Weekend Re-Cap

Here are some highlights from this past weekend:

• For starters...we found out the house we placed an offer isn't totally dead. They indeed planned to counter & now we are in the process of negotiating. I honestly feel fine if it works out or if it doesn't. Only time will tell...
• Saturday Abby and I went to the "clean house" yard sale. Cleveland sent it's finest...bath robes, slippers and all. Why dress up for TV anyway? Lord help us when it airs. There were people with teeth there...I'm just not sure they got on camera!
• We celebrated Joe's birthday with him on Sat. and watched TN actually play a descent game against Alabama....but missed 3 field goals which cost us the game. It's sickening really.
• Late night sonic run for treats was definitely a highlight. We then sat in front of the TV watching the Dallas cowboy cheerleader try outs. Let's just say my "treat" turned into a necessary filler for the pain. We even got to watch them get in bikini's to get their body fast percentage...ha!
• Sunday Ella and Jones were dedicated at NCCOG. It was a special time & we joined the family for lunch afterwards, which was delicious! The day was gorgeous...sunny with the leaves changing...so we took the dogs on a long walk around Lee's campus & finished out the day with some laundry.

good times....

No Cigar...

The verdict is in. Our offer wasn't accepted & it doesn't look like there is much wiggle room. I don't have regrets. We knew it was a long shot and it feels pretty good to have taken it since you never know. :)

I won't lie, I'm disappointed and sad, but I'm not devastated. I know there is something else out there for us & we'll find it eventually. We're ok with plan B, which is to rent and save...you can't go wrong with saving right?

Thanks to all of you that said a prayer for me yesterday & today.

May the hunt continue...

Annie Get Your Guns

Early this morning...4am to be exact a large thud woke both John and I up. Our conversation went a little something like this....you could add a little profanity to get the whole picture, but I'll leave that part out...

me: "did you hear that...what in the world?"
John: in a concerned tone "yeah...I did....I don't see the motion light on though so that is good."
me: "good?...really? because it sounded like someone just ran through our living room"
John: "yeah, I know...."
John: "should I check it out"
me: "absolutely....where are your guns?"
John: "at K&M's place"
me" "seriously!?!....we are the ones that live in the freakin ghetto...why in the world would you leave your guns there!?" (good place to insert a curse word or two) ;)
John: "shoot...did you hear that again!?"
me: "UM YEAH!!!"
me: "I'm pretty sure it's coming from outside our window...I'm sweating" (as I fling the overs off)
John: "me too"
me: "Wait...I'm sweating b/c I'm freaking out."
John: "me too"

At this point I get pretty nervous because my husband that dismisses every noise I hear in the night and freak out about. My husband that always tells me it's nothing and to to back to sleep is sweating! sweating b/c he's getting nervous! we don't even have a TV, why our place? we know our neighbor was recently released from jail, but for what...probably burglary! there was a party going on when we went to bed around 11pm at the government housing...maybe they are hammered & ready for a real thrill?

John: "I guess I'll go see what's going on"
me: "with what!? you don't have a bat...nothing...grab your bow!"
John: "there are no arrows in here"
me: "they don't know that!"
John gets up to tour the house in his underwear and armed with nothing....
me: "WAIT, I think I know what it is"
John: "WHAT!? Don't startle me like that"
me: "There is like an apple tree or something on that side of the house....is it windy outside? it could be those falling on the roof and by our window"
John: "there is no apple tree"
me: "there is some kind of fruit tree, I swear"
me: "what time is it in Ohio, I'll text E and see if those things have ever fallen and scared her!"
John: "it's 4am there too...you're not texting her."

John then does a quick search around the house and makes sure all the doors are locked again. We lay there for the next two hours. Every now and then you would hear "can you sleep?" or "did you hear it again?" At some point we fell asleep because the alarm came way too early this morning.

Needless to say our priority today is to get the rest of our stuff from K&M's ;) My camera is still there too, but when I get it, I'll post a picture of the fruit tree...the one that John & I went out to see this morning before he left for work. He now believes me, but the last thing he said last night was, "it's not a person and it's not fruit, but I still don't know what it is."

buyers remorse?

I'm not really sure what to think of the feelings that are going through my head right now. It's hard to even piece them together.

At 7pm tonight we are meeting with our Realtors....to make an offer on a house! You would think that I should be jumping up and down because I'm so excited. I am excited, but I'm also very very nervous and I'm trying to figure out exactly why. Maybe it's a little of everything and maybe this is how you're supposed to feel when you are making an offer on a house. If it is...they should prepare you for this feeling b/c it's not what I expected!

