Life in 2009

Hey guys!

So here on the LAST day of 2009 I find myself sitting in my living room writing to you. We have had an INCREDIBLY eventful year! Unfortunately I have no pictures to upload at this time unlike my wonderful wife.

Anyway, here we embark upon the roller coaster of '09. Get in, strap up, and hold on! We shall start at the beginning. It will be a little boring; however, it will give a good overview of the rest of what is to come. Imagine it as the initial climb of the roller coaster...kind of boring, yet good overview.

Late in '08 we moved into an apartment outside of town. It was not the greatest place we have ever lived. However, it did get us out of a horrible situation with the first house we moved into here in Kingsport. Our new and improved landlord was wonderful! I actually grew up with his children. His wife homeschooled all three of his children. So I had known them through that aspect of my life for quite some time. Marc has also been involved in my musical shaping. He is the conductor of a city wide 4th of July musical that he and my father and a few other influential people from our community had put together. Needless to say, the Strands have been family friends for quite a while.

That brings us into the first little tumble or drop on the roller coaster. At this point (we are now to the beginning of the year) Nikki began working at Cardiovascular Assc. and I began working at Bookshelf Central. We both really enjoy our jobs. We are also hoping to advance in each of our personal fields. As far as positions within the company go, Nikki has quite a bit of room to expand and for myself...well I have no higher to go. I manage the whole she-bang! Anyway, I digress.

As you have no doubt already read previously, Nikki is now pregnant. We are having a baby girl! We are going to name her Crissie Grace. She is already a huge joy in our lives! She is growing like a weed! As a matter of fact, last night we were laying in bed last night and I was able to lay my head on Nikki's tummy and I could her Crissie Grace's heartbeat! It's amazing how much I already love my little girl!

Also you have also probably read that we have bought our first house. We started moving in on October 1. We have now almost totally got everything set up. However, that by no means we are totally done with everything! We found some mold in the basement that I have now totally removed. Unfortunately, the more I worked in the basement the more problems I found. One fine example is this. There were some metal shelving units down there. They were quite rusted, so obviously I pulled them out of the basement. However, on the very first unit that I took out, as soon as I moved it away from the wall, the wall fell! Well, come to find out, behind the "wall" (which wasn't even a wall it was just stucco!) there was nothing but dirt! It was just stucco! No brick, nothing! Just dirt. So I had to then brick it all in because literally everything in the basement is load bearing! Fun stuff.

So that almost brings us up to speed. It just leaves Christmas! Nikki and I recently had a conversation that we both agreed that this Christmas has been the best for us so far! We think '10 will be slightly better just because we will have a beautiful baby girl to celebrate it with us! Anyway, why was it so great you ask? Well hold your horses and I'll tell you! Yes we got some AMAZING gifts, like I got a puppy from Nikki (Timberwolf Hybrid!), I got Nikki a Keurig coffee pot. (if you don't know what that is, look it up!) We got ourselves a new LCD 42" TV. Ed and Kathy got us a Blu-ray player and a GPS. Mom and Dad got us a new grill. Kelley and Saralynn gave us cash (always welcome!) and a pretty stinking sweet wine rack! But no, those are not what made Christmas great. Christmas was great because we got to see lots of family and emotions got the best of us very little! Grandparents, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends - they all made it marvelous! Nikki's dad also got married a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic wedding! She now has a step-mother who, in my opinion, is absolutely hysterical. Getting to be a part of that just made Christmas even more memorable! However, beyond even all that, Jesus Christ is really the reason for the season and He is the one that made it so explicitly, splendidly great!

Two days ago Mom and Dad celebrated their 25th anniversary. Which is setting a great example to Nikki and I. We have only been married for a little over 2 years now, and have loved every minute of it. I can't and don't want to imagine my life without Nikki. She is more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife! God definitely knew what He was doing when He made her specifically for me! I pray that we will have many, many more years to come!

As we enter the new year tomorrow, my prayer for all of you is that you seek God's will in everything you do. Always give Him the honor and glory He deserves! May He bless all your endeavors. So long 2009.

