Date Night Report

So I am thinking homemade milkshakes for date night... on a 107 degree day are a great idea... not only a great idea but perhaps a neccesity.  They were good too. 

Since life has been quite busy and we are trying to recover from "I still want to be on vacation" syndrome we decided date night definitely needed to be a night at home this week.  Darrel got us a yummy pizza.  I scoured the town looking for cheese popcorn, we Darrel made the aforementioned milkshakes.... and we watched 2 movies.  Big Miracle which was so good.  And um I have a question.  If this happened in 1988... which is like my era... totally... for sure.  Why don't I remember a thing about it?  Perhaps I was too caught up in Newlywed bliss?  That must be it.  We also watched Safe House.  Not bad either although a bit confusing. 

So you may have noticed I missed blogging on Thursday as promised.  OK.. maybe no one noticed because I've been absent from blogdom too much and ya'll have gone over to browse Becky Higgins blog or Amazon instead.  I hope not!  Anyone still out there?  Please tell me you haven't deserted me.  I'd miss you.  I thought about posting Thursday.  Does that count?  I have been having some trouble with an injured muscle in my back/hip and quite frankly... the meds for it are making mono girl even more sleepy than normal.  A good thing if one wants to go lounge at the beach, which yes... I did.  A bad thing for getting things accomplished and having time to blog.  But.. the last few days the muscle injury seems to be improving so perhaps we will be back to normal... ok near normal... soon. 

Just because I spent a week at the ocean and ok have been at the beach once since we got home, you didn't think that meant I'd miss a saturday, especially on what 103 degree day right?  Yes.  I did spend a few hours at the beach today.  I had to show you this cool nail polish.  My friend Lori brought it to me after her vacation to um... I don't remember where.  Somewhere tropical.  It is white frosted polish that turns pink when you get in the sun.  Yes... sitting at the beach today totally entertained by my fingernails turning pink.  Perhaps I am a 12 year old trapped in a um 45 year old body. 

While I was at the beach, a little girl that I know from church came in with her parents.  At first I don't think she recognized me because one, she couldn't wear her glasses at the beach, and two... I am thinking I look a bit different in a swimsuit.. ponytail.. .no makeup... than my normal church look.  After she figured out who I was she came and gave me a hug like she always does at church and then was talking to me and asking me questions.  First she wanted to know where was Pastor Mark?  Cause obviously if she always sees me at church and Pastor Mark is always there, then he must be here at the beach somewhere.  Makes sense to you right?  Then she looks at me and I can see the wheels turning as she is trying to find the right words and she says "um... where's the boy?"  I said you mean my husband?  She said yes and I explained he was at home today.  Now how adorable is that?  Where's the boy?  When I came home I told Darrel his new name was "the boy."  He thought it was pretty cute, and we both thought it cute/interesting that a 3-4 yr old has figured out that usually where Deanna is... the boy is there too.  :) :) 

Quite a few people at the beach today.  Where else should one be on 103 degree drought kind of day?  It's not the ocean... but I still love it.  I am thinking my mansion in heaven will be on the waterfont somewhere.  :)  

I was kind of shocked when I got to the beach on Thursday to see how much the water level is down.  Normally when you sit at the edge of the water you are about 15-20 feet away from the first set of ropes.  Now?  It's 8-10 ft.  It's not the lowest I've seen it.  We had drought conditions going into fall a couple years back and it was even lower, but this is kind of scary!  We need rain for the crops... and so Deanna can go to the beach all summer.  I'd seriously have withdrawal you know.... A sand deficiency... something. 


On vacation, our condo had this make up mirror that was regular one side/magnifying one side and it extended on an arm from the wall.  I loved that thing!  So of course I came home to investigate if I could have one for my very own.  Well first problem... I don't have a sidewall for it to attach to, so it would have to be on the wall behind my dresser.  The reach of the arm isn't far enough to where I sit.  Bummer.  But then... I spotted this one on soap.com.  It arrived in 2 days.. it is very cool and I love the finish on it and I am quite the happy Deanna although I will caution you.... before you look in 7x magnification, be sure you want to see every little detail of every pore on your face....

Got to see all of our wedding pictures this week.  Love them and can't wait to see actual prints.  Would you like to check them out?  They can be viewed here.  This one is one of my favs!


Did I tell you how I hurt my back?  We were getting back in the car after dinner one night at Hilton Head and I got the bottom of my flip flop caught on the bottom edge of the car door and fell into the car.  Graceful I know.  And would you believe not the first time I've done that?  I felt mostly ok that night, but over the next few days a muscle in my lower back/hip got steadily more painful.  Had to email my DR for meds, which, God bless the DR, he helped me with.  Got me thru the rest of the week and the long car ride home. Still been painful this week, but improving the last few days. 

