Have you seen this!?

Hunter and I are obsessed with this video...

So while we are on the subject of videos and since I just learned to add these videos...

You have to watch this preshy preciousness :)

My BFF is in England

This is a tribute to her....

She may be the only one in the world that understands how crazy this video is...

if anyone is a Chris Brown fan...then you'll understand..

and I miss her like whoa and shes been gone like a day...

lah-me...

Congrats Bob!

So ...my cousin got married 2 days ago.

WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR HIM!

But what is pretty awesome about the whole thing is...they got engaged maybe a month ago?....planned on marrying in the summer of '09...decided that was way too far away and set the date 2 days after Christmas!

Now... I know that may have been a little rough for the parents (I love you sweet Robyn)...considering it was a tad unexpected and super stressful so close to Christmas...but holy cow, how awesome!

Honestly, Hunter and I learned a ton about each other in the 7 months we were engaged. It was enlightening and fun at times...but ooooooooooohhhhhhh man how uncomfortable it was! I mean ..you are betrothed to each other...but in all reality you are still single....that person is not "yours" yet...you don't get to share everything yet...you don't get to completely combine hearts yet. ALL I felt the whole time I was engaged was...I can't do that YET!

I hated that.

I adore couples who do not fall into the temptation to "do" their relationship according to the worlds standards. If you are going to prevent unnecessary stress and hardship...then go for it! Don't undergo intense emotional tolls apart because the world says you "need" time to plan an intense extravagent wedding.

Go get married in your living room! ..

..and that is just what they did. :)

Ok I know all the older generation is like tensing up in the shoulder region...because holy guacamoly! (did you know that there is actually a brand of pre-made guacamole named 'Wholly Guacamoly'...genius..anyways)...what about the unknown!!?? what if they find out they can't stand each other and they are total opposites and get an annulment in like 9 days...right? you know that's what comes into mind.

Sure..there may be things they learn about each other during marriage that they may have discussed during engagement if they had a longer time...

..but here is my view...

if you are committed...with all you have (I mean some intense sacrificial love)...if you mean what you say in front of all those who raised, supported, and love you...and if divorce was never an option to either of you...no matter what...

then.... if you learn something about this person during marriage...that maybe you would have during engagement...if you had longer...then in marriage you now have EVERY means to work through it.

You have a house that you share...and that you cannot run away from...you have a bed that you both sleep in and that is rather uncomfortable if your going to sleep upset....you have confidence in knowing that your spouse will never leave you...even if you don't worship Star Wars :)...and you have the intimacy that you began the very first day you were joined as man and wife. ( ..ya I am talking about sex...)

...What wonderful tools to work with!!!

Bob and Lauren...if we were able to go to Minnesota..we would have in a heartbeat (Bob, I know how hard it was for you to come witness our wedding :) )...but in our absence...we want to say this now:

Marriage is the BOMB.com ...and never ever ever give up on each other. Keep seeking the Lord and allow His standards of marriage to infiltrate yours!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Holiday Memories

I promise ...I have an excuse for not posting anything in like what feels like a month. I have been drafting a post on another topic ...and am a little bit stuck on what to say..which means that I haven't wrapped my mind around the subject...which means..I am going to come back to it later :) forgive me?

..you don't care...you have been busy too, I am sure.

I don't know about you, but I have LOVED this Christmas. This Christmas more than any previous one, I found that I enjoy giving really meaningful presents. You know...the ones that I know the person receiving is going to be PUMPED about. OOoo and also the gifts that people don't even realize they need!! I love that.

For instance...for Hunter. He did not know that he needed a new Nalgene. ..Do you know what that is? It is a glorified waterbottle that is extremely popular in the more southern universities/colleges...I say southern because those are the places that actually have students that get dehydrated truckin it from class to class..even if those classes are only 20 steps from each other...and therefore need a nalgene.

Hunter was using a really old Nalgene...that not only was ugly...but would allow for him to spill all his water all over himself. Ya I know..you'd think since he's um 22? that he could drink water without any drama. oh no...there is spillage almost every time. So I got him..

Another wonderful Nalgene! it has a smaller mouth to aid 22 year old spillers...and! it's hunter green! LOVE IT. Hunter didn't even realize he needed another nalgene...but oh my did he need it. I made him throw away the old one the minute we were done opening the new one...you know for his own safety.

And ...I got a beautiful bible ... with my new name on it. and what is even more precious...is the amount of time Hunter spent picking it out. Now being married to me for 7 months...he knows how I study the bible, and got one specific for how I learn....it's perfect and I freaking love him.

Anyways.. so Christmas was fantastic. I absolutely love the fact that our parents live less than 3 miles away from each other...and therefore we get to truly enjoy Christmas with family.


