The Past

Well, it has been SEVERAL months since I posted, and after several threats (by so called friends), I thought I would post something new!

I have been thinking a lot about the past recently. Truly crazy for someone who is about to get married, but at the same time complelty necessary. I heard a song in church with a line that inspired this post.. "The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned." The service was all about wanting to stay in the "familiar" because the future is so scary! When I serve at church on Sundays, I hear the service twice. Each time, this line really hit me over the head. There are things that I have held on to because they were familiar, definitly not healthly. In fact, quite the opposite. But those places no longer fit, because I have learned so much!
I want to make an effort to let go of things that hinder me. Thoughts, fears, and worry. They have not helped me thus far and will only get in the way!

Year in Review

Sitting down in front of the computer, I wanted to reflect on the year and come up with some "highlights" that best represent my year.

* Realized to get to a better place you have to trudge through some bad places

* Understand that these bad places made me into a person I am proud to be

* Sat in a room in solitary and felt the weight of the world taken off my shoulders

* Sat in the same room and shook my head and cried like a four year old

* Watched my friend Kori create a new family through the birth of her wonderful son

* Watched Melissa continue to be super-mom with one of the funniest kids I know

* Watched my nephew hit several home runs during a baseball game

* Spent some lazy days with my parents

* Survived the toughest teaching year of my career

* Completed my Introduction to Research class that will leave me one class away from a MASTERS degree

* Practiced Forgiveness

* Found hope in the only place there is any

* Purchased one of the coolest dogs ever

*GOT ENGAGED

I am looking forward to a new year and have expectation that it will be a great year. I look forward to bettering myself and continue to become the person I was meant to be!

Lots of Work

What you see before you is a screen shot of how I have spent many a night during the past four months. I am in my final two classes at IUSB to get my masters degree. I have looked at this computer screen, shuffled through stacks of papers, suffered through late night Wednesday classes (after teaching all day), cried, yelled, but in the end...PERSEVERED! Tonight, I submitted the final part to my proposal about 20 minutes ago. This proposal will serve as the "permission" that IUSB needs to grant me in order to carry out research. This research will be the conclusion to my degree. It has been a long process, but I am darn proud of myself. I am also proud of Jeremy for not killing me in the process...Many times my yelling was at him when he couldn't FIX a computer problem. Tonight he actually created a piece of my paper that was crucial, that my computer would not open correctly. All in all...what an experience! Bring on the pay raise! All $2.00 of it! ha!

New Moon- Opening Night

Melissa and I went to see New Moon on opening night at the Chippewa theater in South Bend. It started at 7:00 and we got there at least 30 minutes early...Melissa purchased tickets early, but we still had to wait in a long line halfway across the lobby. It was worth it. We snapped a lot of pics inside the theater, (to the dismay I'm sure of those behind us) but this is the only one post-worthy. The movie was all that I wanted it to be, and Edward still rules over Jacob! (Right Mel?)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

This weekend was the weekend to start decorating the house for Christmas..this of course included the dog! I put up a tree in the dining room, (candy cane theme) and did some other odds and ends around the house. We went to Target and Behold! Christmas dog sweaters, so of course, Fritz had to have one!

Fritz Leon

Where to begin??? Jeremy finally caved in and said I could adopt a dog. After a long search and a possible dog scam, I finally found what I considered a perfect dog. Housebroken, cute, and local. (Not from some scammer in Africa) So I took the day off work, and my friend Lori and I went to LaGrange to pick him up. He was instantly friendly and loving. He was just relaxing on the car ride home and nothing seemed to bother him.
The next day, I took him to a groomer up the street and he came home looking and smelling like a new dog. Complete with a little decoration on his collar! Less than 24 hours later, Fritz was let outside (by the fault of one whom shall remain nameless). I couldnt believe it. After all that he is just gone????? So we canvased the neighborhood and even made up fliers. The gas station next door said they saw him walk through the store earlier and he smelled great! UGGG....Walking through the neighborhood squeaking a squeaky toy, turned up no dog! I was devastated.
FINALLY Jeremy and his brother Jason both went out on their bikes yelling for Fritz (imagine that scene if you will)...Jason found him across the highway sitting on the porch of an abandoned house. He is home safe and sound. What a day!

American Idol

Melissa and I went to Chicago to the AllState Arena to see the American Idol concert. It has become a tradition the past 6 years or so. This trip was quite eventful. We were supposed to leave early to go shopping, but Hayden came down with Pink Eey. When we left, Melissa had contracted it (or something!) as well. She was pretty much miserable the entire time and still had a good time!
The concert itself was great, and my man Danny Gokey had a voice like butter! So smooth and warm! Yum!