Spilled Beans

Ok, so now the beans are spilled all over the floor. I think most people know our fabulous news by now! If not, they aren't on the internet because Adam & I have blown it up with our baby announcements!

So I've been keeping this little secret for a couple weeks. I had a hunch a few days before I actually took the test, which was Saturday, December 13 (6 months to the day after our tragic event). I didn't even hint to Adam as I wanted to surprise him for an early birthday present. I was SO nervous to take the actual test because if it were negative I would surely freak out.

Anyway, Adam headed to MPACT (early morning men's breakfast gathering) that Saturday morning around 7am. I was holding in my pee for SO LONG! Just waiting for him to leave. I pretended to be asleep, however. Hee, hee. Then I went pee, pee and took the test. I saw the 1st line appear to show it was working, then no other line. WHAT?!?! NO!!! Negative?? I threw that thing in the trash and got so upset. Furious. Like a sick joke. I was in a terrible mood and went back to bed for a bit. When I got up, I just needed a Joyce Meyer fix. I record her "Enjoying Everyday Life" shows on TV, so I flipped to one randomly. It fit perfectly. God knew exactly what I needed to hear. She spoke about keeping your peace and trusting God with everything. She also spoke about not letting the devil upset you through your circumstances. Lots of other things were said, and it all was perfect for me. I adjusted my attitude and decided I would not have a crummy day because of this. Even though I didn't understand what was happening, I had to trust God and His timing.

I went about my day and cheered up a little. About an hour later, I went upstairs to the bathroom and had to throw something else away. Well, for whatever reason, the idea popped in my mind to dig out the pregnancy test again. Looking back, why on earth would this cross my mind? I dug through the tissues and cotton balls and finally found the test at the bottom of the trash can. I gave it a second glance, and.....2 LINES!!!! NO WAY! PREGNANT AFTER ALL! God is in this thing, no doubt. He is testing me and teaching me and loving me all along. It is awesome!

I wrapped up the test in a pretty little box and gave it to Adam that afternoon as an early birthday present. He slung it around and guessed it to be a watch. Not even close! He was utterly shocked, yet thrilled! It did take a few days for the truth to set in though. Anyway, Baby Emmett is already taking after his/her mommy. He/she wrote a poem to share with his/her grandparents/great-grandparents this Christmas. This is how it goes...

I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don't yet have a name.

But all that will change in August,
That's when they say I'm due.
I am your newest grandchild,
And I can't wait until I meet you!

So as you're waiting patiently,
Please pray lots of prayers for me.
I cannot wait to be a part
Of this wonderful family!

Love,
Baby Emmett

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS & FAM!!!

From me...



And me...



And me...



And me...



And don't forget me...



:) :) :)

Call From Jail

So today I received a couple of random calls on my cell. But because I'm at work, I let them roll over to voicemail. Boy was I in for a treat when I got around to check my messages. The first message came from a black man and consisted of, "Hey, I'm unna call you back."

Several minutes later, another message recorded as, "Dekalb county jail...if you would like to accept this call and future collect calls, you must first enroll in our pay pal using a credit card. To accept this call, press 4, to refuse this call, hang up." The first part of the message cut out, so I will never know who this suspicious mystery caller is.

I hope he didn't use his only jail call on me. What a bummer! I'm not bailing anyone out or listening to someone vent from a jail cell. Shoot no! If only I would have answered the calls. This could have been a far more interesting blog post. I also am thinking I REALLY hope this is no one I actually know. That would far worse. Then I started thinking...what if this had been Casey Anthony calling! I would love to talk with her and ask, "Where's Caylee...really." Plus a few other things. Adam & I have been following Nancy Grace on this neverending story. Looks like it's coming to a close though, thank goodness.

Anyway, that's my jail story for the day. Have a fabulous weekend!

Birthday Panic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Adam's 28th birthday. Wow, he is getting old! He realized that he's now safely in the "late 20's" phase of life. Soon he will cross the bridge to 30. Oh, how time flies.

Poor Adam. This birthday has been anything but great. The day started well, however it soon took a u-turn into crapville. Let me start by saying that yesterday he attempted to go to work but had to come back home due to a terrible migraine-ish headache. He has never had a migraine before, but he thought it could have very well been one. Then today, out to work he headed again. He sat at his desk and quickly realized something was wrong. He was terribly shaky and dizzy. He had shortness of breath and butterflies in his stomach. Weird for Adam. So he headed back home and made a doctor's appointment. Major bummer to go to the doctor on your birthday. The doc said it appears he had a panic attack. He had high blood pressure as well. Blood was taken for analysis and he will come back soon for a CT scan to test for a brain aneurysm. What? Yikes! Is this really happening?

Adam is normally a pretty laid back guy. So this is odd. Perhaps work is the cause of the anxiety. Adam's job can be very stressful with the pressure of sales goals, especially in a recessive economy. And all this happened when he was going to work. He is quite calm now. However, his "happy pill" as prescribed by the doctor is surely contributing to his blissful state. I am playing nurse and making sure he is ok.

Poor Adam :(

This Christmas

This Christmas feels rushed. Anyone else agree? Where did the time go? Christmas is only 2 weeks away and I've barely prepared. Who has TIME to prepare?!?! We have a few sparse decorations up. No tree. No stockings (we've got to come up with a good way to hang them...the thumb tack tactic didn't quite work). I've bought all of 2 gifts. Plus the holiday parties start this weekend, so our time is dwindeling (is that a word?).

At this point we are wondering if it's even worth it to get in the spirit and get a tree. We would definitely want a live tree and how much do they cost anyway? Our faux tree last year was pathetic. It was so sparse that you could clearly see an entire person through the other side. Then there was the added torment of the cats, who climbed up it and knocked off ornaments and tore up the lights. It was prelit when we bought it, but not when it left us. RIP tree. I think one of the cats chewed through the cord. Oh my.

Adam thinks that perhaps the election really consumed our focus this year and the holidays have taken the back seat to Obamanation. But maybe it's just us. One thing is for certain, however. I am LOVING the Christmas programs/movies on TV. I love the Charlie Brown specials, A Christmas Story, The Grinch, and especially Christmas Vacation! We already tore into that movie last weekend.

By the way, I'm kind of in a blog slump. Maybe I'll find something interesting to post soon. We can only hope!

Blah

I feel total blah...

Blah to my dinner, blah to my week, blah, blah, blah. I hadn't planned on cooking tonight since there were a few leftovers to choose from. I opted for pasta salad in a box. I had semi-high expectations, but it really let me down. I followed the package directions for boiling the pasta spirals, which was 12 minutes, and regretfully I didn't check on them in between. When I got to their rescue, they had blown up so big that they were the size of hair bows. I tried to eat them anyway, but it was not good. Then I moved on to choice #2, an all-time fave of Campbell's vegetable beef soup. I ate that but was still left unsatisfied. So then I snagged a couple pieces of bacon that Adam had cooked in his "Ultimate Breakfast" attempt. The bacon was delicious, but still an overall blah feeling.

