Friday Bullets

A friend of mine (hi Rhi!) frequently posts 'Friday Bullets' on her blog and since I have (sometimes random) things I'd like to post about, I thought I'd follow her lead.

• Well it's Friday, which means I made it through my first week back at work.
• For most, this wouldn't seem like a big deal, but when you've lost your only child less than a month prior (as well as undergone major abdominal surgery), this is a big accomplishment in my book.
• And it wasn't easy... let's just say that majority of Tuesday was spent in tears.
• However, I would like it to be known that I'm hanging in there.
• Other than work, I've been trying to keep myself busy when I get home in the evenings.
• Sometimes that involves working out (or at least trying to...) and sometimes that involves getting caught up on television shows.
• The shows usually win.
• Because of people want to help us during this time, we've been receiving some amazing dinners, without much work.
• Thank you to all those who have fed us over the last couple weeks!
• This weekend, we're going up to see Sam's family and celebrate his grandparent's 80th & 85th birthdays.
• I pray I can be as active & upbeat as they are at their age.
• And Sam is also meeting with a couple who would like to talk to him about photographing their wedding!!!
• That last bullet deserves three explanation points because that's a big deal for this new photographer (Sam!) and his biggest fan/PR rep (me!).
• Which reminds me... I should showcase his new site on here soon.
• Anyone in Oregon looking for a photographer, let me know!

What are your plans this weekend?

Thankful

While this post isn't going to be terribly unique {my Google Reader has been full of "thankful" posts all week!}, it's still important to me to share some of the most important things I am thankful for this year:

My brother graduating {with honors} from college
+ the time we all spent together this year.

The Grable family's constant love for each other.

And this beautiful baby who has changed all of our lives!

Our opportunity to go see my dad, step-mom, & brothers back East
and the positive changes that came after the visit.

Friends who have become some of the most important people in my life!

Lily, our crazy pup that appears calm, but definitely keeps us on our toes.

And this man, who has never made me feel anything
but loved since the day I met him!

Lastly, I'm thankful for all that God has shown me this year. It hasn't been easy to trust in Him, but the outcomes have been better than I ever imagined!

I hope you all can take a moment to reflect on all the blessings you have to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

What I Wore Wednesday

Disclaimer: As you can see below, there are quite a few days missing from last week's outfits and that is due to the overwhelming amount of work I have going on right now. In fact, this week is audit week at work and I posted this on Monday on Twitter:

Needless to say, my mind has been elsewhere and I apologize for the lack of outfits this week. However, I do have to say that my husband offered to take my picture when I got home from work, so that's why you see no more mirror shots this week {hooray!}. Now to this week's {few} OOTD's...

{Sunday}

Sweater: J.Crew
Tee: Old Navy
Jeans: Banana Republic Outlet
Heels: Born

{Monday}
Tee: Downeast Basics
Skirt: Land's End Canvas
Tights: Hue via Macy*s
Heels: Born

{Tuesday}
Sweater: Gap
Top: Anthropologie
Pants: Anthropologie
Boots: Target

Farewell 2009!

2009 was a pretty good year for us! Here is a breakdown of the past year’s posts:

January – we rang in the New Year down in Eugene at my best friend’s family farm; I started a new job; we dealt with a minor car accident; our friends, James & Michelle, came over from Bend for a visit; and we got a long awaited wedding present from Sam’s dad – a handmade dresser!

February – we used a gift card from the wedding to go out for an early Valentine’s date; Sam & I passed a cold back and forth; and more guests came over – this time in the form of Kelly & Brittany.

March – I found myself visiting my best friend up in Portland; I got a free gift card to Macy’s in the mail; Buster became a little more famous; and I went to Bend for Michelle’s baby shower!

April – we refinanced our year old home; I went back over to Bend for another baby shower and time with my mom; and Sam and I joined a gym.

May – Levi Heater was born (refer back to March, when I went to his baby shower); my mom & I threw a luncheon for one of my childhood friends; Sam turned 27 and we had both families over to our house for a joint birthday/Mother’s Day party; we worked on the curb appeal of our house; and another visit to see friends in Portland.

June – my BIL, Matt, graduated from the University of Oregon; and we celebrated our (1st!!!) anniversary!

July – we spent 4th of July in Sandy with Sam’s family; we went to Bend for a wedding & my birthday weekend; the Grables came down for a belated birthday party for me; and Sam & I took a trip to the coast as an anniversary trip!

