[February 1, 2012]

So far I have had morning sickness all day for several weeks. Once that went away, I would get occasional nausea especially around times to eat. I haven’t had and food aversions and not many cravings. I often get sick when I haven’t eaten for a period of time but also am not hungry which makes it hard to eat.

During the time that I had constant morning sickness I tried all kinds of things to help. I tried ginger ale, ginger snaps, preggy pops, lemon drops, lemonade and probably others I can’t remember. The only thing I could get some relief from was the lemon drops. I went several days keeping lemon drops in my mouth at all times unless I was eating. I got to the point I hated eating the lemon drops because they were tearing up my mouth and making my teeth sensitive. I still eat lemon drops when I get nauseous.

I’ve had indigestion like crazy from the very beginning. It seems like it’s worse since the 2^nd Trimester though. Some days I will take 3 rantidine. I drink a lot of milk and always have milk in the morning for breakfast to ward off some of the indigestion. I have heart burn more often now too but it is unpredictable.

I got an ear infection a few weeks ago and had to go to the doctor who put me on Ammoxicillian. Taking that cause me to get a yeast infection so it’s not been a pleasant time lately.

We have yet to go to the doctor due to insurance issues but we got approved for Medicaid and have an appointment on Monday, February 6^th. I will be 16 weeks by then. We are really excited to finally see the baby and hear the heartbeat. We are hoping that we will get to find out the gender of the baby as well but have heard it could be early or not. I guess we will see on Monday. I can’t wait to have an ultrasound and see the baby move – and I can’t wait to get a picture of the ultrasound to keep!

Since I haven’t been to the doctor, it still seems unreal. I’ve gained about 15 pounds and my belly is already showing some so that part is hard to ignore but I still can’t feel the baby and haven’t seen him’her. I’m looking forward to finally getting that connection.

I have a feeling that we are having a boy but I have no reason why I think that. I will be happy either way but I am kind of curious to see if there is some kind of intuition that comes with pregnancy for me to know that.

I have a list of names that I have had for a long time but once I started looking at it I decided that I couldn’t narrow it down or even think about it until I knew the sex. Mom and I are working on a family tree because I would like to find some family names to use.

I feel like I have been a little moodier since I became pregnant but only just recently. I definitely get emotional easier – it’s funny what makes me want to cry. But I’ve also been more “sassy” as Ryan calls it – especially when dealing with the teenagers. Things that I normally put up with annoy me lately.

[three years later]

So I've discovered that I am not a writer - I cannot keep a journal...case in point this blog. I've started several other blogs in hope that having a focused topic would help me write more regularly but alas all have failed. So I am going to stop being so hard on myself and just post when I have something to post or feel the urge. After all - this blog is more for me than anyone else anyway.

So - three years in a LONG time to not post. So much has changed in my life that I'm sure I could never get it all down here (or this would be the world's longest post - even longer than that last one).

So here is a synopsis as I can remember it of the past three years:

Ryan graduated from Murray State in May of 2009 - immediately after we hit the road and moved to Scottsville, Kentucky. My parents had just gotten a job at Scottsville Church of Christ and had bought a house but hadn't moved in yet - so we moved in. We looked for work - anywhere...everywhere....anything. We were unsuccessful. We even considered Ryan going into the military. But God was scheming as he often does and had other plans in mind for our family.

Meanwhile we still owned our home in Hazel, KY and were sinking deeper and deeper in debt by the month.

Eventually my parents moved in and we were one big happy family. During this time Ryan had thoughts rattling in his head of a passion long forgotten - ministry - but he still needed convincing. We made a trip to visit his family and look for jobs in that area. Ryan's dad had a temporary job replacing a roof on a shed at Ryan's childhood minister's house. Mr. Alvis (the minister) was an older gentleman who couldn't do the work himself because of health issues so he would often sit and talk to Ryan and his dad while they worked. Ryan was asked what type of work he was looking for and he casually mentioned that he would like to get into ministry.

