The Johnson's Journey

Almost week 11!

2009-07-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

So I am coming up on Week 11 of my pregnancy and the sickness is getting worse. I thought towards the end of the first trimester it would get better but that is not the case for me. About a week ago I started getting sick more regularly in the mornings, the queasy feeling stays until about 10:00am, and then I am usually fine the rest of the day. I still think I have had it pretty good so far according to stories I have heard from other mothers! I thank God that I am healthy enough to carry this baby and I pray that it takes whatever it needs from me. I can handle the occasional sickness.

So I have been cramping the past couple of days so I called the doctor on Monday. They fit me in yesterday to check everything out. After a few tests and samples they found out that it is just an infection that is very common with pregnancy. The best part was since I was already in the office my doctor went ahead and did an ultrasound to check on the baby. I got to see the little peanut! He was all curled up and she was poking at him and I guess it woke him up. I have an ultrasound picture of him all curled up and then I have one where his legs and arms are all stretched out. He stuck his legs straight up in the air but he was waving his little arms around. It was so wonderful to see God's little creation in there just as content as ever!

I know I keep referring to the baby as a "he" but I think I do that out of habit since we have had so many boys born lately. Plus I just can't bear to call our baby "it."

Baby Johnson

2009-07-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

So- I am sure all the bloggers out there don't like me because I am now officially the world's worst blogger. It has been over 2 months since my last post.

In case you don't know- Derrick and I are expecting our first baby. Little Baby Johnson is expected to be here on February 11, 2010. We went for our first ultrasound last Wednesday and the doctor said everything looked great and the heart beat was strong and healthy. We are very excited about this next journey in our lives. God has given us 4 wonderful years of marriage and time with each other and now he is adding a child to our family. We already couldn't love this baby any more.

Now that I am pregnant and have something exciting to blog about maybe I will be better at this. I will keep everyone updated with the progress and status of the baby and how fast he or she is growing!

Busy life!

2009-05-02T07:32:00.001-07:00

Ok- I am not so good at posting anymore. It seems as though I have been so busy that I tend to forget to get on here and post any updates. Here are a few pictures on what has been going on!

Last weekend we went back to TN for Chariti Law's wedding. We were also able to catch one of Allison's soccer games.
This is Allison in her uniform during her 6 minute period of play

Me and Allison after her game

Allison at Mark and Chariti's wedding. She said he is getting to be a pro at this wedding thing.

Mark and Chariti leaving the wedding ceremony

Jackson Taylor Robertson

2008-12-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

He is finally here!!!

Jackson Taylor Robertson was born on 12/22/08 at 6:21pm. He weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. He took his time coming out but he is here now! Rachel is doing great. Allison is so excited to have a baby brother. I am afraid she is in for a rude awakening when she can't push him around in her baby stroller or change his clothes and diapers a million times like she does her baby dolls!

Allison was at the hospital all day yesterday waiting for Jackson and she learned a lot. When my dad went up to visit she gave him the tour of the room and told him what everything was. I am sure she will have some wonderful (and detailed) stories for her kindergarten class next year! Allison was able to help give Jackson his first bath and even helped change a diaper. She hasn't asked about the "boy parts" but she doesn't like the umbilical cord. She doesn't know what to think of it I guess.

Here are some pictures of my first nephew!!!

Jackson Taylor Robertson

The whole Robertson Family!

Mom, Jackson, and Big Sister

Dad & Big sister holding Jackson

Jackson and Grandmomma

Jackson and Granddaddy

Allison washing Jackson's hair

Allison helping with Jackson's first bath

Allison checking his heartbeat

He is beautiful and I can't wait to see him! We are leaving tonight to head to TN for Christmas. I will get plenty of time with Allison and Jackson! I am going to be the best aunt ever!!!!

Christmas in our new house!

2008-12-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

This is our first Christmas in our new house. Derrick and I have had a great time decorating and trying to find a place for everything. We have a lot more room in this house than we did in our house in TN.

This is our first year to go and cut our Christmas tree down ourselves. We went to a tree farm with mom and dad the weekend after Thanksgiving. We found the perfect tree. We took it home and it took us a few days to decorate it. It looks beautiful now! We have found that a "northern" tradition is to not have any presents under the tree and Santa brings them all on Christmas Eve. So our neighbors have all been over to our house and all the kids have questioned why we have presents under the tree. We have had to explain to them that since we don't have little kids at our house, Santa doesn't come so we buy all the presents for other people. They seem a little confused but shake their head and said "oh, ok!" We have also been asked if those are real presents! What do they mean by that?? Do people put fake presents under their tree??? It is such a learning experience. You would think we live in a different country sometimes!

Well, next week we are heading back to TN for Christmas. I can't wait to get back and see all the family. Rachel should have Jackson by the time I get home so I am excited to meet him!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
This is our first tree in Ohio!

This was the picture we used for our Christmas cards this year

New ornament! Makes me think of Ohio and all the snow we get

Favorite new ornament!

New ornament from our recent trip to Gatlinburg

Derrick and I- we also debated about using this one for our Christmas cards

Thanksgiving!

2008-12-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

This has been a great weekend. My mom and dad came up on Tuesday and stayed through Sunday. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving with them here. Mom and I cooked the turkey and all the trimmings while dad and Derrick went and played frisbee golf at the park. Dinner was wonderful. Everything came out perfect! We had fun sitting and talking all night.

I had to work on Friday but mom and Derrick got up at 4:00 and went shopping! Neither one of them have ever gone shopping on Black Friday! They had a good time though. By the time I got off of work, they were all exhausted from shopping all day. Saturday dad and Derrick went shopping for a little bit and then when back to the park and played more frisbee golf. It wasn't until the end of their last game that dad told Derrick what he was doing wrong. I think that was dad's plan all along!! :) Mom and I went shopping and I got lots of good Christmas presents! That night we met up in Gahanna (the city where I work) and we watched the Christmas parade. In Gahanna they do one at night and all the floats are decorated with Christmas lights. It was neat to see a nighttime parade but we froze our tails off!!

Sunday morning we got up and drove out to Granville and cut down our first Ohio Christmas tree!!! :) We all 4 went to a tree farm and found the perfect tree and cut it down. Mom and dad even got an Ohio tree to take back to TN! It was fun searching through all the million trees for the perfect one and cutting it down. That was the first time that Derrick and I have cut down our tree. We loved it!!

I can't wait to get off work today so we can go home and decorate it. It was too wet yesterday (did i mention that we cut down our tree in the rain???).

