Everyday's a Mundy

12 Goals (not resolutions) for 2012

2011-12-31T22:22:00.000-08:00

1. Blog regularly.
2. Finish the full 26.2 mile marathon I'm signed up for in May.
3. Run at least twice a week.
4. Completely finish reading the Bible from cover to cover.
5. Learn to cook a new dish.
6. Brush up on my foriegn language skills.
7. Be a more patient & loving wife.
8. Become more tech savy.
9. Only buy organic, local & healthy, non-processes foods for my family.
10. At least double our savings.
11. Finalize the adoption of our child. (Okay, this one is slightly out of my hands, but I would still like to see it happen in 2012.)
12. Praise God everyday.

We are Adopting!!!

2011-11-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know (and some of you may not) Eddie and I are in the process of adopting a child. It has been a long process and we still have a long way to go until the finalization happens and that child becomes a Mundy. However, we are bombarded by questions on the process so I wanted to do a general post to answer as many of them at once as possible. I also wanted to revive my blog, as I hope to make it a habit to keep up with my blog, especially when I become a stay at home Mom.

The background info you should know is that due to many factors Eddie and I had decided to pursue adoption through the state system.

So lets talk about the process... Eddie and I for the most part have finished the pre-placement process. We have done the paper work, taken the licensing class, medical forms, background checks, fingerprinting, baby proofing, building a nursery, etc. We have 3 more home study visits left, the last one being November 28th and then our social worker needs to write our home study & have it registered with DCYF (Department of Child, Youth & Families) which should take her about a week. Meaning we will be all set for placement

about the 2nd week of December.

We will be placed with a child ages 0-26 months. Once that happens we will be their "foster parents" until the finalization occurs. This could take anywhere from 6 months to a year, or longer. Also, because we want to adopt a young child we have to go through what is called a Legal Risk Adoption, meaning the first child we get placed with may not be the one we are able to adopt. We will be placed with a child having the intent to adopt, but the parental rights will not be completely terminated yet. We are putting our trust in the Lord and the system that things will go smoothly and we get to adopt our first placement, but the reality is we may have to foster a few children before being able to adopt one. Either way, we are going to be parents very, very soon and for that we are thankful. We look forward to this journey and to the day we get to finalize our adoption.

And for those of you who are wondering...my friend Jenni is throwing me a baby shower on December 3rd...there will be more info on that to come.

Check back regularly as I hope to update at least once a week for now and more often once I stop working mid December. Till then please keep our placement in your prayers!

There's No Time Like the Present

2010-09-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

I guess there is no time like the present to start blogging again. I've been through a lot recently, especially with the passing of my mother on the 13th and I want push my blog into a new direction. I want to give it (as well as myself) a focus. So with basically 3 months left of 2010, I've comprised a list of goals I'd like to accomplish before the year is out.

1) I'd like to run 3 more 5k's by new years.

2) I'd like to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation in my Mom's memory for at least one of those runs.

3) I'd like to learn a new recipe for something I never thought I could cook.

4) I want to become more financially mature and use my money more wisely. (I've got my Dave Ramsey books in clear view for reference.)

5) I'd like to have paid off all my credit card debt. (I'd like to have all my medical debt paid off too, but that might be pushing it.)

6) I'd like to become more strict about my gym membership and faithfully go 4-5 x per week.

7) I'd like to be a better wife and show Eddie more support for how hard he works at Eurest.

8) I'd like to lose 35lbs more to add to the 40lbs I have already lost.

9) I'd like to cook more healthy for my family.

10) Coinciding with #9, I'd like to plan better to make us more healthy. (Meals, activities, etc.)

11) I hope to finally get a new passport in my married name.

12) I'd like to raise enough money/support to go back to Russia for missions next February.

13) I'd like to raise double that money, so Eddie could come too.

14) I'd like to visit Ohio this winter, especially with my brother-in-law getting married in December.

15) I'd like to finish reading the entire Bible.

16) I'd like to get pregnant. (Ok, so this goal is kinda out of my hands, but I can do my best to follow what the Dr's say.)

17) I'd like to get on a normal sleeping pattern, as it's 3:12 am right now and I have to be up by 5:45am.

18) I want to become a role model and support system for the new (and old) college students at JWU.

19) I want to start taking care of my Dad now that my Mom is gone, instead of him feeling like he always has to take care of me.

20) And last, but certainly not least, I'd like to become more Biblically sound & focused.

2 Years

2010-05-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

2 years ago today... was the day Eddie & I got married!!!

We went from 2 kids in love on our first date...

...to Husband & Wife =-)

It was also the last time all of my closest girlfriends and I were together. Lots of you girls I don't see enough. I miss you & love you all!!

New Job, New life.

2010-04-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my blogging fast. I needed to take time to just focus on living and step away from the e-world. While Eddie and I are still going through immense treatments to try and have a baby, I have been focusing on my career because I knew I didn't want to be a secretary (administrative professional, to be politically correct) forever. I want to help people. I want to take care of people and I wanted to do something more challenging.

Well, yesterday I got a phone call asking me to be a full time Medical Assistant (MA) for Dr. Frank D'Alessandro's practice. Here is a list of reasons why this is amazing:

-FULL TIME, during the day..no more working 4 jobs for me!
-I'll be able to actually have dinner and be home with Eddie every night.
-NO WEEKENDS!!!
-Eddie and I work really close and now our schedules are a lot similar.
-My foot is finally in the door to begin a career in healthcare.
-I don't have to pay for 2 years of medical school.
-They know I'm trying to get pregnant and are ok with it!

I start training first thing Monday morning and tonight is my final shift ever as a secretary! =-)

The Zoo

2010-04-05T04:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Eddie & I visited the Roger Williams Zoo here in Providence. It was a little underwhemling due to construction, however still very fun since it was a free date. [The Zoo is free to all Providence residents on the first Saturday of every month!] One of my favorite parts of the zoo was the "farmyard" section [I know, I know..but I love to be able to pet the animals] and this guy was there...

He's a minuture donkey and is fabeled to have been the breed that Mary rode into Bethlahem when she pregnant with Jesus. Why? Look closer.. see that darker fur on his back? Well, it's the perfect shape of a cross, that's why! Even though there's probably no truth behind it, he was still very friendly and that's what Jesus is all about. Love. =-)

Update

2010-03-16T19:29:00.001-07:00

Today I recieved a phone call from my OB-GYN office, regarding the baby situation. They said that according to the tests I had done on Friday at Women & Infants Hospital, everything looks really good and the medication is doing exactly what it's suposed to. I was over-joyed. Three minutes later... the joy left and FEAR set in. I realized this would be an emotionally trying journey, but my goodness! The only thing that scares me more than bad news, is good news! What if EVERYTHING does what it's supposed to and it just doesn't happen? I'm driving myself crazy! And it's hard. It's hard to talk to anyone, because unless you're going through it... you don't know how it feels. I'm finding myself day after day crying to God and begging for Him to bless me with this gift.

The point? I could use more prayers. I would appreciate more prayers. And I hope you will pray for Eddie & I.

A Picture Says...

2010-03-09T19:23:00.001-08:00

Bible study by the water.

The Waiting Room

2010-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have been stuck in MANY waiting rooms in my life. Waiting to see doctors, waiting to see if I'm accepted to college, waiting for my passport, waiting at the DMV, heck, even waiting for Eddie to come off a plane. However, I have finally encountered what is quite possibly the most treacherous waiting room of my life. [And I'm including the DMV in that statement.] Where is this nightmare of a waiting room you ask?

[My house]

Allow me to explain... Eddie & I are finally settled into our new place. With the only things we are waiting being a few major pieces of furniture from my Grandfather's in New York coming in a few months and setting up the balcony with some furniture, once that's done we'll have a really nice place on our hands. With the boxes unpacked and the bags cleared out, we have finally emptied the 2nd bedroom across from ours. Up until this point this was the room that stored all our unpacked luggage or unplaced furniture, but now that it's empty it was time to begin decorating this 2nd room.

I then thought to myself, why??

Eddie & I had been looking for a place to settle down for the long run and for a place with 2 bedrooms. One for us and one for a baby. Let me take this time to stop you, this is NOT an announcement blog. I am NOT pregnant. But I am hoping to be soon. So I thought to myself, why decorate a room, by spending money, adding clutter & wasting time. While Eddie agrees with that idea, he isn't on board with making the room into a nursery just yet. So for now the room will stay vacant, holding only the 2 baby books I have, a few children's room decorations that are already in my posession [such as a beach chair lamp and a giant starfish wall decor] a candle and a Bible. It's an empty reminder and an open prayer. I can go in there, sit and pray. Talk to God. Because in the end, He's the only one who can fill that room. I just have to wait...

Megan & Samantha have arrived!

2010-03-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law wasn't due to have her twins for another 3 weeks, but Wednesday night she developed toxemia and the doctor decided it was in every ones best interest if he got the babies out right then and there. Around 9pm the babies were born via c-section.

First came Megan Kara Goodell, weighing in at 5lbs 6oz. and 18 inches long:

Next was Samantha Elle Goodell, weighing in at 5lbs, 7oz. and 18 inches long:

Both babies were brought to the ICU due to their early arrival, but are both doing well. Megan is strong and thriving on her own already. She's been moved out of the ICU and is back with her Momma. Samantha, however needed to be on oxygen for a while and have a feeding tube inserted. She is doing much better and has had her first bottle on her own. She no longer is using the oxygen and we hope for her to be out of the ICU in a few days!!

My sister-in-law is doing better as well. Thankfully God kept everyone safe!

90 Days

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Eddie & I have set a goal of reading the Bible [the WHOLE Bible] in 90 days. We purchased a Bible at Morning Star, arranged by Ted Cooper Jr. that is broken up into 12 pages a day for 88 days. [Allowing 2 "grace" days.] In the past I've tried to set such a goal, even the Bible in a year. I never liked doing this though because the Bibles that were broken up for this purpose were never in order. It would frustrate me to not get the whole story from the beginning. However, this Bible starts in Genesis & ends in Revelations. Finally!

I woke up at the crack of dawn, made my coffee [unfortunately, decaf coffee, due to baby watch] and tried to REALLY comprehend what I was reading. I spent 2 hours on those 12 pages and prayers to God. I couldn't believe it and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. I hope I can continue to draw closer to God as march along on my battle to parenthood and for the rest of my life.

Have you read the WHOLE Bible? How long did it take?

The Road Ahead

2010-03-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had my [very early!] apointment with my OB-GYN to discuss my health "progress" over the past 4 months and where I am on the road to having a baby. I couldn't have been more nervous walking into that office that she would tell me we'd have to wait another 4 months and re-evaluate then. However, to my surprise, I got the green light.

She spent the next hour discussing EVERYTHING with me. All the work I'll have to do, on top of keeping up with my other health issues. She explained the drugs I'll be taking over the next month and the tests/monitoring I'll be coming in for. Basically it's a 35 days schedule and at the end of it, if I'm not pregnant, we start it all over. She is going to use this schedule for 3 months [or cycles] and if that doesn't work then she is sending me to the specialist she works with. She is having me book the appointment now for June so as to have it there as a "back-up plan" she said. She explained that she is praying the treatment she is doing now will work for me as in-vetro will be a much harder [but more successful] route.

Currently my Dr. is having to induce a cycle on me, induce ovulation and induce hormones and monitor a ton of vitamins that I don't have. She wants me to treat my body as though I'm already pregnant, so avoid smokey areas, no nitrates in my meat, no fish, etc. And currently I'm on prenatals and being pumped with additional amounts of folic acid. My 35-day plan is intense [however, completely worth it!] and roughly is as follows:

Last Night--> Start medication to induce a cycle. I will take this medication for the next 5 days. After that my cycle could start anywhere from the day after the last medication up till 10 days, however my Dr believes it should start within a few days. When it starts, that's Day #1.

Day 1--> Start Cycle which will last through Day 7.

Day 3--> Dr's appointment & Lab Work

Days 5-9--> More medication to induce ovulation and supercharge me with hormones. [I'd like to take this moment to address my close friends that read this and my husband... I apologize in advance for any mood swings or overflow or emotions! I love you all & I don't mean it! I will TRY to do my best to keep my attitude in check during this time.]

Days 10-25--> Well, you know what has to be done to make a baby. But every other day for that whole time period.

Day 26 & 27--> Dr's again and more tests, also hormone replacement.

Day 35--> At home pregnancy test. If negative, we start the schedule over again. If positive [aside from being a HUGE blessing from God] we then go into the Dr for "phase 2."

I'm sharing all this for 2 reasons. First, in case there is some other Christian girl out there in bloggy-ville who is going through the same thing as it's hard to find soundly based Christian literature on fertility issues. You're not alone! Also, because Eddie & I need lots of prayer. There are no guarantees we can even conceive and I'm a high-risk patient should we be able to conceive.

I will continue to post ways you can be praying for us as we embark on this endeavor. Thanks!!!

Perseverance Pays Off My Friends!!