If you're wondering about Adam's breakfast masterpiece, it consists of the following: several strips of centercut bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, and of course super-chocolatey chocolate chip pancakes topped with syrup and whipped cream! That earns an "Ultimate" title in my book. Adam is so proud of his concauction. And he's all about the presentation too, much like myself. He makes time to arrange all the items like he's preparing to submit a photo for a cooking magazine. I admire his attention to detail! He actually said that it looked so good that he wanted to take a picture. Too bad we don't have a working digital camera right now. Sigh.

I am also feeling completely boring lately. All I can seem to do when I get home is crash. I have no energy. It's cold, dark and yucky out, which doesn't help. Adam said I'm already set in my ways, at a ripe old 26 years old. Geez. He said I'm into my routine and there's no coming out of it. My routine being coming home from work, cooking/eating, doing dishes, taking a bath, watching TV and then bed. I've already become an old lady. Where did the time go? Maybe I can snap out of my laziness and get a life! But not tonight...

Black Friday

Let's see, where do I begin? Let's start with 4:00am when my alarm clock first rang. I was abruptly snapped out of my 4-hour coma to begin the mad hunt for bargains. To my suprise, I actually dragged my butt out of bed at this unreasonable hour, SHOWERED, and got ready to face what is only known as "Black Friday."

As I was driving through Canton in the pitch-black dark early morning hour, I thought to myself, "I bet no one is out here this early. Surely there's only a few maniacs like me heading to the stores." HA! HA! HA! As soon as I rounded the corner to the Target parking lot, I was STUNNED!!! A sea of cars, too many to register in my nieve brain, filled the parking lot. People were circling for spots too! What have I gotten myself into, I thought. I did find a good spot in the middle of the parking lot, no where near Target or Kohl's (the danger zones). I marched right up to Bath & Body Works and began my own hunt. Then off to Old Navy and Ulta. People were actually camped outside Ulta as this store did not open til 7am. There were LOTS of people, most hideous without showers or makeup. I bet some of them didn't even brush their teeth.

At one point I realized that I was NOT on my shopping list. I got carried away, especially at Old Navy, buying only stuff for me. I did get some great deals for little ol' me. Hey, I deserved it for my efforts. I had to get a major reality check and remember that I had a few other people who would like gifts this year.

I took a quick break to treat myself to a Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit. Then I faced my fear and headed to Kohl's. It took about 15 minutes to find a parking spot. I was almost nauseous from practically doing donuts in and out of the aisles. But I finally found a spot and headed into the store to then find many great bargains. I was a happy camper until I noticed the check out line, wrapped ALL the way around the store to the customer service/restroom area in the back of the store. Just great. I claimed my spot in line and just had to get in front of a chatty Cathy type. How anyone could muster up that much conversation at 8:30am is beyond me. She was with her daughter-in-law, so they mostly conversed amongst themselves. But I did learn all about their family, who's getting what, where do find the best deals, etc. And the lady in front of me had item-overload. She didn't have a mesh basket to hold her items, but that was probably because she only had a few things to start with and accumulated item after item as we slowly moved from one strategically placed display after another. Clever Kohl's.

I had been in line for a good 30 minutes and was about halfway to the check out counter. Then the unthinkable happened. I felt a drip from my nose. I thought that it was strange to have a random runny nose when it hadn't been a problem all morning. Then I suddenly realized that this was not a runny nose. I would have KILLED for snot. Nope, it was blood. So my Black Friday turned into Red Friday. I panicked!!! I needed a place to put my items and a tissue that was neatly packed in my purse within another makeup bag. So organized that it took an eternity to find. I turned to Chatty Cathy and asked her to please hold my items as I had a nose bleed. Then the questions started..."Do you always get these? Has this happened before? Do you have high blood pressure? Have you been checked out by your doctor?" I finally got to my tissue and started to plug my nose, but it was a little too late. Blood was all over my hands, in my wedding ring, on my face, etc. And I had on a light gray shirt, so blood dripped down in a very noticeable way. It got on my jeans too. How it dodged my items is a mystery.

Chatty Cathy told me to run to the bathroom and she would hold my place in line. Thank you Lord for her now! I ran toward the bathroom, weaving in/out of people and racks and lines. People were staring of course. Just when I thought it couldn't be any more embarrassing, I passed a large mirror and realized that I had a drop of blood on my bottom lip. Nice, very nice. I probably looked like I got in a chick fight over a last sale item or something, which would actually be believable. I finally got to the bathroom and stayed there a good 10-15 minutes to clean up and make SURE this madness had stopped. Then I made my way back to the line, just in time to be checked out. I was literally the next in line when I arrived. Whew!

Needless to say, after this nightmare I headed home. This really did me in. Maybe Black Friday is not for me. I will remember this day next year and probably all the years after. As soon as I got home, I crashed on the couch and took possibly the best nap ever! I was so exhausted. I needed some good R&R after this experience. See what I mean by living a comical life? Always exciting, never boring. Hopefully, your Black Friday went better than mine...

Adam's Christmas List

·iphone Accessories (screen protector, case cover, external speaker adapter)
·White under shirts (tagless, XL)
·Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts (XL, solids-baby blue, black)
·American Eagle Sweatshirt (XL, soft, with hood)
·Brown socks (thick)
·Brown boots like Dan’s (size 11.5)
·Gift Cards (Home Depot, itunes, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Starbucks)
·Coffee travel mug (stainless steel & black, tall w/ handle)
·Acoustic guitar case (hard shell)
·Power Drill
·Games (Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase)

Sarah's Christmas List

Back by popular demand! Yes, I still make a Christmast list, and it really pays off because if you don't say what you want, chances are you won't get it. And I'm NOT shy in this area. But for most of my readers, you should probably skip this blog. This is just for the few family members who requested it. Here goes!

·Money
·Gift Cards (Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Chick-fil-a, Zaxby’s)
·CD’s (Coldplay-Viva La Vida, Hillsong United-United We Stand)
·Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap (warm vanilla sugar, sparkling peach, cherry blossom)
·Yankee Candles (macintosh apple, clean cotton)
·Sterling Silver Jewelry (ring size 7)
·Coffee Travel Mug (stainless steel, black)
·Tea Kettle
·Rice Cooker
·Caphalon 5-piece Bakeware Set
·Roasting Pan with rack
·Salad Spinner
·Rachael Ray Silocone Spoonulas
·Knife Block Set
·Scrabble, Diamond Anniversary Edition
·Digital camera
·Brown leather jacket (somewhat long, medium)

P.S. I am having writer's block. My list is usually twice this long, so I may be adding to the list later on...

The Sky is Falling!

I am loving me some November. It's a bit too cold, but luckily my warm clothes, space heater and roaring fire have saved the day! I think Thanksgiving may very well be my favorite holiday. Maybe because I get to see all of my family and it's stress free (for me at least). Or could it be because I LOVE eating??? I could eat Thanksgiving food all year long, and would if it didn't take so darn long to cook. Actually, Rachael Ray has a solution for that in her 60 minute Thanksgiving meal. I love me some Rachael Ray too. Although, her scratchy voice has become irritating. I guess I love the old school Rachael better.

