Just another day...

in paradise.

If columbia, the arm pit of SC, can be considered paradise!! haha.
So, after giving up on the watch and wait game that TS had me on, I've decided to send my resume to every office in Columbia (or so it seems). I have interviews lined up for this week...FINGERS CROSSED!! God has a plan for me, I just know it.

Hmmmm...what else....nothing new really. Sev and I came home this past weekend to help his parents move (literally like a stones throw away)...yet it took all day. It was nice spending the day with them. They are so busy with their house building and I feel like the only time we really get to spend with them is when they need Sevs help for something, and then I feel like I might possibly be in the way. However, this past weekend they needed an extra pair of hands...so I got to help them move. My mother-in-law has the coolest collection of antiques and it was neat getting to see and hear stories about different pieces. I really liked this little pie safe that was left behind by the previous owners and my father-in-law called me on our way home Sunday to ask if I wanted the piece...sweet!! My first antique!! On Saturday evening Ali decided it was high time he got to see his long lost foster mother. So he invited Mer over for a visit. She brought along her mom and dad and Perrin Bug. I know Ali was excited to see Meredith!! She told him all about the possibilities of a girlfriend/buddy in the near future, so our fingers and paws are crossed for a fellow brussels in the family!! After we helped move on Sunday, my parents came over and we threw a line in the pond and caught...mmmm....Dad caught....some fish!! A great way to end a weekend.

This coming weekend brings sev and I back to the upstate. We're driving up on Saturday to spend Easter Sunday with our family....I was fortunate enough to be home last easter but I can't WAIT to hunt eggs this Easter with sevy!! Last Easter Perrin was still in the baking stages (lol, nice term, huh) and its so weird to imagine him at the dinner table for holidays (I missed thanksgiving and Christmas with him) so this will also be new for me!! Watch out Perrin, I hear our family has an egg theif!!!!

Have a Wonderful Week and if I don't post soon...remember the reason for Easter and Thank God he is sooooo Good!!!!

Too Cute...

My husband that is...

So for the past three mornings I have crawled out of bed, fumbled to the back door to let Ali out and happened upon a post-it note stuck strategically in spots around our home :)

Now I know he doesn't have the best handwriting...but isn't he the cutest thing ever!!

This one was on the pantry door:

Found on the glasses, plastic cups and coffee mug cabinet:
On the fridge:

Isn't he the sweetest!! **sigh** He knows how to make a half sleepy, hair sticking out everywhere, morning breath mess feel pretty!! LoL.

Anyways, my sister-in-law is having surgery on her gums today, so if you think about it send a quick prayer up for her :) My mother-in-law is in town to help take care of Jessie. I offered to make dinner for us this evening...so lets keep your fingers crossed we don't end up ordering take out,lol!!

I had a job interview today...I don't want to say much and jinx myself but I felt good about it. I'm so ready to get back into a routine!!

Sev has been working his tail off. He gets up at 5:30am (nothing new for him coming out of the army) and doesn't get off until after 6pm!! That's right...OVER 12hrs a day!! Bless his heart, he is SUCH a good sport!! I make his lunch every night and place it in the fridge for him to grab in the morning...last night I decided I would return the post-it note favor and stuck a love note on his sandwich...I bet the guys he works with will LOVE that, lol. Oh well!!

Just wanted to share my day with the blog world...dinner is in crock pot and I'm off to the gym!!

Frustrated...

yes. I am getting so frustrated with this entire "job search" process. I put job search in quotations...b/c I haven't really been job searching. Let me explain for a moment:
When sev and I returned from Hawaii I was contacted by my previous employer at TS (abriviated for the sake of it). They really wanted me to come back to work there...so I told them I would. My old position had been filled and therefore they started a search for a new position to put me in. Fine and dandy, right. Wrong...this has proven to be very difficult. They can't find a position to put me in!!! I was interviewing with Nationwide insurance and really thought I had something going there...when I sort of dropped the ball on it because I had decided I would go back to work for TS. Now I've pretty much let another job go while TS keeps dragging its feet. Frustrating for someone who NEEDS a job!!! I don't just want any job. I have a degree...one I really enjoy and I want a job utilizing my degree!!! I realize that beggars cant be choosers...and I may have to take a job in a field I realllly don't want to....but come on....I DON'T want to wait forever!! I can't.

And why is it that when you don't have a job...EVERYONE asks you what you do??? ahhhhhhhh I just want to scream when someone asks what I'm doing now....I want to scream...."I'm a LOSER Living off of my HUSBAND and they call my position a COUCH POTATOOOOOOOO!!!!!" what do you think they would say??? hahaha. Really though, thats how I feel.
I'm trying to make the best of the situation...getting my house organized, shooting my resume out on occasion, getting my files in order.....but man, I want a job!!

I know TS wants me back...but I've just about given up on waiting on them, therefore I have started sending my resume out again for more potential positions. I know the Lord has a plan for everything...and this is part of his plan for me....so I'm going to stop complaining now and go run some errands.

Keep me in your prayers :-) Have a wonderful week!!

imagine that, TS called and want me to come back in for another interview....QUIT pulling my chain people!!! ugh. I'll go, but I also just sent my resume to a few more companies...and I'm NOT going to turn another one down JUST because TS keeps claiming they want me back.

Patience, Painting and Parents

So Sev and I have been rather busy lately. As I posted previously we went on a painting spree!! Last week while Steph, Jon and Perrin where here our house looked like a tornado attacked it!! So I thought I would post some pictures....BEFORE and AFTER pictures!! No way am I posting in between pictures!!! It was bad enough letting Steph see my house the way it was....having my father-in-law over was beyond humiliating!! Even Stephanie asked me how I wasnt about to die to have my father in law see our house the way it was!! Yes it was SCARY!!!

