Satan cowers

I have a list of things I need to be getting done right now. But I need to post this. My best friend, Emily, was in the hospital exactly a year ago. It was life threatening. It was really scary and it took a long time for her to recover. She just wrote this post as she remembers this time of her life exactly a year ago. It's a post that glorifys God. I love it and I just want more people to read it. I hope you don't mind Emily...

"I just had a moment. This exact time last year was a Tuesday/Wednesday. And this moment exactly 365 days ago I was lying in a hospital bed praying and pleading with God that if this was going to be the end of my life that he would just take me and not make it drag out any longer because I was done. The phrase I used was "I'm finished fighting." I remember beginning to cry and wishing that someone would wipe the tears off my face because my joints were arthritic and swollen and my body was toxic and I couldn't raise my arm to do it myself. I remember thinking, "God, truly your will be done because I don't know what else to do," and that was the last coherent thought I had for the next 3 days. It was a Tuesday. And the next twelve Tuesdays after were all some of the worst Tuesdays of my life.

But God showed me that He is faithful. And God showed me that His hand is not too short to deliver. And God showed me that his will is good. And it is pleasing. And it is perfect.

And I cried a lot. And I was angry for a little while. And I just plain did not understand.

But God showed me through my brokenness that His provision was perfect.

And even though I felt like the world was moving on while I was frozen {literally, with swollen shoulders and no range of motion; and the pain in my back so intense that I could not get out of bed by myself, wash my hair, face, hands, or eat by myself},

God showed me that His strength is perfected in weakness.

And His love is abounding. His timing? Flawless.



I have night-horrors every now and again where the memories of pain and frustration are so real that I wake up crying. Sometimes the fear is so strong that my mind recreates it and my back will begin to tremble with spasms. I fear it. In the last 365 days there is not a single one I can remember where I did not remember the last year.

But then I have a moment, and God just says, "Beloved, Who am I? Did I not carry you through that? Did I not fulfill my promises? Did I forsake you though you doubted me? It was My hand. It was My will. I am. I will always be."

And then I remember. And I can lay down the burden and the fear. I can walk by faith because it was He who taught me. Is it appropriate to raise an Ebenezer here? Let me declare, "Look what God has done. God and none other."

None other."

I think this illustration by John Piper describes wonderfully what is happening in response to this post and Emily's faith...

In time God's wisdom will be plain

Valentines

Happy Valentines Day :)

It's valentines and we woke up to rainy, cold weather. Usually this would make me cry (literally...maybe) but today it made me excited! I love when I have no where to be but it's rainy outside...especially while watching a movie. I feel like I haven't done that in forever! :)

Jonathan is off getting milk...for his cereal and THEN waffles for lunch. He's taking a while....hmmm....


--EDIT--

Today has ended up being such a beautiful day. The rain cleared and now it's sunny again. I always like the sun...even when we're in a drought (does that make me a bad Midlander??).
Jonathan took forever at the grocery store! He came home with hydrangeas, wine, chocolate and a gift. He had gone to his parent's house to get everything. Instead of explaining everything...I'll just show pictures:


My mother-in-law got me these sweet glasses that we saw about a month ago at an estate sale. I had no idea she bought them! If you come visit me I'll make you lemonade :)
Notice the daisy stir stick?? CUTE.





I got Jonathan peanut butter! Don't worry, it's not going to kill him. We watched a show about the best sandwiches in America. There's a peanut butter restaurant in New York that only sells PB sandwiches! You can order their peanut butter online at ilovepeanutbutter.com
He loved it!



Jonathan got me wine, chocolate, hydrangeas (not pictured) and a book with love letters written by famous Christians in history (i.e. Martin Luther and Martin Lloyd Jones). I loved it!
The wine bottle is really cool...



Then we made breakfast!



On a none Valentines related note...for those interested (mom, Laura) here is a picture of my teacup cubby! I am so glad I bought this thing (even if they didn't go as low as I wanted). It's not quite complete yet. I eventually want to fill each corner with a different tea cup (all four of them are the same). I need another unique and different one from anthropologie...you know to keep it looking young. I really love it! Mom, notice the center, left mug...that's the one I just ordered. In the picture above of our bfast table you can see the rest of the plates on the other side of the table. I LOVE them!




-L

the things of this world

“If you give your soul up to anything earthly, whether it be the wealth, or the honours, or the pleasures of this world, you might as well hunt after the mirage of the desert or try to collect the mists of the morning, or to store up for yourself the clouds of the sky, for all these things are passing away.”

