Our Second Anniversary

Sorry it has taken forever to write about our anniversary trip! My new job has brought longer days, stopping to work out on the way, and a long drive home. It has brought lots of falling asleep early because I'm exhausted.  But hey, better late than never, eh? (See our First Anniversary in Chattanooga) For our second anniversary, we went to Evansville, Indiana to go to Tropicana! We wanted to do something we've never done (casino and whatnot) someplace we've never been! So that's what we did. We left early Saturday, made the two hour drive, and got to Evansville at 1:45 or so.  We boarded the boat and Pokemon style cruised the casino! The first machine I sat down at, I hit about two times before the whole screen lit up the same symbol and I won $85! I bounced machines for a little while until I hit the mini jackpot at another machine for $30 and some change! Jackson was off winning some change of his own while I was up to my gambling shenanigans.  

We went and cashed out, went to cracker barrel, and went back to our hotel to rest.  

The second day, we went to Bob Evans for breakfast and headed to Bowling Green to stop at Cabelas on our way home to buy waders.  Long story short, Jackson's size is 22 weeks back ordered, so we'll order them closer to next duck season.   We had such a fun second anniversary! I can't wait to see the adventures year 3 brings! 

Happy Anniversary

My darling husband, I am so thankful for the last year.  I am thankful for our home, for our love, for our life together. Thank you for always pushing me to be the best version of myself and for encouraging me on my way there. I have learned so much. 

Thank you for eating every recipe fail I have had, for reminding me that it's okay to add pudding to the shopping list, and for watching Harry Potter almost 100 times.  Thank you for letting me label every little basket and bin, for letting me chalkboard-ify our home,  and for letting me add flowers to every empty jar and vase we have. Thank you for always working so hard and so much for our family. I am so proud of the man you have grown into, and continue to become daily. I can't wait to see what this next year brings. Most of all, I can't wait to keep our adventure going. 

Year Two

Our second anniversary is next Monday, and I cannot believe how quickly it got here.  It does not feel like a year ago that we were in Chattanooga celebrating our first anniversary. Our year has been full of love, learning, and growth. I have learned a lot about myself, my sweet husband, our Savior, and what it means to love each other unconditionally.   We learned to share things like the radio, the television (I didn't realize everyone doesn't like to watch Harry Potter all the time. Apparently those people do exist). I learned how to disagree instead of fight. We learned that it is okay to say no to plans to spend time together, and that sometimes you call into work to have a day together after the world has beaten you to a pulp. We learned the importance of filling each other's cup and how to speak the other's love language.

I have learned some important things this year.  No one was blessed with the ability to read minds- Say what you mean and mean what you say, because it is an unrealistic expectation to think the other just knows what you feel or what you're thinking.   There is a difference in fighting and disagreeing - I'm a dirty fighter. I always have been, and as I get older, I realize that there is no place for that in any of my relationships.  I was bullied as a kid and my insecurities were used against me, so that is always my go to.  It's not kind and is by no means Christlike.  I have learned this year that our disagreements don't have to turn to fights, rather, they should be discussions with love at the core.   Love keeps no record of wrongs - I've learned that we both keep a running list, unintentionally, of wrongdoings or places where the other is lacking. We don't think about them daily, but when something related comes up, we are quick to pull the lists out. We are working on grace and clean slates.  It's not the end of the world if you have to ask twice - or three times, or four or five.  It may be a little annoying, but not the end of the world. I'm very bad about getting upset if I have to ask more than once for something to be done.  I'm working on it, I promise.   Get the Oreos - Sometimes life is about living on a whim. It's about getting the Oreos that weren't on the grocery list, about planning trips for the weekend on Friday afternoon. It's about turning your phones off and just being there together and letting the rest of the world wait.    

Our Snowy Weekend

I woke up first thing on Friday to see the Nashville traffic map completely red.  I texted the lady that has been training me at work and she said to give it until 7:30 because she knew they would close the office.  Sure enough, 6:50 rolled around and the text went out to say that the office was closed. So, Jackson got some rest because he was still going to try to make it to work since he lives the closest of all of his coworkers.  We walked down to the entrance and there were cars galore spinning out, getting stuck, etc.  So, he called out and we stayed home. :) 

Saturday I was supposed to go to a Baby Brunch and my Sister-In-Law's birthday dinner... yeah... neither of those were going to happen after everything refroze Friday night. So we had Jackson's best man, Byron, come over with his sister and friend.  He brought a 90's style sled and a snowboard and we spent hours outside. We walked to our favorite Mexican restaurant, ate, and walked back.  Terrible idea, as we were all so full and tired. So we came back, finished watching Bring It On, started watching the 10th Anniversary of High School Musical (see also, what the mess?!).  We went back out until the sun set and then were hungry again. Go figure that nothing was delivering, so we drove about a mile to get Little Caesar's and came home to play Settlers of Catan.  

 Sunday, church was rescheduled until 2, but we live about 30 minutes away and our apartment entrance was still ice, so we stayed put and stayed warm.  We slept in, snuggled, and did a little cleaning.  
I hope your snow days were fun and safe! :) 

How to Win Over the Office Folk:

I started my new job this week and am already off for a snow day. I'm already loving working for a big corporate office! One of the scariest parts of starting a new job is worrying whether or not you'll get along with all of the people that are already there! I think I've found the key, though, and having the cutest cubicle first thing isn't on the list:

1. Buy their kids' fundraiser stuff! This week I have bought girl scout cookies and kettle corn, but hey! Everyone likes the yes man.
2. Come in early, even when there is ice on the interstates and slush everywhere else. 
3. Accept all invites to lunches and order what they order. See number 1 about the yes man nonsense.  4. Take notes. Pretend like you're learning and retaining everything. Even if it's overwhelming and you can't retain anything, pretend!    5. Be likeable. Sounds easy, right? Not when you're nervous.  If you're not normally likeable or personable when you're nervous, fake it because everyone loves someone sweet and peppy. 

