What’s on your mind?

I feel like I have a billion things going on right now. Work is crazy busy (and I LOVE it), school is intense and I get about one day a week to actually get to hang out with hubby. I have a lot going on needless to say, and with that, I have a lot of thoughts rolling around in my noggin. Just wanted to list a few for ya to keep you updated

• I am a very fickle person. I mean, really. So now that I am in school, I kind of don’t want to be. I have really struggled with figuring out if I have made the wrong choice, whether I really want to be a teacher or not, or if I am just wanting to give up because it is hard (most likely the last one). Right now I am definitely staying in the program. I would have wasted a lot of money and let down a lot of people if I didn’t. Let me state that again, I AM staying in the program. This is just a thought process I have been going through lately.
• I think I have told just about everybody that Tim and I plan to grow our family through adoption. I really am only interested in being pregnant once. I want to experience it, and then be done with it. Also, there are 143 BILLION orphans in the world. That number is too great to not be a part of decreasing that number, even if it is just a little. Also, I really feel that if you are a Christian, you should AT LEAST consider adoption. After all, you have been adopted into the Kingdom of God. So, with all of that said, Tim and I are praying about starting the process, and soon. I can’t tell you how excited I am. I know that it will still be about three more years before we bring home baby, but just beginning the journey is an amazing feeling. I am on the road to my child. That just makes me want to scream with joy We will first adopt from the Philippines. That is why I say the process will most likely take about three years. That is about how long it takes right now from that country, and I am prepared for that. I hope I don’t go crazy! Please be praying for us on that subject.
• Can I just say that I LOVE my husband? Because I do. Because of certain events that have happened in our lives recently, he came to me the other day and said he wanted to be proactive about having a healthy marriage. He is great and has really followed through
• Please go check out the Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center. They have an incredible ministry in Haiti. It is amazing what the Lord does through them. Right now, their funds are really low. They could use YOUR help. Please read over the blog and see what incredible things they do in Haiti and how they serve the people there. And, if you feel led, please donate to them. If you ever feel a calling to go serve the people of Haiti, they can hook you up. They love for volunteers to come and serve them.
• Loving reading the blogs of those who went on the Compassion International trip to El Salvador. If you have never considered/prayed about Compassion International’s Child Sponsorship Program (sponsors like you pay $38 (in the U.S.) to meet the physical and spiritual needs of school-aged kids) please do so NOW. You will be forever changed.
• Still keeping an open mind to serving young, possibly single mothers. It is amazing how so many opportunities have presented themselves in the past couple of weeks. I am excited to share in the near future.
• I am REALLY wanting to get more involved in serving my community. I love my church family and they present so many opportunities to do this. I am thinking the previous point will be my vehicle to achieving this. I just want to get to know the people I am basically doing life with every day and don’t even know their names. I want to get to know who they are, what makes them tick, what their passions are, what is going on in their lives.
• I have no idea when I will fit anything new into my life. I am SO busy all of the time. Any time I mention anything new to some of my close friends or Tim, they always ask when am I going to do that. Hopefully that will work itself out.
• I am HORRIBLE with time management. I am such a procrastinator. I mean, really. And what is ridiculous is I HATE that about myself, but I do nothing about it. I think I heard on Dr. Phil before that it is because I am so self-centered, which is true. I really hope I grow up in that department, and soon!
• I decided to take a break from Facebook for awhile. I did well, for one day. That evening I finally broke and got on. That was when I found out I had one friend that was pregnant and another having problems with her pregnancy. Look how much changes in that small amount of time. Needless to say, my very short break is over. Did I mention I don’t have much self-control either?

Okay, I think that is pretty much the jest of it. I am sure there is much more, but that is all I can think of for now.

I miss them like a fat kid misses cake…

I frequently refer to them as “the girls”. The two pictured above are my sisters (for those of you who are new to the blog). Man, I love these two.

I got to go visit the family this week. When I visit, I try to soak up as much time with these two as possible. To put it bluntly, I feel like I am missing out on them growing up. It breaks my heart. And, they are at a stage where they both like me. This has not always been so, and I imagine will not always be. So, for now, I love on, cuddle with, give praise to and listen to these two as much as I can when I am around.

The one on the left hates to talk on the phone, and the one on the right seems to get embarrassed or too excited to be able to talk on the phone. So person-to-person is the way to go.

They are growing up SO fast. Necie, the one on the right, is in high school! She gets her driver’s permit in like 3-months! Holy cow! Okay, okay, I know I am starting to sound like an annoying parent gushing over her babies. Whatever, I love ‘em.

