Tis the Season!

happy belated thanksgiving to everyone! i hope it was a good one :) this is the first one joeys been home for, for a while! so it was really nice!
We started off the morning making deviled eggs, it was both our first time so it was pretty funny--then we went to my granny and pawpaws with my mom's side of the family for lunch. we went home for a bit to spend some time with the pups and then went to joeys parents for dinner, it was scrum as always! i tried not to eat TOO much...gotta make sure i can fit into my wedding dress in February!

*Peyton at the in-laws, passsed out!*

Sunday we went and got a bunch of christmas stuff!! we didnt really have a whole lot since its our first married christmas, my mom DID give us our stockings and tree skirt at my first wedding shower- love them!

i went and got the puppies their stockings at walmart, Potter of course has the Braves one, and I got Delilah the UGA one--when i got home added a girly touch for our baby girl but puttin some 'pearls' on it! ;)


and i LOVE our tree skirt!! my mom even had 'the rickels' put on it! :)

decorating the tree was a ton of fun! we just got lights and different colored bulbs, but this weekend my mom is gonna give me a bunch of family ornaments so im excited :)


we also put some lights around the back deck, and a wreath on the front door!





joey found a Braves santa hat while we were shopping for christmas stuff...so of course he HAD to get it! my husband IS the ultimate braves fan!


so so much fun! im hoping after this christmas, when all the decor goes on sale i can get more for next year. i absolutley LOVE christmas! the past couple years ive been a bit of a scrooge...either joey wasnt here or he was about to leave. but he's home! and not goin anywhere!! so im back in my usual christmas spirit! ive already changed my ringtone (you know i still bust out the old NSYNC Christmas CD...its a classic, and totally made 'The Christmas Song'--sung by JT of course-- my ringtone!) and every night i look and see whats playing on ABCs 25 days of christmas! i just absolutley love this time of year!
We also have our advent wreath out and are doing our prayers every night :)

Sunday we're going to my moms to decorate her house/tree and eat some pizza, which will be a ton of fun :) im excited! AND i already ordered and mailed out our christmas cards...and todays what? Dec 2? yup... told you i love christmas!

We still have to get started on Christmas shopping, and our company party is coming up too! I got to plan it which was a TON of fun! we're having it in one of the ballrooms at Villa Christina! so excited!

Joey sold his car last night, sad times! he was bummed out the rest of the night! he loves his new truck but...that integra was his first love!! luckily he sold it to someone we know so he'll still be able to see 'her' lol.

Joey saying goodbye :(

and his new truck:



we're both loving our new cars, its nicer to be in something bigger!

I also started trying to learn to crochet...keyword TRY! lol, i really like it...im just frustrated bc i havent MADE anything yet! I can do the chain stitch and the single crochet..and kinda the double crochet. i THOUGHT id be able to make a scarf..or hat..and started trying and ended up making this little baby hat...more like barbie hat lol.


i did this thanksgiving night, and havent touched it since-i was gettin too frustrated! but i think when i get home tonight ill pick it back up again and try :) i got 2 books and have watched a few videos on youtube so im hoping the more i familiarize myself with it the better/quicker ill learn!

other than thanksgiving and all the fun upcoming christmas stuff its life as usual for us! just work, church, RCIA,...thats about it!


i LOVE my little family :)

wedding showers and cars

things have been busy! (i swear i start every blog that way but its SO true ha)

Yesterday was my very first Wedding Shower! my awesome SIL Becca threw it for me and it was more than I ever imagined. everything looked awesome, and i felt so special. ive said it a million times but i feel so blessed to have family and friends who want to do these things for me even though im already married, its cool i didnt have to miss out on all the fun stuff :)
heres a few pictures:


(*Tanya is still here from germany so she got to come! me her britt and chase all went to lunch before the shower*)


(*Me, brittany, tanya, and baby chase!*)







I dont have many pictures, everyone else has em on their cameras so hopefully ill have more soon! but it was SO much fun. the games were so awesome haha id never heard of some of them, and they were so much fun! even the embarrassing ones ;)
We got tons of stuff we NEEDED, joey and i both were so excited going through all of it last night. i guess now i gotta actually cook huh? ;)
my mom and MOH are throwing me another shower--HOW LUCKY am i!? now that i know how that whole thing goes im stoked about the next one! :)
Thursday i have an appt with bridesmaids to go look at dresses for them, and i gotta lose about 5 Ibs before february so wedding planning is rolling along!

today was busy at work....and then!? i went and got my NEW CAR! well new to me ha, its used ;) a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport!


i am so excited, and absolutley love it! i also have a buyer for my car...itll be sad to see the stang go! ive had it since i was 15! bitter sweet. i LOVE my explorer though! we went and got a new steering wheel cover and windshield wipers tonight and im good to go! oh and of course i got a rose scented air freshener ;) tomorrow im going back to the dealership so they can detail it for me! it was SUCH a great find. awesome price, low mileage,and in great condition!!

this week we both have work, i have RCIA as always and Saturday is Vickys bday! so we're going to dinner and then to see NEW MOON! how stoked am i.....RIDICULOUSLY stoked! :) !!!
even got us both shirts made ;)

heres the front:

and the back:



so much fun stuff happening right now :) life is good--GOD is good! <3

sick = no fun!

