Sunday, June 7, 2009

our anniversary trip

On Friday, Mr. D. picked me up at my Granny's (more on that in another- hysterically funny post) and we left on our journey to our anniversary getaway- an hour from there. We went to the very exciting and romantic, world famous honeymoon destination- Huntsville, Alabama. Actually, it was the perfect trip. We stayed at the new Westin. It was incredible. I would highly recommend visiting and plan to go again. We checked in and were put in one of their VIP suites. It was great. The hotel is located on one end of an outdoor mall type area. It was a very neat atmosphere. After we got settled in, we walked around the mall area and went to dinner at Ketchup. This is a fun little restaurant where they serve things that you can dip in ketchup, and they make their own ketchup as well. In this little tray they had ranch ketchup, chipotle ketchup, traditional ketchup, maple ketchup and mango ketchup. Mr. D. liked the chipotle the best- I liked the mango. Oh- and we both enjoyed the Heinz as well.

I just loved their Chandelier. After dinner, we strolled around some more and ate ice cream at a little place called Maggie Moo's. We talked about taking a ride on one of the gondolas but decided to not do it all in the first night.

Saturday we slept in and then went to the pool. It was cool in that there were only a few people there and no one was in the pool. The weather was nice and we just relaxed in lounge chairs for a while. Then we got adventurous and got in the water. The pool was neat in that you could swim from the outside pool into the inside pool. I swam in and spied the hot tub. I opted to get out and spend my remaining water time in the warmth of the hot tub. After that we sat in the sun a little more and then went back to our room. Our key wouldn't work and so we had to go to the front desk. The friendly lady at the desk explained that the hotel had double booked our suite and asked if we would be willing to move (and since we were there on the employee rate- how could we say no). I think I heard angels singing aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh as she said the following words.... and for you inconvenience- we will treat you to our couples connection package at the spa. So, we moved into our new room- just as lovely but less spacious. We had lunch at a little Japanese grill in the shopping center. Then we went to the spa. We went our separate ways into our respective locker room. I got ready and relaxed until time for the massage. Then we went and had our massages together and after I sat in the sauna. It was so relaxing. I took a shower there and fixed my hair and got ready for the afternoon. It was fun having time together and time alone. After the spa, we went to the Monaco. The Monaco is a very hip and fun movie experience. There is a restaurant and you can order food to eat in the movies. We sat in leather comfy seats and ate a chicken quesadilla and popcorn of course. We saw the Hangover. It was probably the funniest movie I have seen in a LONG time!! By the end, I had tears streaming down my face. Funny Funny Funny!!

After the movies, we ate dinner at Red Robin and then walked around the shops again. We bought our one item we bought the whole time we were there and that was some body wash Mr. D. found at Ulta. As many times as we shopped the stores, you would think we would have more to show for it. We decided not to go on the gondola ride so we would have something to do next time.

This morning we got up and hung out for a little while until we decided to head back home. On the way home we stopped at Target and bought our anniversary gift to each other. The traditional gift for the 10th is tin or aluminum. I am not sure if what we bought was either- but it is representative. These will reside on our respective night stands as part of the new bedroom makeover. So, that is it. Happy anniversary to us. Thanks for all of the well wished. Now, back to reality!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Mr. and Mrs. D. - a decade of bliss

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary. It is truly a time to reflect on a decade of being the Ds.

I found it fitting to post this today. Enjoy!

Our Wedding Ceremony
June 5, 1999
5:30pm


Greeting:
Family and Friends, you are here tonight because Sandy and Paul are important to you, and because you are important to them. They want to know that you support their decision to marry, and they want you to celebrate with them. Each of you has in various ways shaped and impacted one or both of these two people. On their behalf, and with the hospitality of God, I welcome you.

There is nothing magic about a wedding. A wedding ceremony does not make a marriage. Rather, two people celebrate a wedding when they realize they have a marriage. This has been Sandy and Paul’s discovery: that they are more complete together than they are apart. They have found together a friendship, love, family, and so they have come here to make a commitment to what they have found.

There is nothing magic about a wedding, and yet this centuries-old ritual bears near-unspeakable power and what is happening here and now will affect them and many others for years to come. This ceremony is not just between Sandy and Paul. They are calling on your power, too and upon the mysterious powers of God.

