Blogging makes me cry...

I LOVE fireworks. They have always elicited some sort of emotional response from me (much like vacuuming) and so I was excited about possibly being able to see them from our house. We were hoping we could sit in the driveway and see, but alas, the tall trees were indeed too tall. So we loaded up the puppy and drove down the road and parked in a small church parking lot and watched about 15 minutes of the show. During the pageant of patriotic songs, one lyrical passage surprisingly caught me off guard.

“From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.”

I have heard this song, sung this song, read this song, etc…plenty of times, but suddenly I got choked up and tears stung my eyes. “My home sweet home.”

When I was around 9 or so, my mom and I packed up and moved out of Amarillo (read: Armpit of Texas) and moved to Liberal, Kansas (read: not much better). It started a wonderful journey of new schools, new faces, new homes – it was all very exciting. I loved the randomness and getting a change of scenery every couple of years. It was a great way to pull me out of my awkwardly shy shell and teach me how to make new friends and cherish old ones. It also introduced me to many different types of people – and taught me to get along with pretty much anyone. When the opportunity to move to Singapore came up, I was more than thrilled to pursue it. Never mind that I was dating this amazing man (who would later change my life completely), I had this awesome job, and I loved where I was living – I needed the ADVENTURE! The excitement of being completely submersed in a wholly DIFFERENT culture appealed to me more than putting down roots and cultivating the relationships I had formed. I wanted to see the other side of the world and find myself in a confusing mess of novelties. I never knew how to be friends with anyone longer than a few years anyway – what was a couple years in Singapore?

Well you all know how that ended.

A year ago this week, I jumped on a plane with my kitty in tow – and made the journey back HOME. It was unbelievably hard to walk away from my parents – who stood on the other side of the glass and watched me walk towards the plane, but I knew Singapore wasn’t home. This year has solidified that concept of HOME for me – and I didn’t realize it until I was weeping over America the Beautiful, holding my husband’s hand, with our puppy in my lap. How much more of a HOME can you build? (And I will not hesitate to cause bodily harm to the first person to say anything about kids) The only thing missing is the nearness of my mom and dad. I need them near me so badly – and hopefully that will be happening soon. But I digress….the fact is…the pictures that we hung on the walls of our house are going to hang there for a long time. I can throw away my moving boxes and put away the boxing tape….permanently, not just for a year or so. That is pretty much unfathomable to me right now. But I’m HOME. And I know it’s HOME. It’s definitely a great feeling.

There’s another song that I am reminded of. A dear friend introduced me to this song, telling me that she thinks of me when she hears it. I’m not sure she knew then what an amazing compliment that was for me then; I’m hoping she does now. Here are a few verses:

My friends from high school

Married their high school boyfriends

Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes

Where their parents live

But I, I could never follow

No I, I could never follow…

I've been a long time gone now

Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down

But I've always found my way somehow

By taking the long way

Taking the long way around

Taking the long way

Taking the long way around

I met the queen of whatever

Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies

Moved with the shakers

Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to

…

But I, I could never follow

No I, I could never follow

Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else

Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down

If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Taking the long way

Taking the long way around

Taking the long way

Taking the long way around – Dixie Chicks

I have never been a fan of the trail that’s already been blazed – I want to know what’s down the other way that no one else has seen. And though I’ve never drank with the Irish or smoked with the hippies, I think this song totally reflects that. I have never been into what everyone else has been into – or moved on their time tables. I wanted to always do things my way, with my twist on everything. I resisted the idea of marriage and settling down for that very reason. I didn’t want to do it like everyone else. I didn’t want to have a big wedding with a white princess dress just because that’s what everyone else did. (I’m so not the princess dress type anyway) I didn’t want to settle down and have kids right away like everyone else. That always seemed boring to me and like a huge chain around my ankles that brought out my inner claustrophobic. I already knew what that life looked like, and it didn’t appeal to me. Airplanes and luggage, working in high rises and carrying briefcases appealed to me. This last year has taught me that I can still have that life AND settle down with a family.

So this week I’m severely reflective and perhaps a bit emotional. There were so many mixed emotions with my move back to the states last year and it seems like they have all surfaced again. Especially since we turned in our keys to our first apartment yesterday. It was surprisingly kinda sad to walk away from that little apartment…even though we have this beautiful house to live in now.

With a new puppy.

And the Princess Anabelle. Oh – and Draino the fish.

What a difference a year makes! (And yet as I pop open another can, my love and passion for Diet Dr. Pepper remains strong and unchanged.)

