Happy Happy Holidays

This year I got to share Christmas with my bestest friend, my husband, my love -- Joe!

I had so much fun with family and friends. We spent the holidays in Houston with my family. We enjoyed the Christmas train across the street at our neighbors (with 50+ of our closest friends), we had tamales, we had cajun chowder, we got to experience the new preacher at our parents' church (talk about trial by fire on Christmas!), we opened so many lovely gifts, we watched movies, some of us got sick! (me), I found out my friend got engaged!!!!! (CONGRATS DINA!!), and we celebrated the birth of our Savior.

I can't think of a better way to spend the holidays...unless you were going to give me more time off, which I would readily accept by the way.

So in the spirit of giving, I would like to include the awesome recipe my mom prepared over the break! Enjoy!!

Cajun Corn Chowda'

Ingredients:
2 – 12 oz bags Crawfish tails
1 – stick Margarine
1 pint Half & Half – Non Fat
8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese – Fat Free
1/4 cup Green onions – chopped
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
2 cans Potato soup
2 cans Niblet whole corn
1 can Rotelle Original diced tomatoes
Salt
Black Pepper

Directions:
1. Spray a relatively large pot with Pam.
2. Add the two bags of crawfish tails, stick of margarine, and chopped green onions.
3. Sauté for ~ 10-minutes in the large pot over medium heat.
4. Add the 8-oz of cream cheese, 1-can of cream of mushroom soup, 2-cans of potato soup, 2-cans of niblet corn, 1-can of Rotelle tomatoes, and 1-pint of half & half.
5. Cook … bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer the chowder for at least 20-minutes.
6. Add to taste … little salt, little black pepper, and a dash of red pepper.

Eat:
Best enjoyed when shared with friends or family!

Serves:
15 people … can easily be doubled.

Merry Christmas

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Wishing you and your families a most blessed Christmas. May you feel His peace and guidance as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this holiday. And may Santa leave no lumps of coal in your stockings! =)

Merry Christmas,
Leanna

It's official!

It's official folks. I have filed my name change with the government! I am now and forever always to be "Leanna Michelle O'Brien."

I debated long and hard as to keep Michelle or make Pate my middle name. I like my middle name. I sign everything with my middle initial. What would I do without it?

But then I was sad that I would be leaving Pate behind. I love being a Pate. I love my Pate family! I didn't want them to feel like I was just ditching them.

So I called my mom to ask her for her wise opinion and she said, "Ehh, whatever it doesn't really matter." So you wouldn't be sad if I didn't use it??? "No, why??" -- so there you go!

I will always be a Pate at heart, but now I get to be an O'Brien. In fact, an LMO! (elmo!!!)

So, look out world, here I come.

(Sorry, I was having a Mary Tyler Moore moment!) :)

A Countdown of Me!

As seen on Lydia's post, but this time, all about me!

10 Random Things About Me
1. I don't like milk on my cereal. It makes it soggy.
2. I wanted to me a vet or archaeologist when I grew up.
3. I once hit a mail box with my car and the top part fell off and I ran away.
4. I want to live in the mountains and have lots of trees.
5. I would also like to open up a cafe/stationery store.
6. My car's name is Rufus. It's in the bible; he's a man of God!
7. The only C I made was in college in History because the TA told us the wrong subject matter for the final. Don't get me started!
8. I like to keep my shoes in their original boxes in my closet
9. My husband can throw a 90+ mph fast ball.
10. I love SciFi books

9 Things I Love
1. Joe
2. My Family
3. My Friends
4. Sunny, 75 degree days
5. Nature
6. The way the clouds make swirly fun patterns with the setting sun's awesome colors as a backdrop
7. Singing in the car
8. Sponteneity
9. sleeping

8 Things that Annoy Me
1. Smokers outside of buildings
2. Idiot drivers
3. Monotony
4. Laundry
5. Never getting enough sleep
6. Not having a personal chef
7. The fact that my friends live so far away
8. Commuter traffic

