Is it Harvest Yet?

Today is June 6th and we still have not really "started" harvest yet. A few fields have been cut, here and there, but not much. And if you know a farmer, you're probably familiar with that first day of harvest mood they have. Part excited, part nervous, part payday!, part hurry the hell up-let's go,let's go, LET'S GO! 

Well we definitely haven't had that. My birthday is June 30th and normally is right in the middle of harvest, in fact 2 years ago, we were completely done with harvest at least a week before my birthday. I'm pretty sure this is a first for most everyone in the area that harvest is this late. Here in North Central Kansas, we experienced a drought during the spring months and then a very late freeze, followed up by lots of moisture. So, as I understand it (which....doesn't mean much) the wheat went from looking horrible - some wasn't even worth cutting, to having a some late heads coming in, but that meant there is still a lot of green out there, which puts your moisture high, and with all the rain the weeds are now getting bad, which also jacks up the moisture. So, the fields are producing more wheat than we first thought, but it's not easy cutting. They are waiting to let the green stuff ripen, but then the weeds are getting worse, so then do they spray?

Have you ever seen a frustrated farmer, playing the waiting game on your couch?  It's not a pretty sight. He can't even enjoy the extra time at home because his brain is constantly going - well maybe those 20 acres are ready, but what if it's not? Do we need to take this wheat to the elevator or put it in the drying bin? When is the latest I can put my double crop beans in? Should I have sprayed that? Should we try again tomorrow or wait til the day after that?

But hopefully we can get started tomorrow (or maybe the day after that- ha!) and get this thing over with. We love ya harvest, you pay our bills, but it's time to go!

Life as a Farm Wife

I spent who knows how long this morning going back and forth about creating a whole new blog or just updating this rusty, old thing. Well my decision is obvious, as this is an update with just the Blog Post being titled "Life as a Farm Wife" instead of a whole new blog. My decision is only partly based on my enjoyment of going back and reading old posts but mainly centers around the difficulty of naming a whole new blog with something "unique" and not already taken by the plethora of other farm wife's out there!

So a few things have changed since the last time I updated this blog. In fact, the day after my last post (June 29th, 2012) I found out I was pregnant! After 4 years of struggling with infertility, it was an amazing moment. That positive pregnancy test came after our 3rd cycle of shots in the stomach, every other day visits to the clinic that was 2 hours away, followed up with an IUI, and yes - it was all worth it.

I got huge! And I have to explain- the reason the belly's hanging out the bottom was because I wore that same outfit in every picture as we documented the bump. Also this picture was literally like an hour before we went to the hospital. We were scheduled to go in, to be induced, so no middle of the night madman rush to the hospital, which Mark was disappointed by (but seriously, we lived 2 blocks from the hospital, I doubt it would have been that crazy.)

This is when Mommy and Clarabelle Hope got to see each other for the first time. She is beautiful.

 

Here we are during last year's harvest. This was actually on my birthday, June 30th.

 

At our wonderful friends' wedding (the Cantillon's). Both Mark and I were honored to stand up as part of the wedding party.

 Showing off her masterful skill of quickly and quietly climbing everything. We have now resorted to only using folding chairs in the kitchen so we can fold them up after we're done eating.

There are hundreds of other pictures I want to share to document how adorable and rambunctious and sweet my little girl is....but I just want this to be an update of the past 2 years! Another exciting, scary, and long awaited thing is that we have moved to the farm. You might have noticed in the above picture that the dining room looks very different than the previous pictures I have shared of our house. Our house in town, that I absolutely love, is for sale. It was our first home, I spent hours-days-weeks updating and painting and decorating so that it felt like "us" when you walked in. The farmhouse we have moved into was Mark's grandparents. And if you have ever moved into a family member's previous home, you know the difficulties and emotions that come with it. But there are many wonderful things about being able to live on the farm-being out in the country, so close for Mark, it really will be wonderful. Yep I now truly get to experience everything that goes along with being a farmer's wife, including the "trips to town" I remember from growing up - where those 10-12minute drives into town seem like such a chore, and any chance you are in a town with a Wal-Mart or equivalent store requires a stop because who knows when the next time you'll be there will be.

