Then Sings My Soul

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are gonna do me in, I think.

I work 9 to 3 Monday through Friday on my "regular" job as church secretary. After I get off of work, I usually practice the organ (I'm taking lessons) and piano (I play for Wednesday night services) up at church and then go home to work on any HT projects I have at the time. This is nothing new. But on Tuesdays, I have an HT conference call at 3, followed by my practicing, and now I've added a piano student at 4:15. Wednesdays are even better - work 9 to 2:30, go home to change and let the dog out, then drive 45 minutes to Tomball for an hour organ lesson, 45 minutes back, straight up to church for supper, Evening Prayer and Bible study.

Now, that may sound really whiney - but that's only because it's Thursday and I'm pooped. I absolutely LOVE all of the above-mentioned activities.

My new piano student, an 11 year-old named Katelyn, is going to be SO much fun to teach. She already plays the flute, and has had some general music classes at school, so she's flying through the first lesson book. I'm THRILLED. As long as she practices, it's going to be awesome.

Organ lessons are going well, but I just found out that Michael (my teacher who is AMAZING) is moving back to Canada in the fall to get his doctorate from the University of Alberta. His original plan was to stay and finish it at Rice, but there's a lot of things that have made that the less advantageous path. We're gonna really miss him... Zion in Tomball, where he's the organist, is gonna be stuck in another rut. There's just not enough organists around here. Anybody know someone who wants to move down here for an organist gig?? Heh. (This is also the reason why I've finally caved an am taking organ lessons - St. Mark hasn't been able to find someone in 2+ years.)

If I can manage to keep posting on my blog again, I might just post a few recipes. I've made some kick-butt stuff lately that Jason has RAVED about, so I might just have to post them. Be on the look-out...

So, we go into Texas Roadhouse and it's 70 degrees and I'm in a sleeveless shirt, jeans and flip-flops. We come out an hour and a half later and it's 52 degrees.

That is all.

PS: I know my pictures are broken. My host died. I will fix. kthx.

In that holler back in the woods
Where the country folks got it good
Homebrewed, homegrown
Where the wild seeds 'a get sown
It's a blast from the past
All the cowgirls shakin' their sassafras
Let out a howl if 'ya feel like 'ya gotta
If you wanna go on back to the holler
Holler back

I kept thinking of this song while I was gone to all the conferences, so in a futile effort to get it out of my head, here it is.

So... Tropical Storm Edouard. French name, French personality. Total wimp. Now, I AM thankful it wasn't a bad one, but dude - the media needs to quit hyping these things up like they're gonna blow us all away. People won't believe them when there actually is a serious one on its way. The reporters were going around TRYING TO FIND high water to stand in and report about. It's retarded. HOWEVER - we did get a bunch of rain, which has been desperately needed here for a month or so now. Conroe is under mandatory water rationing (which doesn't really affect Jason and I, since we're in an apartment) and a burn ban.

When I woke up Tuesday morning, I was expecting to go to work, as it was just raining - but the weather people kept saying it was going to get a lot worse around 11 am. So I called Pastor Quail, who told me that they were going to close the school at 11. I decided not to go in, just in case it did get worse and I wasn't able to get home from church. Jason went in to work for about 2 hours and I went back to bed (glorious sleep!!). He came home at 11 and we piddled around until about 2:30, when I decided to clean our tub/shower and he decided to go back to work, since there was practically no wind. Just heavy downpours. And that was basically it the whole day - lots of good rain, but nothing else. No flooding, either, since the ground has been so starved for water.

We (as in the Conroe area) actually had a random pop-up severe thunderstorm with a tornado and all on Sunday evening. The wind was upwards of 35+mph gusts, the power went out, and the rain was so hard we could barely see to drive (we were on our way to Jason's parents' house during the worst of it). There were trees and power lines down everywhere, and a tornado was spotted in Cut-n-Shoot. This 45-minute storm did more damage than a whole days' worth of a tropical storm. Gotta love gulf coast weather...

Today is my last day of work for this week, as tomorrow we're heading down to my parents' house for Bekah and Zach's wedding! YAY! Thursday is various preparations and the rehearsal, Friday is the wedding, Saturday we'll be hanging with the Stuckwisch clan and Sunday there will be a mini Theiss reunion with my dad's siblings at Grandma's apartment. I'm really excited about the whole shebang, since we'll get to see tons of relatives and friends - not to mention the fact that my sister's getting married! I, by the way, am a bridesmaid, so I have a gorgeous dress (in cranberry) and really awesome sparkly shoes that I get to wear. Yay for getting to dress up!