Life Lately

Since I was here last...
We finally went to see Star Wars; I only saw 3/4 of it.  oops. 

I like the new season of PLL more than I liked the last few combined.  

I've been listening to Rebutting a Murderer on iHeart Radio.  I have learned a whole bunch that made me question anything and everything I know about everything.  

Started my new job, and I'm exhausted. I've learned a ton, but learning makes my day long and exhausting.  

There are supposed to be bad storms Friday which is usually grocery night. So instead, I'm ordering them online, you know, like I said I wouldn't do again? 

I'm so looking forward to our trip next weekend to Evansville for our anniversary!  Mostly the getting away and being together part. 

Saying Goodbye

Goodbye, little corner of my office.  You've been so cozy and warm for the time I've worked here. You're much better than the table gig they gave me when I first started. 

 

Goodbye overly organized sorters and caddies and folders.  You've helped me stay sane this last two and a half years... even if I did find things while cleaning from two years ago that I was supposed to do and never did... oops.   Goodbye endless supply of free postage and binder clips.   Goodbye collection of water bottles and coffee cups and love notes that they're gross.     Most of all, goodbye to the team I have grown to love.  The amount of time and effort you have all invested in me has been more of a blessing than I know how to say. I couldn't be taking the next step or making this move without all that I've learned from each of you.   

 

How to Know When it's Time to Go

Friday is my last day at my job. It's been my everyday grind for 2.5 years and I'm done.  I love my work and I love the people I work with, but that's about it. If you've been around these parts for a bit, you know that I've had a bunch of interviews that were dead ends until this one.  I accepted a position at Dollar General's corporate office.   After being given the offer, I had my doubts and my fears about taking the leap to the next step of my career.  I went to submit my resignation and my boss was less than understanding. In fact, it did not go well at all and I was dumbfounded by how unprofessionally it ended.  Needless to say, I knew I made the right decision.   That didn't discount my terrible feelings about leaving my first grown up degree related job, leaving the people who had invested in me professionally and personally, and those I grew to love seeing in the hallways (even if it was a "oh so you're actually working today?").  

I knew it was time to leave when I... ...woke up dreading work, certain people, and my environment. ...was negative Nancy 24/7 because of those around me. ...took on the mouth of a sailor ...was losing hair because of the stress ...was having to make my own executive decisions because bosses weren't accessible and getting in trouble for it. ... figured out there were no moves I could make in my personal life because of how poorly I was paid. ... was being undermined and talked down to almost daily ... could no longer see myself here long term    I'm going to miss a lot of this job, and a lot of it I won't miss. I'd appreciate prayers, too, as I make this leap! :) 

Life Lately

We made it through Christmas and New Years without too many bumps.  Even started it off a little lucky. ;) 

  Feeny got some new toys for Christmas. He is obsessed with this one. It has a wand that goes in circles and he chases it for hours. 

  We started watching Making a Murderer and are obsessed. um. what?!

 

I accepted a new job at Dollar General's corporate office to start 1/18/15.  Boss lady was less than nice about it. :/   We decided to go to Evansville, Indiana for our anniversary trip! We're going to play in the casino on Saturday morning/afternoon, play around Evansville Saturday night, and slowly make our way home on Sunday (making our way through Bowling Green to hit Cabelas). 

   

{2016} {Resolutions}

2015 was a great year for us. We celebrated our first anniversary, we got a cat (then found out she was a boy), we moved out of our first home to a new home that we love, and most importantly, we learned to take time for each other.   It was not without speed bumps, like any other year. There was the time I almost got scammed out of a lot of money, there were lots of learning curves and life lessons, there was a fire that hit too close to home, and there were mental health days to recover from our rocky weekends. But that is life, and we always came out stronger and better for it.     I made a 'skeleton' of at the beginning of the year for 2015. It was more of a model for the year rather than a checklist.   Spend more time in prayer and reading with Jackson - well. We do pray together daily and when big things arise that warrant it, but this is still a work in progress.  We don't yet make time to sit down and read together like we should. 2016, we're working on this one for sure.   Plan less, take more adventures - We nailed this one.  I have weaned myself to no longer depend on my planner.  We picked up and went to Holiday World, we spent weekends galavanting in antiques and driving until we got tired.    Date Jackson more often - This has become a Friday night thing for us. Yes, we usually end at the grocery store, but it's the fun dinners and shenanigans that come before that matter.  :)   Save more than we spend, and give more than we save - this one was hard, and we didn't nail it completely.  We did give more than last year, but the saving more than we spend... yeah... That will be another 'rollover' for 2016.    Spend time with my Nana - This was hard, too. My life is so busy (yes, because I make I that way). There for a while, I was spending one Tuesday a month with her. Then, life snowballed to be uncontrollable and I lost track of time. Again, 2016 will hopefully be better     As for 2016... here's another skeleton for our year, because I feel like we function better with a 'skeleton' rather than resolutions