and foremost it is a blessing from the Lord. Then it has been a wonderful journey and a lot of work that has been totally worth it. No luck about it. However, the song still communicates so much, I still love it.
And I love you, JJ!
The Luckiest Lyrics
by Ben Folds
I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
Friday, July 28, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
A Whole 22 Hours
JJ finally got to come home this weekend! He flew in on Saturday evening and then left again on Sunday afternoon. It was great to have him home!!! We had to fit in a game of Skip Bo, which I had really missed. We used to play almost every day – either over my lunch break or in the evening. He was able to go to church with me on Sunday morning and it was nice to have him next to me the whole service (instead of preaching like he usually does.)
This week, he is in Wyoming. At least that’s where he is right now. I just got an e-mail from him saying that they may fly him out to another job later in the week. At least for a few days he is working with a quilt shop that also has an online store. I asked him if he could get me a discount. No word on that yet.
All is well on the home front. I actually lost over 3 pounds last week. What is up with that!? So I have definitely made my half way point now and have also lost 22 inches total. If it takes me the same amount of time to lose my second 37 pounds, I will reach my goal around Christmas or early January. Considering the holidays, it will probably be later than that, but I’ve been able to resist treats so far so you never know. Even if it’s not until early February, that will be the one year mark and I think that losing 74 pounds in a year is not too shabby.
This week, he is in Wyoming. At least that’s where he is right now. I just got an e-mail from him saying that they may fly him out to another job later in the week. At least for a few days he is working with a quilt shop that also has an online store. I asked him if he could get me a discount. No word on that yet.
All is well on the home front. I actually lost over 3 pounds last week. What is up with that!? So I have definitely made my half way point now and have also lost 22 inches total. If it takes me the same amount of time to lose my second 37 pounds, I will reach my goal around Christmas or early January. Considering the holidays, it will probably be later than that, but I’ve been able to resist treats so far so you never know. Even if it’s not until early February, that will be the one year mark and I think that losing 74 pounds in a year is not too shabby.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Irony
One of the many, many reasons why I love my hubby is that we complement each other so well. As I mention in my profile, I am a "rule follower" and he's somewhat of a rebel. Occasionally, I recognize that I need to "let loose" and break a few rules. Maybe throw off my shoes in the middle of the floor with total abandon. (Gasp - can you imagine?) And accordingly, he at times benefits from my more organized nature. However, generally, he resists structure of any kind. Schedules? Doesn't follow them. My nice little "systems" that I dream up to help our lives run more smoothly? Ha! He scofs in the face of "systems"!
This is why I had a nice little chuckle yesterday when he e-mails me and tells me that he has to create a budget for a 2 million dollar a year company that he is working with this week. I'm sure he will do a great job, but if that company only knew what I know . . . But hey, now that I think about it, this might just work out just fine. We've never had any trouble actually writing a budget, just sticking with one. So maybe writing a budget that someone else will have to follow isn't such a tall order for him!!!
This is why I had a nice little chuckle yesterday when he e-mails me and tells me that he has to create a budget for a 2 million dollar a year company that he is working with this week. I'm sure he will do a great job, but if that company only knew what I know . . . But hey, now that I think about it, this might just work out just fine. We've never had any trouble actually writing a budget, just sticking with one. So maybe writing a budget that someone else will have to follow isn't such a tall order for him!!!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I'm a Loser
Hooray! After a few weeks of plateau I am a "loser" once again. I am now down 36 pounds and have one pound left before I am half way to my goal! I found I had to make an adjustment to when I was eating in order to get over that hump. I am now eating more at breakfast and my morning and afternoon snacks. This means dinner is rather small and no evening snack. I've been OK with a small dinner, but I'm really feeling the loss of that evening snack! On the nights where I just can't bear it, I have a cup of coffee or tea. Not the same, but it helps a little.
We're still not running the a/c at home and we've had a high of 103 degrees the last few days. I'm ready for September, to say the least. And the a/c in my car is now acting up. Well, I keep telling myself I'm preparing for Africa.
JJ's still doing OK, although starting to get homesick. He will probably finish the job he's on in Vermont on Friday and he MAY get to come home this weekend! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it looks like if he's in between jobs this weekend he'll come home on Saturday morning and have to leave again on Sunday afternoon. We're not sure where he'll head next. This job certainly keeps us on our toes! We appreciate your prayers while we are apart and JJ is traveling so much.
We're still not running the a/c at home and we've had a high of 103 degrees the last few days. I'm ready for September, to say the least. And the a/c in my car is now acting up. Well, I keep telling myself I'm preparing for Africa.
JJ's still doing OK, although starting to get homesick. He will probably finish the job he's on in Vermont on Friday and he MAY get to come home this weekend! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it looks like if he's in between jobs this weekend he'll come home on Saturday morning and have to leave again on Sunday afternoon. We're not sure where he'll head next. This job certainly keeps us on our toes! We appreciate your prayers while we are apart and JJ is traveling so much.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Where to start?
Well, it would be impossible to bring you all up to speed on all the goings-on around here so I'll give you the highlights.