I unleashed Daisy & Baloo this morning into a leaf-filled wonderland. Adam raked some leaves until his arms tired and there are several leaf piles in our yard. Daisy lurks behind the pile, waiting for the perfect time to jump out and scare Baloo. Boo! They are both hysterical in their pursuits to catch falling leaves. There are leaves falling constantly from the big trees in the back, and the cats run full force to catch these falling objects, bringing their vegetarian prey into MY kitchen. It's such an accomplishment. My first thought as I watched them in action this morning was "The sky is falling" (Chicken Little).

I am especially looking forward to Thanksgiving meal # 1 of 2 this evening. Adam's parents usually travel during Thanksgiving week, so we always celebrate early. We are heading to their house tonight to eat and visit with his side of the family. It's so nice that they are only a 15 minute drive away! Then meal # 2 of 2 will be Thursday of course at my mom's in Snellville. I literally cannot wait! Mmmm...

The Unspoken

Ok, I have a hunch that some people are wondering what is up with us. And by "what" I mean the whole baby situation. I have some good conversations with friends about this subject from time to time, but for the most part it's left unspoken. I have a feeling that people are wanting to ask but may be uncomfortable. So for the curious George's out there, this one's for you...

Where do I begin? I guess I'll just start and see where I end up. Of course we lost our baby in June and I was told by my doctor that there was no need to wait for months to start trying again. All I needed to wait for was 1 normal cycle. So in July, we were given the green light. All seemed to be well and things were progressing as normal. No weirdness of any kind...until September/October. A few strange things happened. Nothing to be alarmed about, just some out of the ordinary things having to do with my cycle, hormones, etc.

In October, I was tricked into thinking I was pregnant. We were getting SO excited we could hardly stand it. After having months of extremely precise cycles, my October period was a week late. Yet all 4 pregnancy tests were negative. WHAT??? I started working myself into a frenzy, so I called my doctor to express my concern. They brought me in and tested for pregnancy in their office...negative test #5. Ugh.

I must say that my nurse Ginnene is fabulous. She knows my story, she listens to my rants and raves, she gives me practical and medical advice, and she is just so darn calm that she helps balance me out. Adam loves her too. He met me at the doctor on this occasion. According to Ginnene, she believes my body just started to ovulate around Sept/Oct during all the weirdness I was experiencing. For some reason, this shocked me because it seemed everyone was telling me when I lost the baby that my most fertile time is right after a miscarraige, and that I would get pregnany in no time. In the big picture, this is probably not a long time to wait, but in Sarah time it is an ETERNITY!

Anyway, Ginnene had prescribed me a hormone that would induce a period to get me back on track, but the very next day it turned out that I didn't need it afterall. You get the point. She also said that if I'm not pregnant by January, she wants me to come back for an office visit. I have no idea what that means, but I'm open. I hope nothing is wrong. Sometimes I think everything is normal, and sometimes I get the feeling that I/we may have some challenges in this area. Most people don't know this, but Adam & I tried to have a baby for about 8 months before it happened. Again, by the book this is perfectly normal, but in MY book this seemed abnormal. I've been told that your head can really get in the way of having a baby, which could totally be the case in my situation. Who knows. Maybe God is just proving to me that HE is the author of creation and that HE is in complete control, NOT ME. This is definitely stretching me in some major ways.

So this isn't any breaking news, but news nonetheless. I expect next week to be a little difficult since I'm approaching my due date. I consider my due date to be Thanksgiving day, as originally projected. The reason the doctor changed it is because my baby was smaller than she should have been, but now I know that it was due to the trisomy 18. Plus Thanksgiving is so much more meaningful for the whole story. So 11/27/08 it is.

We are actually getting better at accepting the situation. I am learning to patiently wait (this is difficult!) and not worry myself with nonsense, like turning to the internet to shed light on my symptoms and feelings and pains, etc. I worked myself into a tizzy thinking I was pregnant about a zillion times when in reality I wasn't. If you google any pain or symptom, it seems it can always lead to possible pregnancy. This kind of stuff will play with your mind, so I've banned myself from the internet when it comes to this area. It's helping.

Alright, enough already. I'm SO ready for bed. Good night friends :)

The Flaw of Perfection

How ironic. Makes you think, right?

This was the title of a sermon our pastor did a couple months ago. It has stuck with me because I was a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I used to strive for perfection and it left me feeling frustrated. Probably because the reality is that perfection is impossible and unattainable. The sad part is that I thought being a perfectionist was a strength, when it was actually a weakness.

I believe if you expect perfection, from others or of yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure. Why? Because NO ONE is perfect and life itself is certainly not perfect. Things don't go according to plan, and everyone slips from time to time. I used to have such extreme expectations that everyone let me down. I expected certain behavior or responses or results. And I was extra, extra hard on myself if I didn't do everything perfectly. I was my own worst critic. Folks, I used to copy my school notes over and over until they were perfectly organized and arranged. Unless they were perfect, they were not acceptable. I spent WAY too much time focusing on things that didn't really matter. I also wasted time trying to make my house SPOTLESS. In my apartment, I deep cleaned EVERY weekend trying to make it look perfect. And I worked full time (or more) during the week, so my whole life revolved around work. No fun! Now, I still do try to keep a neat and clean house, but not to the extreme. Out with the OCD! Life is too short! Thanks, Adam, and Pastor Chuck, for helping me realize some of these things.

I've moved from a perfectionist mode to an excellence mode. I do believe excellence is what we should strive for, especially as Christians. Christ set the perfect example for us and even though we can never achieve perfection, we should work toward excellence. Things like going the extra mile, being the better person, etc. Holding ourselves to a higher standard in a balanced way.

One lesson at a time...now I'm moving on to patience and contentment...

~Sarah :)

I'm Not Dead

Just busy...

Wow, what a busy time we've had lately. Since my new job is keeping me busy, REALLY busy, I don't have time to do things like check personal email or update my blog during the day. I have to be really careful about what I access online and even though I do have a lunch break everyday, I RUN from my desk during this much needed time. My desk is up front, so anyone could just wander in and interrupt my break or the phones would ring so much that I would feel obligated to answer. So I hide in the back break room or go out or even eat in my car if the mood arises. Whatever works!

Adam is becoming that person who cannot say no to things. I think he would admit that. From the neighborhood HOA to church activities and leadership opportunities, Adam's there! He's been floating from meeting to meeting, day to day, weekend to weekend. I think he's getting burnt out a little and perhaps reconsidering his schedule and commitments. And the HOA is causing an uproar in our neighborhood! That's another post for another day...

Also, I had a girls night out to dinner last night with Chelsea & Kristen. So relaxing and much needed. We went to Provino's and I had WAY too many garlic rolls! Adam hates when I load up on these because he claims the garlic reeks through my pores! I love it!

