Yes...there has been some neglect. I've been keeping up with all of your posts, friends...but I just haven't really had that much to say lately. I'll just give you some tidbits of my life as of late:

- Found out the best time to take your car through inspection is when it's snowing here in Memphis. I had 2 cars in front of me (*high five)

- I've been "sick" now with a sinus infection/cold/whatever you want to call it since the middle of December now. I'm really over it.

- Aaron and I have been taking the Financial Peace University class by Dave Ramsey. It's been really good so far! I would definitely recommend it if you've never taken it. There have not been Near as many fights as I thought there would have been over the budget. :) So that's a good thing.

- If you live in TN and you haven't been deducting your sales tax off your taxes...go ahead and lament with me. We actually saved all our receipts and decided to give it the old college try this go round. I cannot Believe the difference in our deductions this year. (Of course some of it was buying the house)...but I mean it. Try it next year. Tell me if I'm wrong.

- Aaron is now the proud owner of 3...that's right, I said 3...long-sleeved, button up dress shirts that all fit! We did a little shopping for our upcoming cruise (woot!). I know...it took me 3 1/2 years, but I'm wearing him down. (Actually, the excitement of the cruise got him delirious...that's the only reason we went shopping, but I'm totally going to take credit)

- Been thinking of new improvements for the house (does this really ever stop?) So far I've got: ceiling fan and roman shades for den, nightstands and floor mirror for bedroom, curtains and pillows for office, ceiling light (2) for the kitchen, and stones to outline the flower bed in the front yard. I think these are all reasonable for 2010. I've got all year. :) What about you? Any home decor projects coming up/in progress?

- Wedding season is rapidly approaching. Come March, the cashiers at Bed, Bath & Beyond will know me well! Yay for 20% off coupons!

Just saw this in a magazine. I kind of want to try it. It's a cute little valetine happy (if you need ideas for your friends)

I had every intention of writing down some inspiring thoughts from last year and things to look forward to this year...but my time has been sold to the Man. Now it seems a little ridiculous and a tad out of fashion, so instead I'll commence with the following. You really just never know what's in store. Middle school Andrea wanted to be a cheerleader. Junior high Andrea wanted to be an actress. High school Andrea wanted to be a CEO at some fabulous company in New York. College Andrea wanted to be a wife. All of these Andrea's wanted a cat. I'm glad the last two came to fruition.

Most of these Andrea's didn't expect a husband, a house, an American address. Most of these Andrea's expected yearly friends, a higher paycheck, more frequent flier miles than imaginable, more photos in my book of places traveled, less relationships. You know God just has to smile sometimes when we make our "I'm going to be", "I want", "I'm going to do", "I'll never do" statements. How he must just smile and say "Child, don't underestimate me."

With age comes wisdom. Wisdom is really nothing more than roads traveled, or roads seen traveled, and lessons learned from them. Am I wise? I am twenty four years wise. One of the reasons I love sitting in our traditional service with 95% of my churches elderly demographic is the sense of history. I'm serious. I love sitting there with nothing but grandmothers and grandfathers around me thinking to myself what these people have seen. May I never limit myself or my future by my own insistence at how I know things should be.

One of the hardest things, for me, to grasp about Christianity is the very delicate tension. The overwhelming feeling of inadequacy and yet the never-ceasing knowledge that I must succeed. I hate to do this but it's like a quote from the most recent Harry Potter movie. Dumbledore looks to Harry and says "Once again, I must ask too much of you..." God doesn't ask too much...but it sometimes feels like it. Yes, I must love others more than myself. Yes, I must provide for the least of these as if I was providing for Christ himself. Yes, I must think before I speak. Yes, I must always be encouraging to those who hate me. Yes, I must stand there boldly when I want to hide. Yes, I must be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks. Yes, I must give everyone a reason to want to ask. Yes, I must be ready at every second of every day for Christ's return. Yes, I must do all these things and yet I can't. Enter: grace.

I love that I will never understand this here on earth and yet I am equally frustrated and disillusioned by this. Tension. I love knowing there is always something else I could be doing. Some way of bettering myself and the conditions/circumstances of those around me; yet I see no horizon to this ocean, no light at the end of this tunnel. Tension. I love knowing that no matter how much I have read/said/thought there is always something else to read/to say/to think. But how massive an undertaking. How long a marathon before me. Tension.

How do you view all this? I currently reside in the thought that I must only take one day at a time, lest the journey seem far to great and impossible a task. I'm living with the faith that God will truly works things out for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Our actions are such a vital role in all of this. Do you ever reach a point where you feel good about it? Or is this life suppose to always leave you with an empty feeling that no matter how hard you try...it's just not enough?

I guess my question is- where in your faith do you find contentment of your pursuit? Will there ever be that contentment as long as we're here? Because as hard as you try....couldn't you always try a little more? (Sorry this was really long and not necessarily cohesive. But you asked for it. This is a blog, not a dissertation ;) )

Have you ever heard of modkat.com? They sell these:

We don't have a big litter box problem or anything...but this looks interesting. I wonder if it's any better than a normal litter box.

Now that the den is just about finished and we have absolutely No money to spend on anything right now...I'm thinking of new furniture for the dining room. Smart, I know. No, I do not plan on buying anything, but I do like to keep my eye out for interesting pieces to get a feel for what I want. This buffet table is so cute! You better believe I have it bookmarked ;) Maybe it will go on sale...

It's official...
Come St. Valentine's Day, the hubs and I will be sailing off to the western Caribbean! No vacation last year= better vacation this year. Whoo hoo!