After the concert, we came back to my house, along with Shelli, and spent a few hours just talking, rehashing old times, and generally laughing it up. The four of us, Holly, Kim, Shelli, and I, were quite the crew in college. At different times, in college and at New Life Ranch, the summer camp we all worked at, we have all been roommates in some form of another with each other. So many of my crazy fun memories include all of them together, or at least two of them at any given time. Our conversation Friday night covered a plethora of topics ranging from flying squirrels, bubble wrap, late night runs to stores/restaurants, impromptu trips to town 3-5 hours away [Wacky Wednesday, oh yeah!], and inexpensively priced ladies of indiscretion . My husband and Shelli’s husband amused themselves by playing Wii and trying not to listen to our ‘girls only’ conversations and laughter! Oh, it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I miss all of us together. We all feed off each other’s personalities and humor. What a great time!!!

I was also very glad that Dave got the opportunity to spend time with them as well. He has been able to know Shelli quite well over the years, but this was his first time to meet Holly and Kim. He really enjoyed meeting them.

Dave and I finished our Saturday with some fun couple time shopping. We purchased our 1st anniversary gifts for each other [which is in a few weeks!], and bought new glasses. Dave needed new frames and lenses, and I had to get glasses for the first time. For the time being, I only need them when driving at night. Oh, and watching movies in a dark theater. It was an expensive Saturday, haha.

All in all, I had a most wonderful time…..

So, what has been going on in the world of this green-eyed princess? WOW. Lots.

I have been married for almost 11 months now, and am digging married life! I thoroughly enjoy being a wife, even witht he challenges and growth opportunites I have had over this last year. I have learned I am a selfish woman, and God saw fit to help rid me of my selfishness by blessing me with an equally selfish husband, who is also really good at sharpening me and holding a big mirror in front of my “ugly mug”, in the spiritual sense. That has been my biggest challenge in marriage thus far, I believe: having someone know me so well that he sees every wart on my heart. However, the beautiful flip side is the greatest joy of marriage: haing that same man graciously love me unconditionally despite all those warts. God’s grace is becoming so real, near, and dear to me. It is also a joy learning to extend that same love and grace to my husband, as I see his “ugly mug” and love him anyway. Dave is a great encourager, and an awesome friend and confidant. He is so much fun! We have had many fun times full of laughter. I think he has the best laugh ever!

We move in August to an awesome house in west Fayetteville. We are renting, and have the best landlords ever-our neighbors and family friends. We love our place. It is beautiful and very spacious. Also, Jasper love the fenced-in back yard.

We became a one-car family this summer as well. Dave currently rides his bike 8 miles round trip to and from work 3 days a week, weather permitting. So far it has worked out nicely. He is getting really good exercise. On the not-so-good weather days, we carpool. Its been working out well, and saves us gas and insurance, not to mention yearly car registration and maintenance.

Speaking of biking, we have been doing a lot of that together for pleasure the last few weeks. Fayetteville has a great city wide trail system that they are continually expanding and improving. Last Sunday Dave and I biked 23 miles up and down the trail. Our dear friend Nicole joined us for most of our excursion. We had an excellent time, and Dave and I fell exhausted into bed that evening.

So as not to make this a too lengthy post, I will close for now. I will try to be more dilligent about updating more frequently, so stayed tuned for more posts coming to the green eyed view soon!

So, Jasper [aka Prince Jasper Shane Falkor Hamrick] is the big 3 today. According to dog years, he apparently is 21. Dave joked that he was going to take Jasper out drinking tonight to celebrate. Uh-huh. We are a weird couple. We love our dog, and humanize him way more than we should….

Jasper celebrated his birthday so far by playing with one of his birthday presents, a new “Kanga”, which is a squeaky “Boodha” brand stuffed terry cloth kangaroo. He gets one every year for his birthday, because he destroys one every year about 6 months after receiving it. He loves his Kanga. He also received a squishy “Aflac” duck from his ‘daddy’, and kept eyeing it this morning like he is not sure what to do with it. Once he gets over the joy of having a new Kanga, though, I think he will enjoy his new duck. It probably has about 2 days to live before Jas chews it to pieces. For such a small dog, he certainly likes to chew anything that belongs to him to bits. He has STRONG jaws.

