Back On-Line

Well, I've been off here a few days because we thought we'd lost the hard drive last week. David was able to bring it back up though. So, here's what we've been up to:

Last night (Sunday), David and I tromped through the snow with a side dish to the house of another new couple from church. She made the entree. We ate with them and their 2 little girls, then helped put up the Christmas tree. It was fun. He's into computers and she's into cooking. I had a great time talking to her. They may come to our small group.

Our next small group is next Thursday (a week and a half from now). It'll just be a potluck Christmas party, so it'll be a good time for them to visit. Their names are Theresa and Andrew.

This morning, after we busted ice off the windshield, David took me to a cafe on the way to work. I met Jay (from small group) there. After we ate, we drove into the city to see another of our small group women who just had a baby yesterday. We also went to the American Girls Store. That was pretty cool. Those are cute books.

Just a half hour after Jay brought me home, David called saying he'd come home for lunch. Fortunately for me, he'd forgotten his lunchbox.

It was about Thursday night that 4 inches of snow fell. Gorgeous! And it still hasn't thawed. It's not as thick it seems, and much has been pressed into ice or pushed into nasty mounds that are hard to get over. Nevertheless, I'm glad it's still there. It's still in the 20's, but it looks like tomorrow's high is 34. I hope it doesn't melt. I'll send pictures after the camera batteries have charged. (I've never been in weather this cold!)

Oh! I forgot to mention: That salsa I made went over really well at small group. Lots of people complimented me on it and most of it got eaten. That just makes me so happy!

Salsa

I spent 4 hours this morning turning picture A into picture B. For anyone who's interested, 9 pounds of tomatoes makes over 3 quarts of salsa. The largest of those jars you see I plan to take to small group Thursday with a bag of chips. Gotta help the Northerners. The rest should take care of David and I for atleast a few days. :)

And now, I must cook even more stuff before it goes bad, take care of the budget (as the end of the month nears), and iron some shirts for David before he has to start wearing mine.

Of course, at the rate I've been zipping this morning, I'm likely to collapse. And that certainly will take care of my to-do list, won't it?

Molly

We keep finding Molly in odd places this weekend. We heaped a comforter on the floor, and she found it. We set up our Christmas tree and she found my stocking. And when we put a fitted sheet on the bed last night, she refused to get off the mattress - even when I made her into it.

That's all for now. Unfortunately, I have work to do today. Catching up for a fun weekend.

toodles

Our Thanksgiving

Quick update:

• We got dressed up today, just for fun. Nice to wear a skirt!


• We went to see Stranger than Fiction. Both liked it. Very funny.


• Stopped for hot chocolate and a chocolate muffin.


• Went to Pier One and a stationary store just to look at tree ornaments. The stationary store had some wonderful ones - like the old ones my grandparents had (just new and shiny).


• We put the tree up and realized we didn't have lights...


• We're going to Target tomorrow for lights, a tree skirt, and stockings.


• I bundled up the roses that David gave me and hung them upside down from the ceiling fan to dry. It's adds some girl to the house.


• We still haven't made our pumpkin pie.


• David also adds that it's nice to have a few days off work. However, he has work-stuff running at the bottom of the screen as I type.


• And for lunch, David made a golden grilled cheese. Then burned mine.

Huge Cat

Mom, If I ever hear one more word about Molly...

Cookies

Last night, we made choc.chip/butterscotch cookies just for fun. However, we put them in a normal casserole dish instead of spooning them, and it wasn't wide enough. They're gummy in the middle and burned on the edges.

When Handsome gets home tonight, it's vacation! Mostly just in the fact that we can do chores together instead of seperately, but still. I'm excited to be spendin' so much time with him. Speaking of Handsome, he brought me roses last night for no reason! High quality fella.

My parents are currently in GA seeing my little brother off. He's supposed to be in Iraq soon. I think they return to Houston Sunday.

PADS Called

I realize I posted less than an hour ago, but PADS called! There's a volunteers' training session tentatively for Dec. 12. I'll be called back before then.
It's still not soon enough for me, but still...YES!

How DID I Get Here!