Well its been a minute, my apologies for not keeping up with the blog--i used to be so good about it!

not much new going on with hubs and i. he's now working for my company as a salesman and is actually enjoying it :) so he's working and going to school which is keeping him pretty busy! im still working,and enjoying it as always-- ive been sick this week though. i completley lost my voice over the weekend, left early from work monday, didnt come in at all tuesday, and now im back! i feel better but still not 100%--hubs did a great job taking care of me though :)

he leaves for drill this weekend, he'll be gone from Friday morning to Sunday night, definitley stinks! I dont have many plans this weekend but Ill have to find something to do to keep busy, Sunday is my first wedding shower! i am SO excited!! and so grateful that my friends and family still want todo that for me even though we're already married, im glad i didnt miss out on all the fun stuff! definitley looking forward to that!

Speaking of Joey--its Veterans Day! Happy Veterans Day everyone! I am so proud of my husband, in so many ways. 2x Iraqi War Veteran, 4 years active, 2 Reserve currently--he is an amazing guy :) I hope everyone takes the time today to remember what Veterans Day is for--and to thank all the vets :)

Joey and I are both working on selling our cars, he has a buyer for his but I havent really had any bites on mine...big bummer :( we both just need bigger cars. ive been wanting to get an SUV for a while. absolutley nothing wrong with my car--its in incredible condition, and i feel like the price (6500) is a steal of a deal! but maybe no one has the money for that right now. we shall see i suppose!

tonight hubs and i are going out for dinner to celebrate Veterans Day :) than I have RCIA!

This blogs kinda boring, really not a whole lot going on with us right now!

Fall is here!

What a busy week last week was!

Papaw got out of the hospital and made it back to Baton Rouge just fine :) thanks for the prayers!

last week i worked (of course) but lots of fun stuff too!

we hung out with the sotos thurs,fri,and saturday! Thursday we went to see Couples Retreat--definitley recommend it, HALARIOUS! Friday we went to eat Ramen (definitley recommend you looking up a Ramen place in your area,its SO good)and then went to the dollar theatre and saw Hangover. Saturday joey and i ran some errands, and then met up with the Sotos at a corn maze in Walnut Grove. it was fun!








definitley a good time :) great place for families!

This week is same old same old-- work for me, and RCIA- i missed it last week cause i went to see Papaw so looking forward to this weeks class :)
OH speaking of catholic! Lala got me the coolest rosary- smells like roses :) i love it!

works going GREAT, loving my job! joeys still looking but actually has an interview with my company this thursday :) he also just started school so thatll keep him busy, im so proud of him. i always think about going back to school and finishing,it bothers me i never did...maybe one day!

kilian is officially at home and ive heard he's doing great! he did have to go home with an oxygen tank, but he's doin wonderful :) so happy he's finally out of the hospital. thanks again to everyone for the prayers,keep em comin!

Family Filled Weekend :)

GREAT weekend this weekend!

Joey's Mamaw and Papaw from Baton Rouge came in on Friday, and so did his cousin (who i for one consider a sister/bf) Claire came in from North Carolina!

Sadly it was Joey's first drill weekend BUT it was mainly breifings so they let him come home each night :)

Friday night we had a big family dinner, chicken dumplings-SO good :)
Saturday all us girls went shopping at Perimeter! Claire and I both got new beads for our bracelets (its definitley an addiction!), which is always fun. I got a pretty blue one, pink one (claire got a matching one! so thats our claire-kelly bead ha) and one with hearts on it. she got some really cute ones! the two that stick out in my mind is her little lady bug-for JuneBug! *for those who DONT know,she recently found out shes prego with her and Nicks first little one and theyre calling him/her JuneBug since shes due in June* and she also got a 'Mom' charm! i cant beleive claire is gonna be a mama :) i was SO excited when i found out!!

*my bracelet*

afterwards we all went to lunch at MArgaritaville/Jimmy Buffet whatever-- SO good.

Another big family dinner Saturday night after we all went to Mass!

Sunday...more shopping! we hit up the avenue, and claire and i went to DSW snoopin around, and hidden in the sale rack...in my size...ON SALE...


*Coach Sneaks!*

claire talked me into it!...although it didnt take much convincing :)

then we all went to Kid to Kid so the mommies and aunts/grandmas could look for baby junk!



such an awesome weekend, and i was so happy to spend time with claire--i havent seen her since Topsail in July! Her and Nick are talking about moving here, and i SO hope they do, i would love that more than anything. not only do i love/miss her, but id love to be involved in little JuneBug's life instead of being a random aunt that he/she sees on occasion. im praying hard this will happen and doin anything i can to help!

Mamaw and Papaw were supposed to leave this morning, but Papaw fell down the stairs last night, he's in the hospital at Northside now and theyre keeping him over night. he messed up his ear pretty bad (a glass vase shattered when he fell) so theyre talkng to a plastic surgeon for that, he broke his nose- just bad news! so everyone please keep him in your prayers!

some good news-- baby kilian is doing well :) he's up to 7 Ibs now and will HOPEFULLY be released from the hospital soon!!!

*Kilian IS OUTSIDE :) such a great family picture*

James had to head back to Japan (Marines) but will hopefully be home for good in a couple weeks,and finally back with his family :) Keep praying! he's such a little fighter :)

busy weekend, im exhausted, but SO MUCH fun :) i dont want claire to leave! and i always love seeing mamaw and papaw :)
this week is just work as normal (still loving it!), RCIA and church happenings, tomorrow night neen is coming over for some wine and girl-time to get some wedding junk done, just loving life and having a blast. God is so good, i cant say it enough!