I'm looking forward to and yet dreading this weekend. There's WAY too much to do. I have a baby shower for Cody (who's due on Christmas), then I'm getting my hair did (yeah, finally!), and cooking/hosting for a neighborly gathering. Not to mention cleaning the house in between. We've been trying to organize a couples dinner (3 couples) for about 2 months now. I don't know how I'm going to swing that, but for some reason I was the crazy one who picked the date, so I don't know how I could get outta that. Then Sunday we're getting up extra early to work in the children's area, then going to service, then Adam's got another church meeting at 2pm. And the list goes on. This is making me exhausted. Blah...

Oh, and Adam is "accepting no apologies" from Daisy this evening. She pulled a scary little stunt tonight. I decided to let them out in the dark, against my better judgment and Adam's wishes. Well, I made a terrible mistake in allowing them to do so. Daisy went missing for a good bit. We were out in the cold wind calling for her and peeking into the woods, walking up/down the street and through houses, etc. I thought she could possibly be dead because another cat was seen running into the woods about the time she went missing, and there was some rustling in the woods. Dutchess, the cat next door who tormented our cats, has been missing about 3 weeks. She's not coming back I'm afraid to say. Well, I thought Daisy was gone for good. I got really worried and I went upstairs into the future nursery room to get a better look outside from up high. I prayed that God would send her home, and then I looked up and there she was...strolling up the street on the sidewalk. Not even in the woods. What the heck was she doing? She got in a bit of trouble when I brought her in, and Adam is giving her the cold shoulder. He's been giving her the evil eye. Oh brother....

Will Vote for Food!

I really voted for the obvious reason, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that various restaurant establishments were rewarding voters for their patriotism. I heard the Chick-fil-A in TowneLake was giving away free sandwiches for customers who presented their "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker today. I also heard that Starbucks was giving away free coffee for voters. Now these I cannot truly confirm, however I can confirm that Shane's Rib Shack treated me to a 3 piece chicken tender meal for lunch, complete with fries and a 20 oz. drink. Shazam!

Luckily, there are MANY restaurants near my new office, most of which call my name. I'm SO tempted to splurge and treat myself to lunch on a daily basis. Bad Sarah! Shane's Rib Shack is in the same shopping strip as my office, so I just walked right over, flashed my voter sticker, and walked out with FREE food! Shamelessly too.

Oh, the suspense is killing me! Out with the verdict already!

BOO!

I'M BBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

Well, for a limited time. Our first trick-or-treaters are soon to arrive I'm sure. Whew! This week has flown by and I have not even been thinking of my blog this week. So much to share, but for now I'm reflecting on the spirit of Halloween!

I LOVE Halloween! Probably because I love candy and I love this fallish time of year. Our back yard is beautiful with all the colorful leaves scattered all over the ground. I love the crispness of the air and the fact that I can now wear sweaters and fuzzy socks. I love being able to guiltlessly sit next to my space heater and roast away.

And I love reflecting on the day that started it all...Halloween 2003. This was the day that my life was turned upside down by an overly confident crazy guy wearing a blonde, curly mullet wig with 70's style sunglasses and a cutoff NASCAR t-shirt. This character is also known as my beloved Adam :) I can't believe we met 5 years ago today! That seems like such a long time ago. Time flies when you're having fun I guess.

We have taken our places on the couch and are ready to jump out of our seats, rushing to the door to greet trick-or-treaters and stuff them with chocolate candy. This is our first year in our own home so we planned to stay home and hand out candy while watching scary movies and eating popcorn. I am SO excited about this! I procrastinated and bought all our halloween candy at Publix today with only hours to spare. Hey, but I got 4 big bags at 50% off! See it DOES pay to be a slacker sometimes.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

The Low Down

Ok, I'm completely exhausted right now so this blog will be short. I know the suspense is building for some of you :)

Here's the low down...
1. My last day at my current job will be tomorrow
2. My first day at my new job will be Wednesday, October 29
3. I met the new team & my new boss today. All went well!

Unfortunately, today did not go as planned at my current job. Too many distractions, conversations, etc. So I didn't get to wrap up like I planned. But tomorrow is a new day & I hope to approach it with a fresh attitude.

Alright, heading to the bath tub, then to bed!

Job Offer

Oh my gosh, this is all happening SO FAST! I talked with the other Allstate agent this afternoon, hoping to just schedule an interview for early next week to discuss the opportunity within his agency. He asked what I was doing for lunch today & if I could meet NOW. AHHHH!!! I'm in casual Friday attire and am not prepared for an interview! And I'm REALLY in casual attire on this rainy day...equipped with an Old Navy Fleece, jeans & my 1998 pair of Timberland boots (still strong, I might add!). I got out of it though because I'm covering the office by myself for awhile and cannot leave. Thank goodness! So much pressure.

Then we discussed the opportunity over the phone for 45 minutes and he offered me the job to start Monday! As in next Monday. I haven't even met this man, who will be my boss, and I haven't had the chance to check out his office and the other people in it. Much less pack up all my crap at this office (including my gigantic candy drawer).

What to do?? I need to call him back today and let him know because he's got 2 other candidates hanging by a wire. So I'm thinking...how often do you lose a job 1 day and get a job the next? Virtually never. Adam thinks I should take it. It would be closer to home & the hours are better, pay schedule is better, etc. Plus it's a 2nd generation agency that's been around for 40 years. So it's stable for sure.

Still, I am a planner & like to think things through, consider options, be rational for goodness sake. But there's no time to kill! AHHH again!

Here We Go Again...

Well, it happened just as I speculated. Our Allstate office is closing down. No specific date yet, but my boss called me in a bit ago and gave me the news. I'm not surprised and somehow I'm not really worried. I knew this place was headed downhill. I know God has a plan and here's yet another fork in the road. I've been down this road before! And I'm still here!

Luckily, I won't really be out of a job. It just so happens that another Allstate agent close to my house is looking to hire someone exactly like me, or in my position rather, like NOW. And my boss put in a good word for me and I'm sure I will get the job IF I want it. I'm supposed to be calling him to at least interview to see if it's something I want to do. There's another possible opportunity that my boss has arranged with his buddy, a Nationwide agent, and someone I know well.

David really wants to take me with him wherever he goes, but the problem is he's not sure where he will go. There's no telling knowing him! He may even pursue teaching/coaching, which I think he will be great at. Only time will tell.

So here's my chance to get a fresh start! Please pray that a door opens!!

ROC Concert CANCELLED!

FYI...

The ROC Concert scheduled for this Friday night at Cool Beans Coffee Roasters has been CANCELLED!

The weather is looking nasty for Friday! Not so good for an outdoor event.

