May be back?

I miss blogging.  I miss taking the time to sit and think about what we've been up to,  what I'm thinking about, and reflecting on this sweet life the Lord's given me.  Life has been so busy.  Work takes up most of my time, so when I'm not working I want to spend time with Chris.  But I think the practice of being still and quiet enough to think up a summary of my past week, or to have a place to fully develop thoughts is important to fully embracing this life.  Chris and I have been talking a lot about how fast time is going by- our time in Louisville is quickly coming to an end and it does not seem possible.  So many good things come and go and I just want to capture a few more of those sweet moments so that I fully experience them.

So a snapshot in the life of Chris and Jenny now:  I love my job! Just finished one study and am starting up another study.  It's required lots of travel, lots of growth and independence but it has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I couldn't be more thankful.  My bosses are about as cool as it gets.  Both women who are both so intelligent, accurate, respected and experienced it's unreal.  As high caliber-women they are, though, they are just as approachable and interested in growing me into a successful team member.  Also my coworkers are awesome.....  Needless to say work is stressful a lot of the time, but at the end of the day it's so fufilling and fun, I wouldn't change it for the world.

Chris is just dominating his fourth year.  Even saying that makes me anxious/sad/in disbelief! Can it really be his 4th year?!  He goes from being confident in his ability and feeling good to thinking there's no way he can be  dentist almost daily.  So do all his closest friends.  They all are doing great and will be successful dentists.  But these last few months with mock boards and boards are intense and are testing them.

Our weeks are filled to the brim with work/travel for me and school and studying for Chris.  In the evenings we have CG, Pure Barre, dinners with friends.  We covet the weekends... Saturday mornings with nothing to do is what I live for.   I use the time to stay in bed, look at blogs or pinterest, or read.  It's my heaven.

Another summary of this point in time is so many of our friends and even family are having babies! We had 2 births this month of people really close to us and just this week found out about 2 different friends of ours that are pregnant! What a praise and gift from the Lord! But I have to admit every time I hear of another pregnancy it makes me sad- we're growing up.  We're at the age where our friends are having planned babies (sometimes their second!) and it's just crazy to me! I feel like we're all still 23.  What are we doing having kids?!  I have confidence the Lord will change my heart when we decide to start trying, but as of now it's baffling to me.... #confession.

As a praise my family is at such a good point.  Both brothers are alive and well.  Ross is more in love with the Lord than I thought possible. Morgan and Megan are doing great.  Morgan and I got to bond a lot over Christmas break.  Thankful for the time I had with her.  Mom published her SECOND book! What a cool mom I have... Dad still is obsessed with being a dog surgeon.   Chris's family is doing good as well- Eric and Ginny had their baby girl this month! We went down to Auburndale to meet Ms. Emory and fell in love.  She could not have been born to better parents.  Eric and Ginny are the creme de la creme.

Other looks into life right now: CG Life is good.  Kind of strange because we're all going to move soon...  But the Lord is faithful to grow us and encourage us through each other before he sends us all around the U.S.  I'm reading the BEST BOOK.  It's part of a trilogy by Ken Follett and I'm obsessed.  I just want to read all of the time.  We're planning our big trip to Europe for this summer!!  It's so much fun to plan and I can't believe it's happening.

And lastly, the light of our lives, Annabelle.  She's still owning it.  We're in love.

Already but not yet

Lent, the Cross, Atonement; all of this is hard for me to fully grasp.  Sometimes I feel as if i have it and sometimes I feel scared that I feel so lost in it that it may not be real (key word there is "feel").  Chris and I came home last night after our Good Friday service and I was a ball of emotions- 

my heart was heavy that my Christ willingly died on the cross for my sins.

I was feeling confused as to why he chose to do so.

I was feeling overjoyed with the firm reality I knew in my salvation was bought and paid for.

I was irritable that Chris couldn't come inside of my mind and figure all of this out for me.  

I was confused as to what I felt- today represented when my Lord hung from a tree to pay for my sins, but at the same time it represented my salvation is paid for.  The brightest and the darkest of events...