Hunter's cousins came up and over from Corpus and Atlanta and we had a ball. My favorite memories:



greenbean casserole


Andrew and Nathan sleeping outside in a tent


the over-use of the phrase: Christ-followers


the over-use of the phrase: innocuous


talks about tattoos that end up in talks about gay marriage


Jess' infamous envelope tradition



Andrew's narration


Joan beating Ozzie and Doug at poker in the same sitting as her learning to play


Jess crying multiple times while reading Twilight in mid-living room

being characterized into a gingerbread cookie along with all the cousins and then photoed


Baker's Street Pub and talking politics with my parents


Erin showing Pizza Hut who not to mess with


China Inn goodness


being really akwarded out and then comforted by the women in my awesome new family

Benjiman Button


Andrew holding out his arm for me to palpate his vein and simply saying "I read your blog"


talking Aggie tradition with a Longhorn :) (Ozzie)

seeing Bagwell tear up a t.u. stuffed animal...specifically when she ripped open the crotch area


seeing Bagwell plop onto Erin as she about died from all the excitement of the holidays..

It was so fun and full of love. I was born into such a loving and caring family...and I married into one as well. The Lord is so faithful. Love Love Love!

Day One

Today was my first day in a LONG time without any kind of coke...ok.. Dr Pepper mostly.

I never thought I could be an addict. I always said I could quit if I wanted to...

I lied. I had a hard time today. I brought a capri sun to work. A CAPRI SUN! How did I think that a capri sun could compare to a Dr. Pepper? Well it did not compare. So, I went to the drink area in the Cafe and wanted a coke so bad. I felt compelled. Literally, I just stared at the Dr Peppers and had to consiously stop my hand from reaching up and grabbing. I honestly felt as though it was necessary to my quality of life. I was 3 seconds from giving in, when I saw the fruity V8 and it barely tempted my taste buds ...so I opted for the heathier, not 3 million calories, doesn't stain my teeth and surge my body full of yummy caffeine goodness option.

So, I guess I am trying to limit my coke habit ...just trying to be healthy really.

But it is clear to say that I am an addict.

Oh yes, and because of this...I carried around advil with me all day....knowing that I was going to be miserable by about noonish... And I did indeed pop some advil...

No one warned me that you can get addicted to this stuff!

...

Oh yeah, I am behind on the holiday shot outs...Happy Day of Thanks. We had a wonderful time with my parents and Hunter's family in Corpus. Sharing recipes and laughs is what I call a holiday...

I have too too too much to be thankful for. Aggie football is not one of them. WHO8P!

Love Love Love..

So, I'm a Vampire...

Weirdly, I am often called a vampire at work...

Why?...no, it is not because I am obsessed with that book series now movie, Twilight...

no friends...that obsession is, however, confessed by one of Hunter's professors...creepy? Am I the only one that thinks vampires are creepy??

Ok no..I am called this because...I draw blood now!

with NEEDLES!

Some of you are already passed out...right now..on the floor...

When you come to, maybe you should sit this post out.

Ok so..for some reason...people who take blood at my hospital are termed 'vampires'. For fun...just lightheartedly. I would never call anyone that! even if they were taking my blood...who just names someone a creepy thing like that.

I thought it might be a cool Halloween thing...you know ...you call me a vampire..I'll call you Frankenstein...

Oh no...I am still being called a vampire by patients...which is just weird. right?

I am actually shocked by my lack of freak-out-ness concerning sticking people with a needle. I really enjoy it...it is like a challenge each time I tie the little turnicate...palpate the vein...and BAM! stick the needle in...

Everytime I get it...I feel like the queen of blood drawing...um...which is sort of the definition of a vampire..dangit.

Oh ya. I notice that at random social functions with my family and/or friends...I have the urge to check their veins and palpate them to see if they are good...thats probably weird. Most times...I just grab their arm...and without warning, slide their shirt out of the way and start pressing my finger right in the middle of their arm.

OOO YAY! I just thought about how awesome the holidays will be...all these new veins to look at!

Ok so in other news, we joined a church! This actually occured a few weeks ago...and after 5 million prayers towards this subject...we finally feel at peace. It's like we are home now. Like we actually live here...and aren't just visiting from College Station.

Our church family is incredible. Coming from Living Hope..we had some high expectations...and we are encouraged by their complete fulfillment.

Ok so yay finally a positive and happy post...

Welcome to Pleasantville...although I can't promise that all my cynicism is gutted out of me...one day I pray it will be ;) ...

Last stop before Pleasantville.

Crap.

I know I am not making your day any more pleasant with this one...but just bare with me.

I want to take this opportunity as a blogger with freedom to unleash some thoughts on a topic very dear to me…

The following is not meant to offend anyone, especially my beloved family and if you find that you disagree with my thoughts…GREAT! Let’s enlighten one another. Coffee…my treat.

So let us jump in…

adoption.

One fact about myself…is that I am, indeed, adopted. This adoption, however, was a very rare and unique one that fortunately led me to be raised in the same family that I was born into. My birth mom bravely chose to have her sister raise me as a daughter in place of herself.

This may seem negligible…as in..ok? so what’s the diff….you have the same aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents…you’re good to go.

Well yes, but my upbringing was DEFINITELY different …and far from “normal”…

Yes, I am BLESSED to have the same wonderful family and to not have the weird reality of trans-family relationships that several adopted children have to deal with…if they have an open adoption.

But the reality is… I was one decision away from being aborted.

Whoa..right? …I think I just got a hot flash.

