Finding Beauty in Chaos

So this week was my breaking point....I just snapped. So much stress with work as well as trying to find a place to live and figuring out the best way to help us financially...Plus not being able to sleep, I just snapped. Luckily I married a very patient man whom I feel very sorry has to deal with me sometimes, but he has truly been a blessing to me.

So we had our Day of Caring Kickoff and it was really great to go out and help out the community. We also had a lot of fun because the local high school band came and played and we did a lot of dancing around and cheering on the volunteers, it was fun.

I finally gave my presentation for one of my biggest accounts! I'm glad I got that over with, they had so many employees we separated it into two meetings. I did okay the first day but the second day I forgot half my presentation while I was up in front of everyone and just fudged it.

On Saturday we house searched all day and only found one promising place (to rent), but we still are deciding if it is wiser to buy a place for the three years we are here. So we've been looking at houses for renting and buying. I'm not sure how much longer I can stand the smoke though. We have all our windows open 24/7 (except the front one, so we don't get robbed. We are third floor so the back ones no one could reach.) We bought an air purifier, a plant, and have our fan circulating air and the smoke still gets to us. But at least it's better. I don't know how much longer it will last because the cold season is coming up here pretty fast, i guess we'll just wear sweatshirts all the time.

So Saturday evening we swung by the Art Fest and had a good time looking at the local art booths. There were a few interesting things. My favorite was this old man who you can tell put so much into his artwork but they look like children's drawings...but there was something very beautiful about them.

Then we watched "Epic" to wind down. It was an entertaining movie. I like cheesy children's movies. :-). 

Sunday morning we went all the way to church, was late cuz I ACTUALLY SLEPT last night and slept in! Then we arrived at church and I had another little breakdown (stress started getting to me again) so Scott took me to the rose gardens at Gage park. It was such a rejuvenating experience. And wonderful to see something beautiful in Topeka. I'm so glad that the city built Gage park. This is now my favorite of Topeka.

We went through and literally smelled all the roses (the yellow smelled the best but I have always been a sucker for white roses.)

So many roses!

Wishing Fountain

Look at all those roses!

Lilly pond

The butterfly garden was so beautiful. All these butterfly's just floating all around you, I felt so calm.

Thanks Scott. :-)

Weekend fun

Friday the law student wives held a girls night, but I missed it due to getting home from work late and not feeling too great. We were able to go to the "Art Walk" for a little bit. It was really neat. You started out with a little kit (disposable camera, sidewalk chalk, glow sticks, lolly pops, and a map inside a mug.). The night was about being artistic, there were bands playing on the street, craft vendors, and art displays everywhere. We were encouraged to take artistic pictures with the disposable camera and draw on the sidewalk with the chalk. We had a blast! There was also hula hoop and fire dancers and bands playing. There was also a "Roller Derby" game going on in one of the parking lots. I never heard of it before, but it was fun to watch...sortof like football with no ball and on roller-skates.

(don't worry we're not smoking, those are lolly pops in our mouths.)

Scott and I created this piece of art.

Though I wasn't feeling too well we had so much fun!

At one of the "galleries"

Near the Burger Stand (The hip bar for all the college students)

Update

So I've been negative lately and want to change my attitude. I will be focusing on ONLY the good things right now, and  forget the bad. I was able to talk to my mom today about all my worries and how I feel I can never afford to have a baby and be a stay at home mom and she just helped me realize how I was over-analyzing and being so negative. If it's what God wants me to do he will provide a way. Things will work out for Scott and I, I just know it. I got such a peaceful feeling after talking to my mom. No more negative Nelly from me. I'm gonna be positive for me and for Scott, because I'm sure he's very tired of hearing me worry. I am very blessed with a roof over my head, enough money for good food, transportation, a wonderful husband who takes such good care of me, a job, and a supportive family.

Our appt in topeka

Labor Day Scott and I decided to do some BBQ on our grill my Dad found for us, we also walked over to the apt complex across the street and swam in their pool (both our complexes are run by the same people).

Chicken and roasted corn on the cob.

Yummm! Cream soda!