2010-02-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

The past 3 months have been quite the battle. It has been 3 months of learning how to cope, manage and handle all that comes with my diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The shining light at the end of the tunnel has been my doctor's appointment which was scheduled for March 15th. This appointment was with my OB-GYN to discuss if I would FINALLY be able to start fertility treatments. Then, about a week ago I received a voicemail that my appointment had to be cancelled because my doctor was going to be leaving the week before the 15th and not be back for 2 more months!!

OH NO!!

I was crushed. It was hard enough to put the baby boat on hold for 3 months, I defiantly couldn't handle 5 months! My new appointment wasn't till May, but persistent me called back everyday to check for cancellations. And today I got one!!! GO ME!! [There's no stronger will than that of a Momma! (or future Momma) ]

So, here's to hoping I have some exciting news to blog about Monday! Prayers are greatly appreciated! :0)

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

2010-02-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

In hopes to breaks myself back into the blogging habit and have more fun with the digital camera my hubby got me for my birthday, I've decided to steal/combine a few ideas my friends are doing on their blogs. My friend Erin, is doing a "picture a day" for the whole year of 2010. My friend Stephanie, does a segment called "Wordless Wednesdays" where she posts a picture every Wednesdays, with no description, just a title. I think I'm going to combine the two, keeping with a picture each Wednesday and maybe another throughout the week. I'm going to rely on the old saying: "A picture says a thousand words." Some will have short blurbs and some won't. Either way, hopefully this will lead to more blogging.

So, in honor of my first international experience [minus Canada] which occurred 3 years ago today, here's a picture from Zavolzhye, a small village in Russia, who still has a HUGE place in my heart.

2010 Thus Far

2010-01-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

With the holidays over and our move into our new apartment finally done, I feel like Eddie & I have finally had a minute to just breath. As I spend each day unpacking boxes, I'm attempting to figure out how to move forward and how to build a new life. We've had to make lots of decisions & changes, while slowly but surely trying to fall into the habits of our new life.

I've spent the past 2 weeks battling with anger over my health issues. I've only been diagnosed for about 1.5 months and already I'm sick of being sick. I'm tired of having to take 10 pills a day, morning, noon & night. I'm tired of those necessary pills, causing me to be sick... which I thought would only last the first few weeks while my body was adjusting to be drugged daily. Guess I was wrong. I'm tried of having to carry needles and alcohol swabs and insulin with me everywhere. I'm tried of excusing myself to go to the bathroom every time I'm in public so I can shoot up on insulin.

Setting goals and attempting to focus on them is the only thing [other than Eddie] that continues to push me forward. Looking to the future helps sometimes, but can also be frustrating. I'm trying to figure out what exactly it is that I want to do in life. I've decided [after being accepted to seminary TWICE now and unable to attend] that maybe God placed me as a medical secretary to get my foot in door. [I mean seminary could be in the plans, I may just not be ready yet.] Previously I had never considered working in the medical field [expensive school, long schooling, lots to retain, etc] but the more and more I see the more involved I want to be. I've been asked many time at Radiology if I would ever consider becoming trained in Radiology... and my answer is the same... ABSOLUTELY NOT!! [There is no way I'm exposing my ovaries that already aren't working to constant radiation.] However, there are 2 other short-term [1-2 year] programs that I can go to school for; Renal Technician [i.e. dialysis, etc.] or Phlebotomy [blood work, blood samples, IVs]. It was really no contest for me.

With my numerous blood [we'll call them donations] to different doctors/hospitals a week and my terrible veins, I have always thought to myself. I bet I'd be good at that job. So I looked up the course requirements/tuition/etc. for Phlebotomy at CCRI and it seems with a ton of work it's doable. I'd go to school full-time for 2 semesters during the day while still working at Radiology at night. I could then do my clinical during the day and Radiology at night. Upon completion there would be a ton more jobs available to me and this would even further my nook in the medical field. Also... the best part...

I could use these skills while doing missionary work! I could help provide clean supplies for blood transfusions or help kids in Africa with AIDS, or Russia because I have experienced first hand the kind of medical treatments they have there. Eddie supports this 100% which is another blessing. He thinks it would be a great. [He could cook for them, while I take their blood :-) ]

All in all it's a huge commitment though. It'll cost us about $3,000 for the entire degree. Which in retrospect I know isn't alot, but I refuse to go into anymore debt. So this is something Eddie & I would have to save up for prior to me beginning school. I guess I'm going to be working alot of overtime!

Trying to save for Phlebotomy school could be added stress or a way to trek forward. I'm not sure if Dave Ramsey would approve or not. I think in the long run he would. It's a lot to chew on, but not for today, because today is Eddie's birthday!! I just needed some place to vent before the birthday extravaganza began. Hopefully soon I'll be able to post pictures and I'll upload some from today's adventures. Until then, keep us in your prayers!!

2010, A New Year & A New Start

2009-12-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

As 2009 quickly approaches an end, I'm becoming more and more excited about 2010. [As we have nowhere to go, but up!] My husband and I have spent most of December in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices. And I've spent my days taking pills, giving myself shots and trying to convince myself I feel good.

A couple of weeks ago, on my birthday none-the-less, my husband and I came home to our apartment which had been broken into & robbed. Almost everything with value was stolen and what was left behind was trashed. [I partially blame my lack of blogging on our computers being stolen.] Because of the way we were broken into, it looks like the burglar was a maintenance worker for our landlord, and we no longer felt safe in our own home.

We spent the next 2 weeks at our Pastor's home with him, his wife & their 2 year old son. While we were there we had to endure the oh-so-fun process of finding a new place to live. We found a great place and just moved in yesterday. Although we are still unpacking and settling into our new place, we are battling our old landlord for our security deposit back.

However, throughout this whole process, Eddie & I have both seen God, through our church, family & friends. We do understand that everything is a part of His perfect plan and we pray that we always remember that, even in the darkest of times.

All in all, we are ready for 2010 and ready to put the pieces of our lives back together.
Here are some of my goals for 2010 ["resolutions" is an ungly word] :

-Not allow myself to get discouraged about my health, but decide to fight it head on.

-Begin & hopefully tackle over 1/2 of Dave Ramsey's Financial Baby Step 2. [We just reached Baby Step #1 today! It feels great to accomplish that, but sad we couldn't have a Christmas for ourselves this year.]

-I signed up to run a 5K this May, here in Providence. I hope to make running/working out at the gym a new healthy habit for 2010. [We always try to break habits, why not try to create good one?]

-Get the "ok" from my doctors that I am physically able to begin fertility treatments.

-Become a better and more Godly wife & home manager.

-Develope a more gentle spirit.

-Become more productive and frugal.

-Become spiritually discipline.

How about everyone else? What are your goals for 2010?

Diabetes. It's a stinker.

2009-12-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

In the last week I have been to 5 different doctor appointments, had 6 different IV's/blood [withdrawals?] and have mastered the art of shoving a needle into my own flesh. As of right now I have 4 more doctor's appointments all before Christmas eve. I feel like my life has become a whirlwind of doctor's offices, blood labs, pharmacy's and needles.

My medication's have changed so many times in the past 3 days, my body can barely handle it. Approximately 30-45 minutes after taking my even meds I'm in the bathroom sick to my stomach nauseous. I've come to realize that it's a small price to pay compared to how bad things could go if I don't try and get a grasp around things now, but still I'm not the most "joyous" person at these times. One of my specialists told me to google "Syndrome X" because that's what I have. I thought he teasing me, but alas, it's real and it's me. [You can google it on your own for more information.] Apparently my liver is already starting to become effected from it. More testing [boo!] will show just how much. I'm seeing a doctor about that next week.

On Monday, I had my cancer biopsy and boy am I glad that's over! It was probably the WORST medical experience of my life. However, the doctor was great and Eddie was a trooper. [He didn't even throw up! =-) ] We won't get the results of that for probably another week or so, but the doctor said it went as well as could be expected.

That's the long story short version for now. What I want more than anything is to forget about all this for the next 2 days and enjoy my birthday on Saturday with Eddie. Hopefully my bruising, swelling, upset tummy and aching will go down by then so I don't have to spend the day with constant reminds such as these:

... and also, I'm looking forward to birthday cake.

"When it Rains, It Pours" The answers you all have been waiting for...

2009-12-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Alright, as painful as this is for me I have no strength left emotionally or physically to keep this inside...

Over the past 2 months I have been in and our of doctors and hospitals. I originally went to the doctor to get my PCOS [Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome] under control in hopes of someday being able to have a baby with Eddie. While there my OBGYN ordered some labs and did some tests. The tests came back and gave her the impression that I have cancer. She put me on a round of medication that made me so sick and then ordered more lab work. The lab work came back yesterday apparently with dangerously high results. According to those labs I have what's called DKA [Diabetic Ketoacidosis] which I guess can be extremely dangerous and my OBGYN told me to get into an endocrinologist asap and that if I couldn't see one within 48 hours that I had to go to the emergency room. So with no luck being able to get into an endocrinologist, the ER is where Eddie and I headed last night and spent 7 hours with me be prodded and stuck with IV's and hooked up to machines. Needless to say I'm worn out and I think he is emotionally too. From what quick explanation I got I guess DKA is when your body stops making insulin and produces ketones and they begin to spill out throughout your body, blood and organs. This causes weakness, fatigue, coma and death.

My lab results to give you all an example:

Fasting: Should be approx. 90 Mine was 300.

After 2 hour glucose intake : Should be approx. 120 Mine was 400+

Last night in the ER it was 333.

I'm making an appointment to see an endocrinologist where I will probably have to have treatments done for the DKA.

Going back to the possibility of cancer... I'm having a biopsy done this Monday, 12.7.09

My doctor also explained that this type of cancer is closely related to PCOS so even on the off chance I don't have it I will spend my whole life trying not to get it. [She compared it to HIV & AIDS, how you can live your whole life with HIV and not get AIDS but you need keep it under control for that not to develop.] Those results she said would take a couple weeks from the biopsy. [Merry Christmas!]

Now, on top of all this... yesterday [Thurs. 12.3] after dropping my husband off at work in Woonsocket some [insert strong, not nice words here] lost control of their SUV between the storm and flooding yesterday. Nearly hit me, which would have sent me into a ditch, but instead I try to get out of their way and hit an inner guard rail. My car is destroyed. I had to climb out the window to get out and the other [insert that same word here] didn't even stop to see if I was alive or dead!!!! So on top of me being sick, I have car crash injuries too, however, it was completely a blessing that I walked away from that accident it was so bad.

We've both been missing a lot of work and I may have to stop working which is a very scary thought to take away 2 paychecks and add medical expenses. [And new car expenses.] But, throughout all this it has really made Eddie and I turn to God. Which is a good thing. I'm not saying I'm handling everything as best I should, and I have my break downs, but I'm trying to be faithful in all this because God has a purpose, even if Eddie and I don't know it.

How can I use the Bad for Good?

2009-12-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

Today, while I was home laying in bed unable to move I had a lot of time to think. One question that I continue to ask myself over and over again is:

How can I use my disease as a witness or encouragement to others?

That's all I can think about? How am I supposed to feel or how am I supposed to react. And while those are both great question that Christians should be asking themselves. I wonder why I have to continually ask myself how to encourage others as opposed to just being an encouragement? I don't want my journey to be for nothing and I want people to see Him in me and not just me going through everything.

So, that's my prayer for now... That whatever the road ahead of me looks like, I continue to look towards Him.

This Guy is Pretty Special...

2009-11-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

For the past, ohh, I'm going to say month things have been turned upside-down at the Mundy residence. For reasons I'm not quite ready to verbalize yet, I've been pretty sick lately and completely unable to perform my "wifely duties." [I.E. cleaning the house, doing dishes, cooking, etc...] In the midst of his support & comfort, Eddie has been doing nothing but working extra hard to take care of me and also picking up the excess amount of slack.

I've come home to the dishes done, the carpet vacuumed, meals cooked, trash emptied and the dog walked. I can't tell you how blessed I am to have Eddie in general, but especially how blessed I am to have him now, in my time of weakness. So I just wanted to say thank you, Eddie. I love you & I appreciate everything you do for me and all the times you just hold my hand.

Busy Bee

2009-11-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

Life has been pretty out of control lately! So much has been going on that many of my friends have probably come to the conclusion that I've fallen of the face of the planet. However, that is not true. I am very much still here and very much still trying to find a balanced routine.

November 1st marked a huge day for my husband and I. It was the first day that we've had medical insurance since we've been married and boy oh boy am I excited! I've been feeling pretty lousy since mid-September and I'm looking forward to finally seeing a doctor. [I have an appointment for Mon. the 16th.] I've just been taking each day one at a time in hopes of the 16th coming before another trip to the ER. [Yeah, one trip, without insurance cost us $633.00 + prescriptions. YIKES.] Glad those days are over!! [Thanks hunny for working so hard and providing for me =-) ]

Speaking of the hubby working so hard... Eddie cooked again for the CEO of CVS this past week. He got to write the menu and run the show. I'm so proud of him!! When he's not at work cooking for some very important people or doing some personal "cheffing" he's either taking care of me or taking care of our monster little dog! [Bella appreciates you too, hunny!]

