My Halloween Costume :)

Just a part of my costume as Betty Crocker. :] And I made it myself. Well... I put the 'B' on.

Magical Meatloaf and Killer Cookies

Today's recipes came from my Philidelphia Cream Cheese Cookbook and The Hershey Cookbook. For dinner I made meatloaf. But this wasn't an ordinary meatloaf. It was smothered in magical mashed potatoes and had cheese on top. Anything with cheese on top is almost guaranteed to be good in my book. The secret ingredient in the potatoes was cream cheese. It sounds a little disgusting, but it made them absolutely fantastic. Meatloaf covered in mashed potatoes? Genius! (I didn't get a picture before we dug in. We were very excited and hungry.)

For dessert I let Crockett pick a recipe from the Hershey book of wonders. He picked a triple chocolate cookie. This was the first time I baked a cookie from scratch. They came out very yummy, but very very rich. I could only have one, and milk is a must have with these cookies. The recipe yielded 3 dozen cookies so we had some friends over to help polish off the goodness. It was a really great evening with really great food and friends.

Lemon Pie

Today I was craving some Thanksgiving with my wonderful family. I can't wait to get some of Mamaw's stuffin and gravy and Memaw's lemon ice box pie!! I absolutely love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. It's the one time a year I get to see all of my dad's family. It's also one of the few times a year I get to play Nertz ALL day long. We eat lunch, play, eat dessert, play, eat dinner, play, etc. It's amazing. :] So today I baked a lemon pie to satisfy my sweet tooth and prepare myself for some Thanksgiving. This was the first time I ever baked a pie. This was also the first time I made meringue. It came out great! The pie is delicious. And I got to really use my KitchenAid mixer from our wedding for the first time. It was easier than baking a cake surprisingly and took about 15 minutes. I couldn't get the meringue to brown, but it's still fantastic. Next I get to make brownies for Crockett since he doesn't like pie. More for me!

Jesus, sisters, and sushi

Tonight I had some great conversation with some beautiful girls while eating delicious sushi. I tried the crunch roll tonight and it was better than the california roll! I ate it all. :) But even better was the time to talk with some girls who I love. They made me laugh. And they made my heart so happy. It's nights like tonight where I get to see the light at the end of the tunnel. God is good and although he asks me to walk through experiences that are challenging I can always trust in him to come through on his promise. I love Jesus. I love my plegde sisters. and I love sushi.

The most wonderful time of year

It's officially Fall! (Or Autumn, whichever you prefer. I personally prefer Autumn.) The weather hasn't quite gotten the memo yet, but the calendar has not failed us! Sept. 22 marked the first day of Fall. :) I am so excited. I pulled out the pumpkin decorations and filled the jar with candy corn and little pumpkins. Every year I wait until September so I can buy those delicious little pumpkins and every year I make myself sick eating them. This year I vow to enjoy them in moderation. Crockett and I are going to decorate our family pumpkins soon. We get to add one more this year! Diego the cat will have the tiniest pumpkin. I am so excited! I wanted to get them today, but husband said no. I am anxious for the cooler weather so I can wear jeans and sweaters again. Hmmm... this reminds me, I may need to update my Fall 2010 wardrobe. ;) Fall always makes me homesick. I can almost taste Thanksgiving!!

My favorite thing about Fall.

The journey to become one of them.

Update on the secrets: It's going much better! I'm still under a lot of stress and I'm starting to feel really tired, but I'm feeling a lot better. I haven't worked much lately, but Crockett is applying at Texas Motor Speedway! I have a lot of homework and my tummy has started to get upset due to stress and not eating well, but I'm meeting lots of great girls! I miss my husband and my house is a mess, but I think it will al be worth it when these 5 weeks are over.