Officially...homeowners

Yep, that's right...we closed on our house yesterday afternoon! We are are super stoked about getting moved in and making it into "our home". We went and bought paint yesterday afternoon, and Mikel, David's dad, was going over there this morning to get started!! Hoping to get some boxes and stuff moved in tonight, but won't be sleeping there until the beginning of next week. For one, I have to wait for the paint fumes to "escape" before I hang out in there for long periods of time. For two...Zech, David's best friend, is getting married on Saturday, and David is in the wedding. We will be leaving mid-afternoon tomorrow to head down to Cleveland, and won't be back until Sunday afternoon.

Anywho, I'll continue to add pictures, as we get moved in and settled in, but this is it for now....

:)

1 down, two to go!

So it's official!! I'm now in my second trimester!! I am super excited and shocked at how fast the first one went by! I told David just this weekend that I'm ready to start showing!! This has always been a dream of mine, to be pregnant, and now, I want to have proof (ya know, other than the ultrasounds!!) I go back to the doc on the 9th, the day before we leave for the beach, but just for a check up...can't wait til we know what the little bambino is!!
We close on the house on Wednesday, and I'm am just super stoked about being able to decorate the nursery!!
Just keep our little family in your prayers as we make some major big adjustments in our life!! We feel like we're growing up fast!! :)

Growing like a weed!!

We went back to the doctor for a check up and another u/s this past Tuesday. The baby has a strong healthy heart rate of 155!! We are just getting more and more excited each day! God has truly blessed us with this little peanut and we are just in awe of the things He does for us!! I will be 11 weeks this coming Saturday, which means I am that much closer to being out of this yucky first trimester and moving right along into my second!! We counted the weeks and we figured that we should **crossing fingers** be able to find out the sex of the baby right before Thanksgiving!!

We are looking to be closing on our house on the 30th of this month, but the mortgage guy called the other day and said that we might actually be able to close as soon as this Friday or Monday!! I'm just ready to get into our very own home, and get all settled in!!

Sorry this is so short today...we are short handed here at work and I need to get back to the task at hand!! :)

Oh Baby!!

Well, the news is out!! David and I are expecting our first child on April 10th, 2010!! We are so excited and feel truly blessed!!

I had been wondering what was going on in this crazy body of mine over the last month or so...So, on the morning of August 8th, I took a pregnancy test...and it revealed...TWO LINES!! I was so excited!! I woke David up by jumping on him, screaming, "It has two lines, it has two lines!!!" :) We let it sink in for just about half an hour or so before David gave me the ok to call my mom. I called her and woke her up, without the jumping, but still screaming. LOL She, of course, started crying, saying that was the best birthday present ever!! So throughout the day, we told family members, and simply asked for everything to be kept quiet until I could make it to the doctor.

I went to the doctor on the 26th. We found out that I was 7 weeks and 4 days pregnant!! He did an ultrasound, and we got to the see the little heartbeat!!! It was just so exciting to see that little living being, inside of me!! God truly amazes me. There's nothing more to say...I'm awe struck by His power.

We had been praying that God would bless us with a child, but we also knew in our hearts, that this would only happen in God's own timing....and only then.

I go back to the doctor on September 15th for another check up and an ultrasound. Definitely more news and pictures to come!! :)

Oh how things change!!

I'm taking a break from my hard work of posting insurance payments at work, to type this out. I haven't posted anything in a LONG time, so I figured I needed to do this!



We have had so much going on in our crazy busy life lately!! My friend Maggie, from high school is getting ready to have their first baby, Jake, next month, so Dana and I threw her a shower last month. That was a crazy day in itself, simply because of my drive to Maryville from Kingsport, then to Seymour, and back home. I went directly to Maryville because Gram and Poppy were moving that day, and I simply wanted to see the new house!! :)

I have another close friend, Emily, who is due to have their first child anytime now. She and I have only known each other for a little over a year now, but we've grown close over this past year. I'm so excited for her and Tyler as they start this new journey in their lives.



