Days 20, 21, 22, and 23

Day 20: Picture of Yourself

This was my favorite bridal picture and one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. This pose was actually my idea too which makes me even more proud. I can remember thinking about the upcoming wedding and Quade at this moment and just being so blissfully happy.

Day 21: Stress

 

It's kind of ironic the timing of this post topic. I, too, have many things that are stressing me out right now.

The main thing is I recently found out I have a fractured foot and since this last Saturday it's gotten worse. I've actually had the fractured foot for over a month now, but I didn't know until I got xrays done. I went to the doctor 2 days ago and he referred me to a specialist that can't see me until the 30th. Until then, I am in a walking boot, taking high dose pain pills, and using a walker around the house occasionally using a walker. We're supposed to be meeting some friends a

The other thing I'm stressed about is the job I told you about. I still haven't heard anything back, but I'm trying to not get discouraged since it's only been since Monday. The man said they were hoping to make a decision by the end of the week or early next week so I think I will call tomorrow afternoon and check on the status of the job.   

Day 22: Hobbies

My only hobby, other than blogging :), that I really have that I would like to pick back up is drawing. I used to enter the county fair in my hometown every year and I always did pretty well. I even took art lessons for several years through the local art league and sometimes private lessons. Hear is my favorite picture that I drew many years ago that I would like to hang in our home somewhere, but we still haven't decided where would be best.

 I love it because it has a great theme called "War and Peace." The little girl is holding a slingshot behind her back and the little soldier boy is holding a flower in front of him. 

My plan is to draw Quade's favorite engagement picture of us for his birthday which is October 26th...so with a little over a month I should have plenty of time to do it!

Day 23: Favorite Blog Hop

This is an easy one because this is the only blog hop I've done, besides things like What I'm Loving Wednesdays. I don't really count those though. I have truly enjoyed this blog hop and it has made me want to do more of these if I find them! The topics have been great and I have had a blast getting to know more people and having more fun blogs to read every day. What excites me even more is following you guys after the blog hop is over and reading about what else y'all like to talk about most! :)

Days 16, 17, 18, and 19

Man I really did not think I would get this far behind but I did. We had a very busy weekend! First, Quade coming home Friday night which is so wonderful having him back!!! Saturday, his brother came to stay with us as well as my old roommate and her boyfriend so we could all go to the A&M football game together. WE WON which made it even more awesome! Sunday, we spent most of the day just relaxing and watched X Men: First Class which was really pretty good. Today, I am very late in posting because.....I may have a job hopefully!!!!!!!! What's so wonderful is that it's at the church that the hubby and I have been visiting and just the idea of being able to serve God in the church while making a living just excites me. The interview went very well this morning I thought and his words were "He was very impressed" and "I set the bar very high!" since I was the first one interviewed. So please prayers are very much appreciated!! :)

Now on to Katie's 30 day challenge..

Day 16: 5 Blogs

1. According to Christa



2. Everything Happens For a Reason

 3. Katie's Journey


4. Life With The Edwards

5. Ashley's Carnival Ride

Day 17: Regrets
I don't like to use the word "regret" for anything honestly but there are lessons I have learned from making certain decisions. I do wish that I would have gotten more involved while I was going to A&M. I would always take the first step and go to the open house and talk to a few groups, but my problem was following through. I wanted whatever time I wasn't studying to be able to devote to being with Quade. The reason I don't regret it too much....duh he's my husband now! :)

I wish I would have gotten up earlier in the morning when I was living at home to have coffee with my mom and dad. When Quade was out of town and I was staying with my family, I did not take this for granted and I am so glad I didn't. Even though I don't like to think of it this way, one day when they are gone to heaven, I will cherish those moments more than anything!

Day 18: Something You Miss

There are days I miss being down the hallway from my sister. I know that she is just a phone call away, and I am grateful for that, but it's not the same as being in the same room with her. I am so very happy to be married and to wake up next to my hubby every day...I would not ever want to change that! I just know that I need to remind my sister that I do cherish all the many memories we have shared talking in each other's bedrooms or even simply enjoying the silence in the same room.

Day 19: Nicknames

I really only have one nickname that either my dad or Quade calls me. Quade loves to call me Mikey Renee which bugs me to no end! Mainly because I was teased by the nickname Mikey in elementary school. :( I try not to let it get to me because I know he isn't doing it to hurt me, but out of adoration. That's exactly what he called me when he proposed, "Mikey Renee, will you marry me?" I guess I gotta let it go sometime. My dad will just call me Mikey, but it's different coming from him since his name is Mike and he likes that I'm named after him.