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband, great parents, a great family (on both sides), brother and sister who I love, a niece that I adore, a job, a beautiful home, tons of wonderful...I could go on and on. I hope you all have just as much to be thankful for.

Weekend in Gatlinburg!

2008-11-05T08:18:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we drove down to Gatlinburg and spent Thursday-Sunday in a cabin with mom, dad, Matthew, Rachel, Dan, and Allison. It was great to see everyone! It was beautiful up there and the weather was perfect. Sunny skies but cool at night! We couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Mom did an awesome job picking out a cabin for all of us to stay in.
This is our view from the deck of our cabin!

Thursday afternoon we went to play putt putt golf. Allison had a blast but I do believe that dad, Matthew, Dan, and Derrick were competing more than any of us! I am pretty sure that Allison won the entire game though! After golf, half of the crew went to the grocery and me, Rachel, and Allison went back up to the cabin. On our way up the mountain we saw a bear in the road. It wasn't a baby cub but it wasn't a full grown adult either. Allison was so excited to see a real live bear! She called her dad to tell him but I am not sure how much they believe us. Her interpretation of the story was a little silly!

Friday we rode go carts and went shopping! Derrick and I got lots of new clothes! The weather was beautiful. Saturday the guys went and played disc golf with dad and us girls went to craft shops. Matthew's friend, Heather, came up and joined us for the day. We met up and did a little more shopping while Rachel and Dan took Allison to ride horses. She talked about that all day! She loved the horses. That night Dan, Derrick, Matthew, Heather, and I stayed up until around 1:00am playing cards.

Sunday was our last day there. We ate a big breakfast and went down the mountain to take pictures before everyone left. Dan and Rachel left right after pictures but me, Derrick, mom, dad, and Matthew shopped at all the Christmas shops before heading home. We had a great time together.

The whole family!

Creek in Gatlinburg

Mom, Matthew, Me, & Dad

Me and Derrick

Derrick and I got home around 10:00pm and we were exhausted. We had a long and busy weekend but we can't wait for next year. We love Gatlinburg in the fall and we miss the mountains!

Derrick's Marathon Results

2008-10-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

So, Derrick ran in the Columbus 1/2 Marathon this past Sunday. He ran the race with our friend, and personal trainer, Kelly. A couple of weeks before the race his foot was really bothering him so I was nervous that he wouldn't be able to run in the race. We just prayed that he would either tough it out and finish or that it would heal before the race.

Luckily his foot quit hurting about 10 minutes before the race (Thank you God for the healing). He was able to run the race and finish! We stood at the 9th mile marker and saw him and Kelly run by. Derrick said that around mile 10 he had to stop and stretch so Kelly was ahead of him by a couple minutes. We ran back to the finish line and I saw him cross! It was amazing. I am so proud of him for accomplishing this goal!! He said he wanted to cry because he was so tired and sore and I told him I wanted to cry because I was so happy!!
Derrick and Kelly rounding the 9th mile

His goal in the beginning was to run a mile in 10 minutes and finish in 2 1/2 hours. Then after a few weeks of training he said he was going to push himself and run a mile in 9 minutes. You can see his results and he exceeded his finish time goal by over 30 minutes and also ran a mile in 8 minutes and 53 seconds.
Derrick sprinting towards the finish line!

Here are his race results:
Derrick Johnson
bib number: 2140
age: 25
gender: M
location: Pickerington, OH
overall place: 1645 out of 5290
division place: 185 out of 374
gender place: 1033 out of 2230
time: 1:56:21
pace: 8:53
10k: 54:03

Derrick right after he finished (he has also just shoved some food in his mouth)

Derrick and Kelly after the race

His mother, grandparents, and aunt and uncle all came up for the weekend. We had Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday since we were all together! I cooked all day and made pies for dessert. Dinner turned out great and we had a good weekend with his family.

Way to go Derrick!!!! I love you!

Date Night

2008-10-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband and I had a date night! He took me to dinner and I had gotten us tickets to the So You Think You Can Dance concert a couple months ago. We went to a Japanese steakhouse and it was wonderful. It was by far the best Japanese Steakhouse we have been to!

On the way to dinner we were talking to each other and Derrick was just cracking me up. He was totally acting like we were on our first date and telling me all about him and asking me all kinds of questions about me. He kept talking and rambling on about running marathons and then he would stop and say "Oh, listen to me talking about myself. what do you like to do?" We were both laughing at each other.

After dinner we headed down to OSU's campus for the concert. We had great seats. We were right in front of the stage, on the floor. We were the 8th row back so we could see all the dancing really good! I can't believe I left my camera at home- but I did. We tried taking some with our phones but they didn't come out very good. Here is one that we took just to give you an idea of how close we were.

After the show we were leaving and there was a barricade set up with security so we waited there- in the freezing cold- but we were able to meet all the dancers and I even got their autographs!! I know, how cheesy is that!?!?!! Well, there was a nice mother and son standing next to us in line so they took a couple of pictures of me with some of the dancers and they are going to e-mail them to me. When I get those pictures, I will add them to the post.

Good news.....

2008-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

My friends Crystal and Eric are engaged!!! YEAH!!!

If you scroll down on my blog you will see pictures of us four at Kings Island this summer. They have set a wedding date for June 13, 2009. I will definitely be making a trip home for that wonderful day.

CONGRATULATIONS CRYSTAL AND ERIC!!!!!

I am so happy for you two. I love you both!!!!

Before and After.....

2008-10-07T07:07:00.001-07:00

I have had so many people asking to see pictures of me and Derrick since we keep talking about how much we are working out. Here they are. I posted a before and after so you can compare. It is unbelievable! Derrick has now lost about 50 pounds and I have lost a little less than 30 pounds.

Here is a picture we took about a year ago, right before we moved up here.....

And here are a couple of recent pictures of me and Derrick......

This is us with Derrick's mom at the Columbus Zoo

Derrick is done "loosing" weight. He is just working on toning. I am not quite done loosing just yet. I am definitely toning up though. :) Have a great week!!

Fall is here

2008-10-07T06:45:00.001-07:00

Wow, I have been so busy that I have not blogged in a few months! We have had so much going on that I could have written a book by now! Where do I start???

Derrick and I were able to make a trip back to Nashville over Labor Day weekend. It was good because we all drove to Memphis to see my grandparents. Most of the Hamblin family was there so it was so nice to see all of them and catch up with everyone! I have a wonderful family and I love spending time with them. The 4 hour drive there, and then 4 hours back, was a blast because of course I was chosen by Allison to sit in the very back with her. I had very little leg room since a 3rd row seat isn't made for comfort! It was a fun weekend and I am glad we had a chance to go home and see my family.