Before you get too excited for us you should know this...it prob. won't happen. We are asking a significant amount less than the offer price so I know that most likely this won't come to be. I would really be shocked if they took our offer, but as John always says "the answer is always 'no' if you never ask." So, I may really be pumped about this house, but I won't let myself think about it actually being ours since most likely it won't be. Maybe that's why I feel sick right now....

or maybe it's because...

This is a HUGE purchase...huge...like the biggest thing we'll ever purchase in our life..except maybe our kids college education. Anyway, it's a big decision and there are a million things running through my mind at the same time. Is this the right one? it's not backed up to woods like I wanted? the yard is ok, but it's not huge. It's ok that it's not everything we wanted right? It's in a good neighborhood though. Did we really look at it long enough? Will it resale easily when the market turns? It's so close to the other houses and I always said I hated that...is it ok now?

or perhaps it's....

The location. The location is fair. It's in Ooltewah, which could be good for resale because the VW plant will be coming to that area soon. We've gone back an forth about if we want to live in Ooltewah. Naturally right now as I sit here and type this up I'm thinking I'm not really ok with that area. ;) I like being down the road from people that can watch our dogs or give me a ride somewhere if I need it. I'm alone all day working from home and with John getting home so late these days I'm worried I'll be even more lonely in Ooltewah. But...again...it depends on the day. Tomorrow it may be the best place on earth to me.

could it be that...

I'm having buyers remorse and we've not bought yet? It's a little something called "mortgage payment" that we have not had the privilege of knowing yet. There is something so sweet about renting and knowing that you can change your mind at any time...not the case with a house you own. Are we ready to replace a heater if it goes out? Are we ready to say "this is it...this is the best house on the market for us?" I feel like this is a marriage we're about to get into, but this time I've got cold feet! The responsibility and "ball and chain" of having a house that you are stuck with forever (it feels like forever) it freaking me out right now. If I was the bride in a wedding gown I'd contemplate running from the church like it was on fire. Do we really need to own a house anyway? What's wrong with paying someone else to own it for you?

OR

Maybe it's my commitment issues coming up. I want every person I know and trust and love to just call me on the phone and say that this is the right decision that the Lord sent an angel to tell them that I should move forward with no worries! I want affirmation this is RIGHT, but really no one can give that to me.

What if it's....

not in the Lord's will? Am I feeling this way b/c he hasn't given me peace about this? Is this anxiousness coming from my spirit, stomach or heart? Could the Lord be trying to tell me to STOP or is it just nerves?

I am afraid it's not one simple explanation. I think it's a little of it all running through my head, heart and lungs-since it's hard to breath right now! I'm afraid I'm getting worked up all over nothing, but I still feel very worked up! Most likely this won't even happen...but what if it does!? I could use a little prayer tonight if you think about it..it could go like this, "lord, please keep Lisa in one piece." I'll keep you posted.....

Yuuummmmm!

I reached into the cabinet...I mean BOX that contains all the warm goodness I love to drink & pulled out one of John's favorite treats. I didn't realize it until I was stirring this magic in my hot milk, but found out that this stuff rocks...you should try it sometime!

Unlikely Pair

Singers get together for duets all the time and although they normally stay within the same genre every now & then something breaks the mold. Remember Tim McGraw & Nelly's tune or Taylor Swift and T-pain. Nothing surprises me anymore...until now.

I was more than a little confused to hear "I'm Alive" sang by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews Band! That one threw me for a loop. I love DMB, but have never jumped on the Kenny train. I feel bad about it since he's from Knoxville and all, but I just don't have it in me. He has a few songs I can manage to listen to, but most of the time I change the radio when he comes on. The song isn't awful....but the pairing is & I'm pretty surprised DMB stooped so low. :)

Here it is if you haven't heard this new pairing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpXNGtS2dBs

Friendship

Just a short little post in honor of the first book club tomorrow.

"True friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken, fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the dephts of who we are, they'll leave. But for what we give up is noting in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control it and manage it and manufacture it, then it's something else, but if it's really love, really friendship, it's a little scary around the edges....

Friendship is an opportunity to act on God's behalf in the lives of the people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is..."

-Shauna Niequest Cold Tangerines

I'm so thankful for the true, deep friendships that I have in my life. You know who you are & I hope to never take our friendship for granted. Thanks to all my friends out there that have taken the risk in showing me the not so perfect side of yourself and loved me in return when I've shown mine...

Silence & Solitude

I'm wrapping up my time here in Little Rock, AR. It's been a good trip. This isn't one of my bigger territories so it requires more road time between doc. offices. I visited surround areas such as Jacksonville, Hot Springs & Russellville. They are all 45-90 minutes away so I found myself jamming out to the radio and taking in the beautiful scenery of changing leaves. I heart fall! Here is my top 10 moments in AR:

1. Eating Cracker Barrel's french toast breakfast for dinner...in the luxury of my king sized hotel bed.


2. Making the comment to one of the hotel workers that I love this weather, chilly enough to wear jeans and a sweatshirt with flip-flops. His response, "that's you style isn't it!" haha wow...I'm such a fashionista!


