tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90708405300764339372024-03-05T20:06:55.206-05:00CarrickandMissyMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-49472317364200072002014-03-19T18:16:00.001-04:002014-03-19T18:16:24.965-04:00For Sale: 1996 Holiday Rambler 31ftWe have traded in our fulltime travel trailer living for a 'real' house. So in order to fund my (I would say our, but let's be honest) many home improvement dreams we are selling our travel trailer. <br />
<br />
Our much loved home on wheels can be yours for $6,000! We will consider all offers.<br />
<br />
Here are the specs. <br />
1996 Alumalite Holiday Rambler<br />
Brand new tires!<br />
Super slide in the living/kitchen (electric with manual backup)<br />
Electric jack<br />
Propane heater in living room<br />
Propane Furnace<br />
Electric A/C<br />
Electric/Propane Fridge<br />
Microwave<br />
Propane Stove/oven. However the previous owners told us there may be an air leak in the oven. We never used it for baking.<br />
Upgraded kitchen faucet with detachable sprayer<br />
Sound system - radio, tape player, Aux hook-up<br />
Water pump and grey/black water monitor system<br />
Outdoor shower<br />
Black water flushing system<br />
Manual Awning<br />
<br />
The cosmetic improvements include painting, and upholstery.<br />
The buyer will need to provide their own mattress (queen) and living room seating (small couch, loveseat, futon)<br />
<br />
email <a href="mailto:mjohn21@wgu.edu">mjohn21@wgu.edu</a> if you're interested!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-16194902954679831082012-03-22T22:31:00.002-04:002012-03-22T22:49:28.729-04:00Painting RV InteriorsAs a follow-up to my last post I thought I'd share the lessons learned from our little DIY, specifically, how I painted the walls.<br /><br />We used Dutchman paint, latex. All the paint was semi-gloss except for the grey, that was satin finish. If I could do it all again I would have gotten all satin. The semi-gloss is a little too reflective and took a lot more coats.<br /><br />I read blogs online to prepare, and every one of them said something different. For vinyl walls the most complicated method said to wash, sand with fine sand-paper, wash again, dry, prime, paint. For the living room slide-out I did just that. Then I realized that me sanding and washing the entire camper myself would take forever. I didn't feel like the sanding was doing much anyway, so I skipped that step for the rest.<br /><br />I washed all the walls with soap and water, primed, and painted. I did two coats of primer on the slide, and one coat of primmer on all the rest... I don't think two coats made a difference.<br /><br />The green paint took FOREVER. I probably did at least four coats of the green, and touch-ups on spots where you could still see through. I started painting the green with a bristle paint brush, then switched to a flat sponge type one. The sponge one covered way faster and thicker. The rest of the colors only took two coats using a sponge brush/roller.<br /><br />I didn't tape a thing, just free handed the trim and floor/ceiling.<br /><br />I will say it's not exactly like painting a wall in a house. The paint seems a little more susceptible to scratches and such. We have the leftover little tubs of paint to make touch ups as necessary.<br /><br />General Tips:<br />Use a sponge roller/brush/flat brush thing (don't know the proper term)<br />Carry a rag with you that has soapy water on it to fix your mistakes<br />Use an artists paintbrush to get into the small spaces (around outlets, doors, and windows)<br />Don't be afraid to lay it on thick, but not too think that it creates dripsMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-19358959885862787142012-03-21T14:45:00.022-04:002012-03-21T19:06:40.768-04:00The After<div align="center">Here are pictures of our RV remodel. Enjoy!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPu9wZbHAROVtqPHTb74DTIONWL1EhD0McKSBNOFewE5dH4d6JOMz4yzk2HwhThx5dqdBabIZigA4MTCtWTiDniI06hIvFGU67KR3w-WCVYD4E4JD5SSILOMu0AvlbKsPoUxhn1Gp8phQ/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722487099225515154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPu9wZbHAROVtqPHTb74DTIONWL1EhD0McKSBNOFewE5dH4d6JOMz4yzk2HwhThx5dqdBabIZigA4MTCtWTiDniI06hIvFGU67KR3w-WCVYD4E4JD5SSILOMu0AvlbKsPoUxhn1Gp8phQ/s320/IMG_1999.JPG" /></a>New paint and upholstery.<br /><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722486893148083266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9q_R91oyLyKt7H0IllBIyydzf6757_Ot1lMfQGuEL_kT_4CXS2WbGTzZweejerj18yQMc4FChGuDm9-MHblZAInrT9YSnGF1x5w_REZlqNkcXGvozbDyuj4pacmeNaU8gUYXljw4WGSi/s320/IMG_2000.JPG" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722486708216776978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdeXmDYzLkPUJBrwUiyKTJIeczoYbWRIBvQ30YtQP6SzlWMHTPJeC1UMmoFugzuscJRYwYgd-UtWV985jqIb1jdVGA94N-YYUI4fp01AE2WIDaXBxVoEBbSlcJlluZs_5npUlh7bxu5kk/s320/IMG_2001.JPG" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722486538102867618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUFXR90mjt-PJvrFDzmkkqjD01tX8-tY1hLdFulIIf6N_nZJA9sIL7fCGlA8H3xhwOLc4-ocSIKTt8zxUNeGkx0B4Uyy3IpAQnYeZH3Cp2gEFlq7pq-QK3rpVuETVbi2fyo5pN2tDSnIs/s320/IMG_2005.JPG" />Magnetic and chalkboard paint for the freezer.<br /><div><div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722488708447554034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYV3rjtEtOdQPowHC07jFoiT1-NOE6PRWfJ0i2UB_n_2wFhiz2nhD3QbBKiieZXUiSScM6XFJD0qcsOLJB65QAeCQaEaIr7Zi41jnASplcLym8y70sIeh0mcfhRr3bgIc2wSRehsXXei7/s320/IMG_2010.JPG" /></div><div>One of my favorite things... retractable faucet thanks to Carrick's dad!</div><div> </div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722486359817813314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTh3GzxrqVnRUsFudXxYB8QTBoEU8TVvohdZxpIME2dPjqXsdynWlIMVn-izhGErwhrxX-yS1bHWY_roxzvENR-5j7KuxGkZDaEbRKykdWBT4-e50BgODOHWHoMo722nwy37LEP9lwSmz/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" /></div><div>Removed the couch and put in our reclining loveseat and book shelves. </div><div>You can see our electric heater that works great! We don't use our propane one.<br /><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722486245758278610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrSSj-MsOO9WC213rV118FrynSsQQi3NkXBDKZ5vNtTo2qox4FQME_jCDZb4qRLV_6Au4hkklETlqSZOlPkI6dQyaIb_nS9U0vS1vCNTBQKefF9U26YAxY6jlaNJDlb6FsQYvw3CXQNqU/s320/IMG_2007.JPG" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722485985703399138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YJEF16H43YNPe60Y0_oaRhMAqilxAgqRknGbmTOpVcOdEi4fV58z_glw_2dtUwO2fVSjb2wwNHl5IQGwkOwr3E6LBb7ovcVGyUmifgLFqyaFBiDXFgGqysFPEkkPW9s6UdO9NAgDoZfh/s320/IMG_2014.JPG" />New paint and curtains. I just made that painting today.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSAqllnkJ9sLnKGF3YQl8sI7p2RyTMhtZHC4V2zhLYAonXK614VvIRbbZC6hmm6zHEoZuiyWWUF8z4DaQEFbmNnKF5VCZV40g1uX5O48qEOr9rtwjcmSzUKiQHOG0v1KbZtKzxxzuVm8D/s1600/IMG_2015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722485674115503234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSAqllnkJ9sLnKGF3YQl8sI7p2RyTMhtZHC4V2zhLYAonXK614VvIRbbZC6hmm6zHEoZuiyWWUF8z4DaQEFbmNnKF5VCZV40g1uX5O48qEOr9rtwjcmSzUKiQHOG0v1KbZtKzxxzuVm8D/s320/IMG_2015.JPG" /></a>We also switched out the mattress for our ultra-comfy but slightly larger one.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYX7PWI7EN8TQUPHzYsf92n9xRx480RfT1Qf50LjWNLEShiRt44149sHD15Y4XengRkJKjSsfLXM5bxWfVaC-s1YVc4y4OpEHJFICSOhw-eyqKGfl657MRR-cqU2kauxwKTUoSu2364_F/s1600/IMG_2017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722472792112784546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYX7PWI7EN8TQUPHzYsf92n9xRx480RfT1Qf50LjWNLEShiRt44149sHD15Y4XengRkJKjSsfLXM5bxWfVaC-s1YVc4y4OpEHJFICSOhw-eyqKGfl657MRR-cqU2kauxwKTUoSu2364_F/s320/IMG_2017.JPG" /></a>Towel storage inside the bathroom door.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtkUu4bpAdMs3RdGCzpaUJb0XTJiawOAL01HPBewcmdyxEMQ1bb3OimO5kMyjdjZPKLOPElix3xGxsAj7YPrbcoYpWXwo-VXAicUnWt5Diqu4UyryIONffdRenDBau6LQKviSc0lqY0xt/s1600/IMG_2018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722472471513457106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtkUu4bpAdMs3RdGCzpaUJb0XTJiawOAL01HPBewcmdyxEMQ1bb3OimO5kMyjdjZPKLOPElix3xGxsAj7YPrbcoYpWXwo-VXAicUnWt5Diqu4UyryIONffdRenDBau6LQKviSc0lqY0xt/s320/IMG_2018.JPG" /></a>New bathroom paint for the walls and fixtures.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hotNFddbdP4gySYEqpNYGJFyVYsA3l3QnFwdXQ4ig-qC10Mre5hi8lMKGfMqhpxKvJS__rj41gsd0qJeZCcl-jcQIsCKKrc65NS1vh0SkUqtyEofEoX2HxARXwEr4HJoRF3bTL8Dnt3j/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722472174734447810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hotNFddbdP4gySYEqpNYGJFyVYsA3l3QnFwdXQ4ig-qC10Mre5hi8lMKGfMqhpxKvJS__rj41gsd0qJeZCcl-jcQIsCKKrc65NS1vh0SkUqtyEofEoX2HxARXwEr4HJoRF3bTL8Dnt3j/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" /></a><div> Bathroom artwork...</div><div><em>How to be an Artist</em>, and a picture of kids from all over the world </div><div>I picked up at an artist's shop in Korea. </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-81175981979015055432012-03-05T11:36:00.002-05:002012-03-05T12:43:03.670-05:00What's Not Important to Us: StuffWhile on this search to find what is truly important to us, we have discovered instead something that is not... well, many things to be exact. I'm talking about <em>stuff. </em>By stuff I mean the things that we fill our lives with, spend our paychecks on, and then throw away within the year because it no longer fits, matches our tastes, or is out of date.<br /><br />We realized, mostly after packing up all our stuff, then unpacking, then packing... well you get the idea, that we spend so much of our time, money, energy on these things that do nothing to make our lives better. We found large discrepancies between what we thought we needed, and what we actually need to survive, be happy, and live comfortably.<br /><br />I'm sure downsizing into a 31 x 10 ft-ish living space has had a lot to do with this... but I think we were coming to this realization even if we didn't move into a RV.<br /><br />We've grown tired of the pressure to consume that we feel from society, and although it's hard at times we're on a path to avoid unnecessary purchases. For example, everyone at Carrick's work thinks we're absolutely nuts for moving into a camper, buying used cars, and our general philosophy on life. (I think Carrick has been called a hippie daily). When one of his higher-ups heard we were selling most of our furniture he remarked, "That's good, then you can go out and buy some new stuff that is in style now." <em>Really, </em>I think he missed the point.