Days 13, 14, and 15

First of all, thank you to those for your kind words and prayers after my last post!! I am in a much better place now and a lot of it had to do with you and my prayer group at church last night. It's amazing how God can transform our minds through prayer, His word, and the people He brings into our path when we need them most. :)

 

Day 13: Quotes and Verses

 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.   
James 1:2-4

This is my favorite verse in the Bible, because it applies so much to my life. I know trials are going to happen no matter what, but the way we react to those trials makes our rewards in heaven even greater. I have to remind myself of this every day.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will; 
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
A men.

 Day 14: I am looking forward to...

1. My hubby finally coming home tomorrow night!!

2. Prayerfully hearing that my sister passes her court reporting state board exam Saturday morning!

3. Going to the Texas Aggies vs. Idaho Vandals game Saturday night with our friends and my brother-in-law who's coming to visit.

4. Hopefully getting an interview for a couple possible jobs that have come up *fingers crossed*

Day 15: New Bloggers

1. Don't be afraid to be yourself or to talk about your real feelings! I am so glad that I've always been honest about who I am and how I'm feeling. I may not have a lot of followers, but that's OK because I know the ones that do are the ones who really care. :)

2. Have fun doing it! I have always enjoyed blogging and being able to talk about whatever I want to talk about. It'll be why you come back to read it again and again when you're older too. 

3. Link up with other blogs! I love doing these blog hops especially and also the weekly link ups such as What I'm Loving Wednesdays and Thoughtless Thursdays.  

Days 10, 11, and 12

I just need to start today's post with how low I'm feeling. I don't normally like to express my sadness on my blog unless it's something like missing my hubby or similar thoughts. Today, unfortunately, it's a little more. I found out that a job that I was really thinking I got was a scam. They wanted my credit score which should've been a red flag immediately, but for someone who is desperate for a job I didn't look deep enough so now I'm back to the beginning. Lesson learned and please DON'T make the same mistake I did! Quade still has until Friday until he comes back from Little Rock, Arkansas so his being so far away isn't helping. Rowdy is at least feeling better which is a silver lining in the dark clouds right now. I'm going to my friend Christa's tonight to watch the finale of Bachelor Pad so I'm trying to keep my mind on that. I'm sorry I just had to vent a little before catching up (again) on Katie's blog challenge.

Day 10: Special Someone

I met Quade back in July 2006 when I started working for KTEX radio station in my hometown. He likes to tell people now that when we met he "trained" me because that's really exactly what he did...at work. :)  We spent the next 5 months flirting if we were working the same night and slowly becoming friends. I bumped into him one night at the Texas Hall of Fame when I was out with some friends and he asked me to dance. When the dance was over, he told me I could find him later and we'd dance again. I got brave and went looking for him later, only to find him with a different dance partner for the next several songs and got turned off. Thank goodness that's not how the story ends though...fast forward to our annual work Christmas party. Technically, he had a date but it was his best friend from work and he told me she forced him to be her date. We pretty much never left each other's side all night. Maybe it was the liquid encouragement and maybe not, but at the end of the night he asked if I would want to go to the Hall with him to see Reckless Kelly that coming Wednesday and I told him sure and to just give me a call. What I didn't find out until much later was that night after the party I had told him I had to go up to the station to finish some work. I didn't realize until I got in my car that I needed gas. I started driving toward the gas station first before going to the radio station and I noticed he drove toward the radio station. He had told his "date" that he forgot his schedule at work so he could ask me for my phone number. Well, I wasn't there, of course, so Wednesday rolls around he uses the work phone list to call me. I thought he was so cute when he apologized that he had used the work phone list to get my number. I was just thrilled that he hadn't changed his mind and was calling to ask me! That night we had a blast! I loved meeting his friends, but most of all, I loved the way he reacted to me telling him that I had rheumatoid arthritis. I fell for him the moment he made sure I always had a place to sit so I wasn't in pain. The following almost 3 years we made our relationship official, I met his family, we fell deeper and deeper in love, and on October 19, 2009, he asked me to marry him. Yesterday marked 3 months that we've been married and I love him more today than I did when I fell for him on that very first date!! :D

Day 11: Fears

Right now, my worst fear is not being able to get a job. The main reason my hubby keeps travelling is so we have extra money until I can get a job. I want him to stop leaving so I keep blaming myself that I'm the reason he has to go. 