Secrets

I hate secrets. They hurt people. Always. No matter what. And right now I'm having to keep a lot of them. From my family, my friends, my husband, my sister, & even my mom. I HATE this. For one I do not like being told what to do in a non work/school situation. So I'm having a really hard time with people telling me, "Here's what you're gunna do. We don't care that you don't want to do it. Here's where you're going to be and what you're going to look like. And on top of all this, don't tell anyone what we've told you." I'm having an especially hard time balancing this with my husband. Just 4 weeks ago I vowed to become one with him. How can one being not share the same knowledge? How can one being hide secrets from itself? I'm so incredibly confused and really emotionally overwhelmed. My sister and my mom are my best friends and it's going to be impossible not sharing details of my life with them. I want to live my life the way I want. I want to be able to share my stories with my friends. I'm really unsure about what I should do at this point and I'm not even sure I have a choice anymore. I don't feel like I can be myself. I don't feel like I can trust people. I hate this feeling. :( I wanna go back to Disney World.

Well hello 6am; it's been a while.

Well, school has started. It hasn't quite been a week yet, but I think I have an understanding of how this year's schedule will look. Only one class I haven't been to yet, and I'll get to do that tomorrow. So I'm only in class 3 days a week which is nice, but those three days are pretty busy. Crockett and I have to bring our lunch to school. At least there's a microwave on campus. Hello mac & cheese bowls. :) I'm taking 2 science classes and my CDL class which means that technically I'm taking 15 hours (5 classes), but in reality I have 8 classes including labs!! I'm not nervous about anything yet. Environmental Science seems interesting. Earth Science seems boring, but not too hard. Education classes are my specialty and math is TBA. My prof seems nice, but me and math have a bad history. We were great in high schoool, but we broke my sophomore year of college. I'm not sure I'm ready to rekindle yet.
Aside from academics there is another thing that will be occupying my time this semester. I am rushing SIGMA ALPHA! :D I am so so excited! It's only been two days, but I have met some incredible girls and I am feeling God's confirmation that this is right where I belong. The girls described themselves as awkward and loud. Umm... yes please!! I think it'll be a fantastic way to make friends and find a home for my bruised heart. I met a girl last year who seemed to be my heart friend instantly, but she left me with a bad taste in my mouth after really disappointing me and walking out on me when I needed her. I'm eager to see how God works through the Sigma ladies in my life.
Also, I had an interview with a family for a permanent nanny position last Sunday and I GOT IT!! I'm super excited to be working for this family. I know God is going to use me in the lives of these children and I can't wait to be his vessel! How blessed am I to be chosen to demonstrate the love of God to the most precious little lives?!
I continue to give God all the glory for how my life is going right now. He has answered prayer by giving us a church home, giving me a group of girls to share my heart with, giving me a great job, continually providing our financial needs, and allowing us to find each other in love. It's easy to remember God in the hard times. It's easy to talk to him when I can't breathe because of the pain and I have no where left to turn, but I often find it harder to remember to praise him. Things are going great and there's only one reason for that: because my God is good!!
PS. Diego the cat has come to live with us and he is doing much better. :) I think he'll do well here.

8.14.10

Mr. & Mrs. Thompson

On August 14, 2010 Crockett and I were finally married at my church and it will forever be one of the best days of my life. After the wedding we spent a week in Orlando where we went to Disney World. :) We had an amazing time. I finally met Ariel and Crockett got to see his Indiana Jones stunt show. Fantasmic was probably our favorite thing from the entire trip. It was absolutely amazing!! We had to meet Mickey of course.We ate at Fulton's Crab House in Downtown Disney where we had amazing sea food on a beautiful old steam boat.
We went into a store that had The Little Mermaid playing and Crockett caught me staring at the screen, singing the song.

After riding the Buzz Lightyear ride and defeating the evil emporer Zurg we met Buzz!

