Frogs and presents!

Last Thursday, Greg and I went to the TCU vs. BYU football game. TCU football is a favorite of mine even though no matter what kind of season we are having. I love going to the games and was so excited to take Greg. It was also exciting to see a few friends from out of town and a few still working there. Between the socializing with friends, hot dogs and dippin dots and the victory we had over BYU...I had a fantastic time.

The next day I spent the day with my best friend Emily doing wedding stuff. We had a great time and cherished the time to get to hang out together. I love how we can still laugh about the silliest things just like we were seven years old again sitting in my room.

The main reason we came home for the weekend was to attend my bridal shower. I had nine hostesses! They were so amazing and really made this a special event. None of my friends, except for Emily, are getting to participate in bridal activities with me mainly because of distance so I was so grateful to have this shower. My family bought us all our china which excited me so much. Marni even got us all of the china dessert plates!! I also got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer from the hostesses. Marni had her eye on it so I might have to check her bags when she visits to make sure she doesn't take off with it! I will just have to make fabulous treats for her with it! The presents were fun of course, but I was so appreciative of everyones genuine excitement for me and Greg. How wonderful for my mom to have such amazing friends to do this for me?!







If you would like to see our wedding website, visit http:/stephandgreg.net

Scarecrow Festival

I never sleep well when Greg is on duty so I am doing some late night blogging. This past weekend we traveled to Chappell Hill with our friends and neighbors, David and Oliver for the annual Scarecrow Festival. This is the same town that hosts the Blue Bonnet festival in April. We love spending time with David and Oliver and love being outdoors. David has a friend who owns a house there, so we had a nice rest stop when needed.

We bought a few Christmas gifts and two small things for the house but mainly enjoyed walking around. It was hotter than it had been but still beautiful. These weekends are essentially a smaller version of Canton with lots to eat, look at and of course, buy! They really do have some talented and unique vendors here. Here is the token cheesy pic of the weekend!

And we had a Hurricane

I have been awfully behind on my blogging...although I have a better excuse than usual. On September 10th I evacuated Houston in preparation for Hurricane Ike. Greg was in Oklahoma City for a Coast Guard training and would be there another two weeks. I was scheduled to fly out that weekend to see him and visit with family we have there. My flight never left Houston but I did make it to OKC...and stayed awhile.

First, let me say, that we were so incredibly lucky through this entire experience. Me being the sentimental person that I am, still had a very hard time with this. This was my first time to evacuate and I just don't know how people do it. I grabbed everything of high importance...bank files, medical, passports, the kitties medical records, wedding rings, etc. But for me, leaving things that hold so many memories was hard. The letters that Greg and I wrote back and forth while I lived in Italy, pictures of my family, a scrapbook Lindsay made me, my grandmother's favorite glass vase...how do you decide what it worth saving in a natural disaster? My answer was to get myself and my kitties out of harm's way and just pray about the rest. The long drive really made me regret leaving some things but honestly, you love most of the things in your house otherwise it wouldn't be there. I didn't care about the tv or even my Wii...only the things that reminded me of great memories. What a morbid way to leave a house and a city you live in...wondering if you will ever see it again.

Now I know, truly know, that possessions are just things that can be replaced. Although we were spared, many were not. Many people have lost their homes, their businesses and everything they owned. I know that they are grateful for their lives but we should not judge or downplay what has been lost.

I stayed in Oklahoma with Greg for a week awaiting our electricity to return, the road to our house to be opened and for gas and groceries to be restocked before returning.

Two weeks later and things are moving along but definitely not back to normal. The stories here are sad, not tragic necessarily, but sad nonetheless. I just continue to pray for everyone.

I am so thankful for my supportive friends and family, for my neighbors who cleaned out our fridge after 6 days without power, for my kitties who I drove all around Texas and were perfect, and for the power of prayer.

If you would like to look at some of my pictures of Ike (with a few that I got off the news), please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/sjw1378/HurricaneIke#
I put some before pics in there as well.