Look for a post about our new puppy soon... :-)

EDIT: Anecdotes from the life of a small-town church secretary, #1: The Chairman of the Board of Christian Education and Youth Chairman and general fix-it guy (yes, one person) of our church just came in and told me and the pastors "Don't flush the toilet, don't cut the water on, don't do ANYTHING with water until I come back and tell y'all to." I really need to learn to quit holding it 'till the last minute.

Our Paschal Lamb, that sets us free,
Is sacrificed. O keep
The feast of freedom gallantly;
Let alleluias leap:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Again
Sing alleluia, cry aloud: Alleluia! Amen!

I can't even begin to describe the Higher Things conferences this year. Absolutely wonderful. As exhausting as it was to do all three, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Here's a few thoughts...

Scranton
+ Pastor Kind rocks! He was the head of worship at Scranton. Chris Loemker, the organist, also rocks. Hard.
+ Karaoke Thursday night after Divine Service. See this video to see why. (Yes, that is St. Mark's youth group, Pastors Borghardt, Bamsch, and Buetow - and Stan Lemon.)
+ The amazing capability, friendliness and helpfulness of Fran Mancuso and her staff at the University of Scranton. We are SO going back there.
+ REALLY BIG SQUIRRELS. Not fat - just LARGE.
+ Meeting Jon Kohlmeier! Awesome, dude!
+ St. Mark being there. My youth group!

St. Louis
+ St. Francis Xavier College Church. Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe it.
+ This quote:
Buetow: "So, are you going to swing the incense reverently?"
Stuckwisch: "Yes. And then I'll send it crashing to earth to unleash the horsemen of the apocalypse and the seven plagues."
Buetow: "Oooh, the kids will love that!!"
+ Seeing Pr. Stuckwisch! We're almost related!
+ The best dorms ever. We even had washers and dryers IN OUR APARTMENT. Sweet. (Not that we used them.)
+ Getting to drive back and forth to the airport - I love driving!
+ Duuuude, Kohlmeier's in the room!
+ My cousins being there!

Irvine
+ THE BEACH! THE OCEAN! SWIMMING!
+ ANNA!
+ Shiner with the Cwirlas
+ Cwirla's slideshow of photoshopped pictures of HT staff members. Hilarious!
+ Pat and Tasha. Awwwww!
+ The best internet out of the three. Even though I used it less. Heh.
+ The gorgeous weather
+ Zion being there! With my widdle sister Hannabutt!
+ Pirate Christian Radio! Arrr.

All Three
+ Pastor Borghardt and Pastor Buetow's AMAZING plenaries. They did GREAT!
+ The sermons of Borghardt, Buetow, Cwirla, Kuhlman, Kind, and many more that I can't remember right now...
+ Hanging out with my HT family for three weeks. Hannah, Erin, Sandra, Borghardt, Buetow, Sue, Gina, Stan and I went to all three. Whew!

I realize that isn't anywhere near a good summary, but it's just about all I can get out right now. And I won't even promise a better summary, because I know I'll never get around to it. ;-)

And looking on to next year... SOLA! San Antonio and Grand Rapids. AWESOME!

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not;
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Hath Scripture ever falsehood taught?
Nay; then this word must true remain:
By grace thou, too, shalt Heav’n obtain.

With my arms tight holdin' us together
Breathin' deep
Driftin' like a feather in a stream

Then I touch you on the shoulder
Feel your skin soft underneath my fingers
And I know we'll never get to sleep

You wink, I laugh 'cause we know
A little hug leads to a foot rub
Then a hot tub
Then a french kiss on a bear rug
Do you like it, do you like it
How about this
Wanna try it?
Oh, oh, oh - I'll take that as a yes

One year!

I love my husband... :-)

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I've had this song stuck in my head ever since I heard Jason Castro sing it on American Idol... it's so... haunting. And it sticks with you. I think Jeff Buckley's version is the best, but if you want another good one, go look up the Allison Crowe version on youtube. She's pretty dang good.

So I made my first attempt at baking homemade bread today. It turned out beautifully!! I'm sooo pleased with it. Jason loves it (which was the point in the first place - to get him off of store-bought preservative-ridden gross stuff), and it tastes, looks and smells amazing. So I'm terribly happy! (Thank you for the recipe, Rachel!!!) Now the question is how long will it stay fresh...

