Emily and Matt

Winds of Change

2011-08-30T06:28:00.002-05:00

We had a really rough storm a few weeks back - it brought with it much needed rain, but also very high winds. This is the part of storms that makes me sad! I *LOVE* weather, the more exciting the better, but when it comes to damage...especially on your property, then it's no fun.

This was a limb approx. 15 feet long that was resting halfway on the top of our house! Thankfully, it didn't fall too far and thus didn't result in any damage.

There were several smaller, healthy limbs that were also knocked down in the backyard. With every storm that comes through, we tend to get tiny branches knocked down, but they're typically dead!

This guy was smack dab in front of our garage door!!! It spanned the entire width of our driveway. Thankfully, this one DIDN'T land on the house!

Matt and I headed out the door to one of my cousin's weddings in Wichita on 8/27. Aren't we cute? :o)

And in the most exciting news of the year: Matt has a new job! As bittersweet as it is to leave the animal shelter, I think he realized that it was 'temporary' and not a career position. He'll be starting with Southern Cross in a few weeks. It's a company that contracts with local gas companies to check for leaks & corrosion. We really think this will be a good fit for him and it will definitely be something different than he's ever done! Sometimes we just need a change of scenery.

Learning to Ride

2011-08-16T18:15:00.003-05:00

I learned the fine skill of bike riding when I was little – training wheels and all. I distinctly remember the day when those little angels of stabilization came off and my dad was the one steadying the bike.

He was a great substitute for those little wheels...but then he let go, as tends to happen when you’re being forced to learn something. The bike was suddenly wobbly and I was scared and all by myself! How do I stop this thing? Where are the brakes? Am I still alive?

Even though I was full of fear, I did fine. I didn’t die, I didn’t crash.

I kept my balance because my dad had faith that I was ready. He wouldn’t have put me through all of that if I hadn’t of been.

Cue present day.

I’ve been biking a handful of times with my husband and it’s like I’m learning to ride all over again! I have no faith in my bike. I have no faith in MYSELF on the bike. I hate turning, even around a small bend. I despise hedgeballs, walnuts, and any other round object that’s in my path. I don’t like deep ruts. I don’t like when there’s a gap between the sidewalk and the grass, because I just know that my tire is bound to go in there. I don’t like bugs flying at my head. I don’t like my super squeaky brakes.

But I love the freedom. I love the feeling of the wind on my face. I love how quickly I can get from point A to point B. I love how strong & powerful my legs feel when I up the gear tension.

Bike riding is FUN! I've even been 'off roading' a few times (very tame trails, trust me...I hate rocks, roots, anything that sticks up out of the ground...) and even went down a ditch once. I'll have to say that I've really surprised myself (and Matt, too!).

Yay for new adventures that make exercising exciting!

Oh and make sure you 'ooh' and 'ahh' over the pretty new blog header graphic! :o) Oooh...ahhh!!!

In other news, before summer is over make sure you treat yourself to some lovely, fresh, Caprese Salad! I'm going to send you over to Ree Drummond's (The Pioneer Woman) site for a unbelievably delectable version of it. If you haven't visited her little Ranch on the Web yet, make sure to poke around at a few of her other pages. She is simply lovely!

The Importance of Children

2011-08-09T06:37:00.003-05:00

It's something that each and every one of us has in common - we were all once children. But as we get older, we grow more jaded and cynical -- our rose colored glasses are promptly taken away from us. We are forced to see the harsh reality of the world we live in...we get the 'pleasure' of meeting the 'Great Oz' behind the curtain and it's not pretty.

That's why children are so refreshing to be around. Everything is new and interesting to them. They discover exciting things around every corner! It has been SUCH a blessing to watch these two little guys grow over the past year. Milo (light blue shirt) is my nephew and Jonas is our good friends little boy - both are just a hair over 1 year. They got to meet each other for the first time at our annual BBQ and I don't think we could've asked for better entertainment!

Slow & Steady Wins the Race

2011-07-16T12:15:00.003-05:00

Well, we didn't technically win (I think we were actually last), BUT my beautiful sister in law & I FINISHED our first 5k together! She has a few races under her belt (including a 10k!), but I'm a race novice. Neither of us were prepared to run the whole thing. So we didn't. We DID run at the very beginning AND at the very end, so we ran the parts that count. ;o)

The most important takeaway from the entire event is that we finished. We DID IT. We didn't stop. Not even once.

I should have prefaced this all by saying that it was 100 degrees outside.

That's not factoring in the heat index - that was the AIR temperature.

Do you see why our feat of finishing was so important and awesome?

Our mother & father in law and husbands were all there to cheer us on. Since the race wove through my neighborhood, they all hopped in the car once we left the parking lot and stood at the corner down from my house waiting to see us walk by! In fact, several people were sitting on their driveways and stoops to cheer the participants on - it was great!

Did I mention that it was 100 degrees?!

We have a game plan for the next race - there's one coming up in October that actually goes through our neighborhood (and down our street!) - and we plan on running that one. It is VERY hard to train when it's so incredibly hot and humid outside, so hopefully when it starts to cool down at the end of August/September, we can start truly training.

The best part aside from finishing? The tshirt that came with our registration! It's a 'technical' shirt and is made out of that moisture wicking material which is FANTASTIC. I'm actually wearing it in the picture. I changed out of my plain cotton shirt into that and it was wonderful.

Addicted

2011-07-15T06:35:00.002-05:00

Something has been weighing on my mind as of late...actually, it's been on my mind for a very long time.

I'm addicted to artificial sweeteners.

I'm not addicted to sugar any longer, because I've gradually replaced it with "sugar-free" (ie. lower calorie) substitutes.

I've read so many articles on how aspartame is basically formaldehyde, so we're being preserved from the inside out...which isn't a good thing. There's still controversy on Splenda and I've always stayed away from NutraSweet. My mom has issues with aspartame giving her headaches (same with a co-worker of mine) and while I haven't had the same issue, I have noticed when I consume large amounts (ie. in gum, diet soda, etc):

-I feel tired
-I often get very moody
-I crave more!
-I feel hungry

This is in line with what Jen talked about on her blog, Living A Changed Life. She has some of the same reactions to it! I'm sure so many other people too, they just don't put two and two together and acknowledge the signs.

That being said, I'm taking the gum packet out of my purse - I may pick up one with regular sugar in it, until they start fully marketing the brands that are made with stevia/truvia/natural sweeteners, BUT I won't go through it like my other packs.

I have to kick this habit.

I kicked bad food and food binges to the curb, I know I can do it with this!