Charles Spurgeon


Lord, help me to believe this with all of me, every moment of the day. Help me to treasure you infinitely more than anything in this world.

Kayleigh and Ethan

I took pictures of my friend, Shawn's, two children. These kids are the cutest kids. I told her that her kids make me want to start a family.

It was so much fun taking these pictures...I had to get used to chasing Ethan around. I'm not used to people walking out of shots! Thank you Shawn for giving me this opportunity!

oh my goodness...picking out pictures for my wedding album is SO hard!

I originally had 500 favorite pictures...then I was told I need to narrow it done to 100! I thought I was doing good but I still had 230! Now I have 165 and I don't think I can handle it anymore! Every time I walk away and come back to the pictures I find more I love. I just need to remember this is just for the album. I can frame all the pictures I want for the rest of my life!

Just had to share that with my few readers. ALSO, I have to choose a picture for the cover and a picture my photographer will create a "signature art print" out of. Goodness.

It has been fun re-living such a great time though! It makes me miss people though :(


-L

inspiration

I just stumbled across the website. It's so random. It's fun to come up with ideas though. I like the idea of collecting images of what I like and then reproducing them in real life with a REAL budget! I put this together...it's a representation of my living room...sort of...kind of...

Some of these elements I have some version of. Other elements are part of my plans for the future.
For example...we just got a white armoire similiar to the one pictured except it's shorter, longer, and cooler! But the feet are almost identical. It's where we keep our TV and I'm so excited about it. It's our very late wedding gift from J's parents.
Another example...the red pillow: I love this pattern and actually you can buy this fabric. I want to get it in yellow and recover this retro looking chair we got from J's grandmother. The plate represents all the plates I have in my living room (on the wall, mantle, etc). I am addicted to plates...seriously. The mirror represents the antique frameless mirror I have hanging on our wall. The chaise...well I love them and I want one! I love nesting tables but haven't found any yet. I like the white lamp...the yellow rug (from pottery barn kids!!). I just put the coffee table in there because my design needed one! Ours is so much cooler and one of kind. We're not sure who made it (J's great grandfather maybe). It's long and low and held together with wooden pegs. It's amazing. It used to have our TV on it but since we got the armoire we were able to resurrect it! The only thing missing from this picture is a couch...I just could not find a good one, oh well!

Michaela is the only one who's seen my place! I need more of my girls to come out to me! Read Michaela's blog...she says my guest bed is comfy!

Alright...back to my to-do list. J is at a men's only bible study right now so I have the evening to get things done!

Leave me some love!



LMT by jandl

Nap Eyelashes

Don't you just love that bent eyelash look you get from taking nap with your face smashed against a pillow while you have mascara on. Actually, no kidding, sometimes it looks good. It's bent just enough to look like I curled it...but only on one side of course.


This Christmas was by far different from any of my other Christmases but parts of it felt just the same. We spent it here with his parents, brother and wife, niece, aunt and grandmother. We had our own little Christmas in the morning (which I forgot to take a picture of!) and then went over to his parents house for the big event. Abigail is about 2.5 so this Christmas was such an event for her! We spent a lot of our time with presents unwrapped at our feet admiring sweet Abigail ripping into her prizes. But we found time to unwrap our own. I got a lot of thoughtful gifts among my favorites...a cake stand (antique), anthro gift card, and these two books:


Radical Womanhood
go here for an interesting video about this book...
www.vinegarhillpictures.com/video/video_pages/video_pages/radical_woman_hood.html


Heaven Without Her
I'm already half way through this one.

Jonathan basically got me both although he "sold" one of them to his mom to give to me. haha.

Jonathan's aunt, Mary Scott, spent the night with us last night. I was so glad to have her and I know Jonathan was too. She thinks Jonathan is precious and just adores him. He made us waffles in the morning and I know she loved it.

Michaela will be the next to stay with us and I couldn't be more excited to have her feet in my apartment all the way out here in west Texas!! Her parents and her are driving through on their way back from an "untraditional" Christmas in California.

Despite how at home I feel here with my husband I still miss my family this Christmas. It's just strange. It's not the same mailing each other's gifts and not seeing each others faces. I didn't even get to see our tree set up in the living room this year.