House hunting is disappointing as of yet. We've looked at a couple... they're either too small, too expensive, or too much work needs to be done. We figure if we're supposed to buy a house, the right one will come along... but so far we haven't found it. I really want to be out of an apartment. I feel the need to paint and put nails in the walls and play my music (with BASS) super loud and not worry about neighbors. Oh, and I want a dog... and a baby. Gee I sound selfish. ;-) Honestly, this apartment complex has been great so far - other than the uncontrollable neighbors, the management has taken care of everything we've needed. I'm just used to a house and... anxious, I suppose, to get back into that type of situation.

Jobs, etc, are fine... HT's getting busier as we get closer to the conferences (woohoo!! This year's gonna rock!).

I'm sure everybody who (still) reads this has heard that Issues, etc has been canceled... but Pastor Borghardt's post is a really good one to read. http://blog.higherthings.org/borghardt/article/3483.html

That's all for now, folks... y'all have a blessed Holy Week!

Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th 1836

To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world –

Fellow citizens & compatriots — I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken — I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country –

Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

Like a gift from the heavens it was easy to tell
It was love from above that could save me from hell
She had fire in her soul, it was easy to see
How the devil himself could be pulled out of me
There were drums in the air as she started to dance
Every soul in the room keeping time with their hands
And we sang

Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay
And the voices rang like the angels sing
And singing
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay
And we danced on into the night

I've been neglecting my poor widdle blog...

So. 7 weeks - count 'em - SEVEN weeks after the accident, we finally got an adjuster to come out to the apartment and assess the damage on my truck. This was AFTER I had repeatedly called and talked to the idiots at Allstate and gotten nothing done. The guy assigned to our case even had the GALL to call me a week and a half after I had last left a message for him and tell me that if I didn't call him back within 24 hours he would close the claim. Jason about ripped him a new one after that.

So a really nice guy comes out to assess the damage on my truck. I stood outside in 50-degree weather for two hours in the evening while he checked everything and wrestled with his computer. 30 minutes after Jason came home, the guy wrote me a check for $2600 in damages. He said he didn't think the company would like it very much, but we had been through enough so he was gonna give us the check anyway. God bless that man.

We drove the truck over to my in-laws so Jason's dad could look at it. Those Sander men know Chevy trucks backwards and forwards... there's very little they can't fix themselves. After checking around at a couple salvage yards, Bob found all the parts we need to fix the bumpers, tail light, and driver's seat. We're going to be able to fix everything that needs to be fixed on my truck, fix my door (a previous problem -- won't shut right), pay Jason's dad, and get Jason new rear tires for his truck for $1000. That leaves us with $1600. We're planning on using some of it to get to Bean's wedding in May, and the rest is gonna sit in savings for a rainy day. For all the trouble they gave us, this is worth it.

Hastings is working out really well -- so far I haven't worked more than three days a week. The pay is REALLY piddly, but it's helping us out this month with Christmas presents. The job itself is easy -- I just check people out, check in rentals, and stock the rentals after checking them in. It's four and a half hours per day (9 - 1:30), 2 to 4 days a week. I worked Black Friday, and that wasn't even that bad -- it was PACKED right as we opened, but after that the people kinda just came in nicely spaced out floods. We had plenty of people working, so it wasn't that terrible. As Christmas gets closer, it's getting busier, but it's still not that bad -- at least during my morning shift.

Other than all that, we've been moderately busy. We've got something going on every weekend as usual -- this weekend we're going to a wedding on Saturday in Houston, and then we're going to my parents' on Sunday to bake kolachkys. Not kolachies, kolachkys. It's a pastry cookie thing that's totally awesome. We've always baked these cookies for Christmas with my Na Na, mom, sisters and me, so it's a pretty nifty tradition. And the dough is really good. ;-)

My cousin Toombs is letting us borrow his XBox 360, so I rented Halo 3 from work on Wednesday. I'm tearing through it on normal right now -- I just loooove Halo. It's sooo spiffy. I have it 'till this coming Wednesday, so I'm hopefully gonna finish it and get Jason used to the XBox controllers so we can play the boys and my sisters on New Years. Woohoo!

I’m a son of a 3rd generation farmer
I’ve been married 10 years to a farmer’s daughter
I got 2 boys in the county 4-H
I’m a lifetime sponsor of the F.F.A.
Hay! That’s what I make
I make a lotta hay for a little pay
But I’m proud to say
I’m a God fearin’ hard workin’ combine driver
Hoggin’ up the road on my a p-p-p-plower
Chug a lug a lugin’ 5 miles an hour
On my International Harvester

Jason and I heard this song on the radio on the way up to Arlington - we decided to take Highway 75 instead of Interstate 45 this go-around, which is such a pleasant drive as compared to messy icky 45. (45 was built basically to replace 75, which is windy, slow and old.) So this song definitely applied - we passed several tractors on the way. Read the lyrics and see if you can find a clip or video or something - it made us laugh out loud when we heard it.