We went back home to Kentucky and heard the news that the youth minister at my grandparents congregation was possible leaving and that there would soon be a search for a replacement. Ryan and I were hesitant to even submit a resume because Ryan had never had an official position in ministry and thought we were unqualified. My father gave us a pep talk and so we decided to visit Alvaton and give our resume to the elders there.

We visited on a Wednesday night and passed on the resumes. That same night we had a phone call from Mr. Alvis telling us that Ryan's childhood congregation would like us to come and work as the part-time youth minister. We were shocked - Ryan had merely mentioned his interest and now they were giving us a job on the spot. We were also very concerned because we knew that part-time meant part-time pay and we knew it wouldn't help our situation like we had hoped. However, it was a start and that was what we needed. We made sure to tell the elders in Rockmart that we had submitted another resume for a full-time position and that we were really looking for full-time work; if a job was offered, we were likely to accept it. The elders were very understanding and encouraging and so we began our first work in youth ministry in Rockmart, Georgia.

A few months later we got the call that we were on the short list of candidates for the youth minister position at Alvaton. Really? Whoohoo! We were told that they would like us to come up to Kentucky for a weekend and have a "try-out" of sorts. We were thrilled! We told our elders and they were happy for us as well.

That weekend was very exhausting but awesome. One thing that I loved about this weekend was that Ryan had prepared lessons for a devo and for a class on Sunday morning but he liked one and not the other. I could tell he was very stressed about it and so I was stressed as well. The night before the devo I couldn't sleep - I had an idea in my head for a lesson. I had the lesson in my head word-for-word and I finally gave up trying to sleep and got my iphone and typed the entire thing on a note on my phone. I showed it to Ryan in the morning and he ended up using it for his devo that night.

Our try-out went very well. We had to wait several weeks before we would know anything. Then we got the call - we got the job and we could start whenever we wanted! We told the elders at Rockmart who gave us their blessing and sent us on our way. We started at Alvaton right around New Years of 2010.

Since then we have loved working in youth ministry and working at Alvaton. We really feel like we have a family at Alvaton and we have been so blessed.

I literally fell into a position at a Christian elementary school in Bowling Green as an Administrative Assistant which has been an awesome blessing. I also have had several clients for my freelance web designing.

So much has happened since we have been in Bowling Green and we have grown a lot but the most important blessing that has happened in our lives is that we are expecting a child in July of this year! We finally decided we would start trying in October and found out we were pregnant the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I guess that is the main reason I started this post - I want to start posting to keep a record of our lives as our family grows. I want to always remember how much God is blessing our lives everyday.

I definitely don't like to be sentimental but since I have my mother's genes I think sometimes I can't help it. It has come down to the last days for Ryan and I in Murray, Kentucky and I have been thinking about all the different things that happen in my life that lead me to where I am now.

I completely believe that God leads us through our lives with purpose and that everything, whether good or bad, happens for a reason. The biggest witness to that in my life is how I met my husband. God is always moving things in motion that will lead us to something we never expected - so far those things have been good things.

How did I get here - I think I need to travel through these past few years and praise God for His hand in my life.
May 2003 - The end of my Junior year at Cumberland County High School.

June 2003 - Move to Rome Georgia. I first saw Ryan at a youth group devo - he was playing a 007 video game. I thought he was cute and asked my friend about him - she was making fun of him because he hadn't shaved that day. I saw him again at a luau that summer and decided that I needed to get to know him.

The story most people know about how we met is that I made a bet with my friend Abbi that I could date all the boys in the youth group before school started in August. $10 bet. Ryan makes fun of my because he says there was more than 10 or so boys...I digress.

Anyways, one guy asked me out and I went on a date with him. Then I talked to Ryan on Aol Messenger one day and he asked me out. After that date, I didn't date anyone else and lost the bet....I still haven't gave Abbi that $10.

July 31, 2003 - Ryan and I became a couple.

May 2004 - I graduated from Coosa High School. My parents had already made plans to move to Paducah, Kentucky.

August 2004 - Moved to Searcy Arkansas to start college at Harding University. Ryan was offered the opportunity to attend college for his Senior year of High School while receiving credit for both. He went to Floyd college the Fall Semester.