Happy Birthday Jasper Shane!!! You are loved!

I am learning a lot through the pre-marital counseling our minister and his wife are leading Dave and I through. Kent and Kristen have really been a blessing as they have been open and shared with us their time and allowed us a glimpse into their own marital journey. We have been given wise counsel and feel better equipped for marriage.

The weeks left are filled with activity. I can count off the weekends by the showers, parties, or 10 year high school reunions we have scheduled [the reunion would be mine…sigh…time flies]. There is not a weekend left that does not have something planned. I am excited for all the events, and humbled and blessed by the upcoming showers.
My cup is overflowing. God has blown me away time after time after time with His love, His blessing, His mercy, and His grace.

This will most likely be my last post until after the wedding/honeymoon. We will be enjoying a 2 week honeymoon, and will be going to Cancun, Mexico. YIPPEE!!! I am looking forward to my first real vacation in many, many years. And this time, I will get to travel and vacation with my husband for the very first time!!

Love,

We will be getting married on November 17 at 3 pm. That is 2 months and 27 days away from today! Not that anyone is counting….. haha. It has certainly been a busy month. It seems either I or Dave and I have something going on most nights of the week. But it has been a fun month, so the busyness has been ok. We are in the middle of wedding planning, and I feel really good about the progress. I have a LOT done. I think I have surprised people, haha. But its been so much fun, and so good to get the big decisions and tasks accomplished. I want to enjoy these few months and not leave things until the last minute. Avoiding stress is my goal!!

Monday, Dave got his brand spanking new iMac!!!! You can learn more about it here. It was a lot of fun setting it up and seeing a bit of what it can do. Its so pretty, and FAST.

Tonight, Dave and I will be getting our engagement photos taken by our friend Jason, and after that will have our first session of pre-marital counseling with our pastor and his wife. We read the first 2 chapters in the book we will be going through, The Marriage Builder, by Larry Crabb. It is a REALLY good book–very Christ focused and centered. I think I am really going to enjoy it, and it will be a wonderful tool for Dave and I as we begin to build our marriage.

Update complete.

Click on the picture to view full size!!

Cleaning is FUN!!

I had a bad “key” day on Friday. I arrived at work a few minutes early, and realized I did not have my work keys. These keys are critical to my work day, because they let me get my cash drawer out of the vault–which I need, most epecially on a Friday. Well, my keys were not to be found. I could not remember ever taking them out of my purse, but I knew that they had to be at home, most likely on my coffee table [and they were]. Normally, it would not be THAT big of a deal, because we all have a spare key locked in a key box. But, for some reason, I did not have any spare keys in the key box for my drawer. I was absolutely unable to get my cash drawer out until lunchtime, when I was able to run home and get my keys. By using the money I had bought for the day, along with buying small bills from co-workers, I was able to function and perform my duties for the morning. Boy was it frustrating!! I was working out of the empty drawer my cash drawer goes into, and just had to pile the money up in as neat as piles as possible. Loose coin was scattered everywhere from the open coin rolls I was having to work from. I felt so disorganized–and I looked it. My boss enjoyed poking fun at me and pointing out my less than tidy and unconventional drawer to a couple of out “regular” members. I was a little embarrassed opening my drawer.

Then, at the end of the work day, I went to the corporate offices of one of our main membership groups, because we have a drop box for deposits there. When I arrived at the building, I put my keys in my purse, locked my door, and got out of my car with my entry badge and the key I needed to get into the drop box. When I returned to my car, I realized I had left my purse in the car….with my keys inside…..with my car locked. Yes, I locked my keys in my car. And the spare key….was in my purse as well. I really started feeling like I should have not left the house today. I went back inside the corporate building to the security office, to see if one of the guys had some way of helping. They apparently are unable to help people get into their cars, even though they have some of the equipment necessary to do so, and gave me the number to Pop a Lock. So…its 5:00, and I am waiting for the Pop A Lock people to come pop my lock. The ETA is 30-45 minutes. I had the deposits, which had to be posted before we closed at 5:30, and no way to get back to my office. I called my manager to explain the situation, and he had to come get the deposits in order for them to be posted on time. I felt like the most irresponsible employee in the world. I was feeling lousy, and just wanted to cry. I kept telling myself it was no big deal, and praying and asking what God was wanting to teach me through this, in order to keep my emotions at bay. I did….ok. I got teary eyed…I admit it!