 Praise be to our Lord that he is unwaivering in his attributes!  The Lord is not confusing and does not withhold his truths from us.   We came home and Chris pulled out his Systematic Theology book and we read and charted and put the truths we knew into the full story of what this day was about.  We know and believe our God is fully good and fully righteous.  He is love and he delights in bringing us joy.  We need to be in fellowship with him to experience true joy, but left to our own, our sin would separate us from the Lord.  So our God sent himself in the form of the Father's son to live a life without sin and then to die a death we deserve to make a way for us to be in full communion with him.  In this death, he himself experienced the separation from the Father that sin results in and the wrath that the sin caused.  Once he had experienced what was needed, he himself gave up his spirit.  

Even though we have a way to communion with God, we still live in a fallen world and we are still sinners.  This leads me to the "already but not yet".  We have salvation- we can sense the goodness of God in life- a beautiful spring day, the love of Chris, Annabelle's adorable self, fun deep friendships.  But in the midst of this joy, there is still unfathomable suffering in this world that weighs on my heart- anxiety about work, broken friendships, fleeting pleasures of this world.  We are not yet in a sinless world where everything has been made new.  I want to realize it is ok, even good for me to acknowledge the brokeness  and hurt in this world, both in my life and others.  I think this should put a groan in my heart to long for the time when Christ will dwell with us- when all things are redeemed and made new.  

The Lord has been gracious to slowly teach me more about his ways and his being during this time of lent.  My prayer is my feelings would not dictate my thoughts about our Lord but rather the truths of Him that the spirit allows me to store in my heart.  I am eagerly awaiting the celebration of Easter  tomorrow! What a God we serve.

It is finished.

He is risen!

Checking in

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Mom visits!

We decided to begin a new tradition this year: mom will come visit the weekend before thanksgiving!!

We began it this Novemeber and it was convienintly a weekend Chris went to West Virginia to hang with Ryan and Andy for the weekend. 

Mom and I had the best weekend together- we started Friday off with taking pictures for Pure Barre, followed by a yummy meal at Ghyslain.

On Saturday we crafted all day long! It was heavenly! Mom brought a Scan n Cut machine (which is a laser paper cutter) so we planned on crafting with that all day, but she forgot to bring the mat that accompanies it... So we had to go to plan B which involved mom getting me my very first embroidery machine!!!! We spent the day with her showing me how to use it while making baby Colton and Baby Jack Christmas presents! I also made Jenna and Jared a wedding present. We watched Parenthood while we sewed and we laughed and bawled all night long.  

On Sunday, we crafted some more, and then when Chris got home, mom took our picture for our Christmas card. 

After the perfect picture was captured, we went to Sojourn for the evening service and then went to Four Pegs for dinner.

 The next morning she left to fly back to PC.... Saying goodbye is always awful. I absolutely hated watching my mom leave... It always brings up the issue of where Chris and I see ourselves living once he's done with airforce. We'd like to not have to ever say goodbye to either set of parents, but being from two different hometowns that will be impossible. I am thankful to have a mom I love so much that saying goodbye is hard and I'll try to cling to that blessing and not focus on the sadness it brings.

Highlights of September

My excuse for not blogging in 3 months is literally to many fun things have been happening.   We've been lucky to get home, unpack and wash our clothes in time for the next fun thing,  No complaints here, as the Lord has blessed us with a season of fun and friends!

September started with us at DISNEY WORLD with Chris's awesome family.  We all stayed in the "treehouse" cabin that his parents rented and it was so much fun to be with everyone for a long weekend.  I felt like the bonding time was extra rich and relaxed because we didn't have to worry about plans or who we were going to see next.  We were all there together and it didn't really matter what we did.  We ended up taking advantage of the non-park attractions.  We saw Planes at Downtown Disney, we went bowling at Downtown Disney, we spent the day in these the awesome resort's pool, we ate at yummy restaurants, and the last night, we surprised his parents with renting a boat for the family to go watch the fireworks.  We had snacks and drinks on board.  Cindy and Dave were caught completely off guard and were SO excited! Loved being able to give to them and celebrate their 30+ year marriage.  

Night time swimming is the best! Greyson was showing us how
he can now put his head underwater and blow bubbles!

Momma and her boys after our fireworks cruise!
She did good!

The next weekend was the Seminary Fall Festival.  It is one of our favorite times in Louisville.  All our friends from group and church are there, free food, and fun people watching- what's not to love?!  

