Mustache Mania

The guys that Blake goes to school with decided they all would shave the facial hair into the shape of one of (I think) the most disgusting things a guy under the age of 35 can wear...a mustache. They all were going to wear different styles of this crazy phenomenon, and Blake chose the ol' handlebars. It was hilarious! Blake could actually pull this off (if he had a different wife)!

Here is Blake and his roommate, Jack.

Summer ending, decisions in motion!

So, today is my last Monday in Valdosta with Blake. Knowing that I have to go back to Crestview, and leave him here is a little depressing. However, when I leave he will only have five months left in school here. I am really hoping that those months fly by. I know I will be busy getting back into the swing of things at school (then again, I haven't had much time to get OUT of the swing of things) and that will help to make time go by a bit faster. We have had a blast this summer just being together. I have been beating myself up for a few comments I have made to Blake. I have said a few times that we haven't "done" much and that I don't feel like we have had a summer. I feel bad because by saying this I am making reality the fact that being together isn't enough for me. I know...SHAME ON ME!! I need to make it known that I have loved being over here...even when we've only grabbed a bite to eat and gone to bed. Obviously we've done something to keep us busy, since I haven't blogged every week like I said I would. (HAHA) We have been able to be lazy, spend time without anyone needing our attention, watch movies, played games on Facebook (been nosy too!), lay in bed and talk about stupid stuff, laugh at each other, and we have even had some serious thinking/pondering/questioning time.
It has been a summer of growing for both of us. There are lots of emotions that rise to the surface when you are separated by miles, you are living on one income and a loan for school, Satan is throwing circumstances and opportunities for failure in your path, people begin to want your husband's attention for guy time or classmate time, and the insecurities of just being enough are more than evident. We are learning to work as a team more than ever before. We are about to face important decisions as a couple. If we are being honest, we have made many of our decisions, even in our marriage, trying to please others. Well, we are now at the point where we have to make our decisions 100% based on US. Scary!! It is funny how at 16, you want to make your own decisions because you can, but there is someone there to correct your mistakes; at 26, you make your own decisions because you have to, and you must live with the mistakes. Blake will finish school in December and, soon after, will apply to the FAA. With the application, he will make the decision to choose a location in the states...southeast. While waiting to be hired, he will be back in Crestview with me and, depending on the outlook of hiring, will make the decision to either get a short-term job or not. We have already made the decision to take whatever location is offered to get his foot in the door. Also, we have already made the decision for me to teach the entire school year next year at Antioch. This probably means more separation time, while he goes to Oklahoma City for seven weeks of FAA training and then to his facility. The list goes on and on. Life is full of decisions. We are learning, for the first time, the big lesson of making decisions for US. We are trusting in God for His guidance and faithfulness. This summer has given us time to search, pray, and discuss the future. We are grabbing each other by the hand and life by the horns.

Normi's Obituary- not morbid, just memories...

I found my grannies obituary that was place in the Dothan Eagle in Dothan, Alabama. I wanted to save this on my blog as a memory of her life here with us.


Norma Deal Day Ritter Norma Deal Day Ritter of Crestview, FL, passed away after a brief illness on May 5, 2010. She was born in Samson, AL, on August 8, 1936. She attended school in Samson, AL, and Paxton, FL. She was preceded in death by her father, James Ewell Day; paternal grandparents, James Andrew and Martha Angeline Day; maternal grandparents, Marshall Edward and Sally Hearn. Norma is survived by her mother, Lola Mae Day Jordan, of Paxton, FL; sisters, Voncile Adams of Florala, AL, and Martha Morgan of Laurel Hill, FL; brother, Harold Day, of Dayton, OH; husband, Harold (Bug) Ritter of Crestview, FL; children, Stan Ritter of Crestview, FL, Sonya Merritt of Knoxville, TN, Doug Ritter of Kinston, AL, Jeanie Bland of St. Louis, MO, and Angelia Barker of Crestview, FL; fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service celebrating her life was conducted at Central Baptist Church in Crestview, FL, on May 9, 2010, with her family and friends in attendance. Whitehurst-Powell Funeral Home of Crestview, FL, is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at http://www.dothaneagle.com/.

Summer Breeze WOULD make me feel fine...

Wow! It is hot here in Valdosta. I am here with Blake for the next five weeks playing house. We are both loving being together for the summer. Blake is going to school five days out of the week, and I am soaking up the sun, cleaning, cooking, etc. while he is not at the apartment. I am loving every minute, well maybe not every minute...because it is hot. There is absolutely no breeze here in the armpit of the south. This just means I must stay in the pool :) I have made a committment to blog each week about our summer together...yes, it will be me recording daily events :) So far week one has played out this way:

Monday, June 14th- I arrived in Valdosta at 6:30. We ate chinese and went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. After we got back to the apartment, I made tuna salad, chicken salad, and rice crispy treats.