7 Favorite Foods
1. Chips and Salsa
2. Cheese Enchiladas
3. Chicken Enchiladas
4. Tamales
5. Lasagna - my mom's
6. M&M blizzards
7. Coke Slurpees

6 Favorite Authors
1. LM Montgomery
2. JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Austin
4. JK Rowlings
5. Catherine Marshall
6. God, Paul, Luke, John and the rest of the guys

5 Things to Do Before I Die
1. Get a puppy and a kitty
2. Go on a big sail boat
3. Go to Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and the rest of the UK (You say Australia isn't in the UK, take it up with my good friends in Sneakers!)
4. Be a great mom
5. Own a home with a yard and lots of trees

4 Favorite Quotes
1. "You think it'll work?" "It would take a miracle."
2. "May the Force be with you."
3. "Hchello my name is Inigo Montoya, prepare to die!"
4. "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, in order to gain what he cannot lose."

3 Stores I Love
1. Target
2. Half Price Books
3. IKEA

2 Places I Love to Go
1. Home
2. Irving Bible Church

1 Thing I Say A Lot
Crap!

Fee Fi Fo Fum!

So my friend, Lydia, posted about how people eat m&ms. Now as the holidays are here, I thought, how do people eat gingerbread men/sugar cookie men?

Personally, I like to eat the extremities first. The feet, then the arms, and then of course the head! Then I pop in the torso and savor the flavor of the holiday season!



So if the way we eat m&ms tells us something, what does the way we eat little fake people tell us? How do you eat your baked brethren?

On a funny note: Lydia and I made holiday cookies this weekend, and one of our little guys arm fell off. So, what do we do? We icing him up with a red shmear along the severed limb area, garnish with red sprinkles and serve to our loving, unsuspecting husbands! Muaaahaaahaaa!!!

Giving - a must to remember in this crazy time of year

So we've made it to the holidays. We are rushing around trying to find the perfect gift. Trying to find the closet parking space. Trying to make the greatest Christmas cookies. Trying to make it all fit in to our schedules.

Our churches have all asked us to remember our end-of-year giving. We look at our checkbooks and wonder how much this year. With presents, travel, Starbucks, Angel Tree children - is there any left?

Well, our church Irving Bible Church, has begun a new campaign to begin New Year's giving to a special project at the end of the old year. Confusing, huh? Well, one such project our church is sponsoring was quite startling.

Entitled "Water is Basic" - we've been charged to raise funds to help provide drilling equipment to dig wells in Southern Sudan in the name of Christ.



Here's a few facts:
Due to the civil war, millions of Sudanese fled the country. Now with the relatively stable peace, many of these refugees are returning. Two hundred and fifty thousand Sudanese refugees are expected to return to their homeland in 2007 alone, but they are returning to areas with no infrastructure or services, particularly water and sanitation. 20,000 wells will need to be drilled in Sudan to provide minimal (though not adequate) support.

Women and children in Sudan spend many hours a day trying to bring safe water to their families. Some are attacked by wild animals or raped on their long journeys to find water. For those who survive, time spent hauling water robs them of getting an education. In addition, women carrying water are frequently exposed to malnutrition and anemia, and children can develop scoliosis.

An average home in the west uses over 100 gallons of water each day. In contrast, an entire African family uses about five gallons of water each day. Just one flush of a toilet in the West uses more water than most Africans have to perform an entire day's washing, cleaning, cooking and drinking. UNESCO has calculated that to ensure that basic human needs are met, each person needs access to five to 13 gallons of water free from harmful contaminants each and every day.

What we can do:
The vision of Water is Basic is to see a well drilled in every village in Sudan. Funds raised will purchase the necessary equipment to drill water wells--drilling rigs, piping, trucks to carry the equipment and Sudanese workers. Sudanese nationals will be trained to drill, operate and repair their own water wells, empowering them to impact and sustain their communities. As the Sudanese work to provide the basic need of clean water, they will see the health of their people transformed through a reduction in disease and death.

