Happy Father's Day

This is a little belated, but I wanted to write it in honor of my wonderful husband! He is such a great father to his daughter, Abby and our two dogs, Sampson & Maya. We are so blessed to have a wonderful family. I can only imagine where the road will take us. I know that when we have children he will be the best father around. He already is! He is strict, patient, kind, loving, humorous and he does all these things while being overworked and underpaid and being a full-time student. I don't know how he does it!

Also, a big shout-out to my father. The first father I knew. Many of the attributes that Murad possesses are also things that my father has. He was always there for us as children and willing to teach us new things. He wanted to expose us to all types of lifestyles, cultures and individuals. He made sure we were raised with manners and appreciated everything we got!

Crazy Summer

So, this summer has been pretty relaxing so far. Each day I teach summer school until 11:40 and then head home for lunch and a nap. My weekends have been spent at the pool too. This week things changed drastically. Murad's uncle passed away and Abby arrived here in Dallas. So, this week, we had to get Murad's plane ticket booked and figure out plans for Abby while he is gone. She goes to camp each day, but Murad usually takes her there. Luckily, my good friend Elaina agreed to watch her in the mornings and take her to school. Abby has played with Elaina's daughter Sage, so it was a natural choice. I know that Abby feels comfortable and safe at Elaina's and Murad and I feel the same way.
Having Abby here has been wonderful. She's so funny and smart! She cracks me up daily. This year has been a complete 360 from last summer. She's made friends so easily and adapted well to our rules. We've had trouble with her forgetting her stuff everyday, but I think with some structure, she'll nip that habit. This weekend we are by ourselves since Murad won't be back from NJ until Sunday morning. Tomorrow I think we'll go the library and check out some books, buy Murad a father's day present, and make father's day cards for him. We are also going to my friend Crystal's wedding Saturday night, so that should be fun to get all dressed up. This week she's watched "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" (her favorite) and "Watership Down." I think tonight we may do something girly and watch "Teen Witch." Oh how I loved that movie when I was a kid! Today she made up her first rhyme. I go Abby you have mud on your shirt. She goes, "I was making mud pies in the sun and having lots of fun, yo!" Hilarious! She may not be mine biologically, but she inherited my love of rapping!
Summer school hasn't been too bad. For the most part my kids are pretty good, but they are really really low. It still is overwhelming and the summer school does lack.....structure! Ugh! Okay, I'm not going to go off on a tagent! I just have to remember Punta Cana 2010 (and NY and possibly a trip to KC and Denver)! I'm so thankful I have this opportunity to help pay for our honeymoon. We had to take out a lot of our "honey" money to repair my car, so this allows us to still have our dream honeymoon.
I think Murad and I have finally reached a consensus on the home-buying deal where we both feel comfortable. We had discussed buying a home wherever Murad gets in for grad school or if he ends up going for an MSW instead we'd buy one immediately after he finishes that (it's only a one year program). However, I was worried how we would save up enough money for a down payment and while we could afford not to put down a down payment, I would feel more comfortable getting the lowest possible mortgage.
So, what we decided to do is save longer while he is in grad school. We're used to living off of 1.5 salaries, so we'll have to manuever some more to save. We're going to see if we can get a 15 year loan or at least make biweekly payments if we get a 30 year loan. I know it will be hard, but it will be so worth it because ideally we could pay off the house before 15 years and not be trapped in a home if the neighborhood changes. Murad actually came up with the plan, but it wasn't until my mom commented on what a good idea that was that I came on board. Until then we'll probably just rent a house or duplex, which I am more than fine with doing if it will give us financial freedom in the future. So it may mean renting for the next 3 years, but it will help us reach our dreams.
Okay, I'm off to watch TV with Abby!

An act of terrorism

It is with much sadness and pleading that I write this entry. A member of my church family was gunned down yesterday morning while attending church service. He was gunned down for doing his job. I have never been more ashamed, disgusted or in turmoil in my life. How can someone commit murder in the House of God? Are we not safe in a House of God anymore? Is it not a place of peace?

