I'm in the news!!

Apparently I am running for president....check out the link my sister sent me. http://www.news3online.com/index.php?code=401lZS7Wyr25E89S39VG

Moving On

Changes are in store for Ayron and I. In two weeks Ayron will no longer be employed by Taylor Rental. Ayron has accepted a marketing position at KRUSE. This is exciting for several reasons. I will finally have my husband back! He currently leaves for work at 7am and I am lucky if he is home by 6pm. With this new job he will work 8-5 and only Monday thru Friday!

In the 7 1/2 years we have been together Ayron has never had a job where he has only worked Monday thru Friday. I will have my husband on weekends. It could be interesting. This job provides the same pay, better hours, and will give me a happier husband!!

I Want to Ride My Bicycle...

I want to ride my bike. Yesterday Ayron and I purchased bikes. I have been with Ayron for 7 1/2 years and I have never seen him ride a bike. It was funny to watch him try to ride different bikes in the store.

We went to Summit City Bicycles first and YIKES! I knew that bikes could be expensive, but I saw a bike for over 7k. Ok, now if you are like friends of ours and bike EVERYWHERE and are using a bike to replace a car, then I guess I understand. For a bike that expensive, do you get a bike loan like a car loan? Do they have bike insurance? I am not trying to be funny, I am really curious.

We ended up getting Schwinn's from Wal-Mart. Now we just have to get a seat for Monkey. I don't know how young of a child you can put in one of those seats. I know with the pull behind trailers they say a year. Next step, helmets.

My Bike. Ignore the messy garage in the background.

Ayron's Bike.

Left and Right

I understand that the left hand needs to know what the right hand is doing, but the left hand cannot always HOLD the right hand. The hands need to be able to do their own thing and acomplish tasks and goals. The clasping together of hands does not allow this to happen. When will the left hand learn this?

Bad Idea # 43756

Ayron has a high school friend that we have recently (well, I guess it's been two years..wow, how time flies) reconnected with. Ayron and Josh (yes, all of you New Hopers know them) have done some pretty stupid things in their time. Lets see if I can accurately remember some of their stories (which they tell ALL THE TIME!) Kelly, if I get these wrong, feel free to correct them!

1.) Ayron used to hold Josh by his ankles on top of the lift to hang lights in the old cafetorium at Eastside.

2.) Josh tried to drive through a puddle and flooded out his car.

3.) They would tell their parents they were spending the night at each others house and then drive around all night.

4.) "Remember the (insert a type of car here) and the night we (insert something stupid that high school boys would do here)."

5.) "Remember when the driver's ed teacher fell asleep and we drove the whole way from Ft. Wayne without him waking up."

6.) They would drive down the road and pass each other on the right.

7.) They would drive down back roads and open up the car doors and then kick out all of the garbage that was calling the floorboards home.

As you can tell, there is a theme to their friendship, automotive stupidity. Well, this theme lives on. Saturday we went to the Noble County Fair together (Josh, Kelly, Ayron, and myself). The boys now want to be derby drivers. I have talked Ayron out of wanting to drive with the old, "Honey, you are too tall. You would get hit and then stuck and they'd have to use the jaws of life to get you out." He is happy now with the idea of being Josh's "pit crew." There are two possible cars the boys could use so it looks like next year they could be in the derby.

Here are some pictures from the derby!

Kudo's to County Line Church of God

While driving to Wal-Mart Sunday morning I saw a plethora of bright orange shirts scattered about town.

Instead of church on Sunday, County Line Church of God decided to do an outreach service. They were at stop lights and four way stops handing out bottled water. They also were doing a free car wash at Westedge Shopping Center (if that's what you call it). At the gas stations they were giving away $5 in gas.

Many people gave them funny looks and couldn't figure out why they were handing out free water. It's sad that people were skeptical of a church out doing nice things. Kudos to you County Line.

I'm Addicted

So I have a new addiction. I am hooked on Wii Fit! We bought one from ebay and while we paid a bit more that I would have liked, I am loving it!!