I've been going non-stop back and forth between the YMCA in Providence and Radiology in Lincoln, 6 days a week! I'm exhausted! But during this time I'm also trying to put together a portfolio and a business appraisal for YMCA as a coordinator position has opened up. So this means homework on top of my 14 hour days!

And.... as many of you heard via facebook.. my Dad has torn his rotators cuff, separated his shoulder and fractured/torn ligaments all in his shoulder/arm. He's really down physically and emotionally so whenever I do get a free moment I'm usually on the phone with him. Hence my neglect for everyone else! [Sorry!]

Well, that's the update for now, nothing to exciting! Till next time!

"Wait" by Russell Kelfer

2009-10-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied again, "You must wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting, for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes met with mine
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"All you seek I could give and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night;
The faith that I give when you walk without sight;
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"And you'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'
Yes, your dreams for that loved one overnight could come true,
But, oh, the loss! If you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though often may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all. . .is still . . . Wait."

I Have the Most Comforting Friends

2009-10-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

It's become a tradition that once a week after work my best friend, Jenni & I go across the street from our medical building to Chili's for some quality time. Usually this night is a Wednesday night, making us pretty well known to the Chili's employees, however this week we went on a Thursday. And after a night of watching my friend flirt with the server who seemed like a pretty nice and genuine guy the following conversation took place:

Me: "I think you should give him your number, you seemed like you both liked each other"
Jenni: "Ohh no, I couldn't do that!"
Me: "Why not? What have you got to lose?"
Jenni: "What if he's married or something?"
Me: "C'mon Jenni, I didn't see a ring on his finger."
Jenni: "I don't see a ring on YOUR finger!"

FAIL.

My Little Gold Security Blanket

2009-10-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

On my way into work this evening, a sad, sad event occurred. I looked down at my hand because I felt something pinching me, and what did I see? The back of my wedding band had snapped clear through!

I never realized just how much that little ring meant to me. As I look down now at my naked finger, I feel exposed & unprotected. You never realize just how much something means to you until it's gone.

I hope and pray that it won't be long before I'm reunited with my wedding ring. However, I have been considering for a while getting my wedding & engagement rings welded together.. maybe this will give me an opportunity to do so, as I could never have parted with my ring before this.

I Prayed for You Today

2009-10-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

I prayed for you today,
Even though we haven't met.
I can hear you laughing loudly,
Or crying when upset.

I can see your bright-eyed smile,
And I imagine wiping away your tears.
I've loved you since forever,
And will continue throughout the years.

I have yet to hold you in my arms,
Or hear you same my name.
And though you aren't here right now,
I love you just the same.

HJM

Question of the Week

2009-10-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

If God is in control, and I mean completely and utterly in control of our life choices and the path we take, etc...then where does free will step in?

Side Note: I was asked this yesterday, and I am unsure how to explain it. I believe God is in control, completely and He answers our prayers. And then I was asked: "but if everything is "predetermed" and He already knows the answers to our prayers then why go through the steps?" I know what I believe, and I will post it in a few day, however I'd like to hear YOUR responses first. [And Stephanie, I'm calling you out specifically =) ]

For Those of You Who Don't Know...

2009-09-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

...when I was in 3rd grade my mom was diagnosed with diabetes and my family was told that within 2 years her kidneys would shut down completely. Well, thanks to God [and my mom's stubborness] it didn't happen quite that fast. Her kidneys didn't fail until my sophmore year of college. Since then my mom has been having dialysis every other day, undergone many hospitalizations, and had more than her fair share of "close calls."

I can remember spending Christmas with her in the hospital, fearing it might be our last together, but not truely believing it could be.

I remember seeing her hooked up to machines to pump her blood, filter her blood, keep her breathing, [attempt] to ease the pain, monitor her heart for fear it may stop and much more.

I remember her telling me how badly she wanted a new kidney and that she'd hold on as hard as she could for it.

I remember the doctors telling me and brother that same week they were taking her off the transplant list, because she has become so sick, she wouldn't survive transplant surgery.

I remember listening to my mom cry. Cry from pain, cry from fear, cry as her friends from her dialysis group died.

I've always thanked and counted on God to pull her through each time, I almost expect him to which isn't right. But she's getting worse and worse and for the first time I am truely scared out of my mind for her. Her heart is begining to fail from all the treatments, her veins are collapsing, she can barely walk these days because her legs have gotten so bad. I'm scared I don't have much time left with her. I'm scared that I even just typed that sentence..

I'm begging everyone to pray for her. For strength, for peace, for healing, for salvation and for time. I haven't been in a good place with my mother for a very long time, until recently. I'm not done building a relationship with her. I'm not done loving on her. I'm just not done.

Learning to be a Help Meet

2009-09-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

Alright Ladies...

As a wife do you sometimes struggle with your role in your marraiage. I know I sure do. I find it very hard to be a strong wife by being a submissive wife. It's hard for me wrap my tiny mind around the fact that it's God's will for me to be a suitable helper to my husband. Helper. How can I help, when all I'm supposed to be saying is "yes, hunny?"

Well, as I continue on my study of becoming a heavenly wife, I have learned that you can only realize your true womanhood when you are functioning according to your created nature. It fact, it's not a question of whether or not you can do a better job than your husband; it is a matter of doing what you were DESIGNED to do. If I take the lead and do a successful and effective job of leading the family, I won't find satisfaction in it. My female nature cannot be changed to the male role without permanent damage to the original design. As Debi Pearl states in Created to be His Help Meet: "It is far better that the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you." Amen.

I'm starting to learn that the role of being a "perfectly fit helper" does NOT make me inferior to my husband. There is no loss of dignity in subordination when it serves a higher purpose. A perfect help meet is one that does not require a list of chores, but is motivated by her readiness to please her husband.

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." -Proverbs 12:4

Pearl shares a great analogy in her book to help women understand this concept...
"You are not on the board of dirrectors with an equal vote. You have no authority to set the agenda. But if he can trust you, he will make you his closest advisor, his confidante, his press secretary, his head of state, his vice-president, his ambassador, his public relations expert, mayeb even his speech writer--- all at his discretion. "

So my personal challenge, as well as my challenge for you is starting today, think of ways to be a help meet to my [your] husband[s]. How can we as wives, give our husbands submissive support, all while bulding on the concept of being thankful and joyful to help.

[FUN FACT from the book]: The word help meet appears in the Bible only 2 times {Genesis 2:18 & Genesis 20}, however it is the translation of the hebrew word --ayzer-- which is found 21 times in the Hebrew Bible. Other than being translated as just plain "help" 19 times. Hebrew word studies have shown that "help meet" means to succor or one who helps.

Joy

2009-09-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Currently, in the midst of trying to develop a routine, I am reading the book; Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. I'm learning a ton and really trying to work on/learn exactly what it means to be Eddie's wife. I just finished reading a chaper called, A Thankful Spirit a few nights ago and it really hit home. It talks about how discontentment is not a product of circumstances, but it is a state of the soul. It broke down exactly what it means to be a "joyful wife."

Thankful people have a view of life that begins somewhere deep in theirs souls, so deep that outside circumstances simply can't mar such joy. That's exactly where joy begins... with THANKFULNESS. Now c'mon ladies [and gents] how many of us take the time each day to thank God for the most simple of blessings that we have? It's kind of engraved in our minds that if we're "good Christian women" that we deserve to live a blessed life, but the truth is we don't. Do we thank God when our husbands don't put their laundry in the hamper, or when we're tired and don't want to cook. How about next time we thank God for providing us with food, or hampers, or running water for that matter. Or hey, lets simply thank God for our husbands?

Thankfulness takes practice. It's amazing how much your mouth controls your soul. Do you smile with your mouth each day and say; "Thank you, God... Thank you, husband, Thank you, friend...???" Direct your spirit into gratitude and joy will follow.

Thankfulness is how you think, joy is the abundane it produces.

So the next time we find ourselves about to complain, or merely thinking "poor me" STOP. Don't allow yourself to strip the joy from your own soul. We are blessed by His mercy and I am going to make a constant effort to remind myself of that everyday from now. Hopefully, I can become a reminder for you too.

Starting a New. Again.

2009-08-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since my last post, I bet everyone figured I had put this blog to rest, but alas we're still alive. It's been a crazy whirlwind since moving back to Rhode Island from Ohio, but we're finally starting to settle in.

Our new apartment is great with lots of space and high ceilings. The living room is surronded with windows and we actually have the whole floor of the building. It's pretty sweet, however, we have a ton of "fixin up" to do, like painting, getting a few more pieces of furniture, curtains, etc. But over all I'm real excited.

Eddie started his job here the day after we moved back. He's working as a corporate/contract chef for Compass Group at the CVS World Headquarters.

I just recently started my new job this past week working for Lincoln Radiology and it's a pretty sweet deal, I'm learning alot and finally doing something challenging. Oh and I get to help people, that's good too.

On the weekends, Eddie and I have been doing some personal chef jobs which he is so good at and I love to watch. When I have to make things, I get nervous, but I'm learning.

Well, that's the update for now I hope to share the finished products of our apartment soon!!!

Yes, we are still alive!

2009-06-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

I know it's been quit awhile since my last post but between moving out of our apartment and into the "efficiency" we're staying at and the car tragically dying, I haven't been able to reach the e-world.

Much has happened in our lives over the past month and a half, but the biggest news is: WE'VE GOT AN APARTMENT!!! And we're moving back to Providence, Rhode Island in a week and a half. I am so excited to get out of Ohio and back to Providence. I'm also excited to have our first place away from family since we've been married.

Anyways, for those of you wondering the apartment is up on Federal Hill and we'll be moving out there probably on the 30th. Eddie and I both have our last days of work this Saturday the 27th and we're looking forward to what Providence has in store for us. (And I'm super excited to get my girlfriends back!!!)

Another perk I'm excited about is that the bedroom in out apartment has 2 closets!!! And one is a huge walk-in closet with a window in it! (Needless to say, that one is mine!! Hehe.) And I'm very excited to have actual space for my little Bella to move around it. The efficiency just isn't big enough for the 3.5lb little munckin!

I'm sure I'll be posting more regularly again once we move, but until then the posting are going to be small & scarce. Take care!!

Bella Mundy

2009-05-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

There's a new, 10 week old baby in the Mundy household... and she's absolutely adorable! (Even when she's crying at 4am to potty!) She's a complete Mama's girl, but loves to take naps with Daddy...

Introducing... Bella!!!

Family Fun Friday

2009-05-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Stephanie, a friend of mine recently blogged about the sharing of fun, frugal ideas for families of 2 and up. You can read her blog here, however I wanted to share a favorite activity of my husband & I....

MINI GOLF!!

We (maybe me a little more than him) love it! We actually have a mini-gold war going on and yes, I'm in the lead. (Smashing Eddie in our last game by about 20 strokes! Usually it's a closer match!) Anyway at $5 a person or $3 if you go before 3pm, it's always a good time.

And of course we always have to hit up the batting cages..for $1.

Real Intelligence for your Life

2009-04-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

After I returned home from work today I began to resume my endless list of chores in preparation for our upcoming move. I almost always crank up the radio or my ipod when attempting to accomplish multiple tasks. (I feel it makes me more productive, I guess.) When choosing the radio over my iPod, i always tune into The Fish which is the local Christian station here in the Akron/Cleveland area. (That's our version of K-Love for all you Rhodies out there!) Anyways, The Fish is constantly playing tidbits of "Intelligence for your life" with John Tesh and usually has some pretty interesting facts and/or suggestions that I enjoy listening to. However, tonight it wasn't Mr. Tesh's intelligence that really impressed me & left me thinking... it was a simple radio commercial.

The commercial was for a new church in Cleveland and the Pastor was sharing a personal challenge with the community. He dared (I'm not sure if that's the correct word) himself not to say anything negative for a whole day. He said is was a pretty quiet day. =)

He then went on to explain how our brain produces a chemical(I forget, nor can I spell the name of the chemical) that stays in our bodies for 72 hours every-time a negative word/attachment passes our lips. That's crazy!!! Think of we truly are poisoning our bodies when we are negative!

The Bible even talks about the tongue being quick to sin & sin being a poison that can pump through our flesh.

So my challenge to myself & all of YOU reading this: Lets see if we can go 1 day with out anything negative leaving out lips? Not only will this challenge lead us to be more Christ-like, but to truely accomplish it we will need to be in constant prayer with God, asking Him to fill us with His love for others.

Any takers? Let me know how it goes!

History Can Be Cruel My Friends

2009-04-22T18:09:00.001-07:00

For those you blog readers who have been with me from the beginning may remember a post I wrote last August describing a crazy week I had & the random ending to the post involving my oh-so-embarrassing vomiting at my new in-laws house. Well ladies and gentlemen, history has once again repeated itself & not in my favor. This time however, the only difference that I was not at my in-laws house, I was at home, with my husband just sitting down to beautiful dinner he had prepared for us.