Saturday Mom, the girls and I went shopping at several different stores. Then Tim and I took the girls bowling. It was so much fun. The power went out and we ended up playing games you would play around a camp fire. It was fun just to be with them. And they have a never ending list of things to do when you are bored. It was quite interesting.

Sunday we went to church then came home to have dinner with the whole family. Including Tim (my husband) and Megan (Josh’s girlfriend…Josh is my brother), we had eight people at the table! It was packed, but good times.

We were all coming together to celebrate Megan, Tim and Mom’s birthdays. Megan’s is 10/20, Tim’s 10/28 and Mom’s 11/09. Josh lives in Texas and I live 6 hours away, so we are rarely all together anymore. Next time will be Christmas… I think.

Anyway, that was my weekend.

What about your’s?

Lazy Days… or is it Daze?

This weekend was such a lazy weekend. I found out at the last minute that my plans for Friday night were cancelled. So that meant I got to go home and hang out with Tim Did I tell you we just got cable after not having it for over 2 years. Yeah, we have become couch potatoes fo sho (gangsta too, apparently). So Friday we rented movies (Monsters vs Aliens and Management).

Saturday, I slept in all the way to the late hour of 7:30 AM. I got up and decided I was going to re-pot my ever growing tree (I don’t know the name). It looks great by the way. I’ll get a picture of it up on here some time soon. Then I assembled a shelving unit above the downstairs toilette. That took a couple of hours. Or so it seemed. It probably only took one hour. After that, I pretty much did nothing. No really. I laid on my husband’s favorite recliner as he did homework and watched t.v. All. day. long. I finally went to bed around 12:30 AM. I am ridiculous and can’t help it. That’s a lie. I can.

Sunday we went to church were I got to hang out with some of my favorite 3-year olds. We went to Johnny Bruscos (yummy), went to pick up this awesome desk my computer now sits on, then came home to do another big fat nothing. I got it out of my system… for now. My weeks are SO jam-packed, it just feels so good to just lay around and have no goals for the weekend.

Of course I’ll only be able to do this for the next probably three years. After that, the kiddos will start coming So I had better enjoy this now.

P/S: I love photography… looking at it that is.

What did you do this weekend?

homemade butta

Today is a much better day. Sorry for being so down in the dumps yesterday!

Today is a rainy day. And kind of chilly. I went to the Farmer’s Market this morning with my friend, Mary. It was loads of fun. And I think I ate the most delicious doughnut ever! Oh my goodness. It was homemade. I also bought some flowers, blueberry jam, and jalapeno & cheese bread. I found my weakness is the booths that have no one looking at their items. I feel sorry for them, meander over, and usually end up buying something! Dang my tenderheartedness!

After the Farmer’s Market, we went to Mary’s house. She pulled out some butter that was in a mason jar. I asked if she bought it and she said that she made it. Really? She showed me the stuff she made it with and sent me home with a mason jar of my own and the ingredients (organic whipping cream).

When I got home, I poured the whipping cream, along with some cinnamon, into the mason jar. I was told to shake it for a really long time. So shake I did! After 10 minutes the substance inside still did not look like butter. So I kept shaking it. After 15 minutes I declared that I would never do this again. After 20, I gave up. Tim said that it was still spreadable, so we could use it. But still. I love the idea of homemade stuff, but I think I am not too cut out for that!

Have you ever made homemade butter? Or anything else homemade?

I am still here…

Summer seems to be a difficult time for everyone on keeping up with their blog. Not that anything has changed much with my schedule. I think I am kind of getting into a whole, “do I even want to blog anymore” mood. Sorry, but it is true.

I love to read blogs. But, I don’t ever feel like I have enough going on with me to blog about. Or if I do, I don’t have the energy.

But, for those who might still be reading, here is what is going on with me these days:

• I have started to learn about the whole world of Coupons from SouthernSavers.com. I have read on several other blogs how much they are saving, and I have decided I want in on that too! You should check it out!
• I start school next Wednesday! Yep, the girl who has wanted out of school most of her life is going back. And get this, I am going back to be a teacher! I am going back to become something that will always keep me in school! My teachers from elementary, middle and high school would be shocked…and confused! I am going through a 16 month program (+ student teaching) that meets once a week, at night. I am excited because everyone I have worked with so far from this school has been fantastic! And I have heard mega good (yeah, I just made that up) things about the school… so it should be great!
• I have started watching my three most favorite little boys again! I watch Daniel, Nathan and Dalton every Tuesday, and goodness I can’t get enough of those kiddos!
• Tim has hurt his back pretty bad. He has been walking around crooked. No really. He told me he feels really gross because his body is doing something that is not natural So for the past two weeks we have been laying low. I think I have rested just about as much as I can. I am ready to go out and go hiking, or something!
• We recently rearranged our living room, and I love it! I have randomly stated so many times while just sitting in the living room how much I like it. I used to think the whole deal with energy flowing  b/c of how you arrange your furniture was a bunch of bull. But it makes me so happy how we have it now. Makes me rethink some things
• There is a shortage of good movies lately to rent. I have seen a couple of good movies, but they were at the movie theater. My favorite right now in theaters is probably “The Proposal“. I am a big fan of Sandra Bullock.
• I really need to start working out. Enough said.
• I am saddened to read this… praying even harder for them.
• I am living about 5 hours away from my immediate family. My two sisters go to 8th grade and high school for the first time today. I feel like I am missing out on them growing up. And I really miss my family. Any advice from any one who has married and moved away?

And to end it all, I thought I would post a picture of my two favorite girls (Diana and Necie, my sisters):

Diana and Necie

Oh baby!

Tim and I baby sat a 3 week old baby last night. I gotta tell you, I am already (since the day we got married) in “I want to have a baby” mode. Like something fierce. But, I know, if it is an option, it would be wiser to wait.

I am so glad my hubby is here to make rational decisions for us.

While we were in Ethiopia we visited an orphanage. Of course this got me talking about kids, once again. Tim usually will not talk to me about it. I tell him he has no imagination, he just says that this is not something we are going through now so it is hard for him to get excited about it. Whatever. Anyway, I started having the baby conversation, and he actually joined in! But what is funny, he said we could start our family next year (holy cow!!). But…. I said (I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth) that we should probably wait at least three more years.

I am about to start back to school for my M.Ed. and he still has at least 2 years in his undergrad. After he graduates, he will then go back for his Master’s in Communicative Disorders. So… I think that it will probably be a better idea if we wait. Ugh. I don’t like that answer, but if I want to be responsible at all, I guess that is the best choice.

I know what many of you will say. “If you wait til you are ready, you will never have a baby”. I know that, but I would like to be a little more ready than we are right now.

So, while I am REALLY wanting a baby, we are still waiting for another 3 years. joy.

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend was good. I really don’t remember much about Friday, Saturday or Sunday. They were normal weekend days. But yesterday was a lot of fun, I think maybe it was simply that I had the day off from work. We slept late, played tennis, hung out with friends, and then played dominoes and ate pizza for several hours. I am very sore today from all of the tennis.

After our friends went home last night, Tim and I wrestled on the front porch for awhile. He woke up this morning with a big bruise on his wrist!  The only explanation we could think of was…me. I felt so bad. He doesn’t seem to mind. But I really don’t remember hitting him while we wrestled.

Today is back to normal…except I am sore.

What did you do for your Memorial Day Weekend?

Update: We figured out that I DID NOT leave a bruise on Tim. It was from his racket after playing tennis all day.

I may not have the sweetest husband in the world…but he is the sweetest one I have ever had

I love Tim so much. I was laying in bed last night thinking how truly blessed I am to have him. The Lord is using him to heal my old wounds.

Tim has been sick for the past couple of days. After him being asleep every time I have seen him for the past 5 days, yesterday he was feeling a lot better. I was sitting on the couch when he leaned over me. He looked me straight in the face and kind of breathed a laugh. I asked why he was laughing and he said that my face had been a blur in the past couple of days. He had forgotten how beautiful I was and it caught him by surprise. I love that man

Fundraising Update

I don’t know why, but I just have not been in the mood to post blogs for the last month or so. Sorry for the lack of updates! I am even getting tired of Twitter and Facebook. Google Reader is struggling too. I don’t know what has gotten into me. Oh well.

Just wanted to give you some updates on the fundraising for our trip to Shashamene, Ethiopia.

Two Saturdays ago we had a yard sale. Honestly, it wasn’t as big as I thought it would be, but when is it ever? It was supposed to be this big community yard sale with over 10 or 12 families yardselling too. Well, we got there and there was only one other yard sale (whom we made mad and she yelled at me!). The lady who organized it all didn’t even show up! The high light of it all was we brought the litter of boxer pups that turned 6 weeks old that day. We had so many people stop by, those babies were worn out! I told mom at some point that morning that my goal was just to raise $100. Seemed realistic enough. When we got to $128, we called it quits. We had been there since 7am (with me not getting there the night before until about 10:15) and were pooped! So we packed up and went to my sister’s softball tournament. Man I wish I could go to more of her tournaments! She is so good and I love to see her play!