Sweet Friends

Also during September, Jenna went to Pure Barre training, so there was some practicing with her.  I'm so SO so excited she's going to be an instructor!

Getting our Warm Up on!

Then the Birthday Festivities started.  Chris started the Birthday week with taking me to Bistro 1860- a cute, newly redone restaurant not a half mile from our home.  It's menu is all tapas type items so we spent the night ordering new foods, drinks, and enjoying each others company.  I am so unbelievably grateful for a husband that I genuinely have the most fun with.  This night left me with such joy.  

Dessert is always the best.

My handsome date and I.

That weekend, mom and Hal came into town!  We had the best time with them trying out restaurants, going to Makers distillery, experiencing Sojourn, and just hanging out.  They overly blessed me on my birthday.  My mom brought up all of the jewelry that I had been given as a little girl, but that she held on to until I was ready to assume responsibility for it, so it was fun to go through different charms my grandparents gave me at different times.  They also got me a new phone (those of you who know me know my old one had been cracked for the entire 2+ years I'd had it..), and new bedding for Chris and I's bed!  Also, Hal made a huge pot of his Brunswick stew for Chris.  Chris and his friends enjoyed that stew for awhile.  

Beautiful Family!

My beautiful annabelle helped sing to me :)

Later that week we also had a friends B-Day celebration... 26 was brought in strong :)

My Louisville Family!

The next weekend, the Millers came!!  Chris's old roomate from FSU, (and probably the reason Chris and I met) Josh and his lovely Bride Sarah came up for the weekend.  We went to a new distillery, 4 Roses, then watched the FSU game.  Sunday we went to Sojourn, then Brunch at Toast.  

Boys will be Boys....

The whole gang at 4 Roses

 September was a whirl-wind, but nothing like October.  We'll see if I can get October posted about before Christmas.  So many fun times that I want to remember!

Monterey

Our trip to Monterey was blissful. Although we had a rough agenda of things we wanted to see and places we wanted to go, we were excited to find fun new activities or places to explore. The entire trip I felt like we were kids on a treasure hunt!  Every hour of each day we found the “treasure chest”: a new cool view we had hiked to, making eye contact with a sea otter in the wild, a charming Italian restaurant that enclosed us with a homey romantic ambiance.  

A lot has happened!!

In My absence of blogging, here are all of the fun things that have happened:

Dad and Susan came to visit for the weekend:

We've had lots of fun times at Pure Barre: 

We had to say good-bye to our good friends, Chris and Heather.  They moved to New Jersey to serve Chris's home church. 

Jenna and I ran in the Color Run!

Najja and I went to a painting class!

Jenna and I talked Chris and Jaren into coming to Pure Barre! They died and it was awesome!

We had a work social at the Louisville Zoo.

We celebrated Annabelle's 2nd Birthday

Had a community group picnic at the park.

It's been a fun fun few months!

Summertime Thoughts

I love summer.  It brings no true schedule changes for me personally, but it seems that other's change in schedule rubs off on me.  Maybe it's because of the long days... But there seems to be more time for slow mornings, fun nights with friends, engagements, new babies, exciting trips, seeing old friends, evening walks with Annabelle, all the good things in life.  

We're in a blessed season- we have been in Louisville for 2 years now and I feel comfortable and happy.  Last night over dinner with friends, it came up that the boys are over half way done with school... We have 2 years left in this amazing city.  I feel like I'm in college starting Junior year and getting anxiety about having to graduate.  

I'm ready to soak up the last months of summer and the last half of our time in dental school, but I want it to slow down so I can fully grasp and enjoy these moments.  

Home for the 4th!

I flew into Panama City Tuesday night, just as it started to rain.  By the time we went to pick Chris up the next day at noon, the road getting into the airport was flooded.... 

I checked the weather and it was 100% chance of rain for the next 2 days and 80% the 2 days after that.  Never have I seen so much rain in Panama City.  Honestly I was pretty depressed... This was our beach vacation for the summer.  We are now those people who only have one beach vacay a year! But thankfully my family is really fun and we made sure to have fun anyways.  