Yes, it was just as bad as you are all imagining, maybe worse. I threw-up all over the plate of food he had prepared me and in my shocked state, tried to save the plate by putting my arm over my mouth... forgetting that I had on one of my husband's sweatshirts. Needless to say the sweatshirt nor the food could be salvaged that night and once again there was nothing I could do but embarrassingly clean up my mess. ...and brush my teeth.

Henrietta

2009-04-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

The other day I had to run to Target, which the one here in Ohio is located in a shopping plaza alongside a Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bath & Body Works, Borders & a grocery store. Now, this is the part where you need to ignore the mental pictures, of Hick-Town, USA and actually picture a normal shopping plaza. (It's so hard I know!) Anyways, as I was leaving this un-nature-y area I spotted a single goose walking in the parking lot. Looking around for a lake or any body of water, I began to approach the goose. To my surprise the goose was not started by my approach but rather calm. I followed it to a man-made median in the middle of the massive parking lot where a tree had been planted. I looked down and found momma goose's little home.

In the median was a blanket & water bowl, along side that was some corn kernels and nest with her eggs in it. The momma (which Eddie & I have taken the liberty of naming, Henrietta) sat there completely unfazed by the cars, shoppers or surroundings.

It was so weird, but has now turned into a normal visit on my way into Target. I'm hoping catch a glimpse of the babies when they hatch. =)

Awake, Daughter of Zion

2009-04-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

So, another book I am currently reading (kind of as a time-out devotional) is called Out of Control & Loving It! :::Giving God complete control of your life::: by Lisa Bevere. I have been doing a lot of self-reflection lately and there is a passage from the book that has been pressing on my heart. It reads;

"I was tired of acting free when I was not, tired of acting strong when I was in fact weak. I hungered more for freedom than I cared for the approval of others around me...."

Bevere goes on to talk about how no man, woman or minister can ever set you free, freedom is only in the words of our Maker. Bevere uses the example of Isaiah 52 & the Captive Daughter of Zion to depict how we as women of God are all captive heirs to His kingdom. How God nourishes us with His message, yet we continue to hold ourselves captive to this world.

I know that one of my biggest fears is weakness. I was always taught to be the strong one, to hold my emotions in, until I was alone. That tears can expose the naked soul and anything less than perfect was not acceptable. I think this is where the root of the problem is with women (and men) who want to be broken by God, yet still want to hide their brokeness. It's like when you're a kid and you don't want to be seen getting disciplined by your parents. It's embarrassing to be that vulnerable in front of others. But if we don't get vulnerable then how can we truly call ourselves Christians? Think of what Christ went through to follow His Father's will... beaten, condemned, stripped, nailed to a wooden cross & put on display for all to see. Seriously? We need to calm down about being vulnerable. I need to calm down about being vulnerable. As a Christian we are called to a life of vulnerability, because we are called to a life of following in Christ's footsteps, even if that means taking a social beating.

Ok, I'm getting a little heavy here, so what brought this profound thinking on?

Baptisms.

This past Easter Sunday my church here in Ohio held Baptisms and as each person hit the water I could feel my lungs stop & my heart pounding as I could see perfectly the wavy, light shining down through the surface of the water. I felt this Sunday what I hadn't felt in 3 years. I felt myself climbing back into the tub of water. I felt the nerves, the anxiety, the jitters and the racing thoughts. But then, just like 3 years ago at my baptism, I felt the calm, the comfort and protection.

I once again felt the magnitude of what Christ went through. I once again began to cry for what He went through so that I might one hide behind a word. Christian. Do we really have the right to call ourselves that if we're not making every effort to listen to our Father?

Like Bevere, I have come to the point where I have realized I hunger more for Him than I do for the approval of others. I'm not perfect. I'm not always happy, but I am an heir of God & it's time to fight my way out of captivity.

Chapter 7

2009-04-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading the book, Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin. (Yes, that's the Jon & Kate: Plus 8, Jon & Kate!) The book is the story of their remarkable journey of becoming the parents of 8 healthy children in just 3 years. Now, I'm only half way through the book, but last night before bed I read Chapter 7. Chapter 7 is the delivery of the sextuplets and let me tell you, 23 years old or not, I cried like a baby. (No pun intended!) Yes, a book.. actually a single chapter, made me cry.

The first six chapters describe Jon & Kate's journey and struggle, from being infertile to finding out they had conceived 6 little ones. It documents the prayers, doubts, worries and emotions Kate felt and she wrestled with God, yet kept her trust in Him the whole time.

The book (thus far) is an immensely special and encouraging testimony to the power of faith and prayer. It shows what miracles God will allow you to be a part of if only you place your trust in Him.

Kate's journey is extremely close to my heart as she describes having a condition called PCOS and how that disease can prohibit a women from getting pregnant and the many dangerous complications that accompany the disease should a women become able to conceive.

I understand the pain and prayer Kate talks about in the beginning of the book... the internal struggle, the hidden tears and the cries out to God.

I understand, because like Kate, I have PCOS.

And like Kate, I'm crying out to God.

Pause-Over

2009-04-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

For the past couple weeks I have been non-stop waitress-ing at a local restaurant here in town. With only 2 months to go before my husband and I move this new little job has been a huge blessing to bring in some extra income. While this is my first time serving, I truly am enjoying it and have discovered it would be a nice part-time job while in seminary. It's also helped out finances in an additional way to merely adding a paycheck: the tips allow me to bring home money everyday I work. This means my husband and I have been using my tips for day to day spending and have allowed us to put both paychecks 100% towards bills and savings. (And just in the nick of time!)

I've also been spending my time lately in deep conversation with God. I've purchased a few good book to help "counsel me" in my all-of-a-sudden-urgent-need to become a more Godly women and wife. I've really had the sudden soul-wrenching, pit-of-your-being need to evaluate my life..

How do I spend my free time?
How strong is my faith? Do I tell myself one things and deep down fear another?
Am I really treating people as Christ would?
Am I being the best wife I can be to my husband?
Am I turning into the example I want to be for my future kids?
Are the desires of my heart truly put there by God or society?
Can I be an obedient and patient servant as I wait for God to provide those desires?
Am I really relying on myself or Him?
Can I truly, day to day, actively and wholly give it ALL to God? ..and be okay with that?

These are the struggles of my mind and heart over the past few weeks and slowly, as I prepare to break down my walls, brick by brick, let down my guard and expose my weakness I may finally be ready to talk (or blog) about it.

Packing: Both a Blessing & Curse!!!

2009-03-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Packing. It's both exciting as it is tiring. It's a great excuse to go through all your belongings and decide to de-clutter and de-stress. However, on the other hand it's time-consuming, tedious, and can be overwhelming.

As I prepare our belongings for the big move to Chicago coming up, I'm attempting to recycle what we have and get rid of what we don't need. Over the past week I have refinished a dresser and began the process of reupholstering our couch and love seat. (I'm currently waiting on the immense amount of fabric we need and plan on posting before & after pix later on.) Amongst the long list of things to do when you're moving to another time-zone, I've also began the dividing of the things...

Take with us.
Good Will.
Garage Sale.
Trash.

And that, my bloggie friends is why I have been

so absent in bloggie-world. Oh, and prepping for Easter, naturally. =)

Oh February!!

2009-02-25T04:37:00.000-08:00

As most of you can tell it has been quit a while since my last post and fortunately/unfortunately there has been good reason. The Mundy house has been full of events. I invite you to come along with me as I recap one of the craziest months I've had since being married...

Week #1 (Feb. 1-7): After yet another snowstorm in Northeast Ohio I somehow managed to become very sick, to this day I still have no idea what happened, but I woke up one day unable to get out of bed or even remain fully conscious for that matter. Whatever it was that I had lasted for a couple weeks and I can't really remember the last time being sick kicked my butt like that.

Week #2 (Feb. 8-14): Still sick, it was inevitable that any plans my husband and I might have had for our first Valentines Day were called off. Of course, Eddie to the rescue brought me home a big I Love You! heart shaped balloon and a pink rose, along with some juice (c'mon sick here) and beautiful card. It was super sweet. Towards the end of week #2 I began to feel a little better and we decided to go on a movie date. We saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire which I hope to review in another post soon. Eddie also then cooked steak and lobster for us for a late Vday dinner, I helped by maing the mashed potatoes =) (On a side note: while I was home sick this month we also saw the movie Fireproof which I hope to review as well.)

Week #3 (Feb. 15-21): Life decisions week. As most of you know there has been an ongoing struggle of where we are moving to when our lease is up in May. Originally Eddie wanted to stay in Ohio and just relocate to Cleveland, I on the other hand was accepted to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and was on the plan of moving down to Louisiana. Then the longer I was in Ohio the more and more I missed Rhode Island, specifically my church family. After convincing my husband we should

move back there, God decided to step into my head again and made me realize that move was only me being selfish and realistically, while there are some good seminaries in New England there were none that my husband and I could afford. So we did more research and prayed. We have now decided that Chicago is where we are supposed to be. I am currently in the process of applying to Moody Bible Institute, which has many more programs than NOBTS as well as paid tuition for all of their accepted students. My husband for the first time completely agrees with me, as there are many places for him to pursue his culinary career there. And it's funny

how God works, while I've never been to Chicago nor have I ever desired to go there, the more and more I'm learning about it the more and more I'm liking it and am excited to make a trip there before May to find a place to live.

Week #4 (Feb. 22- Today): I've been spending the last few day working on Moody's EXTENSIVE application process as well as cover letters and resumes for Eddie and mailing them into different culinary establishments in Chicago. (If y'all can be praying he finds a good job before May that would much appreciated, oh and for my acceptance to Moody =) ) Oh and speaking of jobs, I just got hired yesterday... to what you may ask... work in a kitchen.. I can barely handle the irony. Now aside from essays, which is why I haven't blogged in such a while, this week was full of news as well:

My sister-in-law & brother are expecting in September.
My grandfather had to be moved again because he is getting sicker and needs more attention.
My grandfather's house is being sold. This is the house next to my parents house where I grew up.
My cousin Tina has cancer.
Eddie's cousin Cassie got engaged and is getting married May 23rd! 2 days before Eddie & I's 1 year anniversary!
Our cruise to the Bahamas we won is going to be in May.

So that's the recap for now.. was this shortest month just as crazy for you???

It snows ALOT in Ohio.

2009-02-01T20:56:00.001-08:00

I took this picture out my car window a few days ago. Look how white everything is! That's a CVS in the picture.. see how high the snow is!!

There comes a time...

2009-01-30T09:57:00.000-08:00

... in every married woman's life when she realizes her past life is over and she has truly grown into a new woman. Bits and pieces begin to fall into place from the first day after the the wedding, but there are truly moments when you think about the past and realize those days are over. It's the tiny landmarks, baby changes, and gradual steps forward that every now and then bring you to a screeching halt and you think, "who was that girl?"

Today was one of those tiny landmarks. Today was the day I was forced to say goodbye to my maiden name all together. Today is the day I forfeited my New York license registered with my maiden name (Goodell) and received my Ohio license with my married name. As I stared down at the ID, it looked weird, yet felt accurate. My New York license was the last day to day reminder of Maria Goodell and now I can barely remember who that girl is. It's such a little thing, but this new ID makes me feel even closer to my husband now than before. Crazy, huh? =)

A link for your enjoyment...

2009-01-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Danielle @ danielle in the city recently blogged about what Jesus is teaching her and why we should continue to make a conscious effort to spend time in the Word. I couldn't agree with her more and I think this message is a reminder we all need to hear.

Bahama Mama

2009-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

As many of you may know, this past Christmas I decided to get my husband tickets to see his favorite professional basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. My husband is a HUGE basketball fan and an immense lover of the city of Cleveland, so combining the 2, what could be a better gift? How about the fact that when we got there, we entered a give-a-way... and won!!!

The back story is when we first went to the game a few days after Christmas, of course we arrived early as there are many things in the arena to do/see before the game. There were tons of give-a-ways, raffles and prizes to be won, which my husband was all over. Skeptical me wanted nothing to do with the prizes, I figured, there's ALWAYS a catch. However, after 5 minutes of begging, my husband convinced me to enter my name into one raffle. A few weeks ago, I recieved a phone call. My one, single entry had won!

I still didn't believe our luck, but this past Saturday (again after much convincing from my husband) we drove out to the agency to claim our prize. I was told that I had won a cruise for 2 to either the Bahamas or to Mexico for 4 days and 3 nights. I kept asking what do we have to pay for? Meals? Airfare? (One cruise leaves from Florida and one leaves from California.) Entertainment? And the agency was real upfront with us.. the only thing we'd have to pay for is government taxes, which depending on where we go and when we go at most would cost $200 per person, so $400. The prize was all inclusive... we have all our meals paid for, they are paying for our roundtrip airfare to our port from our local airport and all our entertainment, which the pictures of these cruises shows a ton to do! (Aside from onboard pool, casino and club, there is an ice skating rink, basketball court, fitness classes, hot tubs and 24/7 catering!)