So has anyone else ever been involved in an accident with a client of Allstate insurance? Because so far, they suck. It's been almost two weeks and we can't seem to get anything done. Even after finally figuring out which company the woman who hit us was insured by, and getting through to someone who had some information for me, I was told that nothing could be done at the moment because they hadn't accepted liability for the accident yet. "The claims adjuster has to get everyone's statement." No one has called us for a statement. "He also needs the police report." I have a physical copy sitting in front of me, and have had it since three days after the accident. "You can take your truck to one of our approved shops," (thank God our Chevy dealer is on their list) "but we can't get started on it until the adjuster has seen it." We shouldn't actually drive the truck, but we can't get a tow truck - much less a MUCH-needed rental vehicle - until they "accept liability for the accident". So today, while I'm sitting in a hotel room and Jason's off at training, I'm going to call the adjuster and figure out just what the heck is going on. It's not like there was any question who was at fault - the woman admitted it outright and the cop verified it.

A side note from this one-of-many experiences in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area - Dallas drivers beat Chicago's hands-down. They are insane.

Hung my cotton dress on rusted wire
Up there on Pilahatchee Bridge
Just a crazy roughneck's daughter
Jumped head-first into the water
Baptized away my sins

Mama said idle hands are Devil's handywork
Oh, the trouble you'll get into
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do

I have ants in my apartment, I still can't find a job and my truck got rear-ended. It hasn't been my week so far.

The ants should be gone soon. They haven't found my pantry as of yet (now I've jinxed it); they're just hanging out by the door. I threw a bunch of ant killer stuff out around the door and in the grass, so hopefully they'll take the bait...

It's actually probably good that I can't find a job, at least for the next couple of weeks. HT work has been crazy-busy, as all HT work tends to be, so I haven't had much time to clean house much less work somewhere else. I'm going to Scranton, PA for a site visit Thursday - Saturday, which I'm excited about - except for having to leave my hubby with leftovers and an invitation to his mom's house if he needs more food. Poor baby... Next month, I'm most likely going to Denver or Chicago or somewhere central like that for an HT meeting, AND possibly San Antonio for more site visit stuff. This is all in addition to the day-to-day work I've already been doing.

As for my truck... we were sitting on the loop in Conroe, at the first of four lights that consistently get very badly backed-up. The cars usually get so stacked up that when one light turns green, nobody can go, because there's 15 cars in front of them waiting on the next light, and 15 in front of them... and so forth until you get over the interstate bridge. We try to avoid it as much as possible, but it's the shortest way to church and the only way to Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, and a couple other stores. Jason and I were on our way to Kohl's on this particular venture through the lights, and, like I said, at the first one. We were the second car in line when the light turned green, but nobody could go - although the truck in front of us did move up a little. He put on his brakes after a couple inches, Jason (who was driving) moved up and put on his brakes, but the woman in an SUV behind us swerved for a then-unknown reason and rear-ended us at approximately 25 mph, and we then hit the guy in front of us. Long story short - the guy in front only had a scratched bumper, but it was a brand new truck so he wasn't too happy. My truck needs a new front and rear bumper, tailgate, and some work on the lights in the back. The SUV is probably totaled - it just crumpled on impact, which I hear is what they do these days. The woman's official explanation was that her "flip flop slipped". Heh, heh. She admitted fault, so we shouldn't have to pay anything or have our insurance rates go up. Theoretically. Nobody was hurt; my neck hurts a little bit from tensing up as it happened and I had a minor headache last night, but that's been it. Needless to say, I'm none-too-happy about yet something else happening to my truck to take it away from me for a couple days, or longer. Bleck.

I need to go start packing... did I mention I have a 4 hour layover on the way up and a 3 hour layover on the way back? I'm bringing lots of books...

Sick and tired of being sick and tired
Everything around you's growin' old
The days drag on, the nights last forever
Every day's tougher just to keep it together
Forget everything you've ever known
Except for home

I am once again looking for a second part-time job. Bleck.

The awesome retail job isn't so awesome. The boss-woman turned out to be something along the lines of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Bad. Very Bad. Apparently, I wasn't good enough - or maybe I was just too darn smart for her - but as soon as the woman calls me back, I will have officially quit.

