Kitty!

I never ever thought we would have a kitty again!

But here she is!

I bet you want to know how THAT happened!
Well, I have always been a city girl. Grew up in the city and never lived outside the city. Kevin and I got a taste of the country life out in South Carolina and LOVED the quiet seclusion and the scenery. We decided the country life was what we wanted!
BUT, nobody explained to me that the country life comes with bugs and mice and ALL KINDS of unwanted things! Now, I don't really think that would have stopped me from buying the cabin. But, I was still a little naive!
Back to the unwanted critters.....
When I moved in and started cleaning the cupboards I noticed a lot of mouse poison was set up. That was clue #1.
Then this last weekend while we were having a yard sale, the neighbor and I started talking. She was saying how the mice were brave and would take over your house when the weather starts getting cooler. And she told me that even though she herself is extremely allergic to cats, she was getting one. She asked if I wanted one. I talked to Kevin about it and we decided to get a cat.
She is an outside cat. She'll stay outside and keep the mice and bugs at bay.
Right now she is in the garage (stinking it up a bit- I will have to clean it).
Later today I am going to open the garage door and let her run around.
She is a very sweet little thing. She came from a farm down the road that had 5 litters of kittens! She is all skin and bones.... and long fur. She is always kneading her front little paws on the ground. And she loves attention.
And I can not for the life of me come up with a name that I LOVE.
Right now, I am thinking of maybe Calico and calling her Cally for short. That was a suggestion from Megan's mom and I like it, but Cally is so close to Alli (my new daughter-in-law).
Another name that was suggested to me is Sugar because she is so sweet. I like that one too.
And then I also thought of Button. But none of these names seem perfect to me.
I am taking suggestions or votes on the above mentioned names! Let me know what you think!!

Is It REALLY September?????

I haven't blogged in so very long. I have thought

about it a few times, but so much has happened. I wonder WHERE on earth to start!

When last I posted we were in the hotel room.

After a lot of waiting and waiting, we were finally able to get a closing date. Let me just say that we were totally disappointed in USAA as our mortgage company. Our first representative there actually got fired in the process of our buying our home.
Katie and I took a whirlwind trip to Manhattan, Kansas the day before closing to see my sweet little grandson on his birth-day.

I wouldn't miss it even if I did miss a little sleep!!
I truly know the meaning of "makes my heart melt".

It's a feeling I get each and every time I hold him. I was such a young mom myself that I didn't treasure those feelings. I am now! And let me tell you so is his Grandpa Wilde who holds him EVERY chance he gets!

My lil punkin's full name is Gabrial Elijah Kevin Wilde and he is the most beautiful baby in the world!

The same day I arrived home from meeting my lil punkin, we closed on our log cabin which

has always been a dream of ours!

Our household goods arrived that same week and my patience was sorely tried as the movers unloaded and I began to unpack what was surely the worst packing/moving experience we have ever had! Thankfully it was probably the last!

We also went to the local animal shelter and brought home a 2 yr old beagle we named "Ruby".

She had to stay with a friend for a few days and when she got here she was very sick. I took her to the vet twice and spent over $300 which was money we barely had at the time. She continued to get sicker and sicker. I agonized over it, but it was apparent that Ruby needed to be in a hospital and we didn't have the money to pay for such treatment. We took her back to the shelter to get that care.

Shortly after that, we rented a truck and moved Katie to Manhattan to a little apartment of her own and brought said truck back home filled with Jake and Megan's things. They arrived a few days later with their beagle, Trixie and my lil punkin, Gabe and settled into the guest bedroom.

On the 17th of August I found a 5 month old puppy listed on Craig's List that needed to be

rescued. We went and looked at her and fell in love.

I named her Paisley. We took her and got her spayed as she already had an appointment. She has been with us for almost a month and is mostly confined to the kitchen as we are training her. She is doing pretty good. And she is pretty smart. She can sit, shake and lay down and we are trying to teach her to roll over now.

My sweet friend, Christy who is an awesome amateur photographer (soon to be professional) has taken some awesome pictures. One photo shoot was of Gabe on his one month birthday And the other this past weekend was of our little family when we were ALL here. These are just a few of those awesome pics!

I think that catches you up on the BIG picture. I'll try to be better at posting some of the awesome little things that are happening here in our little corner of Oklahoma!

~Angel

Worth the Wait...

It is 10:00 in the morning on Saturday, July 24th and I am sitting in our hotel room in Oklahoma City waiting on my water to boil for a chai. I haven't blogged in ages, but maybe it's time! It is therapuetic after all!
We made it through the retirement (bittersweet) and Brian's wedding (BEAUTIFUL) and we found our dream home (LOG CABIN!) here in Oklahoma. Kevin has even started his new job.

And now we wait.

We are waiting for the grandbaby to decide it's time for his birthday

and

we are waiting for a closing date for the cabin.

Katie and I have done a bit of exploring of Oklahoma City. But mostly we've spent the days in our hotel room while Kevin works. I should be taking advantage of the slow pace and just relax. But that is easier said than done. There is only so much to do in the room. And THE ROOM... well, the room is another story. It's awful.

But, it's cheap.

And it's temporary.

I'll add another post for pictures of the cabin and the wedding.
And of course, I'll be adding pictures soon of our new grandbaby!!
Thanks for checking in! I'd love to hear from you in comments!
Blessings~
Angel

The Graduation Trip (long post....)