At time like this our hearts are full. Our feelings of love and hope for Sandy and Paul overflow and we feel the power of love among us. And the lump we feel in our throat or the tear in our eye or the hope in our heart -- these are the marks of a spiritual presence among us and within us.
Let us pray:

We celebrate your goodness, O God. We thank you for these persons, Sandy S.and Paul D., each alone a miracle, but together a miracle even more wonderful. We celebrate with you their attraction for one another, the future they dream together, the commitment they promise, and the friends and family who have taught them and will continue to teach them what it means to love.

May Sandy and Paul remind us of the love and caring within us all. May we be a constant reminder to them of the support which is theirs through all people. And may we all remember that you, O God, are the source of all love, now and forever, and we may call on you in times of need. Amen.

Covenants:

Sandy and Paul, I want to remind you as you stand here in the presence of God and of all these people who love you, that Marriage Celebrates the Sharing of Two Unique Individuals

When you’re married
you join hands and become one
as you walk
through life
together and not alone,
remember that you are
both unique and different
from each other.
Give your love openly and honestly.
Do not try to change each other;
your differences helped bring you together.
Always respect and accept
what the other has to say
even if you do not agree.
Remember that you are
two separate individuals.
You are one, you are partners,
you are living the same life,
yet your lives may be different.
You have yourselves and you have
each other.
Take time to enjoy each day
you share together, and remember
that each day is a new beginning.
(Catherine Houkland)

Sandy and Paul, before God and before these who come to witness and celebrate with you tonight, I ask you to affirm you willingness to be husband and wife, to share all the joys and sorrows of this relationship, whatever the future may hold.

Sandy, will you have Paul to be your husband, and will you strive to fulfill the promise of love and faithfulness you make to him tonight? (I will.)

Paul, will you have Sandy to be your wife, and will you strive to fulfill the promise of love and faithfulness you make to her tonight? (I will.)

And you, the family and friends gathered here tonight... will you do all in your power to support Sandy and Paul in their life together with you? If so, Please answer clearly : We will.

Exchange of Vows:

You have come together to create a marriage. In this spirit you must pledge from the depths of hearts to nurture your friendship, your companionship, and to give each the love, care and kindness each needs to give and to receive.

Sandy, please repeat after me:

Paul, as your wife, I promise to love you with all my heart, to trust and respect you. I will share your joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats. I will be faithful to you and be honest with you. I will try to meet each new day with more understanding, more wisdom and more strength than the day before.

Paul, please repeat after me:

Sandy, as your husband, I promise to love you with all my heart, to trust and respect you. I will share your joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats. I will be faithful to you and be honest with you. I will try to meet each new day with more understanding, more wisdom and more strength than the day before.


Exchange of Rings

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of Sandy and Paul in holy matrimony. From the earliest times, the golden circle has been a symbol of wedded love. It is made of pure gold to symbolize pure love. Being an unbroken circle, it symbolizes unending love. As often as either of you see this golden circle, you will be reminded of this high moment and the unending love you promise.

Let us Pray:

Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide in your peace and continue in your favor, now and forever. Amen.

Paul, Repeat after me:

Sandy, I give you this ring as a symbol on my vow. And with all that I am, and all that I have, I join with you.

Sandy, Repeat after me:

Paul, I give you this ring as a symbol on my vow. And with all that I am, and all that I have, I join with you.

Closing Charge and Blessing

Sandy and Paul, as you continue to live in a faithful and loving partnership with one another, may you know the grace you need, when you need it, you live out the commitments you have made:
grace to know how fortunate you are to have found one another;
grace to forgive the other when you have been disappointed or wronged;
grace to laugh, play, and feel your passion for life and each other and all these here who love you;
grace to work, and through work to love and care for the world;
grace to be a marriage with room for whatever new growth there may be in your lives;
grace to speak the truth in love;
grace to keep silent in love;
grace to know the difference;

God keep you alive, like fire, all the days of your lives. May it make a happy, healthy home; and may it’s joy be everywhere contagious. Amen.

Pronouncement of Marriage:

Sandy and Paul, by the power of God and by the power of the vows spoken tonight, and by the prayers of those present here tonight: you are from this time forth husband and wife together. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

Blessing:

May God bless you and keep you; may God’s face shine brightly upon you and be gracious unto you; may God’s countenance hover over you and give you peace: now and forever. Amen.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

This made me laugh!!!

My friend's FaceBook status:


Natalie just had a most embarrassing moment-I had to go get my cat out of the back of the hearse that had come to pick up my dead neighbor-yeah-good timing

Sunday, May 31, 2009

I am sitting down..........

................and doing absolutely nothing for 20 minutes. OK, I guess technically that is a lie since I am blogging. Here is a quick list of all of the things I have done this weekend.

