One Year

Sunday Chaz and I celebrated one year of marriage. Yup. A lot of you were celebrating with us one year ago in Bellevue, IA. It's been a crazy, up-and-down, topsy-turvy sort of year, and it's been forever, but it's also gone by quickly. To celebrate, we went to Sturgis Falls in CF (yeah, yeah, Kel!), which is where we met three years ago. The day consisted of church, friends, supper with family, salsa dancing, beer, foot washing, and laughter (and, of course, kissing). Now that we're a year older in marriage, we have much to look forward to: continual learning, new adventures, moving, but also getting more comfortable in our lives together.

We are so thankful for:
friends near
friends far away
friends in far away lands
church family
growing family
the love and support we get from all of those

Oh, yes, it's summer in Iowa

Yesterday was just about THE perfect summer day you could ask for. Chaz, Kim, Steve, and I decided to fill the hot, humid day with great fun instead of sweating into a pool of flesh in front of the television. We jumped in the car with Sasha, the sassy dachsund, and drove to get Tropical Sno from the local stand. Then, we took it across the street where we paid $5 to hit balls at the batting cages. I haven't done that in so long (not since dad and the boys would drag me outside to play baseball with them). It was glorious, and I actually surprised myself by being able to hit NOT ONLY the slow-pitch softballs, but also *ahem* the 50 mph baseballs. That's right, dad, I could bat with the big boys. Steve showed off his sweet skillz by switch-hitting in both the 50 mph cage AND the 65 mph cage.

After sweet treats and sweaty times, we drove to Peterson Pitts to swim with the mass of other people who had gathered there. It was dirty, cool, and de-LIGHT-ful. Steve lived up to his new nickname, C-Athay (like the comic strip "Cathy"), by complaining about every possible horrific scenario. "It's so dirty, I bet people get diseases." "Oh, no, I sand on my body! How am I ever going to get dry?" etc. etc. His complaining seemed justified, however, after he emerged from the lake (he wore his Chacos to avoid nasty things on the ground) with a hook and sinker wrapped around his sandals.

Then it was back home for grilled meats, tater salad, beer, and wine. And what day isn't complete with buzzed bike riding? Oh, it was glorious! I hope to have more summer days spent like that...

*Shout out to Angela and Joel for tying the knot on Friday! It was wonderful!*

Still Searching

Yep....we still don't know where we'll be next year. We've been searching for jobs the past couple of days, and thanks to a few websites provided by friends, we've found a lot to send in applications. However, I constantly have second thoughts about this whole process. Can someone ELSE make this decision besides me? I really need to get the new Threadless Select shirt called "I Overcomplicate Things." That's me.

Chaz and I have weddings to attend the next four weekends. Wedding season is upon us. Not to mention the celebration of our one year anniversary. My how the year has flown. I can't believe that at this time last year I had yet to teach in a real live classroom with real live students and real live assignments and real live grading to do.

Lately I've been puppy-sitting for the most adorable puppy on the face of the planet. His name is Oscar and he's a 12-week-old puggle (that's pug+beagle for those curious). He's provided much companionship during the days, and has made me pine for one of my own. Chaz refuses, however, and I know it's not the smartest decision (since we don't know where we're moving), but minor details, right? I mean, with a face this adorable, how can you resist??