Long time no see!

Busy busy lately! I havent blogged since Thursday! we had a hectic weekend!

Friday at work we had a cookout! it was alot of fun and cool to meet everyone. ive been workin away since then! gettin my desk and lil area all kelly-fied ;) and jumpin into the files and paperwork-tryin to get everything on track. i really love it there, i enjoy not havin to deal with other females at work lol. im SO thankful this job worked out, i really couldnt be happier!

friday night hubs and i enjoyed a quiet night in, watchin season 2 of trueblood!
Saturday i got up and met brittany,tanya,and CHASE at the mall! i was so excited to finally get to meet him!!!!

(*Me and Chase! first time i met him!*)


(*The 3 of us with Chase at starbucks!*)

we shopped around and had some lunch, some starbucks--its been a while since the 3 of us were all together! thanks to tanya i even found my new favorite candle scent! Fresh Cut Roses from yankee candle...amazing! and i got a Coach scarf :)


sadly i had to leave, and get ready for Mass, then Pre Cana, and THEN we went to hang with the sotos some :)
Sunday we got up and went to Burt's Farm! we got a big pumpkin, little pumpkins,apple butter,pumpkin butter-lots of good stuff! and even a whole pumpkin pie for free since joeys in the military! so cool!






we had a lot of fun, long exhausting day!

Today i got more candles in the mail! i've ordered a few from CandlesbyVictoria.com (theres a link to her site at the top right of my page!) they are incredible. very well priced, the scents are amazing, she has close to 600 different scents! its definitley something to check out asap. its made me a candle addict in the past few days! I got the Bella Swan,and Edward Cullen scents...yes im a TWERD :)






this weekend is joeys first drill weekend, boo :( so he'll be gone fri-sun, but mamaw and papaw will be here from Louisiana so itll be fun to see them :) i wish we lived closer to them!
the rest of this week is just work, joeys still looking for a job (keep praying!) and starts school with Devry later this month. RCIA is still goin great, i look forward to it every week :) God is Good and is proving to me how powerful his love, and prayer, really are!


time to catch up on my gratitude challenge!

Day 19 (friday)-- Have confidence in all the choices you make today: this kinda went along with work: it was only my second day, i was still kinda shy/nervous, especially knowing id be meeting ALL the staff that day! so nervous! but i tried to be confident in myself :)

Day 20 (saturday)--thank yourself for taking the time to be grateful: i did alot of this on saturday! i got to spend time with friends, lunch out with my girls, got to meet chase, bought a new candle and scarf, enjoyed mass with my husband and MIL, and spent the night hanging out with great friends. very very grateful for all my blessings and have a great (but busy) saturday!

Day 21 (sunday)-- reflect on the 21 days of the challenge: well...its over! the 21 days went by SUPER fast to me. i think its such a great idea though, it really helps you appreciate everything you have, your life, and everyone in it. sometimes these days people lose sight of the good and focus on the negative-myself included. and this was just a GREAT way to turn that attitude around. ive been continually looking at the positive of everything. extremley fulfilling and refreshing :)

thats it for me! im going to enjoy my bella swan candle and relax :)

loving life and loving me!

Day 18 for the challenge is to write about all the things that make me so lovable-- this is hard! i hate writing things on me...its weird!
here goes...
-good listener
-helpful
-heartfelt
-passionate
-loving
-witty? (ive been told)
-'pretty little smile of yours'-- my husband ;)
-'you're quirky' -- my husband ;)
-'your ability to put up with me,not many people can do that!' -- my husband ;)


ANND thats all i got...asked my husband to help some too--i just feel weird writing things about myself..sorry challenge i tried! ;)

so today was my first day on the new job and it was AWESOME! i absolutley love it! everyone is super laid back, theyre asking ME for advice on how to organize everything, what i think ect--im so used to just being given directions and told 'do this' or 'do that' its nice to be asked my opinion! so i jumped right in! the first thing i did was give the office a DEEP cleaning, they told me i didnt have to and they could hire someone to come in and do it but i told them, i clean my house everyday-im used to it,and enjoy it :) you could tell that office has never seen a female before lol. throughout the day guys were walking in going ' wow it smells so good in here! what is that?' and id laugh and say 'clean!' i think they enjoy having a woman's touch around the office. they said i could even set up a big fish tank in there,and decorate a bit :) i get my own big ol desk with a big area which is awesome :) right now im just working on learning how their system is set up NOW,and figuring out ways to organize more, and just see how they do things. everyone is super nice, sarcasm and cussing is flowing like water--im very much in my element! everytime theyd cuss theyd go 'oh..sorry excuse me' lol--i told them no worries, im used to it ;) tomorrow theyre even havin a big ol BBQ for the entire company so i can meet everyone :) im baking cookies right now to take in, during the interviewing i told em if they hired me id make em cookies ;) lol. i am SO so happy with this job,and the people i work with. thank you God, you are SO GOOD to me!

afterwards went on a big shoppin trip with hubs to Kroger, went to Mass Class, came home and now workin on some cookies and about to treat myself to a glass of wine :)
things are looking up! now we just need to find a job for joey!

keep us in your prayers, prayer is SO powerful and im seeing it more and more everyday!

new job woo hoo!

we just got home from RCIA class, fulfilling as always! even saw a familiar face and fellow army wife there tonight which was super cool :)

ok so Day 16 of the challenge--look in the mirror and focus on something you love about yourself: i love my eyes. ive been blessed with my grandmothers beautiful blue eyes-ive never ever wanted another eye color. i love them!