Peace out,
Sarah

Bruised Banana

I feel like a bruised banana. I keep bumping into things around the house, work, etc. and get bruises EVERY time! I have a bruise on my upper leg that is a constant reminder of my pure clumsiness. I know this is one of those things that's inherited (thanks MOM!) and inevitable. My mom is the same way, however she is WAY worse than me. She gets a bruise even if she just lightly brushes up against something. So in this scenario she would be Queen Bruised Banana. I'm not there yet, but I'm afraid I'm headed in that direction. Adam thinks it's fun to find and poke my bruises like it's a laugh button, sure to bring laughter (for him) every time. I'd like to give him a bruise for pestering me sometimes. Anyway...

This weekend was fun and festive! Friday night we had a get-together with our old newlywed small group from church. Saturday we went to Burt's Pumpkin Patch and picked out a few items, including decorative gords and a pumpkin pie. Yum! We already have our large pumpkins from our pumpkin carving party, so this year we just sat on and took pictures near the large pumpkins. If you've never been to Burt's, you need to go. It's such a neat place. Oh, and we met up with our friends Brandy and Wes, and their daughter Callie at Burt's. That was a treat!

Then we stopped by Amacalola Falls for our annual tradition of taking photos from the top of the waterfall, right where Adam proposed to me 3 years ago. We hope to do this EVERY year as tradition. Then Adam & I met up with his parents at a cool restaurant called "The Oar House." It was right on the river, and there was an outdoors section, an inside section, and a porch-type section that's covered but with no windows. We had an excellent table in the porch section. It was elevated so we could see the river flowing and all the colored leaves on the ground. It was so quiet and quaint! And the food was excellent! Most of us ordered the lemon caper butter trout with wild rice and sauteed veggies. Yummy! Then we stopped off to get some boiled peanuts and headed home. Actually, not directly home since I simply could not pass up the GAP outlet store on the way back.

By the time I got back home I was exhausted! My cold is lingering and now it's mostly a cough with a runny nose. But I've noticed that if I talk a lot in a given day, my throat starts hurting again. Maybe I should just shut up!! Hee, hee. Being in the cold air didn't help things, but I'm still glad we went. The leaves were brilliant this year, unlike last year when the drought caused the leaves to fall without really changing. We did cut out the Gold Rush festival in Dahlonega this year because we thought it might be too much to handle. Good call.

I'll post pics soon...

Calling All ROC Heads!

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Come check out my dad's band, ROC, NEXT Friday night. It is an outdoor event, weather permitting. Come sit outside under the stars, drink some hot coffee or another beverage of choice, and listen to the jam session! We did this in June and had a good crowd.

Here's your official invitation...

WHO: YOU!
WHAT: ROC Concert
WHEN: October 24, 7:30-9:30pm
WHERE: Cool Beans Coffee Roasters (in the Marietta square)
31 Mill Street, Marietta, GA
WHY: It will be fun!

C-ya there!

Mmmm...Protein

Ok, I'm fairly sure but not totally sure that a fruit fly landed in my big bowl of chili that I'm about to dive into. I was in between microwave sessions and had just taken my bowl out of the microwave to stir around when I noticed an obnoxious little fruit fly hovering over my bowl. I continued stirring and then, BAM, gone! The fly was nowhere to be seen. Did it take a dive into my chili? Did it fly off? Only God knows.

Now I'm paranoid about every bite I take. I am stirring and looking for it, and my spices have been mistaken for the little pest. Am I wrong for eating it? I mean, I AM hungry and my chili IS delicious. And it wasn't a BIG fly or bug. Just a tiny one. Hey, everyone needs a little more protein in their diet, right?

And on a side note, thanks for all the people who have been so concerned about me being sick. I stayed out of the office 2 days and am back at it today. Luckily, it is quiet in the office. My sore throat is gone, and now I only have a runny nose, sneezing, slight weakness, etc. Just a pesky cold I guess. But the bad news is that I gave it to my boss, so now he's out. Dangit!

Back to the hunt for the fly...

Engageiversary!

Today, October 15, marks our engageiversary and I wanted to be sure to mention it! Exactly 3 years ago to the day Adam & I got engaged. I thought it would be fun to remember those times with a few engagement & wedding photos. Enjoy!

Sick Day :(

This little sickling is feeling absolutely, positively yucky. I must have a sinus infection or a virus because my throat is PAINING me! I also cannot get warm enough. What is it, like 70's or 80's today? Well, you wouldn't think it in my house. I am wrapped in layers, including a fleece sweatshirt and blanket. The temp is up and I'm sipping hot cocoa and hot tea. I'm also trying to load up on vitamin C chewables, yogurt with probiotics, etc.

So I decided to stay home from work the entire day, as I should. For some reason, even when I feel like crap I still seem to wander in to the office for a while. I just feel bad for being out. Why is this? Adam thinks I'm ridiculous sometimes. And I think I agree. Today, however, I had no reservations about skipping work.

Ok, back to countless hours of TV watching and couch lounging. Stay away!

Happy Pill

I must have remembered to take my happy pill today because I'm in a GREAT mood! I was in a funk earlier this week, but I'm happy to say I snapped out of it. I'm mostly excited because it's Friday! And our new Friday office hours, 9-5 (not 9-6), effective today. Plus, things are going better at the office and it's kind of a fun day at work. Ever have one of those days? The phones have barely rang, so I've been doing all kinds of productive behind the scenes stuff today. I lit David's cinnamon candle and am taking in the lovely smell. Maybe I'll write about the reason I had to light the candle...another story altogether.

Tomorrow is our pumpkin carving fiesta. We have some friends coming over to carve pumpkins and hang out. Adam organized this event and cannot wait to break out the carving tools. He does elaborate carvings every year with his kit, so I'll be sure to post some pics of his masterpieces. Oh, and Babelle (my grandmother) gave me a tasty-looking jar of homemade apple pie filling, all set to dump in a pie crust and bake. So easy! I plan on baking the pie tomorrow as well. Adam has been talking about this all week, so I absolutely cannot let him down.

Ok, back to work. The countdown to the weekend is ON!

P.S. Did this week fly by for anyone else?

Daisy Deer & Baloofalo

Daisy & Baloo receive new pet names ALL the time. It never ends. And I love it! Daisy has names such as Peep, Lil' Mama, Snickerdoodle, Munch Munch, Punkinhead, Daisy Duke, etc. Baloo has names such as Boo, Boobie (hee, hee), Bubba, Huffalump, Little Big Guy, etc. Oh, and my mom refers to both of them as her "grandcats."

Adam is mostly the giver of the names, as he has a gift in this area. In fact, he named both Daisy & Baloo after we got them two years ago. Funny enough, Daisy was originally named Marlow, and Baloo was originally named Callihan. No way! These don't fit at all. In honor of their 2nd birthday (Baloo's is October 15, and Daisy's is about a week before...hey, that's like NOW!), they have two brand new nicknames.

While on our anniversary trip, Adam & I were talking about something random, and the names "Daisy Deer" and "Baloofalo" (pronounced like Buffalo only substitute the Buf- with Baloo-) erupted. These names have stuck in our household, especially Baloofalo. Baloofalo wuvs his wittle name :)

Check out my little Daisy Deer & Baloofalo in action. Happy 2nd birthday Peeps!