A couple weeks later was the UK vs MTSU football game in Lexington, KY. Derrick has a dealer who has season tickets to all the UK home games. She knows that Derrick and I are UK fans and she mentioned to Derrick that they were going to be out of town that weekend and asked if we wanted the tickets. She had 6 tickets and a parking pass. We were so excited to have tickets so we called our very best friends, Ruth and Karl Meyer, to see if they all wanted to go to the game. Of course they said yes! We met them in Lexington and spent the weekend in Lexington together. It was so much fun to get to spend time with them. I miss those girls so much!

Since then we have been busy every weekend with ALS Walks across Ohio and Indianapolis. ALS (a.k.a Lou Gehrig's Disease) is one of the main diseases that Derrick deals with in his patients. His company is a national sponsor so he has to go and set up a booth at every walk so I went with him and volunteered. It was a lot of fun but the past 3 weekends have been consumed with these walks. We finally have a weekend off but it will be spent cleaning and preparing for Derrick's family to come in town the next weekend. Most of you know that Derrick and I have been working out and working with a trainer. Well, Derrick has always wanted to run a marathon so he has been training to run the Columbus Half Marathon. He is now 2 weeks away and is doing awesome! I am so proud of him and how far he has come! He will be running on Sunday, October 19th. So, if you think about it that day- say a little prayer that he can at least finish. He doesn't care about placement or time, he just wants to finish.

Ohh, one more thing! We bought a new tree and planted it in the backyard. It is a maple tree and the leaves will be a beautiful red in the fall. I love fall and I can't wait for Halloween weekend because we are going down to Gatlinburg with my family! I am sure another blog and pictures from that will be coming soon!

Kings Island

2008-07-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

On June 20-22 I had a good friend from TN and her boyfriend come and visit me! Crystal and Eric spent the weekend with us and we went to Kings Island while they were here. We had a blast at the park running from ride to ride and trying to fit as many rides in as possible.

We were in line for The Beast, a very popular wooden roller coaster, when the skies started getting dark and the temperature started to drop. Crystal and I were freezing and Eric was in charge of giving us weather updates from his cell phone. Derrick and I knew that there were storms coming but we were hoping they would bypass us. Well, they didn't. We had made it up to 3rd in line for the ride when they shut it down due to weather. It rained and the rides were closed for 2 hours. We stayed in line and waited it out since we were under a shelter and out of the rain. Many people decided to leave the line and try the other rides but we stayed so we wouldn't get wet. When the ride finally opened we were first in line!!
We had a great time making faces for all the camera on the rides. We did end up buying one as a memory of the long, but very fun day!

Somehow during the day Derrick had a speech problem and he referred to his "mini van" as a "vini van." So from that point on, everything we said we started it with a "V." We definitely got some good laughs out of all that madness. Even on the way home we were still starting everything with a "V" and it would take us a couple seconds to figure out what the other person was trying to say. Ohh- guess you had to be there!!! Hahaha!!!

We stayed at the park until it closed so the drive home was a long one. We were exhausted from all the walking and laughing.

Derrick and I bought passes so we have been back to Kings Island once and this past weekend we went to Cedar Point with my brother and Heather. I will get some pictures from our weekend at Cedar Point as soon as I have a chance to pull the pictures off my camera.

Derrick and I sneaking a quick picture before the ride took off!

Derrick and I with Little Bill in the kiddie area. That is where you found the good food!

Eric and Derrick with their huge ice cream cones. Those came from the kiddie area!!
All 4 of us in from of the Eiffel Tower
All 4 of us again in the roller coaster car getting ready to take off!
Me and Crystal with our nice hair-dos after riding the Firehawk
Derrick and I by the entrance

Fun and busy weekends!

2008-06-18T07:56:00.001-07:00

The past few weekends have been quite an exciting time in the Johnson house!

May 29-June 2 our wonderful friends the Meyers came up from Tennessee to visit. On Saturday we went to the new Zoombezi Bay water park and the zoo. We were all so excited about the water park and when we got there we found out that all the slides were closed because of the storm that came through on Friday night. It threw a lot of the new landscaping mulch and debris on the slides and in the filters. So, we spent the afternoon in the kiddie area, which wasn't too terrible. I enjoy the smaller water slides anyway. Shortly after we got there they opened the wave pool so we enjoyed relaxing in the warm water there.

The new water park is a part of the zoo so if you buy tickets to the water park we found out that you were able to get in the zoo for free. So we took advantage of that and walked around the zoo. It was a beautiful afternoon and there was lots of shade trees on the path. The most exciting part of the day was when we were in the Gorilla exhibit. People were taking pictures and pointing at the gorillas. Well, one big gorilla apparently didn't like it and Karly was standing right by the glass, with all of us behind her, and this big gorilla came running down towards Karly and jumped up and growled and pounded his fists on the glass. Everyone in the room jumped and screamed. I think poor Karly was frozen for a minute or two. We all laughed and got out of there quick!

We weren't quite sure when the zoo was supposed to close so we just kept walking around and pretty much waiting for someone to tell us that we needed to go home. The nice part was that since the gates were closed to anyone coming in, there weren't any crowds anymore. We were able to walk around and see the animals without fighting the crowds at each exhibit. The downfall was that since the zoo was closed, some of the animals had already gone inside- maybe for dinner.

Sunday morning Derrick and Karl took the girls golfing while Ruth and I went shopping. It was a nice afternoon and I enjoyed spending time with Ruth. I miss those days. :( We met up with the rest of the gang for dinner and heard all sorts of stories about their golf outing. It was quite an adventure for them. Ruth and I had a calm afternoon shopping, but anytime you put Derrick and Karl together something crazy is bound to happen!!

We had a great weekend with them and we were sad to see them leave. Check out Ruth's blog for some pictures. You can find her link on my homepage.

This past weekend (Father's Day weekend) my mom, dad, and niece came up to visit. I just adore Allison and I love it anytime she comes to see me. She thinks I have the coolest house ever, but it is only because i have a bubble gum machine!

Mom and dad got here on Thursday night. I was off on Friday so we all went to lunch and then I brought them by the bank to introduce them and show them where I work. Everyone thought Allison was so cute (that is because she looks like ME). Of course, Allison thought my bank was better than Grandmommas but that is because we have cookies and a play area and mom's bank doesn't have cookies and toys! After lunch we went to the big mall and shopped until dinner time.

