So many questions!

I've received a few emails from you folks asking just where, why, and when are we moving.  I didn't realize it at the time but I guess I did kinda leave you folks hanging.  Sorry about that!  I'll try to answer as many questions as I can in this post.


Where are we moving?  We're moving to Turlock, CA.  Never heard of it?  Yeah, me neither.  Not till recently, I mean.  It's a small town south of Modesto.  And no, I hadn't heard of that until recently, either.  I'll say it the best I know how without directing you to google maps: we're moving two hours east of San Francisco, and slightly south.  (As a side note, I accidentally said two hours west of San Fran to a friend when I was describing where we were living..... she thought there was some island we were moving to.  I meant east.  I'm not always the best with directions, sorry!)


Now, I've never been to Turlock, so I can't accurately describe the town.  However, Carl went there for a visit, and from what I've gathered from how he has described it.....

• Turlock is an agricultural town
• It has a population of about 70,000 people
• It's located in a valley, with mountains on either side
• We can't see the mountains from Turlock
• It doesn't snow

Here's what I've gathered from other people..... (I don't know how accurate this is...)

• It smells..... I'm not quite sure what it smells like, people just keep saying "agriculture."  Not sure if that means manure?
• It's hazy from smog rolling over from the big cities around it
• The smog stays there because it's in a valley
• The people are extremely friendly

Why are we moving to Turlock?  Carl got a job working at MedicAlert.  'nough said.


When are we moving?  We need to be there by January 3rd.  That's the day Carl starts work.  So, the absolute latest day to arrive would be January 2nd.  It's about a 3-4 day drive (we'll most likely have a truck, definitely an 11 year old boy, and a small white puppy..... two of which won't be able to hold their bladder for too much of an extended time: I'll give you a hint, it's not the truck with the bladder issue).  So... that means we plan on leaving either Dec. 26th or 27th.  Which means Christmas is going to be bittersweet.  I'm thinking it might be more bitter than sweet.


So, that's it for now, folks.  Big plans, big plans I tell ya.


Just to show you how concerned some of us are about moving (ha ha)...while talking about moving with my family, here is an honest to goodness question that Austin asked us.  "Can we stop at a 7-11?"  (We can say thanks to Robbie for that one.... he introduced Austin to slurpies!)  Sometimes I long for the kind of days where my biggest concern about moving across the country was whether or not we could stop at a 7-11.  It's all good.  :)

Part three!

Georgia was excited when we got to my house because I......have......a.....bed! 
Haha! She high-tailed it for the bedroom and crawled in!

We visited at my house for a little while and Georgia stumbled upon my graduation cap. 
Yay for graduating in December! Here's the little model sporting my cap.

On the way there, we sang with baby G. She knows her alphabet, isn't that neat? 
If you sing with her, you can take out any letters in the song and she'll fill them in!

We decided to go on to my parent's house, so off we went. On the way there, in her car seat, this is what Belle did.

She's not used to keeping up with a toddler!

We had a fantastic weekend with baby G... She's one special little girl!

Part two!

When we picked up Georgia, we took her to McDonalds.  On the way there, we asked her what she would like.  Initially, she answered, "Nuggets and fries."  So I whipped out my camera and asked her to repeat it.  Our conversation was a little bit different, but cute nonetheless.

After picking up our food, we went to the park.  Oh....Did I mention Belle was with us?

Here's Georgia's great Aunt Patty with her at the park while we were eating.

And here's me and Belle with baby G.

We played at the park for a while, but it was getting late so we left.

We went back to my house.... wait till you see what Georgia was excited to see!

Georgia on my mind...

So, you may or may not have heard me talk about this sweet little girl in my life named Georgia.  Georgia is my cousin's (Dustin's) daughter.

She.

is.

PERFECT.

Every now and then, my parents keep Georgia at their house, so I spend as much time with her as I can.

This soon-to-be two year old talks up a storm.  And we LOVE it!

I turned around while mom was driving, and I caught Georgia-long-legs practicing for gymnastics.  I think she was stretching here.

She realized her cousin was snapping a photo, so quickly changed positions and smiled for the camera!

Isn't she cute?

More about our day to come!

THE news:

Before I announce the big news, you need to understand something.  Otherwise, you might not understand why this is such "big" news.

To make a long story short, I grew up in a small town.  I was born and raised in a beautiful old blue house.  In June of 09, my husband and I joined as one, so it was time for me to move out.

I won't lie, there were some tears over leaving home.  But, let's face it, I was 12 minutes from home.  Yes, just 12 minutes.  Easy breezy.  Super convenient.  I still go home to my parents a couple of times each week.  Why, you ask?  I enjoy their company.  I enjoy going home.  My parents and I have a close relationship and we all get along wonderfully.  So, I get to go home to visit as often as I want.  And- they babysit for us.  When we go out of town, or are gone for long days, Baby Belle gets to be spoiled at Grandma and Grandpa's house! 

Plus, here's my parents front porch.  Why wouldn't I want to visit here?  Isn't it charming?

It's like a little escape from a semi-crazy life.  And their side yard:

Which is why my news is considered big in my book.
You've guessed it- we're moving.

Where you ask?