Tuesday, June 15th- Blake went to school at 10am. I made his lunch before he left, and then I started washing clothes and cleaning. I went out to the pool at 2:30 and stayed there for about 4 hours. Blake came out to swim. When it was time for him to work out, I went back to the apartment and showered. We went to Bill's for wings and trivia.

Wednesday, June 16th- Blake went to school at 10am. I made his lunch before he left, and then watched some TV (something I haven't been able to do in a while). I had to go to Blake's school to get my Wild Adventure's pass, and while I was there I got to watch him work the simulator for a few minutes. That was cool! I then met up with Elizabeth and Carson Richards who drove over from Crestview to do Wild Adventures for the day. The weather started going downhill, so we all went back to the apartment to clean up. We then went to the mall (Victoria's Secret was having the semi-annual sale). After doing a little shopping, we went to eat dinner at Longhorn. YUMMY!

Thursday, June 17th- Same morning routine. Same pool routine from Tuesday. When Blake went to work out at the gym, I went back to the apartment to shower and start cooking. We ate turkey spaghetti bake and green beans. Then we watched tv for the rest of the night:)

Friday, June 18th- Blake had to be at school from 7am until 1pm. After making his lunch and kissing him goodbye, I managed to fall back asleep until about 10:30. NICE! It felt great. We watched a bit of tv, and I forgot to mention earlier that I was able to catch up with everyone on Facebook :) We went out to the pool about 3pm to play trivia. The rules were STUPID and resulted in people running around the pool to try and get their answers in first. If you weren't the first ones to turn in your answers, then you didn't get as many points. Well, obviously we didn't win. After the pool, we showered, went to Cici's pizza, and then went to play Rock Band at the home of Blake's classmate, Candy.

Saturday, June 19th- Blake and I started out the morning eating breakfast muffins that I made on Friday. We watched "Baby Mama" which was hilarious. Blake and I just laughed and laughed. Very nice! He had to work at the tower from 2pm until 6pm, so I went to Wild Adventures for a couple of hours with Jade, another classmate of his. It was packed because of the Kirk Franklin concert, so we didn't stay very long. We went back to the pool and swam for a few hours. Jade brough her Wii over to the apartment, and we played Mario Cart for a few hours. I loved it! I have never been the video game type, but I love Mario Cart! Everyone pitched in and I made taco fixin's for dinner.

Sunday, June 20th- Father's Day and Blake's day off- What a LAZY day this became! We started out strong. We went to church and then ate lunch at "Smokin' Pig" YUMMY!! I started feeling a bit under the weather, which was fitting for the rainy day it became. We laid in the bed for the entire afternoon, napping and watching movie after movie. I decided I'd better get up and make dinner, so I baked some italian chicken and with rice on the side. At about 8pm, Blake decided he wanted to go to the movies to see "The Karate Kid." I wanted to see it, but really didn't feel like getting out of bed. The movie started at 9:45 and we decided to go at 9:25 :) We got there just in time to get our tickets, popcorn, drink, and a seat. It was a great movie, and ending to a lazy day!

Monday, June 21st- Blake's second day off- We slept in until about 10:30 :) We decided "NO SANDWICHES" for lunch and chose Steak-n-Shake instead. Of course, I had to have my Frisco melt and a peach milkshake. We went back to the apartment while it rained for a few hours. Mother nature decided to pay me a visit, which just put me out (physically and mentally) for the next few hours. I decided it might make me feel a little better to hit the pool with everyone else for a little while...NO. It was hot, I was bloated, and I didn't feel like talking to anyone. We went back to the apartment and finished up the leftovers in the fridge for dinner (along with my kettle corn). We decided to get back in bed and watch "The Departed." Then dozed off, ready for week two.

So far, I have a great headstart on tan, laziness, and my grocery list for this upcoming week:)

Normi goes Home...5/5/10

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."- Ecclesiastes 11:5

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."- Ecclesiastes 3:11


My heart is saddened as I write. Yet, at the same time, the most comforting peace overwhelms me. Today, after a long and tired few months, my granny (dad's mom) went home to be with her heavenly father. She suffered for a time, but God granted her the ultimate healing as she fell right into His arms. As I sit here and cry, because I selfishly wish she were here with Grand-daddy, my daddy, and with me, I can't help but think of the beautiful song God placed in the heart of Chris Rice. I think it sums up the life my granny gave to Christ many years ago. From a loving pastor's wife, a mother, an aunt, a friend, and my Normi, she gave the best she could to others and Christ. I think at this very moment as she looks deep into the eyes of the one who formed her long ago, she would sing this- in her beautiful, old-fashioned "Snow-White" voice. It sums up the life of a woman who gave her life up long ago and decided to live for the One who saved her! She lived a full life in a temporary shell that couldn't hold her any longer, and now she is living in her eternal home with Christ!