And so....such is life. The Minutes that are purely Miranda's are few and far between. But life has become much more enjoyable and meaningful in the hectic moments. And I hope to keep updating and documenting all of my minutes.

Catching up

So.....it's been awhile - but who cares, right!?

So what's happened since the last time I blogged? Mark and I have grown our farm, bought a convenience store with a couple of friends, gone on a cruise, grew friendships, seen a fertility specialist, been disappointed and cried a few tears, learned a lot about ourselves, gotten hooked on a few TV shows, lost some weight, and much more that I don't even remember right now.

The biggest thing in the past 9 or so months has been Mo's Stop 'n Shop. Mark and I, along with our friends (who represent the "O" in Mo) bought our local, little small town convenience store. It has been............ eye-opening. I have always wanted to own my own business and being a part of a such a great small town's community has been great, probably the biggest reward for what we're doing. My sister said it best when she reminisced about our own little small town gas station. When we'd head home from college with friends in tow, and we'd always have to make a run past D&G's. But it has also been tough, a daunting task, and overwhelming at times. The hours we've worked, the times I've had to leave my actual full-time job, the fights it's caused, the stress we've endured, honestly just a bunch of crap. But I love it. I love the challenge and the pride I feel walking into MY store. I kinda feel like buying this store has been a "marriage" in a way. It's difficult, rewarding, maddening, and I can't and won't just walk away from it.

So here we are- Newlyweds, Mo's and I. I guess I just need to figure out where to go on a honeymoon!

praying...

Today I am believing in putting it out there, asking for help, and the power of prayer. If you could please say a quick prayer for Mark and I and our family, we would much appreciate it. Thank you!

Welcome to Wheat Harvest 2011

We have finished cutting wheat for 2011. If you're from a farming background, you know how big this is. You've put a lot of hours in, and it's your end game. It's a lot of things all at once. Exciting, nerve wrecking, there's lots of pressure. You're dealing with the whole family, and doing things that you only do once a year. There's just a little bit going on. And this was Mark's first year as a Full-time Farmer (Heck ya!) I'm so proud of him. He's living his dream and he's so happy about it. He was jumping out of bed in the morning to go spray, and start double planting beans, then cutting wheat as long as the wheat would let him. I'm not going to lie and say it was easy, for him or for me. I feel kinda like a baby, complaining about not seeing him, but it was hard for me. My birthday always falls right in the middle of harvest, and so it sucks. But like I said it's all done, the wheat was better than expected (still worse than average) and the beans are almost all in. So, I'm happy to get my husband back, but I'm sad that I'll have to say goodbye to this….

That's right, he went all out for his first harvest……..and I liked it!

A List for you to read

1. I have attended four showers in the past 8 days. I have decided that I love sherbet punch and I suck at fill in the blank nursery rhymes.
   
2. While on my way to the aforementioned baby shower, I realized I had not yet signed the card. There's construction on the road at a bridge, and so they have the stoplights in the middle of nowhere so you can go one lane at a time. I was stopped at the light with a car in front of me, so I decided to sign the card real quick. I pulled it out to on top of my wheel and began signing with my usual flourish – but when I pushed too hard on the pen….I honked the horn. I honked the horn, while behind another car – at a red light! I waved my hands frantically and shook my head no – "Sorry Sorry Sorry!!" I doubt they heard me though.
   
3. I had a garage sale yesterday. I forgot how serious some people are. I had a guy here 30 minutes before the advertised start time, just jamming out in his car right in front of my house. I had about 5 or 6 cars total all watching me put out my stuff and come running at about 6:55. My wonderful, sweet, awesome, badass of a husband helped me out all day. I love him. And yes, I might be trying to suck up a bit after all he did.
   
4. Mark also tilled up a garden for me. We got some green beans, peas, spaghetti squash, cucumbers, green onions, maybe some other stuff. We'll be getting some tomatoes that have already been started. Basically Mark and I have decided that we don't have enough things to argue about, nor do I have enough stuff to kill. And it will only be slightly annoying when our nice tilled up rectangle remains empty…..on our corner lot that everyone drives past. I kinda feel like a farmer who has their land on the highway.
   