<br /><br />No doubt our feelings are somewhat of a reaction to what we see happening around us... Many people experiencing foreclosure and debt because they were caught in this consuming game and <em>needed</em> something without having the money to pay for it at the time.<br /><br />After doing some research on the internet it's no surprise that we are not alone. There are many people who are working on downsizing and changing there consumer habits. One website I particularly enjoy is <a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org">www.storyofstuff.org</a>.<br /><br />Here is a great video that sums it up:<br /><br /><br /><iframe style="border: 0px currentColor;" height="600" src="http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/embed_SoS.html" frameborder="0" width="738" name="SoS_embed" scrolling="no" align="top"> </iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />So here is our plan:<br /><br />1. Only make purchases that we have the money to pay for immediately (with the exception of our cars). We don't have credit cards and we pay for my school up front which is something we've worked and saved to be able to do.<br />2. When we do make purchases we have an established need or justified want. We talk about it for awhile and shop around to find the best deal.<br />3. Buy items that are multi-purpose if possible (this is mostly due to limited space). For example we have a shoe rack doubling as a book shelf and our kitchen table is also our computer desk.<br />4. Purchase items that add to our lives, will get a lot of use, and bring us beauty (that last part is mostly for me, I'm sure Carrick doesn't care if things are pretty :).<br />5. Buy used if possible. Buying used saves us money, keeps something from going into a landfill, and and I'd like to think is a disruption to the crazy consumerism cycle.<br /><br />I'd like also to add that we don't think all things are bad. We highly value and cherish the meaningful things in our lives like family heirlooms, special gifts from family and friends, mementos from our travels... We feel like if we limit some of the meaningless stuff we bring into our lives we are able to appreciate better the things that mean to most to us.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-39825134733870464492012-02-28T16:07:00.002-05:002012-02-28T16:30:40.631-05:00What's Important to Us: Each OtherThis seems pretty basic right? Of course we're important to each other. But when we really looked at how we were living, it sure wouldn't seem that way. Ask anyone who is/has been married they'll tell you that marriages have their ups and downs, and that has been the case for us too, we'd just like to make sure the ups last a lot longer than the downs!<br /><br />I'd say the boiling point was right before I came out to North Carolina. We were living apart, both doing our own thing, and not really focused on the other person. We were playing the blame game... both focusing on what the other person was doing wrong, not noticing how we were making the other person feel. At least that was the case for me.<br /><br />Carrick and I would talk on the phone daily, but I was not really there. I'd be watching tv in the background or working on school, or more often than not on<em> facebook</em> or <em>pinterest. </em>Then he'd ask me a question and I'd have no idea what he was talking about. <em>Busted!</em> Turns out I'm not as good at multi-tasking than I thought.<br /><br />It was then that we made a promise to each other to do better. To think about how our actions would make to other person feel, to give our undivided attention when it's required, to give up some of ourselves so that together we can be stronger. It has made a huge difference.<br /><br />We speak kinder to eachother. We have new hobbies that we enjoy together. We've started disc golfing and hiking/biking together at the local National Forest. We share more about our day, and spend more time together when we're both home, instead of us being off in our own corners...<br /><br />And now I see that <em>being</em> together is more important than ever... Carrick will deploy to Afghanistan in a couple months, and once again we'll face the world together but apart. It hasn't quite hit me yet, that he's leaving. It probably won't until he gets on the plane, but I do know that I will cherish our time together and <em>be</em> in every moment.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-10897206281714038742012-02-25T09:21:00.002-05:002012-02-25T09:33:07.910-05:00To the Future...I haven't blogged in awhile party because we were transitioning to life in the states, and I was completing my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-student teaching, but also because I just didn't have much to say.<br /><br />This blog started as a way for us to fill in our families on what we were doing while living in Japan, and I think I've done an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span> job so far keeping it updated and meaningful. Our lives are changing though, and for a while I didn't know what the new purpose of this blog would be, or if it would even have a purpose.<br /><br />I've decided to keep it going, and to write about our new life. I don't know if anyone will read it or find it interesting, but at least I will have a record of where we are now, and who knows... someday maybe our kids will enjoy reading it and laughing at how nuts their parents were.<br /><br />As this blog finds a purpose, we hope to also. Coming back to life in the states combined with the end of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick's</span> enlistment looming over us (only a year away!), we've had to decide where we go from here and what is truly important to us. We're starting on another journey of sorts because we've felt called by God to be more, do more, for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">each other</span> and the world.<br /><br />We're very much still learning and trying to figure it all out, so if you'd like you can come along for the journey on this blog. Cheers!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-5794910577186158652012-02-25T09:11:00.003-05:002012-02-25T09:20:28.369-05:00Korea<div>I know this is very late, but for documentation's sake I figured I would include a post about my trip to Korea. As I've mentioned before, the trip was to train adults in Girl Scout programming. I had an incrediable time, and it was great to be able to spend time with my friends before I moved. Two days were spent training and meeting other Girl Scouts, and we took two days to see the sights. We went to a shopping/cultural district on one day and to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the second.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr276Wbrzp7ZUZD18kyX8DjO9qIVvCryaPj_41TGObu9y00xoKwMO-qMriL27WVsTlxw4QoWVZ1trYOtzE3WgZskLtX8uBootmU6JygJNdZF-N_9v452AxDDvWS5ZJl0Jyn36_ahPTe4V/s1600/Korea1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713076480250889266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr276Wbrzp7ZUZD18kyX8DjO9qIVvCryaPj_41TGObu9y00xoKwMO-qMriL27WVsTlxw4QoWVZ1trYOtzE3WgZskLtX8uBootmU6JygJNdZF-N_9v452AxDDvWS5ZJl0Jyn36_ahPTe4V/s320/Korea1.jpg" /></a><br />Stephanie, a Korea GS Leader, and I after training.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWyDjut9X1qL6eeLvzi53PrbRw7YgPBntVTMqBhyphenhyphenY-CQ2PjjODjymZRDb6SRE2sclfFeV0-x5jR7ve8NTaXltrRCGUf-j1uw-lsb8rc_CFaKArNi5Fd81tpkqueaCYr3uBJkhOtu7ixYp/s1600/Korea2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713076485319999762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWyDjut9X1qL6eeLvzi53PrbRw7YgPBntVTMqBhyphenhyphenY-CQ2PjjODjymZRDb6SRE2sclfFeV0-x5jR7ve8NTaXltrRCGUf-j1uw-lsb8rc_CFaKArNi5Fd81tpkqueaCYr3uBJkhOtu7ixYp/s320/Korea2.jpg" /></a><br />Seoul Tower</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WFn65rpJoIjJBOzJ6mKpwTX15wssJUMjMsksXuoliWbj-UddPZv-NaSJwMRxkZUcdNVPhIvcfNBdbNq1GzI8t0qCLWx68EuLOP4wHIQ67VRvh5_ulW_h6DUtQf_bbmVr2lOKx6Oj2x6/s1600/Korea3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713076491501820562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WFn65rpJoIjJBOzJ6mKpwTX15wssJUMjMsksXuoliWbj-UddPZv-NaSJwMRxkZUcdNVPhIvcfNBdbNq1GzI8t0qCLWx68EuLOP4wHIQ67VRvh5_ulW_h6DUtQf_bbmVr2lOKx6Oj2x6/s320/Korea3.jpg" /></a><br />Me outside the GS Korea store. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWJ_L3q3jIZ2yJKKW9JFFB0uWPCJaHuZ_1okaNZYdbNJ9tDKmvVueWWgjexrKb-ct_769Crytfw6FH53uizGqbXrFnGTyo-LZXupJmURsboT0YxWGLzxlobagC9Ly66UCBPOLuf9tgrja/s1600/Korea4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713076499629194386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWJ_L3q3jIZ2yJKKW9JFFB0uWPCJaHuZ_1okaNZYdbNJ9tDKmvVueWWgjexrKb-ct_769Crytfw6FH53uizGqbXrFnGTyo-LZXupJmURsboT0YxWGLzxlobagC9Ly66UCBPOLuf9tgrja/s320/Korea4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SVIDBgBkHyAakHrJFR84v4pGDaIzbWOKS6ya9B6LuDuPgdbOJogmZ8t0syjXNWUnwDjWewGlcM678WbdLy1TbZ_9329w622IqTDXlXSGY1zs1Gl4FuWiCpdBKm4AbNhtx5tgyuzSyLtu/s1600/Korea5.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713076506022024658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SVIDBgBkHyAakHrJFR84v4pGDaIzbWOKS6ya9B6LuDuPgdbOJogmZ8t0syjXNWUnwDjWewGlcM678WbdLy1TbZ_9329w622IqTDXlXSGY1zs1Gl4FuWiCpdBKm4AbNhtx5tgyuzSyLtu/s320/Korea5.jpg" /></a><br />At the DMZ.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVnDhyphenhyphenTL4KxdxCRb8M6G24CtFtNj6EmsYpCv78jIGj3P1ahV7lMawiSD3Fc3UNDvtiFdu2azybCMR9VaxzbqxIFV9K9fPTN6H820XdhrjjSYZBieLC20Bs3dPRFXqDzb0PkZkB35I8Ihc/s1600/Korea6.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713077605195258770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVnDhyphenhyphenTL4KxdxCRb8M6G24CtFtNj6EmsYpCv78jIGj3P1ahV7lMawiSD3Fc3UNDvtiFdu2azybCMR9VaxzbqxIFV9K9fPTN6H820XdhrjjSYZBieLC20Bs3dPRFXqDzb0PkZkB35I8Ihc/s320/Korea6.jpg" /></a><br />Arwen, GS Director - Okinawa, and I standing in N. Korea.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-35628766419151417052011-09-15T03:50:00.000-04:002011-09-15T03:57:09.246-04:00Where are we going from here?You may be wondering what is next for us.<br /><br />I have one week left in Okinawa, followed by one week spent with Girl Scouts in South Korea.<br /><br />After that I will be moving in with family for about 5-6months to complete observations and tasks in an elementary classroom. These tasks are pre-student teaching. We decided it was best for me to be in one place right now so I can knock out these tasks and get it done... instead of starting and stopping in three different places. Because of this I will be moving back to Iowa sooner, and staying later, than Carrick will.