While nobody favors abortion, the truth is that he was performing his job. Abortion is not illegal in the United States. If this radical fanatic had such a problem with abortion, then work to change the law. Gunning down someone in his church is not Pro-Life. It's terrorism. I know that. I know it doesn't represent the people who are Pro-Life, as they are against murder of any kind.

I think what's hard to fathom is that I knew his family. My father taught all his children in Sunday School. His youngest daughter taught my brother in Vacation Bible School. We attended church events with them. They were part of our family. He was a strong Christian man. I think what most people don't know is that George Tiller was a champion of women's reproductive rights. He supported women in their decisions, no matter what they decided. I was in awe of all the women who wrote about how Tiller helped them find adoptive homes for their unwanted babies, and how he helped women looking to adopt. He was not in it for the money. He wanted to help women. In addition, he helped women whose lives were endangered by pregnancy and girls raped at a young age and in an unfortunate situation.

I can only imagine what his family has gone through and and what they will face. I attended church each week and had to fend off radical abortion protesters, but Tiller's family had to encounter violence and, ultimately, death.

I think things are only going to get worse before they get better. I hope something good will come of his untimely death. I hope a discourse between pro-life and pro-choice groups will begin. I do not support abortion in general, but I know that every woman must make a decision for herself and I must not judge that decision, only He can. I know that until we provide comprehensive healthcare and support for women who choose to keep their children, then we must provide an alternative for them and that is abortion. Until we provide correct information on sexuality and reproduction to our students, we must provide abortion.

I think the only way to end this post is by calling for prayer. Not only was Tiller's family affected, but my church family was affected. The 18 year-old daughter of my youth group director was in the glass enclosed church office and witnessed the entire tragedy. Two of our family friends and ushers were threatened by the gunman. Our church has so many good memories that will now be overshadowed by this event. 13 years ago our church was built. I was part of the confirmation class that was first confirmed in the new building. My brother was confirmed there. Tiller's youngest daughter was married in our church. So please pray for the Tillers, my church family, the city of Wichita, and the nation. "Lord have mercy!' And we are so bold to proclaim and believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)

RIP George R. Tiller

My Eyes

It's inevitable. Once again my mom is right. I need to get an eye exam. My eyes are starting to hurt everyday. Uggh. I so don't want to do it, but I need to do it. I'm just hoping that I don't have to get glasses. I need to get back to making exemption forms for my students, but my eyes hurt so badly! probably doesn't help that I'm on the computer. uggh...okay off to work, so I can finally rest my eyes!

Is it summer yet?

I'm sitting here in study hall. Why study hall you ask? well, the teacher didn't show up so I got to cover the class. Yippee!

Well, I went to Wichita this weekend. It was great. My mom and I had a total girls' weekend. We watched soap operas, ate angel food cake with strawberrys and whipped cream and of course chatted it up.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with my good friend Jennifer Cheng...oh wait, I mean Dr. Jennifer Cheng. She and her husband Jason just celebrated their first year of marriage on Monday. Last year Murad and I traveled to Wichita for their wedding. Like me, she did a lot of DIY things for the wedding. Last year we talked all the time about our plans for the wedding and how we did it. Her wedding was so cool. It took place at a local country club on the golf course with the reception in the club house. She also had three (yes, three!) dresses! Her colors were ivory, pink and chocolate brown. In addition, to DIYing most of the aspects of the wedding, she also did some cooking. She made white-chocolate covered and dark chocolate coverd pretzels as her wedding favors. They were so yummy! Murad and I took extras. When I visited her, she had just received her wedding album. It was cool to look back at last year! She and I both experience the post-wedding planning blues, but I think that's normal. Now we have so much more to do, that we are both kind of glad to have all that work out of our lives.

Ugh...so ready for summer! I'm dreaming of the pool!