So, here is a picture of the dining room after we painted it and before the tornado hit:
Here is the truck parked outside our house...delivering our house hold goods. I almost died when I saw they used an 18wheeler to bring our stuff!!!! BUT it wasnt full of JUST OUR STUFF!!!! ***deep breath!!***:
This is the only picture taken and allowed to be posted while our house was messy. The boxes that held our house hold goods proved to be very entertaining for Perrin Bug....isn't he cute!!! He had just woken up from a nap :-)
Okay...I just had to throw this one in there....Ali stands at our back door after we let him out to do his business and then when he is ready to be let back in he starts at one corner of the door and hops to the other and repeats these steps until we let him in....what makes it funny, is his tongue!! He ALWAYS keeps his tongue out and while he is hoping from one side of the door to the other...it isnt uncommon to see him dragging his tongue along behind him, LOL:
TAAAAAAAAAaa DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa:

The finished product (didnt think it was possible, huh steph, lol):

Mom and dad came and spend the weekend with sev and I. While Dad and Sevy worked on our back patio area...mom and I got busy with the dining room. Everyone knows my moms hidden talent isnt teaching...but decorating!!! I love love love this room now!!! The picture doesnt even do the room justice....but you get the idea :-) I'll start taking reservations for my moms services this spring, so if you're interested just let me know (mom we'll discuss my compensation later) HAHA.

I forgot to take pictures of the nice job Sev and my Dad did with our patio...I was really proud of them. Sev is excited to grill out this coming Wednesday when his father makes another business call in the area. I'm excited for him to see that I reallllllly dont allow his son to live in such a messy house!!! LoL.

I've started on our guest bedroom...and YES we repainted!! We both like it very much and we had our first guests (my parents) use the room this past weekend....once I get it finished I'll post pictures :-) However....if anyone decides to make a trip to Columbia feel free to come by and check it out yourself!!! I can't promise you a hot breakfast...but my parents claim that the new mattress is rather comfy :-)

Happy Monday everyone!!!

LOST PHONE....

UGHHHH How frustrating and annoying is it to loose your main line of communication!! How did we ever survive the days with no cell phones!!!

It realllllllly doesnt help that my house appears to have been turned upside down and tossed from side to side!!! It's killing me!!

The movers brought our stuff monday.....and I didn't know how much stuff we had!!! Its driving me crazy!! I was so worried that we would loose Perrin in all the junk!! Luckily, Ali comes when you call his name, b/c I've lost him in all this mess and he is able to help me find him.
I remember having my phone yesterday...and **poof** it has vanished!! I always tell myself that I need to write down all the contacts I have saved in my phone for this very reason...when I went to call steph to see if I lost my phone in her car....I DIDNT KNOW HER NUMBER!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Oh well....My house is currently being inspected by the state for natural disaster zone. I guess I should get off of here and begin the process of organizing.....its more like just finding a place for all of this STUFF!!!


Have a wonderful thursday everyone...

I've got a confession to make....

Nope....I still dont want kids for awhile....


but Perrin is CUTE!!! He is one funny kid!!

I havent gotten the chance to spend much one on one time with Perrin since he has been born. Mainly because shortly after he was born I returned to Hawaii. It doesnt help that I now live in Columbia and he lives in Spartanburg. So I was stoked when Steph called and said she, jon and perrin would be in Columbia this week for work. That meant Perrin time...no sharing perrin....just ME!! He is soooo funny!! He currently looks like a chipmunk...he has two little teeth and when he smiles all I can think about is a little chipmunk!!

I've been teaching him the ins and outs of childhood...you know, giving him the run down on how a kid with Nance in them is suppose to act. I promise he will be calling Jackie Memaw if I have anything to do with it!! So we've been practicing that while he has been visiting. I also took him down the candy section today at target and informed him on the "candy aisle 101"...I think he's pretty smart and he'll catch on fairly easily. I explained how once he is old enough he is to stand in front of the candy section and scream at the top of his lungs until his mom gives in and buys him candy!! I told him it ALWAYS worked for me and no matter what NEVER give in!! HAHA!! Having my bestfriend and cousin with babies is a blast!! This auntie stuff is way more than its cracked up to be!! Hopefully with Perrins Dale blood and my experience....I'll have him climbing on the tops of the fridge by 5yrsold!!


This is so cool.

Neato

Its pretty well known that I am married to a universe nut....not only does he love flying high in the sky, but our tv is on constant weather patrol. Sev even has our Wii set up to recieve weather information. He loves to star gaze and point out different clouds in the sky....so it came as no surprise when he had me out two evenings ago looking at the lunar eclipse. As I'm sure you know....the entire process takes over an hour....yeah, I stayed for a picture or two and then got my cold hiney back inside!!! Here is a pic I captured before returning to the warmth of the indoors.



And this is for Moo. Ali passed out while waiting on me to get off the computer. When I turned around to tell him it was time for bed and saw him like this...I had to take the photo!! Isn't he the sweetest little ball of fur!! He is in total Ali form in this picture!! Tongue out, eyes closed and a mess of hair!!
One thing I REALLY hate ... would have to be repainting a room. So sev and I got a wild hair last week and decided to paint our dining room and our guest bedroom. The dining room turned out lovely, or so we think. However, the guest bedroom....not so much. When the first coat was finished I kept telling myself it would look much better after the final coat and not to worry. Uhm....no. We walked jessie into the room (it was her old room when she lived w/ me) to show it to her...and lets just say she put her sunglasses on before she would enter it, LOL. YES its THAT BAD!!! Everyone knows I LOVE green....any shade of green....hence my kitchen (apple green). I got a lot of grief about my kitchen....but boyyyyy will people talk if they see my guest bedroom!!! I think...if I were to lay tinfoil on the floor and stretch out in my bikini....the glow from the paint would tan me!!!! YIKES!!!! So tomorrow I will spend painting...or REpainting, while sev is at work!!

