Special Agent Henry

drum roll please.......... Dan got the call & accepted an offer to start working for the IRS!!! He applied in 2006 so we've been waiting a very long time for this and the day finally came on Monday when he got the call! It is so surreal... we have kind of felt for a long time that our life was on hold and we had no idea where we would live or where they would send us.

In the beginning of this whole thing, they gave Dan a list of cities to choose from and Nashville wasn't on the list. He submitted his top ten and we got our #2 choice... Gulfport, Mississippi! There is such a huge range of emotions that I've been experiencing while trying to grasp all the changes that will take place this year. Joy for Dan... finally beginning this career that he has been dreaming of... scared to go to a new city... sad to leave all my sweet sweet friends that I've made here... sad to leave my amazing job... optimistic about the future. We're going to be 3 hours away from our families and only an hour away from one of my bffs Wren!!

So Dan will be headed off to Georgia on June 4th for an intense 6 month training school. I'll stay here in Nashville where I have a great job and friends while he is gone. The first half of the school is the same training that the FBI go through so he is really excited about learning survelance techniques, shooting, non lethal subject control techniques (rolling eyes), undercover stuff... etc... The 2nd part of the school is basically book knowledge and he isn't too pumped about that. I'll be able to go see him about once a month on the weekends and we'll probably spend those weekends in Jacksonville, Florida on the beach! The school is about an hour north of Jacksonville so that'll be good. Gosh... I can't believe I'm going to do the whole "alone" thing again for so long. But hey, I'm a pro at it right? I was alone for 12 months+ while he was in Iraq... at least I'll be able to talk to him on the phone more and actually see him occasionally. That will make things easier.

So we've been planning a last minute vacation to Pensacola next month before he leaves for training. We've also been toying with the idea of purchasing something affordable in Gulfport once we move! That is exciting! Another two things on my mind: going back to school and putting off having a baby for a bit longer. Dan has been urging me to go finish school and get my degree. I agree with him that it needs to be done... I'm just not super pumped about it. The more I think about it the more I'm looking forward to it though! I just hope we can afford for me to cut back to part time work while I finish. I think I'll have just about a years worth of classes... I think we can manage it.

Well my post has been too long tonight... but I wanted to share with all my blog friends what has been going on in our world.

Seacrest, OUT!

Surprise!!

Well we have an new development in the Henry household this week (no, I'm not pregnant) and my hubby is coming back home early from Chicago tomorrow! That's just a snippet for now! I'll share the rest tomorrow! :)

....gotta have some mystery & excitment in life, right?!

Dave Matthews Concert

Yes! We DID see Dave yesterday and it was really great! Jason Mraz and Robert Earl Keen opened and I really like Jason Mraz so that was an added treat! Before the show we hung out with Dan's bestie, Greg and two of his friends. Here are some pictures of us before the concert.





Here's a clip of Jason Mraz... and my handsome husband!



Here is Dave singing "Satellite". Ignore the loud girl sitting 2 rows behind me singing along. **rolls eyes**



AND Dave sang "Burning Down the House" which was my personal favorite of the night! It was so much fun... people were dancing everywhere! In case you were wondering, the concert was at the Vanderbilt football stadium. We didn't exactly fit in with most of the crowd... let's just say the pot dealers definitely made a killing yesterday. Once Dave started playing you could see little puffs of smoke all over the stadium. I'm just glad nobody sitting right next to us was smoking. That would have irritated me... and I'm not any fun when irritated. :)


Here is the video of "Burning Down the House"... it's out of focus but I loved it so much I had to post it!



We ended up leaving early because we had such a long day. We were all tired and sitting on bleachers for hours doesn't feel too good. I guess you can officially say you're old when you leave a great concert early and don't really care. Today Dan went away to Chicago for work. He'll be gone for 2 weeks and I already miss him! I do love a little "me" time but two weeks is a bit much.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Praying for Stellan...

I haven't read this blog much before now... but I was so touched when I saw it today. See the post she made on 4/20... the pictures are awesome! (No heavy reading required.)

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/04/orange-for-stellan.html

Imagine being this baby's momma and getting THIS much prayer & support from fellow Christians. Amazing!

It makes my heart smile!

Birthday Dinner!

Guess where we went for my birthday last night?? That's right! Cheesecake Factory! I haven't been in so long! The last time I said we were going we didn't get to eat there because the wait was so long. Last night, we only had to wait for about 10 minutes! Yay! Here are some pics I took.