<br /><br />Carrick will be staying in Okinawa until sometime around the 1st of Nov. He will get to come to Iowa for about 30 days of leave, and then move to North Carolina before Dec. 2nd.<br /><br />I'm not looking forward to us being apart, but I know it is only temporary and will be worth it in the long run when I finally have my degree! Because I won't be able to move to NC until I get my tasks done in Iowa it will also be great motivation and keep me working hard so I can join my man sooner!<br /><br />So that's the outlook for the Johnsons. Up next, Korea!!!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-36902610347540525362011-09-13T03:12:00.001-04:002011-09-13T03:49:13.269-04:00International Move Take 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR9fbmQohe_fI15_28J0a19QdbEH3WsZaELA4fpI-AcVyJB0VVGYiDhKDIvZC0WfWErgV75KXpbKW_M_7qNSrq5Nq50kb83_CxP8M8jJJn9USgM5YiKjuJN8SlLW5OOzFBo8iiOonqtDc/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651739278478951826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR9fbmQohe_fI15_28J0a19QdbEH3WsZaELA4fpI-AcVyJB0VVGYiDhKDIvZC0WfWErgV75KXpbKW_M_7qNSrq5Nq50kb83_CxP8M8jJJn9USgM5YiKjuJN8SlLW5OOzFBo8iiOonqtDc/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>So it begins the packing up of our life in Okinawa. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Everything is bitter sweet. We're sad to be leaving, but happy to go on to our next adventure.</div><br /><br /><div>I will miss the friendships that I have made, which are really beyond words to describe on this blog. I have met people who will forever be a part of my life, and I hope to visit them again on their island in the Pacific! It is a great feeling to know that you have people who care about you all over the world. Thank God for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> and email.</div><br /><br /><div>We'll both miss the food... we've already been searching online for Thai and curry restaurants in the states. We're not to hopeful that we'll find much, and we're pretty sure it will never be as good as it is here. </div><br /><br /><div>I will miss perpetual summer (but not typhoons and 100 degrees at 7am). </div><br /><br /><div>I will miss having every outing, whether it be going out to dinner, or to the beach, or shopping, be an experience in culture.<br /></div><br /><div>This really has become our home. Our marriage has grown, we've added a dog, we've experienced happiness and heartache, and we'll be moving on to our next home eager to continue learning and growing. </div><br /><div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-14753748579475672212011-07-31T21:52:00.000-04:002011-07-31T22:02:27.585-04:00Recent CraftiesI recently finished this monstrosity of a quilt. It's made from my old t-shirts from high school, Girl Scouts, and life guarding. I love my old tshirts and couldn't part with them, but was tired of them taking up so much space in my drawers. This is a great way to display them and hold on to those memories! <br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZMe4YteMtKnReYKkAjI1hl5CzlWxN9jo00Z50PvYEh6M9MYbJ7BmwdXPSBMU4COvIvF5abgskvtWFO7aRPMGYjTwlBTcpUhASXoG6f37_SYYulJOuo5U3Dorb49ihJ1aCqWgeJWM2L7l/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635701384413321474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZMe4YteMtKnReYKkAjI1hl5CzlWxN9jo00Z50PvYEh6M9MYbJ7BmwdXPSBMU4COvIvF5abgskvtWFO7aRPMGYjTwlBTcpUhASXoG6f37_SYYulJOuo5U3Dorb49ihJ1aCqWgeJWM2L7l/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0pon2pzbiMe6m4IrsqDWrw-VovTQfSvSDiPZ3cjLvgWMpeewTjVVHR2sw1iHmFZqqA014twKmEFoXhhBl5v_Dl7svEbtp83mxZssEdKqds1T-fZ0aNtwiULQyCV4sZtA9o7qWvGjbnmO/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635701381653977298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0pon2pzbiMe6m4IrsqDWrw-VovTQfSvSDiPZ3cjLvgWMpeewTjVVHR2sw1iHmFZqqA014twKmEFoXhhBl5v_Dl7svEbtp83mxZssEdKqds1T-fZ0aNtwiULQyCV4sZtA9o7qWvGjbnmO/s320/IMG_1956.JPG" /></a></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-11429871648694801422011-07-17T16:26:00.000-04:002011-07-18T05:07:23.931-04:00Our (soon to be) New Home<div>In between my turns to love up on my new baby niece, I set out on an alternate mission while I was visiting in Iowa, to find us a new home. For the past few months we (really 'I' with Carrick following along reluctantly) hatched a plan for our living arrangement when we move back stateside to allow us to save as much money as possible to eventually buy a house when we choose to settle permanently.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Are you ready to hear our crazy plan?! We will be living in a 31ft travel trailer for the 18 months that Carrick will have left in the Marine Corps once we return stateside. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUshM8dx6FcZPrei0hsfUtctxNkeAhqihzqiOkVe0wR4xpvvdM7cdjokYTPHaW5DctTYLPFdVcnA9SFbSFbhtoILRB1wGNg25Z905DjAL-cFpcq_QmszdewboauS4_UmIeHSlX-yKmW2Ja/s1600/DSC01596.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630615724526186706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUshM8dx6FcZPrei0hsfUtctxNkeAhqihzqiOkVe0wR4xpvvdM7cdjokYTPHaW5DctTYLPFdVcnA9SFbSFbhtoILRB1wGNg25Z905DjAL-cFpcq_QmszdewboauS4_UmIeHSlX-yKmW2Ja/s320/DSC01596.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCj2XR7v4XxBq3x9vu2VTFiyOGGTyggUej9mKRvjN_wP4fYmz9Ku1Vvy4iHAuOh_I4CSC3gmoHtZpwwoBW889gmaMQBEAtTC5Wzn11i34bWTJf920IxyqRo9Vy0Nl4USd6RZ7SCZo91Ga/s1600/DSC01597.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630516101543900466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCj2XR7v4XxBq3x9vu2VTFiyOGGTyggUej9mKRvjN_wP4fYmz9Ku1Vvy4iHAuOh_I4CSC3gmoHtZpwwoBW889gmaMQBEAtTC5Wzn11i34bWTJf920IxyqRo9Vy0Nl4USd6RZ7SCZo91Ga/s320/DSC01597.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div>I have been researching online families who live fulltime in campers and rvs, and it really seemed like a viable and inventive way to live while we work on saving. Many of these families travel the world, which is why they choose a more moble lifestyle. However, we will be parking our trailer, which has been fittingly named "Happy," at our next duty station, most likely North Carolina. I'd love to take some time after Carrick get's out to do some traveling, but that will probably take some more convincing :). </div><br /><br /><div>So here are the specs of our new home:</div><br /><div>1996 31ft Holiday Rambler travel trailer<br />Super slide in living room/kitchen</div><br /><br /><div>and of course pictures!</div><br /><div>I plan to do some redecorating and painting, so these will be the 'before' pictures.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8iYQ5IPT5fgTKi-Ix85fCQS0L98VDf3BOJqmqkopYzAN5epUMZ0n4_0Zvwvzz33gY1JHDJLxQ-snvm9Xn4PXk9iARpmAoywnKsFyIB-JSHRGVhaCrgUxoi96MdA2pS_ygtPcr_1zdlQU/s1600/DSC01592.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 362px; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485221619484338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8iYQ5IPT5fgTKi-Ix85fCQS0L98VDf3BOJqmqkopYzAN5epUMZ0n4_0Zvwvzz33gY1JHDJLxQ-snvm9Xn4PXk9iARpmAoywnKsFyIB-JSHRGVhaCrgUxoi96MdA2pS_ygtPcr_1zdlQU/s320/DSC01592.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_ZLXz3ZJbnUiMxYQnCXY-AIXPSjWI1NserVuyxXI4r9DPfdJfiNi0Gpyk4gYELUClGENexIGgMZX34hIRcBsIwR1MwSYB8oBOQcC78UJeh5rwN18feBofEGlE_j0VGI79RAtQXLod_KQ/s1600/DSC01593.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630608388999450194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_ZLXz3ZJbnUiMxYQnCXY-AIXPSjWI1NserVuyxXI4r9DPfdJfiNi0Gpyk4gYELUClGENexIGgMZX34hIRcBsIwR1MwSYB8oBOQcC78UJeh5rwN18feBofEGlE_j0VGI79RAtQXLod_KQ/s320/DSC01593.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9iOWqUugTQ_85pkU5gytZy3QpcmVHtG08Qj27sxUN46-dVTnyuifBCUAP1_YlifcXvY_tAJFsbh8hEvlzqKXdIqVmqgaMktjFdjoqC9mZJHV1DqNfuZ2BNL9bmgGwwlv2A4EXivq_lLJ/s1600/DSC01595.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630520743884572338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9iOWqUugTQ_85pkU5gytZy3QpcmVHtG08Qj27sxUN46-dVTnyuifBCUAP1_YlifcXvY_tAJFsbh8hEvlzqKXdIqVmqgaMktjFdjoqC9mZJHV1DqNfuZ2BNL9bmgGwwlv2A4EXivq_lLJ/s320/DSC01595.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Kitchen</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpfIlZaj0DupuSHWppULJaRde6bjUdDj3QVlYcyPpYezZLDGFSM7eHF7m36KmjOhPD-5I9T3Fi5SlOY02pPuqyBFSEcm5dzyLoDlNRDvUfQfJS8s4-qg6ebNHjDtS8CdmOR-RpSHpsl2w/s1600/DSC01594.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630603142553436930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpfIlZaj0DupuSHWppULJaRde6bjUdDj3QVlYcyPpYezZLDGFSM7eHF7m36KmjOhPD-5I9T3Fi5SlOY02pPuqyBFSEcm5dzyLoDlNRDvUfQfJS8s4-qg6ebNHjDtS8CdmOR-RpSHpsl2w/s320/DSC01594.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Living Room<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0RLgcPLlFkGMd5cCdBj6jImAaLR5Fd7OSiZgsIvzgN4yvSUUnoZm9HfVn52_3ptD1T6XbG_Vqab-PkMqG9NolHvmrl37P7zhcNwCBESdybndyjU0QUjVB1ge07MfrLE1aVvf5DzlJ7M/s1600/DSC01591.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 263px; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485216687201874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0RLgcPLlFkGMd5cCdBj6jImAaLR5Fd7OSiZgsIvzgN4yvSUUnoZm9HfVn52_3ptD1T6XbG_Vqab-PkMqG9NolHvmrl37P7zhcNwCBESdybndyjU0QUjVB1ge07MfrLE1aVvf5DzlJ7M/s320/DSC01591.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Entertainment/Storage in LR<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S4Qo2UYalSop_gCERr_S2Ghw1LxNSCHF7jwAW4S9CrBvCFQyGhGcHL_Q7xQnaNf9agpqzhUkqlAeoTN2CMu1ootKvPZLgCBLfb0NTBSYsqHx0ezIDAM_EMMA4N43pAUXmzganaP1XjpB/s1600/DSC01590.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485208952860418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S4Qo2UYalSop_gCERr_S2Ghw1LxNSCHF7jwAW4S9CrBvCFQyGhGcHL_Q7xQnaNf9agpqzhUkqlAeoTN2CMu1ootKvPZLgCBLfb0NTBSYsqHx0ezIDAM_EMMA4N43pAUXmzganaP1XjpB/s320/DSC01590.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Hallway Closets<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAbfDlCM-WX_6goHqzuRW5zmU2T6Muk6bkeOSzHQBPOTEq5CUVdgF3vxucDhBvCYG-PJM14QTiWFwPskfW1QaNNW9Czg4nT2lmPF6QOKFKe8rb0YvjvCF3V3HJM7nZhYGIBB8IWJfN0mt/s1600/DSC01588.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630473690510677186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAbfDlCM-WX_6goHqzuRW5zmU2T6Muk6bkeOSzHQBPOTEq5CUVdgF3vxucDhBvCYG-PJM14QTiWFwPskfW1QaNNW9Czg4nT2lmPF6QOKFKe8rb0YvjvCF3V3HJM7nZhYGIBB8IWJfN0mt/s320/DSC01588.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Bathroom<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn8fX1imiTMQZPvZTAn-OREwM5SVJbbDiVozAOX_8ha1VRGMmXvEaFZIF-LxLmNV9x29I70S3XzL1gkBoB4RsEktqzHQcDuRJlBFtYgj08BlsNiAyxzrPeiiRYNbBFLMWJWWZmoJiLlNe/s1600/DSC01589.