5. We've had some ups and downs as a family the past few months. Health problems, job changes, and big decisions. Through it all though, I have seen the hand of God present in our lives more than ever.
   
6. I'm going to see the Civil Wars this weekend with a co-worker and some other good music devotees. I am terribly excited, and you should be jealous. If you're saying, "The Civil Wars? Who's that? I thought that was just a time in our nation's history." And to that I say, please check them out. Your ears and your soul deserve it.
   
7. We bought a king sized bed a couple months ago. Mark and I really like it! And Cody loves it. Sometimes, he's harder to get out of bed than I am.
   
8. Yes, my dog is spoiled.
   
9. There's no nine.
   
10. Or ten, sorry….apparently I am out of words for the evening. Or just the energy to type them out and make them into complete sentences, specifically sentences that make sense and are interesting.

Decorating with the husband

I love decorating my home and I tend toward the shabby chic style. Lots of antiques and re-purposed items and mainly just lots of stuff. But I love the cozy feeling and I love it all just kinda put together in a natural come-together kind of way. Tonight, after I finished my coffee filter wreath, my husband asked me where I was going to hang it....

I said, Ok, you'll have to follow me with this. I want to move the coat rack by the door out and move that mirror in the kitchen over there. Then the screen that hangs behind the tv will go where the mirror is and my wreath will either go over the screen or maybe just where the screen used to be or Maybe I'll just put it right here in the middle of this wall and move all of these picture frames somewhere else...

And my wonderful husband, he understood the whole thing, didn't question it, told me that he thought the wreath might be too big to go on the one wall and I should try it over in a corner. And then, he told me I should hot glue the scrabble pieces that spell out our last name onto their little holder so they don't get knocked off (and so my Cody dog doesn't eat anymore letters.)

How I love that guy, not only does he not question my craziness - he actually helps and encourages me.

Something sweet to say for my sweetie...

Nothing says "I love you" like Bertolli out of a bag, with a little extra cream cheese....and a little K-State basketball.

I Love You, Mark Donald. Happy Valentine's Day!

You have always had so much faith in our relationship and in me. I thank you for that. You've always been my biggest fan.

I tried saying this to you on your birthday, and I ended up blubbering like an idiot. But I want you to know that I am your biggest fan-and that I believe in you so much. You are going to make amazing things happen for our family, and I have no doubt of that. I can't wait until you are able to follow your dreams of being a farmer. And I can't wait until you are the father of our children (all 5 of them!) You are mi corazon. You are my favorite.

And you buy me massages....so I really like you too.

You probably don’t want to come over if I’m cleaning

I've decided that I want to be more intentional in life. I want to be intentional about how I spend my money, how I spend my time, what I eat, etc. So, one night last week Mark and I sat down to work on our budget and talk about a "daily to do list" to help keep our house a little cleaner (a la flylady.net).

As I worked on inputting stuff onto our mint.com budget (you should definitely check out mint-easy to use, and it's important to know where you plan to spend your money and where already have spent your money) I handed Mark my chore list that I had use previously and told him to add anything or change anything that he thought needed to be done, and to add some stuff that he normally does.

I love me a list…at work I will often put something that I have already done or am in the process of doing-just so I can cross it off. Every day I check my email, and yet I still put it on my to do list, so that I just have that feeling of accomplishing something. And so I try to do a little of the same with my clean the house chore list.

But anyways, back to the list that Mark was working on. He had been trying to humor me with my sudden need for order and action, but I think he had had enough. He handed me back the list I had used before, with his few changes. On Monday nights, apparently I'm now supposed to vacuum the upstairs naked. Tuesdays call for dusting naked. And how exciting for Wednesday, can't wait until I can cross off grocery shopping naked.

So ya, I got what I was probably asking for. But I guess I've figured Mark doesn't really care if I leave clothes on the floor….just so long as mine are there as well.