Dan successfully embarrassed the heck out of me by having them come sing to me. They sat us in an area where you're super close to the people next to you. (I was sitting on the same booth and they were about.... 2 feet away). FUN!

Comments.

I know you people read my blog... and I am just full of comment love. Don't you feel it? I leave you comments... right??

Where is the comment love lately? Anyone?? Anyone???????





Update: 9 comments.... BEAUTIFUL!!! Sweet success!!! If you like getting comments on your blogs, then lets just keep this up. Kay? Kay! (Yes, I'm being bossy... but I'm so good at it!)

Town Hall for Hope

Took this before devotionals this morning:



I cannot believe that over 5400 churches and businesses have signed up to host this event! Dave's original goal was 1000 churches... needless to say, we accomplished our goal! :)

For those of you that don't know... this is a FREE event held at mostly churches across the country. Dave will be speaking from LifeChurch in Oklahoma (http://www.lifechurch.tv/). He will be talking for half an hour about the economy, how we got here, and where we're going. That will be followed by an hour of questions from people all over the country. Be sure to plan to attend this event next Thursday, April 23rd at 7pm central time. Go to www.townhallforhope.com to find a church near you that will be broadcasting the event. We are praying constantly that this night will change lives. We often joke around here that we "trick" people with our financial advice. Our true goal is to win people over for Christ!

On a side note, people are sending in youtube questions for Dave to answer at the event. Here is a precious video of one of my coworker's children and her question for "Mr. Dave". Enjoy!!

Insight for Today

My mom sent me this article this morning.... it's super good!

http://www.insight.org/site/PageServer?pagename=insight_for_today

Envy is "a coal that comes hissing hot from hell."
Serious stuff!!! So true...

It is so easy to think bad things about people and I think we do it all the time. I know I'm guilty. I think envy has a lot to do with it! When I was in elementary school if someone was being mean to me, my mom and grandma always used to say "it's just because they're jealous!"

I want Christ's love to fill me UP and take away these hateful feelings and thoughts about people I need to be loving! (ps... I haven't been sitting here hating on anyone specific, I just think it is so easy to think mean things about people throughout the day.)

I think I can... I think I can...

All I have to say is.... it's going DOWN in the Henry house tomorrow!!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/delicious_creamy_mashed_potatoes/

I'll be attempting those lovely mashed potatoes along with a pot roast tomorrow after church! Please... say a prayer for me. While you're at it, you might want to say a prayer for my husband and our friend Greg (who will be consuming whatever it is that I come up with.)

Happy Easter people!! I'm so glad that my God loves me enough to send his Son to save us! I heard something recently that has stuck with me....

Isn't is amazing that we have a God who can't be exaggerated!?!!


Update: those mashed potatoes were AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend them! They were so smooth and were the perfect flavor! I'm definitely adding them to my list of "things I cook a lot!". (It's a very short list). The pot roast turned out great too!

Blogaholic.... yes, that pretty much sums it up.

Okay, I know that I read too many blogs and get way too involved in blogs written by people I've never met (and who live 500 miles away), but I must share this with you. Sometimes, like today, a blog will just reach through the screen and tug on my heart. When you get a few minutes, take some time to read yesterday's post on this blog:
http://littleoneapril.blogspot.com.

I just love how she is taking an extremely difficult situation, and taking the time to praise God and share about Him. Oh, that we would do the same... praise Him on the good days as well as the bad. It is so my nature to only say "thank you" on the good days like when its beautiful and 70 degrees outside.

On another note, how bad is it when you blog about blogging??

From Foxholes to Faith

You need to read this... it is a very short book and so worth it. Click this link and then scroll down to the 2nd post on that page.

http://reallybadhairday.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

You can either read it free there or buy a copy here.

I also recommend reading Melissa's blog... but I don't have to recommend it if you read her book. I'm certain you'll be hooked just like I was!

My Dear Husband...

I just have to share with my dear blog friends how funny I think my husband is. You may not find it as amusing as I do, but I will write it nonetheless.

As he is sitting next to me reading his new book, Federal Law Enforcement Careers, he looks over at me (reading blogs) and says "non-lethal subject control techniques". He then grins and informs me that he will be learning these things in the 6 month training school for the IRS. I must inform you that I am not looking forward to him learning these non-lethal subject control techniques for I fear I might become the subject. He might just feel the need to practice these techniques for his own amusement. Joy. I can't wait.