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485206619753330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn8fX1imiTMQZPvZTAn-OREwM5SVJbbDiVozAOX_8ha1VRGMmXvEaFZIF-LxLmNV9x29I70S3XzL1gkBoB4RsEktqzHQcDuRJlBFtYgj08BlsNiAyxzrPeiiRYNbBFLMWJWWZmoJiLlNe/s320/DSC01589.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Above toilet and little bit of vanity<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52LALxFFgqMaVa44ZXYf4qatJ0UOUvrZat1EsywdQ0DtfpOD7Xj-ujBo56uEMCQ1z7E5u1DjrHcd_Q6TtoIVrAXy5boxJAL8GZ7fEZGOy1_WDglDfL3ScYSboxygGWX_SEJ279K1XTmRG/s1600/DSC01587.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630485201218435778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52LALxFFgqMaVa44ZXYf4qatJ0UOUvrZat1EsywdQ0DtfpOD7Xj-ujBo56uEMCQ1z7E5u1DjrHcd_Q6TtoIVrAXy5boxJAL8GZ7fEZGOy1_WDglDfL3ScYSboxygGWX_SEJ279K1XTmRG/s320/DSC01587.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Shower<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OMquho42kFvyq4ZSrpfeeuqycRhejUN2ERymXLmKJMpKX3aQX9SHoY42vL51rbJvCX7k-J9u2Kn8iI-OYJE22HpnQQCxBHNJDEf5sKp2sMdjrhmDoogWhKNF26nqHdfnNPZL-2M8GVsj/s1600/DSC01586.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630456184303607218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OMquho42kFvyq4ZSrpfeeuqycRhejUN2ERymXLmKJMpKX3aQX9SHoY42vL51rbJvCX7k-J9u2Kn8iI-OYJE22HpnQQCxBHNJDEf5sKp2sMdjrhmDoogWhKNF26nqHdfnNPZL-2M8GVsj/s320/DSC01586.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Bedroom</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-22635427309524144012011-07-17T16:15:00.000-04:002011-07-17T16:25:09.321-04:00Abbey is Here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEtFyIYUgAkvfS2o9tfz5qi9G3zNvRZFn4FNcceJUugwc4p_o1ZcrE-KpfOLjuLupFpvIU7RrQ502_YJ_-qdHhUd62nuZZzxiSgg67iXpXht_r7p9WeiCogW2V9gaycCTzW8kJZAq96V8/s1600/264930_561471491562_209100966_31966448_3988458_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630419075103563858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEtFyIYUgAkvfS2o9tfz5qi9G3zNvRZFn4FNcceJUugwc4p_o1ZcrE-KpfOLjuLupFpvIU7RrQ502_YJ_-qdHhUd62nuZZzxiSgg67iXpXht_r7p9WeiCogW2V9gaycCTzW8kJZAq96V8/s400/264930_561471491562_209100966_31966448_3988458_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>I'd like to introduce you to my niece Abbey Mae! She was born June 17th, and I was honored to be at her birth. I made it home just in time to see my sister, Meagan, pregnant for a day. I got home on Wednesday night, and Thursday night we were at the hospital! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaNZ-xojc4ZwBTDYQ6UUCXfs0tYUCnwglUmYe_bBD3k-qrmdNtNdjkprTjsGObccs2olzeFve3uB9IXjQUPQg1eo6lCzbdGcW9UA7NsMrFlnug2xB_Qe25SKjfM4LwkpEU3jJVipIltje/s1600/263084_561470942662_209100966_31966410_214355_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630419074927770386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaNZ-xojc4ZwBTDYQ6UUCXfs0tYUCnwglUmYe_bBD3k-qrmdNtNdjkprTjsGObccs2olzeFve3uB9IXjQUPQg1eo6lCzbdGcW9UA7NsMrFlnug2xB_Qe25SKjfM4LwkpEU3jJVipIltje/s400/263084_561470942662_209100966_31966410_214355_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Abbey is so precious and already cracking us up. She is so animated with her facial expressions and has her own little diva personality at times! I loved getting to spend so much time with her, and it was sooo hard for me to leave. I can't wait until we're back stateside so I can visit this little peanut. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpRROhGYn3ZRC5Yu-_uWfWvxQzsVPaubnBKlP8SzC9-quu07sOHKkYb8xZOdv4Gs6ncbuuEA4MsmRulKtCIrm5HcoFGp3uJ5jVz1l7qd5uiZ3DtQknZ6I4fjE0g_bp_DYzZhH3a7S_5px/s1600/261699_557578243662_209100966_31957662_143245_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630419070772392018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpRROhGYn3ZRC5Yu-_uWfWvxQzsVPaubnBKlP8SzC9-quu07sOHKkYb8xZOdv4Gs6ncbuuEA4MsmRulKtCIrm5HcoFGp3uJ5jVz1l7qd5uiZ3DtQknZ6I4fjE0g_bp_DYzZhH3a7S_5px/s400/261699_557578243662_209100966_31957662_143245_n%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-68119426266277768662011-06-05T09:30:00.000-04:002011-06-05T09:45:22.712-04:00It's June?In the words of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Albus</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dumbledore</span>... "Time is making fools of us again."<br /><br />I seriously can't believe it's June. I can't believe this is our last summer on Okinawa, or that I will be home in 10 days, or that I will be meeting my niece in around 16 days!<br /><br />Everything is happening fast, but I like it that way! If you know me you know I am not very patient and I hate waiting.<br /><br />So since the last time I wrote here... I survived Girl Scout Camp. I was planning on writing a post about it afterwards, but it turns out I would rather block the whole experience out of my mind! Well not the whole experience I guess... We did manage to have an adequate amount of fun. I met some really amazing women, who I can now call friends, and I hope to visit in Korea before we move, but some aspects I will be happy to forget forever!<br /><br />I'm still trudging away at school and will be one more semester down in August. I will start observing in classrooms this fall which I'm pretty excited about.<br /><br />We had a pretty big typhoon hit a couple of weeks ago. The largest one since we've been here. There were a lot of trees broken and uprooted and some property damage. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick's</span> car was the worst hit for us, with a big dent in the front fender. He just got it fixed this weekend though.<br /><br />He's been keeping busy golfing, and I'm hitting up the pool and beach like it's cool. I'm also rereading Harry Potter for at least the seventh time. I just love my HP. I'm almost finished with the sixth book and I'm just reminded how much I love these books. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">JK</span> Rowling is truly brilliant! It's just amazing how she's created this whole world and weaves together this story through all the books. Each time I read them I catch new details. Not to mention the characters... I feel like I know them and care about them..... and Yes, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick</span> thinks I'm a huge nerd!<br /><br />I've also been sewing a lot. I'm trying to use up my fabric stores so we have less stuff to move (my reasons may be coming in a post to follow) and I'll post some pictures of what I've been working on soon.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-62367856271853462522011-03-07T02:23:00.000-05:002011-03-07T02:36:14.768-05:00Sunday in the KitchenWe get really bored on Sundays. Usually we use up all the fun things we can think of on Saturday, and Sunday we stare at each other and ask, "Well, what do <u>you</u> want to do?" Thats when we walk into the kitchen and find something to make. Usually something that takes longer than 5 minutes which is why we aren't up to making it on weeknights. <div><div><div><div><br /><br /> </div><div>This Sunday it was Chicago style pizza in the cast iron. Recipe thanks to my Aunt Beaner!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay14LGw0vS06QJTrK1LVOkxbyqMLGhBp_I3l2wL3tx-3MMN5Jv-hIDmG0686wZhhECbTYUuPPCAOrfz6AHFDZNmgeqk6JNTyKEkLBl6S_7S47WtS6G3JFC7WL9P6NA3DjvI8LgC1baI3a/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG"></a> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqZlDtD3azck9cA8WEfi6Ggw5xfYRNr25wtkVepjS9y0zMldQimvwb7McnFG7TjtcWWYig9ROW2EzjajAt9DN8857WRiMkBs39_4FR7gPZoc8HSzlo_jkZ4d7NIMREnD4xCK7pl_bZeh7/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581237578377513010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqZlDtD3azck9cA8WEfi6Ggw5xfYRNr25wtkVepjS9y0zMldQimvwb7McnFG7TjtcWWYig9ROW2EzjajAt9DN8857WRiMkBs39_4FR7gPZoc8HSzlo_jkZ4d7NIMREnD4xCK7pl_bZeh7/s400/IMG_1892.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviuCxYDetbRLkZbiiVptE6x41vJrEKddXdkKUo9ZxMReJtaHcWeP08G3AXNdebP7xMzdegRrCbm6jjYPwNYi_QkkKPR-y98bS01Z0cCQxrmg9wr7YR-Kgqd5N8yakcbtNrMoiNitAYJ7S/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581237586958168770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviuCxYDetbRLkZbiiVptE6x41vJrEKddXdkKUo9ZxMReJtaHcWeP08G3AXNdebP7xMzdegRrCbm6jjYPwNYi_QkkKPR-y98bS01Z0cCQxrmg9wr7YR-Kgqd5N8yakcbtNrMoiNitAYJ7S/s400/IMG_1895.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Carrick insisted on an "action shot."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay14LGw0vS06QJTrK1LVOkxbyqMLGhBp_I3l2wL3tx-3MMN5Jv-hIDmG0686wZhhECbTYUuPPCAOrfz6AHFDZNmgeqk6JNTyKEkLBl6S_7S47WtS6G3JFC7WL9P6NA3DjvI8LgC1baI3a/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581237592203544610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay14LGw0vS06QJTrK1LVOkxbyqMLGhBp_I3l2wL3tx-3MMN5Jv-hIDmG0686wZhhECbTYUuPPCAOrfz6AHFDZNmgeqk6JNTyKEkLBl6S_7S47WtS6G3JFC7WL9P6NA3DjvI8LgC1baI3a/s400/IMG_1896.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><div>The dehydrator also saw some action.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQlOFmNkhlFbLwvKO_1sLZ8PcsxC1V7wi6G8qpA3FHQjjIydpc2ybpsjkGK3xLz392Zkj2cqzXYofshq89eXny_brh-gcsQmQHkfm7t_xVweAjcZaZoXqOZEi5WsmG7lIUBk_aFhX4Oog/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG"></a> </div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPbaHz-IgjfLVPIqUCGhH9mzaGi7rteYLSkyFpE14pQWVMixRD_gRhnsVUguX1SVUYrXNUPOql_TIsQvZZvjJNvPkBvQ_uIkC38t-jcnN-EbT30nCIt8GEQGf1RFi6hjsLhxWONE-0nG/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581237592497488418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPbaHz-IgjfLVPIqUCGhH9mzaGi7rteYLSkyFpE14pQWVMixRD_gRhnsVUguX1SVUYrXNUPOql_TIsQvZZvjJNvPkBvQ_uIkC38t-jcnN-EbT30nCIt8GEQGf1RFi6hjsLhxWONE-0nG/s400/IMG_1903.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQlOFmNkhlFbLwvKO_1sLZ8PcsxC1V7wi6G8qpA3FHQjjIydpc2ybpsjkGK3xLz392Zkj2cqzXYofshq89eXny_brh-gcsQmQHkfm7t_xVweAjcZaZoXqOZEi5WsmG7lIUBk_aFhX4Oog/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581237598866813650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQlOFmNkhlFbLwvKO_1sLZ8PcsxC1V7wi6G8qpA3FHQjjIydpc2ybpsjkGK3xLz392Zkj2cqzXYofshq89eXny_brh-gcsQmQHkfm7t_xVweAjcZaZoXqOZEi5WsmG7lIUBk_aFhX4Oog/s400/IMG_1902.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Black berry and raspberry fruit leathers... didn't turn out as good as we hoped but it's a learning process :)</div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-33541474071754128232011-03-04T01:02:00.001-05:002011-03-04T01:59:35.097-05:00A girl can dream right!?