January 2005 - Ryan moves to Searcy Arkanasa to start college at Harding University. Ryan ended up working at Chick Fil A where he met our great friend James.

March 2005 - While deciding what to do with our summer, Ryan gets a call from my dad about an opportunity in Crossville, Tennessee to run the summer day camp. We were able to work in Crossville together that summer.

December 2005 - Ryan proposed to me on the last day of school. He told me all semester that he was going to ask me before school was out that semester. I bugged him about it every once and a while. Then while we were packing up the car to go home for the semester, he said something about not asking me all semester in a disappointed voice - and I turned around to bug him about it once more and he was on one knee with the ring out to ask me - what a punk!

We decide to get married in June the following Spring.

February 2006 - On the way home from Winterfest we decide that we would call Kathy about working at the Summer Camp again that summer after we got back from our honeymoon.

Extra note - this was the same time that we wrecked on 127 South right before the Crossville exit. The funny thing was, Ryan had been hit a few weeks prior to this while we were in Rome at Taco Bell so we had to leave his car and take his sister's old car, thank goodness!

June 3rd, 2006 - We got married! While on our honeymoon, Michelle called and told us that she was going to be able to come to Crossville to work at the summer camp too.

That summer we went to Murray State for Summer Orientation. Signed up to live on campus at College Courts. Then we found out that Ryan couldn't go to school in the fall because we had to pay tuition out of pocket for that first semester due to our FAFSA coming in too late. We had saved money all summer to get an apartment in Murray, but it turned out that we owed almost exactly the amount we had saved for tuition for one of us. I went to school that semester, Ryan worked.

August 2006 - We moved in with my parents for a few weeks, received a queen bed for free from the benevolence program at Lone Oak. Then we moved to College Courts.

Funny story from this point in time - when we moved on campus, the brochure said that cable was not included and told you where you could sign up for cable. We didn't get cable because we couldn't afford it. We had already bought several seasons of Seinfeld, our favorite show, so we watched those for the majority of the semester. For some reason near the end of the semester we hooked the cable to the television for no particular reason. The cable worked and had worked the entire time but we never even thought to check because the brochure said it wasn't included.

December 2006 - We found an apartment in Murray that we could afford. We rented it. Then we wanted a dog. We looked for a long time for a pug but couldn't find one cheap enough. Some friends at church brought a picture of some puppies that their parents were trying to sell. Boston Terrier puppies. After that, we didn't even think another thought about getting a pug - we bought a little boy puppy. On the way home we were trying to come up with a name. We really like Smallville and Superman. We thought we could name him Clark but we didn't think that sounded like a good dog name. Then we remembered that Jimmy Olson always called Clark C.K. and so that is what we call him.

January 2007 - We went on a mission trip to Belloxi, Mississippi for the Katrina relief.

Febuary 2007 - I was looking for a job to help out with money. I looked for several weeks. I found a listing on MSU's employment page and saw a listing for a job helping with someone who working in Real Estate investing. It required a lot of errand running so I wasn't interested but Ryan was so he applied. He was interviewed and was hired soon after. I gave up on looking for a job.

I signed up for summer classes that summer so that I could graduate in December. I took 21 hours that summer.

August 2007 - Ryan's boss bought a house in Hazel KY. Ryan had to go and pull up the old carpets in the house. After work he wanted to show me the house. We both fell in love with it and saw how much potential was in it. Soon after Ryan's parents came in town to look at it and we all decided it would be a worthy investment. Ryan and his boss went to Heritage bank to try to get us a loan but we were rejected. Ryan and I thought maybe it wasn't meant to be so we moved on. His boss told him he should try another back so they did. We got the loan and so our house flipping journey began.

September 2007 - Ryan told me that his boss was starting a new company called Cornerstone and they wanted a logo. I made one and a letterhead for them. Soon after he told me that the broker of that Real Estate company was looking for an extra assistant because her other assistant was attending school and couldn't be there all day. I wasn't very interested but I told him I would check it out. I was interviewed in jeans and a Harley Davidson tshirt that had a hole in it.