These two situations, along with the whole car situation making me late in meeting my friend Nicole for her bridal shower that night, could have threatened my Joy, if I had let it. I really had to stop and realize that some wonderful, sweet things had happened that day. God had really blessed me and filled me with Joy. My day really was good, in spite of being tough and trying. I had a sweet time of prayer and journaling with God that morning, and a great run filled with praise and worship. At lunch, I had a spur of the moment opportunity to meet with my friend Kristen, and it was such a wonderful, encouraging, and sweet time. Our conversation was good, and I was given some great words of wisdom and challenge. And my evening was great. I went with Nicole to her bridal showers, and afterwards was able to spend a short time talking with her as well, which was really good as well.

I am trying to learn that I cannot let my situations and circumstances [or my EMOTION] control my responses and behavior. I admit, on my way home to meet Nicole, I almost lost it. I was ready to just forget the shower and go curl up in bed and cry and feel sorry for myself. But, by the grace of God alone, I was to get the focus OFF MYSELF, and back where it needed to be. It took conscious effort, and a lot of it. I had to fight for the Joy. I had to reflect on all God had done. And then, all was….good. Really good.

I am enjoying learning these things. I am thankful for work of God in my life. He is doing some really incredible things in my life right now! I have been amazed and blown away and awestruck at Him and what He is doing. He is SO AMAZING, and FAITHFUL, and GOOD, and HOLY and absolutely GLORIOUS!!!!

Encourage: To give courage to; to give or increase confidence of success; to inspire with courage, spirit, hope, or strength of mind; to embolden; to animate; to incite; to inspirit.

Discourage: To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits; to deject; to deprive of confidence. To deter from any thing; with from. To attempt to repress or prevent; to dissuade from; as, to discourage an effort.

For me to admit to having allergies is significant. Growing up, I do not remember having problems with allergies. I remember in my early college years, my friends would start complaining about their allergies with the Spring weather, and I would be sympathetic and tell them I don’t have trouble with pollen, mold, and/or whatever else floats around in the Spring air.

Then, at the end of college, I began my denial period. I would get a “head cold” at the end of every winter/beginning of spring. I still didn’t believe my symptoms were allergy related, and would vehemently deny having allergies. I simply thought that I just happened to get my winter sickness after everyone else. That my malady was a Spring cold. I don’t have allergies. I never have had them before, why should that change?

The last few years, however, I have come to accept that I have developed allergies. I suffer from allergies. I have begun to notice a pattern with how I suffer. Last year, I began getting a dry cough that simply would not go away. I would cough and cough intermittently throughout the day, with it becoming annoyingly frequent in the evenings and at bedtime. With it being all in my throat, my voice was affected, and I lost the use of it for what seemed to be several weeks [although in reality it was probably only one or two].

The cough has returned over this past weekend, and I am able to finally admit and realize that it is due to allergens that love to pop up with the beauty of Spring. I have the same dry cough, and am anticipating voice loss soon. I really hope and pray this is not the case, because I very much need my voice in the upcoming weeks. I do NOT need to lose it! I further settled into my role as an allergy sufferer by taking a daily dose of Claritin. I don’t know if this will work or not, but I am willing to try anything. Not having had much experience in the area of admitted allergies, I have to start with what I think may work. We shall see [and...by 'we', I guess I mean "I" shall see....haha...such a funny little saying..."we shall see"...]

Anyway, I am now a full-fledge member in the allergy club. I guess it comes with adulthood and growing up and older and all that fun stuff!

Coughingly Yours,