Fireworks and a Huge Crush!

Fireworks have always been intriguing to me; maybe it's the thought of putting fire up in the sky that's exciting. When I was younger I remember lying on the lawn in the park with my family. Above us the city set off a round of fireworks...I began to squirm, I thought for sure they were close enough to touch me.
Then when I was nineteen, a few months before Paul left on his mission he took me to that same park where where we stood and watched the same fireworks. Afterward he carried me on his back to his parents house were we sat on his lawn and talked till I had to go. I had a huge crush.
This year Paul and I sat on the trunk of our car and watched the cities fireworks from several blocks away in the comfort of our own driveway. I know it sounds boring but I loved every minute of it, and I still have a huge crush.

We also took some liberty to purchase our own. This comes with a Warning!!! If you think to purchase a box of fireworks (no matter how large) from a grocery store...just know that they will all look the same!!

Just Another Day

It seems like a dream, waking up to the sound of his voice. He was there to tell me that he was leaving, going to school again. I begged him to stay even though I knew he couldn't. He gave me a kiss and left me sleeping. I'm still tired, I slept until nine, and I still wake up tired. My eyes hurt from the beating they took last night as I cried in my husbands arms. Life can throw some cruel punches.
The new morning sky brings happiness, and I smile. As I sit down at the kitchen table the sound of emergency vehicles ring outside just as they do every morning. I wonder who will be rescued today. After breakfast I drive the bus to Mom and Dads. The morning is truly beautiful;I roll down the windows and breathe the fresh mountain air. After a long day yesterday and feeling like I was being kept a prisoner in my own home it feels good to be outside.
When I get to my destination I head straight for the kitchen where the dog leash hangs from one of Mom's shelves. It was fraying at the handle where the remains of the previous walk still lingered. Disgusted by the weeds and dirt I find a pair of scissors and give it a little bit of a trim.
With trimmed leash in hand I walk straight to the backyard where Poscha seems to be waiting for me, or maybe she knows I'm her only ticket out of her pen until the afternoon.

Meet Poscha, she will forever be my favorite Dutch Shepherd. She is an excellent listener, and for the most part will do whatever you ask. She is smart, and on more than one occasion has made it known that she is the dominant female.

Poscha and I walk for quite a while and for the first time in a long time I pause at the end of the street and stare up at the mountains. Only God could have created something so magnificent. This is what Katherine Lee Bates must have meant when she wrote American the Beautiful, "Purple Mountain Majesties".
Today is a better day...

Graduation

Graduation made possible by: (see below)


When I married Paul I was working full time and going to business school part time. I had decided to become a business major because it was one of the only majors that offered night classes that would allow me to work full time to support my single self. The life I knew before, which I had grown so comfortable with was turned upside-down when Paul convinced me that I no longer needed to work full time. He suggested me going to school in something I enjoyed a little more.
I didn't really know what to say. For as long as I could remember I had always wanted to go into music.
After much contemplation I quit my job. I couldn't believe what I was was about to do when I took a part time job making half as much money, and started my early morning classes in the music program. I loved it! I was a little behind in age but I will always be so grateful to Paul for being there to push me to do something I love. I love that he continues to support me in all my crazy dreams!

I was a little nervous as I waited in line to walk across the stage. I began to wonder what life would hold for me next. For years I have know exactly what I was going to do as I registered for school every semester. I have a few things in mind but I guess we'll see where the Lord points me next. I am excited to see what the future holds!

Despite my brothers wedding being the same morning my parents made it to support me. Thanks Mom and Dad it meant a lot to have you there! Paul's parents were great to
sit through 2 graduations that day, and Paul's Dad took all of these beautiful photo's. Thanks Rod and Anne, I really appreciate everything you do to support Paul and I!
I am looking forward to the next graduation I will attend....hang in there babe!

Pictures of the event

The Time Has Come...

I'm a little nervous....we'll hope it doesn't show!
I hope everyone can come.

We The People

Today I hung my Flag....



FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, pass it on (re-post this on your blog) or I am afraid there will be a price to pay greater than bad luck.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

These are the words of our late President Lincoln a man who fought for liberty.

President Lincoln was a man who united a nation, a man who fought for the people and not against the people. Brave men and women gave their lives for this great nation that we love. I will not allow someone to defile our freedoms and destroy our liberty. I will not stand by and watch an economy, our ancestors built with their own precious sweat and blood, crumble.

I say that, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

America, I say to you there are men trying to divide us and rob us of precious freedoms but “we the people” will be engaged. We will come together and fight. We will fight for freedom just as our grandparents did. If you love this country, as I love this country. If you love God and family, as I love God and family. Join with me. Raise the flag of this Nation. Set it up in front your home, a home you want to protect. We joined together on 9/11 to raise that flag, join with me now. On 9/11 the terrorists were without. On 3/21 the terrorists are within. We will fight you with the emblems of our freedom and we will fight with our votes.

A shout out to all the little people....

I have really never celebrated St. Patrick's Day aside from wearing the usual green. Today I'm going to step out of my bubble and make cupcakes with green frosting....just because I was some!
But this year to accompany my green shirt I will be sporting my own version of red!
As a result of the endless blowing of my nose...My face and nose are similar to the color of a fire engine and have the texture of sandpaper. Despite the quality of toilet paper it has started to crack, bleed, and even peel. As a matter of fact it looks a lot like the eczema on my hand. My husband wonders how I could have used a roll of toilet paper in one day, but I think my face pretty much says it all!

Aside from the holiday today has been a pretty special day. Today I was lucky enough to be blessed with a brand new nephew. Happy Birthday Colton! I'm looking forward to meeting you when you are feeling better...

And I'm pretty sure this little girl is pretty excited to meet her little brother.














This picture was stolen from Mike and Chrissy's blog (Sorry Chrissy!).
Happy St. Patties Day!!!!

It doesn't get better than this...

While I don't quite agree with the new Oscar Meyer campaign...contrary to popular belief it DOES get better than a hot dog. Although I will admit they do have an upper hand on the market. They put out the best hot dog I know of. Let's just say you get what you pay for in the hot dog world and with Oscar Meyer you will never go wrong.
However, I don't think there are may things that could make my life any better than this. I have been so sick the past couple of days. I hate it when I can feel it coming on and can't do anything about it. All I can do is take more vitamins, drink more water, lay down, and hope the virus is nice enough to pass me by.
By the evening I was feeling terrible and went to bed fully armed to fight whatever it was that was against me. Unfortunately for me, I didn't end out sleeping more than an hour. My tossing and turning didn't help Paul either because he ended out on the couch at 4:00 in the morning trying to get some sleep. I felt like the worst wife in the world! Despite what I had put him through the next morning he went out a bought me juice, nasal spray, and some Tylenol...all while I slept on the couch.
He came home after school and helped me make dinner, and then did the dishes. I was determined to spend the next night on the couch sleeping upright to avoid not being able to breath through all the congestion. Paul insisted on sleeping next to me on our little love sac the whole night. I truly married my best friend. Even though I was in pain and so tired, it was one of those moments when I couldn't help but smile....it doesn't get better than this!