To find out more, you can visit: www.waterisbasic.org

I'm not preaching, I'm just informing. Like a good journalist should! =)
This Christmas, please pray for those working on this project and those considering giving a gift. What great and mighty things can God accomplish through the drilling of wells. Won't it be neat to find out!

Prayer Request

Hello All...a prayer request as we begin this holiday season. My friend Jennifer McDonald, who was my partner in crime in College Station, has asked me to pass on a prayer request for her mother, Mrs. Jefferson. Doctors have found cancerous spots on Mrs. Jefferson's pancreas and other areas in her body. They are waiting to receive treatment options, but it does look like it will be a hard one to fight.

Jennifer and her husband are living in Wichita Falls and her parents live in Tyler, with possible treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. So pray for God's grace and safe travel for all family and friends involved.

Thanks! Leanna

IT'S SNOWING!!

It's 10:45 and do you know what your Dallas weather is doing?? It's snowing. Too bad we have to be grown-ups and work instead of go outside and play. Anyways--take a peek outside and enjoy it while you can!

College Day Blues

Well lately it has hit me. No not the rush of the holiday season or the low coming off the honeymoon high. Surprisingly, it’s been the College Day Blues. I would like to use this term or the CDBs to represent the feeling of loss of friends, freedom, and work-related stressors, commitments and frustrations.

I have recently become to really miss my friends. I miss not being able to walk across the street or call up a friend and meet them in 15 minutes or less. I miss not having 4-10 people around a dinner table at any given evening in the week. I miss walking to class and say hi to people as you pass, or stopping in the SUB to check your email and running into everyone you’ve ever said hi to.

I miss walking! A funny thing to say, but I miss walking to class and getting to go outside. To really experience the seasons. (the seasons being: hot, cold, kinda cold, monsoon and hot) I miss the benefits of walking 2+ miles each way. I miss the rush of running to class or bumming rides because you overslept.

I miss learning. Now I still learn, but I don’t get the same satisfaction from it. Now when I learn something, it always seems hurried and for someone else’s benefit besides my own. I miss the feeling of reading a book and having an “a-ha” moment, or the feeling of euphoria when you finally solve the math problem.

I know, what you are about to say…that we all had hard times in college, and it wasn’t all fun and games and friends. That life still has adventures out there and we can still have those feelings, but they’re just different now. I understand this I really do, but right now my heart isn’t. Maybe it’s the day-in/day-out work routine and all that goes with it, maybe it’s because our friends are flung to the far corners, maybe because I’m being a dork. But the CDBs are here.

Joe and I have promised each other that we’re going to go out more, we’re going to work out more, we’re going to read more, and we are. So, if you’re a friend…give us a call so we can add “we’re going to get together with friends more” to the top of the list! Help us cure the CDBs!

(For only $5.95, we at Leanna’s Little Spot can send you a green and gold CDB hope ribbon! Sic’em before they’re gone too!)

Phases of Life

After a little observation, I have broken down life into the most obvious categories I can think of. They go as follows: birthday parties, graduations, weddings, baby showers, birthday parties for YOUR kids and then funerals.

Currently, my friends and I are in the season of weddings. We have all triumphed over our school days with birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese or Mazzio's or the skating rink.

We have gone on to graduate from high school and college. So now, we must ALL logically get married. I have had 7 weddings in about a two month period. That's A LOT!

Next up, and one of my greatest fears is the dreaded baby shower. I have only gone to one of these so far in person. And let's face it, it's just weird. You are celebrating and lavishing gifts on a person that ISN'T even around! My friend Karen often talks about having a baby, and it's a little frightening. I think because it's almost too close to home. Because if she has one, then will my best friend Lydia decide her cute little kitty isn't enough? Then the pressure's on for ME! And I don't know if I can handle that. Please, I beg of you, give me more time.