Day 17--Perform random acts of kindness throughout the day: i picked up my mom, took her to get her mail, took her to my grannys where we hungout for a bit and visited with her (she just got out of the hospital), went to lunch with my papaw, and also: my mom had a ton of frames and wanted pics in them so i spent about 45 minutes sticking pictures in all these frames for her :)

so my interview went well yesterday...well enough for them to OFFER ME THE JOB! God is good! i prayed so hard for this! i was so sure they wouldnt hire me! especially after i initially turned down their interview and then went crawling back! they called me this morning so it started my day off great! so so excited! i feel like im really going to enjoy working with everyone--theyre even having a BBQ at work friday so i can meet all the staff! my first day is tomorrow though! its for All American Roofing in Tucker--ill be their executive assistant working M-F from 10-4 everyday :)
wish me luck!

so as i mentioned tanya is in town and its killing me knowing shes here and i havent seen her yet! im metting her and brittany at the mall of ga on saturday for lunch and shopping though so im excited :)

anyhoo, i need to figure out what im wearing tomorrow for work! woo!

love my life.

so of course im behind on my gratitude challenge!
Day 14: reflect on how the challenge has changed my perspective-- it definitley has! the challenge has been in the back of my mind everyday since i started it, its a little reminder to be more positive. i find myself reflecting on how grateful i am for everything and everyone i have in my life, focusing less on the negatives. its definitley been a very refreshing and cleansing thing :)

Day 15: appreciate and give thanks for my unique qualities-- this ones hard, its always hard to do stuff like this for yourself. but coincidentally i had a somewhat similar question in an interview today. what i told them was this: i like to help people. im a people person. if i see someone stressed or upset, i calm them down and help figure out a solution, or see if i can just plain ol make em feel better. i like to be there for people,help them out, make them smile. i wear my heart on my sleeve (which can be a good AND bad thing but ima chose to think of it as good!), im a good listener, im a passionate person.
is that good enough? ha i feel weird 'giving praise' to myself!

anyhoo as i mentioned above i had an interview today! it was a follow up interview with the roofing company i met with on Friday. theyve narrowed it down to 4 girls (including me) and i should hear in the morning whether i get the job or not. i feel like both interviews went well,and id fit in really well there...im SO nervous! i really hope i get it. i have a good feeling about it but ya never know, i dont know what the other 3 girls are like that they interviewed! so pray for me!

tanya is in town from germany! i cannot wait to see her, im hoping i will this weekend. and i cant wait to meet her baby Chase!!
Sunday we're going with joeys family to Burts Farm to get pumpkins! its in North GA,and something theyve done for years-so im excited i get to go this year! :) im gonna soak up this weekend cause next weekend is his first drill weekend with the reserve! i know what youre thinking-whats a weekend compared to the deployment we just finished!? lol you're right,its nothing! im just so used to being with him all the time, its gonna be weird to sleep alone again--im gonna miss him!

anyhoo thats all thats really going on! nothing too much new. hopingt his job works out and cannot wait to see tanya! :)

crazy job,soto x3,concert,sunburn!

crazy weekend! its been SO busy since i last posted!

well friday was my first day on the job...and my last. its a long story but let me put it this way--i cried, it was so not legit,super sketchy and i ended the day with an interview for a different company...insane i know. i shouldve followed my gut,it didnt feel right but i couldnt put my finger on it, didnt get a wink of sleep the night before...it was AWFUL.
friday night we went to dave and busters with the sotos and friends and had SO much fun! id never been there! i had such a good time with joey :) it was so fun to be there with my husband and just laugh, play games, (have a couple drinks! ha) and just be silly! especially after the day i had! and of course Lala is my girl and i loved sittin with her at the bar orderin drinks and cuttin up ;)
we were out till...midnight-ish, and then woke up briiiight and early at 730 to get ready for the Fall Fest at church. we were there ALL DAY till after 5. exhausting! and my face got SO sunburned...blisters and all :( but i got some cool stuff for our house, and even a very pretty rosary! very cool!

(*Soto and Joey,more alike than they know! fell asleep on the grass at the festival!*)




afterward we went home,got ready,ate,dozed on the couch for a bit and headed out to ATL with the Sotos to see Snow Patrol (their song-Chasing Cars) and Plain White Tees (our song-hey there delilah)! we were a liiiittle late so sadly we missed plain white tees :( but snow patrol was AWESOME. we went out and got their new CD today, LOVE it.

(*Snow Patrol performing!*)



Today we went to Mass and lunch with mom and dad, hung out with my brother for a bit and then back to the Sotos (sotos x3!) for a cookout! we just got home and its goin on midnight!

busy,exhausting--but SO FUN weekend :)

now for my gratitude challenge!

