After the Trip...

As for the trip this past weekend, it went fantabulously! We made really good time on the way down, even though we stopped twice instead of our usual one. We made it in just under eight hours. Not bad. (AND the future in-laws still like me ;))

It was an exhausting trip because we were only there for 36 hours - and were out and about for most of the waking hours. I did, however, FINALLY purchase my wedding dress! I found the one and we got it and there will be just a few minor alterations to make it mass-friendly and, therefore, perfect.

I'm so excited! It's all beginning to come together, and I'm realising that I will be a married woman in just a few short months! I'm so happy to be spending the rest of my life with the man whom God put on this Earth for me to share life with and help each other get closer to Him. I never thought I'd find him, but God is so good and has blessed me well beyond what I deserve. Praise be to God!

On the Road Again...

So, we're heading down to Louisiana this weekend, actually in about 10 hours. I tend to be slightly impatient. I'm not one of those people who enjoys riding in a car on an interstate for 8 hours, especially when it comes to seeing my family. When we drive down there, I want to get there. It isn't a joy-riding experience, it's simply a means to an end. For the record, I DO quite enjoy 'road trips' when there are stops planned at particular places when there is time to stop, but on a quick trip like this one where there isn't much time to spend with the family, the quicker the trip, the sooner I get to see my family and the more time I get to spend with them. For example, when Scott and I travel down there, we usually stop once to top off the tank and grab something quick to eat (if we don't have something packed up already).

This trip, however, will be what Scott terms "a lesson in patience" for me. This is the first trip where we're going down to Louisiana with his parents, who enjoy taking their time and like to stop several times. Needless to say, I've packed up the portable DVD player and about 6 movies to watch to make it go by more quickly.

We'll see how that goes... It most probably be an exercise in patience for this most impatient person. The Lord sends opportunities our way to work increasing those virtues we need to work on. I just need to allow His grace to enter into my soul and allow Him to work through me to increase my patience. (Believe me...I need a LOT of help in this department!)

Pray that my future in-laws still like me as much after this trip as before! ;)

A Posting...

I've only just realised how long it has actually been since I've written a blog update. I'm terribly ashamed for having waited so long, but you know how things get around Thanksgiving...then Christmas comes along...then the New Year...then St. Valentine's Day. I can't believe it's already mid-February.

At least things are beginning to settle down a little despite being super busy. I've started another semester of school on top of being engaged, meeting to workout regularly, holding a part time job, babysitting here and there, and planning a May wedding. It's crazy busy!!!! (but I love it!) I'm going to be marrying the exact right man whom I have no doubt in my mind God created for me to spend my life doing working to fulfill the Lord's Will with.

Well, I'll just let this one be short so that it's known I haven't abandoned this blog...I just took a small hiatus and shall return (hopefully) to post again soon! ;)

November Rain

It's already only just the second day of the month of November, and already we're seeing the dreariness of the month. In fact, for the past 2 days I've had to check outside to make sure that we are, in fact, still in Arkansas and didn't somehow magically appear in London during the eve of all hallows.

Despite the dreary weather, we have two beautiful feast days to celebrate here at the beginning of the month, both of which we celebrate the beauty and joy of the life to come. Perhaps the weather is a perfect metaphor for what this earthly life is in comparison to what it will be when our day comes.

The feasts of All Saints and All Souls remind us that those who have gone before us are no longer subject to this life which binds us all; they have become more living than we in this life could ever be and remind us that such is to be our destination if we persevere in faith. We celebrate with the hope of one day joining the Saints, known and unknown, who came before us and ask for their prayers that we may persevere in faith become “the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7:14 Ora pro nobis!

At All Saint's we pray for those who have gone before us; those souls in the process of being cleansed prior to entering heaven. We pray that their process of cleansing will be sped so that they will sooner see God face to face. We pray: Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Dona eis requiem.

Wishing a blessed All Souls day to all. And GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!

Where to Begin?

Because I have shamefully neglected my blog for so long, I thought I'd do a run down of why I haven't been blogging recently.

I just started back to school in August. I'm working on getting some prerequisites for a Respiratory Therapy program. So, after my already 8-hour long day for four out of five days, I add on another 4 hours of school and/or school work. When I'm finished with that I meet Sarah at the gym 3 out of 5 days for our 3-day-per week Couch to 5K training and lifting weights on the other days. When I'm not doing that, I've been working back at my old job to make some extra money.

When I get home, I pray my rosary and go to sleep. No time for the frivolity of writing blogs, but I'm taking the time to write one this morning.

We went for a visit to my parents earlier this month. It just so happen to coincide with the LSU-TN game (for which we were able to get tickets). That was interesting. It was so great, though to be back in Death Valley (right next to the student section and band)! Ahhh...the sea of purple and gold surrounding us....man, that's a peaceful easy feeling right there!