Murad and I decided to hold off on the wedding bands for a while. We need to pay off our credit cards and save $$. I also didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize our honeymoon. Plus with Abby coming the summer, money will be tight!!!!!!!! Plus, I really love my simple band. It really symbolizes me and my relationship with Mr. Soup. We love each other and that's all that really matters in our lives. We're working together to achieve our dreams and goals!

Well, I guess I better get back to work! Luckily these kids are quiet and not disruptive. I should've brought work down.

Okay, well back to dreaming of summer!

tag

8 things I am looking forward to:

- Abby coming to visit this summer

-pool time

-going to Kansas this weekend

-going to New Jersey at Thanksgiving

-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic March 2010

-finding out where Murad will attend grad school and where will live for the next five years

-sleeping in!

-dinner

8 things I did yesterday:

-taught 7th graders

-watched Real Housewives of New Jersey

- walked the dogs

-paid bills

-made homemade pizza

-slept

-talked to Murad

-checked facebook

8 things I wish I could do:

-run a marathon or half-marathon

-write full-time
-be more assertive
-worry less
-do math...well
-travel to Australia (still not giving up hope)
-eat and drink whatever I want
-keep my apartment clean throughout the week

8 shows I watch:
-Family Guy-
-Whose Wedding Is it Anyways
-The Office
-The Young & the Restless (on Soap.net)
-Living Single (reruns)
-Saved by the Bell (reruns)
-anything on MSNBC
-Real Housewives series

8 People I tag: Katie, Tish, Amber, Lynsey, Lara and three more!

Summer is Almost Here

Can you tell I'm ready? These kids are driving me bonkers! Luckily, we're reading a 7th grade favorite, The Outsiders.

So, definitely some good news:

-I got an extra $750 from my mentor grant so I was able to get most of my car repairs done. Only one more minor thing (with a hefty $250 price tag). I'm going to wait until the fall on that one. Now I can finally drive my car back and forth to Kansas! WOO-HOO!

-Murad and I's 3 year anniversary was yesterday! Can you believe we've been together for three years? Tomorrow is our 2 month wedding anniversary.

-Murad got added hours at work! Woo-hoo! This will open up a lot of things for us. We may be able to get our wedding bands. We currently just have plain platinum bands (still effin expensive in my eyes). I want a 3/4 eternity bezeled band. I wasn't a fan of bezeled until recently. It's in our price range. Murad wants a channel set band. Unfortunately his is not in our price range. He could get it in white gold and it would be $600 cheaper, but we are big fans of platinum and don't want to jeorpordize quality (we're such snobs..which is funny because we're Poor!). I told Murad that if it meant postponing our honeymoon (again) then I don't want to do it. I need the beach. Punta Cana, DR, here we come! We're buying booking it soon so we can get some good deals!

For now I'll settle for laying by the pool. I'm so ready for summer. Even though I'm teaching summer school, I still have plenty to look forward to:

-no more GRAD SCHOOL! I'm done with my 2nd master's. well I'm not, but I'm done with the coursework and that's all that matters

-Abby will be here! Girl time! movies, plays, library time and whatever girly stuff we have to opportunity to do. I'm so excited to have her here. Murad and I are going to focus on helping her develop healthy eating and exercise habits. I'm hoping they are habits she'll continue when she goes back to Kansas in the fall.

reading and writing! I can't wait to read for pleasure and start journaling again!

-Finally, Murad is starting the grad school application process. I know most people don't like writing statement of purposes, but I like helping him do it. I love writing and I love helping him acheive his goals! I'm so proud of him! He is back in school getting another degree solely for the purpose of going for more school. School doesn't come easy for him, and he's successfully raised his GPA! He's applying for about 5 different Ph.D Counseling Psychology programs and a couple of MSW programs. It hasn't been an easy road for him, but he's stuck to it. He's so dedicated. I know whatever program he gets into will be the best for him. This is such an exciting time in our lives. We've been seriously talking about buying a house wherever we end up so that we can start on a family in a few years! CRAZY!

-Sampson and Maya time--more time to play and cuddle with my babies!