I've been Tagged

Hi all,
Well, it finally happened. I have been tagged :-D Thanks Jen J! Anyway, this is supposed to be facts about my husband. Here goes.......

His age: 36
How tall is he: 6'1"
How long have you been together (married): 8 1/2 years
How long did you know each other before you got together?: We met in August, and were married in July
What physical features attracted you to him first?: His smile
Eye color: Hazel
Hair color:Brown
Hair style:As short as possible
Normal Outfit: Jeans with t-shirt or polo,Dress pants, dress shirt and tie for work
How did you meet: See previous posts about that :-D
How serious is it: Forever!
Are you “in love”: Completely!!!
Do your parents like him: Most of the time!
Do his parents like you: Yes,
Do you trust him: Fully
Would you share a toothbrush with him?: NOOOO, unless it was the last toothbrush on earth. Would he let you wear his pants?: Don't think they'd fit
Do you have a shirt of his that you sleep in?: I used to......
Do you like the way he smells?: Most of the time!
Can you picture having kids with him?: Well, we already have two so I guess Yes!
What bothers you the most about him?: He procrastinates
Does he have a temper?: Yes but it is usually under control. I have only seen him lose it once or twice in the years we have been together
Are you happy to be with him?: Of course!!
Does he embarrass you in public?:Occassionally. I could tell stories... but I won't
Does he smoke or do drugs?: No.
Does he have any piercings?: No.
Any tattoos?: No.
Does he have any scars that you know of?: Yes. He has broken about every limb at least once.
Is he a Party dude or Stay at home?: He likes to be at home, but he can be the life of the party too!
Is he Outgoing or Shy?: He’s usually very outgoing but sometimes he is quiet
Does he love his mama?: Yes
Would he hang out with you and YOUR friends?: Most of them I think he would.
Sing?: That was what first caught my attention about him.. he has a GREAT voice

Okay, my turn to tag. I tag Kim, Sara, and Jill

We're Back

Hi Everyone! Did ya miss me??? We had a FABULOUS time on vacation in Florida with my family. It was so nice to get away and relax. The highlight for me of course was having my sisters see Riley for the first time. It was so special for us all to be together. We really enjoyed our time together and that is what was the best part for me. Karyss had a great time exploring the beach and swimming in the pool. I enjoyed having some time to just relax by the pool and read. It's been a long time since I have had time to just read a book. Riley was wonderful on the trip and just a real joy to have around. He travels well. I am so glad for that.
I have to get going for Ladies' visitation this morning but will post pictures from our trip soon. Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Going away

Hi everyone
We leave tomorrow morning for Riley's first big trip. My parents rent a condo every year in Madeira Beach, Florida. They are there now and invited us to come down. My sisters who haven't met Riley will be there too and I am soooo excited! Anyway, I will be away from the computer so won't be blogging until we come back in a week. I will fill you all in on our wonderful vacation when I get back!

The story of Us Part II

Okay, now where was I?? Oh yes, he left... Well, the next day started teacher in-service but I had to go to the social security office and work out stuff for my social security number. It didn't take too long but it was a bit of a hassle. Anyway, as a result I came to the teacher meeting late. I came in just a few minutes before they were going to coffee break. Dan says this didn't happen but as we were going out to the coffee and donuts, he was skipping and I thought that was sooo weird. He swears he didn't but I know what I saw.

Anyway, we really didn't talk at all then. I was really shy and didn't know a soul there so it took me a while. I concentrated on getting my class ready and that was it. Dan was coaching soccer so he missed a lot of inservice for that and I didn't really know him but every time I talked to my parents my dad asked if we had met each other....

As the school year started other teachers started telling me about Dan. They thought since we were the single ones on staff we should get together. Apparently they were doing the same thing to him. He was dead set against dating, still nursing a broken heart from a broken engagement. He eventually asked me out but he asked me to a youth activity. I was nervous about trying to get to know him with all the teens watching and the activity was BOWLING.. Those of you who know me know bowling is about my least favorite activity so I said "no" . Did I ever catch it with the other teacher when they found out I said no. We had this thing at school where we had to choose names and celebrate that teacher's birthday. I offered to help Dan decorate the staff member's office for the one he had chosen . He offered me dinner in exchange for my help. He had a meeting after school so I went to my classroom and worked until he was done and then we met up to work on her office. We were both so nervous at dinner afterward. I really was starting to like him . Later, I went to one of his soccer games. We were in Illinois. It was cold and rainy and we sat outside the school on the steps for HOURS and talked. I was really enjoying getting to know him.... A few weeks later he asked me out again. We were going in to Chicago. It was a comedy of errors date. We went and ended up parking on the wrong side of the city for what we wanted to see. We had to walk FOREVER to get to the John Hancock building where we were going. It has a fantastic view of the city. I found out later it had been several years since Dan had been there and when we went to pay to go up he discovered it cost a lot more than he had thought so it basically cleaned him out of money.. He was nervous about what we would do for dinner. It was a beautiful view from up there so high. We enjoyed it. On the way down in the elevator a man stepped in to the already crowded elevator and he must have weighed about 500 pounds. Wouldn't you know he decided to stand right in front of me and when he did he landed right on my foot. OUCH!!

