Where I'm at.

Here are a few bullets to let you know where I'm at in life.

• Finished the worst class I've taken in my graduate work so far on Wednesday. Glad it's over. It wasn't hard but the instructor was AWFUL!
• Leaving for Iowa and the Charolais Junior Nationals on Saturday. I'll be leaving my boys at home. I'll miss them but I'm looking forward to some special time with my niece, my dad, my sister and my four-legged white friends.
• Boxing up my office at work because they are doing construction above us. "Possible falling concrete and water" caused our office to determine it was necessary to move out. This was announced yesterday and we need to be out today. I guess it's a great reason to clean. Our office will be closed for at least 2 days next week, which makes me feel a bit better about being out the week before a big meeting.
• Hubby has one more week at the old job and I can officially announce here that his new job will be at Taylor Studios. Check it out. It's neat. http://www.taylorstudios.com/.
• A promotion will be coming my way at work but my boss needs to navigate the academic bureaucracy first.
• I'm looking forward to 3 days in the "Big Easy" for work. I just wish J&J were going with me.
• We're looking for a weekend to take in a baseball game or just do a little family getaway and we're running out of weekends. Where is summer going?

Having my wants...and living here too

We, as humans, have certain monetary needs. Granted, we also have wants. I get nervous about money. No surprise there. So, as J was considering a job opportunity a few months ago, I got very concerned about the financial implications for us. He would have received a pay increase but my career was uncertain. However, it would have relocated us a bit closer to family - not much, but some. Admittedly, I spent one night bawling about leaving our comfort zone here. I was NOT impressed by this community. For a variety of reasons, we decided that perhaps it wasn't the best move for us.



Fast forward to present, J has a great job offer, right here. However, now my heart is heavy with concerns and wonders if we'll ever get closer to home or closer to agriculture. I know animals live in Central IL too but can we afford that lifestyle here either, given that we couldn't rely on some of the services (ie - trailer tranportation) that my family could provide, at least to get us started? I guess it's time to consult with a realtor and a banker.



I'm so excited for J. It's an awesome opportunity that I think he's going to LOVE! I think I'm just in a very reflective place right now wondering what we need to do to MAKE our other goals a reality. I also wonder how our families are really taking the news of us not getting closer. I know what they say, but that's not always truly honest.



As a friend of mine says, all we need is time and money! Where do I sign up for the fairy that delivers both of those?

This, this is June

It's beautiful, not raining buckets or 93 sweltering degrees. It's sunny, upper 70s and there is a light breeze. This is what the Midwest in June should be. Now, the fields just need to dry out.

I need to also give a product shout out today. For anyone looking for the best stain remover ever, find yourself some Totally Toddler. This spray has removed so many things from Little J's clothes. Today's challenge is barbecued chicken on a white shirt. I'll have to let you know how that goes. I also use it to treat stains on my and Big J's clothes.

I'm going in to lunch in a relatively good mood so I'll share my newest telecommunications customer service frustrations later!

Underwear not for me and other recent discoveries

Boyshorts - do you wear them? I decided to try them out. I bought 2 pair a few weeks ago and I have to say that I either bought the wrong size, choose a bad material or these are just not for me. I thought they were supposed to eliminate an underwear line, but I have to tuck them in everytime I pull my pants up and then they still end up bunched up my crack. What the heck? Of course, J likes the way they look on me. Maybe they are meant to be worn without pants.

Moving on.

Plan, plan, plan all you want but someone else has plans for you. After months of searching in multiple states, J may have a job opportunity right down the road. We'll keep you posted - second interview is Tuesday. The changes that we had anticipated may be different than we thought.

It's so hard to work this time of year. It was honestly physically painful to drive to work on Monday. It got a little easier as the week went on, maybe because it was pouring. We've only been back from vacay for a little over 2 months and J and I were both commenting about how we would like a vacation. Sad.

Here's to the weekend, an alcoholic beverage, no more water in our basement, and hopefully a kid who kicks whatever bug he's got...please.

A Great Way to Spend a Weekend

This past weekend was definitely one for the memory books - and maybe even the scrapbook, if I ever get time to do that again.

I had the very special honor of standing up in my friend KB's wedding. Although friends make fun of me for crying during the ceremony (surprise, surprise!), I must say that these tears were heartfelt joy for KB and T. I was witnessing my wonderful friend commit to her best friend in front of family, friends, and God. As I listened to them recite their vows and watched them light the unity candle, I thought of how God has truly brought two soul mates together. (note - I'm tearing up right now as I write this!) They couldn't have found a better match and I was so appreciative to get to be a part of their wedding day.

Looking back, I hope I was a good bridesmaid. I know it's silly to worry about now, but I want them both to be glad that they asked me to stand with them. I know we had a good time!

J and I both enjoyed a limo ride with the full wedding party. It was J's first time in a limo! I fully enjoyed getting to dance with my little man. Squatting down to his level to share some rhythm reminded me again how much being a mom means to me. It's the first wedding that he has been big enough to "enjoy" and he danced his little feet away. THEN, I sent him home with Grammy & Aunt Ann and his daddy and I partied more!

All in all, it was a great way to spend a weekend (including a spa day with the girls on Friday - I really need to do that more often). We wish K & T all the happiness in the world. On my wedding day, my sister told me that I was marrying my best friend and that I needed to be sure to keep it that way. K & T married their best friends and I think they'll do a great job of keeping it that way. We look forward to sharing many more moments with them. I was dancing with one of our other friends of Saturday and he mentioned to me that now all we have to look forward to are baby showers and baptisms! It will be wonderful to celebrate those events and many more of life moments with this group of friends.

I hope K & T are sipping fruity drinks with their toes in the sand and soaking up some sun...that is amongst other activities...wink, wink.