Quick Update...

life is still rolling along here...Sev took a job offer with Fedex. He starts this weekend. Good part is he makes enough to keep us fed, lol (no I wasnt really that worried). This was the job he was hoping to land...as his goal is to fly for fedex or a similiar company in the near future....so his foot is in the door :) Bad part is...he will work Tuesday through Saturday...so I only get Sundays with him :(
We picked my little Escape up in Charleston today. We woke, lounged around for a bit, made it to Charleston by lunch time and grabbed a bucket of oysters from the noisy oyster in Charleston. Then we picked the car up and drove back up to Columbia. I will miss days like these...when sev and I have the entire day to just spend together. I know it will all to soon be over. However, I know that it's not possible to have these days AND be able to afford our lifestyle...so I guess I have to give something up :)
Poor Ali has been "sick as a dog" for the past two days :( He keeps throwing up and it breaks my heart that he can't tell me what is wrong with him and if I should take him to the vet or not. He acts perfectly fine. Runs around, barks and plays like normal and then throws up!! Another reason I CANT have kids...yuck. Hopefully he will be better soon.
I've pretty much decided to go back to The State and take on a new position there. I've been through several interviews and while some were rather interesting...there was just one reason or another I kept leaning towards going back to work for The State. The interview I had last week was for the company Alcon and it sounded interesting...but again it was Sales, blah. They also wanted to send me to Fort Worth Texas to do my training...another yuck.
So...there is our update. Look soon on a Craigslist near you for one of three luxurious vehicles...lol.
Have a wonderful weekend....we still don't know what the weekend has in store for us...seeing as how sev starts work this saturday....BOOOO/Hurray!!!!

Old School

Thats right....I said old school..............thats because sev and I just figured out how to get Mario 3 downloaded onto our Wii!!!!! LOL.

I love love love old school mario....it brings back sooo many memories from my childhood. Chris and I used to spend hours outdoors just to come inside soaked in creek mud and grass stains, only to plop down in front of our playroom tv set and spend hours playing nintendo. Chris was ALWAYS mario....but NOT anymore, HA...I'm NOW numero uno!!! I'm MARIO...HA!!!!


Sooooo cool....this blast from the past :)



I just got back from an interview...blah, I'm sick of interviewing....hopefully by next week I'll FINALLY have a JOB!!!! This interview was for a pharmaceutical rep. position here in Columbia....ahhhh SALES.....oh well, maybe its what I'm destin to do, lol.

LOVE

Well...today IS Valentines day...so what better post title than "LOVE" and I think I'll post things I love......

1) God...duh. He has blessed me in soooo many ways and his love for me is unbelievable.
2) SEVY....another DUH.....he's my bestfriend, my soulmate and the one person that can make me laugh when I'm feeling blue ;)
3) My Grandma. She was my rock growing up and always made me feel that I was capable of ANYTHING (even if it was just selling rocks on the side of the road, lol).
4) My Mom, Diddy and Brother...of course...for all the obvious reasons...I wouldn't be who I am today (good or bad) without them. My mom led me into my relationship with God (see number 1). My dad taught me the logistics of life and my brother taught me how to love even when all I wanted was to send him back to where he came from, lol.
5) My Awesome friendships...and this includes my friendship with my cousins. Many of my friends and even Sev, are not nearly as close as my cousins and I are. Luckily, one of my bestfriends is my cousin :) I also need to include my Goddaughter in this...if it wasnt for my bestfriend, I wouldnt have Alexa in my life...and she is a little ball of love!!
6) My (okayyy my dads) Kitchen Aid mixer, hehehe...I JUST used it last night for the first time to make sevy v-day cupcakes and it was soooo cool!!!
7) Aliiiiiiiii!!!! My little bitty ball of fur. He makes me laugh just by being himself and he NEVER judges me ;) He reminds me constantly that it doesnt matter what we look like but how we let our personalities shine that truely matters ;)
8) My New Art Easel....yep, I've been wanting one of these for yearrrsssss and last night as I returned home from running errands and began pulling into our garage my dear sweet sevy (see number 2) had a beautiful art easel set up for my v-day gift!!!!!!!!
9) I love the many adventures life has taken me on...I am truely blessed!!


Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!

Ask and you shall recieve...

So, I was driving myself nutso last week trying to figure out what I was going to do now that I'm back in Columbia and we're out of the Army life.

I knew from the start that I would need to find a full time job to help support our lifestyle...so I pulled out the old resume gave it a little polishing and updating and put it out there for Columbia to see. My first interview was yesterday and while it went well...I know in my heart it is not what I want to do. I'm tired of retail...I want to do more with my major. I want to use my creativity. The interview was for a management position with Pier 1.
During our Super Bowl party I was talking about how I was currently job searching and a friend started telling me about her job and how they are looking for new people. I sent her company my resume and so far they have liked what they have read...so I am excited to interview with them in the up coming weeks (hopefully soon!!). I was really looking forward to the possibilty of that job when I woke up this morning and my old supervisor from The State had emailed me saying "YOU MUST COME BACK!!!" Now, I loved working for The State....but not because I enjoyed my job so much but because I LOVED my co-workers and my supervisor is THE BEST...so I promised her I would come in tomorrow and talk to them about my possibly coming back. **sigh** God is Great, he has really started opening doors for me...now I just need his guidance in WHAT door to walk through. I don't want to disapoint my old supervisor, she is SUCH a sweet, awesome person to work with...but this other job would be new and I could learn a different career field. On top of these two jobs I also got another email from another potential employer, its another account executive position (same as what I did at The State) but its a different product...so it would be all new people, same type job just a different product....what to do what to do.

Well, whatever happens I am TRUELY blessed to be a christian living in America...why?? because I have the CHOICE to choose one of these jobs and I have GOD leading the way............what could be better??

God is Good

craziness...

2.7 million dollars for a 30 second commercial??? Good Grief...I mean, come on!! I'm a marketing major and I suppose its a good way to market your product......but I could totally think of a million better ways to spend 2.7 mil...but whatever, lol....I mean really, do you think that pepsi or budwieser will ACTUALLY increase their sells so significantly by placing there commercial during the super bowl??? Eh’ might make a good study, but I doubt it.


Anyways, that’s NOT what I got on my blog to post about….really I have nothing to post about…but I thought I would throw out an update just for kicks.

So I have an interview today…wish me luck….I think. I’m not sure it’s something I want to do…but it IS an interview and that COULD lead to a possible JOB…and we NEED money so…..who am I to complain. As my 7 year old nephew would tell me “you get what you get so don’t throw a fit” (we have NO idea where he picked that up from, it cracked us UP the other night when he threw that comment out at me). Its for a management position with Pier 1…I was hoping to get away from retail and sales…but I’m NOT going to throw a fit ;)
I also have 3 more interviews later this week. So I’m praying it won’t be long before I’m in the working force again.