No…no one has ever told me that this was a very real option 22 yrs ago. I don’t really think it’s healthy to dwell on that…so I won’t and never have. However, it’s reality. I am all about being hardcore deep and dirty real. Adoption and abortion are directly related. And I was one selfish decision away from being aborted.

My logic?... It was already decided that my very humble birth mom did not deem her present situation a healthy one to raise a child. Whether it was her economic situation, her age, a stable father…she came to the decision that all women must face when they become pregnant out of wedlock: ’Can I raise this baby?’.

She decided that she couldn’t. Praise the Lord for Humility! We need more...However, instead of erasing the child…she invested in finding a situation that WAS healthy.

HOW HUGE.

Once you come to the question: ‘Can I raise this baby?’…what if you come to the answer ‘No’?

Well in America…we have options…you can either get an abortion…which means removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it can reach a full term pregnancy…. (I say the definition not because I think anyone reading this is dumb…I just want to be real.)

…or you can give it up for another person to raise.

So, abort or adopt…

Why do we have options? Why are there so many things under our current legislation that we have no choice over…but for this we have an option. Because it’s “our” baby? Ok? But the money I make at my job is “my” money…but why does the government claim a percent of it? The car I drive is “my” car, but I do not get the option to not wear a seatbelt when I drive it…the government makes that decision for me…and of course of course…this law is in place to perhaps save my life!...but whose decision is it to say that my life …now a 22 yrs old maturation of cells is more valuable than it was when I was only a few months post conception.

It’s not even about when does life begin…it’s about the POTENTIAL life that is to be had…

I am here…I am living..I am in love with the most wonderful man I have ever met…I feel things…I have hurt people and I have helped people. Therefore, I have always had the potential for life…from the second cell biology did it’s thing…there was always a potential for life…because I have it!

That is why I think abortion is the termination of life. And it is very real to me.

What is also real…is the future legislation that will be passed in the next four years.

Several people are justifying their hunger for change by saying that their favorite candidate is “not for abortion”…he just doesn’t see how he can restrict a woman’s right to choose. Therefore, he voted against banning partial-birth abortion and trusts women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. (This is directly off www.ontheissues.org)

However, in Texas:

It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

It is illegal to dust any public building with a feather duster.

Urinating on the streets is illegal.

Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.

In Mesquite, TX, it is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts.

In Minnesota:

It is illegal to stand around any building without a good reason to be there.

Red cars may not drive down Lake Street.

It is illegal to sleep naked.

It just doesn’t sit well with me that the government can tell us what to do and what not to do with our money, our behavior, our cars, our bodily functions, our hair…but doesn’t feel right about telling us not to terminate our pregnancies?

I may not be smitten with either candidate…nor how the state of our country is right now…but I won’t settle on an issue that could have meant I wasn’t brought to full term life.

Unrest: Socially, Politically, Everywherely

This past week has been nuts. Seriously, from the second I left our church small group on Tuesday...I have just been royally smacked in the face.

Not only the smacking...but I am so exhausted over the constant politcalness of America right now. I can't get away from it. Can you? Give me tips. It's on everyones lips, in their yard, on every T.V. in the waiting room at MD Anderson, all over any website, all over peoples facebook profiles...I can't escape it.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to belittle the fact that our nation will be lead by a new entourage in two weeks...this is huge. But it's too much nonsensical information that I don't need to decide that both nominees are at the same time capable and scary. both.

Hunter and I want to move to Canada...we made plans.

So, ok...more on the smacking...

I came home Friday EXHAUSTED...not because of lack of sleep...I get PLENTY of sleep...but simply because of an emotion toll. Just one very large toll that drives me nuts. I wish you could wallow in my toll with me...oh how I want to wallow in the stupid tolliness of this freaking dumb toll...but I can't yet.

Ok, then to add a little kick...I got hardcore food poisoning last night. Hunter and I cooked some mussels...which we have done several times in the past...and I was up till 1 AM introducing them back into the world with two wonderfully opposite routes of transport. Don't you just love options. I woke up a dehydrated mess and Hunter had to use his PT skills to get me out of bed.

I promise I love being positive. I adore the good side of things...the brighter side of live. I am Mrs. Brightside really...

So on the brightside, I think the awesome weather is helping to soothe at least part of my soul... so maybe I am getting my filter back. I haven't felt the need to yell at anyone...

..OK except maybe that kid on the commercial that drops a HUGE meat ball in his moms spaghetti and gets sauce ALL over the kitchen...I kinda wanted to yell at him a little..

It's going to be OK, right?

OOO! So a good thing that happend!! I got one!

So, Hunter had to go out of town on Friday for a church Men's Retreat andpicked me up after work. I immediately dropped him off where he needed to go before then going home. He told me he had a surprise waiting for me when I get home. LOVE that.

I walk in the house and in the bathroom is a note that says..."I love you, Angel. Please relax and take a bubblebath.-Hunter"

I look at our amazingly awesome huge tub and see candles all around it...a lighter...and towel hanging up and a bottle of bubble stuff... He knows me too well. OK OK...I know..all the sympathy you ever had up til now is like completely gone. :)

Even if everything is feeling out of sorts or unrestful...First and foremost, the Lord is faithful ...and of course, Hunter is pretty fantastic.