I thank the LORD for Christ's sacrifice on the cross. I thank the LORD that he has granted me his grace. It is by his grace alone that I have hope in this world and I hope that his name will be glorified! I hope that Christmas will be about Him every year of my life and not just on Christmas day.

-L

my love

My wedding photographer was wonderful. She captured how Jonathan treasures me...







On another note...things I've learned this week:


1. I noticed in my fridge on Monday a mysterious yellow/white object shaped almost like a giant jelly bean. My first thought was that Jonathan was trying to play a trick on me but he eventually convinced me it was not from him. We seriously stared at it forever! Jonathan smelled it, I poked it, we gave it to the dog (then quickly picked it up again). Then I SCREAMED when I realize I had been handling a RAW BOILED EGG! Rule #1 Don't leave boiled eggs in the fridge (especially if peeled)!! I wish I had taken a picture before throwing it like a mad woman into the garbage disposal (also a minor mistake)

2. No matter what, when making cheesecake, it will always come out different! I made one last week for Thanksgiving and then I cheerfully volunteered to make it for a party at work. Ahhhh! It looked horrible...my pies can look terrible for family, friends...but WORK! This was an appreciation party for our volunteers (mostly elderly women) so I kept thinking these experienced old women are going to scoff at my cheesecake! I'm being slightly dramatic...it was fine. Apparently it tasted fine too. Rule #2 Only make pretty things for work parties

3. I got a pizza stone for a wedding gift. I love these things...I've only used my moms and I really haven't made pizza since because it just makes it so much better than a normal cookie tray does. So this week I was so excited to make a pizza. I pulled my beautiful, perfectly cooked pizza out of the oven and started serving it... "JONATHAN-the pizza is STUCK!"
We had bottomless pizza for dinner that night.
Rule #3 Read the directions and grease your pizza stone! Apparently you're suppose to do that for the first few uses. I kept thinking my mom NEVER greased her pizza stone...well she did!


I had to share all of those things with my few readers! Alright, off to work on my wedding album...

-L

photos by Leslie Gawroecki
goodlightphotography.com

lunch break post

So I thought I would take part of my lunch break to update my blog since it's been TOO long!



To start out I'll share with my readers (very few I'm sure) what kind of snacks I make! Claire asked what I make so for anyone who is also interested! Seriously, nothing special but I think all of it tastes good togther and it's healthy. It's usually any combination of the following: smoked swiss and cheddar cheese (Hoffman's brand is the only one that makes it), almonds, water crackers, goldish, fritos, pecans...
I usually always have at least the cheese, almonds, and crackers and then I throw in anything else I might have at the time. I feel dumb posting this but it's fun to share!



When Jonathan and I were walking into the house after he picked me up from the airport he had a CHI box under his arm. Strange. Here is how it went:

L: Why do you have that?!?
J: Oh my mom wanted to know if you wanted it...(like it's just nothing!)
L: She wanted to know if I wanted it?? YES I want it! Do you know how much those things are??
J: No.

I proceeded to tell him...I still don't know why she gave it to me. I'll see her tonight and ask her. I know she wanted to get a flat iron but she did and I thought I saw it and knew it wasn't a CHI. Anyways...this is too great of a thing to just hand off to me!
So now I have no excuse to try to fix my hair like in the picture from my last post. He used the exact same thing and even trained me. We'll see...

This weekend I went to Austin to hang out with my Austin/San Marcos friends. I stayed with Emily but I got to see Megan and Liz. It was so good to have lots of girl time. We missed Michaela and Heather so much (the original plan was to have a girls weekend but things came up). I realized on the plane on the way to Austin that I forgot my camera! So I have NO pictures to show for it. I'm disappointed in myself...
On Sunday I hung out with John and Laura. It was fun. Laura and I went to the Container Store so I could spend my giftcard. I got one of those cool salad/salad dressing containers! :)



Alright I would write more but my lunch break is OVAH!

-L

Look at that HAIR!

I got a haircut. It wasn't drastic at all but I was so HAPPY to get it! My hair just felt old, heavy and boring. That's what happens when I go too long. I got it cut right before the wedding but not much because my hairdresser wanted my hair long for the wedding "do".

Anyways, my mom wants to see the pictures Jonathan took on Saturday after I got home. I got my hair cut at 8 AM saturday because my guy (Elias) is in high demand out here. So I took these pictures before I took a nap at 1! I'm glad I remembered because it sure didn't look like this when I woke up...