Then life leads on to birthday parties for our children and all of their milestones, and finally our own funerals. Now it sounds a little morbid. It is sad when you are left without someone you care some much about. But I always try to think about all the wonderful things that they have accomplished in their time on earth. It's never, wow, he worked so many long hours or he drove that awesome car. It always seems to be...wow, he really loved me. Remember the time we went to the zoo? Remember how he would always give you a hug or a place to feel safe from the world. Now, those are accomplishments to strive for.

What will your life's legacy look like when you reach the end? What will you have left behind? What will God's words be to you? I'm hoping and praying for "Well done, my good and faithful servant." But I feel I have a long way to go... Here's to many happy life moments for everyone!

So Long Single Life

As a wife for over two weeks now, life has definately changed from ye old single days. I thought it would be weird and frustrating living with a boy (and I am sure more things will surface of the next 75 years), but I must say I thoroughly enjoy it. It is a wonderful blessing to get to wake up next to, come home to and fall asleep on the couch with your best friend. Joe has been an amazing blessing and source of strength and encouragement to me it's just been awesome! But of course, what would be a post from me without a few funnies.
1. Coming home to my hubby and every light in the whole house on, including the closet.
2. After a water squirting fight, we knocked over and killed our iron; it still works, it just flops now...so sad.
3. Seriously, where is all of this laundry coming from?
4. Playing "bounce the randomly found golf ball" for all 2 miles or so of our walk
5. Bills? There were bills on the table? No, I don't know where they are...
6. Honey, when are you coming home? I forgot my key!
7. We are buying so much food!
8. Where did all the food go?
9. Singing "What Would You do With a Drunken Sailor" on the way back from church. (We walked to church, it was great! And cold!)
10. Oh, what? That inch left you have on your side of the bed isn't enough? Fine...I'll move.

Just a few, sure to be more, and can't wait either!

Yay! For Weddings!

Here's just a few! Thanks everyone, we had a blast!

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Daniel O'Brien

It's official. We're married. Yes, I'm blogging before we go to the hotel. What a nerd right! Thank you all! Love you lots...and we'll talk to y'all next week!

Love you!
Leanna and Joe

Mishaps and Misadventures

Ok, so that was the sentimental post. Now, here's a few freak-out moments throughout the course of our engagement.

1. Church saying minister was booked and didn't offer anyone else.
2. Church asking us to postpone or call off wedding due to misunderstandings.
3. Dress store being dress Nazi and not honoring their coupon or willing to compromise.
4. Dress not having straps that were ordered with it.
5. Dress straps going to college station instead of to my new house.
6. Receiving wonderful gifts and stacking them to the ceiling because our poor little apartment has no storage.
7. The stupid program is not in the order that the ceremony is in. Jenni! FIX IT!! (at midnight!)
8. Calling to pay off, engrave and ship wedding rings from College Station. What is with that place!
9. Receiving wedding rings from College Station with our inscriptions and our wedding date of 1.7.06!
10. Calling Joe, WE ARE NOT GETTTING MARRIED LAST JANUARY!!! What do we do!!?? Please laugh, Joe, Joe? Why are you not saying anything?
11. Joe calming down and telling me to ship the wedding rings back, me freaking out now...NO!!! We need them! We must keep them! FedEx will lose them!
12. Ordering favors and getting confirmation that will arrive in time.
13. Musicians telling me they are not able to play one of our songs.
14. Rejoicing when soloist says he can play the special song! THANK YOU!!

--Yep, those are just a few, and I'm sure there will be more. Let me know if you have any fun stories about my wedding or others that you feel led to share!

6 Days and Counting...

Wow, I can't believe it. This Sunday marks the week of our wedding. The final countdown. The beginning of the beginning. I am excited, overwhelmed, giddy and thankful. Now, let's go through all of these.

I am excited because it is a moment I have waited for for several years. It is when my love and I will be united and begin our new family. It is also an opportunity to get to see so many of our friends and family that we love and have shared our journey with.

I am overwhelmed because there are still A LOT of things to do. We are getting the programs printed, we have odds and ends to buy, we have to pack, we have to organize and we have to get there and everywhere in between on time. Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me with an organized sister and accommodating friends!