She called two Sundays ago to let me know that I didn't need to come in until she called me, which probably wouldn't be until Thursday or Friday - and she never called. So I called her today (she didn't answer, which is typical) and asked her to call me back. I intend to tell her to stick it and send me my paycheck. (Actually, it'll be more like something about how unprofessional and rude she was - how she can have run that store for 30 years like that is beyond me.)

Last week on Sunday night I got niiiice and sick. The jury's still out on what it was - stomach flu or food poisoning - but it was bad. I laid around for two days, and then my body decided to get a sinus infection. I battled with that for two days, and I'm still feeling stuffy, but I've returned to normal eating and sleeping patterns, at least.

This past Sunday, Jason and I drove down to Tomball after church for baby Mallie's baptism! His name, if you haven't heard, is Dante Matteo, and he is ADORABLE. I'm ever so happy for them!

Today I drove down to the bookstore for Carrie's birthday party - it was so awesome to see everybody. I really miss working there... it was the best job I could've asked for. Carrie and I are gonna try to meet for lunch one of these Mondays (her day off)... she lives closer to 45 now, so half-way isn't too far for either of us.

Jason and I's wedding pictures are finally here!! The photographer posted them online, so if any of y'all want to see them, leave a message and I'll email you the link.

I probably wouldn't be this way
I probably wouldn't hurt so bad
I never pictured every minute without you in it
Oh, you left so fast
Sometimes I see you standing there
Sometimes it's like I'm losing touch
Sometimes I feel that I'm so lucky to have had the chance to love this much
God gave me a moment's grace
'Cause if I'd never seen your face
I probably wouldn't be this way

Okay, lots of things to blog about...

Jason and I's niece and nephew (his brother's kids), Bryce and Briley, are moving to Midland - eight hours away - with their mom. It's a huge long story about why and the circumstances, but basically, it sucks and nobody's happy. Except, apparently, their mom. So... we said goodbye to them today since they're leaving tomorrow... it's gonna be really hard on Jason's parents, since the kids have been basically living with them for several years... but at the same time it'll be good, since they'll get a "break".

I've been missing my puppy, so since we can't afford the pet deposit here yet, we decided to get a hamster. He's a black Syrian, which is apparently the most docile of the Syrians. Jason finds that really odd, but hey, that's hamster breeding I s'pose. His name is Radar, and he's the most interesting hamster I've ever had (my sisters and I have had five between us). He cleans himself constantly - literally every couple minutes no matter what he's doing, unless he's exercising in his wheel. Jason still hasn't quite gotten used to the fact that hamsters are nocturnal - he keeps wanting to put him in his ball to roll around on the floor in the evening. So we've been staying up 'till midnight playing with the little stinker-butt.

So... this past week... within three days I'd called, been called, interviewed and got a job! YAY!
Okay, to backtrack a little - I was offered a part-time job with Higher Things as conference assistant (doing gruntwork for conferences to let the big-wigs... well... big-wig it), but we needed a little more money than they offered, so I took that job and I've been hunting for another part-time job in the mornings (HT will be done in the afternoon). So, I applied at a bunch of places, and finally got some results. I'll be working at Accents - a home decor/gift store/Hallmark-type-place-except-bigger (and they sell Hallmark products). It's less than five minutes from the apartment, literally just down the road. The people that work there that I've met so far seem really nice, and it looks to be a lot like the bookstore, work-wise. My hours are 10 to 2, Monday through Friday - exactly what I wanted! My starting pay is also more than we expected, so it's just pretty much awesome. I'm working Monday and Tuesday of this coming week, and then officially-ish starting Tuesday after Labor Day. My HT job starts September 1st - so now maybe we can afford cable internet!

When I look in her eyes
It ain't no surprise
Sparks start a flyin' like the 4th of July

She gets me so hot, my heart starts a-pumpin'
When we get to kissin', there ain't no stoppin'

When it comes to love
She ain't no slacker
My little darlin' is a firecracker

Jason and I have been experimenting with bunny ears for the TV lately. I think we've tried at least four different ones, and we're on the fifth now. It gets okay reception for CBS, ABC and the CW, but we're still trying to figure out FOX. The only channel that comes in crystal clear is The Tube - so I've been watching a lot of Magnum PI, Hawaii Five-O, Charlie's Angels, and all those old eighties shows. I'm so glad I was born towards the end of that decade... oh, the hair...