And here we go – starting out another new chapter with new adventures ahead of us, new challenges, obstacles, blessings, miracles, changes, maybe a few bumps and bruises, but when we look behind us we will see that we have blazed a new trail together; one that no one else has gone down except for us. And hopefully a new year with BOTH sets of parents close enough for a weekend visit.



I encourage you to try something new – learn something new, step out of your routine – try everything with hope that it becomes a new passion. You never know who you can become when you inspire new habits and interests – and you never know what you are missing out on by doing everything just because everyone else does. Evolve into something new, thrive in a new environment – adapt to something you’ve been resisting – live in a whole new world...

One year ago today....

http://malaysian-invasion.blogspot.com/2008/05/he-went-to-jared.html

What a year of exciting changes and opportunities!

I'll blog more when I get a chance.....hopefully!

Newest Member of the Family

He's SO small!

Preview of his cute little smile.

Aunt Stephanie

Debbie finally gets to hold her first grandchild.

This puppy dog has some major adjustments coming his way - he's no longer the "only child"!

I've never held one this small!

Born April 07, 2009

Everett Province

6 lbs, 3 oz. 19 inches long

New Paint and Carpet!

This is how we will keep the hardwood floors clean.

The room formerlly known as "The Green Room" - it was neon green with pink and orange polka dots

A little less intimidating than green, don't you think?

It will now be our office.

This is the room formerlly known as "Lola's Room" - who could forget that bright pink? (I will post pictures of what they used to look like if I get a chance) It used to be bright pink with "Lola" painted in brown on the main wall.

It will now be our guest room. The painter kept calling this "Your mom's room". haha He knows the truth.

Our sexy new fridge and vent hood. The old vent hood had killed a colony of some sort of flying insect and I couldn't bare the thought of cooking under it - so we bought a new one.

Alas - the master bedroom - the main project with faux finishing and new carpet! The result was better than expected!

"Milk Paint" carpet from Empire Today

The base paint is called "Golden Promise"

This "D" was left by the previous owners along with a sweet welcoming letter. I immediately started crying and the letter was awesome. I came home and emailed the realtor to get the previous owner's email to thank them and the next day I had an email from the previous owner. We are new friends. Yay.

Anabelle is especially concerned about the moving process.

On becoming a statistic....

Sunday, February 22, I had a massive attack. The pain was similar to the pain my mom and aunt diagnosed as food poisoning over Thanksgiving, but I knew it was not the case. It was sharper, stronger, and definitely more focused than then.

Flash forward 2 hours, I'm in the ER in agonizing pain, and Blayne is doing his best to A) stay awake and B) put up with me being a big baby. I would not have made it through it all without him, that's for sure.

Flash forward a few more hours and I have surgery to have my gall bladder removed.

And, in LOST fashion, flash forward a week and I'm getting laid off. My last day is to be ONE WEEK before we close on our house.

Way to take the joy out of buying a house, huh?

I was angry. I was sad. I completely lost faith in corporate America. Everyone knew that we were buying a house - and everyone knew that we were closing in March. But yet, everyone came to the consensus that my last day should be a week before then. Imagine my disappointment. My frustration. My anger that they would put us at risk of losing the loan without a second thought.

But God is faithful. We are still going to be able to get the house regardless of my employment, and I believe with everything in me that I will have a job soon. The market is tight, competition is high, but I know that something will come along. It's a scary time to be job hunting - especially when nothing is promised to you. I suppose I should count myself lucky that I had any warning at all. Their plan was to just let me go on the day I had surgery.

So it turns out...my gall bladder going crazy got me one more month's employment/salary.

God is good and He is never late.

In the name of Passion and Randomness

I haven't blogged in forever.

That's partly because I'm lazy, partly because I've been busy....but I blame the majority on Wii Tennis. Blayne and I are hopelessly addicted to attaining "Pro" status - and it's surprisingly harder than you'd think. We have both gone through days with sore shoulders and arms from swinging with all our might. It's exhausting. We have even gotten to the point where we are playing the same two computer generated "Mii's" over and over because there is no one better to play, I guess? Eliza and Sarah do put up a fight, that's for sure. Blayne is also getting really good at bowling sitting down.


We've also been busy with our latest project: buying a house. We started TALKING about all this around the first week of February, and we found and put a contract on a house on Valentine's Day. That was a swift kick of God's grace. So far everything is moving along swimmingly and we are really enjoying the idea of being homeowners. We attended the inspection last Wednesday and the biggest complaint I could find was that "Lola" is painted in sprawling, girly handwriting in one of the little girl's rooms. So we either need to repaint, or rename our cat "Lola." I'm thinking the former won't go over well with The Princess.