And now... I need to get my head around getting back into real life.  I mean I know I should... but do I have to?  I have missed several weeks of working out.  Need to get back on track.  Need to get real serious about the weight loss stuff.  Need to get a plan for project life.  I am so behind and have been in a total scrapping funk.  Need to find my inspiration again and get going.  For the girls in this area, anyone going to the Doodlebug retreat in Sept?  I think registration starts tomorrow.  I need to make up my mind if I am doing that.  I always love that retreat.  Maybe it would help me find my scrapping mojo again huh?  I plan to get on a more regular blogging schedule again.  Hope to do PL or Ten on Tuesday, Thankful Thursday, going to start a weight loss Wednesday I think... and see how we do from there.  Hope you'll stick around and travel the weeks with me! 

For now I bid you goodnight.  Hope the weekend is good, and cooler wherever you are!  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday - Hilton Head Edition!

1) Well the past few weeks are kind of a blur... so lets see if I can bring you up to date while making any kind of sense.... This is a picture of all the amazing anniversary gifts we received.  I was surprised to receive any gifts... so gift loving girl that I am... this was very fun!  We received several cool frames and pictures, a beautiful pitcher and cloth that matches, a vintage precious moments music box, cool silver candlesticks, yankee candle and candle holders, glass relish tray, antique tea pot, an ice tea maker, several 25th anniversary things like a candy dish and cup/saucer, restaurant gift cards, etc etc etc.... very fun.  Now just to figure out where I want to put it all! ha! 

2) Much of our time on Hilton Head was spent by the ocean.  We loved the beach! We would spend time in the water and then spend time soaking up some sun in our beach chairs.  We did lots of reading... my favorite thing.  I finished a book (Never Far From Home), read 2 more (Thunder & Rain, The Road To Grace), and started a 3rd (Divergent) while we were away.  You also get a peek here at my new wedding/anniversary ring.  It is called an infinity ring and I love, love, love how it has the two bands that are intertwined.  Totally us.  I knew it was perfect the second I saw it and I love seeing it on my finger now! I wasn't the only one who did some reading.... check it out!

Man enough to read on the beach on a pretty pink Kindle.  He decided he wanted to read the Hunger Games books (after seeing the movie) and since I got myself a new Kindle, and my Hunger Games Books are Kindle editions, he read on the old Kindle.  He is not a big reader but at one point actually wanted to get out of the water so he could read!  I was like excuse me?  Who are you and what did you do with my husband?

3) While we were away, we had our actual Anniversary on Wednesday the 20th.  We decided to do small gifts for each other since really, our gifts were our new rings and the trip.  Well first I open this beautiful Willow Tree anniversary figurine.  He said he saw it in a store in the big city when we were doing wedding stuff and then came home and tracked it down in a store nearby.  He liked it because the guy has his arm around her, she has her head on his shoulder and they are holding hands.  He said that was very us.  Then I opened the heart shaped bowl.  The bowl he MADE for me.  He somehow managed to create a heart shapped bowl by cutting and sanding.  He even signed and dated the back.  I am in love with that bowl... not to mention my sweet husband. 

4) We decided to make Wednesday a shopping and exploring kind of a day.  We went to the shops in Harbour Town, South Beach and Coligny.  While we were in South Beach, we just happened to walk up to a dock as a boat was leaving to go see the dolphins.  Well how could we pass that up?  We got a perfect spot on a bench up front and had to get the official dolphin tour photo of course... Did we see dolphins?

Take a look!  It was so cool.  We saw several and they came fairly close to the boat. This is my favorite shot with 3 swimming together. 

5) My new favorite thing while we were on the island was Non-alcoholic strawberry margaritas.  Darrel and I don't drink alcohol, but found we loved the non-alcohol versions of their frozen drinks at The Salty Dog.  So good.  I wouldn't mind another right now.  I so need to figure out how to make these at home.  Does one need more than strawberries, ice and a blender?  It was such a beach thing to do to sit on the dock in the sun with my yummy frozen drink!  Sign me up to do that again.

6) For our anniversary dinner we headed to a restaurant near our condo that was right on the ocean. They have an open air deck, with tables right by the rail where you can face the ocean while you eat!  This was the view from our dinner table!  So amazing.  They had really good food too.... like this

Local peel and eat shrimp.  They were soooo yummy.  And big.  Did I mention big?  Good stuff right there.  Here was my cute anniversary date.

He was enjoying the ocean view and sea air just as much as his wife!