Umm... that's across the country, y'all.

Away from my parents, away from my husband's parents, away from Austin's grandparents, away from all of our friends, away from our church, away from everything we know, away from.... okay, you get the picture.

Which means, there are going to be a few lot more tears.

But.  There is good news. 

1. I know God has a plan for me and my family.  This is part of His plan, and I choose to trust Him.  It's good to know that God has a plan for little old me, but I feel strongly that part of Him moving us across the country is to teach me to trust Him more.  
2. My husband and I are learning to cling together more than we ever have before.  And I didn't think that was possible, because we already have more respect and love for each other than I could ever dream.  Moving so far away from our known little world in Florida will undoubtedly enable and even force us to cling together even more.
3. Financially, we'll be a lot safer than we are now.  
4. I've always (as long as I can remember) wanted to be a Proverbs 31 (see verses 10 through 31 if you are unfamiliar) woman, and I feel that having a "fresh start" so to speak will allow me to create who I want me to be.  (Not that I couldn't do it here in our Florida home, but it's almost like a New Year's Resolution type thing... fresh starts can be helpful.)
5. Our small groups from church have helped me become friends with some amazing women.  Women that lift each other, that glorify God, and love one another with a genuine love.  We've grown so close through small groups, I'd feel blessed if Carl and I could put the idea of small groups in our future church's mind.  It's such an opportunity for growth.  
6. If any of our friends would like to go to California, we will  host you in our home.  Any of you.  Seriously.  Hello, free place to stay!
7. Blogging material!  Need I say more?  Maybe I'll even go to the BlogHer '11 Conference! 
8. Moving!  It's gotta be kinda fun, right?  I've never actually done that.  (How crazy is that?  When I "moved" from my parents home to my husband's home, it was more like "Come home from my honeymoon and my new home is full of my things"....that I didn't pack.  Yep, family moved me in to my new home.  It was such a blessing to come home from our honeymoon with no moving to do!)
9. We're going on an adventure.  That's always fun, no?  Carl and I always have so much fun when we're sightseeing together, exploring a whole new town is bound to be a blast!
10. Planes make traveling easy.  We don't have to take 5 days to make the cross country drive, we can hop on a jet a fly home for holidays.  (This gives Christmas music a whole new meaning... think: "I'll be home for Christmas.")

So, that's it.  That's our big news.  Exciting, isn't it?

Thoughts?  Opinions?  Moving tips?  Suggestions?  Wanna book a stay in our new home (haha)? Wanna get together before we leave this town? state? time-zone? coast?  

Coming soon!

Hi friends!

So, I'll be delivering some big news to you tomorrow.  

And no, we're not pregnant. 

Till then, here's Belle enjoying the cooler weather with a stylish pink sweater.  

Have a relaxing evening!

Seven, seven, seven.

While I was sound asleep in my warm bed this morning, Tiffany was up and at 'em!  This girl seems to always wake up early to blog... kudos to you, Tiffany!  Well, she tagged me in a post that has been going around, so now I get to tell you seven things about myself that you did not know!  Thanks Tiffany, from Makes Me Blush!

1.  This may not count because a few people out there do know about it, but I'm including this anyway.  My lifelong friend, Mia, and I had to get Rabies shots!  When we were at church as wee little ones, we found a frog and played with it.  It sucked on our fingers, crawled around on us, and laid in our hands for a while before an adult saw us and told us this frog was actually a baby bat.  The baby bat was apparently sick, so it was kicked out of its nest.  Mia and I hid the bat in the bushes and scurried off to our moms to fess up.  Mommas called the health department, who searched for the bat.  Much to their disappointment, they couldn't find it. So, the parents thought "Better safe than sorry" and had rabies shots ordered for us, per the health department.  Note: that medicine in the needle burns.  And stings.  Especially on the bum.

2.  I hate my major.  I started my program at the University of Florida because Sign Language was heavily involved, and then due to budget cuts my program was rearranged and Signing was no longer part of the curriculum.  When people talk to me about what a great field I'm in, I always smile and agree, hoping they're going to say something I haven't heard before.  But....truth is, I'm not just seeking a job that requires my learned skills.

3.  You know how they say babies release endorphins for women when the hold them?  I'm totally one of those women.  But not only with babies...with dogs too.  I swear my Belle is therapy for me.  Such a loving little girl.  I can be having a horrible day and lay down next to her and she rolls over and always welcomes me by opening up her arms and kissing my nose.  Almost like a hug....from a really small person.  I'd like to eventually take her to a nursing home or hospital to give some lovin' to some older folks, too.

4.  I would one day like to own a bakery/ cafe.  Something like Starbucks, but cuter.  And everything will be homemade and cute in it.  One day.

5.  I all of the sudden feel extremely boring because I can't think of two more "interesting" things to say about myself.  How bout them apples.  I'll keep thinking.

6.  Chocolate-peanut butter frozen yogurt at TCBY is my favorite.  Yum-a-licious.  Only Frozen Yogurt I've ever had that I CRAVE.  In my opinion, TCBY> Mochi.  Just sayin'.

7.  I have seven weeks till I graduate.  YAY!!!!!!!

The end! :)