Do you have any issues with artificial sweeteners or know anyone who does?

Long Road

2011-07-13T06:23:00.002-05:00

It's been a long and winding road, but I'm 16 lbs from my goal weight (or what I THINK is my goal...I haven't set anything in stone yet). Most of the time I don't believe it and I still get taken aback when people compliment me. But I'm getting there. I'm realizing that no, they're not kidding and yes, I really have lost almost 110 lbs. I'm starting to notice my confidence increasing. I've also been shifting my focus from the scale to the real reasons of why I wanted to lose weight in the first place.

-I wanted to be able to walk & run without feeling like I was dying.
-I wanted to increase my fitness capabilities and horizons.
-I wanted to set a good example for friends & family and let them know that it can be done.
-I wanted to let the real me shine through without anything getting in the way.

Now that I'm on the verge of accomplishing this huge task...I know I need to set other goals.

-I will be signing up for several 5k's before the end of the year. When the temp cools down (from the 100's), maybe I'll even start training for a 10k.
-I love photography and would like to expand my portfolio.
-I want to dabble more in painting and DEFINITELY get back into drawing. I'd even like to create some work to sell!

Pieces of Me

2011-06-17T06:40:00.003-05:00

This is me, the girl I used to be. The girl that opted for a large McDonald's Triple Thick Chocolate Shake over a Skinny Cow ice cream bar.

I'm struggling with letting go of this girl. I look in the mirror and I see someone completely different, but inside, sometimes, I still feel like I look like her. I know that I don't. I know I'm wearing pants that are 4 sizes smaller than that girl. Call it a vanity thing, if you want. It's really my anxiety creeping up inside my head, making me think that the next piece of food I eat (healthy or not) will immediately make me go back to the beginning. To her.

I can't go back to her. EVER. E.V.E.R.

I'm finally feeling GREAT with where I'm at. Still a little weirded out by the appearance of my long lost hip & collar bones, but I digress. People are calling me "skinny", which makes me feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, but it's an amazing compliment. For someone who was a size 20/22 to now be running a mile, walking all the time, having more energy than I ever imagined, AND being called "skinny"...it's been a mental trip, I tell you what.

Baby Love

2011-06-07T18:15:00.002-05:00

I pretty much lovecherishadore this kid.

My nephew.

The best in the world.

Milo.
I know that he MUST be getting tired of the paparazzi that follow him around EVERYWHERE and I promise him each time we're together that someday soon, dear sweet boy, he'll have a cousin that will deflect some of the attention away from him.

Body Image

2011-06-07T06:42:00.002-05:00

I read a wonderful post this morning about body image, which is something I've struggled with my whole life. Here's a snippet:

"The thing is, no matter how much any of us workout or what we weigh, we are likely never going to look like whatever ideal we have in our head (whether it's a celebrity, our former selves or some other imaginary version of us). If we have stretch marks and cellulite, we will probably always have them. Even at goal weight. So I think the first thing we need to do is understand that and have realistic expectations. Because all we can do is eat better and move more; but we have little to no control over what our bodies will look like as a result of that work.

So instead of being disappointed that you don't look a certain way, I want you to reframe it: The next time you find yourself saying negative things about your body because of what it looks like, I want you to see all the ways your body is amazing - think of all the things it does for you in a single day: it keeps your heart beating and keeps you alive, it gets you around from place to place, it walks, it drives, it bends, reaches, grabs, writes, sews, paints, draws, plays instruments, runs, bikes, swims, jumps - it picks up and holds your kids & your loved ones. Your body is a truly amazing thing - a functional work of art."

You can read the whole post here on Sheryl's blog.

I stared into the mirror last night, analyzing myself (stretch marks and all)...and I realized how far I've come and what I can do now that I couldn't do before. I can run a mile, I can walk a 5k, I can do jumping jacks and pushups, I can walk up and down the stairs without heaving, I can cook fantastic DELICIOUS satisfying foods that even my husband loves.

So like Sheryl said, no matter what we look like - we truly are a work of art. :o)

A Mile at a Time

2011-05-18T06:29:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I ran a mile. 1 whole mile.

It was AWESOME!

I know so many people who have done 5k's, 10k's, half-marathons, and full marathons...but they all had to start out with just one mile at some point in their lives.

I had actually just intended to walk (by myself, Matt was down with a bad cold) but made a split second decision after a 5 minute warm up to run.

I ran past a sweet old lady who was out enjoying the wonderful fresh air.

I turned a corner and ran to the next block.

I saw a gray van two blocks down.

I ran past it.

I saw the end of the street, took a left, and kept running.

Then I just made up my mind that I was going to run home.

I ran and I ran and I actually ran PAST the house, to the end of our block, because I wanted to ensure that I had run a full mile.

All the while, I imagined people cheering me on. All of you were there, lining the street, jumping up and down, waiting for me to cross that 'finish line'.

Remember Me

2011-05-11T06:44:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to do a quick post this morning, because I've been wearing a shirt recently that I purchased on our honeymoon in March of 2009. Sometimes we all need a reminder of what happened along our journey. We need to stop at the reflecting pool to keep in touch with who we were then and who we are now.

Scripture

2011-04-26T21:37:00.002-05:00

I have to quickly share this great piece of scripture before I head off to bed. It's been on my mind since I stumbled across it this morning on beautiful Mandisa's blog (which I ALSO stumbled upon -- thank you, KLove!) She included this little gem in her "Scriptures on my Journey to 100" post:

Philippians 4:12-13- I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Easter :o)

2011-04-26T19:45:00.003-05:00

Easter 2011
(down 90lbs!)

From L-R: Matt (my husband), me, Mike (my dad), Sharon (my mom)

On a side note, check out my mom's Easter post that includes a fun little video outtake from this photo shoot!

Do You Hear the People Sing?

2011-03-31T21:41:00.004-05:00

On break today, I made a new Pandora station on my phone. I set it to play songs from and "similar to" Les Miserables (funnily enough, it only played songs from Les Mis and nothing else!) The song, "Do You Hear the People Sing" came on and I just knew that I had to find it to post on here. I am dedicating this to all of those who are marching in uprising against their cruel dictators, those freedom fighters, peacekeepers, 'troublemakers', those who are getting the word out to let us know what is REALLY going on in their country, to the woman in Libya who is being 'silenced' for accusing those in power of raping her...

This is your anthem.