On another note...

Update time.

So, I still love my job....as in my job description. Other factors related to my job are very stressful at the moment which I will definitely go into in the future. So due to this very intense emotional toll on me at work...I am finding that my filter is attempting to utterly disappear.

Example one: So Hunter and I ride the metrorail every morning together. I love it. We get to work/school without having to be stressed about awful med center traffic. We actually get to "spend time" together in the morning (and probably gross a lot of people out with our newlywed interactions with each other). Anyways, this morning on the rail I we are sitting down in two seats right next to the doors and at one of the stops, a woman in her late 20s walked in and stood right next to us. I noticed her the very second she walked in because of her EXTREME non-modesty in the bust area. She had on jeans and a tank top and was WELL endowed in the aforementioned area. I mean c'mon I have seen plenty of non-modesty (is that how you even say it?...ill-modesty...amodesty...?) but this was CRAZY. Like she might as well have been topless, there was no difference. NONE.

So my lack of filter part....I almost yelled at her. Right in the middle of the train. HA that would have woke everyone up at 7:30 in the morning. I really almost did. Was she joking!? My husband is sitting right next to me....other womens husbands are sitting and standing all over the metrorail....WHY! did she feel the need to wear that. I wanted to yell on behalf of every wife out there, " Hi Miss!... because you are very comfortable wearing VERY LITTLE...and men are wired to enjoy the body of a woman very much. You are making it VERY hard for them to be faithful to their wives...ARE YOU CRAZY!"


Praise the Lord...He completely covered Hunters eyes..with a messed up contact...I noticed Hunter fixing it as she walked by...

I asked Hunter when we got home tonight if he noticed her honestly..and he said honestly no...he didn't see her pass him.

Now looking back..I don't want to yell but I just wished she knew...someone tell her if you see her...

There are other examples of my lid about to FLY off in the past few days. Those will come soon.

Hunter and I are very close to claiming a church as our home. We are pumped. He is finishing his first round of tests and is doing very well. I really want to post some pictures of our wedding SOMEWHERE anywhere. So maybe those will show up one day soon. And work is hard right now. Not my job...just the environment my job falls in.

More to come...we love you all.

Wonderful Memories, Mixed Emotions

I can't stop thinking about my baby boy. I just can't get his precious face and innocent voice out of my head. That shirt he's wearing...probably his only one. It's filthy...can you tell?

I wish I could give him better. Not pay someone to do it for me. ME! Me...going to him and bringing him back and giving him everything I have. I think Hunter is thankful we don't have the money to go to back right now, because he knows I would come home a mother.

As for now, praying for him is all I can do. Lord, be real to this baby boy. He needs you.

For anyone whose like...who is the kid and why are you so emotional?..He is my Enule (Eh-nool-eh) and I met him two years ago. He was in my group of boys... when I went to Zambia for a month to hang out with AIDS orphans... and to show them they are worth time, love, care, tears, hugs...eternal life. It pains me to even think of what he has to live with every day. He was one of the VERY rare children who has both parents. Thank you, Lord.

There are so many awful things that happen over there...UNHEARD of things that would shock the crap out of you... And when I think about him...I always cry. ALWAYS. Not always in sadness, sometimes just because I am so happy I got to hug him and spend time with him. I just miss it.

OK more positive happy things...I'll tell you the story of this picture.

So, this was the day that all the kids (3-18 yrs of age) at the camp were getting a NEW shirt, a NEW bandana, and a NEW pair of shoes! You have no idea how huge this is. I mean these kids are ECSTATIC. It's like if American kids all got a 4 puppies, an ipod/iphone/ixboxplaystationnintendogameboy, and a years supply of icecream!

It's that big.

Enule...and all my boys for that matter..were so genuinely excited. I mean ...there were the occasional groups that would have some kids that would say they didn't like their new shoes and wanted another pair...but hey newsflash (there is sin in the world)..

My boys were about to pee there pants waiting their turn. When they came into the big meeting room...Enule ran straight up to me and hugged me so hard and just had these huge wide eyes like..."Really?" "You promise?" "Shoes! and a shirt!" "Please be serious!" He didn't stop smiling the whole day. He was so proud.

You know when you wear an oufit...a new outfit...that you just love. You feel so comfortable in ..and you just know that its awesome...you are just so excited about the day because of your new outfit...you want to go everywhere and just strut your awesome outfit..that was him.

I miss him.

Critical Analysis of Ike (Part Two)

Sorry...its been like a week. And of course, it is because we FINALLY GOT POWER. (Or as a lot of people in the downtown Houston area call it..."We got lights!" ..that cracks me up.. All around me I heard people say... "You got lights?" "I don't got any lights!"..

Anyways...So I left off with my incredible idea to get us a working fan so I could catch some Z's.

We took a 50 foot extension cord and two 20 feet extension cords (thats all they had at Walmart)...plugged in our oscillating fan and ran it all the way across the parking lot/street to the apartment building that actually had power! Boo ya..yes. WONDERFUL. That is the ONLY way we survived Ike.