Saturday I had to work until noon but when I got home everyone was ready to go. We loaded in the van and drove down to Cincinnati and went to the new IKEA and went shopping. We spent a good 3 hours in IKEA! Mom and I both got a couple of good things. We stopped by the new outlet mall on the way home and did a quick shop (since we only had about an hour there). Then we finally decided to stop shopping and eat dinner! It was a long day.

Sunday was Father's day and we all had every intention of getting up and going to church- well, at least I did until the alarm went off! We slept in and got up late. Mom and I got ready and took Allison out shopping while the boys stayed at home and watched the race and worked on my closet. Ohh, I forgot to mention that my fabulous husband and wonderful father worked all weekend at adding a second row of shelves in my closet. They took off the existing row and moved it up and put a second row under it. It is wonderful!!!

Sunday night we took mom and dad to dinner (late Mother's day dinner). After dinner we drove around Pickerington and showed them the first house we were going to buy and then showed them a little more of the city we live in. Then we went to get ice cream! Ahh- that was my favorite part.

Mom and dad got up on Monday and headed home. Mom told me that she and Allison had quite the time getting ready to leave because Allison didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay in Ohio and be Aunt Becca and Uncle Derrick's little girl!

So, now that you think it is over.....it isn't! We have more friends coming this weekend- which i am so excited about! It is a girl that I worked with at Pinnacle. We are planning on going to Kings Island this weekend and I can't wait. Then on July 4th weekend, my brother and a friend are coming up and we are planning on driving up north and going to Cedar Point with them. So, the Johnson house is never quiet!!! :) Just think of what it will be like when we add kids to the mix!

New car tags!

2008-06-10T13:05:00.001-07:00

So, I guess I am on my way to officially becoming an Ohioan! I had to go the other day and get Ohio tags for my car. It was hard enough taking the one Tennessee one off to replace it with 2 ohio tags. I now have to have one in the front of my car and on the back. I think it is tacky but who asked me!! Now if I ever move back to Tennessee I will have to holes in the front of my car. I thought it was an emotional, yet funny, day so I had to share the pictures with you guys.

P.S. I still have my Tennessee driver's license!

Day off

2008-05-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

After a busy weekend in Tennessee and a crazy week at work, I finally have a day off. It has been nice to far. I got to sleep in and now I am catching up on all my shows that I have missed during the week. I will have to start cleaning soon becuase we have friends coming over for dinner tomorrow night.

The past couple of weeks has been rough for me and in turn it makes it rough for Derrick too. I love my job at the bank but I am not close to anyone that I work with and it makes the job really stink. I have had many days that I just come home either upset or just angry. That isn't good becuase then Derrick usually has to hear about it and that just builds tension between us.

My personality is the type where I want to make everyone happy and I want everyone to like me. Up here in Ohio that is rare. Most of the time they just keep it to themselves or they only talk to a select few people. Sometimes I feel like I am in high school again and that there are different cliques at work. I don't have time for all that. Please pray that God will give me strength to deal with everyone at work, or he will lead me in another direction- what ever he has planned I will do.

On a good note.....I thought I better quit being so depressing. My parents are always so encouraing and they are good about bringing out the positive in things. So, I have been thinking about all the positive things that this move has done for Derrick and me.
1. It has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and experience a whole new world outside of Rutherford county. I had only visited Ohio a couple of times in my life before moving here.
2. We have a beautiful house that God has provided for us.
3. Derrick has a great job that he loves and he is good at what he does.
4. We have been able to meet new friends in Ohio and they are all very sweet and we are lucky to have met them all.
5. I have learned a lot since being at my new job. My old bank had all the departments to do everything and since this bank is so small we have to do it all ourselves and it is neat to learn.
6. We are only an hour from Kings Island!! :)
7. God has lead us to an amazing church that is about the same size as FBC, Smyrna but we are able to experience it as a new couple instead of one that has been there for years and that is very different.
8. We had the joy of experiencing apartment life, with a dog
9. Since we have so many cool things near us, it give my family and friends a great vacation spot
10. It has made me appreciate, and miss, all my friends and family back home, but when I am able to spend time with them it means more to me now since I know it is only for a short time.

Well, I guess I better get up and start cleaning before I fall asleep on the couch!

Working Out!

2008-04-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Derrick and I have recently hired a personal trainer at a local gym here in Pickerington, the city we live in. Her name is Kelly and she is the daughter of a lady that works with me at the bank. We finally realized that we were not happy with the way we have lived the past couple of years and it was time to do something about it.

We met with Kelly and she educated us on how many calories we should be eating in a day. I had no idea how many calories were in the everyday foods that we would eat. It was so common for me or Derrick to grab a burger for lunch and not think twice about it. When Kelly talked to us about our eating habits, it really opened our eyes to what we put in our body. So, for the past 6 weeks Derrick and I have been eating better and working out 3-4 times a week.

We meet with Kelly a couple times a week and the other times we will just go on our own and do cardio. The times that we meet with Kelly with a one-on-one session (well, I guess one-on-two since Derrick and I go together) she works us until we can barely walk. She definitely pushes me harder than I would ever push myself. Most of you know that I hate to sweat and when we work out we sweat like crazy!!

As much as I like to be lazy, I have enjoyed exercising and spending the time with Derrick! He has been amazing and so encouraging since we started working out. I have the best husband in the world! There was one week that I only lost 1 pound, to his 6 pounds, and he turned it around and found the positive to me losing 1 pound versus gaining. When we workout there are plenty of times that I just want to lay on the floor and quit. Derrick is always there for me and will come over and help me out and encourage me to keep going. I know that having him there with me is what keeps me from not falling over and just giving up!! Every time I finish a tough exercise he is always there to give me a high five or a hug and tell me I did a great job.

I love being with him and I wouldn't want to spend this time with anyone else! Who knew that a new hobby that my husband and I would pick up would be exercising together. He is working his way up to run a 5K and maybe if he is lucky, I will be able to eventually do those things with him. So far Derrick has lost 21 pounds and I am up to 12 pounds.

P.S. I finally worked my way up to bench pressing more than just the bar!!

Allison's Birthday and Easter

2008-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Derrick and I made our way back to Tennessee on Easter weekend to spend Easter with the family and also to celebrate Allison's birthday. It was a short trip for us but we managed to spend every moment to see family and friends. We love going back to Tennessee but every time we go back it makes us miss it that much more.
Saturday morning I got up and ran a few errands in Murfreesboro trying to get all kinds of fun stuff for Allison's party. Derrick got up and went and played golf with Karl. That afternoon we had family and friends come over to mom and dad's house and we had a party for Allison. It was great to see all the cousins and to spend time with some of my closest friends at the same time. Of course, Allison loved all the attention and presents.
Me and Allison
Uncle Derrick and Allison
Cake Time!
Family enjoying the cake and ice cream
Jason and Chris
The best kind of gift!!
Grandmomma and Allison
Jason and Whitney
Kristy and Cason
Shandy, Me, and Shelley- best friends!
Some of the cousins!