2011 Goals

Screw resolutions, I'm going to try to make actual goals. Goals are measurable statements with a time frame. My time frame will be all of 2010, some shorter. Cause Lord knows that just saying "I'm going to try to be healthier" isn't gonna really make me change anything. So here goes…

Goals for 2011:

1. Lose 20 pounds by my sister's wedding-June 4, 2011
   
2. Memorize 24 verses, as part of Beth Moore's challenge
   
3. Create and keep track of a budget every month (notice I didn't necessarily say "stay within" – I want these goals to be reachable.)
   
4. Finish the basement of our house, and get halfway through either the kitchen or the bathroom-or at least halfway saved up to what it'll cost
   
5. Create and follow a weekly chore list (for me and Mark) because doing a little bit each day is way better than freaking out on the weekend or having a case of the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)
   
6. Run a half-marathon (crap I've never told anyone that-but right now, I'm all for putting it out there- you might understand why if you read my last post.)
   
7. Buy a new car-and by new I mean newer than what I have now.
   
8. Be a better wife – ok that one's kinda objective, and might not be measurable….but I'm guessing Mark would have a few things we could count (less fights and more….I'm not gonna say it, but I'm sure you can guess it.)
   
9. Get pregnant, yes another "I'm putting it out there" moment. Prayers for this one from you guys…. And maybe Mark will get a "better wife" this way.
   

That's it. That's what I've got. We'll see where we stand this time next year!

God's Blessings for your New Year!

Our Christmas Card Poem

For the most part, no one really wants to read those long, boring, detailed, long, bragging, long Christmas letters. When they're funny, or when they're cute, it's ok. Now Mark and I have no kids, so there's not much chance of us being cute. But I tend think I'm funny (don't ask Mark's opinion, I don't believe we share the same thought always.) And so what we did last year, and again this year, is highlight the important (and not so-) moments of our past year through verse. That's right, a little iambic pentameter makes everything more interesting-well actually I doubt our poem is true iambic pentameter, but it's one of the few terms i remember about poetry. (it's like a horse going down the road, ba Dum ba Dum ba Dum - use two coconut halves if you need to.) And so without any further ado (because really that's some horrible ado that I just did) here's our Christmas Card poem, circa 2010. And just for fun here's last year's Christmas letter.

Then Meenen's are "living the dream"
In Clay Center, Kansas
We don't know what the dream is yet
So just don't ask us

Been married three years now
For rich or for poor
Best three years of our life
So here's to three more!

Mark had a good year on the farm
Made 50 bushel beans
We're getting closer now
To making farming our main means

Miranda's got a new job
She talks on the radio
"Radio for grown-ups"
No, it's not a porno

She's the Promotions Manager
for the KCLY Radio Mall
You should tune into 100.9
It saves money for all

Mark got a new tractor
15 horsepower, I believe
It mows the lawn perfectly
Even though the mower's green

Miranda's on a bowling team
She once picked up a 3, 7, 10 split
Her girl's night out is real fun
Though most times, they play like...amateurs

With season tickets for K-State football
And even baseball tickets too
We've had fun cheering on the Cats
Especially when they beat KU

Mark and Miranda are table parents
At church on Wednesday nights
They help to practice memory verses
And love being a part of these kids' lives

Of course there've been many weddings
KC and Denton, TX for weekends away
A cool trip to Florida last January
And great memories with friends and family along the way

Many wonderful new friendships have been forged
A new job, and we bought the next door lot
Clay Center has become our home
We like it more than we ever thought

We hope you've enjoyed our stories
Professional poets we are not
We hope you got our humor
Sarcasm we use a lot

So, the Meenen's have had a great year
We're grateful for all the blessings we've had
We wish you all a Merry Christmas
And that your New Year is real rad!

Christmas Eve Eve

Mark and I opened our presents tonight. He's been asking to open them since last Thursday. Yes, I'm married to a 5 year old. I got a wonderful K-State blanket and a K-State business card holder. I'm excited to take that to work tomorrow. And I think he appreciated his new shirt and tie and a book about a nearby high school football team that had numerous undefeated seasons. Plus he got to open his birthday present early. He knew there was another present for him, and I was excited to give it to him, so I couldn't hold back. That has to be obnoxious for people with birthdays around the holidays. No separation of gift giving, you have to go almost a full year without presents, it'd be a hard life. I always thought I got the raw end of the deal because I had a summer birthday….and no one cares about summer birthdays. You don't get to take treats, no one sends you flowers at school, you don't get to be treated special all day. And with a birthday in the middle of wheat harvest like I have, you're lucky if you get anything more than a cupcake out in the field. I'm sure I've bitched about this before, and I mean really, there are worse things to complain about.