Eddie and I have obviously chosen the Bahamas and have yet to pick our date. (We have a year to take our cruise, but plan on using it before we move in May.) This $400 (or less!) trip is so much more special to us since we have yet to go on a honeymoon, or any other kind of trip that would be just the two of us.

So the lesson in all this? While it's certainly good to be cautious, it can pay to see things through! =)

Running: My Drug of Choice.

2009-01-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

As I get older, my knees start to hurt more. My feet ache. There are muscles in my body that make their existence painfuly clear to me. I wonder why I do it. Some days I just don't want to. There are those cold dark, mornings when all I long for is to stay in my nice, warm bed. Other times after a grueling day, I just want to collapse on my couch and watch tv shows online. I'll admit it sometimes my bed or computer wins. But later, I always regret my decision and find a way to make up for missing time with my secret love and hate affair - running.

MOVE OVER JEAN PAUL MITCHELL

2008-12-24T05:29:00.000-08:00

So my husband is known for the spiky faux-hawk, and usually pays to get a haircut every few months to achieve this look. I on the other hand am convinced I should have skipped college and gone straight to get my cosmetology license. I've cut many friends hair (and I don't mean trim, I've cut feet off of long hair and given stylish bobs, I've layered straight hair, I've straightened layered hair, etc..) I've colored, permed, highlighted, frosted and styled hair for people since I was in middle school, including my own. (I even colored, cut and styled my own hair for my wedding day!)

Anyways, since my husband and I got married I can't remember the last time he got hair cut and it's getting pretty shaggy. I've been begging him to let me cut it, but he has been hesitant with my skills on men's hair. I've assured him time and time again that while I have nowhere near the experience with men's hair as I do women, I've still done other men's hair, including guys I've worked with in the past. He always used the excuse that we didn't have hair clippers (even though all my other hair cutting tools are professional, including my scissors, shears, razors and hair thinners) however when we went to Macy's to finish our Christmas shopping one day, we found really nice clippers on sale for only $9.99. I grabbed them and squealed!

$9.99? Usually a men's haircut is at least $10.00 if not $12.00, I figured if I could just get him to say "yes" once, than we'd be golden and we'd save a ton of money in the long run, because when we have kids, boys or girls, I'm doing their hair, so I just had to get my husband on board.

Well folks... he said "yes!" Finally.

Before

And after... rocking the faux-hawk =)

ALL SMILES =)

Climbing

2008-12-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I went rock climbing with my step-mother-in-law, brother-in-law and a friend from the gym. It was a great time and really reminded me of the summer I spent outdoors, hiking and camping and rock climbing. It also reminded me on how I should approach life... like a mountain.

I was the only one of the group who had been rock climbing before and involuntarily had to go first on every climb. Some of the routes I looked up and said, "No way, I can't do this." But then I tried and I did it, every-time.

Looking up at the challenge made it seems unrealistic and unattainable, however when I was actually climbing all I looked at was how to move forward from the spot I was in. How could I just get past where I was at? If we take that attitude towards life and look at the challenge of the moment instead of at the HUGE obstacle in front of us, chances are we're going to have a much higher success rate. One thing I'm working on right now is breaking down larger dreams into smaller goals, making them more attainable. Try it. See how it works.

2008-12-18T01:16:00.001-08:00

I may get my Christmas wish :-)

All I Want for Christmas...

2008-12-17T03:55:00.000-08:00

With Christmas merely a week away, my husband keeps asking me, "What do you want for Christmas?" And I keep giving him the same response:

Rhode Island.

That's right, all I want for Christmas is the sentence, "Hunny, we're moving back to Rhode Island in May." That's it.

Everything that once drove me insane about the state (or didn't), is exactly what I miss:

I miss coffee milk.

I miss how New Englanders can't pronounce "r's" or they add them where they shouldn't be.

(I.E. "ca" = "car" and "Idear" = Idea)

I miss not being started at when I ask for vinegar for my fries. Or better yet, not having to ask because it's already on the table.

I miss the sushi.

I miss the bad drivers.

I miss how tiny it is and that I can be to a beach in 15 minutes from anywhere in the state.

I miss subway rides to Boston.

I miss RIPTA. I hate RIPTA, but I miss RIPTA.

I miss Providence Place.

I miss the Bank of America Skating Center.

I miss Bank of America.

I miss waterfire.

I miss the sirens and the hustle and bustle of city life.

I miss having 5 Starbucks' within a 30 second walk of one another.

I miss Del's.

I miss Thayer St.

I miss Cilantros.

I miss the ocean.

I miss sailing.

I miss having beach days.

I miss not missing out on my friend's lives.

But most importunely I miss the friends that have become my family and my home.

Family Fun Night Gone Very Wrong

2008-12-16T22:40:00.001-08:00

So yesterday I went bowling with my husband and his best friend, Kyle. We thought it would be a fun time to relax and hang out and good opportunity for Kyle and I to get to know one another. The place we went to was $8/person, but that included shoes and you could bowl as much as you liked until they closed at 1am. We got in, payed, laced up our ugly shoes and prepared for the night ahead, however we had no idea what we were in for.

The Texas Roadhouse was apparently having their company Christmas party that night so within about 20 minutes the place was packed with young adults ranging in ages 18-25. Now I guess we had missed the newsletter that said a night of bowling really meant a night of clubbing. As the night went on the music became more and more foul, with absolutely no censorship! The girls from the Christmas party had dressed like they were at a nightclub and proceeded to dance on one-another right in the middle of the lanes! The group continued to get more and more drunk only for me to begin to hear about their fake ID's! The guys in the group where just carrying around pitchers of beer and drinking straight from them. The group was s drunk they were spilling over to our lane/table. Kyle at one pint couldn't even sit because they were in our chairs. I put my feet up in oder to save a seat for Kyle when one f the guys went and got a new pitcher of beer and when he came back the guy just sat down on my feet!! It was getting ridiculous and no-one at the bowling ally did anything abut it!

The group of girls weren't even wearing bowling shoes, they were just running around barefoot and grinding on the lane next to us. They continued to get so dirty and not have any idea what they were or where they were, they ended up about a 1/2 inch from where my husband was sitting, grinding on one another. That was it.

I walked up to them and kindly said, "Would you please move away from my husband and do that somewhere else!"

Eddie and Kyle's jaws dropped and then started laughing.

I had never realized before how stupid some girls make themselves look. Why would a guy respect them when they behave that way.. in a bowling ally non the less!

Eddie and I both then made the comment that we fear bringing our future children into this world.

Ain't that Sweet?

2008-12-16T02:51:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday not only did my father-in-law attend church with us again, but he was in our driveway an hour early and ready to go!

Today, the following conversation happened between my husband and my father-in-law.

My husband went grocery shopping with him to help him out and watched his Dad pickup paper cupcake wrappers and put them into his cart.

Eddie: "Umm, Dad... let's be honest, you're not really a baker kinda guy, what are those for?"

Dad: "The church bake sale next Sunday, which reminds me, if you guys wanna ride up together we're going to have to leave extra early, and I expect a baked good from you as well."

Eddie: "What? What bake sale at Church?"

Dad: "Gosh, don't you read the newsletter?" Laughing.

Have You Ever?

2008-12-12T02:06:00.000-08:00

Things I've done are in BOLD.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower (I really, really want to!)

6. Give more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee Jumped

12. Visited Paris (Again, I really want to!)

13. Watched a lightening storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (piano)

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I wasn't allowed to, I visited right after 9/11)

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train (In Russia!)

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping (In my defense it was night, with my husband AFTER we were married. Don't judge.)

27. Run a marathon (however I run everyday!)

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (Both sides!)

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen a Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied (I'm trying.)

38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing (And I'm going today for my birthday!)

40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt in person

43. Bought a stranger a meal

44. Visited Africa (I WANT TO!!)

45. Walked on the beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted (I had it drawn in Russia?)

48. Gone deep seas fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (I've seen the Kremlin)

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain (Again, with my husband only.)

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold girl scout cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets of plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (I want to.)

67. Bounced a check (Not on purpose!)

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I have in Russia!!)

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

88. Had the chickenpox

89. Saved someone's life (life-guarding)

90. Sat on a jury 9I did get called to jury duty but I got out of it!!)

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit (car accident I was a passenger in)

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Our Christmas Gift from God

2008-12-12T01:47:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since last blogging, life has been pretty crazy the last few weeks with Thanksgiving, Eddie and I cutting down our first tree and holiday planning. With our minds (and wallets!) on overload my husband and I have been in nonstop holiday mode trying to get presents and what not all ready for our 3 families! Plus we have our birthdays mixed in as well.. mine right before Christmas (Dec. 12th) and Eddie's right after (Jan. 16th.) However in the midst of everything God still found a way to give Eddie and I our own Christmas miracle that made us stop and just sit back in awe....

Since Eddie and I got here to Ohio 6 months ago and found a church we've been taking Eddie's 2 little sisters to church with us. Every Sunday we'd leave our apartment early to drive in the opposite direction to get his sisters. Well this past Sunday Eddie got up early (very unusual) and then tried to get me up, but I guess took one good look at me a deciphered that I wasn't moving. So then Eddie called his Dad to let the girl know, we wouldn't be making it to church and his Dad says "Well, I'll just take you then." Eddie said that he thought his Dad meant "I'll drive you.." (*My husband doesn't have a license. By choice.*) His Dad then proceeded with, "what should I wear?"

Eddie came back into the bedroom floored! He could barely speak. He told me what happened and I hopped out of bed, I wanted to see this!

20 minutes later we all loaded in the van and were off to church! It was great! Eddie's Dad was enthralled the entire time and at the end was standing (on his crutches with only one leg) and screaming along with the band! He completely related to the Pastor and enjoyed the experience telling Eddie & I he had never experienced any church like this! We asked him to come again next week and he said he just might! :-)

Later that evening I went over to his house and was talking to my step-mother-in-law and she said Dad was raving so much about our church she'd like to check it out too! I said it would be great if they continued to come because then when Eddie and I move they could continue to bring the girls and she thought that was a great idea... making church a family thing! I proceeded to go over the "homework" and memory verse for the girls with her and made a plan to incorporate the lessons in their week. I also talked to her about getting children's Bibles for them.

6 months for me & 24 years for Eddie, God has given us an amazing Christmas gift.

Holiday Wrapping on a Budget

2008-11-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I began wrapping what Christmas presents Eddie and I have purchased already so they would be ready this weekend when we go get a tree. (Eddie and I have decided to make one of our holiday traditions being that we actually go to a tree farm and cut down our own tree!) As long as it's now blizzard-ing outside I'll try and get pictures! Anyway I was starting to get disgusted at how much it costs to wrap a pretty present! So once again I decided to get creative. I bought a pack of 12 generic gift bags 1/2 blue and 1/2 green, one roll of wrapping paper and a pack of multicolored, curly ribbon from Wal*mart and a store here called $ deals. (Great name, right?)

So @ Wal*mart I paid $2.99 for 12 gift bags

$1.99 for the wrapping paper

@ $ Deals I paid $1.00 for the ribbon pack

$1.00 for a pack of glitter red, green and white tissue paper

Total Spent: $6.98

This is where I got creative, instead of giving everyone the same blank bag, I decided to take the wrapping paper and ribbon and decorate each one individually. I've only done the green bags so far but here is what I did:

Bag #1

<--Front

Back

Bag #2

<--Front

Ribbon Detail (I just braided three cheap ribbons together.)

<-- Back (I made it look like the bag was stitched.)

Bag #3

Same design all the way around the top

of the bag.

All of them Together

Sorry they're sideways!

With the blue bags, I intend on taking paper and putting things like snowflakes or snowmen on them.

What are your guy's holiday money saving ideas?? Have you started your shopping yet??

2008-11-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the brightness, my contract was up with t-mobile and I just a new phone which has a 5 megapixel digital camera in it, and I haven't quite figured out how to use it yet, like how to not have the flash be so bright. But here are a few picture of the Cranberry Chutney final products...

Above: Final product in the bowl.

Above Left: In the jar. Above Right: Jar Wrapped in Cellophane about to be wrapped in ribbon before transported tomorrow. (I didn't wanna to keep the ribbon in the fridge!)

Is anybody else have a snowy Thanksgiving like us?

An Easy Homemade Holiday Treat!

2008-11-22T10:12:00.001-08:00

This morning I was watching NBC's The Early Show with the new $12.00 "bunny ears" Eddie & I purchased from Walmart for our TV. Today NBC was doing a special on holiday budget ideas and one of the hostess gifts they showed was a Cranberry Chutney. They took about 45 seconds to explain how to make it and I thought to myself, "hey, I think I could do that!" So I did. It turned out great! (I ended up making 3 batches, one for each set of Eddie's parents that we'll se on Thanksgiving and one for us.) It was the coolest, most inexpensive (the apples were the bank breaker @ $4.00 for a bag) idea for the upcoming holiday. With almost everything else already in my pantry it made heading to the grocery store for fresh cranberry's this morning nearly painless! (Digging the car out of the snow was the painful part!) Anyways, I took the recipe they used on NBC today and tweaked it a bit, however here's what I used:

1 cup water

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 (16 ounce) bag of fresh cranberry's

1 1/2 cups apples (peeled, cored and diced)

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup raisins

cinnamon (to taste)

ground ginger (to taste)

nutmeg (to taste)

Step 1--> In a medium saucepan combine the water & white sugar. Bring that mixture to a boil on medium heat. Add cranberries and remaining ingredients, as well as spices. Bring that to a boil (still on medium heat) and let simmer for a about 10-15 minutes, stirring often.