Day 11 (Friday) was see the world through the eyes of a child: friDAY was definitley not it lol, but friday night was! we went to dave and busters, and as i said had SO much fun! i felt like a kid again! (except for the drinks we had ;)!! ) it was fun winning tickets,playing games with joey,and walkin out with a teddy bear :)

Day 12 (Saturday) was Dare to see the glass half full-- i started getting cranky and losing patience throughout the day, just tired, feet hurt, sunburned,wanted to walk around and enjoy the festival instead of working it BUT...then i really thought about it-it was a gorgeous day, we were there doing something at and for the church, i was there with my husband,in laws, bestfriends,my mom,ect! it was great to have so many people i loved there. i even got to see vicky and her mom, and the fideros too! they all stopped by and i was so glad! :) AND even though we missed plain white tees performance, snow patrol was awesome and we had a great night with awesome friends :)

Day 13 (today) was assume goodness in people today--i most definitley did that, but its not something ill openly share. just know it happened,and went well :)


so there we go! im gonna try to get on posting gratitude challenge updates everyday like i was in the beginning so i dont have to keep playing catch up! i have NO doubt ill sleep hard tonight!

Grateful x3 and a new job!

ive been slacking on my gratitude challenge--as in posting about it, i HAVE been actually doing it! ;)
so 3 things i need to blog on:

1. Sending 5 thank you notes to people in my life. i REALLY enjoyed this more than i thought i would! taking the time to write them made me feel so much love for the people i was sending them to, and appreciate them more. and the responses i got back made it even more worth it! :)

2. Enjoying the people around me-- yesterday was a day of running around BUT i definitley got to enjoy the people around me (and kinda far but kinda near to me too!) FIRST thing in the morning i heard from claire,oh claire--the sister i never had, i adore her and miss her so much! shes in NC with her husband nick (hence the near to me but kinda far at the same time thing)-- SHES EXPECTING! their first baby! it brought tears to my eyes and absolutley started my day off on the right foot, i am SO happy for her. and wish so badly we lived closer so i could be a part of this babys life! i felt honored that she told me so soon :) i ALSO got to have lunch with my husband,and my in-laws! i feel like i never see them these days, i guess maybe since i used to live with them lol--i miss them alot, and i truly am blessed with the best in-laws so im SO glad i got to spend that time with them :)

3. todays challenge!-- one of my senses that i am grateful for today is: hearing- i had so much to listen to today! i had an interview, followed up by a phonecall to a friend ABOUT an interview, speaking to my new boss (who has a hard time with english) i REALLY had to listen hard, chit chatting with mom and aunt becky and hearing the coolest stories about God, and going to Mass Class tonight :)



moving on....YES i DID say my new boss ;) i DID accept a job today! i'll be working for a realtor! im very nervous about it, but i think because its different, and out of my comfort zone.
1. its an office out of his home- but he has 5 other employees, a VERY nice home,and a super nice office set up.
2. his english is very difficult to understand-which is why he's hiring me. he was telling me he really needed an American to help expand his business.
3.its real estate-i have zero experience or knowledge in this field.

im very nervous. but i called my moms bestfriend from highschool,who is in real estate to see if she knew him...well small world..he works for her! she laughed so hard :) ! she told me definitley take it, ill be working with her and her staff, be the face of HIS realty, and could very well become indispensable to him. she said i could really learn alot, and its not a bad skill to have, and if i decide i want to pursue this business shell help me. realty assistants can make anywhere from 15-20 bucks an hour, woooo! ;)
so i decided to step out of my comfort zone and take it-but i am SO SO nervous about it. i keep telling myself it was meant to be- Aunt Becky told me she prayed for me in Adoration this morning, MIL was praying for me on her way to work asking God to let me know if this is the job for me, and then my moms bestfriend from highschool is his boss? i had to take it! im following God on this one.
i start tomorrow (which means NO 4am wake ups anymore PRAISE THE LORD!) i hope it goes well!
one good thing, its 8-5 Mon-Fri, and almost exactly 3 min from my house, 2 miles or less-SO CLOSE. so i can come home and eat lunch,save money, let the dogs out, get an hour long lunch break-woo!

i really really really hope this works out. pray for me!

i had to go get more clothes (seriously had to) bc i didnt really have any 'business woman' clothes ;) i went to ross and got a ton of cute stuff so im excited :)! even got my first lil dress suit blazer thing that is SUPER cute! and a dress too! im trying hard to break out of the tshirt and jeans kelly,and move more toward the married sophisticated and classy kelly lol ;) hard habit to break though! ima souther girl tom boy...always have been!

hubs just got home from the braves game and its already after 10:30-i need to go to bed soon! so im gonna hang with him and the pups and then hit the hay!

God Bless!

exhausted...but grateful!

so yesterday for the challenge i was supposed to call someone i havent talked to in a while--but i ended up visiting with people i have seen/talked to in a while!
we went out to eat with christina,kierstin,chad,carter,patrick and angela,mamma lisa,and the spruells for christinas birthday! i hadnt seen any of them,or really caught up with neen in a while--lifes been so busy! so we had a great time at dinner! :)

today im supposed to take a picture of something im grateful for, so heres goes ;)




my husband :) he's sitting on the couch catching up on Heroes cause he missed it,so adorable! got all shy when i tried to snap his picture :)--i am most grateful for him, i dont know where i would be without him. he is my everything :) we've had our fair share of hard times,but they made us so much stronger--and theres no doubt in my mind (and never has been) that he is THE ONE for me. i cannot picture my life without him in it, or with anyone else. i look forward to growing old with him :)


well todays my friday...*sigh* i dont work again till monday. i really hope i find another job asap. joey and i have been applying like crazy every single day so i really hope we both hear something soon. pray for us!
tomorrow we have lunch with father paddy, my RCIA class, thursday is our Mass class, Saturday is the fall fest at church which we're both working allllll day (9-4) and then that night we're going out with the Sotos to see Snow Patrol and Plain White Tees play. busy! (whats cool about that concert is our song is plain white tees and their song is snow patrol! we hang out with them once a week and have since joey got home, theyre becoming family! and we realized they were married exactly 6 months after us! we're Feb 5th and theyre Aug 5th! love them!)