Chubby Cushion of Comfort

2011-03-31T07:41:00.005-05:00

**Author's note: The formatting on Blogger is wonky and isn't retaining my paragraph breaks, so I apologize for the really 'wordy' looking post!** I read a blog post yesterday that completely describes my current state of mind! "Sometimes You Just Need Baggy Pants" I've reached the point where I am slowly running out of (what I will call the) Chubby Cushion of Comfort. I can feel my hip bones, my collar bone is noticeable, and I can even see my ankles and the veins in my feet on a regular basis. This is WAY beyond my 'comfort zone'. It's almost a little weird and unnerving. Like, where am I melting away to? Where did it all GO? I'm not taking the weight loss for granted, don't get me wrong. It's AWESOME. I feel AWESOME. But I barely have that Cushion to hang on to. It's the Cushion that let me slide through life just being *average*. It's the Cushion that gave me the excuse that I was too overweight to exercise, because...what difference would it make, right? Well, now that the Cushion is fading away, I don't have an excuse to have excuses any longer. I don't have an excuse to NOT buy the cute shirt. I don't have an excuse to NOT sign up to run a 5k. I don't have an excuse to NOT smile when my husband compliments me. Do you or did you have a Chubby Cushion of Comfort? If you still do, have you thought about ways to chip away at it? If you did have one, what steps did you take to push it out of your life? On a side note, I'm down 85 pounds! Just this week, I was able to fit into three pairs of pants that I'd been hanging on to for over 6 years. Baby steps!

Our Delicious 'Snow Day' Trash Bowl

2011-02-26T08:01:00.011-06:00

A few weeks back, I left work early because of an impending blizzard and it just happened to also be Matt's day off. For lunch, we fixed up a yummy 'Snow Day' Trash Bowl. :o) We gave it that name A) because it was snowing and B) because we wanted a fun name to give the big delicious mix of food that we'd dumped into our bowls!

This recipe can be done any time of the day - it is NOT just for breakfast.

'Snow Day' Trash Bowl
Serving Size: 2
Weight Watcher Points - 9
Ingredients:
1 cup 'Fake' eggs (ie. Eggbeaters)
2 cups Frozen hashbrowns
As many as you want - Frozen mixed peppers & onions
1/2 pound of ham or turkey ham - diced
1/4 cup of shredded cheese

Fry up your hashbrowns according to the package directions - you can use a tbsp of oil, if necessary

Meanwhile in another pan, cook the pepper mix & diced ham
When both the hasbrowns & pepper/ham mixture are ready, add them together

Time to add the eggs!

Once the eggs are set & scrambled to perfection, add the cheese
Voila! Divide it into two servings and you have an amazing, delicious 'Snow Day' Trash Bowl!

Enjoy!

A Pictorial Journey

2011-02-25T16:57:00.007-06:00

I've been meaning to do this post for quite awhile - so now without further adieu, I'd like to take you on a journey.

We're not going to a magical place filled with sweeping vistas, ancient castles, and beautiful unicorns (though that might be a nice change of pace, eh?). Instead, we're taking a trip back in time...back through my life and my weight loss journey.

You need to understand something, before we begin. Do you see the girl in this first photo? Yes, that's me - circa 2006. But what you can't see is the unhappiness, the void inside. I didn't care about myself. I cared about my boyfriend (now husband), my dog & cats, and my family. That's it.

I ate whatever I wanted, when I wanted. I ate bags of chips, tubs of ice cream, boxes of candy. There was NO limit. There was nothing stopping me! A few people did voice their concern, but that's like trying to tell a rock that it needs to be paper. I heard what they were saying, but I felt like it didn't apply to me. This picture was taken when I was at my highest weight ever. I remember stepping on the scale and seeing 275. That was honestly VERY frightening, but I didn't do anything about it right away. Instead, I turned back to the food that had always been there for me, on my darkest of days.

To know that my family and wonderful, sweet husband have never given up on me means so much. I had given up on myself, but they were always there (and still are) with words of encouragement.

Our first anniversary - 2006

Christmas 2008 (Such beautiful sister in laws!!!)

Engagement picture

With our first foster animals!

On a road trip - 2009

Wedding shower at work - 2009

Rehearsal dinner

Wedding day - 2009

Honeymoon

Christmas 2009

Friend's baby shower - late spring 2010

Summer 2010

July 4th 2010

Spring 2010

Brad Paisley concert - fall 2010

August 2010

February 2011

(Let's just say that these pants haven't fit since I bought them around 2004)

February 2011

I remember all of the compliments that I received on my wedding day...thank you again for all of them. I wish that I would have BELIEVED them at the time! As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm working on myself from the inside out. It's been an arduous process, but it's worth it. :o)

My weight loss journey is not over - I'm down 82 pounds and have about 50 more to go. Thank you for cheering me on thus far!

On the Cusp

2011-01-15T06:59:00.002-06:00

I am on the cusp, on the verge, of seeing a number on the scale that I have yet to witness in my adult life. It's all been baby steps and will continue to be, because I am all about taking it slow. I've lost 76 pounds so far (technically over the course of 3 years, but it's been steady now for a year) and I have about 45 more to go. I'm excited and OH SO VERY NERVOUS at the same time. I keep thinking that I'll wake up one day and it will all have been a dream. Or maybe the next time I eat a chocolate chip cookie, I'll immediately gain it all back on.

It's such a balancing process! I'm having to learn to retrain my brain into NOT thinking those nasty thoughts. I know that I won't gain it all back on with ONE cookie. I know that I can eat anything I want, but just in moderation and appropriate proportions.

The cravings really have all gone by the wayside. I did have an urge for a delicious chocolate bar the other night, but satisfied it with a cup of hot chocolate instead. I don't want fast food any more (it actually makes me sick now, if anything). I don't want to eat an ENTIRE pizza or a WHOLE bag of Doritos. So the retraining of my brain has at least gotten that far!

I'm still working on the lesson of myself. Loving myself. Respecting myself. Realizing that the compliments aren't fake - people really do mean what they say sometimes. Owning the fact that I AM beautiful.

I'm a constant work in process, but that's the way it should be. We should all learn more about ourselves. Life isn't cut and dry, there's always potential to discover new things!

Christmas - 2010

2010-12-28T18:08:00.004-06:00

Dear, sweet Milo

Uncle Matt!

:o)

Poor kid had some SERIOUS hat hair

Rachel the Nurse!

Siblings :o)

We are all so excited for her!

Mama looooooves Milo...serious face and all

Our present to the little man - I painted it over the course of a few weeks. I chose words that I felt represented both David & Tiffany's ideals. :o)

First Christmas!

I think I got a few tears out of her!