Step 2--> Pour mixture into a bowl and let cool gradually! Then you can plastic wrap and put in the fridge to either served chilled with crackers/cheese/etc or reheat to serve on your turkey!

That's it! Let me know if any of you try this recipe and how it turns out!!

*Additional idea...I went to our dollar store here and bought clear glass jars as well as red/clear cellophane wrap and metallic gold curly ribbon. I spent $4.28 + approximately $10.00 at the grocery store and I made quite a few pretty, homemade gift for family and friends, all costing under $15!

I'll publish pix soon of the final product!

Happy Baking! :-)

New Routine

2008-11-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

A while back I received some advice from a friend from my old church, Stephanie. I had been feeling a little lost and uncertain of how to "be a good wife" to my husband and fulfill the role God had placed me in. Her advice... pray, set a routine and NEVER WAKE UP LATER THAN 8am so as to give yourself time alone with God. Sleep issues aside, I shuddered at the thought of waking up at 8am by choice.

Then my sleep issues began and waking up to early to spend time with God before starting my day was out of the question...

Well Stephanie, I began to pray. A lot. And I think God heard me :-)

For some reason my body has started a new routine. I wake up every morning no later than 6am! Sometimes earlier, in which case I force myself to stay in bed till at least 6:30am. In this new found routine, I have found my life starting revolve more and more around Christ. Let me walk you through my new routine.. today for example:

5:45am wake up, naturally (no alarm, which was set for 7)

5:45-6:30am lay in bed and pray (for the upcoming day, for my husband, for our future decisions, for people in my life, for an orphanage in Africa with AIDS children (I'll explain at a later date.)

6:30am get out of bed and head into the living room to read my Bible ( I have to leave the bedroom because my husband is sleeping and I can't turn on the light/open the curtains without waking him up, so I leave the room.

7:15am shower & get dressed

8am make breakfast for myself (which I NEVER use to eat breakfast)

8:30am clean the apt. where needed (today I also did 2 loads of laundry at this time.)

10am Chores (finances, trash, dust, etc.)

11am Eddie starts to wake up & I usually go lay with him while he's waking up

Noon start to make lunch for Eddie and I

1pm eat lunch, then hang out with Eddie till he has to go to work...

Needless to say, I love how much I can accomplish before my husband even wakes up! I'm also loving the discipline God is instilling in my as well as the way He is changing me and my heart. God has been teaching me a lot lately, which I'm hoping to share with you all in my next post, but for now it's my new bedtime, nine. :-)

Another Sunrise. Another Blessing.

2008-11-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Another day to praise the Lord!

Home for the Holidays

2008-11-12T02:54:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season fast approaching so comes all the holiday chaos. The planning, the shopping, the becoming a year older (my birthday is Dec. 12th) and not necessarily a year wiser. I've been thinking a lot about how I am going to spend this Christmas, based on events in the past year and Christmas' of the past. Every year my family comes home (to New York) from around the world, grown grandkids fly in from everywhere.. California, Georgia, Connecticut, Japan..

each year with new life stories, maybe new family members (spouses, kids, etc) all heading to the same family Christmas party. It's the one time a year where generations are brought together. Then there are my immediate family's traditions...

Christmas morning we wake up, my grandfather would come over (he lived next door to me and my parents) , now that my brother is married and has a child his family would come over and we would all eat this HUGE breakfast spread prepared all by my Dad. The ONE DAY a year he does the cooking!! Then we would gather around the Christmas tree room (a room we only use once a year). In our designated seats we would pass out presents and go around the room opening one per person until all the gifts were opened. This would take an hour or so and then we'd rest before going over to my Aunts for Christmas dinner.

However the past 2 Christmas' have not fallen into this routine.

Last year was amazing. It was a big celebration (and struggle) of my surprise engagement. the holiday break was filled with wedding plans and location decisions. The whole trip all I could think about was my fiance who was 3 states away.

Two years ago. Man, that was a tough one. My Mom had gone into the hospital with kidney failure right after Thanksgiving. I knew that we had to bring Christmas to the hospital for her, but what I didn't know was to expect the talk my brother and I got from the doctors... that we shouldn't expect our mom to leave the hospital..ever! What?! Yeah, it was a rough holiday. (Side Note: My mom has left the hospital, however returns everyday as an outpatient for dialysis.)

This past year I have gotten married, moved across the country, my grandfather has completely lost it and has been put in a home, my mom is getting weaker and weaker, my Dad and I don't have a stellar, if any relationship and my niece is finally getting old enough to remember who "Aunt Ria" is and I'm not around her anymore. I was looking forward to the holiday bringing everything back into place.

Not so much. As time for planning winds down, my husband has told me there is absolutely NOTHING he can do, he has to work on Christmas but has encouraged me to go see my family anyway. My reaction?? I believe the words "How dare you even suggest we spend our first Christmas apart!?" (Not my finest moment.) I continued to whine about my situation, telling him how we promised my parents, ourselves, St. Nick, everyone we'd go to New York for Christmas this year. Yet, still, there is nothing he can do. I walked away from this conversation saying to myself, "I can't believe this is going to be the first Christmas I'm not with my family."

Could I have been any more wrong??!!? This is the first Christmas I will be with my family. MY family. Eddie. He is my family now. We are our own family. We can start our own traditions, our own routines. That's what it means to be Home for the Holidays, being with your loved one(s), being with your family, old or new.

Side Note to Amy H. --> I decided to leave out my childhood impression of good ole St. Nick. Maybe I'll post about the nightmare clause at a later date, but for now that story is just for your enjoyment. Stick with Jesus for M2/3. :-)

Every Snowflake is a Reminder of God's love.

2008-10-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'

So that all men he has made may know his work..."

-Job 37:5-7

Last night was the first snowfall of the season here in Ohio!!! It was beautiful! It was very light and wet. All the street lights made the snowflakes twinkle and shine! While there was enough snow to have to brush it off my car this morning I can hardly wait until the first snowstorm of the season! I love looking outside and seeing nothing but white! But most of all I love everything that comes with the snow...the cold air that makes you want to climb under a blanket, hot chocolate, snow-fights, Starbucks Eggnog Creams, NEW YEARS EVE, my birthday,seeing old friends, ice skating and of coarse Jesus' birthday!

The Gospel According to Starbucks

2008-10-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it's officially Sunday morning and the start of my day. I haven been awake the entire night, laying in bed since about 8pm, that's 11 hours in bed and no shut eye!!

The day started with a phone call from Eddie's dad...he wanted Eddie to go meet his Aunt Sharon from West Virginia about 45 minutes from our house to pick up some deer and moose meat. THIS IS NOT A JOKE. My husband is out @ 8 o'clock in the morning getting deer and moose meat before church. I'll stick to my chicken and fish thank you.

Church on Sunday's is at 10:30 about 2 towns over, so every Sunday, we get up, get ready, leave our house @ 9:30 to go to Eddie's Dad's and pick up his 2 little sister whom we take to church with us each week. We load up the Jesus-party van and leave there house by 10 to make it to church on time.

This week since I'm up and Eddie's already up and gone (he'll meet me at his dad's today) I figure hey, let's bring a little Grace Harbor (my church in Providence) back in to my Sunday morning,... meaning...I'M GOIN' TO STARBUCKS!!

Ahhh, yes that little white cup with the green lettering on a Sunday morning is the perfect blend of hot, heaven-smelling goodness, followed by some worship and praise. Mmm mmmM!!!

If I don't sound crazy to you yet, a good book to read is...

It's fun & witty with a new perspective on evangelism. I couldn't put it down! It was the perfect combo of my 2 loves, Jesus and coffee :-)

Well, I need to start getting ready so I have time (for the first time since moving to Ohio) to get my grande, non-fat, 3 pump, no water, pumpkin spice chai before heading off to church, like in the good ole'days back in Rhode Island!!

Sleepless in Ohio

2008-10-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

A favorite pastime of mine has always been sleeping. A nap here or there, or that solid nights sleep after going to bed early. In my college years there was nothing but the thought of a nap after class that got me through my days. It didn't matter the amount of coffee I drank or the kind of day I had, I could always easily drift away into a deep slumber. However, the last few months have been anything but full of rest.

A few months ago I started having trouble falling asleep at night. I would lay in bed, tired, wanting to sleep, but nothing! So I decided to get up and accomplish some things. I would clean the apt, (I mean really clean...hands & knees scrubbing the bathroom, etc.) do some work online, organize bills/finances, basically anything I could think of. I continued on this routine until one day I heard a loud noise outside and looked out our office window to see the trash being collected outside our apt!! It was 5:04am!!! With that surprise I dropped what I was doing and hopped into bed next to my sound-asleep hubby. I laid there for a few hours and ended up falling asleep a little after 8am.

This routine has repeated and repeated and done nothing but consistently gotten worse!!

There have been nights that I lay awake for the entire night!! I get up out of bed when my alarm goes off, start my day, which includes me going to the gym for 1.5 hours, then that night I STILL CAN'T FALL ASLEEP!!!! I have tried everything, 2 different types of sleeping pills, which I took 7x the recommended dose, where my husband took 1 pill and was in a fog for 2 days! I'm at the point where I dread nighttime because I just lay awake listening to my husband sleep!

Now, the past 2-3 have gotten even worse, yesterday I had a migraine that carried through till today, I still had it when I woke up!!! (Yes, woke up... I got a little sleep yesterday because I had gone 2 days without any and I worked all day from noon till about 11pm) I can't take this pattern anymore!!!

Also, the little sleep I'm getting these days isn't even good sleep, I'm having horrible nightmares that are so weird and so real I wake up with my heart racing and gasping for a breath! I use to NEVER have dreams and if I did they would always be those ones where you knew you were dreaming and they were never horrid.

I can't even begin to explain my nightmare yesterday. Words aren't going to do it justice but I'll try to sum it up:

I was in Providence, downtown (under the skybridge by the mall for those rhode islander) and I was looking up at the city and all of a sudden the building one by one started crumbling down and lighting on fire, I mean skyscrapers! (The closes thing I can thing of to describe it was 9/11 when the twin towers came down.) and people were running, as was I trying to get away and it would keep happening out of nowhere! It was almost following me..so I ran into my home, which apparently was a house right in the middle of downtown and the whole interior was different shades of blue. Only blues. And I was in there crying to this guy, that I can only assume was my husband (not Eddie, just a husband in the dream who was clearly not Eddie and I asked where Eddie was and he had no clue who I was talking about, nor did my church friends whom were the same people in the dream as in real life. SO WEIRD!) anyways I am crying to my assumed (I say that because I was clearly living with this guy & unless my morals were different in my dream, I would only live with a man I'm married to) husband about what is happened and then I start to pray, I pour my soul out to God, begging for him to spare Providence and the world from what's happening and then God spoke to me. I heard his voice in the dream, it was crystal clear. He said that what was happening to Providence was only the beginning and that the whole world was going to be punished this was and destroyed, everyone and He said it was all because of me! It was something I was doing/am/etc...and that only I could stop it, but I didn't know how and I was pleading, I didn't understand why everyone else was being punished for me and what was wrong with me.

And that's basically the gist of it. It was so real and so horrific.

Well, now it's 6:39am and I have been up all night, wanting to sleep, yet terrified of these nightmares. My alarm is set for 9am to get up for church, it's going to be another Sunday at church with no rest.

Has any of this every happened to you/someone you know?

What could that nightmare mean?

Any ideas on how get me to start sleeping again?

Sleeping pills don't work and I have already cut out caffeine.

And yes, I pray constantly.

Any advice/ideas?

The 1-3 Browns beat the undefeated Giants

2008-10-17T17:33:00.001-07:00

Who knew that was gonna happen? I sure didn't. It made my husband really happy though and I sure enjoyed the date that only cost us $5 for parking. Needless to say, Eddie's Uncle Joe who gave us the tickets was extremely disappointed he didn't go to this game.

Cleveland & Life

2008-10-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been quite the week. Eddie's Dad is still at the Cleveland Clinic, he had surgery on Friday and had more of his leg amputated. From what I've been told the surgery went well, but the is a very good chance that he might have to have yet ANTHOR surgery to remove the rest of his leg. Eddie switched shifts tomorrow and we're hoping to be able to get in and see him since we'll be in Cleveland anyway tomorrow night. Why you ask???

We got FREE tickets to go see the Cleveland Browns vs the New York Giants tomorrow night!! Hmm, NY vs Ohio, guess which side I'm rooting for? But since I'm a Saints fan, I'm going to play nice and make my husbands day by wearing some Browns attire. Hopefully the night will be a stress reliever for him.