I know...it's a little wild. But I loved it! It was fun! He did all of that with a skinny little flat-iron. It was like a magic act...he showed me how to do it (he even made me do it with him!) but you know I won't be able to do that again. Maybe, maybe.
So, mom, you better be reading this because this is all for you!

Well, I started my new job last Wednesday and so far I've liked it. I'm getting used to being gone during the day. Yesterday was terrible though because I went to the grocery store during rush hour...which I usually avoid at all costs. No more avoiding, I'm a working woman now! Today it was freezing at work...it's always freezing but I wore the wrong thing today. I could barely stand it by the time I walked out.

Anyways...I need to go get a "snack" ready for Jonathan before he gets home. I've got him addicted to my snacks. I make good snacks (and healthy). He always thought it was weird before we were married but now I got him on board! We're addicted to cheese that costs $4 a chunck...we're giving up cereal to buy it! I found the cheese at Walmart on sale 2 for $5! I was too EXCITED!

-L

FOOD!

I couldn't decide which recipe to share with my (very few) readers so I decided to post two. One is my old favorite and the second is my new favorite. Both are good for the fall...even though it's not really fall- only in the morning here in Midland. Both are for the crock-pot but the first one can be done on the stove also.


Taco Soup

I LOVE this stuff. It's one of the only things I make that I actually crave and savor...usually these feelings are only for things I don't make myself. You know how it is...you always like things that are made for you or that you order at a restaurant more than what you've made yourself. Although, for me, this is starting to change since I got my panini press! That's a story for another day-back to the soup.

This can be made in the crock-pot but I actually have done it on the stove more often.

1-2 lbs. ground beef (1.20 is usually what I can find at the grocery store without buying more than I need)
1 medium - large onion, diced
1 can green chiles (the really small can/store brand)
1 can mild rotel tomatoes
3 cans diced tomatoes (sometime I buy the "petite diced" if I want a less chunky soup-or a little of both kinds)
1 can ranch style beans
1 pkg ranch seasoning
1 pkg mild taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups water
1 can sliced olives
Fritos (this is a MUST!

Brown beef, do not drain. Transfer to a warmed crock-pot. (If making on the stove just brown beef in a large soup pot and add ingredients to that). Add all ingredients--do NOT drain any of the cans. I just realized I don't know how long to cook it in the crock-pot! Oops! I will be consulting my mom on this and I will let you know! BUT...for the stovetop: Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Stir often. Serve in bowls with chips, cheese, sour cream, avocados, etc. This soup is hot and I often burn my tongue so be warned. Remember, the Fritos make this soup...in my opinion it's boring without them and not as good with tortilla chips! Next time I make this I'm gonna buy the store brand b/c Fritos are expensive!


Harvest Lamb (Beef) Stew

I love this ALMOST as much as Taco Soup. It's my new favorite. Peggy (mother-in-law) made it for us and then I made it...pretty easy and such a Fall meal! I halved the recipe which was plenty for two but doesn't leave as many leftovers--which are great too! So if you want to, make the whole thing and enjoy it for a couple of days. I made it with beef...I have no idea how it is with lamb but it's probably great!



2 1/2 lbs. lean lamb stew meat (about 1-inch pieces)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 (6-oz) can tomato paste
1 (14.5 oz) can beef broth
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped sweet onion (or yellow-about half an onion)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
*1 small butternut squash (about 1 lb.), peeled, seeded and chopped
hot cooked mashed potatoes or grits (I love it with grits but not everyone loves that stuff)
garnish: fresh parsley sprigs (I didn't do this)

1. Rinse lamb stew meat, and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss in flour, shaking off excess.
2. Cook half of lamb in 2 Tbsp. hot oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring occassionaly, 10 minutes or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining lamb and oil. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute. Add broth, and stir to loosen particles from bottom of Dutch oven. Transfer mixture to a 6-qt. slow cooker.
3. Stir in celery, onion and garlic. Top with butternut squash. (Do not stir to incorproate.) Cover and cook on LOW 4 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Serve over hot cooked mashed potatoes (or grits). Garnish if desired.

I also made dinner rolls (Rhodes frozen rolls). You have to have bread to "sop" up the stew! ;) Jonathan thinks I'm funny about that.