But it's Christmas Eve Eve, and it's been a really slow boring week, and I guess that's all you get here this evening. Boring Christmas present report, and a birthday bitching. Merry Christmas! To you from me.

The Weekend Away

Last weekend Mark and I spent the weekend in Kansas City. Every so often we decide to act like we're a young, married couple-that even loves each other. The first night we headed down to the Power and Light District for a little bit of fun. We got there in time for a bit of a free concert by a Beatles tribute band, and a little Yellow Submarine to belt out.

And then, after that fun singalong, we wanted some more, so we headed into the dueling piano bar, Howl At the Moon. Let's just say, a good time was had by all.



And yes, my husband loves himself a straw to chew on. It could have been a cute picture, oh well-we tried!

We played a lot of slots, and by played I mean lost a lot of money at, but we had some fun. But we did very well at the little grill/eatery that was on the way out of the casino, back to our room. French fries, sandwiches, burgers, soda, hot dogs, we hit the jackpot.

Then Saturday morning we had some great plans to hit the Farmer's Market, but that King sized bed was just too tempting. So by the time we got up, got showered and ready, we made it just in time for a little tiny bit of shopping at an antique store and a couple crappy kitschy places, we headed over to Kauffman Stadium.


My honey splurged on the tickets as part of my birthday present. We were just about 20 rows up a little to the right of home. Perfect seats on an unbelievably sweaty day.


And then there's the fact that I caught a foul ball. Yep, caught it, with my own bare hands, it wasn't rolling on the ground, nothing like that. It just bounced off the top deck and the kid sitting behind me in pink shorts with embroidered martini glasses on it tried to catch it, but he didn't. (So yes, he slowed it down. But still he didn't catch it, and that's kinda what he deserves for wearing such a ridiculous outfit.) I bobbled it a couple times, but pulled it in-like the champ that I am.


So thanks honey for a great birthday present, a good time *wink wink*, and a chance at such an awesome souvenir like a foul ball!

Needs vs Wants: a discussion

So my birthday is in the middle of summer. I always hated having summer birthdays, because I didn't get to take cupcakes to school, I didn't have all day to be surrounded by my best friends, and quite honestly-as a farm kid-my birthday is always an afterthought. Like maybe we'll celebrate it in September, when things slow down.

And all I've ever really wanted for my birthday is for people to notice and remember. I'm not a Birthday Diva. I hate figuring out what I want....I don't know what I want. I can't even decide what I want to eat when I'm at Sonic, how am I supposed to tell you what gifts to buy me!?

But today, TODAY, I have ideas for what I want!

Oh why hello, gorgeous-wouldn't you look lovely in my dining room. Yes, yes you would.



Lately, we have been getting lots of rain, much to the dismay of my farmer husband, who wants to be in the field planting beans. But, more importantly, to my dismay, I have no cute rainwear. I need me some cute stuff, and this rain jacket is lovely! I love the belt and the shape. I was looking for something bright and colorful, but something a little more classic might be better for the years to come. And maybe I could just get some super cute rainboots instead.

And finally, despite my husband telling me that we do not need a second computer, I really think that I do. It would just make everything so much easier. And by everything I definitely mean updating this blog. So, I think that it's a win-win situation for everyone involved.


But really other than that (ha, other than a chandelier, a coat, and a computer I say, what kind of other than that could there be!), all I want is to hang out with my friends, maybe watch a baseball game and spend some time with my hubby-who will no doubt actually be in the field or waiting at the elevator for everyone to be done in the fields for my birthday.

Yea me.