We decided not too long ago, that we are ready to move onto bigger and better things...OUR OWN HOME!! It's a very scary step to make, but we're sick of throwing money down an bottomless pit called rent, when that money could be buying our first house. We've been busy little bees doing a lot of searching, and we think we've found "the One"!! It's absolutely beautiful!! It's was completely remodeled in 2008, so the interior is NEW!! I'll put some pictures up as soon as I can!!

David has been not feeling well for several days now, and I've been trying my best to stay away from him... :) So, yesterday afternoon, I came down with whatever it is that he has!! I've got a sore throat, and all kinds of head congestion...yucky! Not enjoying this at all. We are leaving for Daytona Beach on Sunday, and it's going to be David's frist real trip to the beach!! I'm so excited for him! I know we both are in extreme need of a relaxing vacation!! And I'll post the fun pics when we get home!!

Love you all!! :)

I've got Spring Fever and HE is my cure.

The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and I'm so itchy!! I absolutely love Springtime, simply because it signifies a new beginning. God has blessed us by making an ultimate sacrifice and then continues to show off His masterpiece when everything comes back to life after the cold winter. So no matter how itchy and sneezy I get, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love to be out in the warm sunshine and to feel my toes in the grass. Thinking about this new season, makes me think of the seasons of life and how grateful I am for this time in my life. I love my life right where it is. I am so DEEPLY in love with David, we are both blessed with good jobs and we have a roof over our heads. I know that life has its ups and downs...but God is in control and He is ever faithful.

Life to me can be summed up in seasons and I truly believe God gave us the actual weather seasons to remind us that life is ever changing and continuous. Nothing ever stays the same...Thank you Lord! So even with a season as yucky as winter, we can rest assured that spring is right around the corner. God uses these "winters" in our lives so when our "springs" are here we are truly grateful. I believe that in our life season of Spring we see new personal growth and blossoms of new life because we've made it through another winter!

I am trying to soak in every single day of this gorgeous Spring weather! I want to take in every single smell of the blooming hyacinth, every single sound of the Robin and her new babies chirping, and every single new growth that reminds me that I am a new creation in Christ. Meditating on this fact daily reminds me that the old is washed away and there is so much that He wants to do in my life. So with the ever changing weather I am reminded that there is room for change and improvement in my life and when I feel like "winter" will last forever I'm reminded that "Spring IS Coming!"

In addition, my sister, Allie left yesterday for Army basic training. She'll be at Fort Leonardwood, MO for 10 weeks and then head to Arizona for 16 more. I know this is going to be a very tough time for her, but like I mentioned before, there is a "spring" for her current "winter," and it will be glorious! She is going to be missing her daughter, Kairi's 1st birthday, which I know is just going to make things harder for her. I'm counting down the days for when she comes home again, and simply praying for her strength. I know God is watching over her and keeping her strong. She is a very strong willed person and I cross my fingers that will be a good thing for her and not be a downfall.

We are headed to Atlanta this weekend. Mom and Ed got us tickets to see the Braves, which David has never had the opportunity to do. I hope to be able to experience the game through his eyes, and feel the excitement of walking into Turner Field for the first time, all over again. We are stopping in Cleveland on the way down tomorrow night, so I will get to see Kairi, which I haven't done in 6 months. I'll be sure to post some pictures when we get home.

Life as we know it

David and I have been married almost a year and a half now, which is so hard to believe. There are times that it feels like we've already spent a lifetime together, and then there are other times that I sit back and think there's so much more for us to learn as we DO spend a lifetime together. We went to Asheville this past weekend, just Friday night and Saturday, but it was still a wonderful trip. We had free tickets to the Biltmore, so we splurged on a hotel. We stayed at the Princess Anne Hotel, which is a North Carolina registered historic building. We got to our room and had chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling wine waiting on us. It was just so nice to be able to get away for the first time in a while!! We walked around downtown Asheville and checked out some antiques stores and just some other little unique places. Saturday we went to the Biltmore, it was raining the entire time we were there, but we still had a great time! We both want to make it an annual trip, but at different times during the year. I especially want to check it out at Christmas time...you know me, I'm like a little elf, I love Christmas!!