Looking Ahead

Tonight I find myself extremely eager to get into my new home as a wife. I blame HGTV. I just can't wait to get settled into our apartment; just Crockett, Tank, and I. :) I'm excited to decorate and eager to make it cozy. I'm so ready to move in all the wonderful gifts we have already received from our friends and family. It's a bummer that school will start only 4 days after we return from our honeymoon, but I'm sure I'll be able to postpone work and school for some nesting time. ;) Only 5 1/2 weeks now! Soon I'll start getting excited that I'm going to DISNEY WORLD next month.
<3 B

Shower and Tank's Birthday

Last week was Tank's first birthday. :) My little puppy is a whole year old! It's hard to imagine that little puppy we rescued from the shelter who could fit in my lap.
This past weekend was Crockett and I's wedding shower hosted by our wonderful best man, Sam Highnote. We had so much fun! The theme was western and we had some yummy Midway Bar-b-que. The cake was beautiful and we had a blast playing the newlywed game. We are so blessed to have such great friends who came and celebrated with us. We love you all! Here's a few pictures from the week:

Tank's 1st Birthday

Our his and hers gifts

Us at our shower

Our beautiful cake

Baby Sprinkle

Sunday was my cousin Amanda's baby sprinkle for baby #2, Brooke Leann Ulrich. We had so much fun and ate way too much (as usual). I made the diaper cake and my cousin Sabrina made the cake. The raspberry sherbert punch was my favorite though! There was also some brookies (brownies and cookies mixed together) and fruit salad. Here are a few pics from the day.

Collage

Diaper Cake

Carley showing everyone sister's diapers. "Aww, So coot!"

Reasons I love Ellen

1. She's Dory!
2. She is an amazing dancer.
3. She is hilarious.
4. She listens to her fans.
5. She has awesome guests on her show.
6. She is herself, always.
7. She is soooo nice. :)

perfection seeking mess

I couldn't sleep tonight so I began reading my book of love letters from God. I came across one that I just had to share.

"Wherever you've gone My grace has followed you. Whatever you've done My blood has covered you. Come to me today and I will do more than repair the damage done... I will restore what was lost. Come to me and let's fall in love all over again.
Love, Your King who knows no limits"

Wow. I am so in love with my God. His love is relentless. He sees my sin, knows my flawed heart, and yet deeply desires a relationship with me. I could never be worthy, yet there's a special place in his holy and perfect heart reserved for me who makes endless mistakes. If everyone entered relationship with this unbelievably perfect God no one would ever feel unloved.

Red Box

I have never seen anyone filling red box machines and I have rented movies at all hours on all days. This observation has lead me to a theory:
I think there are tubes that run from every red box machine to a central command center underground. You know, like the bank tubes... I think it's all computerized and they just send the new movies up and the old movies down. It makes sense...

Change

Today I took the Love Languages Test (http://www.afo.net/hftw-lovetest.asp) assuming I would know the outcome. Of course I'd get 12 points in Physical Touch and nothing in any other category. All my life I have felt most loved when I am touched. Holding hands has been the most romantic thing to me. Even my girlfriends and I would walk arm in arm or hug often. My sister and I shared this love language and enjoyed sharing a bed or sleeping together on the couch growing up. When I'm on the brink of tears the quickest way to make them fall is not to tell me you love me or speak with me privately it has always been to hug me. But lately things have been changing. I have felt myself becoming such a different person. I used to be very emotional when it came to books and movies. I cried in just about every chick flick. Now I can't even remember the last time I cried over something fictional. Even in my relationships I'm finding myself to be much more "thick skinned". I'm often annoyed at overly sensitive people and even though I have my heart strings tugged, my tear ducts seem to have been disconnected. However, one thing remains the same. When my sister hurts my feelings I feel like I could just explode, and that's because she is the one person in this world I care about the most. I guess this can be a good thing. I used to be so overly emotional and prayed I would toughen up. I guess it just surprised me when I noticed it. I'm also not nearly as romantic as I used to be. I'd rather just watch a movie with Crockett than go out. Also I find I enjoy our conversation more than I do him holding me. It's not to say I don't enjoy being held, it's just not what holds me together anymore. I feel like I'm sort of becoming my own person. It's so new. I don't need someone else to touch me or hold me because I'm indepedent and I got this. I was so needy before and now I'm coming into my own. Ironicaly I thought I did that years ago. Guess we never stop growing and maturing.
So back to that test I took... these were my resluts: (the highest is 12 points in a category)
9- Acts of Service
8- Quality Time
7- Words of Affirmation
3- Receiving Gifts
3- Physical Touch
Go figure! It does make sense when I think about it. When Crockett helps me with the dishes or makes me chocolate milk I feel so cherished. I love feeling taken care of. Looking at all this has also made me realize what an amazing man I'm marrying. He excels at all of these catagories. When I'm stressed he helps me with my to do list. He does laundry, dishes, heavy lifting, packing. He's such a doer and not a watcher. He also takes me out on dates and stops at Red Box on our way to the store and says let's rent a movie tonight, just us, you pick. :)He tells me every day he loves me and how beautiful I am. He spoils me rotten with gifts. (Mostly food!) And his favorite way to show me he loves me is with back massages. I couldn't ask for a more well rounded lover. He loves in every way. I am so blessed.
I guess these changes are just part of life and I need to embrace them. Thank you Lord for answering prayer and shaping me into the woman you want me to be. All of my life I make an offering!

