Still here!

I wish that I had something exciting to update with here! I have no neat pictures or anything to share so I haven't posted anything...wordy blogs don't keep my attention.
{I'm not guilty of that, right? Ha!}

Update on the Eli:
As of two weeks ago, he weighed in at 3 lbs 3 oz. He is in the 54% for weight. He moves ALL the time. I actually have homework...every night I have to record how long it takes for him to kick 10 times. I've never heard of this homework before, but last night it took him a whopping two minutes. Like I said, be ready world...Eli is already a mess! During the sonogram he was opening and closing his mouth and sticking out his tongue...craziest thing! I have scheduled an appointment at my new doctor for January 4. My doctor is moving to San Antonio in January...boo. So, Eli will have the pleasure of being prodded by three doctors in a span of 9 months! I'm sad I won't really know this doctor very well when he gets here...but at least she is connected with the hospital I was already registered with!

Update on the Mommy:
I have gained 20 lbs...which TOTALLY freaks me out! There are still 9 weeks left that I could gain. I really want to slow it down at this point, but from what I hear that's not common. I am more tired NOW than I was in the first trimester. This week, I have come home feeling like I could not go on another day. I am sad about this because the pregnancy has been so great and easy so far! Luckily, the break is here after one more day. Being a kindergarten teacher and in graduate school does not make this exhaustion thing any better. BUT, I will be spending two weeks resting and enjoying family...that sounds like good R&R if I heard of any!

There are no pictures of Eli's room because it is still empty! So, instead, I will leave you with a picture of my wonderful hubs going through baby clothes we got from a family at our church!

Cheetos

Cheetos are important in pregnancy...so is Diet Dr. Pepper...before you shame me for that I am going to tell you politely that I don't care. This is my craving, not yours. I understand artificial sweenteners are bad and Cheetos have no nutritional value...but sometimes other things just won't due:).

I can't believe 7 weeks have already gone by since the last post...sorry about that one! I am teetering on whether to put up more pics of the house. First of all, we may or may not be all the way unpacked...even though we've been in the house over a month (again, don't judge me!) Give someone a full time job, full time graduate school, a youth ministry, and a baby and you've got a few unpacked boxes in the garage. In my defense...it's mostly Tim's stuff that he needs to figure out what to do with. Anyways, my second reason is that I'm not sure how I feel about posting pictures of our house to the whole world. What a creep-o decides they like what is in our house and want to come take it? I'm sure at some point I'll take pitures and post...but I'm not ready yet, ha!

I am about to be 27 weeks along! That's only 13 weeks left of prep before Eli comes...and he could come sooner! Crazy. We finally registered. Don't get me wrong, I'm super stoked and I thought I'd be DYING to register...but with how busy we are, I haven't had the excitement when I get a break...I'd much rather rest. But, we have registered at Baby's R Us. I plan to register at Target, too. We didn't completely finish, but we're getting there! Eli's bedding is going to be awesome. Hoping he doesn't hate sports because that's the theme. I was a little concerned that there were no bed sets with hockey pucks...but, let's face it we live in Texas where people don't even know what hockey is. By the way...I'm working on that. Some of our youth came and watched a game with us last week...they'll learn to appreciate some day :). Anyways, I have started my two week appointments. My glucose test is Thursday morning and December 1 we get to see Eli again and measure his growth! He's definitely be doing a lot of growing...or maybe that's just the cheetos ;).


Job-wise things are good. Kindergarten is exhausting but so rewarding! My kids are so cute because they are starting to read and starting to write actual sentences! HOORAY! I didn't realize how exciting these little steps were going to be! My students are sweet and my formal evaluation is over. Now we can enjoy the holidays at school! Woohoo!

Speaking of the holidays...Thanksgiving break could not come soon enough! We will be busy like no one's business but the mental break will be nice! I'll be checking out academically for a full 7 days. I'm looking forward to Steven (Tim's brother) and Annie's wedding, my family coming, and going with my cousin to do her bridal portaits! EXCITING!...If I can just get through the last four days!

I hope to have a more entertaining post with pictures next time...hopfully sooner than seven weeks from now. I really hate blog posts with no pics...but I've got nothing for you. My Christmas present is a Canon Rebel T2i so know for sure pics WILL be coming and good ones at that! God bless your faces!

20 weeks and updates!