For those of you that don't know, Dan has been in the process of getting on with the IRS as a criminal investigator for a little over two years now. Yes, it really takes this long. We truly believe that we are going to get the call this summer or fall and that he will be off to school in 2009! Special Agent Henry and I are ready for this long application journey to be over with! As I type this, he is playing with his new fancy tape measure and showing me how it has a "13 foot standout"... whatever that means. He is freaking Shelby out... she hates the sound of the metal snapping. He also enjoys making Shelby uncomfortable... poor thing. Okay, I know all of this was pretty insignificant, but I thought it was funny. Now he is "measuring my bad attitude". Save me PLEASE!!!

My Girl...

Well, I can't really think of anything spectacular to write about today except that this weekend has been bliss! I can honestly say I only accomplished three things this weekend. 1. I cleaned our bedroom and closets (piles of clothes = not good). 2) Loooots of relaxing time! 3) Shelby got her bath! Let me tell you how number three really was an accomplishment. This pup hasn't had a bath since JANUARY!! I know, I'm a terrible mother. She just hasn't been smelly and I haven't had the urge to tackle a 25 pound dog into the tub. I'll include some pics of her right after her bath and then some after she dried completely and looked like my little show dog!

Little Wet Rat:


Beauty Queen!


So, all in all, it was a great weekend! I missed my little nephew's 2nd birthday which was a bummer... but I guess that is what you get when you live so far away. Hopefully we can make all the ones in the coming years as those are the birthdays he will really remember! I hope all of you have a fantastic week!

HAAA!

I Love it!!! (the first two minutes, anyway)

http://primetime.tv.yahoo.com/

ps... that link will only show what I want it to today (Thursday)!


pps.... guess who I saw Monday at the mall? Here is a little hint! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sApH8VtWFI


Yea... that's right- I. Saw. Him. My first celebrity sighting!

I'm dedicating that song to the education of a Mrs. Jody Gray (aka rock star photographer who has no clue who Josh Turner is).

Ryan Adams Concert

Here it is... as promised! Below is a video of Ryan Adams singing "When the Stars go Blue" at the concert we attended in Mobile a little over a week ago. Warning: It is loud! Turn your volume down a bit! It was a concert, people!
I chose this song because I figured some of you have heard this song before (maybe Tim McGraw's version). Please forgive the girl in the row in front of us... I guess she thought it was cool to put her hand up in front of my camera. :)



So, yea... he is a little odd, but I really love a lot of his songs. Take a listen to the youtube video below if you haven't heard of him and want to hear another one of my favorites!



Anyway, I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend like I did! I am SO blessed!!

Saturday Morning!

Dan and I got up and went to get breakfast and then he took me to the Natchez Trace and a beautiful little lookout where you can see the bridge! It was so pretty I decided to take some pictures! Enjoy! :)

Dan displaying his wonderful balancing skills:


This bridge is massive! The picture just doesn't do it justice.


I love the shadow!






Man! The Natchez Trace is very beautiful!!

BIG news!

Check it out!!!!

http://www.townhallforhope.com/

Trip to Mobile & Vicksburg

Thursday morning we left Nashville to head to Mobile, AL to spend the night with my friend Wren and to see none other than THE Ryan Adams!! (I do realize most of you have no clue who he is... but trust me... he is awesome!) We arrived in Mobile in time to hang around a pretty park downtown and then met Wren and Alan at a hole in the wall for some delicious burgers & onion rings! Then Dan and I headed off to the concert!

Dan & Shelby in the park:

Wren & Jenn

Here we are waiting on the concert to start. Excited!!

I will post a video from the concert later so keep watchin'! Then on Friday Wren and I drove to Foley and shopped at the outlet stores. Such fun! I'm definitely an old lady though... my feet were hurting after about an hour. We got some good deals though! Friday night we met back up with Alan and Dan and had dinner at TGI Friday's.

Then Dan and I headed off to Vicksburg to visit with Dan's family. My mom & Gommy drove up and we did more (you guessed it) SHOOOOOPPING! :) I didn't get a picture of us... but I should have. Here are a few pictures from that afternoon after my family left.

My precious niece & nephew: Kate & Bryce!