Finals

Well I just finished my first final. It seems the end has begun. However, this is the time of year that I wish I could start all over because I feel like I could have done better. I hate that feeling, but I know it's true. I am pulling out all A's and B's which I am happy about, but also feeling like it could have been all A's if I had tried a little harder. I am actually kind of eager to start next semester with a fresh start. (and new name!) As I'm finishing with school for now and looking forward to summer I'm realizing I have so much still to do. This summer is going to be incredibly busy. I have much to do for the wedding still and I need to lose weight! My dress is a tad bit snug and I want to look my best for my soon-to-be husband. So there's work to be done even as I celebrate relief. I am excited though. :) Wedding showers, birthday parties, sun, and being home. I really can't wait.

Ring Ring Ring!

We bought Crockett's wedding ring!! Yay!!

Engagement Pictures

All rights belong to Rob Milton. He did such a great job!
www.robmilton.com

Summer is in sight!

Looks like summer plans are starting to get made. I gave my notice at work so now I just need to figure out where I'm going to work back in Katy this summer. I've also got two hits on my sublease add, so hopefully that'll work out too. Praise God for his provisions! Speaking of which, Crockett got a job! A huge praise report!! :D We have two possible dates for wedding showers set up, each in Denton & Katy. And Crockett and & I have decided to throw a camping trip for the wedding party at the start of summer. It's going to be so much fun! I'm getting eager for school to be out so I can focus on the wedding more. It's been difficult being 5 hours away from venues and places I need to visit. Hopefully school can be priority until then though.

Continue to pray for us as we start our lives together, we will need lots of God's good grace and protection as we try to be full time students/newlyweds/providers. We are blessed and God has been faithful so far. So here is a thanks in advance, because I know he'll continue his work.

Tank is getting so big and has his surgery scheduled (neutered) for next Friday. Hopefully he'll be a good patient and I won't have to buy him a "cone head" as Crockett refers to it. Well, that's all for now. I'm looking forward to keeping up with this thing a little more now that I've updated it. Until next time! - B <3

Engaged!

We're engaged! As of 1.6.10 I am officially on my way to becoming a wifey. August 14, 2010 we will enter as two and leave as one. :] It's going to be 7 month engagement... and a lot of people have a tiny problem with that. No one has directly said it to my face, but I've heard, "WOW. That's really soon." "Dude, really???" "O my goodness that's so soon." "You're gunna have a long engagement right? Cuz you're young; you have your whole life." and so on and so on. Now because I'm a pretty nice person my response has been, "Yeah, we're excited!" It's getting annoying, but I'm going to ignore the negative comments (and emails) and just know that I'm following God's plan. Crockett & I are excited. It's been a great year and a half so far and I'm looking forward to forever! :)