Sev is adjusting to civi life nicely. He has already registered for classes this up coming term, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has also started back with his flying. We took a day last week to drive around to the different airports in the area so that sev could get a better idea of who with and where he could fly. He hooked up with a guy in Sumter that will be his instructor for his instrument ratings. Sev flew Sunday with his instructor and is now up to date with his current license so he keeps suggesting he and I fly to Spartanburg next weekend…hahaha….I’m not sure that would “fly” with my daddy, lol. He flew by himself today, his instructor wasn't available today....but sev is trying to get as much flying in as possible. He also got a full time job for AT systems and starts Wednesday…it’s just something to do to bring in a bit more money while he finishes school and all of his flight ratings. He got a job offer from a man in Louisiana flying lier jets for a corporate company…would be nice, but he still has some more flying to accomplish before he is ready to fly jets!!

So I guess things are looking a little better….for me anyhow…I just worry so much and last week really had me stressed as to what our future held.

We enjoyed our weekend with a little visit from Autumn and Alexa. It was fun playing with lex all weekend, she and sev made fast friends!! Sev even watched her for an hour or two while Aud and I ran errands and when we got home they were watching Scooby-Doo and giggling while sev gave her a laundry basket ride around the house :)

We’re planning on making our way up I-26 this weekend, sev wants to help his parents with the construction of their house and I want to see my cousins little potato bug, Perrin!! He is SOOOOO adorable and I’m sad he has already grown SO much while I was away. I also want to start on my Hawaii scrapbook, if you can imagine I have TONS of photos to fill it with :) So we'll pack our bags yet again to make our way north this weekend.

I've got some cleaning to do before my interview...and my little furball is starting to smell like a walking trashcan...so guess its bathtime for Ali!!!

Well, there you go….an update. Happy Monday fellow bloggers.

Laaaadidaaaa

I'm waiting on the cable guy...don't you love how whenever you call to get something fixed, delivered or installed they give you a estimated time frame for arrival...blah!!

So to pass the time I'm shooting my resume off in all sorts of directions...who knows what I may find for my future career, but I do know GOD knows and he has a plan, so I'll just chill here in my cozy home, curled up in my cozy chair, along side my cozy dog.

Sev and I are trying to get adjusted to our new life. We're LOVING the house and the actual elbow room ;) I forgot what it was like to actually walk around and look for sev instead of glancing up and seeing him in the same room due to lack of space!!! He claims he got lost in our closet...according to him its because of my belongings in the closet...but I think its because we actually HAVE a closet (instead of a small hole in the wall with a few racks and shelves)....either way, we HAVE a closet and its the simple things that make you greatful for a home :)
Currently sev is working on getting registered for school...when he returns home we're planning on refinishing our kitchen table (which in true lindsey fashion I started over a year ago and have yet to complete!!).

I will admit I'm nervous...we're in uncharted and unknown territories right now in life. Severyn is trying to decide which path is best to take for his future flying career. While at the same time trying to decide what we are allowed to do financialy. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. At the moment Sev is considering taking a 3 month course for airline pilot qualifications. If he does this it will take him away from home for 3 months during the week...ehhh, no biggie right, lol. However, its pricey...and is it worth it??
My dad has always taught me to plan plan plan...use your head and plan....sometimes I just wish I could mimic a feather and just float along with the wind...but its been ingrained in my brain to plan and when I don't have a plan I get anxious...and anxiety is no fun, plus I think somewhere its written as a sin.
So...on top of:
Finding a church home.
Getting settled in our home.
Finding secure jobs
Sev finishing his degree AND pilot qualifications
Organizing my house

I have....DO NOT GET anxious or impatient!!

So my meditation bible thought for the day will be:

Pslam 37


3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food. 4 Find your delight in the Lord. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants. 5 Commit your life to the Lord. Here is what he will do if you trust in him. 6 He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn. He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon. 7 Be still. Be patient. Wait for the Lord to act. Don't be upset when other people succeed. Don't be upset when they carry out their evil plans. 8 Keep from being angry. Turn away from anger. Don't be upset. That only leads to evil.


off to send off more resumes :-)

and so it begins...

The REAL WORLD

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


My daddy always warned me about this place!! He said it could be cruel, tough and unforgiving...now I'm here and I'm SCARED!!!

"but Lindsey"...you say..."You've been out of High school going on 8 years and you've been out of college going on 3...you've been part of the workforce for sometime now."

However, College is nothing like the real world...you have people offering you low interest rated student loans and waiting tables earns enough "play" money. Not to mention dad still paid the cell phone bill (which was the majority of my bills!!) Once I was out of college I had my dear ole' husband to fall back on...he earned a decent living. I could float from job to job (i get bored easily!!!). Now he is out of the Army and its up to me to find a good job while he finishes up school......granted he will work as well, but his main priority is school and working on all of his pilot ratings. (we're talking MAJOR bucks here!!!)

**sigh**

I can't say I wasn't warned and for those who know me best...you know I've taken every action possible to prepare for this scary place in life, I created a small cushion..........but I can hear the Real World whistle blowing and the train is headed full force in my direction and I'm scared to climb aboard!!!!!

...maybe if I sing "I don't wanna grow up...I wanna still be a kid" or maybe if I close my eyes, click my heels together and say "there is no place like childhood"...........can I go back to being little????


Well....ready or not...It's time to test out my wings....here I come, keep me in your prayers :-)

Whats this????????

Within a matter of hours Sev and I went from flip-flops, shorts and sand between our toes to gloves, jackets and snow stuck to the bottom of our boots!!!!!!! Talk about DRASTIC!!!

We are currently in MT...we arrived in Salt Lake Utah this morning and drove up Utah into Idaho and on into Montana...we're staying in west Yellowstone until tomorrow evening. We played in the snow a bit this evening and we're getting up early to snow mobil tomorrow, we're also EXHAUSTED!!....so this post is quick....but I'll try to post more pictures this week...if not I'll post lots when we get BACK IN SC!!!!!