Yesterday, Sunday, we had what was supposed to be a Spaghetti Lunch, but last minute turned into a Sloppy Joe lunch. We had food donated at the last minute, so we switched the menu to Sloppy Joes. They were so good too! I cooked 15 pounds of ground beef yesterday morning and then served it! We had a blast. Tim and I used to both serve in restaurants. It made me want to serve again! I love being busy and organized! I asked Tim if he missed it, to which he responded with a laugh and a NO! Ah well.

At the lunch we raised $450 on the dot! We were incredibly excited and blessed!

So now I think we have some where around $4,000 left to raise in a little less than a month. Wow, that is a lot. But our God is BIG. If He wants us to go, it will happen. I am not worried

We have t-shirts if you would like to help out with the fundraising! Here are two pictures that pretty much show what they look like. One of the pictures is Afework, who lives in Shashamene. I just think that picture is so cool and makes it even more real that we are leaving for Africa in a month and 3 days! Holy Cow!!!

If you are interested in a t-shirt, they are $20 including shipping. Just email me at jessicatrivette[at]gmail[dot]com. I will update soon to let you know the sizes I have.

P/S: I am getting back in the mood to have a kid now!! I have been looking at adoptuskids.org for the last couple of days and falling in love with so many little ones! We are holding off for at least 3 more years, but oh I want one now! – Ok, I am done whining

The big move

We moved two weekends ago. I hate moving. Is there anyone who likes to move? Seriously, I have never heard anyone say, “I love to move”. I have heard of TONS of people who love to travel, but not move. Anyway, we moved. Only 40 minutes from where we were living, but it is MUCH closer to everything we are involved in. Like, 15 minutes away from everything. Love it (said in a musical tone).

The place we were living in was a one bedroom apartment. It was small, but we were fine. I would get claustrophobic every once and awhile, but I think that was only because we had only three windows, all along one wall. We learned how much crap we owned that we didn’t need (still learning that one). We probably got rid of half our stuff. Also, do you remember too that we live with two dogs in that small apartment? Well, they were fine too. They mostly hung out in the living room and our bed room. They adjusted, as did we. Now though, we are in a two bedroom, two story apartment. Much like a town home, only not. Much roomier. But it is like those dang dogs only remember the perimeter (is that the right word) of the other apartment. They have so much more space, but are so clingy! They have to be around us all of the time. Dang it!

We also moved two doors down from some of Tim’s best friends. They have been married for not even a year, and are about to have a baby (SURPRISE!). I am excited b/c Tim is excited to help out w/ the baby. I think his whole way of thinking is more of a, “I want to help them out” type of thing, but we are going to have a baby in our house often. Yay! (This is all coming from the whole, my husband says we have to wait 5 years after getting married to have a baby). So, hopefully this will help my goal of hanging out with little ones to tie me over until I actually do have babies. I despised this rule when he first made it. But now I am SO thankful for it. Really. There are so many situations in my life where it is just easier to not have a child. We are able to live on one income, both of us are able to be back in school, we can travel more, we can work on our marriage more, and I am sure there is a lot more. Anyway, I will LOVE having kids, biological and adopted, it’s just not the right time right now. So, other people’s kids will do (did that sound bad?).

It is really funny how often we hang out with them. We both have front and back doors, so each of us are constantly (ok, maybe not constantly) walking around back or front. The poor guy (not really, he seems like a jerk) between us will hate us pretty soon. I keep saying that we are going to accidentally walk into the wrong apartment one day.

Funny story: Our friends two doors down are Tracey & Philip. One day we had been hanging out at their place, and Tim and I came back to our’s. We had to go some where and were walking out the door. I had my head turned the other way when walking out when I heard this huge burp. I immediately thought it was Philip (b/c I apparently was oblivious to the fact that other people do in fact live in this building). While turning my head towards the sound, I said very loudly, “WHOA!!”. It was not Philip. It was the guy who lives between us, or his friend, but NOT Philip. Well, at the same time, apparently Tracey thought it was Tim. She yells out her window, “I HEARD THAT!!” I was SO embarrassed. I ducked my head and ran to the car (no exaggeration). I was blushing like crazy. Tracey was already inside her apartment so she didn’t even know what happened until hours later. Oh man, everyone is going to hate us. Well, at least the guy living between us will.