Here is our little MAN! Today, I had my first appointment with my doctor here and we found out it's a boy! Exciting! Poor boy doesn't have a name yet...we're still working on that. If it was a girl, we had the name Ella Brooke picked out...but we can't agree on a boy name. The ones I love he definitely doesn't and the ones he likes I don't like...so this may take some time. Mary dubbed him "Lil Wayne" and my husband is loving that! haha! He will for sure have the middle name Wayne as it's a family name in his family and mine..but the first name is coming...eventually. It just has to be perfect :)

In regards to the house...we had to extend the contract to this Friday...the loan processor sent Tim an email saying we may be able to finish the process on Monday. This means we need to extend the deadline once again...which is NOT exciting but at this point I am not surprised and I didn't get my hopes up. Take a lesson from us and DON'T go through Chase to get a home loan...unless you just love stress, long waiting periods, poor communication, and empty promises. But, in the end as long as we have our house...that's what matters! Here is a picture of the outisde of the house...we will post more when things are official.


Next...we bought some new furniture!! YAY new furniture for a new house!! Today was the best day off ever...slept in some, got to see our little man, ate at Olive Garden, and went furniture shopping! Anyways...here are our buys...



Our table is the bigger version of this one!


Ok...so we already have couches, and it doesn't show the end table but this is the coffee table we got.. I'm super excited!!

In other news...the Stars have a new head coach and their preseason has been awesome! We will have FSN from all over the country when we get our satelite set up so we will be watching the Stars, Rangers, and Mavs! We can watch others, too...but this is what's important!

Life is going well...and all we need is our house!

Pardon

You must pardon my lack of updates...I am trying NOT to be a complainer and keep my negative thoughts to myself. We are STILL in this stinking hotel...we were supposed to close almost two weeks ago. We have extended the deadline twice. So, we wait....like I said, I'm trying to keep my complaining to a minimum therefore I haven't updated my blog because it tempts me to complain about our experience with our loan processor from Chase...oops...did I just say that? I won't name names...but this has NOT been a positive customer experience.

All else is going well! I look forward to being in a bigger space because I feel like life will be more restful and happy. Thursday will be an awesome day because we will find out if this baby is a boy or girl! Until then...this week we call it Mango.

PS if you aren't on Pinterest yet...you should be. Love.

The Story

Okay, so things are finally at a point where I can share all the major events that have been unfolding in our crazy lives! I guess listing and explaining will be the best way for this...

1.) We have successfully made our move to Spring!...kind of.On August 16 we packed up and headed out here to our new home. Unfortunately, our new home is at the Extended Stay Hotel in The Woodlands. Why are we in a hotel? We are in the process of buying a house. WOAH! Yes, you read that correctly, we have committed to buying a house and found the perfect one for us! We are waiting for the FHA loan to go through. Our closing date is supposed to be September 16, but as we all know (or not) these things take a while and can be iffy. I will post a picture of our cute new house when things are finalized. Luckily, because the housing market is terrible right now and there is so much competition in a bigger city area that is developing rapidly, we got an AWESOME price and an even more awesome fixed interest rate. WOOHOO! So, now we wait...and live in a little hotel room. We have a mini fridge, two burners, and a microwave. The hotel is pet friendly so Molly is here with us. It's cramped and the bed is SO uncomfortable...but it's temporary...we should be moving out in a few weeks!

2. I have a job! God opened a surprising and unlikely door and I am employed! August 8 I received a call at 5:30 pm asking if I had accepted a job anywhere. I told the lady no and she proceeded to tell me that she was the principal at Roth Elementary in Klein ISD and she wanted to interview me for Kindergarten! I was SO caught off guard because I have never even thought of teaching kinder since I've been in the schools. I went to the interview with an open heart and mind and laid everything out on the line about our current situation. The interview was awesome and they weren't scared away when I told them I was pregnant. They said they weren't sure if they needed me yet...it was dependent upon enrollment but they would inform me by Wed. or Thurs. of the next week. I got a call Monday saying they needed me! WOOHOO! My first gig would be Friday at Meet the Teacher night. However, since my paperwork had not gone through, I couldn't introduce myself as the teacher. The plan was to have me in the classroom as a "volunteer" for a week or two depending on the paperwork so I could set up the classroom and get acquainted with my kids. So, we rolled into Spring Friday at 3 and Meet the Teacher was at 4. It was unsettling because the parents were concerned that they hadn't met their child's teacher...and I totally understood that...I would feel the same way! It still went well, but I felt bad for the parents who were sending their babies to a question mark room. For some reason, apparently HR was working on a Sunday because my stuff went through Sunday evening and I got a call Sunday night saying I would be starting in the morning on the first day of school...AH! Needless to say, the past two weeks have been CRAZY not having any time to prepare for my kids. But, I survived, they have learned, and I am so blessed and happy with where I am at! I have so much technology in my classroom, I'm at an exemplary school, I make a very nice salary for a second year teacher, and my team is awesome! Now...let's just get to the reason this was a crazy God thing. I did not apply for this position. The principal got my resume from another school in the district that had decided to choose another candidate. She saw I had no kinder experience but thought something seemed right about my resume. So, although I didn't even apply, God dropped this in my lap. I am SO thankful and so happy with where I am! Klein is a district that is very difficult to get into! I even like kindergarten :) It's a lot of fun! Thanks, God...you're pretty awesome!