Thank goodness for Settlers of Catan! Chris and I probably played that game 6 or 7 times throughout the weekend with my families.  We got the StarTrek version for the beach house and it was awesome... 

Beach House Catan

On Friday we had about 3 hours of no rain,  so we seized the time and went out on the boat!

Boat Time!

It was fun but I got stung by a bee...  It started storming again so we went inside to play more catan.

That night, we were invited to go on a Dinner Cruise with Mom and Hal for Hal's Brother and Sister in Laws 70th Birthday Celebration. We had a BLAST! The sun came out right as we were boarding the ship.  Everyone had a fun night dancing, drinking and watching fireworks.

Enjoying the sunset with family!

The Crew

Gorgeous watching fireworks over the water.

The next day the sun was FINALLY out so we spent the morning on the beach with mom and then went to eat lunch at Limes, a restaurant on a dock with dad.

Last day in PC and only day with sunshine

Overall it was a fun time.  It was hard too realizing that I won't be back until Christmas- that our trips to PC are literally going to be twice a year at best.  It was hard to leave my family knowing that they could probably use me around- especially ROss and Robbie.  My hope is in the Lord.  The Lord has the power to be with them through this time in their lives and the Lord can work in their lives even if I am not around all the time.  Thankful for a Savior who goes before me and intercedes on my behalf!

Mere's Having a Baby!

My darling Mere is 36 weeks pregnant this week.  A wonderful friend of her new {darling} mother-in-law threw a shower for Meredith and baby Jack this past weekend.  Here's where it gets exciting: I am married to Chris- Chris was born and raised in Auburndale FL.  One of his best friends from home, and a groomsman in our wedding was Tyler.  I was born and raised in Panama City, FL.  Meredith and Carly are some of my oldest, best friends.  At our wedding, Carly meets Tyler and Tyler falls for Carly.  Flash forward to now and Carly and Tyler have been dating for awhile and are just perfect together.

SO, Carly and Tyler flew up from Tampa and Chris and I drove down from Louisville to Atlanta for the shower.  The first night we picked Carly and Tyler up from the airport and met Mere at Tin Lizzy's.  We had yummy food and Margarita's and sat for a few hours just catching up.

We left and headed to Meredith and Matt's home where we stayed for the night. We stayed up WAY late still just talking and hanging out.  

The next morning we had a slow and easy morning.  Mere made yummy cinnamon rolls, Mimosa's and we had lots of fruit.  Her sister Kelley came in around noon and soon after Carly, Tyler, Chris and I headed out to let them have sister time and we went to SweetWater Blue Brewery (Well, Carly and I demanded a few stops- Chick-fil-a and Starbucks ;) ).  Once there we hung out and drank their brewskies!

After the brewery, we left and headed to our super sweet hotel.  We stayed at the W in buckhead and it was awesome.   We spent the remainder of the afternoon at the sweet rooftop pool.

After the pool we changed and walked to dinner at Flipburger.  YUM!  They had the best burgers and milkshakes.  We walked back to the hotel and went up to the rooftop bar to see what it was about.

The next morning, Carly and I woke up,  got ready and drove to Mere's house to head to the shower.  WE stopped at her MIL's home to meet her and her Aunts.  They were so delightful and she had a beautiful Roswell home!  Then we packed up and headed to the shower.  THe entire shower was beautiful.  The hostesses had made the yummiest food, had place settings for everyone, and had decorations everywhere!  The company was wonderful too.  It was fun to see all of the women Meredith had become close to in the short time she's lived in the ATL.  Baby Jack received so many lovely presents.  I helped Mere organize the opening presents process and Carly took pics.  

The 4 PC girls at the Shower!

I love my Merey so much and I am so excited to watch her become a mommy to Baby Jack and to raise him in love!  

Love you Merey and thanks for sharing your special weekend with us!