I am giddy because I get to be Mrs. O'Brien. Next Sunday at this moment I can say I am Joe's wife! And all that goes with that... AND we get to go to a tropical beach to somewhere we have never been and have our first grown-up vacation! Fruity fun drinks here I come! (and I giggle when I get tipsy! = giddy!)

I am so very thankful for all of my family and friends that have supported Joe and me through our journey together. It has not been easy and it has not always been fun, but I feel that God has a purpose for our lives and a purpose for our lives together. I am also thankful for those of you that have put up with my frustrations and freak-out moments; you are oh, so kind!

Wow...all this and it will just be over in a few days! No, not really. We have our whole lives ahead of us to enjoy each other, know God and grow! I hope you'll be a part of it with us!

Lace, Laughs and Cheesecake!

This weekend we had tons of fun -- as we are less than three weeks away from the big day, we had a blitzkrieg shower weekend.

It all started in Fort Worth at Joe's Aunt Nancy's at a shower hosted by Nancy, her daughter Julie and my Grandma BG. We had fun, talked, shared insightful wisdom and just enjoyed each other's company. I got all sorts of fun gifts including our pots and pans set from Joe's family and some really nifty hand-painted coasters from Lydia. She's so crafty!!

So then we went on from there to Irving, where I live, for a night of girly fun. We started at Mi Cocina and had some good Mexican food and margaritas. The mothers even came and we had lots of fun. I even had a sparkly veil and a "bride to be" shash to wear proudly -- thanks to Angela.

We then progressed to Joe's sister's house where we indulged in desserts, opened gifts that came in little pink boxes and some that are just fun to pamper oneself with. The highlight was the "homemade lingerie" contest. Now that was a hoot! Who knew ribbons and cotton balls could be so fun!

Girls, thanks for all the laughs and the memories. I am so glad I have so many wonderful friends!

Revenge of the Wedding Vendors

Now we all know planning a wedding can be stressful, but not everyone knows why. Those of you that haven't had to plan or be involved in an affair of this kind for a while or for those of you who have no clue, let me open a window for you so that you may glimpse my most recent stressor.

Dun..dun...Duunnnnnn....

Yes, that's right, the wedding vendor.

We have been planning this wedding since about last December and were fortunate to line up a good list of vendors fairly quickly. We had met with all of them, and all seemed pleasant and well...until about a month before your wedding when they want their money for unperformed duties. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the business side of needing your money to complete a task.

Take today -- I was berated by the florist who ever so graciously met with us Sunday after trying to get a hold of her on three separate occasions. In a lovely voicemail, she ever so subtly accused me of withholding payment, trying to skimp her, being negligent and I'm sure something else.

So then when I called the florist shop to straighten it out, I was told they were all in a huff because they called yesterday and couldn't get a hold of anyone. I then explained to her that I work later than most and had a meeting and didn't have an opportunity to call until they were already closed. I then informed her that YES, we are still paying the remainder and paying in full and we would have everything decided Thursday, after meeting with the wedding coordinator from the church.

This still wasn't good enough. Because of terrorists, if we didn't get our order in pronto, and we are counting minutes here (she said), that bad things could happen.

So, my mother called and paid the remaining sum and here's hoping the terrorists will refrain from hijacking the plane with my wedding flowers. I mean really! If they like them that much, they can just stop by after the wedding and take some home. It's ok, really!....

Hope you enjoyed the view!

A stamp of our very own...

As a fun commemoration of our one-month pre-anniversary, we received our fun address stamp that I referenced below. It says "The O'Briens!" How fun is that I ask.

So, keep an eye out for enchanted envelopes coming to a mailbox near you in the months ahead!

Avoiding controversy

Avoiding controversy for the time being...I thought I would post about all of these senior living communities for 55+ popping up all over the United States. At my new job, we have three completely different senior living communities that we have done work for. Some communities are houses, some are apartments and some are condos -- all offering specialty features like resort-style dining, fitness centers, theatres and business centers. It sounds like a blast, but many still have high costs.