Derrick and I were able to eat dinner with mom and dad before we had to run out and meet our old small group at Toots. I had almost forgot how much I enjoy being around our old small group. When we lived in Tennessee they were a second family to me and Derrick and I loved having them around. They are a wonderful group and we still keep in contact with them and their families.

Sunday morning we all went to church together for Easter. Rachel's husband, Dan, was able to come in town for the weekend so it was nice to have everyone together- minus Matthew. He was in Colorado skiing with a friend. As soon as we got home we had an Easter egg hunt for Allsion. Mom and I had a good time hiding eggs for Allison. I think we all got a good laugh at Allison running around the yard, like a crazy girl, trying to find all the eggs.
Mom hiding eggs
Shhh- don't tell her where I put them!
Dan, Rachel, and Allison
Allison trying to get all the eggs
She ran right by my secret place- we had to call her to come back and get these eggs!
I am pretty sure that Derrick put that one way up there!
She was having so much fun
I think mom went a little overboard with eggs for one litle girl!!!

Shortly after we ate lunch Derrick and I had to make our long trip back to Ohio. The drive was long and I toko a few naps during the trip abck. When I finally woke up Derrick and I talked about our visit back home. We were glad to see Dan made it back for the weekend and we were glad that we all had a good weekend together. I wish Matthew could have been home and enjoyed the weekend with all of us.

Ohh- did I forget to mention that we were able to visit Max at Rachel's house?? She has given him a new nickname of Dugger! He likes to bury things and unbury things and Rachel doesn't think it is too funny!

More Snow!!! Ahhhhhhh!!! The Big Snow of 2008

2008-03-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

You know when you heard the meteorologist say that you might get 10-15 inches of snow, you kind of laugh it off. Well this time they were right! They were warning us about the Winter Storm that was coming and we all thought we might get a few inches, but that would be it. Not true. It is now a little after 5:00 on Saturday and it has been snowing non-stop since yesterday around 11:00 am. There have been times when the snow wasn't falling as hard, but it was still falling. I went out around 1:00 today and measured 9 inches.
Our House during the snow

After that, Derrick and I decided to go out and shovel the driveway since it was just getting deeper (plus all the neighbors, who are Ohio natives, were out doing it so I thought we should be too). So, Derrick and I spent nearly 2 hours shoveling the driveway and having fun in the snow. While we were out there we saw little kids playing in the snow and it was almost to deep for them to walk. There was a man with a 4-wheeler and he had a plow on the front of it and he was driving to different houses plowing the driveways. I have also seen a John Deer lawn mower with a snow plow on the front (that guy must have been from the south).
View from down the street
another view from down the other side
Me helping Derrick shovel the driveway
Derrick shoveling
Derrick taking a break
I decided to stay in the fence and get away from the work

While we were clearing the driveway, I made Derrick take pictures of me helping him shovel the snow becuase I knew my dad wouldn't believe that I helped him! Derrick decided to started a snowball fight when I wasn't paying attention. I don't know what I was thinking becuase I knew it was coming- I just didn't know when. That was fun and we laughed so hard! Of course Derrick won the fight, only becuase he took the snow shovel and threw a shovel full of snow at me.
Derrick getting ready to throw a snowball at me
Derrick actually throwing it at me!
Me with my present for Derrick
Me delivering my present!

After we worked hard clearing off the driveway, we decided to make snow angels. The snow angels today were bigger than I remember them being when I was a kid- not sure why though! :)
I was done working- time to have fun
It was cold down there- but I couldn't resist making a snow angel
Derrick took a different approach to getting in the snow
I guess he thought it was as soft as it looks!
He hit hard- but was still laughing
His snow angel was REAL big!
He is like a kid- he is done playing and ready to go in after just one snow angel

So, whenever it wants to quit snowing and the sun wants to come out and melt all this mess- I will be okay with it. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures and pray that it quits soon so we will be able to leave the house tomorrow!

Most recent pictures-
Derrick went back outside and I snapped these pictures. I said we got a lot of snow!!
It just keeps coming down
Ok, so really it is only this deep!!

Updated snowfall amount as of 5:00pm was 12 inches.

Snow, Snow, Go Away.......

2008-02-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that I am tired of the snow and tired of the cold weather??? Like I need to add weight to myself by layering clothes and wearing a big coat and scarf everyday!! Ok, it has snowed again today and is only going to get worse tonight. Yes, it is beautiful but it isn't fun to drive in. My commute to work takes me about 25 minutes on a normal day. When it snows it takes me about 1.5 hours! If you know me you know that I am not a morning person and when it snows I have to get up extra early so I am not late to work.

I normally don't beg Derrick to take me to the beach but all I have asked for in a vacation this year was for a place where it was sunny and warm! During the winter months here it stays cloudy and gloomy. Since we have been here I can probably count on one hand the number of days it has been sunny and pretty. Whew, I need a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket and I will be fine!!!

Ok- enough complaining. On the plus side, the snow is beautiful and makes a sparkling white blanket on the ground. I love to sit at work and watch it snow. Ohio is used to snow so they are usually good about dumping pounds and pounds of salt on the roads, so along with the pretty white snow, my blue car is a pretty white car! A carwash is the type of business I should open in Ohio!

Ok- my toes are freezing....it is time for that hot chocolate and fire!!

Goodbye Apartment- Hello New House!!!

2008-02-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

So, I am still playing catch up with all my blogs!!

Ohh, can I just say how wonderful it is to be out of our apartment and into our new house!!! Let me just take you on a small tour of the apartment that we lived in. We have already moved out so there is no furniture in the apartment in these pictures.
Entry way stairs that went up into our apartment. We lived on the 2nd floor
Tiny pantry in the kitchen. Looking at the pantry- to the right is the laundry hole and to the left is a storage closet
Kitchen- that is all the countertop I had to work with. It was impossible for me to cook while Derrick did the dishes!
there is our one person bathroom. The shower was to the left in the bathroom. The mornings when Derrick and I had to leave at the same time were quite fun. I couldn't brush my teeth without being in the way of the shower, toilet, and closet! Ohh- fun times!
that is the bedroom door at the top of the stairs. We had already moved out taken all of our lamps and the bedroom didn't have any lights so I couldn't get a picture of the bedroom.
This is the living room and back door to the deck.