At some point during our 17 days without power, Hunter and I both lost our patience with CP....(CenterPoint). They were notified of our situation an average of 3 times a day. Each evening, we came home... flipped on a light switch...sighed...called CP...put our purses/backpacks down...and left to go eat/live out the rest of our night at Barnes and Noble.

OK. The positive side? Hunter and I got to invest in each other more. I found I like conversations more than TV. I finished 3 books and found another at B&N. We found a few restaurants that we really like. We got to watch the Astros a few times when we were out. We got to go to Katy and spend time with family and Baggie precious face.



We got to pray about our church home more. AND, I got paid for 3 days that I wasn't even there...(YES! SALARIES ROCK)

..I could go on...And I do think that the Lord showed me a neat thing as well.

During the lack of power state...I couldn't help but notice that our lives felt at a halt. Like everything I thought of during the day, that would be considered progression...was ended in my mind with the thought "Oh, I'll do that when we have power"...

Many days on the rail, Hunter and I would play the 'When we have power' game ...where I would say "Fill in the blank...When we have power, __________." Everything felt stopped. Nothing was progressing...no hint of productivity...in fact just the opposite.

The house was getting messier...and clothes dirtier...the air more stale...the fridge more smelly ...and the showers colder (ok that has nothing to do with productivity..it just sucked).

The point...I feel like that is a TOTAL depiction of our life without the Lord! What are we doing without Him! Where are we being productive? How are we progressing our lives? We're not! We just get more disorganized and confused. More chaos arrives. Sin...guilt...condemnation are knocking at your door with muffins and a pumpkin spice latte. Mmm..But with the Lord? Redemption... enrichment... depth...

Of course, our lives clinging to the Lord does not make circumstances peachy perfect...BUT it does heal our heart.

Seeking the Lord daily provides us with growth...progress (eventually)..and spiritual productivity. All of which are good things.

"I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.' " -Psalm 16:2

Our interpretation of Ike (Part One)

Ike.

I am writing this in the local Barnes and Noble…because for Hunter and I, this is day 16 without power.

16 DAYS! What?!

I realize we survived Ike with no damage to our possessions…and a non-existent energy bill for the month of September, but I am finding it hard to be thankful for this!

We honestly have nothing of too much value … we are poor. So our enjoyment is not found in our stuff…

And a small energy bill means nothing when we have to eat out every night because we can’t cook. If only Center Point knew the obscene amount of money I would pay them right now to have the power back on…

Ok. Ok. I know I seem like I am ungrateful urma…but lemme just unpack the past TWO WEEKS.

The Friday of the storm, the power went out the second any wind started…awesome. But somehow, I managed to fall asleep with no circulating air. After assessing the damage the next morning we just had some minor wind forced-in water in our front entry way…and no power or water. After playing a game of LIFE and reading a little in our sticky still-aired apartment, we booked it to Katy. (My parents had power; Hunter’s did not)

We spent the next 4 days with Hunter’s parents (we weren’t gonna let them stay there alone with no power)…So the major point here is NO AC. I don’t mind the lights. Lights can be bypassed. I am a fan of candles…I have dozens of them…I do not have one battery powered fan. WHO DOES? Tell me where I can find one…in case of a recurrent Ike.

So, in the midst of this …I do have to brag on Hunter a little. So, Saturday night…at the Gaulke’s...Hunter and I were going to bed and 3 seconds after we hit the pillow, Hunter is out. Me?…I am DYING without a fan. I lay there for 5 hours…5. From 10 PM to 3 AM. Finally, I am so tired and just ticked…that I finally wake Hunter up half crying and half yelling that I can’t fall asleep. So dramatic.

My fantastic husband…simply wakes up gets me a cold water bottle to put under my neck…and tells me to relax…and before I can object…he starts fanning me with a pillow and does not stop until I fell asleep. Yes. I do thank Jesus for Hunter every day.

So the next four days are OK. We went to my parent’s house to watch some baseball and enjoy some AC. You know..it’s Texas. And finally, the Gaulke’s got a generator so we were able to hook up a fan for me at night. GLORIOUS.

So, the next Tuesday after the storm, I have to go to work. So Monday night, Hunter and I drive to our apartment and see the half the building at our complex have power and half don’t. Ours doesn’t.

So we do the whole candle and flashlight thing…but I keep thinking how the heck am I going to sleep without circulating air….and finally an idea comes!...

Ok but I have to save it for the next post… Hunter needs the computer to study for his FIRST TEST tomorrow! :)

Pray for test…pray for power!

What a Wonderful Day...

You know when some days are just flat out good?...

That was my day today ... so refreshing. Nothing went wrong...work was fairly stress free...(which by the way...is an answer to prayer...)

We have been going to this small group from church, and for two weeks now, I have felt the effects of prayer tremendously after leaving!.. I feel like they are super duper prayer warriors and it challenges me so much! I love it...

Anways, I also got to do some extra early Christmas shopping on my lunch break with plenty of time to eat as well...so speaking of my lunch break...