Sinking Ship

Call me "Negative Nelly" or "Debbie Downer" if you will. I just have to vent! It feels like we're on a sinking ship, in many ways. Family, friends, and even random people I encounter are having such difficult times due mostly to the economy. Businesses are crumbling, people are losing jobs or making less money, sickness is everywhere, etc. It seems everyone is having some type of major hardship.

To prove my point, you know it's bad when a random customer walks into the AT&T Kennesaw sales/customer service center (where Adam works) and threatens to shoot himself and others because his bill is too high. OMG! This actually happened today. Police swarmed the building and people were confused and probably frightened.

My office isn't doing so hot. Sales is way down and people are cancelling policies left and right to go to a cheaper company who will probably skimp on coverage to get a cheap premium. I know some people have to do what they have to do, but others are just complaining about price and even being ugly in some cases. My boss has worked himself into a deep depression due to personal issues and business issues. Everything seems to be heading south in his life, and it's so sad to see the downfall. I'm not sure what will happen from here. But oddly I'm not too worried. I know that whatever happens, God will pull me through and provide in a way only He can. Still, it can work you into a tizzy if you think about it too much.

And everyone knows about the hardship of outrageous gas prices and inflation. I won't go there. But I can say that I'm looking forward to the upcoming election. I am proud to say I am voting for the 1st time EVER!!! I cannot wait to do it so I can become a responsible citizen. Wait...does this mean I will be in the jury duty pool now? Oh, brother.

And on a random note, my SUV went spinning all over the road tonight as I drove home from work. It scared the daylights out of me, but THANK GOD no one was behind or beside me. I skid across the wet pavement when making a left turn by a gas station. I was all over the road, trying to correct my wheel and avoid the curb. AHHH! Luckily, I was unharmed and my car is fine. Just something to put me in a tailspin. Ok, I won't bore you anymore with my negative comments. Just being honest. Maybe tomorrow will look UP!

Back to Reality

Well, it's back to reality. Reality meaning total chaos at the office. Yesterday was a blur. I returned to stacks of paper on my desk, notes of to do's, etc. And as luck would have it, my boss's biological father passed away unexpectedly last week, while I was enjoying my week off. He didn't want to bother me and make me worry about things back at the office-front, so he didn't call me. But Rhonda, who was covering part of the week, called and broke the news on Wednesday.

So David is mourning and slowly working his way back to the office. In the meantime, guess who gets to cover? ME! Actually, it's not too bad. We have been slower than usual lately, so I'm almost caught up with my workload. For now...

Besides visiting the Dillard House last week, we had fun watching the GA game (although the verdict was pitiful), eating out (a LOT!), sleeping in, getting 1 hour massages (yeah!!), seeing some extended family, and did I mention sleeping in??

But alas, all good things must come to a close I suppose. I am thankful that I got a week off. I haven't had a week off since our honeymoon 2 years ago! It was time!

Adam's Adventures

Adam is always looking for an adventure. I, on the other hand, am NOT. No thank you. We went to Tallulah Gorge on our anniversary trip, and from what Adam told me of his adventures (without me), he's lucky he came outta there alive. I stood back while briefly peeking at the gorge, and that was enough for me. Scary!!! High!!! Ahhh!!!

Adam ventured off without me for awhile and took some photos of his findings. I chose to go inside into the air conditioned building, take a bathroom break, and then sit in the car with the air blasting. Have I mentioned lately that Adam & I are complete opposites???

Proof that I was there (for a short while)...

I would NOT go here! My heart was pounding from afar just thinking of how high we were.

The raggity bridge. Adam admitted to being terrified of this old thing. Even so, he walked across it.. Yikes!

The brave one...

Dillard Trip

Welcome to The Dillard House!

Our room...

Outside our room...

Isn't he pretty :)

On our way up to The Higlands, NC

Beautiful!

Adam on his horse "Joe." Joe loved to eat.

I found a cat! Imagine that. We named her "Dilly Dally" :)

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Well, to us really.

Adam packed the laptop on our trip, so I'm able to post straight out of Dillard, GA. I didn't know it until yesterday, but we're literally about a mile or two from NC. I'm sitting in a rocking chair on the back porch of our hotel room overlooking the serene view of the North GA mountains. Gorgeous! There's a horse pasture right outside our room, not to mention all kinds of shades of green from the grass to the trees. And some of the leaves are starting to change colors, so there's little sprays of oranges and reds mixed in with the green.

We've been horseback riding, exploring, eating, hot tubbing, walking, etc. Adam is currently recooperating from our trip to Tallulah Gorge earlier this afternoon. I briefly went exploring with him but then realized this was not for me. My fear of heights didn't help matters as we practically stood over cliffs. But Adam is much more adventurous, so he explored raggity bridges and other dangerous areas while I cooled off in the car. I really didn't want to be a widow yet considering it's only our 2 year anniversary, so I'm thrilled Adam returned to the car unharmed. Just pouring with sweat, but hey, I'll take it.

We are super excited about our swanky dinner in Highlands, NC tonight. We checked out the area yesterday and found a place that will be very tasty and elegant. Called Madison's. Pictures to post of our trip soon! Promise.

Surprise Blogger

Ok, just to prove that I am not a "one-hit-wonder" I am posting my Sophomore blog. I think I know why I don't blog on here more often.

1) Sarah pretty much catches everyone up on all the exciting details of our life (and does a fabulous job of it) leaving me nothing to add.

2) Next to Sarah, my next love is watching sports. I am pretty sure there are no males that read this and you ladies don't want to read about my distaste for the BCS for ranking Ohio State #2 and UGA #3 even though OU lost to #1 USC (who, by the way, lost to Oregon State last night. With #1 and #2 both having losses and #3 UGA being 3-0, will USC keep their #1 spot?...dirty hippies).

3) I know for a fact my Aunt Amy reads this blog regularly and that scares me. Why, you ask? Because, she writes for a living!!! That's what she has always done, with the exception of her brief duties at Captain D's (which actually probably contributed to her writing, I think she received a scholarship through Captain D's which helped her to get to college to further her writing. Heck, she probably has even wrote about Captain D's and won a Pulitzer prize). I can't deal with the pressure of knowing she is reading what I am writing, remember people; Pulitzer Prize! (She's probably looking at that semi colon I just used and said "silly Adam, that doesn't go there") (Do I use parenthesis' too much?)