P.S.  Here are some old pics to show just how far these friendships go back :)

Chris and Tyler at Chris's 6th Birthday

Carly and I in 5th Grade

Carly, Meredith, Carla, Carla's Brother Tony, and My 2 brothers Halloween in 4th Grade :)

Second Work Trip

Today I woke up in Phoenix, AZ.  It's my second work trip and think I am getting the hang of things.  It's strange to be in really nice hotel rooms alone.  Like where are my girls? Or Chris?!  Or most importantly, where's Annabelle?!  Last night I kept bumping into things while I was unpacking and I kept thinking Annabelle was going to freak out barking... but she didn't.  This week I was offered a full time position at US WorldMeds.  I am so excited to begin working full time.  It has really gotten me to think about my future:  Will I be a successful, powerful career woman? I love the idea of it and I really feel I could.  It would be tricky though- I feel I'd always have to be on my toes looking for the next oppertunity.  Will I work really hard for awhile and then be blessed with babies and choose to stay home with them? Will I work full time and just be stressed and barely hanging on, balancing work, kids and everything?  It's fun to dream.  

Happy Friday! 

Friday's Letters

I'm linking up with Ashley @ The Sweet Season!

Dear Spring (Or even Summer!) Please come visit us.  This Florida girl is freezing in this never-ending-Kentucky-winter.  Please hurry so I can have some outside days.  Dear Annabelle thank you for being the best toy poodle ever, and the best friend ever while your dad was gone.  Dear Dental School please be over soon so that I can have my Husband back.  Dear Husband, SO glad you are back from Jamacia.  I missed you too much.  Dear Pure Barre, thank you for having such fun and neat trainings for us instructors.  And thanks for kicking my butt each and every class. Dear Graduate School, please end already! I'm ready to be done with this Masters.  Dear USWM, please officially offer me a full time job... I'm ready to know it's a definite thing! I know I'm not done with school for 3 more weeks but STILL... just offer it.  Dear Husband, good luck studying this week! I love you and am here for you.

Love,  Jenny

1st Anniversary

Sunday was Chris and I's first wedding anniversary!  Sadly, he had to be at the airport at 5:30 am that day, so we celebrated some on Saturday.  I had to teach a PB class and then work on my seminar, but I quit with enough time for us to take a nice walk.  It was the first warmer day we'd had so Chris, Annabelle and I took advantage of it and walked to a local coffee shop and got some fruit smoothies and enjoyed the beautiful weather and just being with each other.  

I hate to be "that person" but seriously our lives have been so crazy that for our anniversary we both just wanted a low key, chill night together. I visualized our first anniversary as being a big night of glitz and glam.... but instead, this weekend, I just wanted chill Chris time.  So that's exactly what we had! After our walk, we went to Mellow and got lots of pizza and salads and pretzels and came home and ate our hearts out.  

We spent the night watching Friday Night Lights, the show we began watching a LONG time ago, but we just don't have the guts to finish it.  I don't know what I'll do when it ends for us!!  

We made sure to take a break for champagne and wedding cake!  Such a surprise but our cake tasted AWESOME!! Thanks Cakes by Tanis and the amazing wedding planner, Christina Gillon for wrapping it up and saving it for us!!

We finished the night with a game of settlers of catan (I won, but who's keeping track?) and then we hit the bed early so we could be up early to take the guys to the airport. 

It was an absolutely perfect 1st anniversary! I'm so thankful to be married to the love of my life.

Chris is gone for a week

And it's horrible.  Chris and 5 of his Dental School buddies left for a week long trip to Jamaica for a dental mission trip.  

I had no idea how much better Chris made my life until this week when he was gone.    I had my graduate Seminar this Wednesday.  

"Translational Control of Neuroligin Expression asa Mechanism for Hyperconnectivity of Neural Circuits Associated with Autism"

And I just really had a gloomy few days getting ready for this seminar without Chris.  Annabelle did her best to be my #1 buddy and make up for Chris's absence.  

She really was a trooper and stayed by my side the whole time.  

Every night she slept right by me... as close to me as she could get.  So thankful for this angel.  

So Wednesday I had my seminar and then Thursday I left for Colorado for another Pure Barre Training.  And in the middle of that I had real work and taught PB classes. What a CRAZY few days.  But anyways Friday Michelle and I spent the day at PB Corporate.  I had such a fun time with her.  

Then last night (or really early this morning) I made it home.  Annabelle was taken care of by her Auntie Jenna and our good friend Katie.  She was pumped when I got home.  Needless to say this morning I've enjoyed a nice slow morning.

Hopefully life is going to calm down for a second so Chris and I can catch our breath :)