I applied at a bunch more places last Friday and Monday... only Barnes & Noble has called me for an interview so far, but when they asked about weekends I said no, so they said no. I'm gonna wait 'till the end of this week for more calls, and if they don't come, next week I'll start going around to more of the doctors' offices by the hospital for a receptionist position, or something like that.

One of the ladies at church convinced me (somehow, I still haven't figured it out) to meet her up at church before Bible study this evening to let her show me the basics on the organ. I've never been inclined to try it - the piano is, after all, my one true love - but they're desperate for organists at church, so methinks they're trying to draft whoever they can. I, howevah, have had my fill of playing for church, so I shall not bend!... at least, not anytime soon. Meh.

Today I'm cleaning, and then I've gotta head over to Target and pick up a couple things before tomorrow... if Tropical Storm Erin decides to pay us a visit this weekend, I don't wanna have to go out in the pouring rain.

Why does my thank-you-note pile seem like a bottomless pit...

Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortal’s sake!

He sent no angel to our race,
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame,
And to this world himself he came.

For us baptized, for us he bore
His holy fast and hungered sore;
For us temptation sharp he knew;
For us the tempter over threw.

As soon as I walked in the door at Ridgecrest, I was begged by Stan and Padre to write a series of articles summing up For You in Asheville for myHT. So, if anyone wants to know how the trip went, check out those articles here.

We got back home to Conroe at about 11:30 Saturday morning. Jason and I went home, showered, and collapsed into bed. We woke up at 8, went out for dinner, came back home and crashed again while watching Ocean's 11. Ah, sleep...

Sometime on Monday I started developing an annoying cough, which has now turned into a full-fledged vocal-chord-swelling allergy assault on my throat. Half a bottle of Sambucol, half a box of throat comfort tea and gallons upon gallons of water later, stuff's finally getting better. Slowly. But I'm not complaining.

Tuesday I went up to the DMV - which, I discovered, is the only one in Montgomery County and thus crowded - and got my name changed on my driver's license. Woohoo! Next up, my social security card. I'm told it's not near as crowded, and I hope not... I don't wanna cough and hack my way through another 2-hour line.

Today I'm working on laundry, and I think I'm gonna go lay down, watch Breakfast at Tiffany's, and rest for a little while. This throat thing's making me feel rather bleh.

I really miss your hair in my face
And the way your innocence tastes
And I think you should know this
You deserve much better than me

No particular reason why I picked this song, other than the fact that I absolutely adore it. I think I might need to borrow Hanna's Hinder CD...

Last week on Wednesday we found out that Jason's grandma (mom's side) had passed away... it wasn't sudden, she'd been in the hospital for about two months now, and had several different surgeries, plus the possibility of colon cancer. It's been hard on Jason's mom, but so far everyone's held up okay.

Friday I went to my parents' house to pick up some late-comer gifts, go out for lunch, and hang out for a little while - that was fun! I got to see my poor Laddie, and my mom and sisters had, of course, already started painting. My blue cloud room is no more; pale purple has triumphed (with the help of two layers of Killz, or so I'm told). They'd also painted Hanna's old room/Zach's room/study - a taupe-ish color to match the rest of the house, instead of the pink that it was formerly. I also stopped by "my" old bookstore to say hi - I really miss them! I wish I could just make the drive down there for work everyday, but I know I'd lose my sanity with the traffic...

Saturday Jason and I went to breakfast with his parents, niece and nephew, and then got ready and headed out to the lake for Chris' (one of the groomsmen; the one that walked with Bekah for those of you who were there) birthday party. His parents have a house on the lake, as well as a pool, two jetskis, a boat and a hot tub - so we got lots of sun! Jason and I went out on the little jetski as soon as we got there and let some other friends ride the big one (the little one is older, much more tempermental and flip-prone). That proved to be interesting. It tumped over twice, and both times I somehow managed to cut my ankle pretty good. Icky lake water + cuts = ouch. (Don't worry mom, I cleaned it really well and it's doing just fine now.) We got in the pool for a little while, and then went back out on the big jetski. Much better that time! We had a ton of fun on that thing, not to mention swimming and the hot tub. Later in the evening, Chris' dad took the boat out for us, and we all went for a cruise around the lake. It's so gorgeous out there in the evenings! Next time, I'm gonna get a water proof disposable camera so I can show y'all pictures. We got home around midnight, showered, and slept like babies.

Sunday, we got up early, made breakfast for Bob (Jason's dad), Bobby (his brother), Bryce and Briley (his nephew and niece), and then headed up to Groesbeck for Grandma Little's funeral. It's about a two-hour drive, and we made it crammed in Bobby's truck. Bobby, me and Jason in the front; Bryce, Briley and Bob in the back. That was interesting. We got to see lots of family, including Jason's awesome cousins, and then we headed back home around 6.