On another note, I am proud of myself for changing my guitar strings on my own yesterday with no help. Getting the strings, now that's another story. There is a really cool looking music store around the corner from our house. While I had some time yesterday I stopped in to look around and get some strings. I was greeted by a man you typically would not find in a music store. This man was in his Sunday best and was either in his late 90's or well past 110 years old. I already knew what I wanted, but I wanted to check out some other stuff first. I asked him if they had pedals (for electric guitars, gives different sound effects). He showed me what little selection he had and you could easily see his annoyance for young musicians. I decided I was wasting my time and I just wanted to get my strings and go. When I told Father Time what strings I wanted and began to pull out my wallet, he said "Oh I hope you don't have one of those cards". "Are you kidding me", I was thinking, "who takes 'cash only' these days"? The case was the store had just received a new credit card machine and he didn't know how to work it (of course no one else was there). This is when he asked me if I knew how to work it. Sure, all you do is hold the card up to the machine and it automatically reads it. Hey, I think I want to buy a few guitars and some amplifiers too, don't worry, I'll ring it up myself. No, I did not take advantage of the old man. I went out of my way to another store to get what I needed. I was so disappointed though because I had this weird dream that the store would be as cool on the inside as it was on the outside and I would get to know the people inside and become a regular, and years later they would let me run the store. By the way, the inside of the store was gross, it was like being in an old dirty basement where crap had been piled upon crap for years. All the instruments were used and no major names like Fender, Gibson, Taylor, etc.
I'm all done here, just one more quick tid bit. I just read The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson and am totally inspired to take a big step in life. I recommend everyone to go out and read it. It's only about 150 pages, good stuff though. Everyone take care and have a great weekend.

-Adam

Sorry Campbell's

Campbell's has done it again. They have changed my soups! Why must they continue to torture me? I was first crushed by this company, my FAVORITE soup company by the way, over a decade ago when they removed their meatball alphabet soup from the market. I was crushed! It doesn't sound tasty, and now that I think of it, I removed the meatballs from the soup, but the flavor really was fabulous. The meatballs helped to flavor the broth.

Over the past month, the stores have removed my normal Campbell's Select soup-to-go's with what I like to call "Select Harvest crap-to-go's." I was deceived into thinking that this healthier variety would be better. After all, the packaging was better and more attractive to the eye. The colors were more fresh looking and the health claims, like lower sodium, wholesome grains, farm-grown vegetables, etc. were also appealing.

But the reality is that my taste buds are the ultimate judge of what stays and what goes. My buds are rejecting this new concauction. There's no taste! Bring back the salt! For the love of God, let's work through this. I bought 3 varieties and had to pour each of them out after several tasteless bites. I resorted to a pack of crackers for lunch on one occasion.

This is really rocking my world. I eat soup at least 3 out of 5 work days a week. I love soup. I have probably kept Campbell's in business all these years. I have been loyal to this company for decades, never even venturing to the Progresso or Healthy Choice section of the soup aisle. Until now. I broke down in a moment of despair and bought several Progresso soup-to-go's (you know, the microwavable ones in the cups with the water already included). And I must say that they were really good!

Sorry Campbell's :(

8 Reasons Why Christians Suffer

Joyce Meyer is my most favorite spiritual teacher of the Word. She fires me up for God in an awesome way! I watch her on TV, listen to her on the radio, and stumble across her website every now & then. Here's something interesting I found about why she believes Christians suffer...

1. Lack of Word Knowledge
Many Christians suffer because they're too busy seeking carnal knowledge instead of the Word of God. The Lord Himself said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...(Hosea 4:6)." We need to realize the importance of learning spiritual things, for Galations 6:8 says, ..."he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

2. Disobedience
Once we know the Word of God, we have a responsibility to be obedient to it. Too many of us intend to be obedient, but put it off. Even procrastination is disobedience, and it can cause us to suffer. When God tells me to do something, I find it helpful to write it down. This serves as a reminder that I must be obedient if I want God's blessings. "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19)."

3. To Purify and Test Your Faith
Sometimes people seem surprised that they must go through a time of trial or suffering. Perhaps they've been faithful to learn and obey the Word, and the trials still come. Sometimes trials come simply to test and purify your faith. "You should be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, so that the genuineness of your faith may be tested, your faith which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. This proving of your faith is intended to redound to your praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6,7)."

4. A Need for Brokenness
The word "brokenness" may strike fear in some people, but it's really not a bad word. God doesn't desire to break our spirits, but He wants to break that outer shell, the flesh that prevents Him from being all He wants to be in and through us. He wants to break off things like pride, rebellion, selfishness and independence. He wants us to be totally dependent on Him, and suffering seems to bring us to that point.

5. To Build Compassion
Compassion is born out of experiencing similar problems. It's comforting to know that Jesus understands me and has compassion. Going through trials and experiencing God's deliverance better equips us to minister to others. Our pain is never wasted; it brings about compassion that reaches out to other hurting people by saying, "I've been there, and God brought me through it, and He will do the same for you."

6. To Encourage Others
The apostle Paul said there were many things that God allowed him to go through simply as object lessons for other people. Even in Paul's imprisonment, his stability and ability to be used of God was evident. If we're to minister to others, we too must face some adverse circumstances. But if we stand in faith and confidence, God will bring us through to victory, and we will be a great encouragement to others in the process.

7. Because of the Word
Sometimes we suffer attacks from the enemy simply because of our involvement with the Word of God. Mark 4:17 speaks of those who hear the Word and endure it for a while, "...then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended and they stumble and fall away." When someone receives the Word of God, Satan delights in coming immediately to try and steal what's been sown in our heart. He knows the Word will strengthen us and help us live a victorious Christian life, and he wants to stop it if he can. So it's imperative to guard the Word in your heart and resist the devil from stealing it away from you.

8. Because of Living in the World
Many times Christians face trials and suffering simply because we live in a world full of sin. But Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." What a promise! Understanding the reason for our suffering and having the assurance of the final glory we'll share should make it a little easier to enjoy our lives...even during the times of sharing in suffering.

The Dillard House

I'm aware I've let the suspense build on the details of our upcoming anniversary trip. Calm down people! It's really not that exciting, but since we were all for a reasonably priced, relaxing getaway this year, The Dillard House fits the bill.

We're driving up/over on Monday, September 27, and plan to stay a few days. We're staying in the hotel part with a king bed (yipee!). We plan to have a relaxing time just taking in the scenery and spontaneously doing whatever we feel like doing. Even if it's lounging in the hot tub all week. Not really, I would be super pruney by week-end. Hee, hee.

We did reserve a spot for an hour horseback ride through the river. I'm very excited about this activity. I have always wanted to ride a horse along the beach, but this is the next best thing. We actually travel down the river on a horse. Not sure how deep the water is, but it should be fun! And different. Other things to do include hiking, rafting, fishing, shopping, sight seeing, etc. There is a pool & tennis court on the premise, but I doubt we will get into that. It will be too cold to swim, and tennis is not our thang.

We will also be dining for some meals at the famous Dillard House restaurant. We will be stuffed full of southern favorites! I think we may venture out on our actual anniversary night into Highlands, NC (only 12 miles away) for a romantic & upscale dinner. The great part is that we do not have a schedule on this trip. We will just probably wander around & pick places to eat, things to do, etc. on a whim. Loving it!

We also want to do a few things close to home during our week off. We may venture to Atlanta to enjoy a nice dinner with all the lights & excitement of the city. We will probably get massages at a place near home that we love. I would like to do a little shopping, maybe at the outlet malls. We will probably see some family and get some things done around the house as well.