I am grateful that we had somewhere to live and a roof over my head, but it makes me appreciate what we had before we moved and what all we have now. God is good and He has taken care of us and provided for us since we have been in Ohio. We moved into our new house on January 19th and I was so excited and surprised when 12 people from our Sunday school class showed up that Saturday morning to help us move. It was the coldest day of the year and they were such troopers. My brother also came up from TN to help. We didn't put any holes in the walls at the new house, but the apartment is a different story! They had a hard time getting our couch down the stairs and out the door so they ended up lowering it over the deck to a couple of guys waiting below. It was a good idea! They were a HUGE help and we apprecite them all so much. I am so mad that I didn't get my camera out and take pictures of everyone moving.

We had the house painted before we moved in and my parents came up the weekend we moved in and they helped us unpack and mom helped me decorate. They were a huge help and we are so grateful that they were willing to come help.
stairs with half bath at the bottom and the bonus room at the top of the picture
Derrick's office
dining room with kitchen off to the right side
my kitchen!! I can cook while Derrick does the dishes now!!
living room with fireplace
another angle of the living room
Master bedroom
master bedroom closet (much bigger than the apartment)
master bathroom with this wonderful tub
master bathroom shower

New Years- 2008

2008-02-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

Last year we had an awesome New Years party at our house in TN. This year we had a great time, not as crazy as last year's fireworks and stuff, but still a lot of fun. This year it was Derrick & me, Debby (Derrick's mom), Katie & Jeremy, and Nick & Beth. We all went to dinner and then to Nick and Beth's house for snacks and desserts and games.

Derrick's mom came in town that weekend to spend time with us. We took her to our little party and she pormised that she wouldn't fall asleep, but she did. It was so funny. We just played games and laughed while she slept on the couch. She was asleep when I was taking pictures so that is the only picture of her that I have. She eventually woke up and played a few games with us and rang in the new year with us. When we got in the car to head home, she was back asleep! Poor thing- she was tired. We enjoyed having her in town and she was the first one to see our house. It wasn't completely finished or painted but for the most part she got the picture. Enjoy the few pictures!
Me and Derrick
Nick and Beth
Katie and Avery
Jeremy
Derrick's mom

Christmas 2007

2008-02-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

It has been over a month, almost 2 months, since I have blogged. Ruth, I know you are dissappointed in me. SORRY! Life in Ohio is going great- crazy and fast, but great. Here are a few pictures from Christmas when we came back to TN for a few days. It was a crazy few days, but how often does everything go normal and just as planned when the whole family tries to get together? Of course, I had a great time with Allison- she is a little me!! We stayed with mom and dad while we were home.

We opened gifts from each other on Christmas morning and then we went to Grandma's house and had dinner and gifts with the whole family. Before we headed to grandma's house, Derrick and I went to his dad's house to see them for a while. We didn't stay there long. We had to get to grandma's and eat before all my uncles and cousins ate all the good food. After we ate and opened gifts, we left there and made a stop at Ruth and Karl's to give Karly and Madie their gifts. Whew, I told you it was a busy time!! We loved seeing everyone and it was hard to come back to Ohio after being back with my family and friends.
We flew back to Ohio the day after Christmas. Derrick's grandparents were in town so they picked us up from my parents' house and took us to dinner. After dinner they dropped us off at the airport. It was good to see them and we had a great time at dinner.
Me and Derrick in the Ohio airport heading back home
opening gifts at mom and dad's on Christmas morning
I wonder who taught her to make such crazy faces
ohh- maybe that was me! (Allison actually took that picture)
opening gifts at Grandma's house
Tara & Allison at gramdma's (there is that silly face again)
my grandparents (my mom's parents)
cousin Melissa
more cousins- Stephen and Justin
another cousin- Jason
Derrick's grandparents

New House Soon, hopefully!

2007-12-19T19:06:00.000-08:00

Well, when we first decided to move up here Derrick and I came shopping for houses. We decided to build a new house and we signed the papers in August, with the plans saying our house would be finished by the end of February. So, we thought we would save money and get the smallest and cheapest apartment to last us for a few months while our house was being built. Well, here we are in mid-December and they still haven't started on the house we chose to build. The home builder keeps telling us they are waiting for the permits to come back, but we aren't 100% sure what is going on. So, Derrick and I prayed about it and took the time to look around at other houses and other home builders. During that time we found our new soon to be home! It was a home that another family built but they weren't able to sell their current house so they had to back out of their contract. We are scheduled to close on this home in January, if everything goes OK. So far there have been minor things within the house that they have been working to fix, before we can close and move in. This house is big enough for us to grow into and have lots of kids, or guests!! :)
This is going to be the best kitchen ever!
There is one guest room and the other 2 plus the master are right down the hall.
This is the living room with a fireplace
Huge bonus room!

We have been so blessed since we have moved up here. We have a great church and Derrick and I have met some pretty cool people to hang out with! Derrick is doing amazing at his job, when he isn't wrecking a vehicle, blowing a couple of tires, or getting his van broken into (yes- all this happened to Derrick. The poor thing has had some awful luck the last 2 weeks). Now God has blessed us with this beautiful house and we will be sure use it to glorify him. Our doors will always be open to anyone who needs something! There are many times that I drive into work with the radio off and just talk to God. Living up here isn't always easy but it makes me stop and rely on God a lot more. Maybe that is why God moved us up here. I know it is hard for me to let go and trust in God 100%, but since we have been through the whole process of selling a house, moving, buying a new house, and meeting people-- I have had to give it all to God many many times. Keep praying for me and Derrick as we continue our journey up here.

First Snow in Ohio!

2007-12-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

So, last night the news was calling for 1-3 inches of snow in our area. I was wondering if I would wake up to snow or if the meteorologists here are like the ones back in TN and we would wake up to nothing but bitter cold weather. Well, to our surprise we woke up to a beautiful layer of snow. It snowed all morning and quit around 2:00 and then started back around 4:00 and snowed for a couple more hours!
My car and Derrick's van covered in snow
A Christmas tree across from our apartment

This was Max's first snow so when we took him out this morning he ran out like normal but when he hit the snow he slowed way down. He walked a little funny and was sniffing around until he got used to it. He would stick his nose in the snow and sniff the ground and when he brought his head up he would have snow all over his nose.
Max playing in the snow!

It took me 2 hours to get to work this morning when it normally takes me around 30 minutes, max! I was the only one who was late- everyone else knew what to expect. Also, I was the only one who didn't wear some type of snow boots and then change into my dress shoes after I got to work. I just wore my normal shoes and had snow all in them as I walked through the parking lot! I guess for Christmas I should be asking for snow boots and a snow shovel!