I have not TRULY updated my blog for so long! I guess working full time and blogging just don't go together for me. I don't even know where to start.....LOL
The series of events that I have been both looking forward to and dreading at the same time have started to unfold. We really have only a little more than a month before we move from South Carolina to Oklahoma.
The beginning of the chain of events was Brian's graduation which was May 8. We had a very eventful trip back to Kansas to attend Brian's graduation. Katie's car broke down on the interstate just past Boonville, Missouri. We had it towed there. Thank God for the Roadside Assistance Plan which we have through our auto insurance. (I highly recommend AAA or a similiar plan- we have always gotten our money's worth out of those.)
We were delayed in Missouri for a couple of hours and almost missed the baby shower for Megan that Friday at the school Jake and Megan both work at as Paras. But we made it there right at the end. (I forgot to bring in my camera though.)
We went out to dinner with the kids. I love that I now have 5 kids and I love the days when we are all together!
Saturday was the graduation and I am so proud of Brian who graduated Cum Laude! After the graduation, we went to lunch at Old Chicago with some of Alli's family including her mom, Martha and aunt Carol and Uncle John. My parents were also there. (Jake and Megan went to Megan's brothers high school graduation which was the same day. (Congratulations, Ethan!)
That evening we played games at Alli's apartment and had a great time!
Sunday was Mother's Day and I feel so blessed to have spent the morning with my mom and all of the kids when we went out for breakfast. And the kids and Kevin and I ended the day with the hotel swimming pool all to ourselves!
Monday we headed to Salina for Katie to buy a car which Brian found on Craig's List.
We headed home after following Katie to Wichita where she got her tags. We left our Katie back in Kansas and now have an empty nest!. (Sad.)
One blessing which I should not forget to mention is the fact that we were supposed to travel to Oklahoma and have a look around. We were not able to do that as we had to go back up to Missouri to take care of the car there. We KNOW that our detour was perfectly planned by God as we would have been caught in the middle of tornadoes there in OK. Our friends there ARE safe, but really got a scare.
We are back home and today I start a list as the time is REALLY flying by. My last day of work was Friday and I spent the weekend resting as I caught an awful cold. I am thankful that I feel better today!
Here are a few pics of our trip to Kansas. I really wish I had taken more though!!!

I bet you didn't know that Brian had a twin! This is Kenny and Brian who constantly get mistaken for eachother!

Grandma & Grandpa Johnson with Brian. They haven't missed a graduation yet.

Alli and her graduate! We will go to MCC's graduation
next year to see Alli graduate!

Kevin and I are proud of Brian!

The 2010 graduating class of Manhattan Christian College!

Brian and his mom-ME.

After the graduation we celebrated over appetizers and pizza at Old Chicago. It was YUMMY!

Jake and Megan at Alli's apartment that evening.

Three Generations!

Breakfast at Hy-Vee for Mother's Day! Katie and Grandma Johnson!

Jake and Megan AND our grandbaby!
MY FAVORITE MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT WAS FEELING THE BABY KICK!!!

And Brian and Alli!

That's all for now......

I.....

...made 3 big mistakes yesterday at work and feel like an idiot.
...have NO spare time for anything at home.
...miss blogging!
...am excited to see Beth Moore's simulcast this Saturday!
...colored my hair last weekend. It's dark brown, but some of the greys didn't take...not fair!
...have made 100 wedding invitations so far!
...enjoyed my best friends visits last month!
...will be a grandma in just 3 months!
...have to go to the bathroom but all 3 restrooms are broken here at work!
...am trying not to stress too much about the milestone events which are approaching at warp speed!
...am 1 and 1/2 pounds from my TOPS goal!

...am going to see Taylor Swift with my baby girl next week!

...will miss my baby so much when she moves to KS next month.
...wonder who will read this....

Checking In...

HELLO!
I am still here! Hard to believe I have been a working woman for a month now! I've settled in to a bit of a routine. Getting up, working out, getting ready, going to work, coming home, making dinner, washing dishes and then watching TV until bedtime. Get up and start all over.
This week was different for me at work though. I actually moved in to my own office and got my computer hooked up. We had been waiting for the computer to come from an office that was closing. And the girl I work with is only there from 9-12 so we shared her office/computer. It worked out okay, but it's nice to have my own space too. I hope to take a pic of my office this week after I get my pictures up.
This week will be a short week! I am working Monday- Wednesday and then Thursday picking up one of my best friends from the airport in Charlotte for her 4 day visit. I will go back to work the next Monday for a week and then my other best friend will be here that Friday along with my sweet Godchildren!
March is Best Friend month!
YIPEEEEE!!!
Well, I've been lazy this morning. Kevin brought home Chik-fil-A for breakfast. I've been blogging. But, now I better get my work out in so I can get to cleaning!
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by!

It's SNOWING in South Carolina!

It started snowing lightly at about 3:30. It picked up a little while later. Katie took Paige out and this is a cute picture of her catching a snowflake with her tongue!
We've got a couple of inches already and are expecting between 3-5 inches.
Here is Katie's snowman!
This last picture was right before it got dark outside. We've gotten more snow since then.

I hope it's better tomorrow.
I need a haircut and I need to go shopping for clothes for my new job!!!
Blessings~
Angel