Never Forget

Today is the day that will forever be imprinted in my brain as I am sure it is for every one of you. Eight years ago one of the worst days in American history took place. Where were you?

I remember as if it was yesterday. I was a high school senior and the day before was War Eagle Day at Auburn. Since it had always been my dream to attend Auburn University (and I believe I had already been accepted at this point in time), my parents and I went down to Auburn to check out the campus with the hundreds of other high school seniors. September 10, 2001 was a great day which held a promising future for me and my college career. I felt completely safe being in Auburn with my parents. The world was great...until the next morning.

September 11, 2001 started out as any other high school day. It was so normal that in fact I don't remember anything before my 1st block class, Physics with Mr. Lambert. I was living in the routine of everyday life.

Just a little background on Mr. Lambert and his Physics class: he was a super cool teacher. We hardly did any work in class, which was mainly the reason why I made a 40-something on my first test. (Thankfully I was able to receive A LOT of partial credit on that test so it brought it up to either a B or a C.) Every day in Physics was a new day. We were always doing a different project whether it was the Wheel of Death (this was a seesaw looking board where 2 people sat facing each other. Instead of seesawing, the board was spun in a circle as fast as possible with the 2 riders holding on for dear life! In fact, they had to wear a seat belt looking thing to hold them in place. As a class we would calculate their speed and something else Physics related. I really don't remember the whole gist of this experiment, but it had something to do with Physics.), launching coke bottles and plastic bags on the football field, and picking up various student's cars in the parking lot with a large wooden board. (Yes, this was a real class in high school where we were supposed to learn something. I can say that I didn't learn too much.)

The morning of 9/11 we were outside looking for spiders and webs in the woods surrounding the student parking lot. I am not 100% sure why we were doing this and couldn't tell you to this day how it relates to Physics. Maybe something to do with the spider's weight and how it can make a web to hold itself? eh, I really don't know. After the parking lot "fun", I remember rushing back into the building when the end of first block bell rang and going to my next class, AP Calculus with Mrs. Sahawnah (or however you spell it). As students started entering her classroom, I heard them talk about the towers and a plane crash. It seemed so unreal at the moment that I wasn't 100% sure what they were talking about, and I didn't understand it was on US soil. Mrs. Sahawnah didn't realize what was happening either until she turned the tv on for a split minute. After a minute or two of coverage, she turned it off, because we had too much Calculus to cover.

It wasn't until I was in third block, AP Government with Mrs. Pressley, that I was able to know exactly what was happening. Thankfully Mrs. Pressley thought it was important enough for us to watch the coverage. I was blown away!

While at home later that night, I remember watching more coverage with Dad. It was the first time in my life where I didn't feel safe...even in my own home. Dad said that it would never be the same...America as we knew it would never be the same. Granted there was Pearl Harbor in 1941, but Hawaii wasn't an official US state until the 1950s. September 11th was the first time terrorists were able to attack official US soil...and succeed. The events of that day still haunt my thoughts, because what if....? What if it happens again? What if President Obama pulls troops from overseas? What if our Homeland Security is weakened because it has been 8 years since the attack? What if people forget the importance of that day? What if people forget the heroes who died for us on that day? What if...?

Have you forgotten? Will you forget? What is your 9/11 story?

muddy pawprints

It's hard for me not to take pride in our beautiful home. Of course (as I am sure some of you predicted), I manage to try and keep a clean (well, rather straightened up) house. That doesn't always happen between 2 dogs, Daniel, and even myself (but only sometimes!). It's rough living with 3 boys!

A few weeks ago, I was trying to leave for work and doing the last task before heading out the door: get the dogs in and put them in their boxes. As I walked to the back door I see Tyson covered in mud. And he had managed to get mud all over the door and Jackson. (Poor Jackson! he was an innocent bystander.) I rushed to get a towel to attempt to clean up some of the mud, but I failed...MISERABLY! Tyson frolicked and jumped all over the carpet, turning our beige carpet to chocolate brown.

There was no time for me to even attempt to clean up the trail of muddy prints so I went to work in near tears. After several hours of letting Tyson think about what he had done, I came home to this regretful face. How can a mother resist this face?