* met and picked up Tiffani
* attended my friend Natalie's Pampered Chef party
* painted 2nd on the last 1/4th of the bedroom walls
* went to Hardware Odd Lots and bought more tape (If you have one of these stores, go there!)
* took Tiffani to Target to purchase a few birthday supplies (for her boyfriend)
* did 2 loads of laundry
* went to dinner to celebrate Byran's Birthday
* went to World Market, and Hobby Lobby to window shop for bedroom/bathroom ideas
* went to the grocery store
* painted 3rd and final coat on last 1/4th of room
* painted small portion of ceiling
* rehung curtains (finally!)
* put my dresser and the TV back where they belong in the room (finally!)
* cut out cubby tags
* gave Brady a bath (he jumped in on me in the shower-- I got the hint!)
* went to school to add some last minute touches to the classroom
*blogged


WHEW!!

my Facebook quiz - just for fun

1) What did Sandy want to name her black lab Brady?
a) Cocoa
b) Midnight
c) Chocolate Chip
d) Cole
e) Raven

2) What is Sandy's favorite color
a) Pink
b) Blue
c) Yellow
d) Orange
e) Purple

3) What is Sandy's number 1 pet peeve?
a) procrastination
b) dishonesty
c) road rage
d) Tardiness
e) double work

4) Where would Sandy like to spend a week's vacation
a) Cabo San Lucas
b) Hawaii
c) Statesville, North Carolina
d) Lake Winnipesaukee
e) Las Vegas

5) Which of the following is on Sandy's bucket list?
a) be the next American Idol
b) skydive
c) get a tattoo
d) ride in a hot air balloon
e) learn to scuba dive

6) What is Sandy's top addiction
a) the BlackBerry
b) caffeine
c) FaceBook
d) Chapstick
e) reading

7) Where was Sandy born?
a) Durham, North Carolina
b) Toledo, Ohio
c) Florence, South Carolina
d) Birmingham, Alabama
e) Cullowhee, North Carolina

8) How many blogs does Sandy have?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5

9) How does Sandy volunteer her time?
a) as a Girl Scout Leader
b) as a museum tour guide
c) as a reader to the elderly
d) as a clown at Children's Hospital
e) Time?? Who has time to volunteer?

10) What is Sandy's favorite TV show?
a) The New 90210
b) The Office
c) Lost
d) Whatever Martha
e) Grey's Anatomy

Friday, May 29, 2009

Mr. D. is a GENIUS!

After my 4 post yesterday- you are probably sick of reading my blog.... BUT, on the off chance you are not... ENJOY!!


Mr. D. and I were off together today. It was so nice. We had a leisurely morning and ran errands this afternoon. On a whim Mr. D. pulled into the most amazing place I have ever been. It was called Consigning Interiors. (do you angels singing --- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!)
Now I am a girl who LOVES to plunder- and oh my at the plundering they had. Mr. D. did a fast walk through, showed me a few things he liked and then told me he was going to go get a haircut and would pick me back up later... or at least that is what I think happened as I was in my plundering daze. I saw a million things I just loved, not only things for me but things that I just know others would love too. I even told the shop keeper how amazing I thought this place was. Now, being on a tight budget, I had to make my choices wisely. I bought a little wooden bowl and grinder for my classroom. It is SO precious. Grinding is something we love to do year round. I also got a cool vase for my newly painted and undecorated bathroom. I am really into this geometric designs lately. Love it! All in all, we spent around 10 dollars and I could not be happier.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Thursday 13: (4th and final for today) Thirteen things in my life- in numbers

1) 3646 - the number of days I have been married

2) 15 - the number of miles I drive to work each day

3) 118 - the number of Facebook friends I have

4) 16,477 - the number on my blog meter as I made this post

5) > 5 - number of hours of sleep that I got last night

6) 441 - the number of miles separating me and Karen

7) 6/5 - the number on the gas pump I use that the Raceway. I pump on the 5 side. This is also my wedding date.

8) 2 - number of gray hairs I have found (and promptly removed) on my head.

9) 211 - number of days until Christmas. My Niece and Nephew are coming this year. Christmas is much more fun with children around.

10) 56 - number of text, tweets, IM's etc. that I sent or received today. Thank goodness for the unlimited plan.

11) 7 - number of fish in my tank- the Oceanic Six plus Canadian Bacon

12) 2,5, 4, 0, 1 all of the number in my phone number- some repeat, some do not.

13) 4 - number of Thursday 13s I published today... Whoa!