August – I met a new friend from the Internet (and we actually went to the same small college and never met!); I completed my first project on my NEW sewing machine (a birthday present from Sam); and we went to the coast again, but this time with the whole Grable family.

September – I opened my own Etsy shop, featuring iPhone sleeves; I attended a women’s conference at George Fox with my MIL, SIL, and BIL’s girlfriend; and I got news that I would need thousands of dollars worth of dental work.

October – I wrote about my siblings; I reflected on my life-changing car accident that happened 5 years ago; I went to Bend again to help my mom with a fundraiser; the Grables got together for their second annual pumpkin carving day; and I had my first (of many) gum surgeries.

November – I went up to Washington for a baby shower; I got a little crafty with my clothing; went to Bend for the Thanksgiving weekend; and went through gum surgery #2.

December – we attended two beautiful concerts that Krista, my BIL’s girlfriend, was singing in; Christmas was celebrated with the in-laws; and I knocked out my third gum surgery.

I have enjoyed blogging this year and can’t wait to continue in 2010! There might be some minor changes, but everything should look about the same. See you next year!

I'm Thankful For...

1. Secure jobs.
2. A roof over our heads.

3. Awesome best friends.

4. A loving mom & brother.

5. Supportive in-laws.

6. A crazy pair of pups.

7. And my wonderful husband!

Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family!

Deja vu? Yeah, that's what I thought too. As previously mentioned, another "crack" appeared in my window on Saturday and I hoped it was a stress crack from the NEW windshield that was put in last Wednesday (yes, less than a week ago...), but I was wrong. That's right everyone, I got another crack in my windshield - so mad! Actually, when I took it into get it checked, I began to cry when he told me it was a crack from the tiniest chip I've ever seen... probably the size of a ball point, that small! Anyways, I cried and have to take it back in on Wednesday, but hopefully for a much lower price than the first since we just got it replaced on Wednesday. Still pretty upset about it...

In other news, I started a new job today!
I am now employed by the Salem-Keizer School District as an Accounting Clerk and I'm really excited to get past the training and actually begin working. I feel like this will really benefit me, career-wise, but right now I will be learning a lot before I get the complete hang of it.
Quick shoutout - Thank you to all my family & friends who have prayed and supported me while I've searched for this job. I love you all!

The snow hasn't left yet... am I starting to sound like a broken record? Because I am beginning to feel like it. And while others love the snow, I'm not a fan. All this snow is becoming record breaking for the Portland area and is quietly ruining plans left and right.

Today, being Monday, was not an ordinary day. My supervisor called me last night to tell me that we were on a bit of a delay and could come in at 11am (you may ask, "why couldn't you have a snow day?" and my reply is "who knows..."). With all the snow that happened overnight, I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to make it out of my driveway. So I got up at 8 and shoveled the snow so I could get out of my driveway. Sam came out and helped too, even though he had a snow day. Then I got ready for work and headed out the door. There were only 4 people in my 10 people department, but work went quick and before I knew it it was 2pm and I was released to go home. I then braved it to Fred Meyers to pick up a few things for dinner and a box of popsicles for my friend Kristi because she had her wisdom teeth out today. When I got home, Sam and I leashed up the dogs and headed down the street to the Weathers home. I thought it would be nice to take the dogs on a walk, but they quickly froze and Sam picked them up and carried them the last part of the walk (see picture above) - it was pretty cute! We dropped the popsicles off and headed back home, quickly.

Now we're home, warm, and full of homemade potato soup (mmm, so good!). Who knows what we'll wake up to tomorrow, but hopefully we'll figure out what our plans for Christmas will be, because things look very unsure right now.

Last weekend I mentioned we were getting some snow, but this week proved to be worse than most my years in Bend... at least as far as I can remember. We're snowed in... kind of. There has been a mix of snow/rain/ice for the last seven days and I'm kind of sick of it. Shoot me, but I'm not a snow person... that's why I moved away from Bend (not really, but let's pretend for the sake of the post, okay?), the snow capital of Oregon.

Unfortunately, I had to work all week. ALL week! While most businesses in the Salem/Portland area were closed or delayed, I was working away in my cubicle. We did have a day that we left at 3:30pm instead of 4:30pm, but I don't count that. Then there was the day that I went to work at 7:30am and was informed at 8:00am that we didn't have to be there until 10:00am. Whatever! I got through the day and it's the weekend.