i really need to clean tonight so itll be nice with Father comes tomorrow...i just feel like being lazy!

sad times at YHC (young harris college) -- drama central over there with greek life. it bothers me so much. Zell Miller had the right idea when he was president but freakin Cathy Cox is messing it all up. im all for it being a 4 yr school,but now some freshman got it approved to have Kappa Sig (national frat) come to YHC. if you want national,go somewhere else. yhc is special for a reason. its all about tradition. our brother/sisterhoods are NOWHERE else BUT yhc and thats part of what makes it so special. not to mention the actual WORK you do for your letters, the bonds you get with your bigs,littles,and PB/PS...it looks like the downfall for all our organizations there. then they go and tag Kappa Sig all over the Phi Delta rock...not cool. its in uproar. my FB status is blowing up all about it. tons of alumni and currents are not happy about this (to put it lightly) i just with there was something i could do to help. Phi Delta is dear to my heart,always. some people may read this and think 'its just some sorority whats the big deal?' but it IS a big deal,and you just wouldnt understand unless you experienced it.
sad sad times for yhc, i hate it so much. ugh!

*PD Dingleberry SOTY #49/94 2006*

off i go to enjoy my husband and pups and relax! (and maybe finally get some cleaning done!)

blessings...

this is perfect for the challenge--esp for me; just last night i was saying how i envy some people and theres a million things i wish i had! for todays challenge, im supposed to write a list of all the blessings i currently have:

-my husband
-my family/friends
-a home
-my puppies
-food in my fridge
-clothes to wear
-heat/AC
-a job
-all the nice material things: coach purses,computer,iphone,camera,nice jewelry,ect
- a great relationship with God
-the fact that my husband went to Iraq 2x and came home safe
-my neice and nephews
-good health


i defintley take for granted all the wonderful things i DO have that some people dont, so its nice to look back and really take an inventory. greed/envy is a terrible thing! i AM thankful for all the things i DO have, and the things i wish i had? its not like i NEED them, theyre all wants-nothing crucial.

so thank you God for blessing me SO MUCH in my life :)



today we're loungin around with the pups and makin breakfast, Mass @ 11 and then our first pre-marital thing at 1:30. after that not much planned. lazy day! dreading opening tomorrow...yup ha ;)
Tanya comes in to town SO SOON and i am so excited to see her, i defintiley wanna try to see her as much as possible while shes here. i cant wait to meet chase either! her,me,and brittany all planned a girls night at the Hyatt in ATL--itll be alot of fun :)

off to enjoy my 'fancy coffee'!! ;)

Negative Nancy

so today for the gratitude challenge i am supposed to give thanks for something negative in my life..this is a hard one?

i guess...im thankful for my job at the gym. i DREAD waking up at 4am, complain about it, fight sleep the whole morning at work, spend the rest of the day exhausted...it sucks! BUT im thankful i have some sort of job right now. yeah my days got cut and i only work 2 days a week...yeah i dont make a lot of money...yeah,i hate waking up at 4am,ect--but at least joey and i are not BOTH unemployed. im still bringing in SOME sort of money.


yesterday we had Elman and Vicky come by to hangout for a few during the day and then went to the grocery store, joey made chicken for dinner--hes so awesome :) he just threw some stuff together to marinade it with and it turned out SO yummy! afterwards i made cookies and the Sotos came over to hangout! :)

today we have zero plans but may run a couple errands,and go visit my mom--shes still doin good! just really tired.

anyhoo im off to make coffee and play with my puppies!

*Grateful* its Friday!

im supposed to write about something im grateful for today. lets see...i woke up not too long ago,made some coffee,just got done cleaning...

today im thankful for Tanya :) my room mate from college,fellow army wife, and one of my bestfriends.


she is stationed in Germany (army) with her husband (who is currently in iraq right now) and their new son who was born in july. i cannot even fathom being in a foreign country,alone,giving birth to my child, all while my husband is in iraq. i went through a deployment but i was surrounded by family, had no children...i just cant imagine. i look up to her for that, she is incredibly strong,super positive,and very loving. shes always there for me,and im always there for her-even despite the time difference and hectic schedules. if you had told me when we first met that we'd both marry soldiers, become army wives and best of friends,end up hanging out in germany together,ect...id have never beleived you! i feel that we both have grown so much in the time since we met,and have remained close even despite the distance and the few times we've seen eachother over the years. i am SO proud of her. i miss her so much,and i wish we were neighbors! or at least in the army stationed somewhere together ;)
she comes home next month and i cannot wait to see her,and meet my little nephew Chase :) i cant beleive shes a mommy!

so tanya--today, i am grateful for YOU. i love you girl,and i am always here for you, no matter what :)

(*The Rickels & The McGraws in Germany 2008*)


today we dont have a whole lot going on. i just got done cleaning and i think im gonna help myself to another cup of my 'fancy coffee' ;) Elman and Vicky are both coming by at some point today to hangout so thatll be good, and ill head over to see my mom at some point-shes doing great!

hope everyone has a great friday!