3)Our church...man, our church is awesome! The congregation has totally pulled us in and has been taking care of us and loving us in so many ways! Little blessings are everywhere. The girls in our youth group have accepted me with open arms and we are building relationships everywhere! It's so exciting! (Could there be anymore exclamation marks??) We are so blessed and so excited :).

4) God's faithfulness...never failing. If we doubted God after how amazingly He has worked out our transition to Spring, we'd be idiots. His hand has been there every step of the way and he has just cleared any obstacle that has come our way. Now, I'm not saying being obedient is always easy, but God has really given us a sense of peace with how He has provided for and confirmed our call here...I've never had God move so much in my life!

5) The baby. The baby is GROWING. Geeze! My pants are all rubberbanded and I've moved from tshirts that are smalls to mediums because they are SO much more comfy :) Sorry, Tim...I've raided your stash! Another blessing for this pregnancy is that I have not been sick at all. If I didn't know I was pregnant...I could be on that show, "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant." I feel fine...normal...just wanting PIZZA all the time. Thank God for this!

6) Grad school. I am skyping my classes and hanging in there while life has been nuts! I'm still enjoying it...but I must say that I am ready for May to be here!

So, this year is definitely a MAJOR milestone in our marriage. Probably the biggest year we will ever have...we made the scary move for Tim's dream job, I have a new job, I will have my masters degree, we will have bought our first house, and we will have a baby all in the same year! WOW. What a fun time in our lives...sure life has been stressful at times and full of Chaos...but I wouldn't have it any other way...well...that's not true...I need to move my family down here with us...then I could confidently say I'd want to change NOTHING.

I miss you, family! I love you guys...but know God is SO good!

So, that's the crazy news in our lives...what a crazy God we serve! (In a good way) ha

Can't Wait!

I have an amazing story to share...God's been working like mad. Be looking forward to a post on His faithfulness and goodness on our journey of obedience to Spring! We will be moving Friday. I will explain the big story soon. I hope you are on the edge of your seat with anticipation :)

I'm sure this is normal...

Do you ever have so much to say that you can't say much?

Here is the low down- the best I can do for now...

1. Tim is now a youth pastor in Spring!
2. We are looking for a place to live.
3. I am looking for a job...I had an interview today but I'm not sure how to feel about it.
4. We will be trying to square things away this weekend so we can move ASAP.

I'm really glad God wants us to give him our burdens...I felt like exploding earlier..but I gave it to God and I feel like I can peacefully breathe. As I was reading and praying, I felt guilty asking God to take my burdens...Jesus already did that, why ask Him to carry more?? But, our God is good and He gives peace along with a light and comfortable yoke.

Oddities de la Tim

Here is a list of a few things I may never understand about my husband...some cute, some quirky, some annoying. I love Tim and he makes me laugh. SO, here goes the Oddities de la Tim:

1. How do you get in the shower? Most people run the water to get it to the right temperature and turn on the shower. Then, they get in. We all know cold water comes out of the shower head before the warm...so water first, then enter. Tim stands in the bathtub and gets the water to the right temperature while standing in it. Then,(This part makes me laugh)he splashes water onto his shins to check the temperature. He then turns on the shower and gets sprayed immediately...brrr!

2. Which way do you face when you shower? I think (because I don't watch people showering lol) that most people face away from the water and tilt their head back to shower. Not my Tim...he faces forward, lol.