These pics are for my dad...he asked to see what REAL snow looks like (well, technically he saw it in Alaska...but still) this is no SC snow!!!

This was the road into West Yellowstone.
Me standing in front of a cafe...its closed for the winter and I don't blame them!! I would NOT want to shovel the snow from this walkway!!
Sevy walking through downtown west yellowstone. (yes, he has NO gloves on and yes he is holding a real estate guide...hahahahaha...he says he is moving us here and driving a snow plow for a living....once again...hahahahahaha)
Can I get a pepsi?? Talk about Ice cold!!!

Me, walking over a pile of snow :)

A Week Left in Paradise?!?!?!?!

It just doesnt seem possible!!

So...I know I'm horrible at keeping up with my blog as is...but for the month of January I'll probably be beyond horribly slacking!!

I took Aud to the airport last night. It was bitter sweet.
For those of you who don't know, Aud (Autumn) has been my bestfriend since preschool. We're like night and day...but we both agree that is what keeps us close.
When I began my Hawaii adventure not only was I scared to death...but I was also LONELY!!! I ended up arriving in Hawaii Dec. 1st 2004. Severyn was still in his first Iraq deployment and was extended...meaning I was going to be alone for the Holidays :( Alone in a land that didn't even say Merry Christmas. Autumn decided to give up her Christmas at home and fly to my lonely rescue. haha...I know most of you are thinking..."Its HAWAII!! It couldnt have been THAT hard for her"...but really, I know it wasnt easy...she left her family and all of her Christmas traditions and presents back home and helped me move in and get familiar with my new island home. She stayed with me until New Years Eve.

Fast Forward 3 years later...

Autumn managed to figure out a way to make it back out here to see me through the end of my Hawaii adventure. On New Years DAY, she arrived with a "To Do" list...full of all the things she wanted to accomplish while on this visit. I believe we checked everything on her list and then some!!

While she was out here we....SHE....took TONS of photos (about drove me NUTS!!!!) I tried to smile and be a good sport...but good grief, give my cheesy smile a BREAK!! Oh well, I'll probably thank her when it comes to scrapbooking time!!
Anyways...she has most of the pictures, I may have a few and if I find the time I'll post them later.


So today Sev is clearing base. We had the movers come this morning and look through the house to get an idea of how many movers and boxes they would need for our belongings. I have a few last minute island errands to run.
Next thursday the movers come to pack up our apartment. We will spend our last night in Hawaii on a mattress in the middle of our living room. Friday we will drive to port to drop our car off and then we'll hang out until our flight leaves later that evening.
We will arrive in Salt Lake saturday morning...from here I know very little...Severyn has been online and on the phone for the past week...making plans for our mini vaca in mid country. He tells me bits and pieces of his plans...I actually told him I didn't want to plan a thing...I'm TIRED of planning and stressing...its HIS turn!! haha.
He has scheduled our rental 4x4 and I know we're spending the first day in Yellowstone snow mobiling (is that a word, haha!!)...supposedly its the time of year for wolves and elk...so I pray I end up with AWESOME pictures of this sweet little adventure!!
The following day we head up north of the park and meet up with (sev's sisters, fiances, sister...lost??) anyways...she is a tour guide for a company in north Yellowstone and she was able to get us on one of her Snow Coaches...I have no clue what this will include...once again, its all sevs doings.
We then travel on in to MT!!! We will spend our time there with Sev's uncle in Billings MT...sev is hoping to get some flight time in and I'm looking forward to SNOW!!!!! I was allowed to purchase a SWEET little LL Bean jacket!!! I swear I get that from my daddy...we are jacket NUTS!! but I NEEDED it and it was ON SALE!!! hehehehehe. Of course I also needed some boots!! So Aud helped me on that search and we finally found a nice pair of North Face snow boots ON SALE!! Top it off with a scarf and gloves and I **think** I'm ready for the MT weather!!! We shall see....


Soooo you see we have big plans for Jan....hence the reason I wont be around much. Good news is I'm EAST COAST BOUND!!!!! yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

Aloha Hawaii!! Thanks for the memories and adventures....but I miss my Ohana and my time here is Poa!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Excited To Start A New Year!!!!

I'm rushing around getting ready for Auds arrival so I don't have much time. Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year!! I'll post pics of our New Years celebration soon!!
I got TWO new year kisses!!! We watched the ball drop in NY on tv while eating dinner...kissed...then went downtown to bring in the New Year Hawaii Style...kissed, AGIAN!!! So do you think I'll be twice as lucky this year??!!

I will also post my resolutions later!! I've been working on them!!

Patience is a Virtue...

Or so I've been told :)

Well, I just got off the phone with my grandma. Bless her, she is stubborn...but she's my grandma and I sure do love that lady!! I really miss my family. Sev and I both agree that this living in "paradise" crap...is for the birds!!

We can't WAIT to spend the Holidays back home in SC!!!

However, we like to make the best out of every situation...and we realize how very fortunate and blessed we are to be together this Christmas...so we enjoyed time with our friends and relished our Christmas morning together!!

We baked cookies together. Half we packed to take with us for our get together and the other half we saved for Santa. He even ATE two big bites out of them!! (sev had ginger on his breath...so I'm a bit skeptical that it was reallllllllly Santa that ate them ;) )

Last night we got together with Mark, Mel, Val, Matt, Rickey, Chad K., Chad O. and Dink.

Mark and Mel are from Japan and they LOVE severyn and my southern accent...they are ALWAYS trying to mock us and its actually quite hilarious!! Mark always greets me with a "Hi Ya'llllll" :) One day they heard me call Sev "sweet pea" and they decided they wanted a pet name....they now call each other "soybean" haha. We're blessed with some awesome friends :)

ps. marks real name is Makoto...but its easier for us southern folk to call him mark.

After some fun with our friends we came home and got in bed to prepare for the big guy!!

