When you have been driving a 4-door, Jeep Grand Cherokee for five years it is difficult to switch to driving something else. But this morning I had to leave my Jeep at the auto shop...my rental...is a 2-door Ford Mustang. Sure it's fancy, black leather interior and chrome everywhere, Sirius satellite radio...but I feel so phony in it! Not to mention it brakes and accelerates completely different so I feel like I'm learning to drive all over again.

Not to mention this is all happening right after my Black Friday shopping which has the wallet looking slim and the pennies pinched tight.

At least all the guys I dealt with at the shop and the rental place were really nice and sympathetic to my ignorance. (Either that or they are laughing at me now because of how much they plan on charging me).

So when I got to work I poured myself some of their coffee sludge and I heated up some Cinnamon Spice oatmeal. I'm in need of comfort. =o/

Labels: Jeep

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at least it is at our house. Brian, Braeden and I began decorating for Christmas this weekend. Our tree is up, lit and half decorated. (The bottom half, because Braeden did it all). We have lights on three banisters of stairs, lights on the shrubs, lights on the deck and around the door. It's looking quite beautiful!

We had Christmas movies playing on the TV all day yesterday. Hallmark had back to back movies, very fun. Brian gave me my Christmas present early. A new TV! It's a 46-inch, LCD Flat Panel and oh my gosh I LOVE IT! I cannot even begin to tell you how awesome it is and Bri hooked up surround sound so it's like having our very own theater!

Aside for some stocking stuffers and gifts for my grandparents, I think I'm already done all of my Christmas shopping. Some of the gifts are already wrapped and most of them are still in transit as I have done nearly all my shopping online this year. Now I can think about baking cookies and enjoying Christmas. This is our first Christmas in our new home AND as a complete family now that Brian and I are married.

In other news...

Braeden still isn't feeling very well and neither am I for that matter. But hopefully once the weather makes up its ever-changing mind, all the germs will die off with the frost and we'll start feeling better. His cough is still lingering and I know he's getting just as frustrated as me because he keeps asking me when his cold will go away.

My brother is moving back home to Delaware! He'll be home this coming weekend and I'm super psyched. He has been away for over a year now and I hate it. Having him nearby will be so wonderful for everyone. Braeden is very excited!

I almost broke the garbage disposal yesterday. Fortunately Brian was able to take it apart and get the aquarium gravel out from under the blade. Oy vey!

My Jeep window is slipping back into oblivion as the electric tape my Dad used to hold it up has finally decided it doesn't care to fight gravity anymore. So I'll be renting a car soon and taking the Jeep into the shop so it can be fixed. Figures. The lowest amount I think I'll be paying is $600...And of course this has to happen during the holiday season. At least I get paid on Friday.

I'd really like for Brian and I to take Brae to see a movie this week after work one night. I know it's not easy because we're tired but I really want to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Hmmm...how will I manage to pull that off?

Alright, back to work. Hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

So the PIN number the bank sent me for my new debit card didn't work and I ended up getting locked out of the account. HA! I wasn't even trying to withdraw money; I was depositing. Call me anti-social but I never go inside the bank and today I was forced to get over that..

Needless to say, all is fine now and I was able to pick my own PIN. The man I dealt with had the personality of a dust particle, but it's all taken care of finally. If I didn't have three open/active accounts (one of which is being used for paperless/electronic billing for nearly all of my debts) with Wachovia I would leave them immediately.

Anywho.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and most likely I will not be blogging or reading blogs. Tomorrow I'm going to spend time with my loved ones, eat food and vocalize the things I am thankful for on a daily basis. My eyes need a rest from the computer monitor.

For those of you who only know the digital me via this blog, please know you will be in my best of thoughts. I appreciate all those who comment and I even am thankful for the lurkers who read but leave no signatures. =o)

My life is filled to the brim with blessings and not a day goes by without me thanking God for all He has put in my life. Happy Thanksgiving!

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Labels: thanksgiving

Okay so maybe not exactly full force, but I am back to work today.

I have had some sort of cold/flu/virus something or other all week. I did come into work on Wednesday but probably should not have done that. Yesterday, I made myself sit and rest as much as I could. But the house is such a mess I just want to furiously attack it. Disinfect!

Brian and I have now been married for 7 days, well in about 45 minutes it will be a complete 7 days, haha. For me it has been blissful. Brian says it is weird to hear people call me his wife. I suppose to some extent it is a little bit weird. But I love being his wife and I feel so blessed.

Braeden is doing better sleeping in his room and eating. His Gram and Pop Pop bought him a Gameboy to celebrate him staying in his room through the night. This was quite a task as I had him sleep with me all through his early toddler years. It began because he was so sick all the time, then stayed out of habit. Plus I was in school and the only way I could get homework done was to have him fall asleep in my bedroom as that was where my computer used to be at my parents' house. Next month I will have been out of school for a year and the times have so changed!