(*When we first met at Young Harris College in 2005!*)



(*April 2009 at her baby shower here in GA!*)


(*Tanya and her baby boy--and my awesome nephew who i cant wait to meet--CHASE!*)

ABC's and a trip to the airport!

well tonight we went to the airport to see Anna and Troy on their layover from England to Arizona--we all ate dinner at the airport and had a couple hours to spend with them, it was so nice! thats only the 2nd time ive spent time with my dear sister in law!
my mom got to leave the hospital today too, woo! i know shes glad :)

today for Day 2 of the Gratitude Challenge I'm supposed todo the ABCs of things im grateful for, so here goes! (* www.gratitudechallenge.com *)

A: America-- i love my country,despite SOME things i dont agree with *such as OBAMA* i really wouldnt wanna live anywhere else. im also an extremley proud Army Wife :)

B: Books-- im such a book nerd. reading gives me such pleasure,its my favorite hobby. i always have my kindle with me,and at least one other paperbound book.

C: Coffee-- love me some coffee! theres just nothing like a hot cup o' joe int he morning, ESP in bed! i love drinking coffee in bed, i dont get to do it often but when i do i LOVE it. i love putting whipped creme on my coffee too :) i call it my fancy coffee and joey makes fun of me ;)

D: Delilah-- the newest member of our little family! i love my baby girl, she brings such joy into the house and we couldnt have asked for a better pup-shes got such an awesome personality and SO loving. i fell for her the minute i laid eyes on her!

E: Evenings in-- i love going out, with friends or on a date night, with family whatever. dinner movie...good fun! but i also LOVE evenings in with my husband. just him and me and our pups, cuddlin up and watchin a movie or just bein lazy, silly,laughing. SO much fun.

F: Family-- i love my family, *and yes this includes my inlaws!* my family has always been there for me despite any dysfunction lol, i dont know where i would be without my parents, my mom is my bestfriend and i will always be a daddys little girl. my in laws are fantastic and i couldnt have been blessed more!

G: GOD-- i am becoming stronger and stronger in my faith and it is SUCH a good feeling. **i finally made the decision to become Catholic,and take my first communion on Easter** i feel closer to God than ever, and its such a fantastic feeling to be doing it alongside my husband.

H: Husband-- i just plain ol adore him. he is my bestfriend,my everything. we've been tested to the limits and come out together,stronger,and more in love. i literally cannot see my life without him in it.

I: Internet-- this was my bestfriend while joey was in Germany,and then deployed to Iraq. if it wasnt for that we wouldve never gotten to talk,and i wouldnt have been able to see his sweet face on webcam.

J: Jesus-- i love him, and can never explain the feelings i have when i think of him dying on the cross for us, for me! i recently watched 'The Passion' and i cried through most of it. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice.

K: Kierstin-- my god daughter. she has my middle name :) Kierstin Michelle. i adore her, and i have since the moment i saw her. i cant beleive shes going to be 7! she is such a bright, loving, caring, silly crazy little girl! i cant help but smile when im around her,and i think of her often. id do anything for her. Neen (her mom,my bff) has done an incredible job raising her, i hope im half the mom she is, and i feel so honored she asked me to be her god mother so many years ago. (*love you meep!*)

L: Love-- as the beatles said 'Love is all you need'; what is there in life without love? i cant even imagine. i am SO grateful for the many kinds of love i have in my life, especially the love of God, and the love I have with and for my husband. i cant imagine my life without those two.

M: Military-- God Bless those who serve. as i said, im a super proud army wife-my heart swells with pride for my husband. my real life hero. i wish people really stopped to think what service members really do for us. its an incredible thing.

N: Night-- as simple as this seems, i love night time. things are quieter, the stars come out. i love looking at the stars and am thankful i live in a place where i can see them every single night. (not to mention im def not a morning person!)

O: Opening at the gym-- yes crazy i know, waking up at 4am, working from 5-1 ...my FB statuses definiley reflect how much i dislike it! BUT i was thinking today...it really is a great alone time for me. everything quiet,theres not a whole lot of members working out, im the only staff there till about 9...i get to reflect,pray, think,read,study--whatever. i get to just wind down and spend some time in the quiet,in a life thats filled with busy schedules and lots of hecticness!

P: Payton/Peyton-- my neice and nephew! 6 months apart--i adore them both! they are such happy kids, and i fell in love with both of them the moment i met them. (i also got to see Payton born which was an incredible thing to experience). it makes me think about being a Mom,having my own kids. i love seeing joey interact with them. seeing both their first steps,first words..and incredible thing to witness.

Q; Quiet-- this word has come up alot! i guess because i dont get a whole lot of it, that when i do, i soak it in. i usually use this time to work things out in my mind,and pray. lots of praying lately. alot of times i get distracted or lose my train of thought when i pray, so i take advantage whenever i have quiet time and talk to God.

R: Roses-- another simple thing. its my absolute favorite flower. they are beautiful to me, i love getting them, looking at pictures of them,smelling them,ect. it brings a smile to my face--something so simple!