Another fear I have is thunderstorms at night. During the day I love them, but the loud clapping thunder when I'm trying to sleep gets me every time. I've gotten a little better over the years, but not completely.

My last and most nagging fear is always having rheumatoid arthritis for the rest of my life. I know there is big chance that this will happen, but I also know that God is the Great Physician and He can heal me at any time. I will never stop praying that He would heal me.

Day 12: Goals

My main goal is also my first fear which would be to get a job very soon. I really need a part time, office job so I can stay off my feet as much as possible and make just enough money to keep my SSI disability money every month and my Medicare. 

I want to continue to be the best wife I can possibly be which would be the Proverbs 31 wife. It's the type of wife that I need to live up to and become. 

I want to find a new medicine that will help the increased pain that I've been having in my joints lately. Tomorrow I go back to a medicine that I've tried before that they've revamped so I'm praying that it will do the trick. 

Last and most important, I want to be the kind of follower that Christ wants me to be. One that desires to live out His will every day and share His word with friends, family, and anyone who does not know Jesus as their personal Savior. I may be down in my life right now, but I know will Christ all things are possible and He WILL take care of all my needs (Philippians 4:13-19).      

 



Day 9: TV Shows

Today is all about our favorite must watch TV shows every week! I absolutely love reality TV so most of my evenings are dedicated to reality TV. I'll break it down by each night.

Monday: now it's Bachelor Pad!! I love the drama and the romance. Kasey and Vienna drive me CRAZY right now and I will scream if they end up winning! I really hope Michael and Holly get back together and win because they are so cute together, but I don't know after everything with Blake. If it's not Bachelor Pad it's Bachelor or Bachelorette..I love them all! I also love One Tree Hill so I usually have to watch one and DVR the other. After Bachelor Pad ends I can't wait for Dancing with the Stars on September 19th!! I think this season will be very interesting with stars like Nancy Grace, Kristin Cavallari, Chaz Bono, and David Arquette!

Tuesday: When Dancing with the Stars starts I'll be watching the results show, but right now I love Chopped on the Food Network. If you've never watched, they start with 4 contestants and give them 4 mystery ingredients that they must use in every round to make a dish. Every round one contestant is voted off. There's an appetizer round, main course round, and dessert round. My husband also likes How the States Got Their Shape so we watch it too when we can.

Wednesday: I love Americas Got Talent even though I haven't been very loyal this season. I mainly watch to see if Team iLuminate is still in because I want them to win it! I would definitely go see them in Las Vegas given the chance and I'm so happy they're in the finale! My husband and I are addicted to Toddlers and Tiaras!! The girls are so hilarious to watch and the mothers drive me crazy and make me laugh all at the same time. 

Thursday: Hubby and I love watching Wilfred on FX. The finale was last night, but I promised him I wouldn't watch it without him so it's waiting for us on the DVR. Wilfred is about a dog and his neighbor. The neighbor, Ryan, played by Elijah Wood, is the only one who can see that he's actually a man in a dog suit. The series is a remake of the original that aired on the Independent Film Channel.  

Friday: Most Friday nights the hubby and I are out on a date or seeing friends so we don't really have a Friday night show. Before the wedding though I loved Four Weddings and still watch it now or a movie with hubby out of town. Four Weddings is just like it's name pretty much... there's four weddings and the brides go to each others wedding and vote on which they think is best and the winner gets a dream honeymoon.    

Saturday: College Game Day!! I love my Texas Aggies and I'm so excited we're going to next Saturdays game against Idaho with my old roommates!

Sunday: More football!! We love our Dallas Cowboys...win or lose!! I'm really hoping since they aren't doing too great in pre-season that hopefully they'll have a good year. Then at night, we love most of the ABC line up except for Simpsons. Mostly we watch Family Guy and Cleveland Show. 

