reasons (for us) NOT to have a dog

Not in any order...

1. They stink.
2. Their hair sheds and gets over many things such as:
- blankets
- furniture
- carpet
- pillows
-food
3. The constantly have to be let "in" and "out". Usually right when you are in the middle of something.
4. When you are eating, they won't leave your side.
5. They lick EVERYTHING
6. They jump on you
7. Sometimes, when they greet a stranger, they sniff them in parts that I won't mention.
8. They have to eat.
9. You have to buy special food for them.
10. You have to pay for shots, and doctors trips for them.
11. You have to bathe them.
12. You have to take them to get groomed!
13. They sit in your living room and chew on bones.
14. The reason you give them bones is to get them to stop bothering you for attention!
15. When you want to go on vacation, somebody has to watch them. "Favors" aren't fun.
16. They have throw -up accidents.
17. They have poop accidents.
18. They bark at anything.
19. If you want to have them trained, you have to train them! It takes a lot of time.
20. If you don't want to train them, you have to pay and send them away to school.
21. Sometimes dogs run away.
22. Some people are allergic to dogs.
23. Some people can't come over to your house if you have a dog because of reason #22.
24. They don't like to sit in a cage while you are at work all day.
25. If you don't put them in a small little area, they will have accidents, under your bed.
26. They get old, and delusional.
27. They manage to make the most annoying sounds imaginable.
28. They poop all over your back yard.
29. They don't clean up after themselves.
30. If you have a dog, you WILL step in it's poop.
31. You have to have them spayed or neutered, you know why.
32. If your dogs has puppies, trust me, it is the worst smell in the world!
33. Puppies eat your favorite toys/shoes/anything.
34. They want to sleep with you. And won't take no for an answer.
35. They need exercise.
36. You have to take them for walks.
37. They drink out of your toilet.
38. They get into the garbage.
39. They snore.
40. They take over your furniture.
41. You can't get their pee smell out of your carpet.
42. Their hair gets on your cloths.


I may add to this list later.
Don't get me wrong, I do like dogs. In fact, I always feel bad for them, so I give them my food, which of cousre they repay me by gassing. :)

watching Alfred Hitchcock

One time, a few months ago, me and Darrin were going through the Oh- so - loved $5 movie bin at Wal Mart. My pick was Alfred Hitchcocks "20 movie classics". Since we have finished our King of Queens, we now have either a black and white SILENT movie on, or just an old black and white movie. I can't believe Darrin likes these! But in fact, he is more into them than I am! Just wish Anna was here to watch them with us!

Here is something I thought of today:

My all time favorite candy is saltwater/ laffy taffy. Hands down. Don't get me wrong, I love all candy (especially good and plentys which I keep a stash of in my kitchen) but TAFFY is my favorite.

Second thing I realized is my go-to flavor is COTTON CANDY. Weather it is gum, ice cream, suckers, taffy or the piece of heaven itself, it is another favorite of mine.

Yesterday was a great day.
Darrin made me breakfast and brought it to me in bead ( he made his specialty; framed eggs. YUM!!)
Then Darrin took me to Tybee Island and we found (ok, I found two) but we found 16 sand dollars! I couldn't quite capture them on a camera, so you can google them. They are so incredible! I am in the process of cleaning, drying and bleaching now. My favorite part was just walking up and down the beach with Darrin, smelling the salty air, feeling the cool water on my feet, and thinking of how incredible God is! I don't know how people can observe nature, and not be in awe of what God has done! Or even think that nature could just happen!

After the beach we came home, I did some laundry and then broke out our new hair cutting kit! Yes, Darrin actually let me cut his hair! And it turned out pretty darn good if you ask us :) We also received some more wedding gifts, and a package from home. Kathy sent us a box of goodies, plus some socks I had left there :D

Darrin made nachos as I cleaned up, and then Blake and Megan came over to eat. Then we all went to river street for dessert, and walked up and down river street. My favorite thing was going on this little tug boat looking thing and going across the river to South Carolina for a little bit.

Well, Alfred is calling my name :)

Last day of being 19

Here are a few highlights of my year:


February 2008: Was still living at Grace, with a new (nightmare) roommate. I celebrated my birthday at Meema's with family (hm, even one of my estranged cousins was there now that I think of it) at then flew to Orlando to meet Darrin for the weekend. Kathy had sold Cherry Bean and it was about to go down hill.