On Saturday, Sam & I decided we wouldn't go anywhere because of the snow/rain/ice. It really worked. We had a good, warm day at home and got SO much done - Yay for productivity! We cleaned, we cooked, we worked out, and I even got a nice hot bath in. Sam's brother, Matt, came to spend the night at our house so we could all attend the Edgren Family Christmas Party in Sandy on Sunday, but snow was once again ruining our plans... back to that later. Anyways, we ate some dinner and then headed down the road to the Weather's house for some game show action. The walk there was beautiful - despite the large amounts of snow/rain/ice. The walk home, however, was still beautiful, but with a bit more ice. Make that a sheet of ice covering EVERYTHING.

Now it being Sunday & all, we're still not sure we'll make it to Sandy, but I think we might try. Being from Bend, I've grown used to having to have snow (studded) tires on my car, but never thought I'd have to have them on in the Valley. We'll see how this little adventure goes... stay tuned!

I got a job!

I'll be doing similar tasks as I was at the credit union, but on a much larger scale (they have 60 branches, Mid Oregon had 4).
I'm not sure when I start, but I've had a good time being a full-time housewife.

In other news, Bethany, Jon, & Rachel came over for hamburgers and wedding pictures on Tuesday night. It was a good time and they were all troopers, sitting through 500+ wedding picture slide show... WOW!

Meaghan, Sam, Rachel, Bethany, & Buster (Jon & Lily not pictured)

Hope you're all having a good week!

Bridal Showers, woo!

Yup, that's right. I had my first beautiful bridal shower and it was just that - Beautiful! In a short 9 months, I have made two friends I will never forget. These girls, Michelle and Kaity, have provided me with enough insight into the lovely world of marriage. Life isn't perfect, but they make it look a lot easier!

This was a fun game I like to call "Toilet Paper Bride". They only had 5 minutes to create a wedding dress out of toilet paper... turned out a little scandalous if you ask me =)

And this is Kaity and Michelle. Beautiful, yes. But sadly, there were so many pictures being taken at this moment that we are looking at three different directions. And check out that cake - amazing!

Sam and I definitely scored on this shower - a crock pot, baking pans, measuring cups, an iHome, Fiestaware dishes, and much more! I can't wait to get in the kitchen and start cooking something good (hopefully).

Hope you all are having a good Monday and the count down is officially at 60 days - woohoo!

One week down... a lot more to go.

My first official "grown up" work week has come to an end and here are a few of my observations:

*Training someone must be one of the most irritating things EVER!
*When money is involved, people sure get persnickety and sometimes even angry.
*Sitting at a desk takes more out of you than what meets the eye.
*You can never know enough about anything.

It's been a good week. I'm tired and I just want to get down what I've learned this week, but I know that I will have a whole lot of new things to learn next week. Luckily I'm working with two of the nicest and most patient people -- thank God for Michelle and Kaity!

In wedding news... save-the-dates were ordered tonight and I couldn't be more excited to get those back soon and send them off! If you didn't know, I'm pretty amped for next June and I wish I could run to the highest mountain and scream it to the world, but I will wait and send out my cute cute cute save-the-dates and share that way. Other than getting the save-the-dates ordered, we also have the location (ceremony & reception) booked, as well as the pastor. I'm planning on taking a trip up to Portland at the end of September to look at dresses and then slowly start ordering the little details that we need for our special day! Sadly, I feel like I'm a little on the obsessive side, but that's me... I'm going to be a crazy bride -- watch out!

In other news: I'm beginning to miss the fact that I won't be living in Newberg in a few weeks and preparing for another year at George Fox. I hope I can make a lot of visits to those I miss, but it will still be hard being in Bend...

Well, that is all. I miss my friends. I miss the way things used to be. I miss you...

First day of work... oh boy!

Yup, I'm grown up. I'm an 8-5 working fool and I don't know what else to say about it.

Now, I will actually have the money to pay the upcoming car insurance bill and the credit card bill and the cell phone bill and that little event coming up next June, as well as feeding that habit of mine known as shopping (although I have been trying to stay tough and only buy things that "make my heart sing" -- thanks B!).

When will I feel like this is normal? When will I not feel like it's "take your daughter to work day"? When will I feel like an real adult?