We're an old, married couple

In the past three weeks, my husband and I have cut down a tree in our front yard, ripped out nasty old carpet in our entire upstairs, picked out (together) and had installed new carpet, transplanted plants, seeded new grass, had a garage sale, and a backyard barbecue to invite over friends and neighbors.

Now I'm not telling you all of this to impress you with our work ethic, because quite honestly we're a couple of really lazy people, but instead I'm just reflecting on what our life has turned into.

I spend my time thinking about what area in my home to work on next (seriously though, what area should I do next-cause they all need it, and they all seem like a huge undertaking-HELP), I worry about Mark and I finding the time and money to start a family, I want to host parties (and get better at that too-you know I want them to actually be fun...) Mark and I have been married longer than the period of time we were just boyfriend and girlfriend (and so no, that doesn't include the amount of time we were engaged, it's just a comparison people.)

Life has been crazy at times, we've dealt with some sucky things. Job issues, family issues, marriage issues, wanting different things at different time issues and feeling like you don't understand me issues. We've grown apart from some friends, we've rekindled old friendships, and whodathunkit, but I've even made female friends (I know, crazy right?) We've made goals, we've reached goals, and we've been lost without knowing what goals to make next.

But we've done it together, and we've made it so far. Mark might be tired of my lazy ass never putting away the clean clothes, and I am only slightly tired of all the farming talk that goes way over my head. We got married young, and were kinda crazy and naive. But right now, we're in a place that makes us happy. Even more happy without that ugly tree in my front yard (and yes, I got a "You were right" from my mother-in-law, and you had better believe I will use that for all it's worth and then some.) And our weekends may be full of yard work and garage sales and parties that are over before 11, but it's been worth it. So thanks Mark for doing it all with me. And thanks for understanding my need for Mt. Dew or other sudden impulses (like yes I might want chili cheese fries from Sonic-even if we did just eat supper), and for only slightly being annoyed by it.

And yes honey, now I'll stop procrastinating and go spend the "it only takes 5 minutes" time to hang up my clothes.

Road Warriors

Today I will be traveling down the road, headed on our way out of town, out of the state, out of this snow!

Hopefully....

We'll have to see.

But I do know one thing, as we're traveling down the road, with our bags, and books to read in the airport, and blankets to keep us warm, and the rest of the junk that I think needs to go along with-I won't be worried. Because my husband is my champion, my bad weather-late night-long drive- truck driving champion.

As we traveled from one Christmas to another this past holiday season, I knew that we would get there safe and sound and warm, because I trust my husband and his driving abilities. That was definitely a huge positive on the list of reasons why to marry my farmer husband.

And because we won't be back until after his birthday, and I probably won't be doing any updates until then-I just want to say, Thanks honey. I love you. You are a wonderful man, and my favorite guy to have around. Happy 25th!

$$$

Earlier this week, Mark and I paid off my student loans. Paid Off


PAID OFF!

Now I do have to say that we were very blessed in the fact that my husband graduated with zero student loans, and while I had some-it was not near as bad as it could have been. (But then of course, it wasn't as good as it could have been either! If I had umm.....kept my GPA up and not failed Spanish 2 my second semester of my freshman year and kept my scholarship. I mean seriously, who fails Spanish?)

But still, I am super excited. We made our first student loan payment in July of 2007. We had set out early on with the goal of paying them off quickly, as opposed to taking the full 30 years like they wanted us to.

When Mark and I were dating and talking about our future, I always knew that I wanted to be able to stay at home when we have kids. And so, that meant planning financially for that future.(Which is not in the near future-but that's a post for another day.) It's crazy and dumb and backwards and old school that I would want to be a stay at home mother, and quite ironic that to do that I have to concentrate on paying off loans for a college degree that I won't be using. But it's something that I feel strongly about. And I know that if it gets down to it, and I'm in the middle of a job that I love and can't imagine giving up then we'll find a different way, and Mark won't be upset and life will be great. But as we have it planned now, I want to be able to spend that time at home with my children and raise my family and put my "career" on the backburner.

We don't drive brand new vehicles and we work around a budget every month and we maybe put off buying tons of new furniture or whatever because that doesn't work for us right now. And we still have season football tickets, and we go out to eat, and we buy fun things, and I never feel guilty about spending money when I do-we just don't let that get out of hand.