"Come to Jesus"

Weak and wounded sinner,
lost and left to die,
raise your head for love is passing by,
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
and live.

Now your burden's lifted,
carried far away,
and precious blood has washed away the stain,
So, Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
and live.

Like a newborn baby,
don't be afraid to crawl,
and remember when we walk,
sometimes we fall,
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live.

Sometimes the way is lonely,
it's deep and filled with pain,
so, if your sky is dark and pours the rain,
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
and live.

Oh, and when the love spills over,
and music fills the night,
And when you can't contain the joy inside,
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
and live.

With your final heartbeat,
kiss the world goodbye,
go in peace and laught on glory's side,
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
and live.

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
and live!


I can't say much more, but I would like to share some scriptures...

Psalm 107: 19-20
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."

I do believe that during this scary time... "Then granny cried to the Lord in her trouble, and he saved her from her distress. He sent forth his word and healed her; he rescued her from the grave." He gave her eternal life!!!

Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of the heaven and eart. He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a Winner- Jaime!!

I received a phone call from my very dear friend Jaime tonight. She was trying to ask through her uncontrolled laughter why I have one fingernail not painted in the blog picture. She is the first person to notice (or mention it, anyway). Red curtains, red ribbon on the Christmas tree, red sweater, red fingernails...no wait, only 9 painted fingernails!
That is a true friend, to laugh AT you and laugh WITH you :) I guess this calls for an updated picture.

Disney in less that $500

We spent Spring Break at Disney- the happiest place on Earth! Blake and I are like kids at a Chucky Cheese when we are headed to Disney. We decided to try a few new things due to our budget. We still managed to have a blast, yet we didn't feel like we deprived ourselves the opportunity to let loose.

After four days at Disney, gas, eating in park two meals a day, munchies, and tickets- I decided I should share how Blake and I managed to spend only $500 total. So, first of all, we stayed Saturday night at the Vacation Lodge about one mile from the maingate. It was $48.30- and it was actually clean:) Thanks to Blake's parents, we stayed the next five nights at the Bonnet Creek Resort. Bryan and Rebecca own a time share with Wyndham Resorts, therefore, we stayed the rest of the week free. We ate breakfast each morning before leaving the room. Okay, so we are not the type people to fill our bookbag with smashed sandwiches, sweating thawing water bottles, crushed crackers, and gummy snacks. We love getting popcorn, frozen bananas, and $3.00 waters...lol. Okay, so we don't love it, but we'd rather just spend the extra and not lug it around all day. So, you are probably wondering how we purchased my 4 day pass, the one-night stay, and food. Well, here is the secret.

Parking at the Boardwalk Disney Resort is FREE!!! We parked each day, "ate breakfast" or so we told the gate, and then hopped aboard the boat or bus. 4 days at $12 parking each day- We saved $48!

Ticket- $172 (4-days) and Blake's was purchased by his parents for his birthday :)

Food- Did you know that you can order a double cheeseburger with fries for $8.99 in the park. Doesn't sound like a deal...UNTIL...you order your extra bun for FREE. It comes dressed, and you just take one of the patties off the double and- Wah Lah- two cheeseburgers. A drink is $2.49. We ate for less than we would have at McDonalds!! Woohoo! We did this a few times. Another tip for those who don't like big meals, the children's plate come with a drink and your choice of fries or fruit. I usually do this when I am just eating on my own, and it costs only $4.99! It is just enough for you to eat and not have to worry about your food settling before you hit Rockin' Rollercoaster!

"Better than I"

Brother Paul asked me to sing this past Sunday, and so I prayed and prayed that God would give me the right song to share. I have the music for a song called "Better than I" by Joy Williams. I have only shared it once, at Woodlawn, about 5 years ago. The lyrics to this song, are a prayer of letting go of the "why's" in my life. Blake and I have had numerous "why's" in the past three years, and I thought that I was ready to share this song again as a testimony. I felt God telling me that this was the song he wanted me to sing. I listened to three other songs, trying to find something else that would be easier, better. But, Sunday morning, as I walked to the sound booth with three songs in my hand, I knew I HAD to sing "Better than I." The run-through went fine. There is one part toward the end that always gets me, and I thought I would be fine- no tears. HOWEVER, when I stood up to sing during the service, I let the first word out and the tears began to flow. I thought that maybe if I stopped, I could catch my breath, start again, and share my testimony clearly so that the words could easily be understood. So, take two- I stopped and asked the guys in the sound booth to start the song again. The music started, and I just began to cry as I sang. I closed my eyes, and prayed that it would reach those needing to hear. Through the entire song, I fought tears. God's presence was so strong! When I sang the last note, there were tears flowing from many sitting in the congregation as well. All I could do after I was finished was cry. Anyone who knows me an ounce, knew my cry, and they were right there with me. Through my struggles, I have prayed that I could say the words of this song/prayer-and mean them.
Even through tears, and even sometimes sobs, I can honestly say that I know He knows, and that all I need!