Lastly, I'll leave you all with a glimpse at the most delicious BBQ ever! Brought to you by my father-in-law, Maxie Henry!

mmmmm!!!

Well I'm sitting here on the recliner preparing to continue reading the 3rd twilight book. Dan is watching a weird alien movie from the 90s. Shelby is attempting to reach the side table where Dan's plate from breakfast waits. She is dying to lick the plate. No ma'am!!! I slept 10 hours last night and I liked it. Tomorrow, I'm planning on cooking my mother in law's chicken and dumplings! This will be a huge undertaking because I am definitely not a cook. I will have to let you know how it turns out. We don't have any real plans today EXCEPT....

IT'S ON TONIGHT!!!!!

Postless. :(

Can you believe it has been over an entire week since I posted last? I'm not liking it. at. all. I'm just having writer's block I guess. It's okay. I think I know the real reason behind my lack of motivation....

Yes, it's true. The mature side of me is ashamed to admit that I've been COMPLETELY and utterly engulfed in this series. I started reading them about a week ago and I'm already finished with the 2nd book. I was tired of hearing some of my friends rant and rave about this stupid vampire book so I finally decided to try it... I figured it would be good since they wouldn't shut up about it. Now I'm one of them... it's pretty ridiculous. I'm enjoying every minute of reading them but it is hard when 11pm rolls around and I'm trying to keep my eyes open to finish just one more page! I've even been missing all my favorite shows (idol & the city)because I'm too obsessed with finding out what happens next. I'm sort of looking forward to my life returning back to normal after I finish reading them!

Anyway, I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! It has been slow in my blogging world lately... what is wrong with you people!?!? Perk up! Spring is coming!!

My oh my....

I recently heard about a website (actually there is more than one) that is designed to help people have affairs. When you hear something as absurd as that, it doesn't really register that it is actually happening. Then today I ran across this article I found on msnbc.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29350847/

I cannot FATHOM people actually PAYING to find an affair! Like it isn't wrong enough to 'accidentally' meet someone have have an affair....

It is so very sad... it makes me wonder where this country is really headed.

Also, I would like to share with you peeps one of my favorite websites that I love to visit everyday! http://primetime.tv.yahoo.com/
They have a great little video every day that tells you what was on TV last night! I usually don't watch shows like the bachelor and this helps me keep up just enough to know what is going on! :) Today's video was hilarious! I love the sarcasm! "YAY, TY! It's your new mommy!!"

A 'normal' weekend at last!

I don't know why I've felt so frazzled and busy lately... I'm sure it is because of the move. It feels like I haven't been settled in a month but it has only been about two weeks! This weekend finally felt somewhat normal. Yesterday we spent the whole day at a marriage seminar held at Lampo by Joe Beam. (I always have the urge to say Jim Beam for some reason....) It was a really great and informative day. I can't wait to read his book, "The Love Path". The 1st part of the day was focused on love and marriage (queue married w/ children theme song) and the 2nd part of the day was on sex. Can I please tell you how awkward it is to be in a room full of your superiors talking about parts of the va-j-j and Mr. Happy? Yes, it was referred to as Mr. Happy once. It was sort of like being in sex ed class in junior high. Joe told us it was okay for him to talk about sex graphically because, like Dr. Ruth, he is too old for anyone to picture actually having sex. All kidding aside, Joe Beam is a very funny man!! Albeit awkward, sex is definitely an important thing to focus on in a healthy marriage. I loved the biblical principles that Joe weaved throughout the day. I highly recommend his marriage weekend to anyone who's marriage is in trouble and even to those who are doing just fine!

Last night it snowed! I think Mississippi got some too, but I'm going to post some pictures that were taken this morning anyway.




We got some good news last week too! Dan was one of three people in his company offered an outside adjuster position. So now he will actually be going to people's houses to inspect damage instead of sitting behind a desk all day. This new job will require some travel... usually once or twice a month. It should always be relatively local... mainly Tennessee. He didn't get a raise, but he will be paid extra for mileage and I know he will really enjoy getting out of the office! I'm so proud of him- he is such a hard worker and I love that his work sees that.

Well, I guess that is all for now! I hope you all have a WONDERFUL week!! Happy March!!!!!!

