Weekends aren't for resting.

At least, that is what I am currently experiencing.
I worked the last two weekends and went to Columbus this weekend. I am so glad that I was able to go see my parents. I definitely don't see them enough and I am thrilled that I was able to spend some time with them. I got to eat at some of my favorite Columbus places, see some of my favorite people (Mom! Dad! Jess!), and sleep in on Saturday for a little while. So maybe that counts as resting and seeing the people you care the most about is better than relaxing anyway.


A long week ahead this week. We've officially entered my busiest/most stressful season. Between big events that my team is responsible for, helping with big events that other teams are responsible for, writing annual plans for our next fiscal year, reporting out for the current fiscal year, and then creating a budget based on something that has never existed before - basically don't expect me to blog again until the end of July. :) Send all of your good thoughts my way.

i've arrived.

I got to Columbus about 5 yesterday after having left Chattanooga about 1:30. Not bad drive, traffic wasn't even that bad, but I did hit a few pretty nasty storms south of Atlanta - an especially bad one just as I was getting into Columbus. Gwen was nervous but we arrived safe and sound. No big plans today - hope to get to see my bff tonight if she gets back into town in time. I am going to make PW's Cinnamon Rolls today and hope to give most of them away to friends and family that I will see this week. But of course, keep just enough to ruin my diet. :)

Headed to north GA tomorrow with mom and the cousins to go to a museum. I get taken a lot of cool places with my mom - she makes sure that I am somewhat cultured. Chad is fine - a bit tired but hoping for an afternoon off in the near future (tomorrow maybe??) to eat a real dinner and head to the beach.  More later...

Solider's Marathon

While it is highly tempting to bore you with pictures of every time we saw Chad during his race, I will just spare you a bit and show you the finish line.

Way to go dude...

4 hours and 18 minutes

+

26.2 miles

=

one amazing fella!

Check this one out...mom is there on the left hand side of the screen...cheering her heart out. Oh how I love her!

This was the neat finish line...they ran through all the flags of the countries where American soliders have served overseas at the Infantry Museum.

We arrived home Sunday night and as we drove past our house I was like....
ack! What is that on our windows?!?
Well, our amazingly awesome neighbors had done a little research about Chad's race, what place he finished in, what his time was, etc. and made a huge banner and hung it on the front of our house.
I am sure Chad was horribly embarrassed but I think it was wonderful...


That banner is just an odd - yet sweet - reminder that we made the right decision when we bought this house and moved down here. God has provided us with such a cool support system, fabulous neighbors, and begun to create some really wonderful relationships through our small life community. From a couple hours of beer brewing in the back yard last weekend (hi S and B!) to a just-finished 2 hours of laughing and chatting at the local pizza pit (Hi P family!) - we have been blessed with some great folks on our street!
ps. We had a long discusion about how that is not how you spell Congratulations but hey, it is the thought that counts!

no help.

You get a real post this time, with no help writing it, or adding to it (whether in numbers or in words.)
In all honesty, Chad is gone for the evening, spending some time with friends here in town and I am hoping for a visit with my best friend before she has to have other engagements for the evening so we are apart for a while tonight. After having a food hangover for the day, I sat down a little while ago to admire the loot but more to be thankful for all our blessings. All my family together in one house (even if just for one night!), laughter, good food, hanging out, and an early morning of blessing sharing. My sister and F had to leave early this afternoon to go spend some time with F's family and Chad and I get our second round of Christmas Sunday some time. We will stay in Columbus until tomorrow afternoon atleast but are thinking about making our trip back home tomorrow night - there might be someone sleeping in our bed though...we need to see if we should extend our stay here until Sunday. You know how you never sleep as good when you aren't in your own bed so though we love being here with my family (our family!), nothing is as good as being back in our house.
Chad and I both got more gifts than we needed or deserved...his family has a tradition of "making a list" so people get you things you actually want or need but my family is all about surprises. Both ways are fun - I know most of the things I am getting from his family but they are things I asked for so I am super excited. And the things we got from my family were all pretty much surprises so that is always fun too...my mom got me something super cool that I mentioned here a really long time ago...if you remember this post I talked about wanting this awesome wall decor thing and I had since completely forgotten about it (with the exception of the image being saved on my desktop for me to refer to about once a week when I dream of having a home of our own). Well, I got that for Christmas from my mom. My sister suggested it and mom and dad got it for us. I am so super excited but I am not going to put it on the wall until we have a place of our own. Now all we need is a house with empty walls!!
Blessings pouring out and more to come....Merry Christmas!