Sunday

2010-12-05T14:18:00.005-06:00

Matt and I have had a wonderful Sunday! I feel blessed to be able to enjoy a WHOLE DAY with him. (What a concept, right?) We made a yummy 'over stuffed' omelet this morning (thanks for the recipe, Weight Watchers!), ate breakfast at the table (*gasp*), then started putting up Christmas decorations. Our house is all sorts of cheery now!

Our tree.
We came to the agreement that we're going to purchase a new one for next year. We'll keep this little guy (he's 5 feet tall), but the poor thing looks a tad puny in the dining room. Plus, he's getting VERY full with all the ornaments we (and our families) keep adding to the collection!

Hand carved Nativity - by Matt's late grandpa, Lloyd (yes, we know that little baby Jesus is missing...he's at the babysitters. Because, as my sister in law Tiffany said, Mary needs a break too!)

Doggy & kitty stockingsMy big bear, Brownie. He's such a scrooge!Sugar -- why so sad?Buddy staring intently at MattNoah and Daisy, cuddling cutiesAlong with putting up decorations, I've also been busy adding more necklaces to our shop!

Etsy
sharonemilydesigns

Chalk It Up as Experience

2010-11-28T10:50:00.005-06:00

Mom and I participated as vendors at an After Thanksgiving Sale yesterday! Let's just say that we're chalking the whole thing up as experience. :o) The 'sale' was NOT heavily advertised, the location was a bit shoddy, and thus the foot traffic was VERY minimal. We had several other vendors comment that it's the worst show they've ever participated in!

BUT...we now have experience.

The customers that did stop by were all so wonderful and gave us great feedback. I really loved being able to interact with them in person (as I stated to a local news channel that stopped by). Face to face transactions are so much more fun!

Another great thing about the sale was how much we learned from seeing the other booths/displays. We took away a lot of ideas about tablecloths/fabric, having varied heights, etc. Everyone was so helpful with their feedback!

Here are a few pictures that I took of our booth:

Foster Update

2010-10-29T06:35:00.002-05:00

Our latest foster to be adopted was Molly. She was a sweet little girl who had come from a puppy mill, thus she was a bit timid and not overly affectionate. We showered her with love and attention for a few weeks and finally got a call from the shelter to say that someone was interested in meeting her! Matt took her up on a Monday and the gal fell in love with her right away! She now has a wonderful Forever home. :o)We still have Claire (the gray/white one), who was the mama cat to the kittens that I wrote about back in the spring. She is SUCH a beautiful cat. Claire loves giving attention as much as she adores receiving it! She and Noah (the other one in the window) have become the best of friends.

Lastly, just a snap of me and our girls - Daisy & Sugar. They like to keep me warm!

It's a Good Thing

2010-10-21T06:44:00.002-05:00

I keep having to remind myself that it's a GOOD thing (a GREAT thing) to have to 'retire' a pair of pants because they're falling off of me.

It's a good thing.

Except that I really liked that pair...it was my only dark, dressy pair of jeans.

When I told Matt - in a very melancholy tone - that I had to get rid of that pair of pants, he said,

"Then we'll just have to go shopping for new ones!"

To which I replied,

"But I LIKED those jeans!"

To which he calmly added,

"Isn't it a good thing that they don't fit anymore?"

Yes, it really is a good thing.

Sharon and Emily Designs

2010-10-18T18:02:00.004-05:00

Etsy
sharonemilydesigns

These necklaces are B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. and even more gorgeous in person.

Christmas is coming...what a better stocking stuffer?

:o)

A Dimming Star

2010-09-30T21:01:00.004-05:00

We have been informed that Mr. Tucker is fading quickly tonight. His bright shining star is dimming with every labored breath he takes. What a great life he has lived! From the mischief he got into as a puppy (pulling a roll of toilet paper around the house!) to licking every single inch of someones face, there was never a dull moment in his life (nor ours).

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
For if I pass with morning's light,
They cannot say I didn't fight!

We only wish we were half as strong as you are, Tucker. We love you!

Eco Chique Boutique

2010-09-21T17:45:00.002-05:00

Think of us as one of those little, hidden boutiques that you pass by every time you walk down the street and you keep saying to yourself that "I'll have to stop in there one of these days"...

Make today that day!

Stop by Eco Chique Boutique - you won't be sorry.

Etsy
ecochiqueboutique

Born This Way

2010-09-20T18:13:00.003-05:00

I have accepted the fact that God made me who I am. He created me in my mother's womb with no details left unseen. He breathed life into my lungs, connected the synapses in my brain, and even put a little hair on my head.

I thank Him for giving me this life and this body.

However...

Lately, I cannot say that I have been thanking Him all that much for the generous endowment that He so graciously bestowed upon me. After taking up the Couch to 5k program (I'm on Week 2), I have to admit that I've been having some half hour long quarrels with the Big Man Upstairs for this...gift.

I mean, OUCH. C'mon Lord, give me a little help here!

So maybe it was divine intervention, or maybe it was a little help from Google, but I found The Fiona:

It's recommended for the bustier types, like me, by women who have run into the same issue. I wore it for my run/walk today and it was woooooonderful! In fact, I need to get it out of the wash now and hang it up to dry!

Major props to the Moving Comfort brand. It was finally nice to find something that WORKED!

The 60 Pound Gorilla

2010-09-16T15:50:00.001-05:00

So there's this Gorilla in the corner of the room. She's quite small, actually, for her species. She's actually shrunken some, since the last time I looked over at her. Her name is 'Weight' and she is mine. I own her. In fact, I brought her into this world! Cute as she may be, I'm looking to get rid of her.

You see, I am apparently a very neglectful owner. In the beginning, I fed her all kinds of things! You name it, she ate it. But, now that I've been feeding her less AND making her workout, poor girl has lost almost 60lbs and only has 60 more left to give!

So if someone would be so kind as to just go ahead and take my 60lb primate, it would make it much easier on me...she gets to be a little too burdensome when I'm running.

I can just leave the back door open sometime...if she 'happens' to get out, I can't say that I'll miss her! :o)

I can do it!

2010-09-13T17:18:00.002-05:00

Today, I wore this shirt on my run/walk.It is 88 degrees and my face is still bright red, BUT there was a high anvil cloud from a storm out west covering only my route.

God does wonderful things. :o)

5 Years

2010-09-10T06:48:00.004-05:00

Five years ago, Matt and I met in person for the first time. We had been talking on the phone, for a month or so, before September 10th, 2005.