So, all in all, it was an extremely exhausting weekend, but it ended up being very fun. Plus, I feel much better now that I've slept in 'till 11. Today has thus been designated laundry and cleaning day...

... and waiting for UPS so I can pounce on my Potter book!

You know you got a job and a little bitty check
Six pack of beer and a television set
Little bitty world goes around and around
Little bit of silence and a little bit of sound

A good ol' boy and a pretty little girl
Start all over in a little bitty world
A little bitty plan and a little bitty dream
It's all part of a little bitty scheme

It's alright to be little bitty
A little hometown or a big old city
Might as well share, might as well smile
Life goes on for a little bitty while

Almost everything's unpacked, the pantry and fridge are full, and the gorgeous German cuckoo clock is hung in the kitchen. We're on our second week of marriage and it still hasn't settled in. I keep thinking he's gonna have to take me back to my parents' house any day now, and he keeps thinking he's on vacation. I guess that's what happens when you move out of houses you've been in for 10+ years...

In the past week and a half since our wonderful wedding (pictures will be coming soon - there's a few floating around on Facebook for the curious), I've been returning duplicates to Target and Macy's and using the boocoodles of gift cards to finish setting up our apartment. (Leave a comment if you want our address!) I'm still feeling so incredibly blessed on the generosity of all of our friends and family... we haven't wanted for anything thus far.

The highlight of last week was getting our washer and dryer - I didn't feel quite like a wife until I got to wash my husband's clothes for him. Jason's dad told us that a local appliance store was having a scratch-and-dent sale on washers and dryers, so we went to have a look and found exactly what we were looking for, $200 cheaper than we had expected to pay. I was and still am extremely excited about the whole thing!

Now I'm applying for jobs... so far the two bookstores I've applied at aren't hiring until the end of the summer, but both said they would definitely keep my resume for the fall... I'll need something before then, but I suppose if I don't find anything I'll call those places back. Tomorrow I'm going over to Hastings and the Christian bookstore here in town.

I'm getting impatient for the marriage license to get here - I have to have that to get my driver's license changed, and everything else requires an updated license. I can't wait to be able to sign as Lynea Sander!

Time to go cuddle with my hubby, eat some chocolate and watch a movie... :-)

See your mama and the candles and the tears and roses
I see your daddy walk his daughter down the aisle
And my knees start to tremble as I tell the preacher
Don't she look beautiful tonight?

All the wonderful words in my head I've been thinkin'
You know I wanna say them all just right
I lift your veil and angels start singing
Such a heavenly sight

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

I smell the jasmine floatin' in the air like a love song
Watch my words draw sweet tears from your eyes
Bow our heads while the preacher talks to Jesus
Please bless this brand new life, yeah

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

Lost in the moment
In this moment with you
Lost in the moment
Lost in the moment
In this moment with you
Lost in the moment

Crank it up tonight
When you hear us on your radio
We'll take you for a ride
Anywhere that you want to go
Glad you all could make it out to the big show
One, two, three, four, hey hey here we go

So... using Lutheran Service Builder on a computer that's running XP with a Pentium II processor is... exasperating. But, it's fun. I fiddled with it today under the tutelage of our bulletin-man, and Monday I'm going to finish putting together the bulletin for the wedding and print all 250-ish of them out. Or 300. However many mom decides. Also on Monday, Jason and I will go get our marriage license. How cool is that?!

It hasn't quite hit me that I'm on my final two days of work, now. I've really come to love the people I work with and all our regular customers. I'm definitely gonna miss that place... I'll probably never find another job that wonderful.

Speaking of jobs, I've applied for two medical records clerk-type positions in Conroe... one at the hospital, one at a clinic, and I'm looking for more. I'm thinking that something along those lines would be good, since it'll definitely get me health insurance. I'll be on Jason's at first, but for him alone it's around $25 a month... to add me, it goes up to $300. So, it would be nice for me to have my own for the time being. And working in the health industry kinda does that for ya. Plus, I'd get to wear scrubs! That's the only perk there was to working at the daycare. Scrubs. Those oh-so-comfy, ever-so-washable and easily-replaced pieces of clothing that are also layerable and inexpensive. Plus, I still have a pair of Tinkerbell scrubs from the daycare. I wanna wear them again!

I packed my books. My room is nekkid. I'm getting married... !!

