In Times Like These...

All day I've been watching the footage of the tornados that hit Tuscaloosa and other cities. Tornados scare the dickens out of me (I've never experienced a real one, but had a close call when I was younger) and I just cannot imagine what it would be like to actually see one, experience one or be involved in one. Though Columbus was not hit by the tornado, Tuscaloosa is only an  hour away and I spent many an hour there shopping. Yesterday I saw the Hobby Lobby that I frequented pretty much every other week was leveled. I just can't imagine how that could be...I get mother nature and all that, but to actually understand how all those buildings could just disappear, how all those people could be killed in a matter of minutes, I just can't comprehend it. My heart goes out to the people at the University of Alabama...just students who were looking forward to the end of the school year, ready for finals and ready for summer and in an instant it's all changed. I'll probably be hooked to the TV for the rest of the night.

Speaking of hooked to the TV...I realize there are awful things happening in the country right now, like these tornados. Not to mention the wars, the deaths, etc. happening overseas. Sometimes I just feel like there's never anything GOOD happening for us all to be part of. This is why, despite all the horrific things occurring right now, I will be wrapped up in Royal Wedding bliss tomorrow (as much as I can be considering that we are supposed to be starting our road trip tomorrow morning). I've read a lot of comments on Facebook about how people can't believe that news stations are still talking about it, that it's nonsense, that there are more important things to be concerned about. But what these people don't realize is that sometimes all that news, no matter how importan, no matter how real, is hard to take in. Sometimes people need a reason to smile, a reason to see the good in the world, a reason to escape from all the death and sadness. At least that's how I feel...I feel like it's okay for me to watch the Royal Wedding and be excited for two people in love and enjoy it. It doesn't mean I'm silly or that I don't care about what's going on in the world. It means that I need to see something happy...I WANT to see the excitement and the fun. I don't enjoy having to defend the things I like, but I feel like it's necessary in times like these.

Playing Catch Up

Sometimes I want to update my blog and then I just forget. Other times I just have way too much going on to sit down and hammer out an update. Then other times I just don't think there's enough to say. The past 4 months would be one of those times. Now, however, I think it's finally time for an update...

bye bye first home!!

Since my last REAL entry (not a SUYL), Mr. L has come home from survival training (good news: he survived!), we packed up our house, the movers came and we left Mississippi. It was exciting, chaotic and even a little sad. Though Columbus was not my favorite place we've lived, it holds a lot of sentimental value to us. First, it was the first home we lived in together during the first year of our marriage. Second, it's the home where we got Lily. Third, it was our home while Mr. L went through pilot training, which was by far the most crazy, interesting and exciting year in our lives thus far. So I had a few tears as I walked around the empty house before we left. Though I can tell you, Columbus looks pretty awesome in the rearview mirror :)

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe

After a 14 hour drive to PA, we spent Christmas split between my family and Mr. L's. While there, we bought a new vehicle (RIP Kia Spectra, you'll always be my first baby), took a trip to Dover to scope out a new place to live and tried to spend some time together since we'd be separated for a while. At the beginning of January, Mr. L started his own road trip and arrived in Altus, Oklahoma for his C-17 training.

Marc, Dad, Mom (with Riley) & me (with Lily)



While he was away, Lily and I spent January through the beginning of April living with my parents. I realize that at 28 years old a lot of people might not be able to do this.  However, I just don't ever have an issue living in a bedroom in my parents house. My parents are two of my best friends and my mom and I like a lot of the same things - tv shows, books, clothes, etc. I lived there for free while Mr. L was away and we were able to save up our money to put towards our new home. My parents are pretty amazing and they always make room and time for us whenever we need it and we could never say thank you enough to them for letting us crash their house at any time :) Also, I got to spend a lot of time with my extended family, which is great because while we lived so far away, I didn't get to see them as much.

The model of our townhome end unit :)

In those 3 months, we also bought a house in Dover. I stayed in PA so that I was able to make trips to Delaware to pick out our counters, cabinets, etc. and to sign the millions of papers. The house should be ready in mid-May and we cannot WAIT to move in and start our next adventure.

Finally made it!

This past Sunday, I packed a small bag, left Lily with my parents and flew to Oklahoma to finally see Mr. L after 3.5 months. Delta tried to make this impossible, with delays, employees who didn't show for work, and other nonsense, but 23 hours after waking up, I finally made it. It was awesome to see my hubby again, I'd missed him too much :)

C-17 Globemaster

So now here we are in Oklahoma. Altus is...small. That seems about the nicest thing I can say about it, but we're here only for a short amount of time. We're living in TLF, which is actually a lot nicer than the last one we stayed in and I'll be reading my Nook and watching a lot of Netflix while Mr. L finishes up his training. In fact, today is his FIRST flight in the C-17...first time ever going up in one in the pilot seat...and actually flying it. Crazy. I can't wait until he gets home so I can hear all about it!!

We should be starting our half cross-country trip to Delaware sometime late next week, as long as the weather here cooperates. We are hoping to visit Joey in LR and make it to Pittsburgh (for the first time since we graduated) for a day. However, we don't really make plans (because we've learned the AF lesson quite a few times), so we're just going to see what happens. 

Thanks for reading friends. Be back soon!

SHOW US YOUR LIFE - Book Lists

This week it's time for our book list. If you know me, then you know this entry could go on for days. I've been voraciously reading since I was young and besides spending time with my family, it's my most favorite thing to do in the whole world. I read quite a few books a month and I'm open to reading ANYTHING, though my favorites are mysteries, supernatural/fantasy, and comedies.

I own a Nook and I love it. However, I still like to read actual books. I use the base library to satisfy that need, by taking out books that are from authors that I like and want to read all their stories (James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark, Jodi Picoult, & Nicholas Sparks) and also random stories that are suggested to me by

friends or I see online (please read 'Dog On It' by Spencer Quinn and the rest of his stories)!!!

 

 

 



• The Great Gatsby has been my favorite books since I was in 10th grade. I can't explain it, it just is.
• I just finished To Kill A Mockingbird for the very first time. I'm sad I waited so long to read it, it was amazing.
• The Twilight Saga is proabably one of the best series/books I've ever read. Go ahead and judge me, but I'm totally serious. And if you've only seen the movies, you have no idea what the story is really like. You MUST read the books.
• The Passage was one of the most confusing, interesting and aggravating stories I've ever read. I had no idea it was the first in a trilogy when I read it and totally didn't get the ending...now I have to wait up to 3 more years to actually understand the story. I can't wait!
• I'm currently reading Under the Dome. It's a 1000 page book and I'm only on 100, but I'm already completely sucked in. I can't wait to finish it.
• At first I was wary to get into another YA series, but I'm so glad I did. These books are gritty, adventurous, and well written. I was hooked the minute I started. A definitely must read as well.
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a phenomenal book, just amazing. The two follow-ups aren't as great, but as a whole, it was a super series and I'd definitely recommend it.

These are just a small portion of my favorites. I love so many books. I have a list of 40 books right now that I'd like to read, I just need to learn to read faster. I would love to know how you feel about these books and if you have any other suggestions of things to read.

Thanks friends!