Third night...

Well, the 3rd and final evening without my hubby was a long one on Saturday. I was so wound up from the excitement of bringing him home Sunday that I didn't fall asleep until after 1am. I had already decided that I would help cook and serve breakfast on the mountain Sunday, because I got a tip that they are usually short on volunteers because of people wanting to go to church. Which means that even though I didn't fall asleep until after 1am, my alarm went off at 5:40am! Yes folks, that's right, 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I do NOT look forward to this kind of sleep when we have an infant around (though I know it will be worth it).

Anyway, it's Monday now. I got my husband back yesterday, :D. He was surprised to see me at breakfast, and he had a great weekend. I can testify that we BOTH slept horribly this weekend without each other, and that we BOTH had and excellent and deep sleep last night!! I'm glad to have him home.

Second night...

Well, it's a little harder than it may seem to entertain oneself with no husband and no TV (we gave up TV for Lent this year). So, I decided some RETAIL therapy was needed to distract myself from what would be date night! Matt and I discussed that I needed new clothes and since he was going on a golf trip this summer, I could shop! WOOHOO. I did most of my shopping online at Victoria's Secret (yes, for clothes not the other stuff)! They're running some great deals on dress pants (free shipping and some are on sale) and 20% off knit tops and tees. So I got lots of new stuff including my Easter outfit! This top in white with this skirt!! I'm so excited!

After work, I came home quick to feed and walk dogs, then I headed to Hamilton Place. I was looking for new shoes to replace the ones I wear with ALL my summer dresses (I've had them for MANY years and they need replacing). They are a shimmery bone/light taupe sandal that I LOVE. No luck on shoes, but I did find a new purse and a few tops. I met a couple of friends for a short dinner and then headed home.

On my way home, I thought "hey, Sonic sounds good." So I pulled into the Sonic on Dayton Blvd. I'm listening to J103, waiting for my Reese's Cup Blast, and all of the sudden... putt putt dead. CRAP!! Not again! YES, earlier this week, AT THE VERY SAME SONIC, my car battery died! THE VERY SAME MANAGER came out and jumped me off. Needless to say, I was mortified and a new battery is on the to-do list today.

I came home, played around on the internet a little, started some laundry, and went to bed. This time, I had sense enough to take my trusty teddy bear Amanda with me. I slept much better. I've had her since my Papaw died when I was 14, and she's always helped me get through the hard nights!! My prayer is that Matt and all the other Pilgrims are continually blessed this weekend.

First night...

Well, I survived. The Walk to Emmaus brought the first night that Matt and I have been apart since getting married 6 months ago. I don't know how Matt is doing on his Walk (they tell the spouses to stay away as much as possible to not be a distraction), but I had a rough night!

The Walk to Emmaus in Chattanooga is held at Camp Lookout (on Lookout Mtn about 40 minutes from our house). Matt told me at dinner before I took him up the mountain that he forgot to pack a TOWEL! Dangit! They have a pretty strict schedule for the weekend, so there was no going home to get it before going up. I didn't leave the mountain until about 9:45pm. I got home, walked dogs, packed a towel, drove back up the mountain, dropped it off, and drove back home. I finally got in bed last night, totally exhausted, at about 12:15am. What? Sleep? NO, I was SO tired and SO without husband that I couldn't fall asleep!!! It seemed like an eternity before I finally fell asleep. Oh, and BTW I had to get up at 6am this morning, no excuses - must be up.

As I write this, I wonder, why the heck am I up now??? I'm exhausted.

Anyway, I hope Matt is being blessed by his Walk. No matter what it was all worth it. I love him, and I miss him a lot!!!

PRAYERS NEEDED

Hello all my blog followers, friends, lurkers, stalkers (eek). I just wanted to ask for some prayers for all you warriors out there! Matt's Walk to Emmaus is this weekend, please pray that God moves in his life according to His will. I was blessed beyond measure during my walk, and I pray the same blessing for Matt.

I also have several friends (who will remain nameless for their privacy) who are either searching for a job or worried about their job stability. Please pray for them in these uncertain times.

Lastly, I've become a bit of a blog lurker recently. I found this family through my friend Adair's blog. Their son, Stellan, is in the hospital fighting for his life. He was diagnosed in utero with SVT (extremely high heart rate) and they were told he would surely die. Miraculously, he was healed, born and has lived 4 healthy months. Now his SVT has returned and they have been unable to normalize his heartrate for nearly 3 days, it's often been over 300 bpm. They are a family of incredible faith, but they all need our prayers, including Stellan.

BAD BAD BLOGGER!!!

So, January was busy, and up-and-down, and February is turning out to be more of the same! We are still enjoying our “Little Man,” but Matt did admit that puppies are much more work than he ever dreamed!! If we keep it up with the nicknames, poor Einstein will never learn his real name! So far he is Little Man, Einstein, Einie, Stinker, Bad Dog, and a few more that aren’t printable! He’s actually a really good dog, quite smart (when he wants to be), and also quite stubborn! He does think that Isis is his own personal squeaky toy that runs! I think she hates him, but then I did catch her giving him a short kitty-bath on his head the other day. Anyway, we’ve decided if things get really bad and we have to give up cable, we will still be well entertained! Here are some recent pictures of "the kids."

sleeping in the sun together, aren't they precious??

Naptime is a war for laps

SISTERS :)

We thought there for a couple of weeks that Matt might have to go to Raleigh, NC for 6 months with his company to help build a relationship with a new client. Luckily, Matt doesn’t have to go, and he still has a job here (for now)!! YAY! Prayers are needed that MESA continues to get work past the current jobs due in the fall. We are a little worried that after they are done with the current job, his hours will be cut back to 32/week (much of his company is already on this schedule).

As for me, I’ve got an election, budget cuts and the like to survive between now and July 1. I continue to pray for guidance. I’m not sure where the road will lead me, but I’m confident and hopeful.

In other news, I went on Walk to Emmaus last year in April. For those who don’t know, Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual retreat weekend meant to grow and deepen your relationship with Christ. It is named for the story of the disciples traveling on the road between Jerusalem and Emmaus just after Jesus was crucified. Jesus appeared to them on the road and walked with them, but they didn’t know who He was until He revealed Himself to them. Beyond that, I can’t explain it, you just have to GO!

Anyway, our Sunday School teacher and a mentor of mine, Jayne Griffin was my sponsor on the Walk last year. I had an amazing experience and everyone always says you go when you are supposed to. That was true for me and I really believe it’s true for Matt too. When Matt first moved back to Chattanooga he expressed interest in going on Walk to Emmaus. Jay Baumgardner and our friend Daniel Oakley agreed to cosponsor Matt. They turned in his application and the Emmaus team called him for 2 different walks. Both walks he turned them down because of class work in grad school. They told him to fill out another application when things weren’t so busy. He never did. After I got back from my Walk I asked him if he still wanted to go. He said yes, so now I get to be his sponsor (which is pretty cool)!! I got a call that Matt will be a pilgrim on Men’s Walk #42 in the Chattanooga-Lafayette Emmaus Community at the end of March!!! YAY!

I am working on a TON of sewing and craft projects that I hope to post pictures of when I’m done (and they are given away)!! This will be a busy next few months for my hobbies. I pray you all are as blessed as we and this post finds you well.