Life is so good. It just occurred to me. Here am I, only 24, and already living my dream. I'm a housewife who answers to nobody but a loving husband. No boss at work or anybody evaluating what I do during the day. Just a husband who trusts me to take care of things for the home and is pleased to let me do it entirely my way.

My life has no demands on it. I have responsibilities, but no pressure. I have to keep hubby well-fed, but if I burn it, he likes the extra flavor. I have to keep the house clean, but if I'm too tired, I can nap.

And even there, the house which I have to work with is good. It's spacious. It's simple. It's private and safe. We have all we need, but not enough that it gets in the way.

I have plenty of friends, both here and from past places. But it's a small enough number that I can stay close to them.

God has been changing me in the last few weeks. Nothing concrete, but an answer to prayer. Things like conviction, faith, and understanding. I live in a reality that I did not know existed. My comprehension of what God can do and with what ease and swiftness has stunned me. It's caused me to lay in bed laughing hysterically as realization came. (My poor amused husband.) I am not the same as I was and still I am rapidly changing. It's not a matter of something that can be seen or touched, yet it's as solid and real as a rock inside me. I am wearing the same body around a different person.

And here I sit, somewhere on the western edge of a dense city, quiet and alone, yet feeling every soul out there. I live peacefully, comfortably, and secluded; yet so aware. God is moving. Glory to him.

New Friends and New Furniture

Fun fact: Searcy had 1,300 people per square mile. Oak Park has 10,000. (If I've done my math right). It makes sense when you think about the fact that most people live 2 or 3 stories up and few have front yards.

In other news, yesterday after church an older couple that we've known nearly since we got to Vineyard took us out to lunch. We went to Panera. They're very sweet. Byron grew up as an m.k. in what is now the Congo. Carol grew up in New York - Staton Island, maybe? They've been married for 40 somethin' and are so cute!

Also at church, one of the guys in our small group was telling David about how when they got married, they both had a house full of furniture, so his stuff went to the basement. And then he said, "Do you guys need any furniture?" I interrupted David with "We just have a bed!" A bit of an over-statement I realize, but just a bit. So, we now have a really nice kitchen table and chairs, a bedside table, a dresser, and some other things. The dresser we're gonna have to figure out how to get here though. Bodacious!

I realized at church yesterday, just looking around, that I recognized someone any direction I looked! That is such a good feeling!

Yesterday was what they call a "baptism Sunday." It works a little different here. Instead of being baptized one at a time, a day is set aside every few months, and it's a group thing. Anyway, it was very exciting. 7 people!

Friday's lunch with Laura was simply splendid. We went out for Italian and sat there talking for a good hour I bet. She's the woman I'm closest to around here so far. She dropped me off at Village Hall afterward so I could get a license for the car - parking's a major problem in town, so they're strict about such things. And the baby shower in the evening was also a blast. I had a lot of fun and I feel like I'm really making some friends. I also learned a lot of fascinating gross things.

My job today is to get all this furniture into place and go get David some more milk. He's practically a calf. I think I'll also call PADS. I still haven't heard anything.

We're Blending Right In!

Last night was small group. We had some of the best worship time we'd had so far. It was really awesome. The girls paired up for prayer afterward, and I paired with the same girl who we're having a baby shower for tonight. That was great. It would've been odd to go to the shower and never have spoken to her!

At about 12:30 today, the same Laura who I went out to eat with before is picking me up for the same purpose. She's gonna drop me off afterward at Village Hall so I can get a village license for the car. She'll also be at the shower tonight, and it was her house we were at last night. I like her. As I've said before, major friendship potential.

Gotta run for now. Got tons to do today. All the stuff I just said plus a filthy kitchen - ew.

Y'all have a lovely!

Bigger vs. Royalty

I put in my volunteer application with PADS on Monday night and got back an auto-response saying someone would call me soon. Still waiting, and rather impatiently.

Other than that, not much is happening. We've got small group tonight at the new place. That'll be fun.

I was rolling with laughter last night listening to "Molly, you can only sleep on ONE pillow. Don't hit me with your tail. Molly! The OTHER side of the pillow..." I was laughin' so hard I couldn't sleep for a while. Just thought you might enjoy that, too. Cats are supreme in getting what they want.