Derrick and I went out this evening and built a snowman for my niece. It is Frosty the Snowman and he is wearing a "magic hat." It was freezing and our hands are still hurting from the cold! The snow here is beautiful and sparkles but it is a dry snow and doesn't pack very well. We would have to get a handful of snow and hold it tight so it would form a ball. We would make a small ball and then have to run in and wrap our hands in a towel so our fingers wouldn't fall off!
Our snowman!

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Stressful Times.....

2007-11-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't been on here in a while because we have been so busy. We were able to travel back to TN for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. I will post some pictures later. Hummm, how is Ohio going? Well, the past few weeks have been pretty rough. We are having some problems with the house we chose to build. Derrick and I signed the contract on Aug 31st to start the house and we are still waiting for them to start. It has been one thing after another that has pushed them back. Now we are just waiting for the permits from the city to come back. If they don't get the permits back and pour the foundation before the ground freezes, then we have to wait until April to do anything. In the meantime, we thought that maybe God had other plans for where we were going to be living so we have been looking at other houses with different builders. Ohh, I can't even begin to explain how stressful this has become. We can't stand the apartment because it is so small and there is just no room to make it feel like "home." So it has come down to us desperately wanting a house. We have seen a bunch of houses and there has been a couple that we really like. We haven't gone with them because they are either out of our price range or the inside just wasn't what we were looking for. I know that God has the perfect house for us and maybe it is the one we have already chosen. It may be his plan for us to wait a little longer. I just hate the waiting and not being sure process. If you know me, you also know that patience isn't a strong point of mine.

On a good note, Derrick and I have found a church in Pataskala, Ohio. It is called Jersey Baptist and it is a good size Baptist church. We have been going to Sunday School and we are in a class of married 18-29 year olds! We love it. Guess what??? I have a friend!!! We went to lunch today and she is so sweet. It is becoming easier to get around and by making friends makes it a lot easier to learn the area. If we only had a house--then we could host get-togethers and parties!!

Derrick is loving his new job and is doing great. My job at the bank is going great too. I love learning all the new things that makes a bank run!

Weekend wth Grammy!

2007-11-11T18:22:00.000-08:00

This past weekend Derrick's mother came to visit us in Ohio. She flew in on Friday evening and stayed through Sunday afternoon. It was nice having her in town and showing her around Columbus. Saturday we got up and we took her around and showed her our lot where we are going to be building. Then we took her out to the model home and showed her the model of the floorplan we choose. She really liked it and she liked the idea of all the extra rooms so she can come and visit us! Then we went to Jeffersonville and went shopping at the outlet mall out there. It is a huge outlet mall. We spent 6 hours there and didn't even make it through half of all the stores. We did some damage and got some good deals! If I am lucky, Derrick will take me back out there tomorrow so we can finish the rest of the stores!
Max loved playing with Debby and waking her up every morning. I think deep down inside she loves Max too, even though she is a cat person!
We hoped she could stay longer since I am off work Monday and Tuesday but she had to get back to work.
Debby, thanks for coming to visit us! We love you and you are welcome back anytime you want to come!

First Visit to the Dog Park!

2007-10-20T16:23:00.001-07:00

Did you know there were such things??? A Dog Park?? I had no idea!!
Well, In Ohio there are parks that are specifically for dogs-not just any animal, just dogs! It is crazy! We found a few near us by hearing people talk about them and then searching on the Internet.
Today when I got of work, I came home and Derrick, Max, and I went to Big Walnut Dog Park. The park is only about 10 miles from the house, so it isn't a bad drive. The park is about a 3 acre lot with a chain linked fence, so the dogs could not get out, and it has a pond the dogs could swim in. As soon as we unleashed Max he took off. I was so nervous that he was going to fight with the other dogs or jump all over the other people in the park. Neither one of those happened! He ran right over to the dogs and within just a minute or two he was in heaven! He ran around that park for 2 hours, non-stop, and loved every minute of it. We would even call him over to us and he would start running towards us and then zoom right past us. He didn't even care if we were there. All he cared about were the other dogs that he could chase or that would chase him. Shortly after we got there someone threw a tennis ball into the pond. All the other dogs jumped in and Max followed the crowd and went right in with them. After that, we couldn't keep him out of the water! We were told to take a towel just in case Max got into the water. WATER?? I was thinking "My dog hates baths, he isn't getting into any water!" Good thing I took a towel!!
It was nice for me because there were people there that I could talk to! I met two nice ladies Amanda and Mary. Amanda was there with her husband and 3 dogs- Dozier (Bullmastif), Chance, and Dingo. Mary was there with her little boxer puppy, Sally. We aren't best friends yet, but hey, who knows!! Hahaha! I will actually be doing good to remember their names next time I see them, if I see them again! Max has lots of new friends too. It was funny to sit and watch them all play. We are going to keep taking Max so he can get his exercise in and not get too fat and lazy from being cooped up in the apartment all day.
Of course we took the camera and Derrick took some pictures of Max's fun day! I hope you guys enjoy them!!

Family picture after a day at the park

Max and all his new friends playing in the water

Max playing in the water- his new favorite thing!

Max jumping in and out of the water. I think he likes to splash the water.

Max found a frisbee and we were so happy to see him chase it and carry it

This is what Max did the whole time we were there...when he wasn't playing in the water!

Another one of Max running. It was hard to get too many pictures of him running and playing because they all came out blurry.

Lots of walking....

2007-10-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever walked so much that you felt your legs were going to fall off?? That is what I did Saturday!

On Friday I was getting all bummed because I knew that Derrick was leaving for Indianapolis on Saturday and would be gone until Monday evening. When I got home from work on Friday, he surprised me and told me that he wasn't leaving until Sunday morning and that we were going to King's Island in Cincinnati on Saturday. I was so excited. We got up on Saturday and headed to King's Island. It was great because Derrick and I went from ride to ride. We never stopped at any shops or to play any games. It was so much fun and we rode everything---well Derrick did. I don't like the carnival type rides that you sit in and they twirl you around in a circle all while turning you upside down, or those sudden drop rides that last 10 seconds. Derrick rode those while I sat and people watched! We grabbed a snack and ate it while we were in line for the next ride and didn't take any time out for anything except for roller coasters.

We had a great time walking fast with our long legs and not having to wait for anyone to catch up or decide who was riding with who! It was just a fun day together with my husband! I must say that I have a wonderful husband and I love him very much!