Although we are a few decades away from this decision, what do you think. Would you want to live in a senior living community with all of your grey-haired homies? Or would you rather live out your days in your lovely house you've had for 60 years? It also depends on the level of care you need, where your family is and how much money you have.

I think I would love to start an "Old Bears Out to Pasture" community where we can have all of our fun Baylor friends and family come. We can hop on buses for Homecoming, sing the "The Good Ol' Baylor Line" each evening, and just enjoy good fellowship again.

What do you think?

Fun New Find

I just wanted to share my latest fun, new find. One of the clients at where I work is a stationary shop. If you know me, you also know my love of and desire to own a stationary store.





So, while we were visiting our clients, preparing their new Web site, www.celebrationsandinvitations.com, I noticed this little gem. It's so great. It's an address stamp that functions like an embosser. You can personalize it with several designs to choose from and I just thought it was the cutest thing in the world. So keep a look out, my letters might start to get a tad bit more trendy.

New Possibilities for Leanna?

Ok, so if we've talked in the last several weeks, you have learned that my new Dallas experience is not all what I was expecting. There are several difficult circumstances combined with work that I am not sure this is the direction I need to be.(or maybe this is where the three or more stressors factor comes in!)

So, I am thinking about the possibility of going back to school to get my masters or teaching certificate. One thing I have enjoyed and haven't done for a while is adult education. I really enjoyed this while I was in college and it might be something I would like to look into more.

I have also considered being an elementary teacher, a librarian, a baker? a stationary/cafe owner and I'm sure some other things I haven't thought of yet.

Any suggestions on any of this?

Sponge Bob

At my new work, I have a Sponge Bob and Patrick mousepad. This makes me happy. I have way to much stress right now and I am not comfortable with it, but I have Sponge Bob here.

Isn't it nice how the simple things can make life a little bit better? I also have a bear that Joe got for me and he wears a Hawaiian shirt. Everytime I see him (Bearett) he makes me happy. And me makes me wish I was on a beach.

What sorts of things make you happy in this hectic world?

What do you find helps you deal with stress best?

And should we really go talk to our HR people if we have three or more stressors in our lives? What if we have no HR???

So you had a bad day....

A fitting song for a not so great Friday. I thought it was unneeded irony when they played the "So you had a bad day" song whenever anyone got booted off American Idol, but sometimes you just need a theme song. And today it seems to be mine.

It all started with FINALLY getting our Internet at home to work after 3 days or so, I thought we were on an upswing. So then I went and took a hasty shower...already running late...grabbed my spiffy new pants to iron them, and they had TWO BLACK SPOTS on the cuff! Sure why not. So I went and pulled another pair of pants that also needed ironing (ill effects of moving!), and as I turned them over to get the other side...MYSTERY SPOTS! You have got to be kidding me. So then I go and find other pants...super wrinkled, but no, I'll wear a dress. But wait will this go over with my new brand of clients, so I choose a more conservative dress and sweater in the 105 degree heat.

So go to work and get there on time...will things be better. Um, no...my first big boo boos for a client. That made me angry and so the day has continued in a downward slump. This is when I could totally use Adam Sandler's remote control to fast forward the rest of this day.

Oh if only 5:30 would come sooner so I can start my 20 minute traffic commute. I need a nap!

Let the Moving commence...

Alrighty! As of Yesterday, Joe and I have a new place. I will be moving into our new apartment at the Vistas at Hackberry Creek in Las Colinas on Saturday with the help of our families.

Apartment hunting was a strenuous task. Lots of apartments or town homes, either for too much, too ghetto, not ready in time or too far away. So when we found our future home, it was definitely a God thing on how everything worked out--location, price and everything else.

I am very excited! A new home! I am not excited, however, about the packing. I loathe packing!

But I am excited that this will now be the Joe and Leanna home in 3 short months. The funny thing is that we are already "married" as far as our lease goes, so we only had to pay one deposit. I found this very funny when the flamboyant lease assistant asked us, 1.) if we were married, "no" says us, 2.) if we were living together, "no" says us. 3.) well just say you are anyways...no one really cares...