As for me, I've been putting all of my extra time and energy into starting my business, I have my first event on the 24th and I still have a ton more work to do as well as I need to do more marketing to set up a foundation for events. I finished my training on Sat. and received my official certification and met some amazing women have turned this into their career. I hope to be one of those women in 5 year, because once my foundation is laid I can work from and be a stay at home mom, which in the end is the ultimate goal with my carer choice.

Also I've soaking in church like you wouldn't believe and I'm trying to further my relationship with Christ, the more I try live in a Christ-like manner, the more I see my mistakes. It's kind of like putting glasses on and all of the sudden the dirt and grime is much bigger and deeper. But it's a constant walk and I thank God that He's kicking me into high gear. My Pastor is doing a session on marriage right now and IT'S SO GOOD! I'll have to go into in more detail in another post but I'm learning a lot.

Eddie and I are still figuring out where we are going to be come next summer. He said he'll finalize his decision by December, and I can't wait to know for sure where I'm moving to!! The 2 options are;

New Orleans, Louisiana

Bethesda, Maryland

He said the top runner and most likely right now is Maryland. All I have to say it, I've always wanted a beach house!!!!! :-)

Other than that I'm just missing my girlfriends tons and tons!!!

More Prayer...

2008-10-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

Most of you have read about Eddie's Dad condition with his leg, if not you can do so here. The most recent news is that his father is back at the Cleveland Clinic due to another infection in his amputated leg, resulting in the fact that he is probably going to have to loose the rest of his leg and start all over. I can't imagine going through that surgery once, let alone twice. Please pray for him, as his spirits are down and his outlook is defeated. Also pray for his kids who are taking it hard, his sons Eddie and Brandon(22) and his 2 little girl, Elena(8) & Faith(7).

Pictures fade, but memories last forever...

2008-10-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

Miss you girls.

Just another Sunday afternoon in Ohio...

2008-09-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Before Eddie and I got married we agreed that neither on of us would work on Sundays. That would be our day for each other and for God. Well, this past Sunday Eddie was forced to cover for anther employee who had covered from him when his dad was in the hospital. While it was fun to have my husband on a Saturday (for the first time since we've been married!!!) it left me a little lost on Sunday.

Eddie and I just started a new church (that's a whole other post in itself and should come soon) and we usually leave early so as to pick up his 2 little sisters to come to church with us. This past Sunday, as I headed out to get his sisters, it was a very unusual experience. A new church, a new family and all without my husband.

After church I brought the girls back home and found my father-in-law putting a chain on a chain saw. Not long after my older brother-in-law pulled up the country, stone driveway. I had to ask what was up.

Apparently, this Sunday was the day they were getting rid of a bunch of trees. Redneck style. I asked my brother if they needed help carrying things, however I the mere sound of a chain saw frightened me!!! I went home and changed, picked up some work gloves from the dollar store and headed back to my father-in-laws...As the trees cam falling down and more and more wood appeared, me and my siblings attempted to keep up by bring the logs/branches/etc to the fire pit. There were a few larger trees that came down as well as the entertainment of watching my brother-in-law teach my step-mother-in-law (that's a mouth full!) how to use a chain saw. A couple a hours later..they moved on to me!!!!

Yes, I Maria Mundy, born in New York, lived in a city for the past 4 years, chain-sawed (is that a word?) a tree down and into lumber!!! I also spent my Sunday riding around on the back of a giant tractor moving the giant logs to the from the front yard to the backyard and into the fire pit.

It was awesome. And all caught on video. Here's some pictures:

Me cutting down a tree...

Me using a chain saw!!!

My step-mother-in-law with the chain saw...

The giant fire pit...

The tractor we all rode on!

I'm officially in Business!!

2008-09-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today I received my business cards/magnets/labels & I have my first booking for next month when I complete my training. Yay!

Sorry for the blurriness! Camera-phone!

Oct, 1, 2008

2008-09-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

The date we will FINALLY get internet at our apt. I can barely contain myself!! More to come...

Going into Business for myself???

2008-09-17T22:57:00.000-07:00

What? Take a second and let that soak in...

I always use to wonder who those kind of people were, especially when it came to women. How did they get started? Could you really be successful? Can you be a good housewife and business-woman all at the same time?

For years I've pondered those questions, however the only things I did know was that if I ever became one of those people, I would sure have to believe in the product or service I'm selling/providing.

Two days ago I found it.

Rewind...Since the day my husband and I moved to Northeast Ohio we've been looking for jobs. Eddie found a job cooking at and English Pub & Bistro right on the main street in town. He's gotten a lot responsibility as well as positive feedback. Good, right? Well, now for me this means, I'm constantly left alone in a town where I have no one but in-laws. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my mother-in-law, but there is only so much a lonely, 22-year old woman can take.) Lately, I have been focusing my attention on trying to get a job. Aside from the extra cash to help pay the bills, ideally, I was looking for something:

I wouldn't have to pick up and leave again when we move in 7 months
Something I would enjoy and could focus my time on
Something I could keep my commitment to church functions with
Something I could do while being a stay at home mom, once kiddies enter the equation
Something where I could use my business skills from Johnson & Wales University
Something to take my mind off of my husband working 80 million hours a week (Sometimes I feel as though I have married a heart surgeon!!)
Something that wouldn't contribute to me slacking on any wifely duties (housework, laundry, bills, etc..)
And finally something I have a passion for.

Well, two days ago I got invited to a "home spa night" from a friend at church. She said it was completely free and just going to be a time to relax as women. (I was so in!) Needless to say I went and had a blast. The spa was run my a consultant from the company Beauti Control. They specialized in a line of products for your whole body for general well-being and relaxation. The coolest part was instead of like a Avon or Mary Kay party, we actually got to use all of the products, get pampered and see the results for ourself. We learned relaxation techniques and got back massages and head massages, the hostess of the party got a foot soak and not pad treatment as well as free products. I was speaking with the consultant and well, got a job!! I thought, "Hey, I can do this, it fits my agenda and well, the discount ain't bad either!" I'm so excited to run my first Spa, but first I have to complete training at Beauti U, a seminar on the science behind al the products and I will be shadowing my director, Jen in the upcoming week, running in home spas! I can't wait!!

So for now, that's what I'm up to. I spoke to ATT today and we should be getting the next available appt. for internet(my job basically demands it), so hopefully that will mean more blogging. Wish me luck as I shadow my first spa and all of you Rhode Islanders... I'm planning of having a spa in Warwick this fall when I come out to visit again. As soon as I know the date, I'll be sure to post it so y'all can mark your calendars, because lets be honest girls, who doesn't need and little relaxation and pampering??

Seminary Search

2008-09-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know a good cite to go to in order to find a seminary in a certain area? Or maybe a good way of searching? While New Orleans is still an option, we may be moving to Bethesda, Maryland in May for my husbands job. Anyone know of seminaries in that area??

More Prayer...

2008-08-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Eddie and I as we make some life-changing decisions about our future after Ohio.

Prayer Requests

2008-08-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

(Just a Note: Eddie & I are currently looking for a cheaper provider for internet/tv/phone, so I apologize for the lack of blogging, as I must do it outside of my home. )

I just received an email today from the head of pediatrics at Robinson Memorial Hospital here in Ohio about a job opportunity. Please pray things work out, I need a job desperately and working with children is just a bonus.

Eddie's Dad is back at the Cleveland Clinic because he got an infection in his amputated leg.

My mom isn't doing well. For those of you who don't know she has complete kidney failure and goes to dialysis almost every day. Recently she has been getting weaker and weaker, started to have heart problems and is just knocked out by the time dialysis is over. Just in the past couple weeks my mom has decided against the doctors wishes to have less toxins taken out during dialysis, in hopes she wouldn't feel so poorly afterward. She has come to the reality that she isn't going to be strong enough for a kidney transplant even if one becomes available all of a sudden. (She has been on the kidney transplant list for over 1.5 years.) She feels while this will shorten her life, she'll have a better quality of life in the mean time. So she signed the papers against the doctors wishes.

I just spoke to my dad and my mom hasn't been able to get out of bed since dialysis yesterday, she's too sick to even talk on the phone with me. She has an infection now and just isn't doing well. I'm scared. A good friend of hers in her dialysis group just passed away. She was the healthiest in the group, but her blood pressure dropped and she just passed away. Please pray. Please, I don't know what I'll do if I loose my mom.

Jessica's Wedding Was a Success!!

2008-08-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

Ocean Sunrise

2008-08-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Providence late last night. It was quite the adventure. Once I landed in Boston and made my way to South Station and then to the commuter rail, I ran into an old friend from Providence, James. It was one heck of coinsidence! Needless to say I eventually made it to Providence.

After dinner, Jenni (my best friend whom I'm staying with) and I went down to her beach house for the night. After a late night of watching the olympics, we ended up getting out of bed this morning at 5am to go and watch the sunrise over the ocean. It was amazing and well worth how tired I am now. Here's a few snapshots from my cell phone:

5:45am

7am

Aside from missing my husband, the trip has been great so far!! I leave for Jess' wedding in New York tomorrow. More to come...

Jess is getting MARRIED!!!

2008-08-18T23:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for one of my best friends who is getting married this weekend!!! She is an amazing girl and has really acted like a big sister to me (since my other "Big" sister, Erin moved away!) in teaching a lot to me over the past 2 years. Jess is a huge encouragement and blessing in my life and I can't wait for this weekend!! I'll be flying out to Rhode Island tomorrow (or should I say today since it's so late at night!) and then driving with another favorite group of people up to New York for the ceremony. I may not get a chance to post until I get back next week, but I'll be sure let y'all know how everything goes!! Pray I make it there in one piece and my bridesmaid dress doesn't get to crinkled in my luggage!!!

Here's Jess in my Wedding, she's all the way on the left!!! :-)

...and yes, that's just the amount of girls in my wedding party!!! We had a party of 22.

2008-08-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged (sorta) by Stephanie @ Stephanie's Mommy Brain for the Random Things Meme.

These are the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them (This is only a game)
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up

Random Things:
1. One of my favorite things to do is to drive through farmlands, listening to country music.

2. My priorities have changed from "shopping" to decorating my home in less than 3 months.

3. I use to be so bad at cooking I was not to able to make toast. One time in conversation with a close friend (Jess) she had to make cupcakes for me out of pre-made batter. (Made by my future husband at the time.) The batter was labeled "Hostess cupcake batter" My exact words were: "Wow, he's such a good chef, he can make a batter that when you bake it, it has holes in the center for the filling!" Jess has yet to let me live it down. And I deserve it.

4. I love to sleep outdoors under the stars. It's amazing.

5. I had a pet duck growing up. Her name was Sara. It's probably the reason I want to live on a farm.

6. I have an addiction to homemade lemonade. And southern sweet tea.

Next person tagged: YOU! I'm going to break the rule because Stephanie did. :-) If you choose to do it please comment me and let me know!!!

Recap of the Past Week

2008-08-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to keep up with blogging due to the crazy array of events this past week. Hopefully things will begin to settle down now and I will get back to the daily blog, but for now, here's whats been going on in my life:

Friday, Aug. 1, 2008--> Eddie and I spent the day at the Cleveland Clinic where his father had the surgery to remove his leg. The clinic wanted to leave as much leg as possible so they left his knee and we will know in the next couple of weeks whether or not they have to go back in and remove the rest of his leg. The surgery went well, 1.25 hours in surgery and 2 hours in recovery. We were told he would be set up with a pain management team to help him cope with what was going on. Then we had "phantom pain" explained to us...Eddie's dad was going to have the worst pain he ever felt because even though his leg and foot were gone, the nerves in his brain that register pain for those areas of his body, aren't. Therefor, they will be constantly going off that something is wrong and he can feel his foot even though it isn't there! It's one of the craziest things I've witnessed! Anyway, Dad should be getting moved from the clinic to a rehab center in a bout a week.

Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008--> Saturday I spent at my mother and step-father-in-laws, helping my mother-in-law take care of her baby boxer who just has surgery to remove a tumor. He now has stitches and needs to be under constant watch so that he doesn't rip them out, which is very hard since he's a puppy. Th solution, we put little boys briefs on him...so now Romeo is walking around with underpants on!!

He's a boxer model!!

Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008--> Since we've moved to Ohio must husband and I have become involved in a church plant here. The church is Journey Church and closely resembles the church we came from in Rhode Island. Journey church is focuses on the youth ages 18-35 in the Portage county area. As members of the core team, my husband and I went to a foreign church to us this past Sunday to support our Pastor as he preached at a local church and then spoke with them about Journey Church. After church, Eddie and I took the trip to Cleveland again to visit with his father. We stayed for about 3 hours. (On a side note: Cleveland Clinic is a huge, huge, world renown hospital. Our Pastor here (Pastor Steve), his father-in-law had surgery at the clinic for colon cancer. His father's room ended up being Building H, Floor 5, Room 51-34...my father-in-law's room is Building H, Floor 5, Room 51-33. They were right next to each other!!!)
After the trip back home, Eddie and I ordered a pizza and finally had a little alone time together with a movie we rented. We watched I am Legend. It was a movie with Will Smith and it was very good. I would recommend it, and I'm a tough critic.