He showed up on a beautiful, sunny afternoon at my parents house. Mom and dad had just returned from a garage sale, so he was greeted by the whole family! :o)

We've had ups and downs, bumps and bruises, a wedding and a few surgeries...

but I wouldn't change a thing, even if I could.

I love you, babe.

Let's Get Physical

2010-09-08T11:03:00.001-05:00

I decided to try a Couch to 5k podcast from iTunes yesterday. The point is to start out slow - walk 5 min, run 90 sec, walk 2 min, etc. Obviously, if you are not a runner, you should know that you can't start out in a sprint right away. Nor should you (or could you!) attempt to run a marathon. So this podcast appeared to be the perfect fit for me!

I made the mistake of taking Buddy with me. After almost pulling me into oncoming traffic, stopping to pee at EVERY telephone pole/fire hydrant, and not to mention going #2 IN THE STREET...he won't be going with me again. I love him to pieces, but it was really hard to get any kind of rhythm going!

The running part of the routine wasn't too difficult. At one point, I did feel like I was almost dragging my feet and my lungs started to burn, but I just kept going.

My upcoming goal is to do a 5k coming up in November. I can't tell you yet if I'm going to walk it, run it, or both - but the point is that I'm doing it!

~Emily

Our Trip to Colorado!

2010-08-12T21:41:00.002-05:00

I uploaded pictures from our trip to Colorado to Facebook and am providing the link here below for you to view them:

Pictures

It's a bit easier to provide the link instead of uploading them all again. :o)

We made a special trip to Colorado to visit David, Tiffany, and their new baby boy (our first nephew) Milo. It was so nice to get away for awhile! THANK YOU to my parents for house & dog-sitting for us while we were gone. I don't think our pups or kitties missed us one bit thanks to Grandma & Grandpa!

Our garden

2010-07-22T19:59:00.003-05:00

Matt and I started our first garden this year. Some things took, some didn't. We have a row of strawberries (from my parents), blackberries & raspberries (from Matt's parents), rhubarb, Roma & 'regular' tomatoes, green bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, okra, potatoes, one very weak gourd vine, and a surprise corn stalk! We will be *very* lucky if we get one good vegetable/fruit from each plant, but we can't say we didn't try! :o)

Some variety of squash/zucchini growing from the compost pile!

The corn stalk -- ALSO growing from the compost pile!

Our big yellow squash plant!

Zucchini

One half our garden - growing on the wire in the back are the blackberries

Eco Chique Boutique - GRAND OPENING!

2010-07-18T10:23:00.005-05:00

Our shop is now officially open! New items will be added on a regular basis, so please check back often.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
ecochiqueboutique

Storms, Sugar, and Hinge & Screw Stew

2010-06-22T21:56:00.006-05:00

My parents had a garage sale this past weekend, which Matt and I contributed a few things to. None of us fared too well on the selling side of things, but we did get to spend a fabulously stormy day together!

The storm rolled in...

Meanwhile, Sugar kept us company!

After the clouds rolled away, Sugar took interest in a tiny pear...

Mom and I found this little guy wandering around outside of the garage. He was tiny!

Matt and I did a little work in our hallway earlier this evening. We took the doors off of the linen closet and also removed the door that goes upstairs. All of this was to prepare for Patty's trip over tomorrow to help Matt paint the trim & doors. They were going to work on our dresser, but it is so hot and humid in the garage that it would take forever to dry! Not to mention the awful working conditions. :o(

We counted about 3 layers of paint under the hinge...

Door to upstairs

As for our Hinge & Screw Stew, we'll be serving it at the next family BBQ. :o) Matt found an awesome, eco-friendly idea online for removing paint off of metal surfaces (ie. hinges, screws, & door knobs). Place everything into an old crockpot, add liquid laundry detergent (just a bit of it), and set it on low/medium overnight. I don't really trust our old pot, so I had it on for a few hours tonight and Matt will turn it on again in the morning. However, when I took this picture, I was able to easily peel away some of the paint with an old butter knife. It revealed the beautiful brass underneath!

Kitten Love

2010-06-18T20:33:00.004-05:00

We have been fostering a mama cat (Claire) and her babies for about a month and a half. We brought them home the day after the kittens were born -- the shelter feared that they may succumb to a virus if they stayed.

Kittens are a very precarious thing. For the most part, mama takes care of them, but if she is sick she may try to take time for herself and not stay around the kittens as much as she would otherwise. Unfortunately for Claire (and us), she lost 4 out of her 6 kittens over a stretch of a few weeks. Two of them made it through with flying colors and are the cutest, most adorable fosters we've ever had!

I took pictures of Dora (the girl) and Huck (the boy) today for the shelter. Claire was hiding under the bed and was in NO way, shape, or form coming out to be photographed! After I can get a snap of mama, I'll post it. She is beautiful.

Huck Finn

Dora (The Explorer)

Life

2010-06-14T06:41:00.009-05:00

Life flies by so fast that I keep forgetting to update the blog! Here are some highlights of the past month:

Matt and I won tickets to see Brad Paisley!

He was nice enough to come visit the folks in the 'cheap seats' :o)

Great singer, songwriter, and all around nice guy

We have some very friendly (and strange) squirrels in our neighborhood

We've been watching our garden grow! This is our Potato Row.

We got to meet little baby Jonas Daniel Woodley, our friends newest addition. He is precious!

Did I mention he was precious?

Mom and I (finally) started our own Etsy store! We haven't uploaded items yet, but that will be happening very soon.
Eco Chique Boutique

~Emily~

A Painting

2010-05-20T19:20:00.004-05:00

This is for one of Matt's co-workers. It's her daughters Dachshund. She gave me a list of three of her daughter's favorite colors (green, orange, & pink) so I tried to incorporate those. The pup is actually black/tan/white, so it was a bit challenging changing it all over to orange! Hopefully she (and her daughter) will like it as it's only my second animal painting EVER!

~Emily~

Mother's Day

2010-05-08T19:16:00.002-05:00

To our awesome, courageous, strong-headed, persistent, loving, kind, caring, and compassionate mom's:

Happy Mother's Day!

We love you more than you will EVER know.

Something Old, Something New

2010-04-28T17:12:00.006-05:00

We have been busy little bees over the past month! We hosted a baby shower for our friends, Jess & Dan, a few weekends back. I (Emily) was very nervous, because I had never put on a shower of ANY kind before. My mom and Matt helped me with several things and it ended up going on without a hitch. Everybody loved the games (Bingo, What Can Dad Diaper, etc.) and the food!