I "played" for an hour last night and when I woke up this morning my legs were so sore, but in a good way! I can't wait to get home and do my running. Yes, you can run with the Wii Fit. You hold the remote in your hand and run in place and it's actually really cool. I managed to get Ayron to run with me two nights ago. I'm sure we looked goofy to people driving by our house but oh well!

I can't wait to get home and work on some more strength activities!! It's a great way to get off your butt and play a video game while still burning calories!!

Things I Find Odd

Health care professionals (doctors, nurses, EMT's) who walk across the street to stand in the bank parking lot and smoke. You'll help save our lives, but you are slowly killing yourself.



People who won't eat eggs because they come out of a chicken's butt, however they don't hesitate to order a chicken sandwich. Hello?! Where do you think that chicken came from?



People who order the fattiest thing on the menu and a DIET Coke. Hello? The coke won't balance out the fact that you are eating a Big Mac, large fries, apple pie, and an ice cream cone.




Hair dressers who don't style their hair before going to work. Aren't you showing off your ability to do hair by styling your own?




How fake "reality tv" is. In the real world, camera's don't follow you around 24/7 and you're not edited by producers who know what the audience wants to see.


Police officer's who do not wear seat belts in the parades. You are driving slow enough that the public can see you and can see you are breaking the law. Little kids can see you and you are influential, so BUCKLE UP!

More Changes

It seems that big changes could in in store for Ayron and I and while I am nervous, I couldn't be more excited. The unexpected happened and right now I can't share more than that. I ask that you keep us in your prayers over the next week. I truly feel He is behind these changes and I am trying to pray for His will to be done, not mine. Oh, but it would be so sweet if His will matches my wants!

Tater Monkey

Here are some new shots of the monkey. He has several different names depending on who you ask. I call him monkey, Ayron calls him Tater, our niece calls him "Tate." Guess we'll just have to wait till he can talk and decide which name he wants.







Ayron sent me this video this morning. Taylor will talk up a storm, but the instant you pull out a camera he stops talking.

There's nothing better than chillin in your bouncy seat in nothing but your diaper and sunglasses.

Falling asleep in his exersaucer.

Wearing his overalls. My niece calls them "alcohols." Then again, she found jelly beans when cleaning her room and exclaimed, "I found Jim Beams." Yeah, we're gonna have to watch her.

Leap of Faith

Well, He didn't send a bird (see yesterday's post) but I think I got my answer.

Footprints In The Sand

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I’m going
You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way
Then I heard you say

Chorus
I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a frien
dYou’ll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I
Been so afraid
And just when I thought
I’d lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on

That’s when I heard you say

Chorus

When I’m weary
I know you’ll be there
And I can feel you
When you say

Chorus x 2

Changes

There are some possible major changes in our future. I can't elaborate more than that, but that being said I am still unsure about these changes.

I am a creature of habit and this could be a huge change. Don't get me wrong, it will defiantly be for the better but I am still unsure if this is the move (no we aren't moving, just changing the direction in our lives) God wants us to make. We have done our research and talked to several people. We have gathered the facts and Ayron is ready, but I am still dragging my feet. I don't know if Ayron knows how much I am dragging my feet. He knows I am hesitant and a great mentor told Ayron, "If she is not 100% on board, you need to wait." I want to be 100% on board because if this is meant to be it will be GREAT!

I have been praying about it and asking for wisdom, guidance, a sign, something from God. I need some reassurance but I am not sure if I am understanding or even seeing God's message to me. I keep going back to a sermon some time ago given my Pastor Stein. I am waiting for my eagle. I like things to be obvious. I want God to use the clouds to write my answer. Or have me read a billboard that says, "YES! I want you to make this move and I will make it possible." But I know that He can be subtle. So how do I know if it is Him or me just wanting it to be Him?"