Monday, Aug. 4, 2008--> I got my wedding dress back from David's Bridal!!! (I had sent it to get stuffed and preserved.) It was crazy to see it after almost three months without it!! I spent the rest of the day helping my mother-in-law with Romeo again. We proceeded to spend the whole night just sitting on the couch and talking till I had to go get my husband from work at 10:30pm!!!

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008--> Tuesday was errand day. Before my husband went to work, we went to goodwill to give away a bunch of stuff, I uncluttered from our apartment, as well as stopped by Grandma & Grandpa's. Unfortunately they weren't home, so Eddie and I went back to the video store because I had a free rental I had to use within three days. I rented the movie Je t'aime Paris which I haven't watched yet, maybe I will get some time tomorrow, I'll let y'all know if it's one worth watching. After dropping Eddie off at work, I went back to his mother's and hung out there a while. (Yes, I'm very good friends with my mother-in-law and it's weird I know.) Came home and did some laundry before going to pick up my husband at work.

Wednesday, Aug.6, 2008 (TODAY)--> I wasn't feeling well last night, so I didn't get to sleep till almost 7am!! I decided to take a bath around 5am to try and relax, it seemed to work. Needless to say I slept pretty late today due to my troubles the night before. After lunch Eddie and I headed to his mom's for a few hours before he went into work. We were all sitting around the island in her kitchen talking, my brother-in-law, Brandon was there as well. And all of a sudden mid-conversation..I THREW UP!!! We were just sitting there and it came out faster than I knew what was happening!!! Eddie tried to grab the paper towels as I ran to the sink, but then he started to gag from how much I was vomiting and ran to the bathroom!! As, I finally stopped, my poor mother-in-law was cleaning up my mess off the floor, the cupboards, the counter, the sink...ohh it was a mess!! As I sit here typing I still have no clue as to how it all happened. Well, on that note, we left their house, I dropped Eddie off at work and came home to lay down and rest a bit more until I picked Eddie up and hour ago.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How's that for a week huh? And while all this is going on, our 11 little hamsters have begun to flourish. Eddie and I have planned to go the pet store and get a bigger cage this weekend. It's just about that time we need to separate the males and females. Hopefully we separate them correctly or we're going to be professional breeders pretty soon!! The little ones are eating solid food now, have opened their eyes and have colored fur. We continue to treat the little guys with veggies and scrapes from cooking. They are quite the little disposals!! Here's mommy with some corn:

More craziness to come, I'm sure!!!

They are going to take the leg.

2008-07-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

Eddie and I just got word that the doctors are going to amputate his Dad's leg tomorrow (8.1.08). Not only is it a risky procedure in general, but his Dad had blood issues. He lost a lot of blood on Tuesday during his other operation and received a blood transfusion today. Eddie and I are heading up to the Cleveland Clinic in the morning and and can do nothing but continue to pray for the best. Thanks to everyone who is praying and please, please continue to do so. God bless.

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you..."
-2 Thessalonians 3:3

15.5

2008-07-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

That's how many hours my father-in-law was in surgery yesterday.

A brief history...
Since from the time my husband was a little boy his father has had a vascular problem in his legs, presenting an assortment of problems throughout the years. A number of times Eddie's father has been hospitalized for blood clots in his legs (his blood is just to thick), and even a few times it happened during our relationship. However, Eddie's father has one of the best medical teams in the country working at The Cleveland Clinic, thus far they have been able time and time again to clear the clots out of his legs with blood thinners, surgery's and procedures. That was up until a couple weeks ago.

Eddie's father went to the Cleveland Clinic with terrible pains in his leg. The clots were not only back, but were moving up his leg and into his groin. The doctors had tried every procedure in the past and the last thing left to do was bypass surgery with 2 artificial graphs; one going from his ankle to his groin and then another one in reverse. The procedure was scheduled for early yesterday morning (Tues. 7.29) at 6 O'Clock in the morning at the clinic. The surgery was supposed to be around 6 hours, at the lasted him getting out at 3pm (with prep & post-op/recovery.) So my husband, his brother and I traveled up to the clinic (approx. and hour from where we live) to be there at 3 when his father was scheduled to be out. We were meet in the waiting room by Eddie's 2 Aunts (one from Ohio and one from West Virginia) who informed us that Dad was still in surgery. We just sat and waited. Finally, around 4:45pm an announcement came over the loud speaker..."Mundy family to the desk for the doctors call." Aunt Barb took the call. It wasn't good. The graphs didn't work, the surgeons were going to try again.

We continued to wait as more and more families left the waiting area until we were the last ones left. At 8:30pm we got another page saying that the graphs were in place, but now they were clotting as well! The doctors continued to work for the next couple of hours trying to rid his leg of the clots. Then, after many prayers, cups of coffee and laps around the waiting area, we received the call that the surgeons had gotten rid of the clots and the procedure was over....15.5 hours after they started!!!

Aunt Sharon, Brandon (my husband's brother), my husband and I waited and waited to see him. the clock struck 11:30pm and finally we saw Eddie's dad. He looked like he was doing well for what he had just gone through. The nurse came in an explained that he was clear of clots and they were able to get a pulse back into his foot. With a sigh of relief, we went home.

Then, my husband got a call from his brother who was at the Clinic with Dad this morning. The graphs were clotting again and the doctors have done everything they could. The only option left is to take the leg.

....And that's where we stand right now. We're awaiting to hear word back of when they are going to present Eddie's dad with that news and ask for consent...or for a miracle.

Eddie and I are hopefully going back to Cleveland tomorrow, I'll follow with an update, but please keep my father-in-law in your prayers. His name is Ed, as well and although I've known him for less than a year, he's a remarkable and amazing man. I was truly bless to become his daughter-in-law. He's loving husband and father of 6 (plus me!!) His children are his world and he is theirs. If anyone deserves a miracle it's this man...

Being the Church vs Going to Church

2008-07-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Today, the Pastor of my new church here in Ohio sent me (and other church members, all 15 of us.) an email asking us how we can become the church instead of just going to it. First he defined for us what being the church means in a very clear but huge way: to be the church is to be the hands, feet and love of Jesus in our community and that people are looking for 3 things from a church:

Help
Hope
Home (A place to call home)

So, how can we as a small body of Christ reach out to such a large community? Because I want to be a servant of God, just like Jesus.

Let me give y'all a little background info...nearby in out community is HUGE college campus. (Kent State University) There is a vast oasis of young adults there that need to be presented with the Gospel, but everyone is to "scared" (I'm not sure if that's the right word.) to bother with those students (and professors) mainly because Kent State is so "liberal." C'mon. And not to mention there are part of the "city" (I use that term loosely.) that people just describe as "depressing to be in/pass by." HELLO!! I feel like screaming, "Well what are we waiting for then? Lets bring 'em some Good News!!" But alas, one needs to come up with some plans before just heading into the gutter. Any suggestions? Also, how does one convince people to follow her into"the gutter."

Even more background info...I've been on 2 missions trips in my life, both to Russia. And my question to any of you who have been on a mission trip, how does one take that "missionary mindset" and apply it their own community and everyday life? I feel like I'm going through the motions of being a Christian, but really what risks am I taking for God? I'm not going that extra mile, well maybe I do more that some, but that's where the problem lies, isn't it? Christians have this unmentioned status quo of sorts, where we subconsciously validate the things we do/say with other Christians ...but lets be honest here none of that matters. God made us all unique and gave us all different walks of life for a purpose. How do I take the focus off me, my focus off others and just do His will? I don't even know what His will for me is? I so desperately want to serve Him 100%, but I can't figure out what that means right now. Here's what I have deciphered:

He put me here in nowheresville, Ohio for a reason.
He's making me take a pause of 9 months before my studies start at seminary.
I don't have a job at the current moment, so He's provided me with the time and opportunity to do something big for Him.
He wants to know I put Him first...before myself, my husband, my "future and security."

So what is it that God wants me to do in THIS community at THIS time. His plan is perfect I know, but I need a map, a guidebook, s compass, SOMETHING to tell me what it is to do here. And not only that, but I need a stern lesson in consistency and discipline. I need to be constantly aware that I am a reflection of His image. I need to know that everyone is one of His children and I may only have a smile to give, but to always treat them with the love and respect that Jesus would have.

I guess I'm just lost with huge yearning inside me better this world and spread His name.
But how???

I want to be THAT GIRL again...

2008-07-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

The following is a journal entry I wrote 2 summers ago:

The Number One Question Every Fall:
What did you learn on your summer vacation??

I've been asking myself this question for a while.
When I return to Providence, it'll be the first question asked.
Spending my summer working at a Christian camp and doing things I never thought possible really opened my eyes in such a way that
I'll never be able to ignore.

I've learned to push myself not only far enough to get past my limits,
but far enough the erase those limits completely.

I've learned to trust people & love them without a fear of getting hurt.

I've seen the power of friendship and how it can heal, inspire, touch & change lives.

I've learned to appreciate the things that challenge me to the point of breaking down.

I've learned to fly high on a trapeze.
Jump far into deep water.
Go faster down a mountain.
Hang on tighter to the rocks.
Dig deeper within myself.
I've learned that just because it's scary and hard and makes the whole body want to shut down, is what makes it that much more worth it in the end.

I've learned to embrace my fears & "do it anyway."

"I can't." Is no longer a part of me.

I've learned to cry.
I've learned to laugh.
I've learned to scream.
I've learned to worship with my whole being.

But what is the most important things I've learned this summer?
Answer.
Simple.

"Amankla Aweto Apuma Glunkulunkulu."
That's a phrase in Zulu that my friend here, Lauren, from South Africa taught me how to say & the rest of the staff here has taught me to believe it.

TRANSLATION:
"My strength comes from God."

It does. I've learned that now. I can do ANYTHING with Him.
& NOTHING without Him.
<3>

Dreaming about Providence...and whether mice or men have second tries...

2008-07-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

I finally got my plane tickets!!! I'm so excited to go back to Rhode Island for 8 days next month!! A good friend of mine is getting married on August 23 & I'm a bridesmaid so it should be a fantastic trip to remember!! I'm so happy for her!!!! The crazy part of the trip is going to be maneuvering myself from Logan Airport in Boston on the subway to Providence. Lets keep our fingers crossed!!!

I'm so excited to go visit my old church (Grace Harbor), all the little kiddies of my church whom I use to babysit and are growing fast, my Dad (who travels from New York to Rhode Island for work) and of course the city itself. Not to mention spending a week with my roommate from freshman year of college and best friend, Jenni. She's my sister and I miss her dearly. I'm sure time with Jenni will provide an abundance of material to blog about!! Till then, it's time for bed and a good movie...I think I'll watch my favorite one..can you guess what it is???

Ps: I spent the whole day with my mother-in-law and despite the dreaded mother-in-law warnings and comments most people make, mine is awesome. I love to hang out with her, we're so much alike. We spent the day talking, making dinner for the family and taking care of her 2 dogs. One of the dogs, Romeo is having a tumor removed tomorrow, so please be praying that goes well.

"You HAVE TO blog about this!!!"

2008-07-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

"You HAVE TO blog about this!!!" These are the words that came out of my husband's mouth this afternoon, upon checking our hamsters cage for food and water. Low and behold our little JaiJai, whom we bought right after she had, had babies at the pet store...had delivered not 2, not 3, but 11+(from what we can see) little babies. Needless to say we were both shocked. As I continued to try and convince my husband that she wasn't "deserving of a tortilla chip" I searched the internet to find out because hamsters can loose a lot of protein during pregnancy, they can be highly likely to eat their own young. (Gross!) So, I'm looking froward to a day of cooking egg whites (recommended by vets to prevent the "devouring of young") for little the mommy and researching pet stores who will buy hamsters, since we don't need a dozen of them.
Once mommy decides to get off top her babies, I'll get a picture of the new family, but for now, here's little JaiJai...

Following Protocol

2008-07-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been married and away from home (Rhode Island) for 52 days now and here's some things I've learned:

I can't possibly keep up everyone's questions. Learning to be a wife, keep a home, work and "keep in touch" with everyone is virtually impossible. I'm so busy!! And tired.
My husband will ALWAYS be better in the kitchen than me, however I am learning. (He's a chef for those of you who don't know.)
You have to think for two, and be patient. Sometimes you have to let him figure out the hard way, you're right. :-)
Always check if the toilet seat is down...or you'll fall in.
And apparently, once you get married and become a Christian housewife, you're supposed to create a blog. (Here's mine.)

I'm hoping to accomplish a few things with this blog:

Keep everyone up to date on what's going in my crazy life.
"Keep in touch" with friends and family.
Learn some "tips of the trade," from women who have been there.
Get ideas, recipes, organizational tips, etc.
Keep my sanity. I hear writing can be pretty therapeutic.

That's all for now, we'll see where things go from here!