Busy as a Bee

I have been slacking big time on my blog!  I ended up going home for Easter break and hit the ground running with a multitude of things!  I ended up getting a lot of loose ends tied up on the wedding front.  Finally got the wedding egg paid for and figured out.  Brian signed for a job position which is a big wight off our shoulders!  And oh ya, we bought a house!!!!!!

We are waiting for the title to be done and then we hope to get the keys!

It is the most perfect starter home that has potential to be a family home if we expand it.  We are head over heels excited for it to become officially ours!  Everything seemed to just fall into place perfectly.  We truly have been blessed and know that.  Brian will move in with Levi (our dog) and get things in order while I finish my last few weeks of student teaching and getting my undergraduate degree.  Now we just count down the days until our wedding so I can then move in officially and stay the night (yes we do things old school!).  To say we were busy over the Easter break would be an understatement, so much excitement is brewing and I hope to stay up-to-date on the blog front amongst it all! 

Day 12: Something You Don't Leave the House Without

I never leave without my cell phone!  Never know when you're going to need it in emergencies or what not.

Day 11: TV Shows that You're Currently Addicted to

There are two shows I follow religiously.  I am known to hog the television on my Sunday and Monday nights to catch the newest hour glimpse of both shows.  The only two things that get me through the start of each week, I'm just hooked!

 Secret Life of an American Teenager

Sisterwives

Day 10: Something You're Afraid of

Yes, actually I am!  For some reason I am afraid of the dark and it is not something that has gone away with age.  Guess we all need something to be afraid of!

Day 9: Favorite Quote

"The Will of God Won't Take You, Where the Grace of God Won't Protect You"

~I have lived by this quote for countless years.  Not sure where I heard it or found it, but I have just loved this quote from the moment I heard it.  

Day 8: A Place You've Traveled to

By far Honduras has been a place that I've traveled to and completely loved!  I have gone to Honduras twice to the same orphanages on mission trips.  When there, the group helps build different projects for the orphan children there.  My first trip we dug trenches and laid pipes for a water system.  The second time I was there we made cement and poured the floors to new buildings so they can take in more children.  While these children have nothing but the clothes on their backs, these kids emit so much joy, laughter, and happiness.  The orphanage is a Catholic run one therefore faith in a high priority.  The faith and joy these children have is astounding especially with the horror stories they have lived through.  With futures so unsteady, they still are every day kids that always seemed to be smiling. 

My family sponsors two of the boys from the orphanage that really bonded with me.  It was a cool experience the second time I went to have both of "my" boys come running up to me with huge hugs and smiles.  They remembered me even a year later.  I continue to send little gifts and exchange letters with the boys.  I so badly want to go back this summer, however with the wedding, honeymoon, getting employed, getting a place to live, and all the other craziness this summer will bring the time and finances just are not there.  I hope next summer perhaps not only can I, but Brian can go as well. 

Day 7: Favorite Past Time

My absolute favorite past time is taking photographs everywhere and anywhere!  There is just something about photography that just thrills me!  Figured I would just show different photographs from different genres that I've done.  Some is straight photography, others have been altered: (click on them to get a larger view)

Day 6: A Random Picture that Makes You Happy

The day after I got engaged we went to the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens and were able to hold butterflies that just emerged from their cocoon and were drying off their wings.  Such a cool eye opening experience and a perfect photography moment.  Time just seemed to stop for that hour as we were in bliss!

Day 5: A Song that Means a lot to You

I have so many songs that mean a lot to me, however I have one "theme song" which is by Jessica Andrews "Who I am".  It has been my "theme song" since I have been in high school and has always come up at the most appropriate of times for me.  One was on the radio while drivng to move into my dorm freshman year, reassuring me this was where I was meant to be.  Also, the day Brian proposed to me we went to dinner after to Texas Roadhouse (location of our first date!) and it randomly came on bringing me to tears as it was such an acceptable moment (----no Brian didn't pre-plan that one).  Brian actually began pleading with me to stop crying because he was afraid the waitress would think we were fighting! 

Day 4: A Weird Hobby, Collection, or Obsession

I think these pictures will speak for themselves!