Well, yesterday and today I am paying for all that walking. My legs hurt and wearing heals all day today didn't help any. Maybe I can talk my husband into a leg and foot massage tonight!

BY THE WAY-- GO KENTUCKY!!! THEY BEAT LSU!!!! That made for an even better weekend.

P.S.- HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARLY!! I MISS YOU AND I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN HOME FOR YOUR PARTY!

First Day At Work

2007-10-11T18:56:00.001-07:00

Today was my first day at my new job here in Ohio. It is with a local bank in Gahanna, Ohio. I was going a little stir crazy and I needed to get to work so I could meet people. I am having social interaction withdrawals. I had to be there at 8:30 and I was there by 8:25. I hope they made note of that because I am horrible about getting somewhere on time! When I got there everyone welcomed me right in and we actually had a branch meeting today and they introduced me and announced my title and position. Basically I am Branch Manager---just kidding!! I am a customer service representative and I will also help out on the teller line if they need help.

It was a nice day but quite boring. I had to get through all the bumps of the technical side before I could even do anything. Once we got through that I went shopping in the supply room to fill up my desk. Then I just sat there for the rest of the day. I talked to clients as they walked in and I walked around and watched other people work. One of my co-workers took me to this local upscale diner for lunch and it was very good. Then my mom and dad sent me the beautiful fall bouquet of flowers which really brightened my day. Ohh, I stopped and got a cup of coffee and a cookie in the lobby. Did I mention that the bank gets fresh snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookies from a local bakery every morning??

So, needless to say I didn't stress myself out my first day!

Tonight Derrick and I were invited, by the bank, to attend The Taste of Gahanna, along with 8 other employees and/or family members. The event is put on by the chamber and about 50 restaurants from the city of Gahanna come and set up booths with food from their restaurants. All you had to do was walk around and get a plate full of food from each table!! A lot of the vendors gave coupons for free food. Derrick and I ate so much that we were just sick! It was a fun evening and now we are so sleepy.

We are in Ohio!

2007-10-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Well, we have been in Ohio for 3 days now. It hasn't really hit me that I have actually moved away. It kind of feels like I am on vacation or something. The drive here wasn't bad but it sure was nice to get here. Unloading the big truck into a second story apartment wasn't that fun. When we got here we came into the apartment and the air wasn't working. It was about 80 degrees in here, on top of the fact that everyone was sweating from moving furniture and boxes. My brother, cousin, and my parents are the best!! They all drove up from TN to help us move in. They were so much help and we really appreciate all that they have done.

We have a one bedroom apartment with a balcony. It is nice but thankfully we will only be here for 6 months. I hate that Max doesn't have a yard to play in and I feel like we are always yelling his name because when he walks into another room we are afraid he is going to use the bathroom or chew up something. He has been great in the apartment so far. Keep your fingers crossed that he stays this way!

We took my parents to the lot that we have chosen to build on and they really liked it. Then we took them out and showed them the model home that matched our floor plan. They are just as excited about our new house as we are! They haven't done anything new on the lot yet, but as they do I will post pictures so everyone can see the progress with us.

I definitely miss the fact that I don't know anyone, or where anything is. The cable guy came this morning and he was trying to tell us where PetSmart was located and he said "I live over in West Jefferson, so I go to the one that is over off 70 by the big Wal-Mart." I wanted to say "Where is 70, where is the big Wal-Mart, and where the heck is West Jefferson?????" Instead I said "Ohh, ok......thanks!" :(

I start my new job next Monday. My brother and my cousin went home yesterday and my dad is leaving today. Mom is staying until Wednesday to help unpack boxes, but since we are all unpacked we get to go shopping!! She wanted to stay a little longer since so she could go around town and see the area. For all I care, she can stay as long as she wants. I am sure that when she leaves is when I will realize that this is my new home and possibly when I start crying.

Pray that I will learn my way around and that Derrick and I will find a church and meet some people up here. Dad said that we need to find a big church, with lots of people, so we can get them all to help up move into our new house and he can come and visit after we move in, instead of coming to help move in!! Haha! He is a funny guy.

My small group

2007-09-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

A fun shot with our small group. This is how I will remember them!

A more serious, but beautiful picture of all of us!

Our small group at church has been the best thing ever! Derrick and I met Ruth and Karl after we got engaged and started working in the preschool hallway at church. Their youngest daughter was in our 3 year old class and she just captured our hearts. From Maddie being in our class, we got to know and love the whole family. After we got married, the Meyer's invited us to start a small group with them. Over a few months time we added the Freunds and then the Peters. Derrick and I have grown so close to each one of them and we are going to miss them like crazy. during our Bible studies we have had some serious conversations, and also some off-the-wall goofy conversations. All of them we will take with us to Ohio.

On Sunday, Oct 23, we went to Kids Castle in Murfreesboro and took some group pictures. We all stopped and picked up some food and had a big picnic before taking pictures and playing. Derrick had more fun playing on the playground with the children, while us ladies sat over on a bench and watched them play tag. Then we went to Dairy Queen and all got ice cream!

The whole small group has touched us in their own special way. They have each taken us in and made us both a part of their family. We love each one of them and their children and will never forget what all they have done for us. They have all inspired us as a couple and as future parents and taught us a lot of things to make our marriage stronger as Derrick and I grow together. We know that marriages aren't perfect but they have definitely showed us that no matter what, putting God first will fix everything and make it all work out. We love you guys!!

Sweet Maggie

2007-09-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is Maggie and Derrick's niece, Alexz, this past summer. This is Maggie a couple of weeks after we brought her home.

Well, today has been a rough day. This morning my husband took our little Maggie to the vet and had her put to sleep. Bless her heart, she has been so sick for a while but has been a tough fighter the whole time. I know she is better off now but I didn't realize how hard it would be to actually let her go. We have only had her for 8 months but she was the sweetest Basset Hound ever! Derrick called me at work to let me know how everything went, and that is when I lost. I think that some of these emotions are coming from the fact that in less than 2 weeks I will have totally left my comfort zone of my friends, family, and work and moved to a place where I don't even know how to get to the nearest Wal-Mart....or if there is even a Wal-Mart in Ohio!

Last week at FBC, Smyrna

2007-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

This was Derrick's last week at FBC Smyrna. I will be there next week but he will be gone next week for work and then we are moving the next weekend. We have taught in the preschool area for 4 years and we got a beautiful picture from all of our friends as a going away gift. They all signed the back and it will look beautiful hanging in our new house. I mentioned how it is going to be so weird not going to FBC anymore, but I know that God has another church in Ohio that will be just as wonderful.