<div> <br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><br /><div>Some day, when I have a house I can acutally do stuff to, it will look like this: <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1CgjFx-DPN_Qi7HrQAf3qI24aH1NS4oFFfLrx8A9TqGm48p8p0EeNHa-ItcX3aTIZdlkKeAyrjE04F4mr4ZW1JXn9YXIKDroNjcoJDLuMSHF3GNkdf3RyYMFwmduj3K7X6WydREZ_Ycw/s1600/hallway4_thumb%255B3%255D.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 385px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580104425336502882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1CgjFx-DPN_Qi7HrQAf3qI24aH1NS4oFFfLrx8A9TqGm48p8p0EeNHa-ItcX3aTIZdlkKeAyrjE04F4mr4ZW1JXn9YXIKDroNjcoJDLuMSHF3GNkdf3RyYMFwmduj3K7X6WydREZ_Ycw/s400/hallway4_thumb%255B3%255D.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGbW-wmPlEb7LF4_K1CWtsxO8Ukf-2roXJMsBXANqWKbL4MGNe2d4SSQrqEacPCyB4AQd_ozGpbZ6urgEepbFigc3YhCdWfp7tiXmQSPsNo4hntHkKUD-oNiY-wulfTdJYPQleECbTeC0/s1600/paintedtrees.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105828528855202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGbW-wmPlEb7LF4_K1CWtsxO8Ukf-2roXJMsBXANqWKbL4MGNe2d4SSQrqEacPCyB4AQd_ozGpbZ6urgEepbFigc3YhCdWfp7tiXmQSPsNo4hntHkKUD-oNiY-wulfTdJYPQleECbTeC0/s400/paintedtrees.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsAAifUVSQzL1sKV8xB-GPgSQssN4_IbadOg66xbtHqTixjDFEA3LQ-IfHUI8RoCMGsrrYQGjZiRH85ez2OJhPt1CLILHG_64dc5KbDGkVUVTYoAICUUpmyzt52w9HbnkjFd0IeCuIyoD/s1600/Add-French-Country-Style-to-Your-Kitchen.jpg"></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLXWuhP8G69YlZ_evCPadaj90y6IkPnajNsK7Dq_B6g86d7uPO8h2owszmJpzcx_qXXiOVnxfPV1PSBcXlY-EwZjwS_5lQud5sFrSE97JKWjdCtvytQg1w_aqSt-VFoCFjax1INM6OIxw/s1600/greenCLV1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580104429186182818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLXWuhP8G69YlZ_evCPadaj90y6IkPnajNsK7Dq_B6g86d7uPO8h2owszmJpzcx_qXXiOVnxfPV1PSBcXlY-EwZjwS_5lQud5sFrSE97JKWjdCtvytQg1w_aqSt-VFoCFjax1INM6OIxw/s400/greenCLV1.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjnoQlEWSD5gsfGlQNdHf5fXSfXUp6HgWoNWH4noAp4SgaRjz-2myrJGWna2c3uitK1b_9w480ZrZzXQEJ1cToLQ31hYX0hmrEfE4N2irnxg3YzQuSLcRkHgVCDHTlcZu22Egc9nIW91m/s1600/HART+DININGROOM.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580106047549971234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjnoQlEWSD5gsfGlQNdHf5fXSfXUp6HgWoNWH4noAp4SgaRjz-2myrJGWna2c3uitK1b_9w480ZrZzXQEJ1cToLQ31hYX0hmrEfE4N2irnxg3YzQuSLcRkHgVCDHTlcZu22Egc9nIW91m/s400/HART+DININGROOM.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwoiuLuT9TPl-a88yUCr0BOmhEeezwvcBfK0SjKddlTsXrVRGhvu7QNd8Uc35uGB5PMofIAFtRhIkaYP7H9gDgO9w3zId1X1wyWEyNEjQlrmeF3zuB96sbyrPIE6dJ1Ptoab9T8tTCgsm/s1600/Country+Style+Living+Room+Decoration2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580102354458224290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwoiuLuT9TPl-a88yUCr0BOmhEeezwvcBfK0SjKddlTsXrVRGhvu7QNd8Uc35uGB5PMofIAFtRhIkaYP7H9gDgO9w3zId1X1wyWEyNEjQlrmeF3zuB96sbyrPIE6dJ1Ptoab9T8tTCgsm/s400/Country+Style+Living+Room+Decoration2.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShbD9qxx9CWIkJfalVGOVyvpxjyfB58s4yY_yr81LxByrMre6ZyrW6oI8-RNnO5tlJ40JpyUjPmWfidQeXGM4otS9PRC7lp10lDcagzjH5HD3R_MGIRaBbKtMVxJXkno_v0f_P23ft5WV/s1600/DiningRoomHouzz1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580102366676899522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShbD9qxx9CWIkJfalVGOVyvpxjyfB58s4yY_yr81LxByrMre6ZyrW6oI8-RNnO5tlJ40JpyUjPmWfidQeXGM4otS9PRC7lp10lDcagzjH5HD3R_MGIRaBbKtMVxJXkno_v0f_P23ft5WV/s400/DiningRoomHouzz1.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div><br />It will have awesome built ins everywhere...</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FVYKg_hj4m4bafmELvF7LyzaG5ywCiNREFDduK260mW4YuRGUnKjR-zs4zi_hToMrS_9bxH6o1qJAq5IOuBlBHVlea8Bx_iWv7YfuaKZK_8k3EQLKYA4PGGQBEP9yqO4TRLp30MFy0yW/s1600/Picture-1.png"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105496738965346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FVYKg_hj4m4bafmELvF7LyzaG5ywCiNREFDduK260mW4YuRGUnKjR-zs4zi_hToMrS_9bxH6o1qJAq5IOuBlBHVlea8Bx_iWv7YfuaKZK_8k3EQLKYA4PGGQBEP9yqO4TRLp30MFy0yW/s400/Picture-1.png" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pnuK3e8m2oOIMvzD7DdGYflA_xxDqz__PDQVp453mXCjn-bKO8vfmT1Ivi1H9YCCXP3PgYrrucO0c_DdVr8FhizyEIe7NL1x2DBtPK0mOO-FNRAsuNC-KTR8N6Qy_gYpT3a9yd27V-Fl/s1600/Parkside-5.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 350px; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105500302418194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pnuK3e8m2oOIMvzD7DdGYflA_xxDqz__PDQVp453mXCjn-bKO8vfmT1Ivi1H9YCCXP3PgYrrucO0c_DdVr8FhizyEIe7NL1x2DBtPK0mOO-FNRAsuNC-KTR8N6Qy_gYpT3a9yd27V-Fl/s400/Parkside-5.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCCAchK5ALhT__9MFkC1t5jVAOpdHPUTW1B-uqw7pEjiN2Hpbf23w-CTrxy0hELLcjgCFVIlkUJ3MQjbt4wJE-DszP_wARxd0oEo8tsxmU1xlWlaX1j4D_tqiCKmdiIR09aVy1M9Zc6o5/s1600/JustBeachy.png"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580106041461964162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCCAchK5ALhT__9MFkC1t5jVAOpdHPUTW1B-uqw7pEjiN2Hpbf23w-CTrxy0hELLcjgCFVIlkUJ3MQjbt4wJE-DszP_wARxd0oEo8tsxmU1xlWlaX1j4D_tqiCKmdiIR09aVy1M9Zc6o5/s400/JustBeachy.png" /></a><br /></div><div>Rustic Country Charm? Yes Please!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWSr6GbIWyD1UcO1hF4uQ4BvmL-8RAyfHXmx8bQOQ_dewyyIheknESLavB39Tuu03u7MtLRYTB_aYlRsge4_KUtaEerXiXRN5VaVT8ztm8Wk4k-zBjFqdinnqEwB8yvJoBnkkWIdoQyAn/s1600/4950654866_7780687def_z.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101678259315154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWSr6GbIWyD1UcO1hF4uQ4BvmL-8RAyfHXmx8bQOQ_dewyyIheknESLavB39Tuu03u7MtLRYTB_aYlRsge4_KUtaEerXiXRN5VaVT8ztm8Wk4k-zBjFqdinnqEwB8yvJoBnkkWIdoQyAn/s400/4950654866_7780687def_z.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfdEMJSB_duSAZhBsPeNgrRE-JbtHlDQkARE5iV6gQKB2-WsReayeF9qoFF_oFOgB9IKrW_LsB4mL2iGo92yl4gPiPznzm_KKWsNmOv7ieG2Sfe2tg6jQy91Ayltl7ZYl3XTIQn5s-3Dw/s1600/austin_after.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 310px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101687369946626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfdEMJSB_duSAZhBsPeNgrRE-JbtHlDQkARE5iV6gQKB2-WsReayeF9qoFF_oFOgB9IKrW_LsB4mL2iGo92yl4gPiPznzm_KKWsNmOv7ieG2Sfe2tg6jQy91Ayltl7ZYl3XTIQn5s-3Dw/s400/austin_after.jpg" /></a> </div><div><br />And white kitchen cabinets.... I LOVE white cabinets. Whenever we look at houses online we usually say what we'd do to them... Now Carrick just says, "Oh those cabinets will be painted white," for all the kitchens.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnBnY-SL1VUgyHLCs8FaHBrBnqwcmhSkMgYvfIG-dSvS-rZWU3E8MSVggbWtVZGgPRLAwcFKUh6c6D3D6vPYkF8rdIoqqKU7IAU81njQd93RJSsDQ5GEFTHezLiAlfI3UFZfeNeBuj1iz/s1600/farmhouse-kitchen-de.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 313px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580104419970509874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnBnY-SL1VUgyHLCs8FaHBrBnqwcmhSkMgYvfIG-dSvS-rZWU3E8MSVggbWtVZGgPRLAwcFKUh6c6D3D6vPYkF8rdIoqqKU7IAU81njQd93RJSsDQ5GEFTHezLiAlfI3UFZfeNeBuj1iz/s400/farmhouse-kitchen-de.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZB1ghSiRhkqELpTL1lnwrFxeCXELYLmzpurqFxEqXWK_K-ZeE8Vbj9iMehm0Fn51IIS3-DFvuCIrQsuj5_xvnDDvxiBVGePwvWjhlB8fa8YU2kblWU_ZnJhlrFfw5A2LMsJ1046LmrQv/s1600/5031767685_cf199d6841_z.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 382px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101683202611282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZB1ghSiRhkqELpTL1lnwrFxeCXELYLmzpurqFxEqXWK_K-ZeE8Vbj9iMehm0Fn51IIS3-DFvuCIrQsuj5_xvnDDvxiBVGePwvWjhlB8fa8YU2kblWU_ZnJhlrFfw5A2LMsJ1046LmrQv/s400/5031767685_cf199d6841_z.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior74I_cCmt_CRDxVu_PbMDfA6vlRwwxsFqXjcQszHu0vKaUvrd6Ni3468l1naFHQsjlMOliMSveGAx3j1XHRZqNon6u7hxrp5iFaphUnLEua6NN1P1Iqz1cGwWFK8jR2zVwRU2G16UZgc/s1600/vote-bluekitchen.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 381px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105198290923042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior74I_cCmt_CRDxVu_PbMDfA6vlRwwxsFqXjcQszHu0vKaUvrd6Ni3468l1naFHQsjlMOliMSveGAx3j1XHRZqNon6u7hxrp5iFaphUnLEua6NN1P1Iqz1cGwWFK8jR2zVwRU2G16UZgc/s400/vote-bluekitchen.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHdzq4IZ3UX_otQ0zD_vJlZW8iBrhKP-WpC-H20XLTyZav-jIGwN80M5HyKAQ0tk85wMiOBCIBhKN0oL5GPA3S3rQYDQJYTUYqF_dBGzO7pgbDnsKZl4VgI4uL0Ke6wrxkTYHFxWJ6oSV/s1600/decorate-using-country-style-800X800.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580102362783956066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHdzq4IZ3UX_otQ0zD_vJlZW8iBrhKP-WpC-H20XLTyZav-jIGwN80M5HyKAQ0tk85wMiOBCIBhKN0oL5GPA3S3rQYDQJYTUYqF_dBGzO7pgbDnsKZl4VgI4uL0Ke6wrxkTYHFxWJ6oSV/s400/decorate-using-country-style-800X800.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vcj8G4CWWk0nrzoU0fVWkfSSuXUC5XzV7fZYTBC0RFqCbf3sWapeecZCBblhAKkZ7orTOFljYRk1GYHKl8L_vJl1pUGDhKnRlbAVnz99ddtxLGPpQFU4HfZw3Y5BWNzKJCnGHycF8M2Q/s1600/country-style.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580102359717248786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vcj8G4CWWk0nrzoU0fVWkfSSuXUC5XzV7fZYTBC0RFqCbf3sWapeecZCBblhAKkZ7orTOFljYRk1GYHKl8L_vJl1pUGDhKnRlbAVnz99ddtxLGPpQFU4HfZw3Y5BWNzKJCnGHycF8M2Q/s400/country-style.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND7KVV2etKJRV5lVKoc7LTxt7cfyVF5Rnkt9zKpGDdd9W-x7r51cdZf1LpLQ0n2GEwVwI5AlMJpvJMM_92X56xBDZHT9zqIHRBIxoz1lfQ6L-XM48vwtD4dhH0P66VRqX8q0V_oyg0IpB/s1600/country-kitchen-cabinets-018-p.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580102356489282962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND7KVV2etKJRV5lVKoc7LTxt7cfyVF5Rnkt9zKpGDdd9W-x7r51cdZf1LpLQ0n2GEwVwI5AlMJpvJMM_92X56xBDZHT9zqIHRBIxoz1lfQ6L-XM48vwtD4dhH0P66VRqX8q0V_oyg0IpB/s400/country-kitchen-cabinets-018-p.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jDtOmp9l6xF2c9amQkteM_8Aty_eLlfvvFDUACWBLIYSjl-3_Dsz9j2L5rbbhfQaQ7yhAzsHa_00s_ZNIFGAZrBgWFIeaZnx3oaKPCmx30Zw_kAOHB6yDEP3eZF35WojsO8mJQxb1PbJ/s1600/Retro-beachKitchen-from-Coastal-Living.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105487540675938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jDtOmp9l6xF2c9amQkteM_8Aty_eLlfvvFDUACWBLIYSjl-3_Dsz9j2L5rbbhfQaQ7yhAzsHa_00s_ZNIFGAZrBgWFIeaZnx3oaKPCmx30Zw_kAOHB6yDEP3eZF35WojsO8mJQxb1PbJ/s400/Retro-beachKitchen-from-Coastal-Living.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Where we'll sleep...</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYIUHrZxkWlFX_BXVJgM1WNQbjIwF5TfpXrCJVBvUVadY28XPrnecvERLNWU5K4KiWmPSGe4DwFkJ7TGFOSrWfKWxc4LZn-FsdiZ0OQ1o9ygEs5fOIs_2FzNxL3CJs1lmYpUgtfofAfsJ/s1600/1.