Upon our return, Sarah and I started the Couch to 5K program, and we are now on the third week of the training program, even though I did do the 5K mud run this past weekend. (as seen below) Love that race!



We've been working out 3 times/ week increasing our running along with the training program guidelines. It's not easy, but it's helping us to get into shape! Hopefully, we'll do a 5K in December for time (and fun, of course!)

Well, that's pretty much all I have time for today...more to come soon. Promise!

REMEMBER TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! Don't let other people make these decisions for you. VOTE TUESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER!!!

I Like to Cook and I Cannot Lie...

So this week, I've been cooking as much as I can. With Scott's family out of town, someone needs to make sure that he eats, right? I'm a good Cajun girl and as such, I've been programmed since birth (pretty much) to make sure that anyone who is left alone by his (or her, but mostly his) family is taken care of, e.g., fed very well! Of course now that I'm writing this I'm thinking I should have taken pictures of all my lovely dishes!

I went over on Sunday before mass and made some pancakes. We then were (FINALLY) able to make it to my cousin's lake house for the day and spent some time swimming and watching movies and eating and hydro sliding. We had such a great, relaxing day. It was awesome.

Monday, I made some awesome chicken and rice and gravy with onions and mushrooms and steamed zucchini and yellow squash. The funny thing is I accidentally added cinnamon instead of paprika on the chicken, but it came out to be one of those great mistakes that lead to a discovery, one which I will be using occasionally from now on.

Wednesday, I tried my hand at chicken-fried steak, white gravy, and french fries. Of course, I've made french fries tons of times, so they came out okay. The steak came out great, but, I believe that I failed successfully on the white gravy. I don't eat it, so I couldn't tell if it was good, but Scott did not enjoy it really, though he tried to mask that fact (such a great guy! :) ) I guess that just gives me room for improvement, right?

Thursday night was more of a success. Scott invited the Smiths over for dinner and I cooked turkey burger-steaks; brats with onions and mushrooms sauteed in red wine; roasted tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and red, orange and green peppers (not too much , though...about 1/4 of each pepper); and avocado and tomato salad tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. That was a masterpiece of a meal. It was enjoyed by all...and super easy! It took about 1.5 hours to prepare and cook everything, the veggies taking the longest, and I clean as I go, so nothing to do but put the dirty plates and servers into the dish washer after dinner.

Quite a nice week it's been! :) I do love cooking, and at least Scott knows that he will be fed well when we get married! :)

Pretty Low Key Weekend...FINALLY

It was finally a calm weekend for us, which doesn't happen very often. Not only was it low key, but I was able to spend the weekend alone at the house and enjoy a Sunday dinner with Scott together at the house with just the two of us. That happens like once every 6 months or something. So nice to just be able to chill and eat and watch a movie.

Anyway, Friday, we went to Grampa's Catfish for Scott's brother's 25th birthday. Then we went back to their house for some cake and ice cream! It was yummy! I had a special gluten free chocolate cake that Scott's mom made so I could eat some, too! It was super awesome!

Saturday, I had to work until 3, but when I got off of work, I went over to Scott's and we made some (awesome) hot wing dip and mac n' cheese for our trip over to the Smiths' house for dinner. We had BBQ chicken, grilled shrimp, mac and cheese, hot wing dip and a plethora of other goodies. We also ate and watched two movies. It was a great relaxing way to spend the evening with our friends. We watched Daybreakers and Hot Tub Time Machine. They were both pretty good, and we ended the night with a little of the Jimmy Buffett Gulf Shores Concert on 11 July that they DVR'd. Such a great evening!



Sunday, Scott came and picked me up for mass, then we went back to my place for dinner (dinner in Louisiana is actually early afternoon on Sundays and holidays!) We had left over mac n cheese, I heated up some of my mom's wonderful BBQ Deer meat she sent home with me a couple trips ago, and steamed broccoli and cauliflower. We had some Boar's Head pepperoni (which is my fave pepperoni...and it's Gluten-free!) and Muenster cheese as an appetizer. That's such a good little snack! We watched JFK, which was on some TV channel...I can't think which one. It's a really good movie! I'm surprised that I'd never seen it until yesterday. We then headed to NLR to look around at houses for sale. There are quite a bit of them, actually, but none were open houses, so we didn't get to look at any, though there was one that I really liked and the price was great!

After that, we had some ice cream at McD's and then went back to the house for some good supper with Scott's fam. All-in-all it was a great weekend...and a relaxing one, too, AND it marks the beginning of our training/ working out/ healthy eating. We are going to go for 6 weeks of diet and exercising everyday (except Sundays) with no cokes or junk food (except Sundays) and see if we meet our goals for the next six weeks. We'll see how that goes!