3. Do you spread condiments with a knife or a spoon? I have explained to Tim that butter knives are called so because you are supposed to spread things like butter with it. Well, Tim always uses a spoon...then he licks the condiment off. This isn't too bizzare, but when he licks off the butter or the mayonaise I almost throw up. Also, it wastes the condiment that gets stuck in the groove of the spoon for non spoon lickers.

4. When licking fingers...he HAS to make a loud sucking sound on each finger...ew.

5. After making chocolate milk, do you leave the spoon in the cup? I'm sure this one isn't as odd as I think...but I think the spoon knocking into your mouth while your trying to drink is annoying. Tim likes the keep the spoon in the cup and so when he's done the cup falls over all the time!

6. Does your husband like girl bands? My husband likes to listen to Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Regina Spector. Haha, he won't admit this to you...but look at his iPod.

7. Tim is not a taste tester...he will add the seasonings without tasting it between...we have had many salty meals that were not edible.

8. Nails. Tim's nails grow like a woman's. He lets them stay long...so his nails are longer than mine! In order to fix this, I am the one who clips his fingernails and toenails...haha. I also pluck his eyebrows.

9. This one is an old one...Tim used to wear girl pants. I HATED them. They got stolen once...I was SO sad let me tell you...But, girl pants don't look good on anyone but girls. Sorry boys.

10. Meat poisoning. When we have steaks...my husband literally makes himself sick everytime. He tells me after he's done to never let him to that again...but it is inevitable, haha.

11. Snot Rockets. GROSSSSSSSSSSSS. He doens't believe in kleen-ex outisde or in the shower...it's so gross!

11 seems like a good number to stop at. Now, I'm not saying that I am perfect by ANY means...his list of things he won't ever understand will far exceed my list for him. I just thought I'd share because I'm pretty sure some of these things are guy things that my friends can sympathize with. Love you, Mr. Darst...your manliness exceeds all.


Beach Countdown: 6 days!

Breakdown

This is mostly for my own mental wellness...I'm breaking down our eventful next two weeks:

July 22 (Today!): Go to Arlington to see my parents and borrow some boogie boards and chairs for the beach!

July 23: Hang out with the fam, go to the Ranger game (story on that later).

July 24: Visit the in-laws

July 25-26: Get ahead on homework for when we go on vacation/class on Tuesday night

July 27-28: Last days of work at ETBU admissions/church Wednesday night/Class Thursday night

July 29: Finish homework before leaving for Houston/drive to The Woodlands

July 30: meeting with the personnel committee, lunch with church staff, meet and greet youth and parents and Q&A session, dinner

July 31: Lead Sunday School with worship and hanging out to get to know us, meet the congregation during the service, get put on the spot for questions, get voted in or out in the evening

August 1: Drive to Port Aransas!

August 2-4: Be a beach bum...hopefully get an interview soon after!

August 5: Hear this precious prune's heartbeat (it will be lime-sized by then!)

BUSY but EXCITING/RELAXING next few weeks!

Okay...so about the Ranger game story. I give campus tours at ETBU in this oh, so wonderful heat! I love ETBU, so I love giving tours. I had a family come in to tour with a girl, her friend, and her parents. When I walked in the room to meet them, I saw the dad wearing a rangers polo shirt. I was like awesome, a Rangers fan! I love to find things to chit chat about between buildings we go into. The Rangers are a good talking point. I proceeded to look down at his hand and lo and behold there was a world series ring on it! I couldn't help myself but blurt,"So, that's a world series ring!" He told us how he worked for the Rangers as the VP of Information Technology. That opened the door to talk about how I was from Arlington and how Tim and I love the Rangers and my family did, too (run-on sentence). So, we pile on the golfcart like sardines and have a lovely tour...like 2 hours...longest one I have done. It was two hours because they were LOVING it! They loved to stop and talk about EVERYTHING at ETBU and it was fun! I love tours where people ask questions and are excited! After the tour, the girl and her friend are super excited and they are wanting to come (the friend had to intention of coming to ETBU). So, as I am walking back to my office the dad pulls out a card and says, "Here's my card, if y'all ever come to Arlington, give me a call!" In which I reply, "We're actually going there this weekend!" He said, "Saturday at 7:05 okay?" I say, "Uh, yessir!" He replies, "Your tickets will be waiting at will call" and he writes our names down. AWESOME! So, it was already a great tour, but now we get to go to the game for FREE! I'm excited...yay for Admissions!