Countdown: 11 days!
Check it out at http://www.dillardhouse.com/

Sleep!

Well, someone must have been praying hard, because last night I got fabulous & uninterrupted SLEEP! Halleluiah! I think I wore myself out last night prior to bedtime, which helped. I made a quick grocery trip after work, cooked a yummy dinner (pepper steak with rice pilaf and french bread), unloaded & loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the kitchen, made a pitcher of tea, picked up a few items around the house, soaked in a bath, drank my sleepy tea, read my bible, talked with Adam, and BAM...out!

Adam has been working 11-hour days this week, so normally he helps me out, but this week I'm giving him a much needed break from housework. His days are full enough, and his only job once he gets home this week is to relax. He does a terrific job at this task, I might add. Ha!

I felt so rested this morning. In fact, I was so sound asleep that I was slow to react to my alarms, all 3 of them (my alarm clock, my cell phone alarm, and Baloo). My morning coffee also gave me a little jolt to get me going. Coffee has become such a treat and I look forward to it every day. Literally. I'm lame, I know.

Hmmm...let's see what else I can dig up to tell. The countdown to our anniversary is on! 13 days! Oh yeah, I still need to post about our plans for that week. Maybe tomorrow.

Zombie

As I arrived to work this morning, I mumbled to David, "I am a zombie." These words just floated out of my mouth and into existence in a matter-of-fact tone. I don't want to be a zombie, but as my sleepless nights continue, I'm feeling more and more out of my element. Maybe as long as I don't look like a zombie, I'll be ok. Or maybe I'm becoming a night owl or a vampire. (As you can see, my mind is in a strange place right now).

I bought a new tea to hopefully help me sleep. It's a tension relief, decaffeinated herbal tea with chamomile, peppermint, cinnamon, lemon, etc. Oh, and catnip. Really, catnip is listed as an ingredient. That's gotta make you wonder. Anyway, I broke open the tea package last night and gave it a whirl. It was pretty good I guess. But still not a lot of luck with that sleep thing. I've tossed and turned the last few nights, staying up way too late and only getting choppy bits of sleep. Then I come to work feeling like a zombie, just trying to last through the day. I rode the couch last night after deciding that the bed just wouldn't do. My fur babies tagged along and we cuddled in blankets on the couch. Surprisingly, the couch was very comfortable, even with 2 cats on my legs. I slept really well there, but it wasn't long enough.

On a happy note, I met some neighbors last weekend. Adam (being the social butterfly he is) already met most of our neighbors, but I am just now getting out of the house I guess. He spends more time outside, so he has more of an opportunity to meet people. Anyway, our neighbors 2 houses down, Ben & Mary, brought us homemade chocolate chip cookies Saturday night. The old fashioned, hospitable way. How thoughtful! We chatted with them awhile, then we ran into them again on Sunday. They were visiting with other neighbors, Tracy & Christine, so we met them as well. A progressive dinner/block party is in the works for an upcoming weekend. TBD at this point. But it should be fun to get all the neighbors together, exchange numbers (in case someone's house burns down), eat some good food and socialize.

Oh, and I'm out of time for today but we picked a place to go for our 2 year anniversary! I'll post details soon.

Hyper

I don't get hyper often, but I've got ants in my pants! The weekend is SOOOO close I can taste it! I've been all alone at the office today with nobody (but customers) to talk to, and I'm about to go wild. Poor Adam who will have to suffer through the non-stop conversation during our dinner date tonight.

I say dinner date, but we're only going to Moe's. "Welcome to Moe's" they will say when we arrive. We don't go out to eat very much anymore, so anything's a treat now-a-days. I'm just glad that I don't have to cook tonight. I love cooking, but enough already! A girl needs a break.

I'm also excited because Adam & I get to plan our vacation/getaway for our 2 year anniversary at the end of the month. We both have the entire week off from work, and we have been going back and forth on where to go and what to do for months. I'll post the official decision once we make it! We do have a pretty good idea already.

On another note, I'm giving a shout out to my new sister blogger, Laurel! She could not resist the peer pressure any longer. Thanks, Laurel, for giving in and joining in the fun!

Happy weekend :)

Chocoholic

They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem...I am a CHOCOHOLIC!

I love everything chocolate. Candy, cakes, cookies, pie, mousse, icecream, pudding, and the list goes on. Dark chocolate is my specialty, although milk chocolate is also yummy. I don't do white chocolate, however. It's not true chocolate in my opinion. It's white for crying out loud!

As a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I was in heavenly splendor this afternoon when my sweet tooth got sweet relief. My boss (who knows about my problem and discusses it with me on a regular basis) went to Subway for lunch and brought me back a sweet surprise...2 chocolate chip cookies!

Simultaneously, while he was gone to Subway, a solicitor showed up at the office with a huge basket full of chocolate! Jackpot! He held the basket in front of me and told me to pick out what I wanted. The choices were snack sizes of butterfinger, crunch, kit-kat, snickers and reeses cups. As my mouth salivated, I was perplexed because I did not want to seem greedy, BUT I wanted to swoop my hand in and grab all the chocolate I could possibly manage.

The man saw how indecisive I was and I guess he could tell I was holding back. So to solve the problem, he dumped about 20 pieces on my desk, several of each kind. Bless this man! Maybe he was sent on a special mission to replenish my chocolate stock. Truth be told, I had eaten my last piece of chocolate that I keep at my desk just hours before.

I hope my dentist down the street, Dr. Shorr, does not have spidey senses. If he senses what's going down here, he may bust in and break up the fun. I was just at the dentist on Monday getting 2 fillings. I go back in a few weeks to have the other 4 done. Cavities are the consequence of my addiction. Sigh.

Sister Bloggers

Calling all sister bloggers...where ya at?

If you will notice, I made an update today on the left side of my blog page that links my blog fans to other blogs that I'm a fan of. The authors of these "other blogs" are called "sister bloggers."

If you will also notice, I have only 2 links!!! Come on people. Get with the program. Give me something to read! I'm having to rely on people.com or CNN/Fox for my reading material during my lunch break.

Maybe you've considered it. JUST DO IT! It's so fun! And everyone can stay posted on your life without you even having to say a word. It's brilliant I tell you!

I think I may have almost recruited Laurel. Take the plunge, Laurel. Married life can't be keeping you that busy. And I'm thinking of lots of others who could follow the lead. Yep, even you! Let's go gals.

Many thanks to Jenny and Amy (official sister bloggers) who keep me from being bored to tears. I'm at the point of desperation where I'm digging through blog archives. This is serious...

The Bride & Groom vs. Dance Machine

As you can see, Adam is quite fond of the bride...

and groom...

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

Adam knocking the socks off of Marsha (previously mentioned in another post)...

Evidence of "The Worm"

The photos are back from Laurel & Graham's July wedding. Now we finally have evidence of Adam's fine dance skills...

Ladies & gentlemen, I give you...THE WORM...