SEPTEMBER

So I know the month is half over but there is so much to be excited for in September so I decided to share some of those things:

Summer weather turns to fall and hopefully it will cool down a bit here! This is crazy for the girl that love summer to admit but I am ready for some cooler weather!

Exciting changes for the us. I started a new job the first week in September. The first week was an adventure and so far we both like this new change!

Parties...its actually a wedding shower at the end of the month but I am excited to go to Cleveland for a weekend to celebrate Amanda's wedding and to hang out with my best friend.

Training. Chris and I are thinking of training for a half marathon. This is just in the thought process but I am getting excited about it. It would be fun to run but finding the time has been a challenge.

Expecting...not me but my wonderful brother and sister-in-law are expecting a little girl in October and we are all excited to meet her!

Mandy's Wedding Shower weekend. I am going to mention this twice because the count down is down to 15 days and I can't wait to see her. Its been way to long. Spending time with Mandy is such a blessing and blast for both of us!

Birthdays!! At the end of this month it is my birthday! I never was a big birthday person but this year I seem to be really excited about my birthday.

Exciting Church changes...we have really enjoyed being a part of Marriage Foundations. We have learned a lot for a base for our marriage and really appreciate Alan and Emilie and Spencer and Gracia. What a blessing that has been. But we have moved on to Adventures in Marriage. This is certainly an adventure but I can't imagine a better person to spend this adventure with. I love Chris!

Reconnecting after summer. this summer has been busy and has been fun to reconnect with people after the summer of lazy days, evenings at home playing tennis and basketball, working out and friends and family time!

I am going to try to do this every month...lets see how it goes!!

Ode to Amanda

In December, my best friend Amanda Lynn Cochran is getting married. She's marrying Stefan Schaefer and then moving to Detroit, Michigan. So this is an Ode to Amanda.

Mandy and I met freshmen year of college for me at Elon University. We met in our Statistics class. About two weeks into class I sat down next to her and we started talking. We had seen each other at IV or somehow she decided that I looked interesting...haha! After class we went to Acorn for lunch. After about an hour she had to go to class. She gave me a big hug and determined that we were friends and that we should hang out again. Little did I know that our friendship would blossom into what it is today.

My next memory of Mandy was a couple weeks later on my birthday. My birthday freshmen year fell on the same weekend as parent's weekend. The awful time when everyone's parents come to campus except for yours. My dad was in Ecuador and my roommate reminded me daily that her parents were coming. I was pretty miserable. Oh and I was homesick/cultural shocked and ready to go home. Mandy found out it was my birthday and decided to make me cookie cake and decorate it with chocolate balls. She picked me up from work and we went to celebrate with some other friends at her house. The chocolate balls did not end very well on top of the cake so we took them off, put them in a Ziploc bag and labeled them poopola. The bag then went on some guys front porch.

Over my freshmen year Mandy led a Bible study for me, Danielle, Heidi and Nancy! We had a grand time spending time together, digging into God's word, being introduced to some Burlington's must including Cook Out and La Fiesta and playing some amazing pranks. At the end of freshmen year we all went our ways for the summer but we all staying in touch. Sophomore year started and Danielle, Heidi and I lived together. We weren't able to keep Bible Study going but our friendship remained.

Throughout sophomore year Mandy and I grew closer. We went through frustrations, questions, long conversations, complaints about work and school, crazy professors, a couple pranks, and encouraging each other in our faith. Mandy helped me endure several broken relationships, bronchitis and finally getting to the end of the school year. That summer I lived in DC and she lived in Cleveland but we endured through long cell phone calls and a couple visits! We came back to Elon and lived together for Mandy's last semester at Elon. At this point Chris and I started dating. In January Mandy graduated and much to my dismay moved back to Cleveland. Which gave me the sudden need to go to the cold North several times in the next few months and years.

Our friendship continued as we talked for hours on the phone, emailed, planned my wedding after I got engaged in September of my senior year. Mandy came for a weekend and helped me find my wedding dress. We also both cried, laughed, vented and trusted God for long months as we dealt with frustrations with life, relationships, looking for jobs.....etc....etc AND of course the many joys from life, relationships, finding jobs....etc...etc.

On June 6th, 2009 Mandy stood by me as Chris and I got married and I can't wait until 12/11/10 when I get to return the favor. Amanda is one of the most amazing, passionate, loving, fun people I know. She always gives her all into everything she does, whether its work or friendships, her relationship with Stefan or her relationship with God. She is creative and so very organized. There is always a splash of green, red or orange in life when Mandy is involved. She has to match her belt and shoes. She has a awesome sense of style and always is doing something fun with her clothes. And if you have ever met Mandy you know that she is drop dead gorgeous inside and out. She has a beautiful smile and a laugh that is contagious. I know that God has great plans for Stefan and Amanda as they move onto the next step in their relationship and to a new city. God Bless and lots of love from Costa Rica or the Blond Mexican!

Even more on God's Blessings

In my last post I mentioned God's blessings and it seems like he just is piling it on right now...which Chris and I love.

1. I GOT A JOB!!! A good friend of Chris and mine just started at SafGard/SRMax a couple weeks ago and he mentioned that they needed someone who speaks Spanish which brought me into the thought process. In the matter of a week I submitted my resume, had an interview and got a job. All the glory goes to God.
2. Chris' annual review went well at work and he got a raise. I think Chris deserves a lot of praise for the job he has done. He has worked long hours, giving up his weekend to work and working some really late nights. I am so proud of him for all his hard work!

3. We got to spend a great weekend with Peter, Betsy and Sam and ??? in Northern Virginia. We had a great time walking/running with Sam and Betsy Friday, talking for long hours with Peter and Betsy, helping in picking the name for our little niece that's coming in October and going to a baseball game. Sam absolutely loved watching the guys HIT IT and baseball game. It was such a great blessing to see them!

4. If hurricane Earl doesn't decide to ruin our labor day weekend we will be heading to the beach on Friday with Will, Laurie, Ben, Becca and Albert. So excited for this weekend and the beach!

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.