I want to quit my job and work at an orphanage. Or an animal rescue organization.


My dear friend Michelle and I have been on weight watchers since around the beginning of the year and I think we're doing very well. Between the two of us we have lost almost 20 lbs together! It's sorta like Biggest Loser without the cameras, Bob or Jillian....or the big scale...or the last chance workout...so really it's not like The Biggest Loser at all. But we encourage each other and gripe to each other - and I think of Michelle when the Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Pop Tarts in the vending machine are calling my name. What Would Michelle Do? "Michelle would say, 'Screw you Pop Tarts! I'm gonna go do Tae Bo!'" So I ruminate on that thought and come sit back down at my desk and stare at the fluorescent lights.


My cousins' first child is due in about a month and I'm scared for them - they will do great, I'm sure, just the thought of parenthood scares me to death, and so I assume everyone else is scared of it too. Jeremy is "The Car Guy" as all my friends refer to him as - and I'm pretty sure little Everett is going to come out saying, "Vroom Vroom."


My parents are in The Philippines right now. My step dad's birthday was last week. I want to go to The Philippines for a "weekend trip" for my birthday. But I don't want to live in Singapore to have to do that. Honey, did you buy that lottery ticket on the way home? My dreams are too ambitious for my paycheck.


My friend Trish wants to open a kennel - I want to help her.


I kinda feel like Andy Rooney right now. Do you hear the "tick" of the 60 Minutes clock?


I guess that ends my bout of randomness. Inspiration comes in the smallest forms these days, and today it was my little sister telling me she needs a new hobby - so I decided to blog. Because I miss it. It's like the relative that I only see once a year that I wish I made more time for.


Love to all.

One year later

A year ago this morning - my parents and I boarded a plane that would eventually take us to Singapore. It was the wildest, craziest adventure of my life, and I can't believe it's been a whole year since we took that step. I saw some things I never would have been able to, and grew into a completely different person in a few short months.

It kinda makes me nostalgic and sad at the same time. I am ready for my parents to come home. I miss them dearly - and sometimes a static-filled phone call or short email just isn't enough. I believe they are working on an exit plan, and they will be leaving the country sooner than expected - where they will go, though, I don't know. I DO know that it will take several months just to decide that and then another several months to make it happen. Either way, I'm ready to have them closer.

Feeling kinda uninspired lately, so I haven't been writing much. Life is too busy - I can say I miss that about Singapore. Inspiration was everywhere - flowers and trees - raw nature. But I was also unemployed, so that made a big difference. haha

Happy one year anniversary Mom and Jack. I hope that what lies in your future is better than what's in your immediate past - soak up the adventure so there's no room for the bad stuff!! And COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh...and...

Chi is still kickin'.....er....swimmin'. :)

Mushiness and Pictures

Wow. It has been awhile since I last blogged. I suppose life has taken over, and we are finding our routine. I never thought I'd be SO happy to have a routine. Everyone keeps asking, "How is married life?" I was thinking about this the other day. It's life - it's everything I NEVER expected it to be. I always viewed marriage as boring, predictable...and as something that would only weigh me down. If you were to glance at my journals, the same sentiment is repeated over and over: I never want to slow down, so I'll never see myself getting married. There were too many things I wanted to do - I wanted to travel, I wanted to live life on my own - I wanted to be spontaneous. Marriage, in my eyes, was the death of all those dreams and desires. One theme seems recurring the last few weeks: I am SO blessed and SO lucky to have found Blayne. He is everything I never thought I'd find, and not only does he NOT quash my dreams - he inspires them. Who would have thought I would still be able to live a very exciting life AND be married? To such an amazing person who complements me in every way. We are having so much fun and learning so much - about life and each other. I really couldn't have imagined it better any other way - even if I WERE one of those girls that had dreamt of marriage all my life. I never was one of those girls. I dreamt of Paris and Italy and Grad School and working in a high rise in the middle of a city. Marriage never fit into those plans. I couldn't be happier that God not only changed my heart, but brought me such an amazing person to share my life with.

Towards the end of November, I was fortunate enough to have a whole week to spend with my mom - as she came to visit/work. I cannot express how much I NEEDED a visit with her. I'm a momma's girl - and I don't lie - when I get upset all I want is my mommy. This was easier when she lived in Houston - it was a 3 hour drive. Now it's a whole new ballgame. So being able to spend Thanksgiving with her and a whole week was a gift I couldn't have asked for.