After 2 baths (one for each), I thought the dog/mud drama had ended. WRONG! Once Daniel got home from school, he gave each of them another bath since they both decided it would be fun to get muddy again!

Jackson's bath time

Tyson's bath time

change...it's inevitable.

Since Daniel and I were married over 9 months ago, I have seen a lot of changes in, through, and around me. You could say that I am not a huge fan of change, but it's time for life to start evolving again. It's hard to let go of the routine that I have grown accustomed to for the past couple of years. If I had to guess, I would say that I am on Chapter 5 of the Leslie Ann Brindley Todd story.

Chapter One: Early Life including preschool and elementary school

Chapter Two: Middle and High School Life including the good ol' days of FBCT youth group

Chapter Three: College Life including growing and learning who I am and where I fit into this world without living at home

Chapter Four: Post College Life including my entrance into adulthood by having my first job

Chapter Five: Good Ol' Married Life including the dating, engagement, and marriage of Daniel

Hey, maybe I have something here. I could write a book about my life, but how interesting would it be? hmmm...

Anyways, in Chapter 5, a lot has to happen in order to move into Chapter Six, which one day will be entitled Mommyhood including the pregnancy and birth of our children. No need to fret; I still have a lot more life to live before we move into that chapter. I guess I am somewhat in the mommyhood now with Jackson and Tyson.

my sweet boys

I think the main highlights of Chapter 5 include (other than what is mentioned above) adjusting to living with someone who will always be there...forever, house hunting and buying and now decorating, buying our second child, observing other peers growing up and growing their families, and the overall cycle of friends. So far this chapter might be the one with the most multiple life changing experiences. I think that if I hadn't been through the previous 4 chapters, then this one would be extremely difficult to go through.

I would have never guessed that life would take me where I am today. It's wonderful and I am blessed beyond belief from everything God has given me.

Welcome to the American Dream

As of 7 PM on Tuesday, May 26th, Daniel and I became homeowners. It's still hard to imagine that we have accomplished our first married goal.

This past weekend was one heck of a weekend between painting, cleaning, and moving. I don't think I could ever relive this past weekend again, because it has worn me out! I am so thankful for our family especially our dads who worked several hours a day all weekend long to make sure their kids were taken care of. It was really neat to see how each dad would switch off between working really late and getting up extra early to paint. Paul, Daniel's dad, probably could have worked through the night while my dad woke up at his usual time (around 5:30) and started the day by painting.

Saturday and Sunday nights Dad spent the night with Daniel and me at the house. It was kinda odd to have him wake us up on Sunday morning so he could finish touching up in our bathroom before the brown paint dried. I think secretly he misses waiting me up on the weekends. I am sure that is really why he did it.

With all of the help that we had, we were able to complete the painting of each room by Monday afternoon. Painting an entire house in less than 3 days is pretty impressive. Thanks to everyone's hard work! We seriously couldn't have done it without you!

Now that we are living there fulltime, it is really nice. The dogs LOVE it especially Tyson. He found a pair of tennis shoes from the previous owner in the backyard so he is having a blast eating those everytime he goes outside. He also loves to run as fast as he can from one side of the yard to the next. You can look out the window and see a bolt of brown zoom by!

Jackson loves the new house too. He is enjoying the inside more than Tyson is. As soon as Jackson is finished with his business outside, he will sit patiently by the backdoor until he is let in. He has no desire to be left outside longer than it takes for him to poop and pee. However he does like the freedom to go as he pleases.

We have made a few trips from the apartment to the house so we didn't need to hire help. We have moved all of the furniture and have about 1 to 2 more loads left at the apartment. We have made serious progress, but it takes times cleaning and organizing. When we complete the process, I will post pictures of the final outcome.

just the beginning

One third of the year has come and gone. That leaves me thinking just how fast life really does pass by us. I still can't get over the fact that I am now 25 (25! yikes!). I don't feel that old at all. Just to put it in perspective: by the time my mother was 25 she had been married for over 4 years and had had me! I can't imagine having a baby right now. It's still hard to believe that I am married!