Just to name a few gifts he dropped off:

I got a sweet little lacoste bath robe, a nice jewelry box, a monogrammed blanket and money. Sev got a nice fleece jacket, a few Wii games, a weather radio and some gadget thingy (a Gerber something or another). We both got a NICE stainless steal grill, money, a table for our house in Hopkins (built by Santa himself and even displayed in photos by Vanna White, hehe), and a lovely digital photo frame!!

We are spoiled and so thankful!! Our family really made it feel like Christmas all the way out here on this sandy, hot, sunny island!!

Here are a few more pictures, enjoy!!

Our sweet baby Christmas tree with gifts and SANTA'S COOKIES!!!

Sev, myself and our cute stockings sent all the way from SC!!
Sev among our Christmas gifts :)
Me pondering what the gift I'm holding is :) (It was a cute picture frame!!)
Sevy and our AWESOME digital Picture frame from Santa Clause!!!

The boys rough housing after dinner (Sev, Rickey, Chad and Dink)

Apparently the newest "cool" thing to do is sit around and play Guitar Hero.
Mark and I (the "peace" sign is what the tourists ALWAYS do here in Hawaii...we have no idea why...but most of the tourists are from Japan...and Mark is also from Japan...so we always hold up the peace sign in pictures with him...guess its a "had to be there moment" but I didn't want you to wonder what in the world I'm doing, haha)
Dink, Chad, Makoto and Mel (everyone is in Chads room playing guitar hero)
Chady and Sevy...being....Chady and Sevy

Chad, SANTA(matt),Sevy and Makoto

My sweet friend Valerie and the apple pie she was so proud of :)
Mel and Mark (Soybean)
The gang sitting down to dinner
Rickey and his baby brother that flew out here for Christmas, Chad.




Val, Mel, Matt,Makoto,Chad and Sev


Me and Sev :)
Sev finally decorating the cookies instead of eating the icing!!
Sev and I using the cookie cutters :)
Cookies for Santa!!! (can you tell the ones sev decorated??hehehe)

I'll be home for Christmas...

IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS :)

So I just got off the phone with mom and she fussed because she said I never post pictures...so here are a few pictures....

WolfHound Army Ball 2007
Just a cute picture of sev leaving for work

Christmas Photos :)

We baked cookies for our Christmas Eve party with our friends and for Santa :)

He ate more icing than he decorated with!!

Christmas Eve with our friends.

UGH it is taking FOREVER to upload pictures...and it IS Christmas DAY...soooo forgive me if these are all that I'm going to post...I have more...but those will come when I have the time and patience to post them!!

!!!!!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I get a cup of coffee??

That or a nap would be nice.

I'm just taking a break from my hectic life for a minute. Sev is playing Wii Sports and I'm enjoying the wonderful smell of my baby Christmas tree...it amazes me how much aroma this little tree puts off!!

Sev and I had a bit of a hectic night and early morning...it's a bit of a lengthy story and quite frankly I don't know that I want to relive it right now, lol....so maybe I'll share that with you later.

Anyways, sev left for class this morning and I began to tear my apartment apart. You see...I have OCD. Really. I think I get it from my daddy...heaven knows my mom isn't this organized!! (hehe, nothin' but love mom!!).
The thing is...if you were to look at my table tops, counters and any flat surface in my house....you would see stacks upon stacks of....stuff....just stuff. Oh, its all neat and organized....it just looks like one big clutter.
BUT open my cabinets, closets and drawers...and you will see everything organized and half the time alphabetized!!
I seriously have anxiety attacks if my stuff isn't put up and packed the way I LIKE IT!!! So me moving across country is TOUGH!! It wears me out and takes a toll on my nerves, and seeing as how I've done it...oh 3 or 4 times...I'm just about to pop with excitement that this will be the last durn time!!
However...before this time can come to an end I must pack...yet again!!
My first problem is that I don't like other people touching my stuff. This is the first time we will have had actual movers come and pack us up!! I like to pack my own things. I have a system. I label and take pictures of everything. I keep a list of what I've packed and where it is and serial numbers beside the high priced items. Rubbermaid is my friend. Everything goes into nice neat Rubbermaid boxes. On top of the boxes I have a list of what is inside the box. I then put the list in a zip lock bag and tape the bag to the top of the box. OCD I tell ya!!
Well the movers wont let me pack my own things :( They want to pack it so if anything is broken they know whether or not it was already broken before it was packed...makes sense....but ohhhhh how will I survive not being in control?? Soooo even though this will make my life a bit busier...I've come up with a solution. I'm going to fit everything into my nice neat little boxes, take pictures, label and list everything...just not bubble wrap it. That way...when the movers come they can unpack everything, wrap it up, list it themselves and place it BACK into my Rubbermaid :) HA. Problem solved.
Nowwww I'm just rushing around trying to decide what I don't need here anymore and won't need in MT. Those items are going to be taken to our storage unit which will be packed and shipped Dec. 31st.
The stuff we're going to pack in our luggage will be packed and placed in our closet...most of this will be winter clothes for MT weather!!
The rest I will organize and prepare it to go into boxes a few days before the movers arrive at the apartment.
We live in a itty bitty one bedroom apartment...and we have TONS of STUFF!! I just don't get it...I don't understand how we accumulate so much!!
I've pretty much finished sorting through sev's army crap that has to stay here and the items I'm taking to the storage unit...now its a matter of packing.

My dad say's I'm always in an emergency and everything about me is drama...or something like that. Boy do I feel like he is right...sometimes I wonder how people spend their entire lives in the military....moving from here to there and back!! Hopefully my life will slowwwww down and get normal here shortly!! I'm exhausted!!

Okay...sev needs the computer to finish his midterm and I'm back to packing!!

Merry Christmas to ME!!! Which reminds me...I've got to plan a Christmas meal!! Yikes!! Does anyone know how to cook butternut squash? lol. (really though, I bought one b/c I hear they are good and have no idea how to cook one!!)

Beat to the Punch....

my dear cousin posted our good news!!!

Which is fine, I shouldn't have been slacking (sorry Haley :) )!! hehe.

Anyways, if you haven't read her post....Sev and I have good news!!!!


WE WILL BE BACK IN SC JANUARY 26 2008!!!!!!!!!! Yipeeeeeeeeee!!!