October 2007 - I started to work at Cornerstone Realty and Rental.

December 2007 - I graduate from Murray State University with a degree in Electronic Media.

During this time, Michelle was thinking about coming to Murray to go to school at MSU. They ended up coming the next fall - Michelle, my future brother in law Gary and Angel my foster sister.

From December 2007 til now is a blur as far as anything significant occuring. We renovated this house the entire time. We moved into it in December 2007 when we got the plumbing in one of the bathrooms hooked up. We washed our dishes on the front porch. If I could have all the money back that we spent on fast food during that time - I think I would be quite rich.

Ryan's dad was laid off in January 2008 which was a blessing because he could come to work on the house more often.

Since December 2007 - this week has been the longest period of time that Ryan and I have been living in a house together by our selves. I believe I have become a more patient person during this time. I have learned more than I would like to about managing money and what it means to be broke - I don't think I am poor because we are definitely blessed but I have learned to live without things I used to think I needed.

April 2009 - We listed our house for sale.

May 2009 - Michelle, Gary, Angel, and David moved back to their respective homes. Michelle and Gary are getting married in July and working in Illinois for the summer. Angel and my parents are moving to Scottsville Kentucky the first week of June.

This week is our last week that we will be living in Murray, Kentucky. We are hoping our house sells quickly. We are also still looking for employment anywhere we can find it.

I don't know what God has planned for our family after tomorrow. Frankly, I am scared out of my mind. But I have given up on worrying about the future because since January of this year til now it has gotten me no where. All I know is that my life is been a whirlwind up til this hour and I don't expect it to slow down anytime soon.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

[king of the jungle]

Last night, Angel wanted to wash her coat that had removeable fur on the hood. Of course C.K. wanted to play with it once he saw it so we decided to put it on him like a boa. I knew he would just stratch it off like he always does, but I thought it would be temporary entertainment. But to my surprise, he never fussed with it at all. He just sat there with it on like everything was normal.
I have put jackets, sweaters, bandanas...you name it on this dog and he always rolls around on the floor and scratches at it to get it off until either he gets out of it or I give in and take it off. For some reason he did not mind wearing the fur. It was so funny everytime I looked at him because he looked like a little diva. Ryan said we were torturing him and said that the only way he would be convinced that the dog didn't mind it is if he fell asleep with it on. And he did. So I think I will put this on him on a regular basis...hours of entertainment for me. And who knows, maybe it will lead to him wearing other things without ripping it off ;)

[clark kent wonder dog]

I spend a lot of time with my dog, C.K.;  short for Clark Kent after my favorite superhero - Superman.  My husband and I have had him for over two years now.  When we decided to get a dog, I really wanted a pug but some friends at church came in on a Wednesday night with a picture of a litter of Boston Terrier puppies and as soon as we saw the picture we had to have one.  We spent way more than we could actually afford, but I would never take any amount of money for C.K. now.  

    I think most people that get married and wait to have children get dogs; pretty much everyone I know, anyway.  

   Now I know I am kind of bias - but I really think my dog is the best dog I have ever seen.  Of course he wasn’t that way when we got him...he peed on everything and chewed up several things along the way.  He occasionally still gets in the trash but who can blame him.  The thing that amazes me is his huge personality.  He is always hyper - everything he does he does in fast forward.  He definitely has A.D.D.  He loves people...I think if someone were to break into our house he would lick them to death instead of biting them.  When anyone comes in the house - he gets so excited that he shakes all over and he can’t move.  We say he is like a fainting goat because his body locks up and he falls over.  We are trying to train him to do that when we come near him and say “kryptonite” - it would be a good trick.

    My freebie today is a desktop wallpaper that I made from a picture I took of C.K.  I probably made this one more for myself cause I think he is cute but hopefully you will enjoy it too.  

    If you have any suggestions for cool freebies - let me know.  I spend all my free time fiddling with illustrator trying to make something fun so some input would be nice for a change.