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101676180092066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYIUHrZxkWlFX_BXVJgM1WNQbjIwF5TfpXrCJVBvUVadY28XPrnecvERLNWU5K4KiWmPSGe4DwFkJ7TGFOSrWfKWxc4LZn-FsdiZ0OQ1o9ygEs5fOIs_2FzNxL3CJs1lmYpUgtfofAfsJ/s400/1.bmp" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNjwjkHnBskEAtomXlXJ_KmU_hvqKIq9lnee2MkOblWdMerz3o1-S47Vlnl_ak8OV1I26E8I1vRVEv_jHTTZVYcxdedsnU6d0yJpQbTehmjrIt73XrH-SMbnhQLOF5hrve7QtseWfrHsn/s1600/bedroomviaabbeygoesdesignscouting.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 354px; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101978789366210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNjwjkHnBskEAtomXlXJ_KmU_hvqKIq9lnee2MkOblWdMerz3o1-S47Vlnl_ak8OV1I26E8I1vRVEv_jHTTZVYcxdedsnU6d0yJpQbTehmjrIt73XrH-SMbnhQLOF5hrve7QtseWfrHsn/s400/bedroomviaabbeygoesdesignscouting.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And our children...</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdYLrARALsU4kvrRm-zl1BXuG0WBBmQHD4PSQ9y6URcrw0-g5WAx8peRPd3bnMRCTmsIaqDV0OMQdG8W_zXn5FLl_iqmx77QFKO27OC_HAabWtNEEGGmikRKx9BrBX_XQBY1z5jjZrdAP/s1600/tbh-bed-10-l.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105204411774898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdYLrARALsU4kvrRm-zl1BXuG0WBBmQHD4PSQ9y6URcrw0-g5WAx8peRPd3bnMRCTmsIaqDV0OMQdG8W_zXn5FLl_iqmx77QFKO27OC_HAabWtNEEGGmikRKx9BrBX_XQBY1z5jjZrdAP/s400/tbh-bed-10-l.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1wBNsN0dadv2Y1-OEIggsWPiSipE-xoimWuusr5WOqA4lb0Av_1t7RgEHbOkgj21ZINJMgrW6rRiVC_OPXBH1sMCgoA2_qFxC29D2GhX39JfKnEDlRx0c9ynrKESg13m0x2gQvRFUZF/s1600/roomforchildrengallery12-490x380.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105485840973154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1wBNsN0dadv2Y1-OEIggsWPiSipE-xoimWuusr5WOqA4lb0Av_1t7RgEHbOkgj21ZINJMgrW6rRiVC_OPXBH1sMCgoA2_qFxC29D2GhX39JfKnEDlRx0c9ynrKESg13m0x2gQvRFUZF/s400/roomforchildrengallery12-490x380.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV6CA07vtRZxgDpVJR2ds-5lArX5HU85veH7Q2O6nwW7SsCVcgxgnoBRnZE1kqPjbFUDCjktMAeTw2M_aYEYpfIvAaQB-yTERziDryZyxnwaW3wVL-wmVFB4IRmFi6XqMH2nLWUfWZWQB/s1600/DSC_00441.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580104409381005138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV6CA07vtRZxgDpVJR2ds-5lArX5HU85veH7Q2O6nwW7SsCVcgxgnoBRnZE1kqPjbFUDCjktMAeTw2M_aYEYpfIvAaQB-yTERziDryZyxnwaW3wVL-wmVFB4IRmFi6XqMH2nLWUfWZWQB/s400/DSC_00441.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>And YOU, our guests...</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgEPmkzefW8mrqqxyIWnQD5uNDDfPB5Qtxgq4gFsb6c7mJKqS9FEqh9GkJ2oQqH_QqwysqUbKGmPCbiaYavrrjQWEIcd2_fSSFl7qj5JE7vMZKvKlqqkMTPQC7nVAuf0Amsh5fqL0hS6v/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 313px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105197148701282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgEPmkzefW8mrqqxyIWnQD5uNDDfPB5Qtxgq4gFsb6c7mJKqS9FEqh9GkJ2oQqH_QqwysqUbKGmPCbiaYavrrjQWEIcd2_fSSFl7qj5JE7vMZKvKlqqkMTPQC7nVAuf0Amsh5fqL0hS6v/s400/untitled.bmp" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHi6_Udfzv3E29xZi03CbUQPbYO7g-9QuTHZiWq3R5XPY0T0OJX4bkLUqbFNhsSfYmfQaZUcleciuwsf465EhdGSB0sEfWxQ-AvdxRv6ji7-FgYJJyLoNf3gELQCycNIap4Yr59TDO5Fg/s1600/shelter+069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105210064809714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHi6_Udfzv3E29xZi03CbUQPbYO7g-9QuTHZiWq3R5XPY0T0OJX4bkLUqbFNhsSfYmfQaZUcleciuwsf465EhdGSB0sEfWxQ-AvdxRv6ji7-FgYJJyLoNf3gELQCycNIap4Yr59TDO5Fg/s400/shelter+069.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Don't forget the most important room in any Johnson house....</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5Reh-8ho7TN5dKl1LhxXFEyDeQ5Sp4OGw6ITjnpj1v1x8oyD5sVu14lGlc-ZpjOo0kKyo2-VusHtWrdBgOvK2QDz6U_DKAqaZjI-FVwwikNNa1RWHEztPzYmNMks8igfCROO2JRBy2EZ/s1600/bathroom105_jpg_e_c05121baa6f7e87f42266c0662e4a480.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 305px; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101971445713906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5Reh-8ho7TN5dKl1LhxXFEyDeQ5Sp4OGw6ITjnpj1v1x8oyD5sVu14lGlc-ZpjOo0kKyo2-VusHtWrdBgOvK2QDz6U_DKAqaZjI-FVwwikNNa1RWHEztPzYmNMks8igfCROO2JRBy2EZ/s400/bathroom105_jpg_e_c05121baa6f7e87f42266c0662e4a480.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62eI0QQxG3mYGYRV8BT0sXNbSA4vSnucbfhxJ-Z9e8p64mBvj3AmNz_kI494wd2rfUi1-8tGB0r8KTCJZ8duZ9lXOPJshu7qp3TyGyP6XjpQOb0HV7fCwhyxbyPFLnF2MvVLtyzlT1Agt/s1600/bathroom-decor-french-country.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 250px; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101974496424130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62eI0QQxG3mYGYRV8BT0sXNbSA4vSnucbfhxJ-Z9e8p64mBvj3AmNz_kI494wd2rfUi1-8tGB0r8KTCJZ8duZ9lXOPJshu7qp3TyGyP6XjpQOb0HV7fCwhyxbyPFLnF2MvVLtyzlT1Agt/s400/bathroom-decor-french-country.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW8OdGRbdwxk8eb5Fqqx0iabzrjAzZxxmuzaSGE5poxLCIBIm2RuS8c5dkFeVONtAC91O8lxW_oIpyEtYcZUW_qNDy-rii_99aiYK6EoTKsLIwjiwelwSOZ2NzXuIRzBeTcjt5hdKDPk5/s1600/Canadianfamily.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580101982187239506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW8OdGRbdwxk8eb5Fqqx0iabzrjAzZxxmuzaSGE5poxLCIBIm2RuS8c5dkFeVONtAC91O8lxW_oIpyEtYcZUW_qNDy-rii_99aiYK6EoTKsLIwjiwelwSOZ2NzXuIRzBeTcjt5hdKDPk5/s400/Canadianfamily.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I'd actually want to do laundary here...</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfPBKQTS3NbfyFHnMqzKFvf-gaqONE7p7eDeYlp_crmVP1Pabd76CKfAsbr6mqURGt7JE4-6rNJhifj-QmkghO58bQtff55NKu9KJy2gNClL1xUgglFFoZ6AD-o4-RlXwe9K-3RhIUE-p/s1600/Easy+Living+Mag.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 317px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580104411036930754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfPBKQTS3NbfyFHnMqzKFvf-gaqONE7p7eDeYlp_crmVP1Pabd76CKfAsbr6mqURGt7JE4-6rNJhifj-QmkghO58bQtff55NKu9KJy2gNClL1xUgglFFoZ6AD-o4-RlXwe9K-3RhIUE-p/s400/Easy+Living+Mag.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Or maybe we'll go the "cabin in the woods" route...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdfpiivCYlMMvLWZumSUTIaS0UYbbKgt7rVD7158jCbPQi3CrMLbkptBk8ODQj-tOXB6MA4WTrS-Hs9dhIlMRdtFsfDFVzdsgCF7IvWWGcIXDk9kElE-dwq6RIiuye9QTHlMmOXJXRRlg/s1600/log-cabin-style-m.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580105839837442242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdfpiivCYlMMvLWZumSUTIaS0UYbbKgt7rVD7158jCbPQi3CrMLbkptBk8ODQj-tOXB6MA4WTrS-Hs9dhIlMRdtFsfDFVzdsgCF7IvWWGcIXDk9kElE-dwq6RIiuye9QTHlMmOXJXRRlg/s400/log-cabin-style-m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There you have it! You can tell I'm into the white trim and blue-green color spectrum. Someday this will become a reality. Until then these pictures will sit in the same folder on the computer they've been in for two years. I don't have photo credits for them and probably should but oh well. Sorry copyright police!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-75223539026144062892011-03-01T21:17:00.000-05:002011-03-01T21:48:38.467-05:00Spinning...My head is spinning with the thousand directions it is going in right now...<br /><br />It has been a while since I've blogged because I've been so busy, and still am, but I figure I can take a little time to update everyone.<br /><br />Monday was my last day as a nanny. The girls are being put into preschool/daycare. I will miss seeing their smiling and sticky faces everyday, but I must admit I am a little relieved at not having a daily work commitment. It seems like I never stay at a job long because I get too committed with outside projects and get overwhelmed. Funny how I always choose to drop the thing that is bringing in money and stick with the things that leave me broke! haha!<br /><br />Girl Scout camp is this April again. Last year I said I wasn't going to direct again, but somehow they dragged me in. I just can't say no I guess :) What really happened is there was a wonderful woman here who was going to be the director, then she got activated in the Army and is going back to the states in about a week, and they needed someone to take over... Which is where I come in because no one else knows what to do! Most of the big planning is already done though, just A LOT of loose ends to tie up and then two weekends of staff and CIT training in March and the 8 days spent at camp in April. I will be so relieved when it is over!<br /><br />I started a new semester of school yesterday. I have three teaching classes and one giant test worth 6 credits in the next 6 months. I planned my semester out on a calendar this morning and somehow I jammed it all in. I also have to take the Praxis 1 exam on May 3rd. Please pray that I pass this test!!! If I don't I will not be able to go into schools and start my student teaching as planned. This is the first test in a series to get licensed. I'm nervous but I have scheduled a lot of time to study and the library here has many study guides that I hope will get the job done.<br /><br />Somehow in the middle of studying I'm going to fly back to Iowa for about a month in June. My favorite sister Meagan is having the first grand baby, a girl, and I cannot wait! It has been hard for me to watch her belly grow from around the world. I wish I was there with her! I will be spoiling this baby for sure!<br /><br />Carrick is still sticking with me and keeping me sane! Living here really has been good for us and I'm amazed at how we have grown together. We're truly like an old married couple, in bed reading our books by 9:30 every night! We're planning our future and taking steps to get there. This is the last year we have overseas and we've gone into financial planning mode. We only have two years left in the military and we want to be able to buy an acreage when Carrick is out. We hope to move back to NC in January because the cost of living is much less there than in CA. We're also ready to add to our family! We have no rush but are ready for God to bless us with a child in His own time.<br /><br />That's about all that is going on. I'm making myself take a break from sewing until after camp I think so I actually get things done. We'll see if I can go that long :)<br /><br />Thanks for reading and for the love and support from our families! We love and miss you, see you in June!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-90722861142768032152011-01-30T04:05:00.000-05:002011-01-30T04:23:45.416-05:00Sunday in the Kitchen<div><div><div>We're having a lazy Sunday around here. I finished my school work early today so I had some time to mess around. I decided I'd do some baking. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRZOUSOErwetFnS8X1KP9okjUx6w44JJ5gN61wltPBPLSS8jsxOofw5KP-HPZ4scFyzdmewz0sCxHqnrYqZ6cCTUIllXjXht6b2etqAHNObuJjMSzjZZJYR8rKgjv1re7gAtBOoGTpPYM/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567906441775327570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRZOUSOErwetFnS8X1KP9okjUx6w44JJ5gN61wltPBPLSS8jsxOofw5KP-HPZ4scFyzdmewz0sCxHqnrYqZ6cCTUIllXjXht6b2etqAHNObuJjMSzjZZJYR8rKgjv1re7gAtBOoGTpPYM/s400/IMG_1862.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>I made this cinnamon raisin bread recipe <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/worlds-best-cinnamon-raisin-bread-not-bread-machine-98867">here</a>. The recipe made 3 loaves as written, but I didn't want that many. I reduced everything by half and put the little extra dough into muffin cups. I think they look like scones you'd find in a coffee shop. Delicious. Carrick has already eaten 4 slices of the bread.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RI_6b7vGDpKm0GbC-qtjIRnNb_EmBXitsFfXWl2BtqvSc5adqvXAs818_GXo60OwFV_f4Wq5yfjNew-C9Tz72Hj_fyisfkQ49l7gpOt-HSm2c_ZtPDIlbenG6uqzQbCiBNoWLzUmliBp/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567906436865301410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RI_6b7vGDpKm0GbC-qtjIRnNb_EmBXitsFfXWl2BtqvSc5adqvXAs818_GXo60OwFV_f4Wq5yfjNew-C9Tz72Hj_fyisfkQ49l7gpOt-HSm2c_ZtPDIlbenG6uqzQbCiBNoWLzUmliBp/s400/IMG_1864.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div>Carrick had his own project as well. One of our friends brought us a food dehydrator back from the states for Christmas. We're having fun figuring it out. We have a long list of things we want to try. We've done a batch of fruit and Carrick marinated steak strips for jerky. It's pretty tasty and fun to know you made it yourself!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pXimdVGtr2etmPqql4nxLTYiebyRdNpkPz2wP_62VCMmBUK2Hh2lsirlNPnn_ngKcsTzF324qdU5fI-Adfn882pjCu3wdF2Jzv3db9tv1eOhwyTQXH3qnYD-Lll4OmtoXIPI6asJkKRf/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567906451459717442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pXimdVGtr2etmPqql4nxLTYiebyRdNpkPz2wP_62VCMmBUK2Hh2lsirlNPnn_ngKcsTzF324qdU5fI-Adfn882pjCu3wdF2Jzv3db9tv1eOhwyTQXH3qnYD-Lll4OmtoXIPI6asJkKRf/s400/IMG_1860.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOhVng1okYUxNixjugH7BPhACzA8v5tBXdblVxNOIGTNuJLkKe2IbOZ8lDRHNNNdwOGFQFmDiZPsSc4shYxVHjJ5RhNSCGtQoVAaxiWpKXiBZQi-NJ2gE8JeSd0A5aTDcdLj97KSbGN-4/s1600/IMG_1861.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567906444284240450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOhVng1okYUxNixjugH7BPhACzA8v5tBXdblVxNOIGTNuJLkKe2IbOZ8lDRHNNNdwOGFQFmDiZPsSc4shYxVHjJ5RhNSCGtQoVAaxiWpKXiBZQi-NJ2gE8JeSd0A5aTDcdLj97KSbGN-4/s400/IMG_1861.JPG" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-25706244513709793722011-01-03T09:09:00.000-05:002011-01-03T09:48:46.778-05:00It's about to get personal.For anyone who's still reading this blog, or maybe for the unfortunate soul who stumbles upon it, this is a warning of a mood change in the following post and maybe more to come. I figure this is our blog <em>(really my blog because <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick</span> has made zero posts)</em> and it only seems right that I can share what I'm <em>really</em> thinking right? Even if it is only my mother-in-law reading, and I tell her what I'm thinking all the time anyway... (Hey Carolyn :) Anyway, let's get to it.<br /><br />Basically, I feel like we are at a crossroads. There are so many possibilities open for our life right now I'm stumped and overwhelmed at what is the right choice for us. I have always been very sure about who I am and what I'm going to do in this life, but now I'm not so sure, and let me tell you I hate this feeling. This will sound weird but I've always known my path in life. In high school I knew where I fit. When I met <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick</span> I <em>knew</em> he was who I was going to marry and share my life with. I was confident and determined to finish my associates in a year because I knew being able to be with him and move around the world was what was supposed to happen.<br /><br />Now that feeling is gone. Is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick</span> meant to get out of the military (just to let you know, right now we are thinking the answer is yes)? Are we supposed to move back to Iowa? or living on a ranch out West sounds fun, or what about somewhere in the Smokies, or perhaps we should just travel the world before we settle down<em>...(see, overwhelming <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">possibilities</span>)...</em> What about kids.. is now <em>really </em>the right time? How about jobs... <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carrick</span> has no idea what he wants to do. I'm doing the teaching thing because it seemed like the best option, but is that really what I want? "The best option" doesn't sound like the most convincing argument... aren't teachers supposed to be more noble than that?<br /><br />I'm struggling to find a purpose. I know I have one. I know I can do great things. I'm just not sure what those great things are supposed to be. And waiting for them is the worst.... I'm the most impatient person ever <em>(ask my husband if you don't believe me)</em> and having to live with myself while waiting for what comes next is not easy for me.<br /><br />____________________________________________________________________<br /><br />Side note: A<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pologies</span> for not posting in so long. Basically since October we did the whole holidays thing, but it's kinda boring with just the two of us <em>(example: we ate at a buffet for Thanksgiving dinner only after Carrick was watching a cooking show about traditional Thanksgiving food and decided we had to venture out a 7pm to get some)</em>. Thanks to all our families for the thoughts, letters, and packages. It really does mean a lot to us to hear from home.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-28364484020513269462010-10-21T02:06:00.000-04:002010-10-21T02:39:58.651-04:00What's New On My Camera Memory Card.Carrick was in a Chili Cook-off for a unit competition with the Air Force. He took 2nd place! That was kinda cool!<br /><div><div><div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ46HHNwlefyw77eG49S84w2r4e4l5MAwg4Cu8IENQA0K3fxaCB8LtjV1JtiCE9MvfNdeRll7mm63wVXEvdU94Va4J4XdeaBMlCB5dHuAGKJuuUqli6aYz4XJ4Br-QWbYgyR0qe9zkJXzn/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530379926909051938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ46HHNwlefyw77eG49S84w2r4e4l5MAwg4Cu8IENQA0K3fxaCB8LtjV1JtiCE9MvfNdeRll7mm63wVXEvdU94Va4J4XdeaBMlCB5dHuAGKJuuUqli6aYz4XJ4Br-QWbYgyR0qe9zkJXzn/s400/IMG_1692.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />The judges.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Lt3bY3c199nCJY62nAjklCmprOKEX1xUksVffnLo78uSNKAc31BCL_YHzvB6Jjy7FH0Qrju-Nxc_cEAnhIOxl5l9k-4gPsoiNhklgSLytA2zA3-UFZOJEQ3nQEyjnqA59esiY9nWVMVG/s1600/IMG_1697.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530380821683707794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Lt3bY3c199nCJY62nAjklCmprOKEX1xUksVffnLo78uSNKAc31BCL_YHzvB6Jjy7FH0Qrju-Nxc_cEAnhIOxl5l9k-4gPsoiNhklgSLytA2zA3-UFZOJEQ3nQEyjnqA59esiY9nWVMVG/s400/IMG_1697.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>We took Yoshi to the "pet plunge" day at the local pool. He was not a fan. It was kind of cold.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiHKaRsAlODU1I7jX1hRqsF-GwevWoyzz22K-b1kjzrmx7kmVXjuVxvOzGdNmtzzwHBnKua507RJR0WLXJY91UEMTCI6kMv2D44rT-GirIXewnvL-vAPETDduc2Au7IbFqyCBzzgD47uP/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530383194841690962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiHKaRsAlODU1I7jX1hRqsF-GwevWoyzz22K-b1kjzrmx7kmVXjuVxvOzGdNmtzzwHBnKua507RJR0WLXJY91UEMTCI6kMv2D44rT-GirIXewnvL-vAPETDduc2Au7IbFqyCBzzgD47uP/s400/IMG_1712.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Sl69h5YxsSWEKWkV5tzvjwm-gCMeajO6P9nZ3iS5xnf-h8ObDjAXP90-SHTfKy8pPSK2ghHjdxu7rGHenk7EbG2r5oyTqoKABCewIcYs84nDaO4p52_fHUnRPHfF6dN8rZODlzZyjT8r/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530383187740456690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Sl69h5YxsSWEKWkV5tzvjwm-gCMeajO6P9nZ3iS5xnf-h8ObDjAXP90-SHTfKy8pPSK2ghHjdxu7rGHenk7EbG2r5oyTqoKABCewIcYs84nDaO4p52_fHUnRPHfF6dN8rZODlzZyjT8r/s400/IMG_1709.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRgOMgOGzARlwQ3PNy0-VEgUE99INfhHGJtxoZA4PBGvxamcOFmCBoDVhlOmCN4YH_adD7HaIuIa0rDP_8mJO1HETJZXfqflz2GIf66xhVBMVn3yq75YJ5fF1rsxKmSENQ5PC6ohDw8lw/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530383178776714322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRgOMgOGzARlwQ3PNy0-VEgUE99INfhHGJtxoZA4PBGvxamcOFmCBoDVhlOmCN4YH_adD7HaIuIa0rDP_8mJO1HETJZXfqflz2GIf66xhVBMVn3yq75YJ5fF1rsxKmSENQ5PC6ohDw8lw/s400/IMG_1705.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I made this garland from dried oranges, pecans in the shell, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks.</div><div>I saw one similar on another blog and just happened to have a bag of oranges that did not taste good. (The Commissary does not have the best selection of fruit here). I didn't want to waste them so I tried this. I think it has a country/fall vibe and it smells great.<br /></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-g2abUV3YL3HbK513So9lEMDbYJGdtrhqO2Ninlu8hW-x3xNQUh7JExhONtZRYjAQ5CHlr-3M95xLbmmJok_p0n6zmWdFo12B9XWrGuu6yk7djYuW0sLp9DDXSc2aqgSKored-KMFoav/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530383199745528850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-g2abUV3YL3HbK513So9lEMDbYJGdtrhqO2Ninlu8hW-x3xNQUh7JExhONtZRYjAQ5CHlr-3M95xLbmmJok_p0n6zmWdFo12B9XWrGuu6yk7djYuW0sLp9DDXSc2aqgSKored-KMFoav/s400/IMG_1728.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBraOtw7HV40YwJjiu1O4Xwe6OM4a2csLK1g0NnHYm30cPousnsRy0S-bquWruVY8RMFtD5opWp23zIr0QNXjTosoOTtW8AEcNHQ6bj7-MdsVdudkKwX2UO4aWG361vGioafD0Hb-aWFP/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530383196472795794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBraOtw7HV40YwJjiu1O4Xwe6OM4a2csLK1g0NnHYm30cPousnsRy0S-bquWruVY8RMFtD5opWp23zIr0QNXjTosoOTtW8AEcNHQ6bj7-MdsVdudkKwX2UO4aWG361vGioafD0Hb-aWFP/s400/IMG_1726.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-83277272178411671092010-10-14T02:57:00.000-04:002010-10-14T03:00:59.377-04:00Thanks Mom!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MoGtg2Ffk04XT-WOcJJpJN-yspcRePr_yr7aGwUbgQ-7-7blfFKKcxgmzOZjctJbhTzgPFZLkIHLj2iAgxJ0s6eGcDyFFrj2fg5h0AbXUOG4X9wljtRp2GaHQTiaz1zV5bls0HVnp-Tw/s1600/DSC01495.