I am very blessed to have a husband who feels the same way about money that I do. Many couples say that money is one of their biggest issues. Our biggest money issue is why he's not spending more of it on me? I mean seriously, I'd take another diamond or maybe just a pretty bracelet, or a shopping spree-that'd be fun too.

Having money isn't everything, and I never want it to sound that way. But having money affords you choices, and we want to be able to make those choices for our family, our friends, our faith, where ever we are led.

Is queso an acceptable anniversary gift?

Last night my dad came to Clay Center to hang out with me and my husband. He had wanted to take us out for supper for our anniversary since, well our anniversary. But you see, I had no concept of this whole Fall Harvest thing back when I decided I wanted to get married-which has of course resulted in Mark and I never being able to actually celebrate our anniversary with more than a quick supper and a lousy champagne toast at about 10pm when he gets home all dirty and gross from the elevator. I mean seriously, why did no one tell me about this whole deal back when we actually decided on the wedding day!

But anyways-I digress.

My sister Morgan, my dad, Mark and I all went to eat at Carlos O'Kellys. I love me some queso and chips. Did you know-when we lived in Oklahoma-EVERY Mexican restaurant served not only the free chips and salsa, but also free queso! It's one of the few reasons Mark and I kinda miss Oklahoma. That and the......well, I'm thinking......we also miss the umm.......I don't know. There wasn't much else, other than the Mexican restaurants.

Mark and I moved back to Kansas from Oklahoma on March 29th, our 6mo. wedding anniversary-surprisingly another date that we couldn't celebrate, with anything more than a lousy toast and lots of sweating and cursing from the move.

Outgoing Introvert-not an oxymoron

Back in high school, when you had to fill out the personality tests, it would always ask if you were an extrovert or an introvert. And always I would answer, Extrovert. No questions. I'm typically loud, and enjoy talking, I like people and can strike up a conversation with almost anyone. But one day, after reading the true definition of an extrovert, I realized I may not really meet the criteria.

Extroverts are people who are energized by being around other people. As outgoing as I am, and as much as I like being around other people-I have realized I need my alone time. It is at home, in the quiet, in my own domain, that I truly re-energize. Whether it's through reading a good book, taking a long bubble bath or just getting stuff done around my house, I feel best after having some time to myself.

Sometimes I just like the quiet. I love it when I'm comfortable enough with a person that we can be quiet together. That's when I realize that I can truly be myself with that person. And honestly there's not many people that fit that description in my life. And it's not anyone else's fault, it's all mine! So often I feel like I have to play a character, be a certain person - whatever is either expected of me or who I need to be so that I can fit in. And I'm not trying to say that I'm always fake, or that I don't like many people or consider many people my friends, or that I'm quiet most of the time (cause Lord knows THAT'S not true) but just that there are just a few people that I could take my issues or questions or problems to and expect an answer that is really best for me.

But all in all, I like who I am and where I am as a person and more importantly where I am going. I want to become a better person, I want to be a person of bigger things, I want to be a person of great friends and great influence and great character.

But tonight, this evening, I just want the quiet-and the comfort of being married to my best friend and his understanding of me-and the acceptance.




-But then again, by about midnight, when he's wanting to go to sleep-that will probably be the time that I want to start talking and being silly and whatnot! Oh the problems of being an outgoing introvert.

Trying for Wife of the Year

Probably not a good sign for the day when this is the conversation I have with my husband, as I return from a night away with some fun Mary Kay gals:

Me: Hey hon! How's your day going?

Him: Oh fine......hey, could you do me a favor when you get home?

Me: Ya sure, what?

Him: When you get home will you look by the bed for my glasses?

Me: .......so does that mean you don't have your glasses on now? You're saying that you're so blind that you can't find your glasses. That sucks.......wait, you've been at work for over 7 hours? What exactly are you wearing then?

Him: My safety glasses.

Me: Hahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha (imagine my manic laughter as you have heard before)

Him: If you're just gonna laugh, then forget it. I'll find them when I get home.

Me: hahahahahahahahaha