Something New

For some exciting news (maybe only for us, haha) -- we have added a new member to the family! We deliberated for a very long time and after some long discussions and even a little prayer, we welcomed Sugar into our home! She is small, very sweet, and a good sport when it comes to playing with Buddy & Daisy.

Something Old

We have dozens of beautiful irises coming up in our back yard! They are bulbs that were planted many years ago by the previous owners, but haven't lost a bit of their beauty. Spring is God's miracle season. He gives us such breathtaking presents in the most tiny, delicate packages. The buds are wrapped so tightly, but will soon expand their petals into large, intricate flowers.

Hello, Spring!

2010-04-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

Just call me Florence Nightingale

2010-03-29T18:51:00.002-05:00

The Florence Nightingale of animals, that is.

Being a friend of all animals great & small has is pros and cons. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been bringing in the injured, the sick, and the dying. I've been rescuing those in distress. Whether it has feathers or fur, wings or a tail, I have always been there to save the day.

Sometimes it makes me feel like more of a superhero than it should (my husband is the REAL superhero!), but if I can help or rescue or rehabilitate a tiny, innocent creature...I'll be there to save the day.

On a side note: you start to look at your dog a little differently after he's had an itty bitty baby bunny in his mouth...

I found 5 little tiny, newborn bunnies in a little burrow (dug by the mother) in what seems to now be a small animal branch & twig sanctuary in our back yard. Buddy found one first - the little thing was still alive, thank goodness - and I found the rest and took them to a local vet.

Some of the mothers fur and grass that was in the burrow:

In Spring We Begin Anew

2010-03-24T18:39:00.006-05:00

Matt and I have been trying very diligently to incorporate more environmentally friendly ways of living into our daily routines. We feel like our generation is being called to a greener, nature driven way of life. (I will use Jenna - Cold Antler Farm - as a prime example of this: http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/) We have a yearning for a large, delicious veggie filled garden. We want to make our own soap (regular & laundry) and household cleaners. We want to use cloth diapers for our future little ones. We want to bring back a bygone era of living off the land. We want to teach the next generation how to care for this one world of ours.

We're starting with baby steps...but we're doing it.

Our first purchase was everything necessary for starting seeds. There are a few pictures on our last blog taken the night we planted them. Here they are just about two weeks later:

Here is our biggest (literally) purchase yet:

A rain barrel!

And as a special treat, because it's my favorite time of year, here are our irises starting to show their pretty little leaves:

Life in March

2010-03-22T17:49:00.002-05:00

Life goes by so fast and one of the ways that I catch it's most interesting, intimate moments is by taking photographs. The photos in the slideshow below are all from this month, March. The slides begin with our anniversary weekend in Kansas City (March 5th-7th) and end with our drive home from David's graduation, in Denver, this past weekend. Enjoy! :o)

New Hair

2010-02-13T16:40:00.008-06:00

If I could figure out why women get so frustrated with their hair, I'd be a millionaire! I had a hair appt. this morning and as I sat in the chair and flipped through pages of cute, short haircuts, I told my stylist that I just HAD to go back. 90% of my life, I have had short hair...even though time and again I always tire of it...I still always go back.

From this:

To this:

On another note, cats love warm places. Ours love to sit in front of our heater vents and right next to our portable radiator...but this was a new one:

Noah - on the back of Matt's computer monitor

He was a little miffed when I woke him up...

Puppy Update

2010-02-03T19:33:00.002-06:00

We have now had our 6 little foster pups for 4 days! It has definitely been quite an experience. I'm sure it can be slightly equated with bringing home a newborn baby. You expect the poop and the pee and the 'crying' (whining), but until you actually have to clean it all up and feed them and try to find out why they're making so much noise...well, you realize how much you REALLY don't know!

On Monday night, we took one of the pups to the vet because he was having some intestinal issues. The same thing happened Tuesday night, with one of his brothers. The doctor said it's nothing major, just a bacterial virus that's working it's way around the group. Poor little things! They sent us home with enough antibiotics for all of them, which is fine because I'm a bit tired of going to the vet every night.

Here are the pups at feeding time...

Pile-o-Puppies

2010-01-31T17:27:00.007-06:00

Yesterday I mentioned that Matt and I are presently 'playing' parenthood. Well, today we put ourselves directly in the midst of it.

We were supposed to come home with three foster puppies, but ended up with all six. We have only ourselves to blame (well, more like myself - Emily). How can you say no to these faces? (We PROMISE we're not keeping any...they're only taking up our kitchen floor for a few weeks!)

On a side note - the shelter we're fostering for is the Helping Hands Humane Society. We love you guys!

Preparing for Parenthood

2010-01-30T14:38:00.004-06:00

I think that Matt and I have the idea that owning pets is a nice segue into becoming parents (some day). It's a very nice idea, in theory, and has taught us what we will NOT do when we have children.

Here are a few examples:
-We will not let our kids jump on guests when they come in the door. Nobody wants dirty little hand prints all over them when they drop in for a visit, do they?
-Our kids will not be allowed to stand beside our guests, while at the dinner table, and beg them for food. We promise that they will most definitely have enough to eat on their own plates and that they will not ask you for part of your steak and potatoes. Nor will they ask to lick your fork when you're done.
-We will not allow our children (unless they are asked) to climb on our guests' lap, then onto their head, then their shoulders, and then back into their lap again. They will promptly be instructed that it is not proper to sit on someone's lap and give them slobbery 'kisses'.
-Finally, we will not allow our children to climb the curtains. If they insist, we will simply provide them a ladder which they can climb at their will...and we may give them a paint brush so they may do something more constructive with their time. Please view the pictures below for insight as to how we learned this lesson:

------

In other news, the kitty in the photos above is our newest addition to the family! A big welcome to Noah "Sunshine" Baker!

--Edited to add the following comparison to the photo above:

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

2010-01-23T16:58:00.003-06:00

One of our meteorologists said that we would get a peek at the sun this afternoon...boy was it a peek! I was doing dishes and noticed that the kitchen had suddenly become brighter, warmer, more lovely...the sun was out! It was quickly washed over by thick clouds, but it at least dropped in to say 'hello' for a moment. It has been so dreary here over the last few weeks (or should I say months?). First we had snow - lots of it - that stuck around up until about a week and a half ago. Snow is so beautiful at first, but then it starts to get on ones nerves when it just. doesn't. go. AWAY. I think now we're all suffering from SAD, plus PAD (Pothole Affective Disorder) here in Topeka. The sun just won't stick around, the temperature keeps fluctuating, and there's a bigger pothole around every bend. BUT...