"Better than I" by Joy Williams

"I thought I did what's right.
I thought I had the answers.
I thought I'd chose the shortest road,
but that road brought me here.
So I put up a fight,
and told You how to help me.
Then just when I had given up,
the truth is coming clear.

For You know better than I,
You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why,
'Cause You know better than I.

If this has been a test,
I cannot see the reason.
But, maybe knowing, I don't know
is part of getting through.
I try to do what's best,
and faith has made it easy
to see the best thing I can do
is put my trust in You.

For You know better than I,
You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why,
'Cause You know better than I.

I saw a cloud, and thought it was the sky.
I saw a bird, and thought that I could follow.
But it was You who taught them how to fly.

If I let You reach me, will You teach me?

For You know better than I,
You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why,

I'll take what answers You supply-

'Cause You know better than I."


**All I need to know is that He already knows!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

My favorite day of the year arrived yesterday. It is called the day you receive the Girl Scout cookies you bought! I always order Thin Mints and Tagalongs, but this year there was a new cookie that caught my eye. I still ordered my usual, but since I am still losing weight slowly I thought I would try the new Thank U Berry Munch! These cookies are made with real cranberries! Yeah for me being healthy. Ok, now that you have laughed at me, I will admit that they aren't so healthy when you down the entire box in one day!!! Now, understand that there were only about 12 cookies in the sleeve, but let's get real. It doesn't matter what kind of cookie it is, if you eat the whole package in a 24 hour period. Thin Mints are in the freezer, just the way I like them. I will wait to start on those next week.
-Jenn

Let the blogging begin...

So, everyone has a blog! I decided, after several months of reading some amazing blogs kept by friends of mine, to create one for Blake and I. There is a lot that goes on in our life that I would love to, not only share, but document. It will be encouraging to reflect the blessings and struggles in our journey together as the months pass. With that said, I guess I will begin this blog with our journey thus far. Blake and I married on December 16, 2009- exactly five years from the date we began seeing each other. Before we begin this journey called "blogging", I'd first like to reflect.

Here is the breakdown of the first three years and two months in our marriage-

Careers:
Jennifer- Antioch Elementary School teacher
Blake- UWF full time student and graduated May 2008/Davidson Middle School Coach/Sport's Locker/Liberty
National Insurance Agent/Insurance Adjuster with State Farm Disaster Team/Air Traffic Control student

Church: We were married at Woodlawn Baptist Church (our home church at the time). Soon
we felt the urge to find a ministry within a new church home. We visited Emmanuel for
about six months, and then decided to visit First Baptist in Crestview. This is the
church in which I grew up, and it didn't take long to hear God's calling. We joined in
the summer of 2008.

Vacations: We cruised to Mexico aboard the Holiday (Carnival) on our honeymoon. We spent our first Spring Break in Gatlinburg, TN. We cruised again out of Miami to Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Island during June 2007 with a few of our friends (Kristen/Teddy/Isabella; Andrea; Anna) We traveled to Las Vegas when Blake played in the All-Star football game November 2008. We have taken numerous trips to Disney World (The Happiest Place on Earth) for Spring Break, Night of Joy, and "just because we felt like it." Each summer we have spent a week in Destin with Blake's parents. We took Katie, my 15 year old sister, to Sea World in September 2009.

Interests: New York Giants football; Twilight series fans; skiing; ladder ball; Marble Slab Ice Cream; quoting movies;

Most exciting moment: The honeymoon. I'm not saying that the rest hasn't been great, but there is nothing like those first few days together. No distractions of "real" life- just us!

Most difficult moment: Oh...there have been many, but the hardest was the choice to go to Air Traffic Control school and move to Valdosta for one year. We made the decision to limit our exciting life with one another to every other weekend and phone conversations during the weeks.

Wow- a crazy, exciting, scary, busy, tiring, and ever changing journey thus far!
Who knows what the next few months will hold. Blake will be completing his ATC training around November 2010. He will move from Valdosta to his first airport assignment. Our plan is that I finish the 2010-2011 school year and join him in June. But really, WHO KNOWS???!!!? Come alongside and take this unpredictable journey with us.