Ha! I am glad marriage is held in such high esteem, especially by our apartment office! =)

So now begins the laborious chores of hooking up and switching over all of our utilities, internet, cable. Blah!

BUT as of Saturday the 8th of July I will be a DFW resident! Feel free to stop on by and say hello if you are in the area, I am sure I'll have boxes for a while. But who doesn't!

ps. and Karen, we're going to have a red wall too! We get two free accent walls, and we'll have a red dining room! =)

Moving to Dallas

Well, I have gotten a job in Dallas. I will finally get to move closer to my love! I am very excited about this opportunity. I will be writing copy, and doing some account management along with pr work for some clients. I have an office with a window in a cool green color! How much better can life get.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. We'll still need it though with homehunting, the wedding and, well, the marriage too!

I'm excited. Can't wait to have everyone over to the new pad! I'll keep you posted!

A whole new meaning...

For those of you who just would like a little break or a funny for the day...here's a site that gives a whole new meaning to "Wait til the cows come home." (or don't come home!!!)

http://www.cowabduction.com/
Yes, that's right, cow abductions. Nothing is safe from the aliens!

What about this one?

Well, we continue on our quest for happy wedding hair. This is an idea my mom sent. I'm kind of digging it. Formal, yet loose, Romantic and modern...


Or there's the tight, pulled-back look? Maybe a pretty clip instead of the flower...

Wedding Poll Time!

Ok, as most of you know, my hair is not my shining glory. Atcually I am yet to find out what that is! My stunning wit? my reflective! skin tone? Anyways...I digress.

So I am asking all those out there for suggestions on wedding hair, head piece, so on and so forth. Post your thoughts, make mock photos, send pics. Whatever! Since I have yet to pin down a hair dresser for anything, I can use all the help I can get, or I could end up like this!

Thank you!! =)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Today I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my sister, Jennifer and my s.t.b. s.i.l. Sarah! They are both happy that on this day they are not as old as the queen!

RR06 is a Go!

After much deliberation, e-mails, postings, phone calls, calendar checking, calendar rechecking, husband/fiance/roomie checking...Roomie Reunion 2006 is a go!



Our special batch of friends will be heading down to San Antonio for a weekend of fun, friends and fiestas! Arrriiibaaa!!!!

Can't wait to see you all...only 1.5 months to go! =( But we'll get there!

Cheers!

Frustrations and Stressers

So I was reading my friend Karen's blog and she was talking about life events and how they impact your life, whether positive or negative.

Well, I am experiencing a lot of those right now. 1.) Being 4 hrs away from my love. 2.) Looking for a new job. 3.) Looking for a new place to live. 5.) Planning a wedding. 6.) Planning a wedding long-distance. 6.) Trying to work in counseling, fun time, friend time and family time with sky rocketing gas prices since most of these things are 1.5 hrs or more way.

So, needless to say I am a bit discombobulated! (great word, sp?) I have also come to realize more and more the strength and stability that God offers us. People have let me down and have been dishonest with me in so many ways in the above that if it were not for the grace of God, I know bad things would have happened.

I do not know all the right answers or have the seminary smarts to answer any questions on why bad things happen to good people, because they do (a lot), but I know, even when I don't want to remember that God is looking out for us. I have been encouraged this weekend to really seek his guidance and learn more about him, so I DO have some of those answers for others and for myself. And most of all, our worth is NOT in what other people say or think about us or diagnose us as.

Our worth is in Christ, and therefore... I'm worth a bazzillion bucks baby! And then some!

Fun Friends

Well, one of my favorite things out of those formative years at Baylor University were the wonderful friends I made. And some of those very best friends, in addition to my soon-to-be husband, were my roomies!



Each year afterwards we have had "Roomie Reunion." Just a nice weekend out of the summer where we take a break from our crazy grown-up lives and play, eat, sleep, tell funny stories, and usually end up dying cutting or styling someone's hair.