7) This is my most favorite anniversary trip picture!  Love it.  We had been at the beach all day, headed back to the condo for a shower and then out for dinner.  That was our pattern for most days.  While we were out for dinner this night, we decided to check out the beach area at Coligny and thought we'd try to get a picture of us in front of the ocean.  Not too bad for a self portrait right?  Isn't he cute when he's all suntanned?  :) 

8) We loved our condo.  We had a few small problems we had to get after the rental company about, but they took care of things and we were happy there.  This was a shot of us before dinner on Thursday night.  We decided we need one of us in front of the condo.  Sometimes I wonder do we need another picture of us?  Then I say to myself well... us is what there is, so of course we need another picture.  :)   Works for me.  We spent evenings at the condo after dinner doing things like this...

this would be the birthday boy enjoying his new Xbox game... Skyrim.....While the bride played on her computer or read...

Wasn't the living room pretty?  We never did get around to lighting those candles in the fireplace.

9) We had read in the vacation literature that gators lived in the lagoon outside of our condo.  We didn't see one the whole week.  I was disappointed because I knew how cool that wold be to Darrel.  I even prayed about it.  Well next thing I know, we are eating breakfast on our screen porch and Darrel sees this v-shape heading our way in the water.  Yep!  it was a gator.  Big one too.  He of course had to take a picture.  No sooner did we sit back down to eat after that excitement than we both begin to wonder what we are seeing over by a bush in the yard.  I thought it was big bird or maybe a snake? Nope... it was a smaller gator up on the shore! 

The brochure said not to bother them and they wouldn't bother you, but if provoked... they would/could attack.  This of course did not stop my husband from going after another picture.  Here is my picture of him taking a picture of the gator...

I don't think he got much closer than that and he was happy to have a good zoom on the camera which is how he got the shot above.  All in all... a pretty exciting breakfast.  I mean having a gator swim by during breakfast?  That doesn't happen to us every day.  How about you?  ha!

10) And under the category not the brightest things I've ever done... would be dunking my pretty pink camera in the ocean.  I can't remember what day it was, but early in the week, we were at the ocean and decided to load our stuff in the car, and then take a walk down the shore.  Darrel was loading so I stayed by the water with my camera... for pictures of our walk, and my flip flops.  I was holding all 3 things in my right hand.  I decide to bend down and rinse the sand off my shoes, completely forgetting I had my camera in my hand too.  Nice.  I gave it a nice dip in salt water... and knew that was not a good thing.  We thought about trying the rice trick but didn't have any and kept forgetting to buy any.  Darrel took the camera apart and found salt and sand residue inside and figured it was probably toast!  So Wednesday.... I think... we headed to walmart and bought a new pretty pink camera.  Well not so much pink... cause they didn't have that color, but its a really pretty blue color in a pink case.  I can live with that.  Plus I love the camera.  Did I mention that we brought 2 cameras so no problem right?  Well no.. cause we managed to forget the cord to charge the other camera.  So here we are 2 photo/camera loving people in this beautiful place with a drowned camera and a drained camera..... not our brightest moment. 

I supposed we could also discuss why I felt the need to come home with no less than 5 Hilton Head ankle bracelets and 5 Hilton Head t-shirts.... or we could discuss how I managed to hurt a muscle in my hip/lower back..... or perhaps we could talk about how yummy the wedding cupcakes were... are... and how happy I was to find 2 more yellow ones yesterday?  But no... I am thinking those subject are better left for next time.  See you again on Thursday!  Blessings.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

Blogging?  What's that?  I think I forgot how.  I do remember I generally start with a picture for a little inspiration so what do you think?  Will this one do?  Love this picture and really love the guy sitting next to me. 

We had a beautiful awesome vow renewal wedding ceremony this past Friday night.  It was perfect.  We had 3 congregational singing songs.  We had prayer with family and friends around the altar.  I sang a solo that was planned.  It was a song from our first wedding.  Darrel?  He sang a song that was unplanned.  He said his vows and then he sang to me.  Oh my goodness... I thought I might just pass out right there.  It was amazing and touched my heart so much.  It was called I Found Love.  Amazing.  Did I mention that?  I couldn't believe he did that for me.  He looked at me and sang the whole thing!  How did he do that?  I would have dissolved into a million tears.  When I sang I looked at him some... but couldn't manage it for the whole song.

We exchanged vows that our Pastor had for us and then we each read/recited vows that we had written to each other.  I loved that part.  I loved too that after 25 years of marriage, the vows included things like never becoming tired of Star Wars and he promised to always be the spider slayer... even when texted to come in from the garage to do so.  Ha!  OK yes... I might have done that recently.  Hey the spider was on the ceiling.  It was headed for me and um I am a short person OK?  Would you like to read the vows?  I'll have to ask Darrel his thoughts on the subject, but maybe I could post them for my blog reading friends. 