Beach countdown: 9 days

A Special Announcement!

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Decisions, Decisions...

...began celebrating school being and realized summer is gone, haha! Lame. I've been working in ETBU admissions and doing grad school which has pretty much sucked out all that is good about summer and left the heat...gross. East Texas summers are HOT. The humidty here leaves us swimming through the air daily.

BUT, onto bigger news...

Tim and I have some big decisions coming. Today we leave for Spring, Texas to interview with the personnel committee at Memorial Baptist Church. They are paying for our gas, meals, and hotel stay...so it's kind of minivaca! I'm excited...but nervous. This is the church where the associate pastor showed up to our house in Longview a month ago to chat...odd...but sure, why not? The next day, the pastor called us to meet him in Lufkin the following Friday to have an interview over dinner with his wife. After feeling like we had blown that chance and walked out thinking, "at least we met nice people and got some free food," we got a call back asking for out testimonies and philosophy of youth ministry. 1 week later, we get another call saying that the personnel committee had fallen in love with us based on our testimonies...we are paying your way down here to interview...what? Hm...okay. Pray for us as we interview and seek guidance on our decision making.

After this happens, Tim gets a call from a church in Teague, TX informing him he is in their top 5. They had him make a video answering questions and doing a mini-lesson. They meet Sunday to watch the videos...pray for this one, too!

Two days later, a guy from San Antonio called. He runs a ministry through the schools and they contacted Tim for interest in him being the junior high pastor. The guy has since Skyped with Tim and has been in close contact wanting to get him out there ASAP. It's not ministry through an actual church...but an organization through the schools. I'm not clear in what the job entails, but the guy has been pursuing Tim eagerly.

All of this to say...there will be no teaching jobs in any of the big cities. That is totally nerve racking. We are open to God moving us wherever...but me not having a job is kind of a big deal...I need health insurance. No job=no insurance. Our pastor preached on being called out of easy decisions and living the American dream...we were convicted. We had been starting to doubt all of these doors that were opening. BUT, we are open...we just need clarity.

SO, please pray for us especially in the next few weeks...we have some BIG decisions to make!

One Month Later...

I accidentally let about a month slip by with no posts, bad....

My two biggest pieces of news:

First of all- I am officially an ETBU Tiger AGAIN! I started graduate school and I'm working towards my masters in education for instruction and curriculum. Don't ask me what I want to do with that, because I'm not sure. But, I am two weeks in and almost done with my first two classes! The program is a 13 month program where I take six classes this summer, one in the fall, two in the spring, and one next May and I will be walking across the stage! WOOHOO! So, this time next year, I will be recieving my diploma once more. Sorry ETBU, you just thought you'd got rid of me. Also, sorry bank account...you just thought we were done hurting you!

Second item- I got a new car! Well, it's an SUV. It's a 2007 Jeep Patriot, black. Unfortunately, it's a standard and I have not quite got the hang of it yet...but atleast it's nice! The Focus was trouble from day 1 and after the alternator died for the third time in six months, we decided it was time. We still have CarCar, my hyundai...but hooray for JeepJeep!

VanGO

Please check out the awesome work some friends of mine from college are doing in the name of Christ!

http://whoismyneighborvango.blogspot.com/

41

41 days until SUMMER!! WOOOHOOO!! Can I get a what what? How about a Hallelujah? Maybe a yeah baby! Just thought I'd share...now if we can just get past TAKS. NERVOUS? Yes...

I realize I usually blog on Wednesdays...this is because after my p90x is over, I have a quiet house on Wednesday nights. So, I have time to blog. I was going to do another awkward video post, but I decided to save that for you another time. Maybe I'll do a video post on a day I don't work out and save you from the grossness that is my hair and face post-workout.

Anyways, Happy Birthday to the beautiful Sarah Stapleton! She's great!

On another note- I have my job next year for sure. If God doesn't open a door for Tim for youth ministry somewhere else, I will definitely be teaching third grade. This is a nice feeling because I know many districts in Texas are CUTTING probationary teachers. So, hurrah for a job!