I so enjoy this time of fun and fellowship and I really appreciate the wonderful bonds of female friendship that we have forged. God has truly blessed me with these wonderful people. But it is sad that we all live so scattered now and that it almost takes an act of Congress to get everyone together in one place! But...try as we must...and try we will again this year.

Where to girls?

Oh, AND another favorite thing about "Roomie Reunion" are the t-shirts. You can't call us Baylor kids if w don't make a t-shirt! Sheesh! Last year was great, but we gotta step it up this year girls! Beaddazzler anyone??

Can't wait! And...I'll keep you posted!

Jamaica Baby!

Yea! I think one of the best things about this whole marriage deal is the honeymoon! A trip with your sweetie! What could be better?

Well, Joe and I have decided to go to Jamaica. An all-inclusive resort in the sun. We will sit on the beach (and turn beautifully bronzed I am sure) drink mai-tais or something and enjoy a beautiful sunset. I just can't wait!

As for everything else in life...I keep telling myself, the honeymoon is only six months away. Looking for job prospects in the DFW area...so if you see/hear/smell anything...give a shout-out!

Now...let us all get back to our busy days with happy thoughts of tropical sunsets!

Texas - A Big State of Mind!

Well, this week I wrap up my Texas Travels for a week or two. In the last two weeks alone I have gone to Waco, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Ellis, San Marcos and San Antonio! I have driven over 1000 miles in the last week. And this week I am going to Austin, our state capitol. Now, 1000 miles, lets think about that...that is a LONG WAY. And I never even left the state.

We saw the changing scenery of Texas...pine trees, to wind swept oaks, to barren prairie land, to scrub brush. This is why I love Texas. Where else can you see such a variety of land and the beauty of God manifest? Now don't get me wrong, there are places I could do without, but really...it's all part of who we are...Texans.

So as this glorious sunny day progresses, think back to some of your wonderful memories of our Lone Star State and feel all the pride that comes with being a Texan. And...never forget a road map!

Tag, I'm it!!

Ok, so taking the hint and doing my civil duty to continue the continuation of the Blog-Tag game!

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. The Gap, Humble Texas -- blah! "Hi, Welcome to the Gap!"
2. Baylor Academic Records -- it's slightly scary the information I could find on people.
3. Edelman PR, Dallas -- intern extraordinaire! I got to work with Home Depot! And I can still sing you their theme song!
4. Texas A&M University Press -- my first work with a business card, office and everything! Woohoo! Or I guess I should say Whoop!

FOUR MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
1. French Kiss
2. Return to Me
3. Star Wars (the first "last" three!)
4. Princess Bride

FOUR BOOKS I COULD READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
1. Wuthering Heights
2. Bible (haha! Sunday School Answer!) - I'll go with Lyd on this one!
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Toss-up between Star Wars books and Christy (weird, huh?!)

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1. Port Arthur, TX
2. Kingwood, TX
3. Waco, TX
4. College Station, TX (Please, please let me add another on here soon!)

FOUR TV SHOWS I WATCH
1. Gilmore Girls
2. Lost
3. American Idol/Dancing With the Stars - I think these are about equal
4. Bones (& House)

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION
1. Santa Fe
2. Denver
3. Boston
4. Fort Worth/Dallas! Rock on!!

FOUR WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY
1. cnn.com
2. aol.com
3. google.com (always need to look something up!) - OH YES!
4. thefacebook.com

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS
1. chips and salsa, is it possible to live without?
2. cheese enchiladas, rice and beans and a coke!
3. chocolate cake from Johnny Carino's
4. my mom's or Joe's lasagna

FOUR PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO BE RIGHT NOW
1. with Joe, at least in a 20-min driving distance
2. under a blanket on the couch reading
3. in my big, huge bed
4. somewhere where I can walk to really cool places, be that a beach/jungle, the mountains, or some crazy European city

FOUR BLOGGERS I AM TAGGING
1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. I've decided to skip this because I think Lyd is the only one that reads my blog anyways!