I'm part of my own little family now. We have our own home. We are married! I have a new job and so does Brian. Braeden sleeps in his own room. And he even eats fish and perogies now. Last year at this time he was a three-year-old who still ate baby food. Needless to say his digestive system could use a little bit of work but overtime I feel it will develop. He has been healthier and is growing stronger each day. If only we could get rid of that cough.

I'm hopeful that my brother will be moving home soon.

And Thanksgiving is next week. I'm looking forward to spending family time together. We'll begin decorating for Christmas after the thanks and the giving. Brian tells me he has a fantastic Christmas tree so I'm super excited about putting that up with him and Brae. Woohoo!

Life is great!

Labels: brae, brian, christmas, home, married life, thanksgiving

I'm still beat from all the beautiful, wonderful, fantabulous celebrating but I thought you would like to see a photo from the wedding. One of the guest took this and sent it to us.

We had a beautiful wedding day. It was overcast and we did get some sprinkles of rain but it still seemed perfect out on the water when we had photos taken.

When I was waiting in the kitchen with my Dad I was shaking like a leaf. I hadn't had any nervous feelings at all until right before walking down the aisle. But then when I rounded the corner with Dad and saw Brian standing down there waiting for me I was instantly calmed. There he was, my best friend, and now my husband.

We said I do and had a blast the entire time. Everyone seemed to enjoy the celebration and I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole universe! More photos and blogging to come later.

Labels: wedding

"Mawwage is what bwings us togwether today...." - The Princess Bride

Let me tell you the story of a girl I know.

This girl is one of the most blessed people out there. She is fortunate in many ways. She has a job she loves, a wonderful little boy who keeps her on her toes, great friends, a fabulous family and in two days she'll be marrying her best friend. (Ok so it's me.)

What could go wrong, right?

We know the guest list expanded so that the ceremony has been moved to the deck. The deck has a canopy type thing, there are plastic sheets as walls and it is heated. Saturday there is a 40% chance of rain and the high is 49 degrees. Everyone bring your umbrellas because it's not an easy stroll around the restaurant and to the deck wedding. The weather.com website thinks it is funny, next to the date it says "Trade heels for flats or sneakers." ROFL! Oh GREAT!

On the way to finalizing the wedding plans at the Chesapeake Inn (my Dad drove my car, I was in the passenger seat and Braeden, Brian and my Mom were in the back)...my Dad decides to put his window down. I'm unsure as to why he did this, as it was in the 40s that night.

No big deal. "Dad, can you put the window back up please?"

I hear him pushing buttons. Every button. Mom is asking him to pull over. There's no shoulder, we're on a back road heading towards Maryland. The window is not going up. Finally we pull over at an old Dairy Farm. Since the power doesn't appear to be working to move the window my Dad decides to pull the window glass up with his hand. He then pushes it down with his hand. This continues while he's still pushing buttons on the door.

We hear the window fall off the track and it goes into hiding in the driver door.

"It's okay Dad I had to take the Jeep into the shop anyway."

"Why?"

"Well, um, you see, I was going to get it ready for winter. Yes. That's right."

We drive the rest of the way to the Inn and I'm chuckling, I hear chuckling in the back. It's always an interesting adventure with my family.

We're finalizing plans for almost 3 hours! I find out that I'll be walking down the back stairwell of the restaurant and THROUGH THE KITCHEN to get to the deck for the ceremony. Me, clumsy me, big white wedding dress...

All is well. We roll with the punches. Eddie (the guy who is helping us at the Chesapeake Inn) does everything he can to accommodate, he knows this is a special day. It's not his fault the guest list ballooned.

The deck will be fun. Maybe we can have photographs taken of the bridal party standing near the tiki hut where there is a giant shark's head protruding from the top. I honestly think that would be pretty funny.

Meanwhile, I'm driving my Mom's car around now and the engine light comes on saying it needs to be serviced. At every red light I feel the engine chugging, it's like a rubber band pulling, the car rocks back and forth but it doesn't stall. THANK GOD!

I go to pick up Brae. My Dad has the window up on my car. Weeehooo! Relief!

"So Dad, you were able to fix the window?"

"Not exactly. I took the door apart. The entire mechanism inside is broken and will need to be replaced. The regulator is broken, the cable is broken and the plastic around it all is broken."

"Well the window is up."

"I taped it."

OH JOY!

I drive home with Braeden and our little doggie Mya and admire the electrical tape job on my driver window. You can hardly tell. Then something falls off the car down near my feet. I see a plastic piece near the brake pedal and a screw. "Hahahaha, oh it's a comedy I see," I say out loud.