JJ is in Vermont (well, actually right this second he's probably in Maine but I will explain that in a minute). He got a job with a company that does small business consulting. It is 100% travel and he left on July 4th for his training in Chicago. His first job was last week for a company in Vermont. He really enjoyed the work, but is exhausted. They work long days and he is getting very little sleep. Thankfully, this weekend, he was able to go see a friend of ours who is an intern this summer in New Hampshire. You know all those New England states are so close together so he drove down to NH yesterday and went to church with his friend today. Then they drove up to Maine to see the ocean and some lighthouses. He'll drive back to VT tonight and probably work on the same job there tomorrow but then they are probably going to send him off on another assignment - only the Lord knows where. Thankfully he will only be doing this until school starts at the end of August. He may even get to come home for a weekend in between now and then, but there are no promises.
Meanwhile, I've been trying to keep myself busy so that I don't throw a pity party (and I am The Queen of pity parties). But so far, so good. I had something going on every night last week (except Wed. when my stomach was feeling a little cruddy.) I caught both plays that ACU put on for the Shakespeare Festival, although the comedy wasn't Shakespeare at all (I still don't really get that.) But it didn't matter because the comedy, The Triumph of Love, was terrific. It was theater in the round and the set was great, the acting was great and it was a wonderful night of free entertainment and the air conditioning was plentiful (a very big factor for me since we still haven't turned ours on.) Saturday was the last showing of Romeo and Juliet and it was done in a more modern way. The set and the creative way it was used was fascinating - probably my favorite part about the production. The acting was also good, but the language less accessible. I'm not one of these super-intellectual types so I really don't get some of the flowery language. Maybe if I sat down with the script in front of me for awhile. Anyway, I still enjoyed it and again, it was a nice distraction.
The new church JJ filled in for a few times before he left is still taking good care of me. I decided to attend there while he's gone because it's a small group of believers where I won't get lost in the shuffle and they are very much a community, which is what JJ and I have been looking for. I will have to tell you more about our night of country dancing with them some other time. . .
Overall, we're doing great. As soon as he gets his first paycheck, even better. (Transitioning jobs really stinks because of that lag between checks!)
I'm learning all kinds of stuff in the Beth Moore study and am enjoying my quiet time with the Lord.
Now I'm off to catch up on all your news! When I took a hiatus from my blog, I have to confess I didn't really check up on you all either. However, I have repented and turned from my evil ways and, for what it's worth, will now be back on the scene.
JJ is in Vermont (well, actually right this second he's probably in Maine but I will explain that in a minute). He got a job with a company that does small business consulting. It is 100% travel and he left on July 4th for his training in Chicago. His first job was last week for a company in Vermont. He really enjoyed the work, but is exhausted. They work long days and he is getting very little sleep. Thankfully, this weekend, he was able to go see a friend of ours who is an intern this summer in New Hampshire. You know all those New England states are so close together so he drove down to NH yesterday and went to church with his friend today. Then they drove up to Maine to see the ocean and some lighthouses. He'll drive back to VT tonight and probably work on the same job there tomorrow but then they are probably going to send him off on another assignment - only the Lord knows where. Thankfully he will only be doing this until school starts at the end of August. He may even get to come home for a weekend in between now and then, but there are no promises.
Meanwhile, I've been trying to keep myself busy so that I don't throw a pity party (and I am The Queen of pity parties). But so far, so good. I had something going on every night last week (except Wed. when my stomach was feeling a little cruddy.) I caught both plays that ACU put on for the Shakespeare Festival, although the comedy wasn't Shakespeare at all (I still don't really get that.) But it didn't matter because the comedy, The Triumph of Love, was terrific. It was theater in the round and the set was great, the acting was great and it was a wonderful night of free entertainment and the air conditioning was plentiful (a very big factor for me since we still haven't turned ours on.) Saturday was the last showing of Romeo and Juliet and it was done in a more modern way. The set and the creative way it was used was fascinating - probably my favorite part about the production. The acting was also good, but the language less accessible. I'm not one of these super-intellectual types so I really don't get some of the flowery language. Maybe if I sat down with the script in front of me for awhile. Anyway, I still enjoyed it and again, it was a nice distraction.
The new church JJ filled in for a few times before he left is still taking good care of me. I decided to attend there while he's gone because it's a small group of believers where I won't get lost in the shuffle and they are very much a community, which is what JJ and I have been looking for. I will have to tell you more about our night of country dancing with them some other time. . .
Overall, we're doing great. As soon as he gets his first paycheck, even better. (Transitioning jobs really stinks because of that lag between checks!)
I'm learning all kinds of stuff in the Beth Moore study and am enjoying my quiet time with the Lord.
Now I'm off to catch up on all your news! When I took a hiatus from my blog, I have to confess I didn't really check up on you all either. However, I have repented and turned from my evil ways and, for what it's worth, will now be back on the scene.
Friday, July 07, 2006
I'm Coming Back - I Promise
I've been taking a little blogging break - I'm not exactly sure why. I just couldn't face my site for some reason. I had a little writer's block on a few posts I attempted, plus the fact that I have so much to catch up on I'm a little overwhelmed.
It may also have to do with the fact that JJ's taken a job that will keep him traveling possibly until school starts, which is another 7 weeks or so and I haven't wanted to put that in print. If I post it here, then it is really happening. I will have to supply details later, but I did want you to know that I will return to my usual blogging self shortly.
Enjoy your summer!
It may also have to do with the fact that JJ's taken a job that will keep him traveling possibly until school starts, which is another 7 weeks or so and I haven't wanted to put that in print. If I post it here, then it is really happening. I will have to supply details later, but I did want you to know that I will return to my usual blogging self shortly.
Enjoy your summer!
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