My coworkers and I went to eat at this common area that is usually PACKED with dental students, medical students/residents, PA students, MD Anderson employees, etc. and because it is in a MD Anderson building... it is pretty prestine for like a cafeteria (and again well funded)..and so when you order your food they give you that buzzy thing. So my buzzy thing goes off and I walk up to the counter...

...I am getting gitty just thinking about what happend next....

..so I am waiting in line to pick up my food and this little black boy (maybe like 3 or 4) is kinda wandering around waiting on his dad (who has another baby in his hands) to get his food...and I see him...and of course I just want to steal him...no but for real. And I said, " Hi sweet boy! ". And to my utter shock and pure joy ...he simpy walked over to me and hugged me. HE HUGGED ME. He came barely to my knee, but he just wrapped his tiny little black fingers around my legs and squeezed!!!!!

...At about this time, the boys dad looked at us...(his son... embracing a stranger like it is his mom)... and looked a tad embarrassed...to which I wanted to say...I will take him sir...right now. No questions asked...a child off of your hands...deal? kapeesh? You have two..you can spare this precious bundle full of preciousness...

But I resisted and just hugged back and parted...so his dad wouldn't call security...

This moment caused my day to be wonderful and I thought it couldn't get better...until!

PRESLEY WON GREATEST AMERICAN DOG!! (for further clarification see my very first post)

How awesome is he!!

I told Hunter every week, that Travis and Presley were on the brink of going home...that if they kick off Presley, I am not watching this show to the end...because I was such a huge fan... but HE WON!! He was by far the most lovable, playful, smart, and full of personality dog on that show! Go Boxer Dogs! as a former and future boxer owner...I always knew they were the greatest American dogs!

So small update:

Hunter likes school...he is learning...not like a ton...which is hard for him. But the classes that are actually challenging keep him suited for now. There are some very interesting people there that we can't wait to love on ...so more to come on that.

I feel like it is hard for me socially to have an 8-5 job. I feel like my socialness is plummeting. After talking to patients for most of the day, I like quiet time. I want to say I like alone time...but I don't know if it is that so much .... just not a lot of talking and chatter. and that's hard...because I miss my beloved friends.

We found a church that we are enjoying sharing community with and learning from. We don't want to stay church homeless for very much longer so...more to come on that.

I guess thats it. Yay for a wonderful day. :)

Bread Winning

So far, I love my job...

This may change...considering I want babies ..tons... of babies.

Babies that do things like this.. http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2007/02/that-poor-boot.html...

But for now, I like my job. For anyone like.."Ok, what's your job wierdo?"....Basically, I work at MD Anderson recruiting patients for studies to hopefully gather enough research to one day cure their cancer. HOW NEAT!

First of all, I thrive off the medical center. It's huge...it's prestine...it's the best. Second of all, it's MD Anderson...they kill cancer like whoa.

Everything is so ...whats the word....'well-funded' there. Like, I swear their bathroom sinks are heated...LOVE THAT. For every employee, they make a plastic name thingy...which normal people are like..ok? so. But, I am like COOL! A PLASTIC NAME THINGY!...



And I got my own cubicle! and it's big. More pics of that to come.

So, the perks of my job..other than the aforementioned ones are:

I wear a whitecoat
Every patient thinks I am their doctor
I do not HAVE to correct them
Some doctors think I am a doctor
It is probably wise to correct them, but I don't HAVE to
Every day, I am working towards cancer prevention
I am actually using my degree!
I am not mentally exhausted or even tired for that matter when I get home
Hunter and I get to ride into town together and back home together every day
Hunter's school is literally across the street from my office
I get to put Hunter through school while he tries to become the best DPT ever
and
Whitney is near me too!

it is the perfect first job...for me atleast.

Considering how many times Hunter and I prayed and prayed and how I applied to 40 million jobs and got only 2 interviews in 2 months, I shouldn't be surprised to realize how much the Lord knew where He wanted me...but I am.

Finding a job stinks. NO ONE tells you that. There isn't a college course on "the REALITY of finding a job when you leave our comfortable walls! "

For the 2 months of endless job applications, I just wanted to call any # on A&M's website and say..."YOU DIDN'T WARN ME! "...

Luckily, Hunter and I had 2 months of wonderful bonding time. I will forever think of that time as set apart and special. We may have watched a little too much TV and probably could have been classified as bums...but we had fun...

So, cheers to my job. I hope all of those who are trying to find one, find the perfect one...however long it takes.

Astros, the ER... a good week!

Well, the last week has been hectic and so I (Hunter) get the honors of telling the story. This is my first post, and let me tell you... Ashleigh is so geeked up :)

Last Tuesday night, Ashleigh and I had a little encounter with the St. Luke's Minor Emergency Clinic... Yeah.

It all started (or so we thought) at dinner with my parents earlier that evening. We had mexican food and about midnight as we were going to bed, Ashleigh began complaining of very hurtful stomach pains(and she has a really high pain tolerance). She couldn't sleep and for 2 and half hours she lay writhing in pain while I slip in and out of sleep waiting it out for her to stop hurting. After some nausea and a trip to the bathroom, around 2:30am we headed for the 24 hour emergency clinic. Praise the Lord I had noticed it while we got familiar with Houston!