Loved loved our flowers and food.  Here is another shot of my bouquet... LOVED it.

Beautiful pink roses and star gazer lilies.  It was gorgeous and it smells amazing. The lower part is fairly wilted at this point, but much of it is still looking good... and yes... we brought it with us on our 2nd honeymoon.  I wanted to enjoy it for every second that I could! 

There are sooooo many more details and pics I'd like to share but will have to wait till our photographer has more pics ready.  Can you believe I didn't take a single picture the whole day?  How did that happen.  Must be a bride thing. 

Post wedding we headed out for a 2nd Honeymoon.  This is how we got to start our day today.  Pancakes on our screened in porch on Hilton Head Island.  Oh my goodness.. I keep feeling like that Field of Dreams movie where they keep saying "Is this heaven?"   It was also Darrel's birthday today... and here we have the birthday boy!

He has been enjoying birthday week and birthday carrot cake all week culminating in the big day today.  No carrot cake today... but we got wedding cupcakes and cake!  YUM.  Need to tell you more about those.  There were also presents!  Like this Star Wars Tervis cup and a new xbox game... see.. that totally goes right along with my vows and I didn't even plan that.  I am just that good.  Honest.

Most of today was spent here.  This would be the heaven I spoke of.  LOVED the beach.  Perfect beautiful weather.  5 minute walk from our Condo.. to here.  Amazing.  Where do I sign up to do this year round? 

When looking for this picture to post I must have said to myself... Deanna... lets see if we can find the most unflattering picture of you we can and post it to the ol blog.... Good thinking right?  What the heck.. I'm an old married lady (again) now and I decided I shall embrace said unflattering picture as a much loved important memento of our 2nd honeymoon and will just have it support the fact that this is what one looks like when they are 5 ft 2" tall and are attacked by waves... See though.. if are 6 ft 2, tall dark and handsome well then you just get to look like your cute handsome self regardless of what you've been doing.  Life is just not fair on the whole boy girl thing when it comes to age, wet hair and no make up.... can I get an amen on that one? 

And just to prove to you I didn't look like a total slouch the whole day... we have the all important Birthday dinner picture.  We went to a place called Hudsons that has fresh seafood.  We got to wait for our table on the dock.. at sunset.  Now could my husband have ordered a more perfect birthday?  Sit at the beach, get star wars stuff and video games and then get to take your almost adorable wife to dinner at a dock at sunset?  I think he wins for birthday of the year. 

And there you have it... proof that I have not abandoned you in blogdom and the latest scoop on honeymoon and wedding happenings.  It's the next best thing to facebook or twitter don't ya think?  ha!  Not sure when I will reappear in blodgom, but be sure to check in again soon.  I promise not to disappear for too long.  It is however a 2nd honeymoon though... so you would understand if I dont' reappear till at least oh like a week from now right? 

Blessings!
 

Still Alive....

I had all the best intentions to blog today and get you all caught up. As you can see... that didn't happen.  We are down to a week till our ceremony and the to do list has taken control!  This has left little time for blogging.  Sorry!  I hope to have some time this weekend to pop in, but just wanted you to know I may be on a little blogging vacation over the next few weeks!  Please check in because I will post when I can.  I promise to share lots of wedding pics and details as time permits!  Thanks for hanging in there with me!
Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Exhausting though it might be... especially when you are Mono girl... I am so thankful for Vacation Bible School week.  I love this sight!  I've been working in the sound booth this week, among other things, and I have a great view of the kids singing and praising and raising their hands and I love it.  Touches my heart and raises my spirits!  By the end of the week they are all doing the motions to the song and singing at the top of their lungs.  Good stuff right there!  Our VBS message this week has centered around Trusting God.  Today's Bible point was No matter what happens.. Trust God!  It's been no accident that was the theme this week.  It's been a message I needed to hear and needed to hear every day and for that I am also very thankful. 