Good Samaritan

I just came across this... not really anything that is extremely important... but...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_fe_st/odd_good_samaritan_ticketed

Now, at first I thought "well... I guess technically he deserved a ticket..." but HONESTLY! I would think that being hit by a truck, bleeding on the brain, and a ruptured spleen would be punishment enough!! Don't you think?! I doubt he will ever cross the street again without being extra careful.

Why a ticket on top of it all?

What do you think?

Our new home

WELLL..... we're finally all moved in! AND all unpacked! (Yea, I'm that good. The actual moving part went very quickly... My mom and step dad drove from Jackson to help us on Thursday. I was so glad to have them here for the extra help & support! Dan & Walt loaded up the U-haul on Friday morning and we spent the afternoon packing more boxes and enjoying each others' company. We thought we were going to be able to drop off the 1st load on Friday night so Dan had already put our bed on the truck. Apparently, we misunderstood things and weren't able to move anything in until Saturday so Dan and I got to be kids again and slept on a pallet on the ground. Yea... definitely not comfy.

Then, bright and early on Saturday we drove the truck from cool springs to Bellevue for what would be the first of three round trips that day. Greg was at the new apartment ready and waiting to help us. He is such a good friend! We unloaded and went back to Brentwood to load up the truck again and bought it back to Bellevue. Everything was all moved in just two trips. We had to drive the U-haul back to Brentwood to turn it in. My back hurt really bad but I just kept working because I was ready for our new home to be perfect! I'm including bunches of pics below... we really really love our new place. I realize it is "just" an apartment... but it doesn't feel like it and it is certainly a step up from our previous cookie cutter apartment. I hope you'll come visit and see our new apartment in person soon! :)

Check out the panoramic pic below... (credit goes to Dan man for helpin me with the panoramic tool on our computer). I LOVE our french doors!


The door on the left is the entrance to our apartment:


...built in bookshelves!!! :D


Pretty kitchen!!


I gotta give my baby props because he built me this awesome shelf above the washer & dryer. Yaaay for the laundry shelf!


We were allll tired!

I love my job...

I really, really do! People always ask me "what's it like working for Dave Ramsey" or "Do you still like your job?" I always have trouble answering that because there just are no words to express how much I LOVE that place! The positive experiences are just layered and layered on top of one another and I just have trouble giving someone a few reasons why I love it so much!

So... a few (seemingly) smaller things have happened this week that I'd like to share with you. Earlier this week we got an email saying that marriage expert Jimmy Evans was in visiting with one of our EVPs and that he left us with a bunch of FREE stuff! Now, you know that this Dave Ramsey-ite LOOOOOOVES free! Especially free marriage stuff! My husband doesn't "get" why I have this huge interest in marriage advice/books/seminars and I really just believe that a marriage requires a lot of skill and that you don't just fall into a great marriage by accident! Anyway I snagged a few things that Mr. Evans left for us... but my favorite was this:
I cannot WAIT to start doing these devotionals with Dan. I think it will be really great because they're short and they're designed to do once a week. If you'd like to learn more about Jimmy Evans, visit his website here I haven't started reading any of his materials but I can't wait to start!

Another thing that I'm looking forward to on the same topic, is a one day seminar with Speaker/Author Joe Beam! He came and spoke at one of our devotionals recently and I really loved what he had to say. I also like how comfortable I felt with this guy... he was just very "real". His website is: http://www.joebeam.com/. Dave is providing this one day seminar to employees and covering the cost for us!

Another wonderful thing happened to me this week. I work in our ELP department and so I was talking with an Agent in Colorado that was interested in becoming one of our endorsed agents for our real estate program. After we went over the details of the program he said, "Even if I never hear back from anyone about becoming an ELP I want you to know how much Dave Ramsey has done for my life..." He went on to tell me that his daughter, niece, and two grandkids live at home with him and his wife. I asked him if he had taken Financial Peace University and he told me that he was reading The Total Money Makeover but couldn't afford FPU. This man was so nice and genuine that I decided that I'd send him an FPU kit out of my employee benefit (Dave gives us a certain number of dollars to spend on merchandise for friends and family). He was overwhelmed and so grateful! This was the first time I have been able to give a kit to a complete stranger and I think it might have blessed me more than him! He told me "You don't even know how much I appreciate this... I'm a 50 year old man and I've got tears in my eyes!!" God is SO good and I am so thankful he allowed me to intersect with this man's life at that moment. :) It definitely made my heart smile!