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527792964594264002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MoGtg2Ffk04XT-WOcJJpJN-yspcRePr_yr7aGwUbgQ-7-7blfFKKcxgmzOZjctJbhTzgPFZLkIHLj2iAgxJ0s6eGcDyFFrj2fg5h0AbXUOG4X9wljtRp2GaHQTiaz1zV5bls0HVnp-Tw/s400/DSC01495.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I got this awesome table decor in the mail yesterday! The leaf and pumpkins were a gift last year. I think they go perfectly together.</div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-90023326700240622632010-10-13T03:01:00.000-04:002010-10-13T03:15:54.184-04:001,007 StairsThat's how many we ascended and descended in order to see this beautiful scenery.<br /><br />Carrick counted on our way out.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC4_tdQj-HAWKPWlVuur0O6ewJdf_nc84Y2Xk7z2tj_qvOKCL70CQsCp9vd7jyp6IM45f_m9Y0rwwXF6rJ0ugJqE1oIAzhCDDFv7GZJTCdtu89ixeJeTDEbh48IXsth2ac-wJKm6LlpDO/s1600/DSC01469.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527424484804286434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC4_tdQj-HAWKPWlVuur0O6ewJdf_nc84Y2Xk7z2tj_qvOKCL70CQsCp9vd7jyp6IM45f_m9Y0rwwXF6rJ0ugJqE1oIAzhCDDFv7GZJTCdtu89ixeJeTDEbh48IXsth2ac-wJKm6LlpDO/s400/DSC01469.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This is Hiji Falls. </div><div> </div><div>Lovely. </div><div> </div><div>My calves will never be the same.</div><div> </div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrbKVslBVPUrfbO_DJY6TpIJvHBHz8VwcoaPhKqpJviRwyGtUItmk0eNWJSYuKuSH2v_tAc1O0rMeOwtrpaviawhyphenhyphenzPjMttQlALLzJ3kDFbK_W4Ik2vl02B6fokRv0d91Mba3D10MZDmI/s1600/DSC01472.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527424496675835138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrbKVslBVPUrfbO_DJY6TpIJvHBHz8VwcoaPhKqpJviRwyGtUItmk0eNWJSYuKuSH2v_tAc1O0rMeOwtrpaviawhyphenhyphenzPjMttQlALLzJ3kDFbK_W4Ik2vl02B6fokRv0d91Mba3D10MZDmI/s400/DSC01472.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sjX2aSAb7BK-0tEvqnmvDS8uDYnbkLbkN89PjHSTP9w7ThhdR2uLOxRgxe74TSUPT20ovEtyusT7vmwkFJqSXMqSpNgzhczXZ8k3wyd9lvX-3ZCI5EWzmnDZUYAQkYUAvYaXwQc3dA5F/s1600/DSC01478.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527424511654482722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sjX2aSAb7BK-0tEvqnmvDS8uDYnbkLbkN89PjHSTP9w7ThhdR2uLOxRgxe74TSUPT20ovEtyusT7vmwkFJqSXMqSpNgzhczXZ8k3wyd9lvX-3ZCI5EWzmnDZUYAQkYUAvYaXwQc3dA5F/s400/DSC01478.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9Ct4ULFihASYDL957AOBSKFkT7IriqDuAQc54wYIEK-MEQmKZhk4kc_fzliQCHdXog3kT_rb3nVFBAfE8JDNc274FPv1JVE05WJbhZLQ90Y2BTtFsYM6Y0Vk5U7r_EIYn2e2-U30Coq/s1600/DSC01467.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527424503716853842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9Ct4ULFihASYDL957AOBSKFkT7IriqDuAQc54wYIEK-MEQmKZhk4kc_fzliQCHdXog3kT_rb3nVFBAfE8JDNc274FPv1JVE05WJbhZLQ90Y2BTtFsYM6Y0Vk5U7r_EIYn2e2-U30Coq/s400/DSC01467.JPG" /></a></div><div>On a side note: See that Mt. Dew in his hand? He makes me laugh, can't even go into the wilderness without a Mt. Dew. He's seriously addicted. When we are out of Mt. Dew at the house it is referred to as a "Dew Emergency" which is promptly followed by a trip to the store. He gets anxious when he's driving if he doesn't have a can with him.... sometimes he doesn't even open it, just holds it like his security blanket. </div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-17315761301044897112010-10-04T23:20:00.001-04:002010-10-04T23:27:10.477-04:00Three Years ago Today!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldjpARyhgmbvFQQWSvK_AyAQLe2NKjyx7w1NEEu_xrDsGIt-5f8Ni4a0xVP2IgcUhkHj-sQGv3fD-hKKOHBfgenCYuW10u7dtyNRU_Eb-baQfO5h8_hd1rLug2-L0v7rem_E_dW57naFC/s1600/wedding2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524397991468803218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldjpARyhgmbvFQQWSvK_AyAQLe2NKjyx7w1NEEu_xrDsGIt-5f8Ni4a0xVP2IgcUhkHj-sQGv3fD-hKKOHBfgenCYuW10u7dtyNRU_Eb-baQfO5h8_hd1rLug2-L0v7rem_E_dW57naFC/s400/wedding2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_IA5bJ2NNoG-nkKByqiL5uutyyW87QDHjYt4k2ifSh9H4E4HqFpR4qeXlILqMeVOqnW77fVNM67xNQY0akQeG08YTDs8GG_FnyaEV1-7_RAomP_wt4GcYcpaUNok_6ufyeYR88J613YE/s1600/wedding.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 266px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524397993775718434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_IA5bJ2NNoG-nkKByqiL5uutyyW87QDHjYt4k2ifSh9H4E4HqFpR4qeXlILqMeVOqnW77fVNM67xNQY0akQeG08YTDs8GG_FnyaEV1-7_RAomP_wt4GcYcpaUNok_6ufyeYR88J613YE/s400/wedding.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I ran off to North Carolina and got hitched in the Jacksonville Courthouse by a lady in sweatpants with a witness that I had just met 20 minutes prior! I wouldn't change any of it, and I'm amazed how I love my husband more each day. </div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-54739527512939068642010-09-17T07:15:00.000-04:002010-09-17T07:48:44.684-04:00Putting off a History ProjectThat's right... I should be working on my project, a power point about U.S. and world history, but I keep just staring at the computer screen and nothing is coming from my mind, so I'll update here :) It has been a while.<br /><br />We're still no closer to getting a job or orders for Carrick. I'm still plugging away at school. I'm already done with one class this semester! Yeah!<br /><br />We've had two weekends of staying inside because of typhoons, and another one coming this weekend. It's silly because the Japanese don't even blink an eye at these storms, and nothing really happens except rain, but the military has rules that we have to follow.<br /><br />Last weekend was typhoon free though, and we got to go to an eisa festival. Eisa is a style of Japanese drumming. It also involves dancing and music from a stringed, guitar like instrument (I don't remember the name, and probably couldn't spell it anyway).<br /><br />We had a great time with our friends, who are amazing. I feel so lucky that I got hooked up with these people. Even though they've lived on the other side of the world, we still have so much in common. We're all kind of crazy and weird at times which has made my life here so much better.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6LWkh-9ScQ6PUGEkMbQ28Yv-_rkFGJwNK_pYlO7bfYdsQIMgg63lNMZHxobgk24pwpw8HhLsS543OQUExIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQmI9nQSusESVuchyphenhyphen70L1AmKp07fNx2xiGvMgqlsVV2TeyeAdjosBHUyQuW_r2Wl8kXN9oz8QIAXlkF5XZ2tqaQcGo5OZg1R7C2Vjbl4LddhqgVr4Wz2tlrdEq_PnitFKF6LbuDxHPtIh/s1600/DSC01429.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQmI9nQSusESVuchyphenhyphen70L1AmKp07fNx2xiGvMgqlsVV2TeyeAdjosBHUyQuW_r2Wl8kXN9oz8QIAXlkF5XZ2tqaQcGo5OZg1R7C2Vjbl4LddhqgVr4Wz2tlrdEq_PnitFKF6LbuDxHPtIh/s400/DSC01429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517844925179749122" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uX23SGOA2eHy8ObId0aoXjZz3_nMG4PAmYgetiPaH-wz9tV2rdSze4xUJdj8a4vEKn4qqe8Pw1MjJ9KEdDky1GoiQlnFLa9XA5faFZxZ6fdxMb1eDCS0HwtDpBEkI7MCyFp9wf3w2EfB/s1600/DSC01432.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uX23SGOA2eHy8ObId0aoXjZz3_nMG4PAmYgetiPaH-wz9tV2rdSze4xUJdj8a4vEKn4qqe8Pw1MjJ9KEdDky1GoiQlnFLa9XA5faFZxZ6fdxMb1eDCS0HwtDpBEkI7MCyFp9wf3w2EfB/s400/DSC01432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517845738961747394" border="0" /></a>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-83512120112642431222010-08-30T20:18:00.000-04:002010-08-30T20:23:59.352-04:00It's Coming!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxXNpOCiy2gbfg9_OhjgrVLRxiqDkxl-YM099-9Egq5Xw1mz5Jh-bsJgMXt7FAIMKr5ug3_kXN2-qBAgVOKAlrcqmSX8583vFzQRIZC3EXKaJ_vlULXq8oNJ3Lp0cqM760vHrdcx7qSSp/s1600/wp201008.gif"><img style="WIDTH: 509px; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511362777142875826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxXNpOCiy2gbfg9_OhjgrVLRxiqDkxl-YM099-9Egq5Xw1mz5Jh-bsJgMXt7FAIMKr5ug3_kXN2-qBAgVOKAlrcqmSX8583vFzQRIZC3EXKaJ_vlULXq8oNJ3Lp0cqM760vHrdcx7qSSp/s400/wp201008.gif" /></a><br /><div>This could get interesting. We've never been in a typhoon/hurricane, so we're not sure how it's going to go, but we're safely camped out in our cement bunker of a house and waiting.... Carrick gets today and possibly tomorrow off work depending on when Kompasu decides to show up so we're cuddling on the couch watching tv because there's not much else to do!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070840530076433937.post-79256524532192533982010-08-20T22:35:00.000-04:002010-08-20T23:35:11.032-04:00Re-purposing an old sheetMy other project this week: I took this old sheet from this....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMgsfFlKsRGe9xh5n4c0Vp8fg0IGmr4rZMoSqGl-pc7d1FyO0f5KV5Lx99AP5UIkgE7-s0DWMiro0ndtQtGnujL1F3VnqrTLwEh3MMDF6abEMpBkGZID9ehDN8Mt3J-a6lx6bwiI62xH/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507689789533377298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMgsfFlKsRGe9xh5n4c0Vp8fg0IGmr4rZMoSqGl-pc7d1FyO0f5KV5Lx99AP5UIkgE7-s0DWMiro0ndtQtGnujL1F3VnqrTLwEh3MMDF6abEMpBkGZID9ehDN8Mt3J-a6lx6bwiI62xH/s400/IMG_1666.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEEi4AuZtzZuNJ-6sNNm360kx5kHBL6682r8uzt11DxrQxklMj2kDIb_j8hjJwNu5t2mpykKDgmEz1TwWzqzaJWlamp-7P3TgsZO6el-j-tD4G2e6jbxaYZRyTZJbk68nXlLF8_n9VYkv/s1600/IMG_1671.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507689806288153218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEEi4AuZtzZuNJ-6sNNm360kx5kHBL6682r8uzt11DxrQxklMj2kDIb_j8hjJwNu5t2mpykKDgmEz1TwWzqzaJWlamp-7P3TgsZO6el-j-tD4G2e6jbxaYZRyTZJbk68nXlLF8_n9VYkv/s400/IMG_1671.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />to this! Now I have more places to store my shoes, and it didn't cost me anything!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MedzcxosdDN_C9w4fmnitP6wEyyL-arWJc0XNaYGZPvcVJXaqdN6F7nA7dnxySiatpm2Xo0HjI6SUQ4X_Wk_jz6-HV41kS0tUPOHbSahCfqD-E-QOHxtjZ_B6EUJZfuH8JRtWD_Z7D2k/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507689816932089730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MedzcxosdDN_C9w4fmnitP6wEyyL-arWJc0XNaYGZPvcVJXaqdN6F7nA7dnxySiatpm2Xo0HjI6SUQ4X_Wk_jz6-HV41kS0tUPOHbSahCfqD-E-QOHxtjZ_B6EUJZfuH8JRtWD_Z7D2k/s400/IMG_1674.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCjuTNR9hvk1aiV83yUDRQ-kCvG5jXmeFORYAcb88uUBZI_LU-K4t7555VUwP-P7R7WSIFbGS78-OZFAt4RCdXZ3OFgYzaRG6X3Y7Ctz1jMCF99MvFi_AxVQOM0UO-SEr-oZCoM7r7D78/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507689827448996146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCjuTNR9hvk1aiV83yUDRQ-kCvG5jXmeFORYAcb88uUBZI_LU-K4t7555VUwP-P7R7WSIFbGS78-OZFAt4RCdXZ3OFgYzaRG6X3Y7Ctz1jMCF99MvFi_AxVQOM0UO-SEr-oZCoM7r7D78/s400/IMG_1675.JPG" /></a>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893617302633574984noreply@blogger.com1