On a more serious note, let me share a new development. God has decided to work in a way that I did not ask him to. As a normal woman, I have always desired to settle down, have a cute brick house, and grow my family and accumulate the things that make my house pretty (i.e. the new living room set I'd like to have, a bedroom set where we can fit our clothes in, new wall decor, painted walls, etc.) These things aren't bad...BUT, God has released me from that desire (again, not that I think it is wrong to want those things.) All of a sudden, I am willing to sell everything I have and GO.

Excuse me?

Yes, I (we) will GO. Wherever God wants us to GO, we have committed to say, "yes, Lord!" Although it could mean staying here, it could mean leaving the country, leaving the state, going to a new city where my job situation could be nerve racking for lack of positions available...we've said, "Okay, God." YAWEH...that's what's important...I AM. So, if I AM says go...we will!

What's crazy is I never said we wouldn't go certain places. BUT, God just gave me a peace and I am no longer attached to the American dream. Sure, God could just be using this as a means to remind us live simple and Christ-like lives. But, we may end up somewhere unexpected! Again, I ask prayers for us as Tim seeks youth ministry...somewhere.

Looking forward to a weekend in Arlingfun! Tim is going to a concert for his birthdayand I am doing a 5k with my beautiful cousin! Watch out DFW!

Awkward post alert! Have Fun :)

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, March 2, 2011...

Outside my window...it's dark and cool...it makes me excited for summer. Not that I'm ready for heat, goodness NO! I HATE Texas heat and if it weren't for my family I would probably not stick around! I think I was made for up north: I love hockey and cold weather and I don't have an accent.

I am remembering...I got a message from a friend of Tim's today. He just randomly messaged me to tell me that he had a random memory of talking to Tim the day after we had broken up in 2006. He told me how Tim was upset and he had given him some advice to wait for me because if Tim really thought we should be together, God would bring us back...SO, I'm remembering the sad times...but rejoicing in what became of them :)

I am thankful for... Friends and family in Arlington! We went to the Stars game for my birthday on Saturday. It was fun, but even more than that, I was surrounded by people I love! AND, I got to spend an afternoon just chit-chatting with my Granny and Papa. I adore them! <3

I am creating... Critical thinkers in my classroom :) Woohoo higher level thinking!

I am going...To Ennis to see the other side of the family this weekend! We haven't seen them since Christmas!

I am reading... Exodus, Job, Luke, and 2 Corinthians! Tim and I are reading through the bible in a year and it is the best part of my day to sit down and read and discuss with my wonderful hubinero!

I am hoping... God opens and closes doors! Tim has started sending out youth ministry resumes again and we just want clarity and direction! Join us in prayer!

On my mind...I wish I was talented with hair...I can't figure out getting it to wave or curl! Suggestions??

From the learning rooms... We have begun our unit on How to Eat Fried Worms! I branched out from the other teachers these next few weeks to do something fun! We are enjoying it! We need a little fun before TAKS!

Pondering these words... Oh death, where is your sting? Oh hell, where is your victory? Oh church, stand in the light! Our God is NOT dead, He's alive! He's ALIVE!

From the kitchen... Taco soup!

Around the house... I just cleaned the living room and kitchen. NOW, if I could just keep our bedroom clean! Our dining room table is a crap collector! I hate cleaning it off, but it looks AWFUL! I will get up to clean it soon.

One of my favorite things... I love makeup! I know this is silly and most days I only wear base, eyeliner, mascara, and blush...but I just love it! I love to enhance my features...it's like a blank canvas every morning! FUN!

From my picture journal...

Blast from the past...don't laugh too hard! Homecoming 2005! (speaking of Tim and I dating forever ago) LOOK AT THAT HAIR, on both of us! GROSS!

To all of my thousands of readers (ha!), I haven't posted because I haven't felt like I've had any exciting news...so I leave you with the plethora of thoughts that is, SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK!

Tim Time!

Because it's almost Valentine's Day, and because my husband is awesome...I am dedicating a post to some favorite Tim memories!

1.) The first time I saw Tim, he looked like a hobo, ha! He had on cut off camo pants made into shorts, a dress jacket, high top converse, and long shaggy/curly hair.

2.) When we met forreal at the hospital, we went through 25 ways to fight fatigue together because he had been at Walmart counting mullets all night (see two posts ago for the full story).

3.) After one of our first big arguments, he showed up at my door wearing his nephew's plastic knight armor and went on to say, "I have traveled far lands to declare my love for you and tell you that I, Tim Darst, am an idiot and I am sorry." In his hand was a bag of peanut m&ms (jumbo bag).