All of this is to say that God is blessing me in my personal life... and my company. Dave is so generous with us and I hope that I never get used to all the blessings we receive there.

He knows my name.

Well... I'm starting the weekend off right by being pretty lazy and I was reading one of my favorite blogs (www.reallybadhairday.blogspot.com). This woman is hilarious!! Anyway... I just started reading her blog and I was reading some of her previous posts when I got just what I needed. I enjoyed it so much that I thought I'd share it with you... so, yes... I'm copying but I don't care.

I love to think about these lyrics... that the God of the universe knows me intimately....

I hope it starts your weekend off right too!

Honest Scrap

About a week and a half ago Kristine tagged me to write an Honest Scrap post! The rules of the game are to:

1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
2) Show the 7 winners' names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." And while there's not really a physical prize, you do get to keep and post the nifty icon.
3) Finally, list at least 10 honest things about yourself.

So... here goes 10 honest things about myself:

1) I'm way too picky when it comes to eating anything remotely healthy. My "healthy" at home lunches include peanut butter & jelly on wheat bread with pretzels. Now, I say it's healthy because I'm using low fat peanut butter and low sugar jelly. Still... I feel this is a stretch to call it healthy. This wonderful trait of mine seems to cause some contention in my household. The only thing my husband won't eat are olives. He thinks I need to broaden my tastes. bleck!

2) I'm bordering on one of those crazy-over-the-top-animal-lovers. I don't think I'm quite there yet.... but others might argue with me on that one. I seriously love Shelby so much that it's probably unhealthy. I feel so guilty when it's too cold to walk her and she has been in the kitchen all day while we're at work. I feel bad when we have plans after work and she has to stay in the kitchen. Then, I feel bad on the weekends when I have plans because those are supposed to be her "fun" days out of the... you guessed it.... kitchen! I talk to her all the time and I really think she understands me. I love her little noises she makes when she is falling asleep or stretching. Anyway, I could write an entire paper on this subject so I'll just move along now....

3) I over-analyze what people say and do entirely too much. I also think about how to say things about 100 times to someone before I type it out. This probably isn't a characteristic that I'm unique in... I think most women are this way. At work when I type out emails to agents I will delete it and restart way too many times... I don't think the end result really changes that much from my first attempt. Sometimes when someone says something simple I can change that to mean something ENTIRELY different. Dan has to make me chill out. 0=)

4) Cooked carrots are the nastiest food I have ever eaten. They make me gag. One time my mom forced me to eat them in a restaurant... the consequences were enormous. She never forced me to eat anything again. Maybe that's what's wrong with me! Raw carrots are great... especially covered in Ranch.

5) I have more books on marriage than the Franklin Library and have not finished a single one. I want to be a reader so bad!!! My television just sucks me in....

6) I am in love with pictures. I have too many already and not enough space to put them out so they're stacked in a cabinet getting no love. Sad! Yesterday I was thinking about how bad I want a framed picture of my Gommy's wedding. I could find a spot for that, right? Maybe I just need to rotate my pictures every 6 months or something.

7) Speaking of Gommy, she is my grandma (don't call her a grandma to her face). She is the most beautiful person inside and out that I think I'll ever meet. I wish I lived next door to her. Well... rather... I wish she lived next door to me! She is the sweetest most genuine person alive. She has so much class! I want to be like her! When I was growing up and having trouble with kids from school she would always say "you tell them your Gommy will STOMP THEM IN THE GROUND!" I get my love of animals from my mom who got it from her.

8) I think I'm too outgoing. Maybe it's just because I'm in a city where I don't have many friends and I just naturally want friends. Not just the kind of friends that you see at work (because you have to) but friends that want to hang out with you and text you and on and on. You get my point. My two best friends are in other states and we don't see each other or talk nearly enough. It makes me sad to think about it. :(

9) With it being superbowl Sunday and all, this is appropriate. I hate watching football on TV. I really hate football season more. Honestly, I dislike watching most sports on tv. There are just way too many football games on and it is the same thing over and over! There are so many rules I don't know how guys learn all of them. I guess playing it in highschool helps. Speaking of rules, Dan and his friend Greg like to make up terms and rules and convince me they're real. (Did you just see that double dribble!?) I love actually going to games. Totally different experience!