The clinic was pretty awesome.... We got to see the American women lose the gold in gymnastics again (thanks to poor judges... of course :)) while Ashleigh continued to writhe in pain. Our doctor was really nice though. His name was Jesus Arroyo, but I like to think that Jesus helped us. He got us an IV (overkill?), some pain meds, nausea meds, and we waited it out for the blood work results. It turned out Ashleigh didn't have food poisoning from her delicious enchiladas, but a viral infection in her GI tract (ouch!). Thanks to the meds, we walked out of there pain free and got back in to bed at a groggy-eyed 5:30am.

Phew, am I glad that was over! I was really glad to be there for her and care for her health. I never thought we'd have to go the emergency clinic, but she needed it and so we did it! She's feeling much better now.... In fact, this Saturday we got to go Minute Maid Park to see Lance Berkman talk about the real Jesus (not the dr.) and hear a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert! What a sweet gig and thanks to my wonderful in-laws, it was all free of charge!

Hey there ya little papasan...

We got a papasan chair!

Ok to preface...we have this strange cubby area in our bedroom that is really hard to decorate if your poor...

..or not really that creative.

So, Hunter and I have gone to Ikea, to Target, to Bed Bath and Beyond...to come up with ideas for this space!...

We found things we liked ...but they are soooo expensive...We almost gave in and bought this chair from Ikea that really was too much ...but we justified it with the fact that we would have it forever ...

UNTIL! We were in Rice Village last week to have some awesome TCBY (1$ cone Wednesdays..YES!) with the Phillips' and we went into Pier 1. Yes. Too-Expensive for newlyweds that are definitely not trust fund babies Pier 1. I like looking...so I drug Hunter in there ..and immediately he is trying to find a place to sit...

...and there...is.. the coolest papasan ever!

I always envisioned papasans as really fluffy oversized looking space-like pods...but this papasan was like revamped. It was modern..it was flippin comfy!

...and best of all ..it was affordable! at PIER 1! Well, being good stewards of our money...we went home to think about it...and got it just in time for good 'ol Edouard! Considering that every channel we have (all 6 of them) were over-covering the "tropical storm"...I read for hours as Edouard did nothing but give us some much needed rain...and give me some much needed book-time. Here is our saweeet papasan! :




Speaking of reading...I just finished 'Four Loves' by C.S. Lewis...

Of course, he is such a good communicator and gives the best literary analogies..but I am not gonna lie it wasn't my favorite book of his.

However, the bits and pieces that were good were REALLY good. Extremely deep and thought provoking...you know classic him. But the rest...I wanted to skim through.

Maybe it might take reading a second time to appreciate...

In other news, Hunter is sicky sick. I am gonna go tend to his aches and pains. :(

Date Night

I love dates.

They are vital for any good relationship...including friendships and family.

I am the type of person that needs dates with my friends...my mom...and especially Hunter. I need them. I remember growing up, my mom took us on dates. I remember they halted when I was embarrased of being with my mom in public. (especially when she wanted to hold my hand...do you remember that stage! oh the humiliation)...ok maybe not everyone held hands with their moms, but I did... Well the dates with my mom resumed once I became an adult..and I love them.

I love dates with my friends. Going on candy runs (I always got more candy then everyone else..), watching movies, going to dinner, ordering pizza and bummin' around. Those are dates too.

Individualized set apart time...spent with those you love.

Last night, Hunter and I went on a date...lemme just say, for me, going on dates as a married couple is far superior then when not married. It probably has something to do with the fact that Hunter and I didn't kiss before marriage, and now I can kiss him whenever I want! Before dinner, during dinner, after dinner, before desert, after desert, during the movie...I like kissing.

Also, there is so much fun stuff to do in downtown Houston.

We went to Prima Pasta for dinner.

Then, knowing I adore creme brulee, Hunter took me to Grotto for dessert. Of course, they were out...BUT!! we sat in the fun-happenin cocktail bar area..and the 'Stros were on.... So we watched them and had coffee and tiramisu!

Then! went to the Edwards Cinema and saw WALL-E. Ok seriously, presh. We spent an hour just saying "Waaaaaalllll-E" and "Eve-A". Hunter can do it really good.

Then to top it all off, we went on a candy run! He got 1 package of Reese's and I got 2 Big Laffy Taffy strips, 1 peanut butter twix and a box of Milk Dud's. (Ok, I warned you, I always get more candy then everyone else. ) and I am really not a sweet tooth.

DATES ARE FUN! They are needed. I need them. You might not need them, but I do.

Which is why I am super pumped..more pumped then I can express in words..that Danielle is coming to visit me tomorrow!! We haven't gotten to hang out since right after I got home from my honeymoon. and that wasn't a date...that was me dishing about my honeymoon. :)



ME! + Danielle! = DATE! Tomorrow!


I need this. We need this.


Pumped.

Ok...it is official

We are bored and poor.

Ok we're not that poor. Trust me, I have seen poor. But we kind of decided that we are too poor to get Hunter a hair cut..SO I DID IT!