If that's all I have to be worried and stressed about, than I consider myself lucky! So the backyard is full of mud and gunk. So there are potholes big enough to swallow a car. So it's the middle of the afternoon, but is so dark outside that it feels like midnight. So what?

I have a roof over my head. I have food in my cupboards. I have enough meat in the freezer to feed a small army. I have electricity and running water. I have a car and quick access to a gas station. I can get to Walmart in 5 minutes. I have a fantastic husband and wonderful pets. I can reach my family in seconds by phone or minutes by car.

After the tragedy that befell Haiti last week, I feel much too blessed. I am so very thankful for everything that I have in my life and do know that it can be ripped right out from under my feet at any second. My heart cries for that country and it's beautiful people. Their history has been so rocky and this is a big blow that will take a long time to recover from. But seeing the faces, the smiles, hearing praises to God after being rescued, listening to the vibrant songs in the tent cities...I know that their hope has not faded.

"Hallelujah"

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Joys of Fostering - Cat Edition

2010-01-16T13:35:00.007-06:00

Fostering animals (dogs, cats, guinea pigs) has given Matt and I a sense of purpose, in a way. We feel like we're helping out, even if it's just a minuscule amount.

At the moment, we're fostering Alice (see previous blog post) and as of yesterday, "Sunshine" (we've temporarily re-named him "Noah"). He is a precious tiny kitten who is sick, but not too under the weather to give all the affection his little heart can hold.

Here he is becoming BFF's with my big, brown bear (Brownie):
We haven't let any of the other animals up to meet him yet, but we did let Buddy get a sneak peek:

He is a very attentive:

His favorite place is on someone's shoulders:

I think Matt's falling in love:

See what I mean about the shoulder thing?

Peek-a-boo:

The Wonderful World of Fostering

2010-01-05T17:26:00.005-06:00

We are more than tickled to welcome our newest little foster 'kid'! Meet Alice:

We are a foster family for the Helping Hands Humane Society here in Topeka. Fortunately for Alice (and us...she's so CUTE!) she already has a pending 'Forever Family'. She's only camping out at our house to get over her kennel cough (basically a doggie cold).

She has definitely made herself right at home. She's taken over Buddy and Daisy's bed:
And she's learned how to make a quick get-away through the cat door in the gate:
She's very friendly and doesn't mind being brushed -- which was quite a task with such long hair. Buddy and Daisy are being very nice to her (though she did growl at them a few times), though I'm not sure if they think she's a dog or a cat...or a mop. :o)

The Great Communicator(s)

2009-12-29T19:50:00.004-06:00

We have had a HUGE lapse in updating our blog and for that we greatly apologize. But here we are again and we promise to put up our feet and stay awhile...

After a wonderful Christmas filled with family, a bit of stress from the blizzard, and a chance meeting with good friends, we're settling back into our normal routines. Our Christmas decorations are still up, but I think we're really stalling on taking them down...it's our favorite holiday! Not having the decorations up is a bit like losing a limb...they still feel like they're around, even when they're stuffed in tubs in the basement.

We are most happy to report that we DID survive the Blizzard of 2009, though we did have to brave the crazies who drove too fast on Christmas day, to come back home to Topeka. However, we were not at all happy to get stuck in our own driveway. Below is a picture I snapped (from inside the car) of Matt shoveling two tracks just so we could pull into the garage!

In non-Matt & Emily news:

I have been following a Caring Bridge blog for Ellie Potvin. She is an adorable, angelic 8 year old who has Stage 4 Relapse Rhabdomyosarcoma. The most recent prognosis is a bit dire - the doctor gave her parents only one other option for chemo, which will really only keep her 'alive'...it's not a cure, there is not one. The last round of chemo will extend her life a bit - maybe past the estimated time of 4 weeks - but as her mom has mentioned, it's about quality of life, not quantity of time. I ask that you take just a minute to visit http://www.liftupellie.com/ and say a prayer for her, Amy (mom), Tim (dad), and especially for Grace, her twin sister. She is an amazing child and we have so much to learn from her strength and passion for life.

Until next time,
Emily

Charmin

2009-07-07T17:17:00.002-05:00

Charmin
1993-2009
We know that you are now at peace
and at the feet of God.
We'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge, old friend.

A New home, a new life (together), and a new post!

2009-07-06T18:15:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, our deepest apologies for not regularly updating our blog! Since the last post, we have experienced 2 kidney stones, a wedding, a honeymoon (where one of the stones decided to bother us...), and purchasing our first home.

We moved in a few weeks back and still have a few boxes to unpack. I (Emily) am actually surprised at the progress that we've made! I think that both of us are definitely more motivated to get settled in because it is our home. We did get our first taste of homeownership when the air conditioner quit right before move in day! Fortunately it was a quick, inexpensive fix and we did sign up for a Home Warranty before our 30 days post-closing was up.

We'll be hosting an open house BBQ this fall and look forward to celebrating this wonderful occasion with our family & friends.

I promise that the updates will not be so sparse!

And a partridge in a pear tree...

2008-12-27T20:44:00.005-06:00

Hello everyone! We apologize for the lengthy delay in posting, but 2008 has been quite a busy year. It was nice to spend so much time with family over Thanksgiving & Christmas...you all mean SO much to us!!!

We are finalizing all of our plans for the wedding, which inches closer every day, and that is taking up most of our free time. The invitations are finished and will be mailed out within the next week or so (look for one in your mail box soon)! On top of planning for the biggest day of our lives, we've been raising this little girl:

Daisy came to us as a 'rescue' from Matt's job. She is the sweetest, most ornery little thing we've ever been around. She is definitely preparing us for the REAL 'little ones'! Our only hope is that our real children don't chew on their big brother's (Buddy) face or rip up anything toilet paper/kleenex related...they can leave that job to her. :o)

And as we learned from the movie Marley & Me today (GO SEE IT!!!), a dog is not bad or terrible just because he causes havoc and gets into mischief. A dog gives his love unconditionally no matter what. We are proud to have dogs as part of our family and wouldn't have it any other way!

Perspective

2008-09-06T08:17:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I (Emily) was granted the opportunity to participate in the Meals on Wheels program. Jostens has been part of MOW for several years and gives their employees a chance to volunteer on a rotating basis each month. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, but knew that it would be quite an experience.

For those of you who are not familiar with how MOW works, here is a brief explanation. People can sign up for MOW and pay what they can (IF they can) each month to have meals delivered to their home. As for delivering the food: a MOW employee brings several coolers of food & drinks to a central location where volunteers can stop by and pick up their designated carriers and route slips. Each route slip lists the names of the 'customers', their address, and specific directions including "Door will be open, go on in" or "Client is hard of hearing, knock loudly and introduce yourself before entering".