March 2008: Still at Grace, working full time at Cherry Bean Coffee. Took a road trip with the Dicks to Savannah to see Darrin over everyone's spring break. Got back the day before Easter, first miserable holiday with Mom and Dad separated :(

April 2008: Was still in AWANA every Wednesday, and then after that spending the night at Meema and Poppa's with Joe and Elsie.
I think on the 24th was when the D process started. Oh yes, this was a TERRIBLE month! I remember! I had no home, I missed Darrin so bad, was haveing anxiety attacks and was on the verge of a major breakdown! Its all coming back to me :) I will say this, the Lord was with me all the way, he really taught me a lot. Quit my job at Cherry Bean.

May 2008: Couldn't wait to finish school, flew out on Joe's birthday to see Darrin. Got engaged on May 8th! Darrin came back for a visit, and then I counted the days until there would be no more separation periods. Started working at the Target Deli, and started wedding planning!

June 2008: Officially moved in with my in-laws. Had my own room and everything! Still working at Target and planning the wedding. Counseled at CYIA. Darrin came home for good!

July 2008: Worked at Target, and was introduced to Ford. Went on family vacation with Dad to Adventureland!

August 2008: Quit Target, started working full time at Ford, as my Mother in Law's assistant! We had a BLAST!! Spend many weekends at Riverland! Throughout the summer we went out to Dennis and Kathy's wonderful get away place in Blair, NE.

September 2008: Basically got paid to plan my wedding, bonded with Kathy. Started going to school concerts and volleyball games! Went to Savannah to scout out an apartment, take engagement pictures, and take a mini vacation.

October 2008: PONCA!!! We didn't celebrate holloween, but went to Ponca State Park with the Burke family.

November 2008: Worked, planned the wedding. Had Thanksgiving at Mom's with the Dicks' ( - Shawn and Anna)

December 2008: Back to Savannah to be in Chris and Jennifer's wedding, and to secure our Apartment. Christmas festivities! Wedding countdown begins...

January 2009: Stopped working at Ford. Had my Wedding! Moved to Savannah, GA.

February 2009: Am happily married! Looking for a job. Feeling incredibly loved and blessed.

Thank you for your time :) Now here are some pictures...


Christmas with Dad...

One of my wedding showers...

Engagement Pictures in Savannah...

On Vacation!

Me in Ashland (Photo courtesy of Joe)

I'll be the One...

Today Darrin went to meet with his Academic Advisor. I decided to stay home and "prep" all of the fresh fruits and veggies we bought on our (hopefully) monthly grocery run. Before he left, he set up an i-tunes play list for me to jam to while he was out.

I put on my lovely apron and washed and dried all my romaine and iceberg lettuce, and put it in a tupperware just for salad. (Thanks Kat!)
Then I put aside two other tupperwares, one for salad veggies, and one for snacking veggies.
I chopped and cut all of my green peppers, celery, carrots, and red cabbage. I didn't do anything to my cucumber, because I don't want it to get slimy.
Side note: Red Cabbage is a beautiful, delicious vegetable. It is perfect for a quick salad. I wish my sister and I were neighbors so we could split one. One head of cabbage produces a lot of food! I didn't think my neighbors would want any...but they did enjoy the banana nut bread I made for them :)

Anyway, when Darrin got home he said that our neighbor heard me listening to Backstreet Boys...I am not ashamed I do love pop music, but I was so embarrassed! Perfect timing for your smoke break, Shawna! Oh well...better that than the BG's :)

I miss Mings...today I tried to eat Chinese food...it was a disaster! I would teach myself the ways of cooking chinese (since Darrin bought be a wok from IKEA) but I know it is complicated to make from scratch. Actually...my Grandmother sent me a recipe for sweet and sour chicken...I'll let you know how that goes :)

I have an interview tomorrow! It is at a Chevorlet car dealership... I don't know how promising it is...I'll let you know on that too. I called the bank I applied at today, they don't want my services. shoot.

Well, my house is spotless, me and Darrin cleaned yesterday, so I am going to write some letters. Thank you to all the people who send me lovely notes :) I love getting letters in the mail!


I miss him...SO much...


This is from Christmas!

Just a Couple of Young Kids in Love...

Here are a few pictures from our wonderful honeymoon.
Thanks to Darrin's parents, we were given a (free) honeymoon to Orange Lake Resort, right outside Orlando, Florida...about 10 minutes from the real Disney World!
We had so much fun, it was a lovely vacation, and we are very blessed to have been able to have done what we did.

black nails.

