The many joys of life.....

Do you ever have those moments where things are just so ridiculous that you just have to laugh. I mean, you really just have to take a moment and release all of that built up tension in one BIG hearty laugh.

I had one of those days yesterday....it's basically been a whole week building up to the "cake icing" yesterday. Let me begin at the beginning.

Since Bill and I got married, we have spent about $5000 on our cars. Now, it's not as if we have old clunkers....We have a 2002 Toyota Camry and a 2001 Ford Focus. I think it's just been that both cars have reached their "needy" points at the same time...not terribly fun when you're trying to buy a house and add nifty new things to it such as furniture...but at least we're blessed with vehicles that usually run and AAA for when they don't.

About 3 weeks ago we were at a movie and had noticed that one of the rear tires on the Camry was a bit low...so on our way to the movie we stopped and put some air in the tire...just to be safe. Well then, when we come out of the movie we have a flat. But no problem, we got the tire changed and went along our merry way.

Then last week I needed to make a quick trip to the grocery store, I ran out to hop in the Focus, and realized I had a flat tire. I run in to tell my husband and then hopped in the Camry. No problem...my husband got the tire changed and we fixed it the next day.

Then on Thursday, Bill went to get in the Focus to get some gas and it started acting CRAZY!!! I mean it was sputtering and backfiring...quite honestly, you would have thought the car was possessed. So we immediately call our mechanic and he tells us that if we hurry and get the car in, they might be able to fix it before the July 4th holiday. So we did...Bill drove the Focus and I followed him to the mechanic....all I said was, "honey, DO NOT STOP for ANYTHING!!!" I figured that as long as we could keep rolling we would make it...

So we get to the mechanic and they put the car on the machine to figure out what's wrong with it. They keep it for 4 hours and we go and pick it up. And then $157.00 later they nicely tell us that there is nothing wrong with it that they can find. .....Really!!??!! Did you DRIVE the car???

So then last night my husband calls me at work and tells me that the car is DEAD...completely DEAD. It won't start, the lights won't turn on...NOTHING! Which of course means that we have a dead battery. SO we load up the old battery and take it to Auto Zone.....by this point I am not taking a chance. I want them to test that dad-blame battery to make sure that it's really dead.

They do and sure enough, deader than a doornail. So we purchase our new battery and are now happily driving two healthy cars once again....

Sometimes you just have to laugh....it doesn't help to get uptight or upset about it...it's become a bit of an adventure to drive our cars...we never know what's next :-)

Life in Louisville.....

I wanted to start by including a few pics from our day. I was one of those brides who wasn't really keen on having a wedding.....and my husband was adamant that we were. So I conceded...since I knew it was so important to him....and boy am I glad I did. Our wedding day was SOOO incredibly special. It was full of laughter, tears and way too many sweet moments to count.

And now I've been a wife for almost 2 months...and I could not be happier. My husband is a true gift from the Lord. We recently finished up a Bible study called, "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. This Bible study is a MUST for anyone who is married, engaged, or even dating. As a woman, I know how important love is in a relationship, but I never knew how important respect was to a man. In fact, to a man, respect is MORE important than love.....yes, you heard me right. To a man, his need for respect supersedes his need to be loved. Now as a woman, this is a foreign concept. We, as women, would rather be anything than unloved. We crave love like we crave breath. But that need does not hold true in the same way for a man. AMAZING!!! ....but true.

And as a woman, I didn't know what it was to respect a man, particularly my husband. I found myself acting in disrespectful ways without even realizing it. I could come across as disrespectful to my husband just by the tone of my voice...go figure. Don't get me wrong, I am by NO MEANS an expert...I mean I've only been married for two months. But we joined this study with several couples ranging in married lengths from 45 years to 2 years and they all said the same thing.....this study changed the way they spoke to one another...it changed their whole behavior toward each other.

So, if you get a chance...if you have a spare minute, check out this study....it's truly an eye opening experience.

We're getting MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so apparently I've jumped quite a few spaces ahead... :)

Well, Bill and I actually got officially engaged on Easter weekend. We love to hike and go camping and were home visiting Bill's family Easter weekend. Well, we had hiked to the top of a large hill and Bill had called me over under the guise of asking me a question...I knew he was talking, but I was focused on a tag on my shirt that was driving me batty....I wasn't aware of a word he said until he went down on one knee....that caught my attention but I was still unsure...thinking to myself, "is he doing what I THINK he's doing????....surely not!!!". Oh but he was!! He then asked me to marry him and after many happy tears I answered with a resounding....YES!!!!

We're actually getting married on May 17th of THIS YEAR!!!! The reason for the rush is that my brother has enlisted in the Air Force and ships out on June 1st, so if i wanted him at my wedding it had to be soon...so May 17th it is.

So, please pray that all goes well and that we are able to get all taken care of before the big day.

My sweetie

Here's a pic us at New years. I spent a week in Louisville for the holidays...it was GREAT! I've met LOTS of family and friends, but we're flying to Orlando to meet his mom and step-father on Valentines...I'm nervous ;-)

WOW....I mean really, WOW!!

Ok, so many of you know that I had applied for a visa to move to England. Well, September 6th that visa was declined by the British Consul. They say, when God closes one door He opens another. I had joined E-Harmony a while back but had never really done anything with it. On September 25th, God brought Bill Campbell in to my life....using E-Harmony.

I have never been a firm believer in on-line dating, but I have to tell you, God was in this meeting. Bill is an amazing man, he's a Godly man and genuinely kind. I look back to my life 3 months ago and I cannot imagine not having him. We are taking each day as it comes and we continue to pray constantly about our relationship. But I have to tell you, I am happier than I have ever been.

I never thought that God was all that good at romance, but I've changed my mind since meeting Bill :) I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God brought him in to my life. I'm amazed and giddily happy. So, if you know someone wonderful who is having a bit of trouble meeting the "right" person, please tell them about E-Harmony. Just tell them to sign up and pray...God will do the rest.

Thank you Father for blessing me with this wonderful man. And I just ask that You continue to be our center and keep us focused on You. Amen