Maternal Outrage.

This morning, on my way to work, I was jamming out to some good ol' Colt Ford (regardless of where I live, I will always love some country music!), when the unthinkable happened. The car in front of me, lost control. My heart about dropped out of my chest and once everything was over, I had to remind myself to breathe. I was an eye witness and so the witness report went something like this:

Vehicle (silver Toyota Camry with Georgia license plate) was traveling west bound on I-20 in the left hand lane. Car swerved off into the left side emergency lane, as though the car was pulling over, car kept going and was almost in the middle of the grass median when the car pulled to the right to get back on the highway. Vehicle ran into the metal barriers on the left hand side of the highway and car spun about 180 degrees before crossing the three lanes of traffic to hit the driver’s side of the car into the concrete barrier that goes over the small creek/river at the “Welcome to Bossier City” sign. Car finally gained control and was completely facing the East in the right side emergency lane. I pulled over and stopped my car on the right side emergency lane and called 911. I spoke with the dispatcher and then to Bossier PD. I thought the vehicle (silver Toyota Camry) was going to keep on driving. The vehicle did not come to a complete stop (even after she hit the concrete barrier) until about 50 feet from the place the vehicle hit on the right side of the interstate. While I was still on the phone with Bossier PD, 2 state trooper (1 car, 1 sedan) came to the scene of the accident. I hung up with 911/Bossier PD and went to the troopers to fill out the witness report. This vehicle contained 1 female driver, and 4-5 children in the back seat of her vehicle. The front seat of her car was full of miscellaneous items (luggage, bags, etc).

Now, just in case you aren't aware, I absolutely love children. David and I hope to have some of our own one day, but in the mean time, apparently God has given me the ability to have a maternal outrage for all the irresponsible drivers out there that do not put their children in the proper car seat while traveling!!! I know, with most things, people would say "just wait until you have kids" - believe me, I promise, when we have children David and I both will do everything in our God given right to protect them at all cost - that INCLUDES while being transported. Period.

Here are a couple of helpful websites that have recall information for vehicles as well as current code/laws for various states as it regards to children and car seats: www.safercar.gov and www.kidsandcars.org  

Just in case you are uninformed or haven't ever looked into it before - if you are traveling through Louisiana - and your children are not in a car seat - you get a $100 ticket - per child. (www.elitecarseats.com)

If you are traveling in any other state, please refer to this website to know what the laws are. Bottom line: before you leave your parking space - make sure your children are properly secure and safe. You never know what could happen.

This message comes to you from the bottom of my heart. Take care of those precious children and be thankful you have them, most importantly, it is your job to not be their friend, but protect them with every fiber in your being!
 

Buckle Up and Safe Driving!!!

 

City Girl

Can I just start by saying I love Dallas. I love everything about being in a city. Some would argue you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl..... I would argue you can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. :)

When David and I moved out of Dallas we were leaving slightly jaded. We had gone through job loss, housing selling, moving stress, starting school and the list goes on and on. Honestly, I was relieved when David left Countrywide. While that had been his default for all those years and he was very successful at what he did, I just knew somewhere somehow God desired more for us and our life. Looking back now, just in a short two years, we have grown beyond words can describe. We both are on the same page and our future is brighter than it has been ever. It makes me giddy to wake up in the morning to know 'the best is yet to come'. However, I have learned while David enjoys things of the country - I do not.

I have given most things an honest effort to join in and be a part of.....Unfortunately, I simply would rather help an animal, than kill it. I would rather walk across the street to go shopping, than drive 20-50 miles to get to the local Walmart (of ALL things). I would rather wear heels, than 'boy clothes' and mud boots (however, my rain boots do make for a cute alternative). I would rather have my nails done and manicured, than have constant dirt under them. I would rather sleep in any day, than go freeze my butt off in a deer stand and just waist time. I would rather know I could go run outside and not have to worry about loose dogs chasing me because no one follows a leash law, than be followed and near attacked by dogs that are 'protecting the property'. I could go on for days..... I will say though, I love being able to go and shoot a gun anytime I want and not have to drive to a gun range to do so! :) Talk about great therapy.

I am a city girl. Plain and simple. More than that I love being around an obscene amount of people and not knowing anyone, and none of them know (or care) about me. I love having so many options to spend any given night doing. I am not going to lie - I love having pizza (or anything really) with the option of having it delivered to your front door! I love that a city offers diversity and a variety of culture - it is a melting pot. I am completely content in knowing that God didn't create everyone exactly alike - in fact we are all different. That warms my soul. I love that the city doesn't sleep and that at any given hour you can find a local gym open. I love driving 20 minutes and really only going 2 miles. I love everything about being surrounded by masses. Quiet to me is the sound of a distant intersection, or the hustle and bustle of morning commuters. I love that you can drive through 10 cities and not know where one starts and the other stops. I love manicured parks where people can picnic and enjoy time together with family, friends, and their (leashed) dogs. I love the ability to walk places.

While we might had been jaded when we left the city, my heart will always be there. No matter where we live in the future, God made me for city. Don't worry, I have every intention to fulfill the God given desires of my heart.

Investing in Us

This past weekend was incredible. The weekend started on Friday night, and we got pedicures! My toes are gorgeous painted a glitter hot pink :) and David had his buffed. We are 'old' and headed to bed once we were finished.