3. looking like a wet rat going into doc. offices b/c I was soaked all the way down to my unmentionables. ;)


4. speaking of rain...it was painful to buy an umbrella at Walgreens for a whopping $13. Seriously people...I could get one at the dollar store. I hate when convenience overrides bargains.


5. Being in AR makes me think of my roommate in college b/c she has family here! Shout out JM.


6. I knew it was a week of silence & solitude when I found myself wanting to ask the hotel workers if they wanted to hang out...I'm not good at alone.
   
7. I actually did have a little bonding time with my boy R today while we watched a 6 year old boy in a helium balloon fly 5,000 feet over CO on CNN. Ends up he just let the balloon go & was hiding in the attic afraid of what he had done. This really could be a blog in itself...did anyone see this? http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html


8. Listening to a 80 year old patient YELL at her doctor about how her arm itched so bad she would rather be dead...interesting conversation.


9. Stayed up late to watch an lifetime movie that was a huge disappointment. Lifetime usually doesn't let me down, but this one really did. I should have known since it featured Lindsay Lohan. I'd put any of Sally Field's Lifetime originals up to this little ditty any day.


10. I got a new phone from verizon right before I left, which now means I don't have to only talk to people on speakerphone! Yay for a free LV EnV touch!

Calling All Bookworms!

The truth of the matter is you don't have to be a bookworm at all...just female!

the story:
Katie & I were talking one day about her "bucket list" & all the things she wanted to do, which included starting or be involved in a book club. I also shared some of the things I really miss about Rochester & one of them was a book club I was involved in. My favorite thing about that club was that it brought together women of all ages. It was amazing to me how we would read the same exact book, but take away such different things from it. We all have different life experiences that color the glasses we see the world through & I LOVE to hear the way other people see the world...especially ladies older than I that have more experiences to share.

So...from that was born this book club.

What we want to create is is a Christian woman's book club designed to unite women of ALL ages through the faith and love of Christ. We know how important it is to learn from those around us & think this will be a unique opportunity to do just that! This club offers a biblical alternative to secular book clubs by suggesting reading materials that will stretch our faith and encourage all to become well-rounded modern-day Proverbs 31 women.

One read through Proverbs 31:10-31 and we see this is a well-rounded and wise woman of God. We want to challenge ourselves to read from a wide variety of subjects (including, but not limited to, Christian history, current events, Christian fiction novels, controversial matters in today's world) to increase our efforts in becoming well-rounded women of God. Though we are not of this world we need to be aware of how to best stand firm in our surroundings.

what's expected of me?

It's pretty simple. We would like read one book a month then meet one Saturday morning per month to discuss what was read.

Don't have time? This club doesn't demand a lot from you. In the evening when the house is still, can you see yourself cozying up to a good read? Can you commit to meet and learn from other women one Saturday morning per month? If so, let's do it!

book list:

October "Cold Tangerines" Shauna Niequist (short & easy read)

November "What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Philip Yancey

December OFF

January "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Tenboom

February "From Eternity to Here" by Frank Viola

March "Through Gates of Splendor" By Elizabeth Elliot

April "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan

May "Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together" by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

June "With an Everlasting Love" by Kay Arthur

July OFF to take a break suggested reading is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers, but we won’t meet to discuss it

August "Just Courage" by Gary A. Haugen (the founder of the International Justice Mission)

September "Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community" by Andrew Marin

October--time for a new list!

If there is a book on here that you have read before, no worries, we'd love for you to meet anyway to discuss or try to read it again...maybe there is something you'll see in it differently this time around!

Schedule (tentative):

Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

*NO MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER*

Saturday, January 9, 2010 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, February 13, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 13, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 8, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 12, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

*OFF FOR JULY*

Saturday, August 13, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, September 11, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

October -FALL KICK-OFF & New reading schedule

Think it through and hopefully we'll see you soon!!!! If you want to be a part of the club, let me know (facebook, email or leave a comment) & I'll contact you with where we'll meet & how to get there. Also feel free to let your friends know. The more the merrier!

Weekend Recap

I've done an awful job of taking pictures lately! It's terribly & I apologize. These pictures I found are a cheap representation of this weekend, but it's better than nothing.

Friday night we had this...

For her...
Then on Saturday we joined Arhmin, Steve & Brad for some fresh air here...
The boys played football & I mainly read this...
We ended up eating in downtown here... (3rd sign back)
I had this...

We watched a little of this...
Indulged in 12 of these...and yes they were "hot & ready"...
Sunday John & I tried out this church...
Sadly it's Monday again & the agenda for the week is work... where does the weekend go!?