 

 

Catching Up Again: Days 6, 7, and 8

I really feel bad that I haven't kept up on the 30 day challenge like I have wanted to, but a lot has gone on in the last few days. My hubby ended up being asked to go out of state for work again and this time to Little Rock, Arkansas for a week and a half. :( I was excited because that's only about a 7 and a half hours drive from here so I was going to load up Rowdy on Friday and go. Well, yesterday I discovered that Rowdy has worms so I had to take him to the vet and he was treated, got his first shots, and ended up with ear mites as well. So very sad day for Rowdy and now I can't go to see hubby in Arkansas. I am looking forward to going out to dinner with my old roommates when I was at A&M tonight and my sister is coming to see me. At least Quade will be back next Friday instead of another 3 week trip.

  

 Day 6: Movies

  
I really love romantic chick flicks and comedies. I'll list some of my favorites into two groups.

Romantic chick flicks
The Notebook
A Walk to Remember
Sweet Home Alabama
Legally Blonde
Moulin Rouge
Father of the Bride 1 and 2
Grease
Sex and the City Movie
The Holiday

Comedies
Anchorman
Talledega Nights
Night at the Roxbury

Elf (love Will Ferrell if you couldn't tell)
Office Space
Zoolander
Meet the Parents
Meet the Fockers


Day 7: Favorite Vacation

NASHVILLE!!!

I fell in love with this town the first time my parents took me! Since then we've been back many more times. Here's my favorite things to do in Nashville!

Country Music Hall of Fame

Ryman Auditorium

 

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Hotel..Best hotel in town!!

Just look at the inside!
And you have to go at Christmas time.....

Day 8: Friends

I guess the same goes for everyone when I say that I've had friends who have come and gone. Some have even come back and we're stronger than before. Below are some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for!!

  

Left to right: Christa, Tricia, Courtney (sister), me, Kayla, Bonnie, and Katie

Tricia and Glenn then Crystal and Mark are father down. Both started out good friends of Quades and now are mine too. They were they ones who invited me to Schlitterbahn when hubby was out of town the first time. :)

Sarah and Kevin are Quade and I's probably closest friends combined. Kevin was his best man and I know Sarah would drop anything to help me or any friend in need. It's always great having other married friends to do things together!!

My friend Alysha is from Canada. We met when we were 13 on a cruise and we've kept contact ever since. I was so grateful she flew to Texas just for my wedding!

Childhood friends still closer than ever. Tricia, Kayla, Lindsey, and I have lost touch and come back together many times, but my wedding showed that we'll always be best friends! :)

Hope I can stay caught up now!

Days 4 and 5: Family and Happy Picture

I was really hoping I would not get behind in Katie's 30 day challenge but my reasoning kind of fits into Day 5's topic!

First, I'll catch up with Day 4

Family

I've already talked some about my family, but I'll be more detailed today. I consider myself so very blessed to have such a close and God-centered family! My parents are the salt of the earth!! My dad has been a wonderful provider all my life with our family business, M&C Equipment. You can check out our family business website by clicking here. We've been in successful business for over 20 years and the company is actually named after my sister and I..."M" for Michal and "C" for Courtney so I was always kind of proud of that and still am. :)

My mom has always stayed home with my sister and I. She actually helped homeschool us through junior high and high school. My mom and I have been especially close over the years and I know I can go to her about almost anything! Most of my friends see me my mom in me more than my dad and I take that as a great compliment, because she is extremely compassionate, strong in her walk with the Lord, and very beautiful!!

My sister is my very best friend in the entire world! She is exactly one year and 11 days younger than me so we have always been exceptionally close. I already shared the link with you on Day 1 about the heart and double lung transplant she had last year on July 22nd and I am so grateful that she is doing so wonderful today and making great steps in the next chapter in her amazing life. She will for ever be my heart's confidant and role model in her strength and determination.

Now, I told you at the beginning of this post that why I got a day behind had to do with today's topic and here's why...

Meet the newest member of my little newlywed family, ROWDY!! Quade and I have just fallen head over heels for this little Shih Tzu and we just got him yesterday! Quade has promised me since before our wedding that his present to me some day would be a fuzzy, adorable puppy that I have been wanting and he full-heartily kept his promise!! He was born on 4th of July so as of yesterday he is 2 months old. We thought we should have given him a patriotic name, but we both wanted an Aggie name more. We thought long and hard before we came up with Rowdy because fans of Aggie basketball are called "Reed Rowdies" and my family is hardcore Aggie women's basketball fans (they were national champions last year...WHOOP!!) We just liked how Rowdy Reed sounded better than Reed Rowdy. :)   

Have a wonderful Labor Day!!