We are both soooo very excited!! We have really enjoyed our time in Hawaii it has been such a great experience for us...for so many reasons!! We both agree that we could NEVER live here forever, but how many people get the chance to live here on the governments dime for the years we did?? So I consider us pretty lucky :) ... well besides the fact that we paid for it with 2 longggg deployments.

I don't know where to start....hmmmmm....okay, first I will tell you about our move back home. Severyns mothers side of the family is from Montana. His grandfather (whom sev is named after) still lives on an over 800 acre ranch there. His sister Angie and our nephew Eddie also live there...not on the ranch but in the town of Billings. Sev's uncles also live there...anddd I believe a handful of cousins. Severyn hasn't been to the ranch in over 6 years...possibly alot longer, he can't remember. Anyways, Sev's grandpa fell very ill this past summer. They actually didn't expect him to live. Sev's mom flew out to MT to be with him and we actually told Severyn (while in Iraq) that his grandfather would probably be passing away very soon and to give him a call if at all possible. We were thrilled when his grandfather started to take a turn for the better!! I had never had the chance to meet his grandfather and we had discussed taking at trip out to MT...so when his grandpa started getting better we promised that while on our way home from Hawaii we would stop in MT, whatever the cost, to spend time with his grandpa.
So...last week severyn finally got his ETS orders and that cleared the way for us to begin getting everything else finished, ie. turning in gear, getting travel dates, packing, shipping household goods and our car, turning in our notice to the landlord, SHARING OUR EXCITING NEWS :) etc. etc. etc.
We left the ETS office and made our way to transportation...now if you know anything about the military you know that EVERYTHING is backwards and nothing EVER makes a lick of sense!! The joke in the Army is "If it makes sense the Army WONT do it!!" Anyways, we were fully prepared to hit a few road blocks during our preparations to exit the Army. We were aware when we entered the transportation office that we were only there to schedule an apt. for an actual time to come BACK and make an apt. for our HHG and Car to be picked up and shipped out. Along with making another apt. with travel to come back LATER and get our travel dates. (if you're lost don't worry, I'm still confused and this is my life!!...but to clarify there is a "transportation" office and a "travel" office both you have to wait forever to be seen at :) ).
Well....I guess lady luck was with us because they allowed us to be seen, SAME DAY!! (this nevveerrrrr happens in the Army it is ALWAYS "hurry up and Wait"). We came back to the office 1430 and scheduled dates for our HHG to be picked up. We have a storage unit from before Sev deployed...mainly filled with stuff we obviously don't need...because we've lived without it for over a year...but you know, as Americans we "need" our stuff. Anyways.........they actually allowed us to leave our stuff in storage and schedule the last day in December for them to pick that up and ship it home. That way we don't have to pay another months storage rent. Then they allowed us to schedule whatever time we wanted for our actual apartment stuff to be picked up.....so we scheduled the 17, that way we won't live without our stuff at all and we wont have to worry about finding a place to stay before we fly. Then they allowed us to pick a day for our car...seeing as how we have 2 vehicles back in SC we aren't in a hurry for this car to get there, so we are able to keep my escape here until the day we leave...therefore no rental car!! Then they allowed us to go to the travel office for our tickets home!!!!! This is were I knew our luck would run out...b/c we wanted to go home...butttt with a minor layover in MT. So the lady starts plucking away at her keyboard, "GSP is your final destination correct." ......"well uhmmmmm...technically yes, but uhm...can we have a layover??".........

and without even looking up she said "Sure as long as its in route, where would you like to layover?"
Well....MT isn't in route, but Salt Lake is....so long story short (okay not so short) but anyways:

Sev and I are now leaving Hawaii January 18. We will fly into Salt Lake where we will rent a car (with military discount and because we're on orders) for reasonably cheap. From there we will drive to Yellowstone and spend a night there. We will continue on to MT the following morning where we are so very fortunate enough to visit with sev's family until January 26th. We will then return to Salt Lake and the government will fly us on to SC. How exciting!! ....not to mention it gives me a GREAT excuse to go clothes shopping!! Hey you don't expect me to wear slippa's and tanks in MT do ya?? ;)


I realize this post is rather lengthy so I'll end it....but, I do have plans to post about my experience here in Hawaii before I end this Chapter in my life....so:

To be Continued.
lol

The oddest thing...

So we have a rule around our household...I'm sure many of you have the same one. This "rule" is mainly in place for Severyn. Why?? Because he is the one that has issues with storing random items in his pockets. The rule?? Well its simple really...its just "clean your pockets out BEFORE you put your clothes into the dirty clothes hamper." Easy right?? Wrong.
It is very common for me to find the following in the dryer after each load of laundry is complete: pens, pencils, pen tops, coins, dollar bills, buttons, little ear bud protector things he has to wear while at the shooting range, knives, paper clips, and even...and this one gets me every time...bubble gum!!!
This morning while I'm doing the laundry I pull the clean clothes out of the dryer and to my surprise there in the middle of my nice, warm, bundle of clean clothes is.........a tube of toothpaste......EXACTLY.....what, where and...well I know WHO.....but WHY does someone keep a TUBE of TOOTHPASTE in their POCKET???? Not even a travel size...nope, the full size.
When questioned about this he reacts as if it is perfectly normal to carry toothpaste in ones pocket. Although I may never understand my husband...I do have him to thank for a perfectly washed and fluffed on permanent press tube of toothpaste. I dare not ask where the toothbrush is!!

Bless his heart...as soon as he got Holiday leave from work he began winter term at school, and because he is such a hard worker (he would probably say b/c his wife kept pestering him to do so) he signed up for two classes this term. This requires him to go to school every week evening from 5-10 and every weekend morning from 8-1. While he does grumble about getting up early on the weekends and being bothered by homework during the day...he is making the best of the situation and really working hard at earning his degree. I'm really proud of him...and while he may leave odd things in his pockets....he truly is my hero. I'm really proud of him!!

Tomorrow is the day we're hoping to get orders in our hands and...drum role please......A DATE TO LEAVE THIS ISLAND!!! yipeeee!!!