I am also so thankful that my wedding dress came yesterday.  It not only came, it fit and I like it.  These are all good things considering the wedding is barely more than 2 weeks away and it is the first time I have laid eyes on the dress in person.  Until then, I had only seen it online.  It is the PERFECT perfect shade of pink.  It is a beautiful silky taffeta fabric and did I mention it fit?  I am thankful too that I got it over to the alterations lady this morning.  She was awesome.  She pinned the perfect hem height.  She immediately knew that the bust was loose because the straps were too long and fixed that.  She told me she could add a loop/fastener thingy under the strap to help hold bra straps in place... and she can have it all done in a week!  For $60.  I am thinking this is a bargain cause I saw the alterations prices at some of the bridal shops we visited.  So I am saying God Bless Olivia the alterations lady.  This is the same lady who told my husband he had a nice behind a few weeks ago.  Today?  She tried to convince me that I did not need a little insert on the neckline so that it would be a little less low cut.  She said it was my 25th anniversary and I should dance and have fun and just look good in my dress... too funny.  I did persuade her to do a bit of an alteration there so the neckline will be a bit more modest.  I am thinking this will be a good thing. 

I am thankful that because I had to hit the big city for the alterations lady, I also got to have a Panera lunch.  This never happens and after enjoying today's salad and sandwich I am thinking Monroe City needs a Panera Bread immediately.  Do I have a second on that idea? 

At the end of my lunch today I received some unhappy news which was upsetting to say the least.  I am thankful that in the midst of that I could feel God saying Trust me.  Just like we are saying in VBS trust me.  This situation is not a surprise to me.  I am sovereign.  I am with you.  I can use this for good.  Trust me.  Listen to my truth.  Not what man says.  Trust me. And I found myself praising in the midst of a crisis, which was something that was part of last week's Sunday school lesson, and I again could see how He was talking to me about the situation and preparing me to handle it.  So I am thankful God is always there.  I can trust Him.  I praise Him.  He is in control. 

I am thankful that my dress fabric matches the tie we have for Darrel.  Well OK, it was the tie he wore for Easter and I like it and although it might be hard to tell in the picture my dress fabric and the tie look great together.  Happy about that!  So the groom is in an awesome black suit, white/black stripe shirt and amazing pink tie.  The bride has the perfect shade of pink dress, black ankle strap/open toe shoes and her wedding pearls. 

108 wedding favors.  Completed by the bride and groom.  Thankful that they are done.  Don't be fooled.  It may sound like an easy and even fun idea to make yourself 108 wedding favors.  It may sound like its quick and easy to cut cardstock, score the cardstock, fold the cardstock, glue the cardstock.  It is NOT quick and easy.  Well OK... the first 10 might be.  After that the novelty wears off quite quickly.  Was going to show you a picture... but the groom and I had a meeting and we determined that some things need to be left up to the imagination until the big day... which by the way is um 2 weeks away!!

We wanted a particular song in our new wedding that was also in our original wedding.  We bought the accompaniment for our soloist 25 years ago.  On cassette.  You remember cassettes right?  As I just told a friend on facebook a cassette is something primitive people used to use to play and record their music.  The song is no longer available as far as my Internet searching skills can tell.  So yes... I am thankful we have located said cassette tape.. and... after 25 years and very little care... it still functions!  I would like to know however why I now need the ott light and my glasses to read the lyrics on the insert.  When did that happen? 

Other things I am thankful for this week are:

• my new Kindle touch.  Loving it.  Loving the new pink case.  Still loving reading.  All good things!
• accomplishing lots of wedding details over the last week
• the long weekend with my husband
• our nieces graduation
• My Dad.
• an answer to prayer when my dress not only shipped, but shipped early.  I mean its at the tailors now, and the original estimate didn't even have it in my hands yet. 
• the look on our nieces face when Uncle Darrel told her the pen he made her was from the willow tree.
• a safe trip to the big city and back today
• surviving VBS.  I believe I mentioned how tired I've been.  Being tired and still surviving VBS is a very good thing.
• 2 new wedding rings here and ready to be placed on the appropriate fingers...
• my Sunday school class
• Monday at home with my husband watching TV, eating donuts for breakfast... don't judge... and making wedding favors
• First day back to the beach.  LOVE.. this should have been at the top of the list!
• phone call from out of town friends that are planning to come for the wedding! 
• grilled bacon cheese burgers hand prepared by the groom
• winning the 2 peas PL thingy!
• getting the new picture up in the bathroom
• locating the missing punch recipe
• a husband that comes in from the garage to kill a spider after his wife texts him that she has a spider heading her way... I figured he wouldn't hear my scream from here.
• new hair highlights... was I thankful for that last week?  Still thankful!
• still loving the cake lady too!
• Sophie & Sydney
• new shorts!
• my new Kindle works in my existing waterproof case for the beach!
• watching my husband enjoy reading on a kindle!

Since I'd like to survive the last day of VBS as well as get my regular work accomplished.. I think I shall take mono girl to bed.  She is needing a lot more rest again lately.  I wish she'd get over that!  Have a great Friday.  Blessings!