Our prayers were answered on April 11th concerning the house. We got it! We have completed the paperwork, wrote out some more checks, and found our homeowner's insurance. Now we are waiting until the closing date, May 29th. Go check out the house at www.tradingearth.com. MLS 418943. We are pretty excited about it. We are in the process of choosing paint colors for most of the house. Daniel is anxious to put his landscaping touch to the yard. We are both excited about opening up the door and letting our furry sons use the potty outside. Now that will be nice! :)

could it get any better?

God is faithful to provide for His children so long as we obey and follow. Daniel and I have been living every day by trusting God and leaning on to His promises. He has blessed us beyond measure and provided for us when we both thought it wasn't possible. God is good...all the time.

With that being said, we have been on a house hunt for the past 4 or so months. We have stepped it up over the past month, but being able to go into houses. We spend about 4 or 5 hours every weekend by driving around. It is extremely tiring, but we know exactly what we want. Both of our tastes are very similar so we don't disagree on too many things. In fact, I can't think of one thing that we have disagreed on when it comes to the house...maybe location?

Last weekend we took the hunting into actually putting a contract on a house. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. It was actually our 2nd pick in the neighborhood. The first pick is more expensive, but is an overall better house. In His faithfulness, the contract fell through. It was for the best. That house needed a lot of work, and we don't have that kind of money. So after looking through our first pick again last night, we have put a contract on it. We are waiting to hear if they have accepted or countered today. It will take a little longer since a relocation company is involved. (A relocation company will eventually have to buy the house if it doesn't sell within a period of time.)

We aren't in a bind yet, because our lease is up at the end of July. There is still plenty of time to look, but we have narrowed down our pickings so more houses need to be put on the market! Our choices are getting slim.

Also this past week was my birthday. I can truly say that I have some awesome family and friends. They helped make the day extremely special for me. I never knew that I was so loved. :) One person who never ceases to amaze me is my husband. He did everything he could to make sure that I had a great day. Tonight we are going to see Wicked, the musical....about the witches of Oz. I am super excited about it and have only heard great things!

I will post some pictures soon of Tyson and Jackson. Tyson is getting so big! When he stands on his hind-legs he is taller than my waist! He is starting to look like an adult. He better be getting some adult teeth too, because it seems like every day I step on at least one of his baby teeth. Let me tell you...it's not pleasant.

it's a boy

God works in mysterious ways and after seeing at least a dozen news segments about how overpopulated animal shelters are, Daniel and I became the proud parents of a boxer puppy. We have been talking about getting another dog...a bigger one...once we had moved into a house. Obviously we couldn't wait that long because we fell in love with a (around) 4 month old boxer mix. Here's the story...

Jackson had a grooming appointment at PetSmart on Saturday. Daniel dropped him off and caught a glimpse of the Humane Society pups on the way out. He wasted no time telling me that the dog that he wanted was at PetSmart. He wanted to go look at him (mistake number one). I told him that we could NOT get a dog until after we bought a house. Once we got there and opened the cage (mistake number two), Jacob (the boxer pup's name at the time) crawled up into my lap and snuggled his head into my jacket. I immediately fell in love with him and couldn't imagine putting him back in the cage and leaving him. Our next step was to see how Jackson would react to him. I didn't want Jackson to hate him, because there would be no point in even adopting the little guy. Once Jackson had finished getting groomed, he met his future little brother. he didn't seem to care either way and was ready to get the **** out of there and go home. (He tends to get stressed out in those situations.) Since Jackson didn't seem to care either way, we decided this was something that we needed to do.

Granted it seems ridiculous having 2 dogs in an apartment for the time being, but it really hasn't been that bad. We decided to name him Tyson after Mike Tyson, the boxer. It seems to fit him well, and I think he likes it. He snuggles up to me at night while Jackson snuggles with Daniel. I think all in all it will work out well. I am excited to see what his personality will be. He is already precious. I am glad that Jackson has a little (big) brother that he can play with.

Could you resist this face?

Tyson and Jackon in his HUGE box.

Tyson loves his big brother, Jackson.