But the good news is I am feeling better.

The bad news is...Braeden, Isabella (the flower girl), my Dad and my Mom are NOT feeling well. All is well. I'm telling myself this because on Saturday afternoon it won't matter who is sniffling or coughing

And in two days I'm marrying my best friend.

"Doomed, madam?"
"To be together. Until one of us dies."
"I've done that already, and I haven't the slightest intention of ever doing it again." Westley said.
Buttercup looked at him. "Don't we sort of have to sometime?"
"Not if we promise to outlive each other, and I make that promise now."
Buttercup looked at him. "Oh my Westley, so do I."
- The Princess Bride

 

Labels: bnc, brae, brian, wedding

Y'all must have been sending me some fierce positive energy because I am definitely feeling stronger today. There are other things emotionally weighing on me, but I'm hoping my whole person will be on the mend soon.

Four days to go.

Bri's Dad says it is "3 days and a wake up" to go since he doesn't count the actual day of the wedding.

Brian helped Brae try on his little man tux last night to make sure it fits and miraculously it does. The arms are a little long but nothing a tuck and roll can't take care of =o)

I was literally jumping up and down with giddiness to have the tuxes in the house. I also have my hair jewels, necklace and earrings in my possession. They are beautiful. I'm so blessed to have Aunt Bobbie in my life. If you're in this area and preparing to get hitched you should definitely get in touch with her. Her business is called "Just Like Moms" and she can do everything from the napkins to your wedding dress. Make things easier when you're stopping at one place. =o) Thank you Aunt Bobbie!

It is freezing in my office right now. I have not taken my jacket off since I got in this morning...over 5 hours ago! I need to remember to bring a small heater and/or blanket into work!

Braeden's feeling awful. He's congested and has a cough. His eyes are all red and watery. My poor little man, but he'll be okay. And I'm praying for him to be all mended by Saturday. I can't wait to see him and Brian in their tuxes. So handsome they will be!

Enough blabbing on now. Back to work. My blog is not publishing well. I have been trying to get a music post out there since early this morning. So I hope this one publishes.

Happy Tuesday!

Labels: bnc, brae, brian, health, wedding

Alright listen up everyone because I need your help.

I am sick. Still. Flu perhaps, I don't know. But this is what Ima asking...mmkay...after you read this I want you to close your eyes, relax your muscles and say out to the breeze "I'm sending positive well being energy to Christy."

Okay. I'll pause so you can try that out.

.......

pausing

.......

And now thank you if you decided to participate in my strange ways. I appreciate you more than you know. =o)

Let me tell you something first. I was raised Catholic and have even taught Sunday school. I believe in God and Braeden and I pray all the time. I believe in heaven and hope to someday be worthy of going to heaven. With that in mind I now tell you I do believe in ghosts. I have heard ghosts and seen ghosts. I believe the dead can still inhabit the earth when they wish, I don't believe Heaven is a place without windows or doors.

Experiences may go unnoticed by those who don't believe. But think about these things for me. Have you ever walked by what appears to be nothing but you feel a dramatic change in temperature and maybe even get a quick rush of chills enough to give you goosebumps or make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? For me that usually means there is a presence near me or near my son. I have been lucky enough to never have had to deal with a negative presence, but I have been nearby one. It seemed confined to one side of the street and didn't cross. I've not been able to explain that one, but it's almost as if the spirit was angry and couldn't find the peace they need to move on.

There are a lot of skeptics in our world. But that doesn't bother me. We use 10% of our brain on a daily basis. If we were more open to learning how to use the other parts of our brain there is no telling how many sense would come alive.

All of the women in my family (including grandma, aunts, cousins, etc.) can see and hear spirits. Sometimes there are symbols or signs that a presence is with you. We are open to seeing those signs and it is a reassuring feeling. There are times when there are too many energy sources in one room and I will feel overwhelmed or claustrophobic even though to someone else the room around me looks empty. But if I say that I need space the spirits will usually move away and I'll feel the energy in the room calm down.

Many times I will hear music. Sometimes it sounds like a soft lullaby other times it sounds like a church choir. I often hear it when Braeden has just gone to sleep. It puts me at ease because I know he is being watched over and will sleep good. Sometimes when I am driving and it seems I'm going to go off the road (because some idiot driver side swipes me) there will be something that keeps my Jeep on the road. I will feel the wheel take over. These things don't scare me. I was raised this way and to me it's perfectly normal.

I'm not sure why I felt the need to explain all of this or share it rather. But, I did. And so there you have it. Happy Friday!

Labels: ghosts

Labels: brae