I asked someone that once and they told me to "just keep praying, it will become clear." But I just keep wondering, "God was that you? Did I miss my cue?" I just want my obvious eagle. I keep looking out my office window and hoping to see an eagle sitting in the tree across the street. All I see are homing pigeons on the fence (don't ask). Yesterday morning I hit a robin on the way to work. Was that my sign? I don't think God would send my sign smashing into the hood of my car at 60 mph. Or was that His way of telling me that this move could crash and burn. Grrr. It is so frustrating.

People have been coming up to Ayron and telling him, "I have been thinking about you lately. God has placed you on my heart. Is there anything going on you want me to pray about?" That happened again last night at softball. How come everyone else has these feelings but I am still looking at the sky praying for a bird?

Lord, help me to be patient. Help me discern your wants for us and put aside my desires. Help me to see your vision for our lives and to support Ayron during this change. May Your will be done, not ours. Please allow us to make this decision using our knowledge and faith in You. May you make me open and calm so that I can see Your plan for us. You know that I like the obvious but make me able to see the subtleties from You as well. Amen.

Lesson Learned

About a month ago Ayron and I switched cell phone providers and each got brand new Envy phones. They are great phones. I hadn't found a case that I liked so I hadn't removed the protective coating from my phone. I was being so careful not to scratch it or drop it.

The saleswoman told us that our phones were waterproof up to 30 feet. What she forgot to tell us that they are not laundry soap resistant or a fan of the spin cycle.

Yes folks, I managed to wash my phone. In my 8 years of cell phone usage, I had never hurt a phone. That all went down the drain (or should I say washer) this weekend. I had left my phone in my pants pocket and forgot to check the pockets of my pants before throwing them in the washer. I drowned my phone! Thank goodness for phone insurance though. They no long make Envy's so I now own an Envy 2.

While I have found a case I like, I still have yet to remove the protective stickers from my new phone. Maybe I'll be brave and do it tonight!

ps: the protective stickers on my own phone stayed on, even after the spin cycle in the washer.

Court

I now have the honor of being my office representative in court on Mondays. Yeah me (can you sense my sarcasm here?). It is interesting to listen to the cases and laugh at the stupidity of some of these people.

I had a person this morning convicted of jacklighting (spotlighting a deer from his truck while in possession of a gun). When the judge asked him if he had any questions, the offender simply asked, "When do I get my muzzle loader back?"

It also amazes me how many people fail to show up, even for pre-trial hearings. For pre-trial, you walk in, are told your official court date, and you leave. Why not show up for that? That is the easy part! Instead of showing up, they decide to skip and then are amazed when they are picked up with a warrant for contempt of court. Duh!

The attire of the people cracks me up too. The inmates coming from jail have no choice. They wear their lovely bright orange jump suits and their matching bracelets and anklets that come with a beautiful pad lock. But I saw a man come before the judge in a wife beater tank top (come to think of it, he was there for domestic battery...hmmm), cut off blue jean shorts, and flip flops. Come on now! At least put on a real shirt!

It's also amazing the things I get called in court. I had some woman call me a b*&$% because I had a cell phone. If you come in the front door, you are not allowed to have a cell phone. Being a county employee I use the employee entrance and am allowed to carry my phones. I use it to text message with my office about cases and to answer questions. I calmly turned around and flashed her my badge. She just growled at me. Growled. How mature is that. I just laughed at her. My co-worker was with me that day and he loudly muttered, "Maybe one day if and when you grow up you can work for the county and bring your cell phone into the courtroom too." Cracked me up. Apparently the woman's facial expressions cracked up the probation officer and the woman so kindly moved to the other side of the courtroom.

Like usual it is 1:20 and court has yet to begin. We were scheduled to start at 1 so I promptly arrived at 12:50...you think I would learn, nothing is ever done on time around here. So here I sit, in the third floor of the court house mindlessly looking at the four inmates in their lovely jumpsuits wishing I hadn't eaten Taco Bell for lunch.

My Lazy Boys

Mom and I were in the kitchen and it suddenly got really quiet in the living room. I discovered this.