I've been looking for so long to find this place I see
And I've just got to believe it's more than a dream
Seems it's time I should move on
But I hope you come with me
'till we find eternity

So this is what it feels like to burn the candle at both ends...

I'm not even going to try to sum up the past three-ish weeks since I blogged, but this past weekend should give y'all a good idea of how it's been lately.

Friday:
Work 'till 5, then I headed home to pack for a weekend in Conroe and throw some more stuff in boxes for the move. Then Hanna, Bekah, mom and I go up to Tomball to meet Jason and Dad for a lockin and a For You meeting. Jason and I left about 11:30 (a VERY good thing, in hindsight - I'm glad we didn't stay for Compline, as much as I love church) and went to Conroe.

Saturday:
I was pulled out of bed at 8 to go to breakfast, and then we ran a couple quick errands before my second wedding shower, this time at St. Mark. Those ladies are so very nice! We got everything from the Target registry, and all of the towels we registered for at Macy's. I am... just... stunned at how wonderful everyone's been. Bekah thinks it's because people recognize that we're not just another couple that's gonna get a divorce in a few years, or getting married because I'm pregnant, or any of the other crappy reasons. I just feel so blessed...

So after the shower, we went back to Jason's and changed real quick, then went back up to church for a BBQ dinner-fundraiser for the St. Mark youth group. We rented a movie after that (mistake!) and didn't get to bed until 11:30 or 12.

Sunday:
Got up early for breakfast before church, then church, lunch, a few more errands and then back to Tomball for a 50's dinner theater-fundraiser for Zion's youth group. Thank goodness I was told to take tickets, I wouldn't have survived on my feet serving dinner for an hour and a half. After that we ran even more errands (wedding prep sure is interesting) and went to my house, where we hung out until Jason left at 11.

Monday:
I woke up flushed and feverish to find my family gone to VBS and not a thermometer to be found. And nobody answering their cell phone. I got ready for work despite a pressure headache and other such fever-related things, and left. As I get to 1960 and Wunderlich, the intersection at which my store is at, and I'm in the left turn lane to turn onto Wunderlich, a wreck happens right in front of me. So I quickly haul my junk into work, open the store in record time, leave the new lady to run the store, and run back across the street to give the cops my information. I was the only person who stayed to witness, but it was pretty clear who's fault it was, so I guess it's not a big deal.

After an hour at work, I was pretty miserable, couldn't read the computer screen very well, and my stomach had started to act up. So Jan sent me home. I slept from 11:30 to 5, and now I feel muuuuch better, even if a little weak.

The good news is, I only have my books and necessities left to pack. AND - we're moving most of our stuff into the apartment Saturday!!

Oh, and Big & Rich rock my socks off.

The king and his men
Stole the queen from her bed
And bound her in her bones
The seas be ours
And by the powers
Where we will we'll roam

Yo, ho, haul together
Hoist the colours high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die

Nothing compares to the pure classic-ness of the first Pirates movie. But dadgum. At World's End was downright awesome. I think I got chills about three different times, not to mention the final battle... and while the ending left something to be desired (if you haven't seen it, make SURE you stay 'till the end of the credits!), it still rounds out the trilogy nicely... plus, it was nice to have Barbossa back. And that song... oooh man I'll be singin' that song for a couple weeks.

As for Lost, I would just like to say that I DESPISE J. J. Abrams. And adore him at the same time. We had quite a few good laughs at Jack's Moses/hippie look...

Okay, enough entertainment news. Jason and I found an apartment! It's just a couple years old, in a good part of town, close to everything (how can you not be in a small town such as Conroe) and well within our budget. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, too! Now maybe I can get myself to pack.

My first wedding shower was fun! Two of my 2nd cousins and one 3rd cousin were the ones that put it on, and they did a really good job. I got to dress up for something other than church and sit around and look pretty... and open presents. I'm still having trouble getting it through my head that this is all for me. It's kinda blowing my mind. That and the fact that it's only a little over a month away...

Does anybody have any book suggestions? I need something new to read but I can't decide what. I have no book money, so it needs to be something I can get from the library (which isn't typically a problem, since it's the massive Harris County library). I'm almost done with the 5th book in the Series of Unfortunate Events, and now I'm so depressed I need to take a break from it. ;-) I think I'm gonna re-read Mila 18, but then I'm open for suggestions. Nothing too heavy or classic-like (I have Vanity Fair on my list, but I'm just not quite in the mood), but other than that, anything goes.

Time to start this whitestrip business that my mom and sister are prodding me to do...