Now on Facebook

I found out that on Facebook, I can put all the pict.s I want and they'll still only be seen by friends and family. (Flickr limits it to under 20 per month). So, I uploaded a bunch to facebook. If you happen to be on facebook, lemme know to make them available to you. Our facebook is under Holly Locke, group is Harding.
But don't worry, I'll continue to use Flickr for the best of the best.

First Time with P.A.D.S.

We've had one of our busier weekends yet - not that 11ish weekends is a lot. Nonetheless...Friday night it had been thunderstorming for hours so David went ahead and came home at the usual time - mainly because I get creaped out by them. We did our usual grocery shopping when he got back, and oh did we ever find a store! One of the Laura's told me about it because it's cheap. Tomatoes, I noticed, were less than a third what we'd been paying! The place looked a lot like Sam's Club. All functional. But cheap! We'll start going there. Too, I found that the little place I go to get David's milk is just as cheap on produce. They don't have much variety, but I can sure get the basics there. We can start eating avocados again! Grocery shopping excites me if ya can't tell.

Saturday at 6, David dropped me off at the church building for P.A.D.S. He left for the office. I had a blast! One of the guys from our small group was running it, so he showed me around and explained what was going on. Then I headed for the kitchen and helped out in there. Guests don't arrive until 7:30, so there was a long lull where I could meet the other helpers and learn some stuff. I stayed through dinner and shortly after it was cleaned up, David picked me up again.

This morning I e-mailed the lady who, if I understand right, is in charge of P.A.D.S. for this area. I was simply telling her I've got several days a week to be doing this and need to know who to talk to. I'm anxious to get a reply. I intend to dive in. I've waited long enough up here, lazying around with Molly. But I can atleast busy myself for 2 days I'm sure. I've gotta cook all the stuff we just bought and clean.

I did find out that there's a no-women-overnight rule with P.A.D.S. That means I won't be there between about 9:30 and 6? AM. That's helpful to know. And David's work schedule is flexible, so we think we'll be able to spend just as much time together.

Hopefully there'll be more to report soon!

If Only He Knew...

Things David didn't know when he got married:

1. Two princesses would nap on his pillow during the day.
2. The second would have a furrier face than he does.
3. He'd finish off his wife's veggies for her.
4. He'd have to share a room in Heaven.
5. He'd be given his own personal grocery shopping list each week.
6. He'd actually learn to find the stuff on it!
7. He'd use a pink, tutu-wearing piggy bank as a door stop.
8. He'd always have to put his own hat on his "it won't be cold!" wife. (poor fellow)

Small Group Sardines

Last night was small group. As usual, we got there before nearly everyone. That's always fun - more time to talk. We're shakin' things up next Thursday. Everybody's going to Laura and Perry's house instead. We're gonna start using their place 'cause it's bigger. We fit like sardines where we are now. This is the same Laura who took me out to eat recently with her niece. And Perry is one of the guys that David's managed to talk to quit a bit. He's geeky, too. I see tons of friendship potential with them. In fact, I'm going to call Laura later today. We're wanting to get together soon.

Ya gotta hear this: One of the women last night was telling us all about a dream she'd had over and over about something specific one of the guys had been thinking. You shoulda seen the look on his face. Her dream had been entirely accurate and that look was priceless. I got a good laugh out of it!

David's working late tonight, so Molly and I are going to die of boredom. However, I'm hoping that after this Saturday night, when I go help with P.A.D.S. at the church (homeless ministry), I'll have a better idea of where and how I need to be spending some of my time. Again, David may be dropping me off and going back to work. Some hardware problems have gotten him behind.

By the way, I win the rat count by 4! It just looks so much like our small group on the couch - I had to use it.

Well, other than that it's just the typical chores and errands. I do get to go get a gift for a baby shower this weekend, though. It's next Friday night. Y'all have a lovely.

Pinto Beans

Guess what I got him eating! I love it when I do this. It's like a personal victory.

I made a crockpot of pinto beans, rice, and sausage. But where I usually make it 60%+ beans, last night it was 50% rice just to help Hubby. He didn't mind the beans!

As he was going back for seconds, I stopped him and asked "Are you getting more 'cause you like it or 'cause you love me?" He smirked and said, "'Cause I'm still hungry." Whatever. Good enough.

On to peanut butter!