It started a couple days ago when we were watching American Gladiators...LOVE THAT SHOW..(especially considering Hunter knows the guy that holds the record in the eliminator! Go Tim!) and I noticed that Hunter was pushing back his bangs and seemed miserable with his hair in his face. So I took out some hair ties and played :)

He is so excited..right?

I know how to make boys excited...I told him he looked like a gladiator!

and he got happier..

and we decided that if Hunter were an American Gladiator, he would be the SOURDOUGHER! or the BUFF BAKER! Haha. But since I think he is pretty awesome and muscley and in love with Star Wars, I have him another name. So here is ...the ONE..the ONLY...the INTIMIDATING...SKYWALKER!

Ok so as you can see, his hair is LONG. Like really long. He hasn't cut it in like 3 months. Which for guys, thats nuts!

So , he convinced me to cut his hair so that we didn't have to spend any money on it. Whatcha think!?

I am SUPER proud. I wish I had a better before and after picture. But, I mean first of all..he does not have a mullet. YES. Second of all, he does not have a bowl-cut. YES. I think I completed this with at least a passing grade!

Ok before I go, I wanted to show a pic of the sourdough he made yesterday! IT IS SO GOOD.

YUMM-O!

Oh yes, and shot out to my MFEO BFFE LOML Danielle, from which the baking stone that Hunter bakes the bread on everytime, and this wooden bread thing that Hunter uses to cut the bread came from as a wedding gift! We love you!

My Husband Bakes...A Lot

Hunter is a baker...

I am not even kidding you...he bakes sourdough bread every single day that we are home and not out of town. Sourdough that looks exactly like the picture above. He is soooo good at it, too. Seriously, if you want bread...anytime...just come over. Because it is either in the oven or it just came out.

Honestly, I think he may be obsessed with soursough bread...and thinks about it constantly...and as a wife, I might need to talk to him about this. But I don't want to! Why deplete my life of yummy carb goodness?! It is soo good. We use it for sandwiches or just snack. Sometimes even breakfast. Heck, we would starve without his baking of sourdough. And there is no way I can bake like him, so I don't think I will talk to him.

Go on baking, you king of the oven!

Oh yes, and today is a special day here in the Gaulke house! (um...apartment?) .. Two years ago Hunter took me on our first date!

Anyone who knows me, knows it was one of the best days of my life...and I thought it would never happen. Our first date was a full YEAR AND A HALF after Hunter became set apart to me...and for real, that is a long time. Luckily, I know now I was not alone and he felt the same way (duh! we got hitched!)..but the Lord did some things in our single lives that we would have missed out on had we been together.

So today marks the day of celebrating:

patience
the Lord as our FIRST love
prayer
perseverance
growth
being happy where you are
our friendship
and dates!

Happy 2 Years my bestfriend.

I smell the sourdough coming out of the oven RIGHT NOW! :)

The Best Show of Summer...Just a Few Reservations

Ok...so I found my favorite show of the summer.

I recently found that there are a few things that really tug at my heart-strings: the olympics (specifically swimming events), the idea of having children or finding out other couples are pregnant, and THIS DOG SHOW! It is precious! I love the boxer named Pressley because I have a boxer!! (well at my parents house..but it is mine.) Pressley is SO well behaved and BEAUTIFUL! Look:

It is a brindle coloring, which makes it stunning.

I am seriously rooting for this dog and his owner, Travis. You have to watch them. Travis doesn't treat Pressley like human...because after all he's a dog...but he is a wonderful owner. And Trav is a Christian!! or so it says on the shows website..I haven't talked to Trav or anything.

My reservations:

There are a few people on the show that are the classic obsessive dog owners that treat their dogs like children or BFFE's...and in all reality worship these four-legged animals. Oh yes, and did I mention that on the trademark advertisement for the show...it has "In Dog We Trust" under it...yeah it doesn't have it in the version up there...but come on that's just weird. They seriously exchanged the word God, to dog. Is anyone else creeped out by that?!

I am totally pro-puppy...I mean seriously I can't stop begging Hunter for a boxer every single time I watch this show...(I know he melts everytime he sees Pressley...He may cave!!)..but seriously people...has America become a nation of dog-worshipers?! Have we really started to invest our feelings/time/money/devotion/and loyalty into animals with huge personalities but no souls!?

One time during Hunter and my HGTV watching days (when we had cable)...we saw an episode of House Hunters in which a retired couple took their dogs to every potential house and they ended up choosing a house SOLEY because they felt as though their dogs liked it the best! Hunter and I were a tiny bit disgusted to tell the truth. I believe that the house was even some 100K out of their price range! WHAT!? ...

I love dogs...well only the cool ones. They are precious, sweet companions and valuable.........as PETS! :)

Yes...it is time.

So, here's the thing...I CAVED.

I'm a blogger. I have always loved reading blogs...and I definitely have my favorite bloggers...they make me laugh and cry and feel things...it's better than T.V.! and so I caved. I want to record the ups and downs of life/post really neat videos off YouTube/and talk to a potentially non-existant audience! ...it's liberating really.

So here goes...the Camp Gaulke journal...that will hopefully last until we actually have the camp Hunter and I so desperately want :)