A Smorgasboard Post

So life has been busy lately and I was trying to think of a way to catch everyone up on things. I decided to steal an idea from Cricker's Live Journal blog and create a list. So here's everything I can think of needing an update in no particular order:

1. My co-worker Summer delivered a healthy baby boy yesterday. This means I am now working full time and trying to cover as much of both of our jobs as possible. I'm sure I'll post more on how this is going after I adjust. Let's just say this was the most hectic day I've had in a long, long time. Can you tell from the picture that there's a bit of a gleam in my eye? Here's hoping the Lord blesses us with our own bundle of joy in 2008!

2. For the sake of building up to the dramatic reveal, I've decided not to post anymore pictures of the porch for the moment. The finished product should be available in about a week to two weeks, so that's not too long to ask you to wait. I will likely post pictures of other parts of the project, but not of the porch itself. So you'll all just have to wait to see whether the iron or columns won out.

3. Geoff's motorcycle is back - hallelujah - and just in time for the weather to turn cold again. They are even talking like we might have some snow this week (a big deal since it's been at least 5 years since Auburn last saw snow of any kind). We are going tonight to get him a little better prepared for riding in the cold. (He drove the other night without gloves or a face mask and that was too much!) Now if only we had a place to put the motorcycle when he's not actually on it!

4. I passed my Series 66 licensing and am now a fully licensed General Securities Registered Representative and a fully licensed Investment Advisor Representative. This was perfect timing as I needed the license prior to Summer going on maternity leave and she had the baby early. Boy am I glad to be finished studying!

5. Happy birthday to me. In anticipation of celebrating my 27th birthday (holy cow - I can't possibly be that old yet!), we went ahead and got my birthday present - a new sofa. The picture doesn't do it justice (it came from my camera phone), so I'll post another soon. I've been thinking of doing a slideshow of my house, a little tour, when we finish a few more projects.

6. We've been informed by my former neighbor who has been indicted on murder charges that we will be subpoenaed for the murder trial at the end of February. We have no idea who actually did this or who to believe. I continue to maintain a friendship with my neighbor, who is just a year older than me and has four children. We will be visiting her in jail in a few weeks and are looking forward to hearing the whole story at the trial, just so that we can put it all behind us and clear up all of the confusion (hopefully).

And finally (for today)...

7. Geoff's family is all in Auburn now. His dad is officially buying a trailer nearby, and his sister's family is settled into their jobs, schools, and home here. I decided to include a funny photo of taking my nephews and niece to Wal-Mart the other day. The legs belong to Matthew, age 7. I wasn't so sure about everyone moving here, but so far it has been great to be able to spend time with my nephews and niece and sister-in-law.