We left there and looked around the city a little before making the trek back to the car. It was really hot and humid that day. I was thirsty by the time we got back to the car and wouldn't you know, we got a little bit lost?? I was dying for a drink ( DAN LOVES to tell this part of the story). I had seen a Pepsi in the back of his car. I was really thirsty by this point and thinking
I have got to have a drink so I crawled into his back seat and grabbed the pepsi. I was so thirsty I don't even know if I said a word to him about it but I drank it all myself and never even offered him a sip.. Can you believe we wound up together after that??? We finally got back to Joliet and Dan was still nervous about money. We ended up going to a Chinese restaurant near where he lived and getting take out. We spent the rest of the evening just talking. By now I was pretty sure I wanted to pursue a relationship with this guy.. Finally , on October 2, 1997 he asked me to be his girl. Of course, I said yes. Everyone at school wanted to take credit for it. We continued to date and he was so sweet. He would leave flowers on my car and send me notes. It was adorable. Things were getting serious and on December 9, 1997 he asked me to go to dinner at the Rockwell Inn. It was a really nice restaurant decorated all with Norman Rockwell paintings. He was acting really strangely the whole night and I wasn't sure what to think. He asked for a quiet table and wouldn't you know they put us next to two guys who were being really loud and obnoxious! As we were sitting there it started to snow outside. The kind of snow with the big puffy flakes. I had always loved that kind of snow and told Dan once that I would love to get engaged outside when it was snowing like that. Outside our window you could see into the back yard of the restaurant where there was a path to walk on. We finished our dinner and Dan asked me to go for a walk on the path. As were were walking I said "Do you love me". He said "Yes and do and .. (he stopped and got down on one knee in the snow) that's why I want to ask you to be my wife" This is his favorite part of the story. He gave me the ring box and I opened it and started crying. I didn't even answer him. I just cried. Isn't that just like me?? He put the ring on my finger and we went back inside to call family. Now you know the story of us. We had our ups and downs during the engagement. I think we broke up a couple of times even but 7 months later we were married in Saint John, New Brunswick on July 25, 1998. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband. There were many times I was convinced I would always be single. If I hadn't followed God's plan and moved to Illinois, maybe I still would be. I am constantly amazed at how God works things out even when we can't see it.

The story of Us

The photo above is my favorite from our wedding photos. I set up the pose myself :-D I think it's adorable. Anyway, I need to backtrack some from the wedding if I am to tell you our story.

I graduated from Maranatha in 1996. I had spent the spring semester that year working as a Nanny in New Brunswick. I LOVED my job so didn't actively search for a teaching job at that time. However, Maranatha sent out my name to several Christian schools and a school in Joliet, Illinois contacted me and interviewed me over the phone for a position teaching in their school. I was reluctant but felt that God was leading me to do this so I agreed to take the position and prepared to leave in August. At the last minute, the paperwork for immigration got messed up and I was unable to go. The asked me to wait and perhaps come the following fall. I spent the rest of that school year happily working as a Nanny and didn't really give much thought to actually leaving to go to Illinois. The school called again toward the end of the school year and told me they had worked everything out and wanted me to come in the fall to teach second grade. To say I was apprehensive about this step would be an understatement. I was scared to death but again felt God was leading me there.. but why???? It is amazing to me how God works.....

When we arrived in Joliet we went to the house where I would be boarding . The couple had housed several teachers for Ridgewood in the past. They were very kind and had a nice, large room for me. We had arrived on a Saturday. I spent the night with my parents at their hotel and we went to church on Sunday. Sunday evening I met with the principal of the school and while my parents were waiting around for me my dad encountered a young man who had also come to teach at Ridgewood. His name was Dan. He tried to get Dan to wait around to meet me but my meeting went long and Dan had lots to do so he left..........

--------------------------------To be continued---------------------------------------------

Back to fitness and Valentine's ideas?

Hi all

Well, the "fun " is over and I have to get back to getting in shape after having Riley.The picture on the right is me at about 8 months pregnant.. I need to lose that weight :-D I have lost some but more by fluke than because I have been working at it. I have started back with my walking DVDs. I love Leslie Sansone and Walk the Walk! It is so easy and fun to do at home without having to get all ready to go outside to walk. Of course, when it warms up I will be taking Riley for walks outside and I know he will love that. I did my mile this morning and I feel pretty good. Riley was watching me like I was a lunatic . CUTE!

I can't belive how Valentine's Day has crept up on me this year.. Anyone doing anything really creative and special?? I would love to do something special this year even though we won't be going out alone with Riley being so small still. Any ideas or thoughts???

Sara has posted her story of meeting her husband Dave and their dating. I think it is such a cute idea I may just borrow it and tell you our story over the next week or so. Have a great Monday everyone!

Update

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for praying. The doctor changed Dan's medicine and gave him some new things to help him. Today we have so far had a really great day and he seems to be feeling better already. I am praying that he continues to feel better. He really wants to join a gym so we are researching that as well. I love our Saturdays when we don't have anything going on and can spend time just as a family doing fun things together. Tonight will be game night with Karyss. We will be eating make your own sub sandwiches and just relaxing playing with her. I know she will enjoy that. Anyway, thank you so much for continuing to pray for our health issues here. I will keep you all informed.

Keep praying and HUGE blessing

Hi All! I just had to share that my baby boy did me the extreme favor of sleeping through the night for the first time last night!!!! He is 5 weeks old today. I am so proud of him!! I have changed his feeding schedule to a 4 hour schedule and he is doing just fine with it. He slept from 12:30 until almost 5:30 and then I got him up and changed his diaper and he went back to sleep until almost 7! YAY! On another note, please continue praying for Dan as I requested yesterday. I am still so worried about his health. Things are going well. We don't need a setback now. I would really appreciate it. I will likely post more later but that's all I can think of for now and Riley is fussing.