4.) After the Stars had just come out of the NHL lockout, we were saying our goodbyes in my driveway one night and he said, "Jenni, I got you Stars tickets." Me, being the ridiculous Stars fan that I am started freaking out and he continues, "look up." DUMB! But, sweet in a way...

5.) The summer I got 25 bee stings at Children's Camp, I got home from camp to find my Tim with a gift bag. The contents of that bag were: Cortizone cream, peanut m&ms, and my true love-chapstick!

6.) In college, getting phone calls to come outside because he brought breakfast- donuts!

7.) Getting ETBU to plant flowers that spell out "Will you marry me?" in the main flower bed and proposing!!

8.) Tim promising before we got married, and still holding to it to scratch my back every night...best part of my day!

9.) Tim worked on the ETBU grounds crew, often having rough and long days just so I could get free tuition.

10.) When I called to tell Tim my engagement ring had been stolen, all he did ways tell me it was a dumb ring and could be replaced...this was on his way to Arlington. When he got there, he just held me and told me everything was fine...eventhough it wasn't (not to me anyways!)

11.) Tim coming to the wedding showers even though he didn't want to.

12.) Driving to our honeymoon and being so hungry that we stopped at an Arby's in the middle of nowhere! Our first meal as a married couple haha!

13.) Coming home on endless occasions with fresh flowers on the table and sweet surprises like white cheddar cheez-its or chapstick!

14.) Many songs written and recorded for me and about me...Tim is an amazing guitar player and singer!

15.) Calls saying, "change into something nice, we're going on a date!"

16.) During our wedding ceremony, we weren't sure what to do after the songs had gone on for a while, and whispering in my ear, "act like I said something sweet to you!" and we did.

17.) Tim crying as I walked down the aisle.

18.) Back massages after stressful days teaching in Marshall.

19.) When we first started talking, we'd stay up on AOL instand messenger talking until 3am...then progressed to the phone. Tim didn't realize that long distance cost money...so he racked up a big ol' bill and had to pay back his parents. Luckily, he got a cell phone not too long after that.

20.) Text messages every morning saying something to the effect of, "good morning beautiful, I love you!" or "I've got bad gas."

21.) Yesterday while I was getting ready, I noticed it was quiet in our apartment. I went downstairs to find Tim making pancakes. When I got downstairs, he put on a cheesy song and started dancing with me in the kitchen!

The list goes on...

all of this to say, I have the best husband any girl could ask for...sorry ladies, the best is taken!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my wonderful Granny, Lorene Francis! She is one of the most gentle, sweet, loving ladies I have ever met. Not only is she sweet and amazing, but her health is incredible! She is a breast cancer survivor and I only hope to be as strong and amazing as she is! Happy Birthday, Granny! I love you and can't wait to see you soon!

Supermanitus

I am self diagnosing myself with Supermanitus ....... a disorder I made up myself.

I fall victim of Supermanitus often. I'm sure I'm not alone here (then again, I wouldn't be surprised since I am odd). I have this tendency to think about life's possibilities...I think about how capable I am and how much I have to offer the world. Then, I start wondering, "What am I doing here?" I honestly and truly feel like I could have chosen almost any career path. I think God has blessed us all with many abilities and learning quickly and enthusiastically is one of my favorite abilities.

However, I start dreaming...like unrealistically. I start wondering what if I went back to school and became a doctor, what if I did broadcasting school and took the unpromising plunge into the interning world? What if I became a wedding planner since I love weddings so much! What if I could be a motivational speaker since I love to talk and get people excited? What if I went into business because I like to be challenged and work my way up to the top (I do love competition!)?

I WANT to do it all! I want to be a superhuman! Then, I wonder if what I am doing is really what God wants of me. I mean, I love learning so much it's fitting to be a teacher, right?? But what if there is MORE? There IS more...God calls us to more than our jobs...past those weird dreams and unrealistic future planning. God wants us to be obedient...He wants us ALL. I want it! BUT, what else does He want?

I.am.capable. I.am.smart. BUT, I'm also a child of God and Supermanitus can be blinding to truth. So...what will I do in my future? Still unsure. For now, I teach and soak up the blessings. Someday, heaven is all that's certain...

Now that I took that post in many different directions...I will stop before it becomes any muddier.

:)