The last few months, she had been planning a reception for me and Blayne - a sort of ceremonial coming together of the families. Blayne's mom helped and together with the help of a banquet coordinator at Maggiano's, we were able to have this amazing celebration of our marriage. It could not have gone ANY better (only if Jack had been able to come). The joy was overwhelming - as I was able to watch my family meet his family - and to see them all "click" in ways I knew they would. Here are a few pictures courtesy of Blayne's Aunt Tricia.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our reception. Everyone did something that made it an extremely special day. Special thanks to "The Moms" who planned and decorated and made it all come together magically. And just for everyone showing up - that's what made it work - and I was so thankful to see that pretty much everyone we invited was able to come.

This was a sign at the front - I completely missed it....I'm so glad someone caught a picture of it!

Surprise! We got a cake! Thanks Mom! It was beautiful! And look at the gorgeous flowers a la Blayne's mom!! Everything came together so wonderfully - it was just the perfect day!

"How do we do this? I don't know what to do. Why don't we have plates....or forks? We just pick it up?"

These are the things running through my head while we "cutting the cake".

Thanks for encouraging Blayne to shove the cake in my face JEREMY. AFTER we had already agreed NOT TO!

Yep. I'm standing ON a chair in THREE INCH heels and not much taller.

And lastly, here is a picture from my company Christmas party.

Life is good. God is good.

Feeshy Update

So - Chi, aptly renamed "Draino" by Blayne, has managed to survive the unthinkable. He is enjoying his new home - a LARGER vase with easier access - and has taken on surfing. It's so odd. He will swim around the bowl and get faster and faster until he kinda skids on the top of the water - splashing water all over the place. Mom said he thinks he had to learn to do something really cool or I was going to put him back down the drain.

Nevertheless, he is back to eating his 4 pellets a day and seems to be fine. He lost some more injured fins (is this what they're called?) so I managed to SAFELY give him another bath.

Oh the adventures we have.

This weekend I get to go to OKC to see Jack! I'm so excited and I can't wait to see him. THEN - in November, Mom is going to be here for a whole week. I cannot wait!

In the meantime, I'd better get back to work. Yay accounting.

A Bad Day to be a Fish

So. One day soon after I had first moved back from Singapore, Blayne brought home the most beautiful daisies in the most beautiful vase. Once the daisies died, I replaced life in the vase by buying a Betta. He is so beautiful - his name is Chi (aka Walt, aka Feeesh, aka Jin - and basically aka whatever else came up in LOST). Anyway he has these long flowing fins that are red and green and blue - and he's the happiest fish ever. At least until.....I tried to give him a bath.

This has been a challenge since I got him because the vase is so narrow that I can't just put a glass in there and pull him out like I normally would. So I have to find something to "fish" him out to put him in an alternative bowl to clean out his vase. PLUS - there are rocks on the bottom of the vase, so pouring him out is not an option.

"Just use a slotted spoon."

This was Blayne's suggesting - a pretty good suggestion, except that he forgot to suggest that A)I use my brain and B) I put the drain cover over the garbage disposal.

Yeah.

So I put fresh water in a glass and I'm trying to get Chi to not swim away from the spoon or through the slots in the spoon (this should have been my first red flag) and I finally get him and lift him out of the vase and start moving him s....llll....oooo...www...llll...yyy to the glass of clean water....and then things happened in fast forward. Next thing I know, I have a fish in the garbage disposal and an empty vase. I panicked. I just started crying immediately and I had no idea what to do. I couldn't see him or feel him in there - so I called Blayne freaking out. He was on his way home so I just left the water running in case Chi was still in there. Poor little guy. I still get ill thinking about his moments of terror.

So at this point I'm talking to my Mom who is trying to console me while I keep looking down the drain and crying. It was a pitiful sight, I'm sure - I'm crying and shaking and basically just completely freaking out.

So Blayne comes home, reaches into the garbage disposal and pulls out a fish and puts him in his dirty vase.

I couldn't believe it. At least 15 minutes had passed and that poor fish was thrashing around in the garbage disposal and he LIVED! His long flowing fins are a little shorter, but he seems to be OK. At first he just kinda floated in his vase, but we gave him clean water and put some medicated drops in there and he seems to be OK. He's not swimming sideways anymore, so that's a good sign. He hasn't started eating yet, but I'm hopeful.

My poor fish. Even my kitty wouldn't look at me afterwards. She knew.

Mom had a good point though....at least she won't fit down the drain.

A little humor in a grief strick time

Some of the non-carnage pictures from the Houston area

Just sittin' in the park.....just another day....

Maybe everything should have been tied to this tree?