I have short, stubby nails. Since I was sixteen I have had help with my nails...it has been my therapy to get them done. Now, I have decided to go back to doing them myself. We will see how long this goes...right now my nail color is black.

This morning we went to CANVAS church. A new churchplant from Atlanta that seems well organized and modern. It meets in a movie theater for now, has an amazing worship band, and a love for people, through God. Doug (the pastor) talked about what it means to really follow God. He challenged us this week to let go of that thing that we aren't letting God have control of, or to do the thing we are feeling led to do. For me, I am challenging myself just to spend more time with God, by reading the bible and seriously praying.

Last night we watched the movie FIREPROOF. I wasn't very excited to see it, but it was an amazing movie. GO SEE IT! Its not a cheesy christany movie...its real life.

Yesterday I washed our sheets and towels for the first time. And was allowed to fold them how I wanted! (HA MOM!!!) Except that I fold my towels the exact same way as my mother taught me, over and over again. Ahhh. I am so much like Karen in so many ways. I see it more and more everyday. Its not a bad thing though, I am so thankful for all she has taught me. I think after I have been feeding Darrin, and keeping things clean, he is too. I am thankful for Kathy too, she has taught Darrin so much about loving me, staying on top of things and cleaning! YAY! I hope I am a good mom too...

(next week...DADS! :) )

I really miss all my friends and family back home...but I really love it here! It is just weird to think about how far away from "home" I am.

I finished the book "The Diplomats Wife" (thanks to Kelsey for the loan of it) it was so good! It had a great story, characters that you felt for, it kept my reading for the next page, if you know what I mean. I LOVED it.

Darrin and I think we are Doug and Kerri from King of Queens. We now own 4 seasons (thanks to Circuit City for going out of business) we have been watching them everyday since we got here.

I can't think of any good conversations...but me and Darrin have been laughing a lot, does that count? :)

Loves

always kiss me goodnight.

Today I deleted a lot of people off of my facebook. rude? I think not. The people that I chose to delete were the ones who made me mad on facebook, put up inappropriate images, and were not encouraging.

I am job searching. Problem is, not very many companies are hiring! I am not worried, I know the Lord has something for me, I am just excited to see where He will use me.

Tomorrow we get our dining room table. I am so excited! I will put pictures up shortly.

I am missing my family, but am beginning to feel at home here. I love my apartment, and the neighbors are nice. I cannot complain.

The title of this post is a quote that Darrin applied (vinyl) to a wall in our bedroom. He actually does all the wall hangings, as he goes through the necessary precautions to make sure that whatever he is hanging is center and straight.

Tonight we went to B&D burgers with some new friends. It was a lot of fun, very delicious, and their entrees were 2 for the price of 1. Yay!

Mary (to the middle- aged- over- worked waitress) "do you think I can sample a fried pickle? I have never had one, and I may like to order them as my side"

Mikey (to the middle- aged- over- worked waitress) "she is from NEBRASKA!" (Like its a foreign country)

Waitress "well the cooks normally don't do that, but I will ask"

a couple minutes later she comes back...

Waitress (in a hurried, hushed voice )" well its not their normal practice, but they said they will do it"

a couple more minutes later...

one freshly fried, fried pickle! ( I thought she would just pull one off the next order going out)
I love pickles...and I love fried food, but I went with the curly fries.

like a slumber party.

the move went amazing, hardly any glitches.

we are so thankful and humbled because the Lord has blessed us and given us way more than we need, or deserve.

we are 60% done with unpacking, but today we took a day off. after going to one of my all time favorite restaurants with some friends, me and darrin had a lovely king of queens marathon. our couch is the perfect size to accommodate the both of us, comfortably.

here is an interaction for anna.

(disclaimer: people in this town are known for how rude they are, anywhere you go, they act like you are just a big inconvenience to society!)

me and darrin at parkers (equivalent to bp)

store clerk with long long nails, painted with all these colors and designs. looks like the bedroom of a 12 year old girl.
"that will be $2.11"
darrin goes to swipe his card
store clerk "ug, can i see your id?" (like we are trying to steal two fountain drinks)
we then finish, killing her with the kindness that only the spirit can provide.

then we realize we need a mini thing of ice cream
this time, she knows its darrin dick for real, so she doesn't ask for i.d.
darrin "thank you, have a nice day"
mary looking down at her own nice french manicured nails, then to the clerk "i like your nails!!!! :D :D "

thats it.
pictures of our finished apartment soon to come.

loves