Happy Anniversary!

Two years ago today Joe and I were married in Paintsville, KY. Being married has been the greatest thing. God has used us in each others lives to grow, challenge and make us into better people. We've had a lot of fun along the way: traveling to Savannah, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, California, Kentucky, Louisianna, Washington D.C.; throwing parties; establishing weekly times together-Sunday mornings with breakfast, coffee and Meet the Press; going to the beach......I look forward to many more years to come!

Last Day of Work

My working 'career' comes to a close this Friday. I say 'career' because over the last 1o years of working I can't say I really have had a career, just lots of experience. Yes, my days of getting up early in the morning to earn some cold, hard cash to pay the bills is ending. No more sitting at work for hours on end as they drag by with me checking my email and facebook 50x an hour hoping it will distract me from the snail pace of the day passing. As many of you know, that has been my reality at my last job at the church.

In all seriousness, quitting wasn't a decision I came to lightly. Joe (and Katrina) had been encouraging me for months to quit. I wrestled through what others would think of me no longer working, the worldly standard that the only valid excuse not to be working is if you have kids. We no longer 'needed' the money I've been making, but still isn't it wise to be saving? I didn't feel like I had/have a very concrete answer to what I will be doing now. Is it lazy to quit? I also took the job at the church because I felt like God clearly had led me to it, so I didn't want to quit unless I felt like God was releasing me from it.

I've also never had the luxury NOT to have a job. From the time I was 16, the summer before my senior year in high school, I have had a job. I've had 10 jobs (Subway, Office Assistant, Lakota Coffee Co., movie theater, Cutco, Starbucks, Edge Corps, Hallmark, Coffee Bean, First United Methodist Chruch). And it was always necessary. If I wanted to buy clothes, do fun things, pay my bills, I had to have a job. So, it's been a hard thing to wrap my mind around being able to quit a job because I could and have the financial security to do so. I am so grateful God has placed us in a position where I don't have to work.

So, you are probably wanting to know what I'm going to do instead. Good question. I still don't have a nice neat answer to give people. I do know a big reason I felt God releasing me from my job is I want to be investing in the lives of my friends, the women God has placed in my life. Work really limits the time I'm able to spend with them. Often I find it cut short, squeezing in time together over a 45-30 minute lunch. I will be able to go to work functions with Joe that happen during the day. I have the flexibility to go with Joe when he goes on TDYs. I'll have the freedom to keep up with things around the house better and not have to cram them all in on one day. I'm looking forward to all God has planned for me in this new chapter in my life.

Day on the Water

Saturday I went out for a day on the water with Sarah and Berni, Nate and Natasha, Katrina and Joah, Josh, and Stephanie. It was the perfect day, blue skies without a cloud in sight, warm and sunny. We rented a pontoon boat and went all around the bay and sound. As we finished the day we had a bit of excitement. The water had gotten a lot choppier as we were going back to drop the boat off. We hit a wave fast and hard causing a huge wave to splash up into the boat soaking all of us. For a moment we thought we might flip. Luckily we were all safe, just soaked through with a story to tell.

Green Thumb

I enjoy flowers and I have developed an interest in gardening over the last couple of years. We don't have a yard, but I've made due with planters on our back deck. This summer is my 2nd time using annuals. We also have a palm tree and bush that last year round. I think next summer I will branch out to vegetables.