S: Sisters-- i never had sisters, but have been blessed with so many; my phi delta girls, my friends, my incredible sister-in-laws, my claire-in-law! Neen,VIcky,Tanya,Brittany,Courtney,Becca,Anna,ect ect ect i have so many God has given me,and am grateful for each and every one.

T: Topsail Island-- ive only been once, but absolutley fell in love with it. what a beautiful,peaceful,relaxing place. i never wanted to leave. i was so happy,laid back and carefree when i was there.

U: Unlimited Texting-- definitley a good thing! i use it daily and am SO glad there is such a thing! i use it more than the actual phone! its a great way to keep in touch with friends and pass time, and again a tool i used when joey was away in Iraq-so i could talk to him always no matter where i was or what i was doing.

V: Vicky!--shes been a great friend, she truly helped me through my deployment with joey,always letting me be the third wheel and including me,letting me cry and vent to her, going through the hard times--she was always there and that deployment wouldve been so much harder without her. im so glad i can do it in return for her now that Trevor is deployed,and shes doing SO great,i am SO proud of her.

W: Wedding-- i am lucky enough to have 2! last february we had a small JOP ceremony when joey was home on leave from iraq,and this february we get to have our catholic ceremony! so exciting :) and what a way to celebrate our one year wedding anniv!

X:

Y: Young Harris College-- this is where i found life long friends, sisters, and where i truly found out who i was as a person. i learned alot in the time i was there,and cherish it deep in my heart. YHC will ALWAYS be a fond memory for me. i miss it dearly and think often of the amazing times i had there. besides the good friends and good times--its an incredibly beautiful place. so peaceful. its hard not to think of God there when you're surrounded by all that beauty.

Z: Zzzz-- SLEEP. i cherish it when i DO get it! my sleep schedule is so out of whack from opening the gym,and just always being so busy. i look forward to it when i do get it, and the nights i sleep hard, and dont wake up once? AMAZING feeling! *i look forward to sleeping in tomorrow!*


sadly i was drawing a blank on X...sorry! :( i wrote all of this earlier at work today and this is the first chance i got to get to a computer! wanted to get it in before midnight hit and i had to start working on day 3 of the challenge!

loving this challenge so far--i suggest everyone givin in a go! :)

off to bed for me. my husband is already snoozin and i wanna go join him and dream sweet!

God is Good.

Lifes been hectic (seems to be the theme with my blog!)

My mom had surgery Monday, she had a gastric sleeve done (KINDA like gastric bypass)--so i was at the hospital from about 445am-8pm on Monday, went to work Tuesday then back to the hospital, worked today--its been hectic! Moms doin GREAT! she should be home tomorrow :)

i just got back from RCIA, still loving it. God has been speaking to me more and more in the past few weeks, my relationship with him is doing nothing but growing. theres some stressful things going on in my life, and im trying as hard as i can to 'let go,and let God'--just pray my little heart out and put it all in his hands. i know everything will happen as it should.

i have to open tomorrow,work till 1, and then tomorrow night we're all going to the airport! Anna (my SIL who lives in England) and Troy have a layover in ATL for a few hours so we're going up there to see them and eat dinner with them :) very exciting!
other than that we dont have any plans for the weekend. i know claire and nick are trying to plan a weekend to come visit next month and im so excited--i miss her so much! i SO wish we lived closer.

speaking of claire im totally copying her :) i JUST got done reading her blog and shes doing this: www.gratitudechallenge.com
God is doing work here! the past 2 days have been heart wrenching for me, and i think it was perfect timing to read her blog and see that site.
SO! day 1 tells me i need to express WHY i accepted the challenge and what i hope to achieve from it, and that is this: i want to do this, to look on the bright side of things-be grateful and appreciative of the positives in my life and stop focusing so much on the negatives. i hope by the end of this i learn a good lesson, feel refreshed and refocused :)

theres tons more i want to update on--mainly religion related ;) but im just exhausted. i think im going to go have some milk and cookies and cuddle with my hubs and pups before bed!

keep my mom in your prayers, and me and joey--we both need jobs asap!

Date Night!

its been busy busy!

we are absolutley loving having Delilah (aka 'Lilah')--she is SUCH a sweet puppy with such an awesome personality. i absolutley adore her :)



this past weekend-- Saturday we had a Sibling Day with Courney,Becca,and Zach! we were all over at our place cooking out,drinkin beer,and just catchin up-it was nice :) i hope we can do it more often!
Sunday Joey and i got up and went to church. i really enjoyed it :) i cant explain the feeling i have of reconnecting with my faith, and doing it WITH my husband. God has been on my mind daily since we got back from Michigan. i LOVE it. my RCIA classes are going great (going tomorrow night!) and im loving all the reading/learning im doing, its opened my eyes and heart so much! i cant wait to learn more and soak it all up. After church sunday we at lunch with his mom (after coming home and playing with the pups some!) and then the 3 of us went to the Monestary in Conyers, it was so cool! ive never been before! we got a couple pictures to hang in the house of jesus and mary, i got a crucifix for my chain along with some other small things--very cool :)

im done with work for this week...they already found someone for my wed-fri shift so i started only working 2 days a week this week. im REALLY praying ill find another job asap. keep your fingers crossed for me :(
tonight we went on a double date with Neen and Chad- at Taco Mac!

so much fun, then we came back here to our house and hung out some more before Chad had to go to work (hes a cop!)--it was a ton of fun and im glad we all got together, hope to do it again soon!