10) I can't wait to travel out of the states! I've never been overseas and I would looove to go to Europe and Africa and Austrailia. (Not to be specific or anything) :D

Finally done! Now it is time for me to award 7 people for their beautiful blogs and tag them to do the same thing. If you don't want to, I understand. It was time consuming, but a lot of fun! Here goes!

Amy Henry, Tina Vining, Sara Leach, Julie Butcher, Carrie Howie, Melodie Hanes, and Shane Glover.

American Idol & Moving Date!

I think I'm already hooked on American Idol. Poor Dan! I think the new judge Kara is nice and all... but I don't really think she is necessary. I liked it better with just the three judges. She does have a pretty awesome name though. (for those of you who don't know: Jennifer Kara) I really thought some great singers were on the show last night. Lots of people they're putting through sing well but they just aren't special. I tried to find a video of the lady from last night's show that referred to her "traishia" and was singing from her wrong rectum, but alas, couldn't find a video of her on youtube. I did, however, find this interesting trip down memory lane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3SYPzCEWA

PLEASE! Someone tell me they're hooked like me!!

Well... we finalized our moving plans and have signed a new lease! I'm SUPER excited! We're moving in on February 21st so I've got just over 4 weeks to do my packing. I was so excited I've even packed my first box! WHOO! Yea, I plan ahead. :)
My Mom & Step Dad, Walt are coming up to help us move and I'm really excited to have the extra help and to spend a little time with them. Hopefully we'll have time to go the Loveless Cafe while they're here! Well, that's all for tonight. Adios!

Tag, I'm it!

I was tagged by my sister in law, Amy, to go to the 6th folder on my computer and pick out the 6th picture. This (obviously) is a picture of Shelby and Roscoe. Roscoe used to be our 2nd baby but we decided it was a little too much to have two shelties in one apartment and let my mom & step dad take care of Roscoe permanently. He loves it there with all the space and the huge yard! My grandma told me that "he has developed such a personality that he didn't have when he lived with you". Apparently he was extremely depressed and has flourished into a quite lovable creature now that he is in a healthy home. :D I kid, I kid!! I know she didn't mean anything by that but we all got a good laugh out of it. I do miss that little rascal!Well I guess my next task is to tag 6 people to do the same thing (6th folder... 6th picture). I'm tagging Amanda, Melodie, Katie, Kristine, Mariana, and Dianne! Have fun!

The Holidays!

Well, I've been waiting to write this blog because I wanted to include the professional picture taken of Dan and I at the annual Dave Ramsey Christmas Party... but I'm tired of waiting for it so I'm writing anyway! Speaking of the Dave Ramsey Christmas Party... it was awesome!!! We walked away with great memories and a little, well... a lot, of extra folding money. :) We originially had planned to save the money but we decided just last weekend (very spontaneously) that we wanted a flat screen tv... which, by the way, is AMAZING! Just what we need... more reasons to spend too much time in front of that box that sucks you in.

Christmas was full of mixed emotions... I went home to be with my mom & Gommy (I didn't see them on Thanksgiving or last Christmas) and left my sweet hubby all by himself on Christmas day. Call me a bad wife if you want, I don't care. Okay... maybe I do care but I really wanted to be in Mississippi for Christmas this year! I missed him so much that I came home a day early to be here and it definitely felt good to be back in my own apartment. My cousin (twice removed) Stacy and my Uncle joined us for Christmas which was really nice! Stacy is quite possibly the most interesting person in my whole family (besides myself of course). He lives in France and makes his living singing and playing piano on a norweigan cruise lines ship all year long! Christmas Eve was really neat because he got on Gommy's piano and sang a few Christmas songs. See my pretty Christmas tree below that my mother in law helped me decorate after Thanksgiving.

My company gave us a total of 5 days off this year for Christmas and New Years so we got to go ring in the new year at Nick & Julie's house with some other people from Lampo. Thanks for the get together Julie! :) See pics below!

I'll finish up this post by telling everyone that we're thinking about moving into a townhome in bellevue! It is actually an apartment complex with a townhome floor plan. They're only a little more than what we're paying now and they're MUCH nicer! They are upstairs and downstairs and have a great gym and fenced in dog park for Shelby. See the floor plans by clicking this link: http://www.865bellevue.com/community/floorplan.do?lid=en_US&pid=1625. The one we're looking at is on the 2 bedroom tab and it is the The Parthenon down at the bottom of that page. Look how huge the closets are!!!!!! :) :) :)