Honeymoon Pics

I didn't get many pictures in The Bahamas because it rained at least once everyday - and I didn't want my camera to get wet. It was too windy/rainy to get out on any boats to go snorkeling or parasailing, but we still had an amazing time - we both came back sunburned and refreshed. I'm ready to go back!!

A Most Beautiful Moment...

First Kiss as Man and Wife

Happy Birthdays and Expectant Moments

Last weekend I celebrated my 22(!) birthday. Yay. OK so I'm a liar, I'm a year or two older....but it was awesome. I was so blessed to be able to spend my birthday with family - mine and Blayne's, but sad to not be able to spend any time with Mom and Jack. They were here in spirit though.

So Sunday was my birthday, and my cousin Stephanie's is today. Happy Birthday love. She has always been more of a big sister than a cousin - she is 5 years older than me, but acts like she's about 5. haha Just kidding. Stephanie has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. She can love anyone regardless of their lot in life and never judges anyone. She loves kids and is just an awesome person. For as long as I can remember, Stephanie and I have had to share birthday parties. I never minded much, because it usually meant older guys, but she HATED it. She hated having to share her birthday with me and all my little immature friends. BUT - Sunday we were able to share a birthday celebration together again and it was awesome - I think that she enjoyed it. ;)

So we are told by my cousin Jeremy (Stephanie's younger brother) that we are going to get our birthday present together. So we are instructed to turn around and Jeremy says, "OK it's on the table." And my uncle says, "The cake is on the table." I was like - "WHAT?! Our present is a CAKE?" I turn around and the cake says, "Happy Birthday Aunt Stephanie and Aunt Abby." The tears immediately started - and I turned around and asked Jeremy, "Are you serious? Really!?!??! Are you serious?!?!? Really!??!?!"

Jeremy and Cristi I am so happy for you and for this new life that God is creating. I pray that He will watch over you both and the little baby and keep you all happy, healthy and safe.

And Khim - I will pray that little Riley decides to pop out soon. I know you are waiting not-so patiently.

Yay for family. Ours is finally growing and not shrinking.

Oh yeah...and 2 more days until I become A.D.D. !! :)

Long time no talk!!!!

It's been so long since I've logged into this that I almost forgot my login information.

Things have been absolutely crazy since I got back. Not a day has gone by that I haven't felt the impact of Singapore and everyday I realize what a blessing it was that I was able to have that experience. I feel like I'm more open minded about people and just that whole "where have you been?" intrigue has taken over. I want to talk to everyone about their adventures and hear about their lives. It's hard because everyone is pretty quiet at my new job (!!) - but I definitely have a different attitude towards people in general. The little things that used to drive me nuts are just that - little things - except they don't matter anymore.

So - I started my new job last week - it's awesome. It's definitely going to give me room to grow which I'm really excited about. I have learned more in the last two weeks about accounting - stuff I thought I had forgotten. It's nice to actually get INTO it and not be so focused like I was at my last job. Comparing jobs is like comparing boyfriends - never a good idea, but as jobs go, this one is going to definitely be awesome.

Today Blayne and I will go get our marriage license...then in less than two weeks it will be signed and we will be official. I seriously have no words - this whole journey has been amazing - another thing I'm reminded of everyday.

Monday I have to take Anabelle to the Kitty Dentist. This pricey little trip will hopefully cure her of her cat box breath. It's sad to have such a cuddly lap kitty that has such horrible breathe. I feel so bad for her - I might cry when I drop her off at the vet, but hopefully they will get the bad teeth out and she won't have the gingivitis anymore.

I miss my parents. To avoid crying at work I'll leave it at that.

I can't think of anything else that is just dying to be posted. Pictures. I know - I've been horrible about that. Once I get my car all cleaned up again, I'll take pictures - or you can just look it up online - it looks just like that, I'm sure. It's an '08 Altima Coupe - it's awesome and probably my favorite car ever. Weeelll...I sure did miss the convertible the other day when it was 75 on my way to work. That was always the best way to start a day....one day I'll have another one.

K...that's all.

I'm home!!

I've been here officially for a week and have had about - 5 hours to myself. It's been nothing but crazy since I got back, but things are slowly getting back into some semblence of order. I had a job interview yesterday that didn't go so well - so I'm holding out for something in a more secure field (it was with a HOME BUILDER of all things!). I'll post more as time permits - I got a new car that I'm dying to show off!!!! I'll get pictures tomorrow after the dealership details it! Meanwhile - help me come up with a new name for a new blog for a new chapter in my new life!!!!!!!!! :)