*This is the only tricky part...those things are hard to chop. I read in "What's a Cook to Do?" (Laura's bday gift!) that the best way to cut up a butternut squash is to cut it in half, seed it and then chop into cubes and THEN cut off the skin from these pieces...rather than peeling the hard skin off at the beginning. This was still tricky but I think it's a better alternative. Try looking this up online...I'm sure there's some great advice somewhere! Just be careful...I could see how easily you could cut off a finger!


One more thing...I got a JOB! I know this should probably be a post on it's own but oh well! I start tomorrow! I'll be the archival assistant at the Petroleum Museum. I'm so excited and so nervous. This is such a new thing! I thank God for providing for me. I'll continue to trust him with this job.

-L

cookies

I baked cookies today.








Before I got married I NEVER baked. I'd only made one batch of cookies by myself. I've just never had the desire. I cooked all the time in college--I just didn't bake. Now I love to do it! It's probably because I have a KitchenAid Mixer and someone to eat my desserts! So if you have any recipes, please pass them on to me! Michaela, I forgot to tell you today that I made your pumpkin bread on Saturday with my mom...it was so good and so easy! :) Oh and thanks for letting me copy your idea of posting pics of your cookies.

-L

It feels like home to me

My favorite thought/feeling is knowing that at the end of the day I don't have to say bye to my husband...


My parent's were here this weekend and they just left about 2 hours ago. I miss spending time with my mom. It was a good weekend.


But as long as I'm with Jonathan it feels like home to me.

joyful

My eyeballs are dry...welcome to Midland Lauren! )

I have an interview tomorrow. It's for a part-time position which isn't ideal but I like the idea of starting out slow.

I was talking to my sister-in-law (Jenni) yesterday about how everything seems to be going wrong lately--or interrupting "normal" life. We asked ourselves whether bad things really have been happening more of if we're just now fully aware of them as adults--while before we were unaware of the world around us. I think, for me at least, it's a combination of both...although more of the former than the latter.

In the book, Shopping for Time (review in my last post), they mention that "interruptions" are a myth. In the book they are referring more to interruptions of daily life-like a neighbor coming over when you have 10 million things to do, etc. But it also applies to BIG interruptions--tragedies, sickness, hurricanes etc. A good quote from C.S. Lewis:

"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's "own" or "real" life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life - the life Gd is sending one day by day: what one calls one's "real life" is a phantom of one's own imagination. This at least is what I see at moments of insight: but it's hard to remember it all the time"

I feel like my world has been rocked lately. Mostly in good ways but also in scary ways.
My mother-in-law's friend got in a car accident two nights ago. She has injuries to her brain, neck and aorta and still has not waken up. Please pray for her.
Jonathan's uncle died about a month ago very unexpectedly and now his aunt is dealing with real life. Please pray for her.
Our friend Sam was taken to the ER last night for abdominal pain...we haven't heard anything else. He's a new Marine and he's scheduled to leave in about a week for more training. Please pray for him.

I need to let go of the control I think I have on my life. More than that...I need to be JOYFUL in every circumstance.

Can't wait to see you tonight Jonathan!


Hi Michaela!

-L

Shopping for Time

Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed by Carolyn Mahaney

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I learned a lot from this short book. It offers a lot of practical advice about using your time wisely and serving the Lord. It was really short and easy to get through. One of it's tips is waking up early (5 am!)--I modified this for me (childless, jobless) to 6:30 (eventually 6)!

It might look like a flaky book but really, it's not.


View all my reviews.

23rd Birthday! 9-30-85

I've been looking forward to this birthday since Oct. 1st 2007. I knew that on my next birthday I would be married and living with my husband. Last year my birthday fell on a Sunday and Jonathan had to go back to Midland the same day. It was so sad :(
But this year I was with him from start to finish (12 am to 12 am)! He even rolled over at 3 am to tell me happy birthday (which he had to remind me of when I woke up)!

The day started at 7:30 when Jonathan walked in with breakfast on a tray. :) It was weird eating when I hadn't even had a chance to process that I was awake. I must have looked hilarious trying to put food in my mouth with my eyes all droopy!
I had a job interview (kind of) in Odessa so I was gone for about 2 hours during lunch. When I finally got home Jonathan and our pastor were in the apartment installing my new washer and dryer! Jonathan was so sweet...he was trying to have it all done before I got there but it just took them longer than he thought. I was no less surprised and thrilled to have it done! I had so much fun yesterday doing laundry! Today I told Jonathan that I wish I had laundry to do...I wonder how long that will last?