New Links

This isn't an important post, I'm just touching base. First, we've got a link now to our church's website and to David's favorite games. And Shannon has just put 2 really cool pictures on her site from their Civil War Ball - very worth checking out.

These are Lisa and Micah's boxers. Sophie, on the left, is still a puppy - though a big one. Tex, in my lap, is grown and unaware of it. The poodle is Missy. There's also a little white dog named Ellie, probably my sister's favorite, but all of her pictures also had our faces in them. She's on Flickr.

I'm back to my typical routine: cooking, cleaning, shopping. But more cooking. We got salt and pepper shakers that match our dishes for Christmas, so those are now full. That is SO nice! A little convenience, but when used with nearly every meal it makes a real difference. Speaking of Christmas, David promptly pulled open his new Star Wars Risk when he got home last night and spread it out all over the table. It amazes me how much he enjoys reading rules. Intricacies fascinate the man. His brain seems to be fed by tiny details. Drives me crazy when I can't keep up - but still, I enjoy watching him.

I'm gonna spend the day on things like planning next week's meals so we can go grocery shopping, and preparing the laundry so David can take it down to the scary laundry dungeon tonight. I really oughta send you a picture of that place - I'll just have to remember to do so.

Guess what! David kept all the letters and cards that I'd given him since December in one place. When I found out where they were yesterday, I read them all. The most interesting one was from December when I was trying to tell him goodbye. It's hard to believe that I actually still thought he was meant for someone else. I told him it's sad and comical all at once.

Well, if I do write more it's going to be boring stuff. I'll wait until I have more to say.
love to you all!

We're Back Home!

Crazily enough, we just had Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mark is leaving for Iraq soon, so the Goode side got together while he had leave. We basically arrived Friday night in time to collapse in bed. Saturday morning, we all went and had our pictures taken as the big group of 7. We had to update the family photos at my parents' house to include David. They were several years old anyway - we look different. Then, when we got home, Lisa, Micah and Mom cooked the big holiday meal while the rest of us played games. The boys, of course, watched football. Oh, and we opened presents while everything cooked. David was graced with the family rubber scorpion. Every Christmas it goes to someone else. He has officially been initiated into the group.
Sunday, after church and lunch, my parents and Mark left. Several hours later, Lisa took David and I to the airport. We were home before midnight. And unconscious soon after. Thus was our weekend. Fast but fun.
Make sure to check out Flickr. I just added about 14 pictures - some from this weekend, and some from the wedding. If you haven't signed on or you lost your username/password, tell me and I'll send you another invitation to view the site.

Here's What's Up

Just a quick "here's what's up" to whoever's interested:
We're close to packed. I'll spend the day readying the house and critters. Maybe cook something for next week and freeze it.
David'll come home about 5:45 and we hope to leave by 6:15, sandwiches in hand for the trip. We'll take the L to the airport and our flight leaves at 9:25, gets to AR at 11:15. It's an hour back to Hot Springs and we don't know who's picking us up.
Saturday morning is family portraits. The rest of Saturday is Christmas. After church and lunch Sunday, somebody'll take us to the airport for a 7-something flight.
There ya go - now ya know what we're doin'. I'll report back early next week and put pictures up on Flickr.
love to all,
hawli

Obstinate Crackers!

Did you know that if you lay graham crackers on the bottom of a pie pan, and then pour in the pie part, they'll float to the top? Yeah. But we both loved it anyway. It's a do-again. And next time, on purpose!

Today I'll start getting us packed. Boys are surprisingly easier to pack than girls are. David will have to go straight to bed then off to work when we return from AR, so I'm trying to get the house ready for next week. I'm glad to say we're now stocked up on both red and green salsas. My priorities are in order.

I've been devouring The Book of God by Wangerin. He took the major stories of the Bible and wove them together with a lot of creative liberty to make a novel. He seems to have tried hard to keep the important parts accurate, which I suppose is limiting on the literature side. It's not exactly a thriller, but it is interesting.

Oh, and that Social Security card thing is totally not working out. We'll probably have to go down there in person at some point. Their phone system is just...oooooooh.

There's a picture of David's Halloween costume on Flickr. He wore it all day at work. I'll put more stuff up after AR.