I'll keep you updated :)

ps. we had a blast at the Wolfhound Army Ball this past Thursday and I'll post pictures later :)

What smells better than Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies??

.....mmmmmm yeah, I'm at a loss too :)

Sev has been asking me to bake cookies...and not my health nut, no sugar no fat, organic cookies. So today I broke down and mixed a batter of chocolate chip cookie dough. I will admit I used organic flour, shhhh.
So they are baking in the oven and sev is waiting with his glass of milk.

I'm patiently waiting to find out if my best friend, Autumn, will be gracing me with her presence here in Hawaii. We were fortunate enough to spend Christmas together a couple of years ago. I didn't really know my way around island then and was just getting settled into my apartment during her visit so she didn't really get to have the whole island experience...so I hope she will be able to make a second trip out here.

Well...my exciting news is that Sev will officially have ETS (the date he will exit the Army) orders in his hand this Monday!!!!! This is such and exciting and scary time for us!! We're very ready to end this chapter of our life and begin a new one...yet its never easy to close one chapter without being a bit nervous. Once he gets his orders he will make an appointment with travel and transportation and then we will be given the date that our HHG and POV will be shipped out...they will then place us in lodging for a few days before we ourselves take flight into our next chapter :)
Today was sevs "last" day of work. He signs out tomorrow on leave and then when he signs back in mid January he will use the remainder of his time in the Army clearing (turning in his gear, getting signed out of everything, taking classes and doing everything required of him to entire into the civilian world). Of course the lovely United States Army couldn't allow him to leave without a reminder of what its like to be in the Army...so tonight he is actually assigned CQ...basically he will leave me tonight and pull guard until 9am....I KNOW its only for one night and its our last...but this is the first night I will have spent without him since he has been back from Iraq....its bringing back old feelings :( I'm so thankful we're almost Army free!!!! Oh and to top it off...sevs unit just found out they will be REDEPLOYING...get this....NEXT OCTOBER!!!! That's right....if sev weren't getting out he would be scheduled to leave for 2 weeks in Feb. for training on the Big Island (the army calls it PTA). Then two months later he would leave for a month and a half for training in Cali (Called NTC)...then in October he would be leaving me again. It breaks my heart for the families who will be enduring their THIRD over a year deployment....Thank you Lord for allowing us to escape this one!!


Well....Sev's cookies are done and need to be packaged for him to take with him on his last night of guard :( Guess its movie night for me.....only thing missing is my cuddle buddy Ali to keep me company.

I'll keep you all updated on sevs orders :)

What a way to spend a day...

I spent yesterday shopping!! Two friends and I spent the afternoon walking from shop to shop, store to store, and mall to mall. I'm 3/4 of the way done with Christmas shopping :) We were also on a mission to find accessories for our outfits for the Army ball next Thursday. I found the cutest shoes from Aldo and the best part was they were marked 50% off and then I got to take another 50% off of that!! I love sweet deals!! We left Ala Moana Mall around 5pm and picked our husbands up for dinner.

I have found the wonderful PF Changs!! YUMMMYYYYY!! We got seated right away and shared the lettuce wraps while we decided what we wanted for dinner. I had the lemon chicken and it was ohhh sooo yummy!! We will def. visit this restaurant again!!

After dinner the majority of our group wanted to hop on over to Senor Frogs for after dinner drinks. We enjoyed each others company and even sported some really funny balloon hats one of the waiters created for us. We got home fairly early since the boys had work today and sev and I spent the rest of the time before bed discussing our future. That's always a fun topic.

On another note...my mother has officially turned into my grandmother!! Yep. I received a letter in the mail yesterday that included a newspaper clipping WITH highlighted paragraphs!!! I must admit the clipping was pretty interesting and I could see how my mom thought of me when she was reading it...but actually sending it to me was my grandmother made over!!

Well, Sev just text messaged me and said he was on his way home and he wanted a date night, yipeee. I live for date nights :) hmmmm wonder where we'll go. He said my choice...I said "Shopping?"...I don't think he liked that idea, lol. Oh well...I'm exited to start another weekend with my husband :)

Happy Friday!!

O' Christmas Tree...

O' Christmas Treeeeeeeee, I have the Sweetest Daddyyyyy :-)

Our 2007 Ornament
Decorations on the Wine Bar
The most adorable real mini tree ever!!
A real live, fresh from Maine, Christmas Tree!!





It's around 85 degrees here. Some may say that's just GREAT. While others...Sev and Myself...would give ANYTHING for some snow, a blanket, fireplace and cup of hot chocolate!!!





The weather just doesn't make for a very good Christmas feeling. That on top of being so far from family made Sev and I decide we were going to treat Christmas as any other day and bypass decorations and wrapped Christmas gifts all together.

Well Santa just wouldn't stand for that!!
My diddy called me a few weeks ago and told me to keep an eye out for a package. I asked him if I needed to save it for Christmas and he said "No open right away!!" Boy was I confused!!
So I kept my eyes peeled and made a daily routine of checking the mail box. A few days ago...my package arrived!! It was from LL Bean...no surprise there...but wait a minute...what is that smell??
I loaded the box and myself into the elevator and made my way up to the 23rd floor. I was standing beside a few other Lele Pono (our apartment) residents and we all kept sniffing the air...I thought, "my word somebody has a Fresh Christmas tree HERE on island!!"
I get off the elevator and make my way inside...Sev joined me in the kitchen and we began tearing into our box!! The top was off and....WHAM the house filled with the smell of Christmas!!!

That's right...my dad...I mean, SANTA had sent me a Christmas tree!!!! A Christmas tree full of fragrance and all the tree trimmings!! He said it wasn't Christmas without a tree!!
Now don't I have the sweetest Dad!! I'm pretty lucky!

So of course we couldn't let our little tree feel like the only lonely Christmas decoration...so I placed a bit of garland and a single ornament on my fake palm tree. Sev decided we needed a strand of lights on our Lani...so the next day we strung a strand of lights on the railing.


~~~~It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!
Here in Ha Wa iiiii
Sev and I don't feel left out and I don't have to pout
With our Little Christmas Treeeee~~~~