We spent the day on Saturday just relaxing and casually going through Shreveport. We have some friends of ours from Arcadia that have recently moved to Shreveport, so we spent a majority of the afternoon visiting with them. We love them. This couple has been married for over 65 years and they are more in love today than the first day they met. It is inspiring. My grandparents were good friends with them, and since they are both gone, it is like we (they) have adopted us as their own. We love the attention and they love the company - it is a 'win win' situation. :) Our Saturday also included a trip to Ann Taylor Loft, Target and Hobby Lobby. I had a gift card with a small balance left on it from Ann Taylor so I had to stop by and check out the Loft's great sale right now. I was able to get three different tops for under $60. We got a couple of miscellaneous things from Target and Hobby Lobby. Overall, it was a perfect day for us to just be with each other and spend some quality time together not doing anything specific.

On Saturday evening, I suffered a horrid migriane headache. I think total David and I slept maybe two hours between the two of us! I finally was starting to feel better around 6am Sunday morning and was able to get a couple of hours of sleep that morning. Needless to say, we didn't make church Sunday am, but everyone was understanding and able to cover our responsibilities that we were over that day.

Sunday afternoon was spent relaxing (recovering) and getting ready for the week ahead. David and I both really needed an "us" weekend and even though I didn't feel 100% all weekend - it was a breath of fresh air that we both needed.

Complete!

David and I are officially done with the 2010-2011 school year! I finished with all A's. The hard work paid off! David finished today, so his grades aren't posted, but I can guarantee he did very well.

We have the next two weeks off together and we both could not be more excited to not have anything to do but get to spend time with each other! During finals David and I pretty much try and stay out of each other's way because we tend to be on 'edge' so to speak. :) This weekend will be exciting, because our sole attention we be spent with each other, on each other. I love my hubby so much. We are definitely due for an "us" weekend!

Starting tomorrow David will be coming to spend the day with me at work!  For lunch I am taking him to one of my new favorite places to grab a quick bite: Fairfield Grocery & Market. This place is very well known for it's sandwiches in Shreveport. They only serve breakfast/lunch and they have an outdoor eating patio to die for. I love everything about spring and being able to enjoy the gorgeous weather that we have had this season. Fairfield Grocery has an incredible crab cake sandwich, of which I will be ordering and splitting with David tomorrow. On Friday we are going to spend the evening "dining in" but pamper ourselves with a pedicure. Yes, you read that correctly, David will be getting a pedicure as well - and he LIKES it. The best news is that we both have Saturday off and will spending the day doing whatever we want!!!!! We have some very dear friends that live in Shreveport and since the craziness of finals started we haven't been able to see them, so I can probably guess that will be top on the list! Sunday we will be at church working with our little children. Who knows what else we will get in along the way. I don't really care what we do, just as long as I get to be with David and not have to study for a while I will be completely happy.

 

 

word: finals.

*catch up*

We spent Easter in Dallas with my Mama and Daddy and had by far one of the best holidays together ever. The only thing missing were Aly and Matt. I can't wait to see Aly in July and we will all (6 of us) be back together again in Indiana at Christmas. Since returning from Easter, we have both in the books hard. My finals are now and David's will be next week. We can't wait to finish out this semester/quarter and enjoy our time off together before summer school!

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I hate finals. Everything about the word is dark. Pressure is built in and anxiousness carried out.

Finals.

Ok, really, it isn't that bad... I only have three more 'finals' to go and I will be free as a jay bird for three weeks before summer school starts! I can't wait!! I don't even know what I am going to do with myself..... well, actually I have a good clue. I have two books (real ones, not audio) that I want to read - for pleasure. I am probably going to up my workouts to two a day! YA! As well as DO ANYTHING I WANT. :) I might as well be honest right? This too shall pass and I will be happily on my 'break' before you know it. Naturally, I gave up caffeine this year and have been going strong with that - so decaf tea is what will get me through these next couple of late nights. Talk about mental problem right? Decaf tea... helping me stay awake! BAHA!

David is rocking the world of accounting one class at a time. I am outwardly over the top jealous of his grades and ability to be so stinkin' SMART! Just kidding. I am more proud than anyone on the planet of seriously, how ridiculously smart he is. :) He is in his junior year, and taking his intermediate accounting courses right now. Most people go in scared straight and praying for a 'C' - not David. He is killing these classes with an 'A' or better. Yes, I said or better - because if there was something higher - he would get it! He has already registered for his summer and fall classes. Next summer he will *hopefully* have an internship in Shreveport so we can carpool to work everyday. Summer 2012 will be his last quarter of his undergrad courses, and next fall (yes, just one year from now) he will begin his graduate courses. Right now, his tentative graduation date is August 2013. How incredible is that? Depending on class availabilities it could be pushed back a quarter - but who cares! He will be done sooner than later! You have NO idea how proud I am of my hubby. He rocks my socks off just thinking about all his accomplishments. I am beyond blessed to have him as my true companion.

A real reality check is that next fall I will be applying to law school. Yikes. Although I am doing well in my graduate work and studying like a crazy person for the LSAT - I am still nervous. I know wherever God wants me to attend school - He will open the doors to make all the details fall into place. We are claiming that. Of course there is a strong pull to move back to Dallas, but we are keeping our options open and will move forward from there... that makes me excited!