Our first delivery was to Ruby, a gentle, elderly woman who was so happy that we had stopped by to visit her. We talked with her for a few minutes and were then headed out the door when we heard her crying as she was walking back to her recliner. We asked if she was alright, if there was anything we could do, etc. and she said that sometimes she just cries because there are so many things going on in her life. I said a little prayer right then and there that God would lift the burdens from her shoulders and that she could rise above the pain.

The other deliveries were less eventful, but most of the people were just as happy to see us. If the opportunity arises to volunteer for MOW again, I will definitely be signing up. It opened my eyes to see how some of the elderly people in our country are having to live and what they are dealing with on a daily basis. MOW is a great organization and I encourage you to check out the local chapter in your community. It only took us an hour to deliver to 15 meals, so if you have a little bit of time, this would be a great way to donate it. :o)

Little Miss Rough 'n Tumble!

2008-08-06T20:39:00.001-05:00

Feed me now?
Originally uploaded by emilyinkansas

We are proud to introduce...Daisy Duke! She is a 3 mo. old Bassett Hound mix. We adopted her from the Helping Hands Humane Society, here in Topeka. She has a sweet disposition, but of course has her naughty little puppy side! She stole a role of toilet paper when Emily was drying her hair in the bathroom this morning...sneaky sneaky! She and Buddy get along GREAT. There are a few things we need to work with her on and of course we will do the usual "sit/stay/lay down" commands with her. She is already getting "sit". Having a big brother that already knows commands really helps!

We will slowly be introducing her to everyone...it's no fun to be overwhelmed all at once. If you'd like to meet her, just let us know!

Pop Goes the Fourth!

2008-07-06T20:52:00.001-05:00

Red White and Blue Love
Originally uploaded by emilyinkansas

We had a great 4th of July weekend! We did lunch with Emily's parents and dinner/fireworks with Matt's. David and Tiffany (Matt's brother and sister-in-law) were in town, so we were blessed to be able to spend a little time with them on Friday. It was actually a comfortable temperature this year, which was great since we spent most of the day outside!

We want to thank everyone for the wonderful food and great hospitality. We couldn't ask for better family!

Moving time!

2008-06-22T20:34:00.002-05:00

This is our rental house! We begin the daunting task of moving this Friday, with the help of Rachel. We'll start transporting boxes and all of our smaller items, then on Saturday we'll move the BIG stuff. Two of Emily's co-workers will be helping out, plus both sets of parents, so that will make things go that much faster! Rachel will be slowly moving in over the month of July and will 'officially' be part of the roomie crew starting in August.

The house has 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, an unfinished basement, 3 seasons room (sunroom), den, attic fan, fenced in backyard, 2 car garage, large deck, and fireplace. All of the appliances, second refrigerator, washer/dryer, and lawn mower are being left for us. It is just minutes from Washburn and Matt's new job -- which if you haven't heard, he is the newest Animal Control officer for the city of Topeka! And just to make my dad jealous, we will also be just a few blocks from the famous Bobo's restaurant.

We are SUPER excited to finally get to move into a house (especially one with a backyard for Buddy) and OUT of the apartment. As much as we'll miss some of our neighbors, listening to someone play Rock Band for 2 to 3 hours a night gets a little old after awhile.

We hope to have a house warming barbeque now and the end of the summer and look forward to seeing whoever can make it!

Happiness is...

2008-06-04T17:14:00.001-05:00

Katie!
Originally uploaded by emilyinkansas

Matt and I *love* dogs...this one especially. My Border Collie, Katie, has taken up residence at my parents house because they have a large backyard that she can run around in...chasing tennis balls and squirrels. She is one of the most loyal dogs that I've ever met -- the first one to greet you at the door and the last to see you leave! She has her moments in which she earns a swift pat on the butt, but what puppy doesn't? From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew that she was special and needed a home. (I adopted her from Helping Hands Humane Society, here in Topeka)

David Cook sings 'Dream Big'

2008-06-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

American Idol has been one of our favorite shows and this seasons winner, David Cook, was our favorite from the beginning. We were rooting for him the whole way, not only because he was from 'the area' (Blue Springs...close enough!), but he has such a big heart and an UNBELIEVABLE talent.

This was one of the songs that was entered into the AI Song Writers contest. It was not chosen as the song for the finale, but is just as good and inspirational as the winning song, "Time of My Life".

As a side note, the 'A C' on his guitar stands for his brother, Adam Cook, who has a very aggresive form of brain cancer. When David came back to Kansas City for a day, when it was down to the final 3 on the show, all of the t-shirt and ticket sales went to raise money for cancer research.

We pray that David will continue inspiring millions of people with his humble attitude and God-given talent.

Moving Out!

2008-06-01T17:22:00.002-05:00

Moving Out!
Originally uploaded by emilyinkansas

Hello there and welcome to Emily and Matt's blog! With all of the changes that are happening in our lives, we just knew that this would be the best way to keep everyone updated. Thanks to Tiffany and David for lending us the inspiration. :o)

We have an official move out date of July 1st, from our apartment -- though we will actually be out the proceeding weekend, with the help of both sets of parents. (Thanks in advance, Steve &
Patty -- Mike & Sharon!)

Also, a big welcome to Rachel (Matt's sister), who will be our new roomie! We look forward to having her join us as she starts her new collegiate journey at Washburn this upcoming fall.

The house that we will be renting, dropped in our lap like a bag of precious gems. The day before we found the listing, Matt and I had compiled wants/needs for what we were looking for in a rental house. It included an attic fan, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, appliances, etc. We didn't set out to be picky and were really just looking for anything at that point that allowed a dog as big as Buddy and 2 cats. We were able to see the house the same weekend that we called about it and it just so happened that I knew the girl who answered the door! We had gone to high school together for a few years -- different grades, but with as small of a school that we went to, it's hard to NOT know everyone.

Let's just say that this house is truly a blessing from God. He granted us everything on our list and then some. I have pictures, but will post others after we move in, so as to respect the privacy of the current occupants.

In other news, Matt (granted that he passes the physical and drug test) is 'unofficially' the newest officer in the Animal Control unit of Topeka! As most of you know, this has been a year long undertaking, as he had originally applied in May of 2007. He will be starting, as of now, on June 30th. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he takes this next step in his career!

On a final note, Buddy, Ana Lucia, and C.C. all say their 'woofs' and 'meows' hello!

And before I forget, here are our engagement photos!

Until next time...