We went to Olive Garden for dinner and split our favorite meal there (baked ziti with pepperoni added). We ordered calamari but after a long time of waiting our food came but no calamari! I felt bad for the waitor....I always feel bad for he waitor...I don't want to embarrass then when they mess up. Anyways, it was awkward but we got it for free! THEN, we ordered pumpkin cheesecake and he said it would be on them! We were a little confused because now we were getting two things free. Confused but happy! Our full course meal was less than $20 and we were so full. I love it when restaurants mess up...I really do! (As long as I'm not with anyone who actually gets mad...)

It was a great first birthday as a married woman :)

My favorite part was eating good food and having my washer and dryer installed. I think I love those things too much. When I was making dinner last night I realized that my laundry doors were closed...I went over there and opened them so I could enjoy my new appliances from the kitchen sink :) I'm sure, very soon, I will never want the doors to my laundry room open!

Well I'm off to find something to wash...

-L

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first tried to read this book in 7th grade for a book report assignment. I never got close to finishing it or even half way through...I don't know how I completed the assignment. It was too difficult for me then...I tried to read it again sometime in college but I just ran out of time because classes were so demanding. Finally I've had the time and I finished it! I absolutely loved it...it was such a wonderful story. The only thing I would have changed was the fact that I saw a movie version recently so I knew what was going to happen. I tried to forget but I couldn't...

The copy I read was my mom's from when she was young-it has her maiden name printed inside the cover which means she read it before she was 21. I will treasure this book...one day give it to my daughter.


View all my reviews.



-L

failed

I just tried to make pizza dough...


the Kitchen Aid Mixer might be amazing but it doesn't work miracles!





Now I'm off to HEB to buy a pizza crust...and more flour for my next attempt!


-L

my new life

I've been pondering writing a new post for a while now but I never seem to feel up to it.
It seems like the theme of my life right now is that everything and nothing are happening at the same time. This is such a new, big part of my life but at the same time I haven't had so much extended free time in a long time. I mean for the last 14 months I've been planning one of the most important days of my life and the last 4 years I've been working to graduate college. Now...I have nothing big I'm working or planning for. It's a strange feeling. I'm learning to live my new life.

Well, I'm officially on the job hunt. It's official because last night I announced it to my bible study (so I guess that makes it real! eek!). I've been hesitant to say that and really vague when people ask me because I didn't want to put pressure on myself...or a deadline. I needed a chance to relax and get used to my new surroundings. I'm weird like that. I started updating my resume today...I got kind of far. But then Jonathan came home with the new MarioKart and I got distracted...
I felt like I was 14 again for a little while there...

A few things I've been doing here in Midland:

Tuesday was our 1st monthversiary! Yes, we celebrated! We plan to celebrate, in at least some small way, each month we've been married for the first year. We went to a local italian restaurant and then Baskin Robins. There was an old man sitting alone at Baskin Robins that made us sad. Jonathan pointed him out and just about depressed me when he said "What if him and his wife went to get icecream every Tuesday night but she died 3 weeks ago and this is his first time back...". WELL! Make me cry!
I hate see old people alone. It hurts so much to wonder why...
It was a good mini celebration of our 1 month marriage....although we both agreed we should have gone to Olive Garden!

My kitchen finally feels like it's mine! We got a baker's rack to help with all the stuff and I loved decorating it. I lined all the shelves and unpacked the kitchen stuff-the wine glasses were the last to come out. Although I have a slew (I just asked Jonathan how to spell that word) of stuff in Houston that will need to be put in place.
My living room is starting to feel more like me but there are a couple of big things that need to be changed (rug and entertainment center). The rug we have now makes the room look different than what I want it to and our entertainment center is a bench...enough said. I did purchase two new plates for my wall (on sale at Pier One!) I tried to find a picture to post but they don't have one online. I'll post pictures of my place...one day.

Jonathan and I are going to the Air Show on Saturday. I'm not sure what it is but I know there will be planes flying over head and fake explosions and good (over-priced) food. We're going for free ($25 PER ticket)...so that's good.

My parents are still without power in Houston but my mom is connected to her neighbor across the cul-de-sac who has power (loooong extension cord!). It has been fun to hear how different neighbors are helping each other out. The dogs are loving it because since the fence fell down my mom has to walk them and they're getting A LOT more attention. Silly dogs...

Anyways...my life may be boring to some but it's exciting to me :)

Bye!

L