Blessed to have the means for such a good meal :-)

Wednesday we had a kickoff at a water energy plant and were able to take a tour, which was soooo amazing and a little scary at times. Here's a pic of our United Way Team in the hard hats.

It has been fun to go see many places while working for United Way, definitely full of a lot of unique opportunities. 

Scott is loving law school and I am so happy for him. It is so cute to see him get all excited about his law books and assignments. :-) I love him so much and am so happy he chose me to share his life with. 

Successful First week in Kansas

Friday was a picnic for the Washburn Law students and their families. It was really fun to meet all the people Scott will be going to school with. We made a few friends, though all their parties require us to go to the local bars, but it's nice to get acquainted with some people.
When Saturday rolled around I was so relieved! Scott and I have both been so busy this first week in Kansas we couldn't even unpack our boxes/cook real meals. This Saturday we were finally able to attack the mountain of boxes and get unpacked enough where we can see the floor and walk through each room instead of climb. One problem I have come across is that we don't have much room in our tiny apartment and we seem to have accumulated a ton of stuff our first year of marriage. We have no idea where to store it all. Our apartment basically looks like a storage unit at the moment, but I was able to work my magic a bit to make it feel a little more homey. Follow this link to see what I did with my sewing room and living room so far. :-)
--> http://ginnymaemilkandhoney.blogspot.com/p/crafting.html
I was finaly able to do some grocery shoping and meal planing this weekend. I've been so tired of easy make/fast foods. I tried two new recipes, Ginger Thai soup and Eggplant pizza, both of which were excellent. You can find both recipes on my MilkAndHoney blog--->   http://ginnymaemilkandhoney.blogspot.com/p/cooking.html

Last night Scott and I watched "The Great and Powerful Oz" in true Kansas spirit. I have yet to watch "The Wizard of Oz".

Scott and I were finally able to attend our new ward today, everyone is so nice....but very different from EastCoasters. Scott's impression: "They act like they've been stranded on a desert island for so long and this is their first contact with people outside their world." They're cute. I talked to a lady in church today who told me to get out of Topeka as soon as I can, she's been here since 88 and "can't escape", that was reassuring...haha.


So....a successful first week in Kansas.

Off to the Tillery family reunion in Utah then back to Kansas to settle in.

So after moving the boxes into our new apartment in Topeka, we headed out west to Utah.

We saw a bazillion windmills on our drive.

On our way to Utah we found this cute lil' "zoo/attraction" in Kansas, "Prairie Dog Town".

They had a few neat animals, like 6 legged cows! We got video but not pictures....sorry :-/ (hopefully my vid software will be up and running soon and I can post the vid).

My new boyfriend....though he didn't pass the "no-squish-rule".

We drove through Colorado.... 

Wyoming....

Then to Utah. (Arriving in Layton!) :-)

I enjoyed seeing Stacey (my sister) and her brand new baby boy, Wesley (I hope I spelled that right). We went to the Hoggle Zoo while we were visiting, which was fun even if there weren't any penguins there.

They had a "Lego" special going on where there were random Lego animals throughout the park.

I just thought this guy was so funny. "Der, which way did he go George? Which way did he go?"

Water Park

Tommy was so cute! He loved the water, even if there weren't any animals in it.

"Sup."

Cute lil' Wesley

Tommy animatedly showing Scott the water.

Though there weren't any penguins there, I at least got to see the giraffes! 

After the Zoo we made our trip down to Provo to visit my brother (Doug) and stopped at an "All you can eat Sushi buffet" that Scott has been telling me about for quite some time. It was extremely nice, we had our own personal sushi chef in front of us making us the order on the spot when we wanted it. 

When we got to Provo, Doug was hungry so we went to the "Brick Oven". Scott and I just had their home made root beer because we already ate. 

We slept at Stacey's that night then headed over to the Tillery family reunion the next day.

Camp, and Scott shirtless (we were heading to the lake)

The day everyone went to Lagoon, Scott and I went to "Crystal Hot Springs" with his parent's. It was so lovely and relaxing.

Scott talking to his Dad while his mom and I relax :-)

My hunky husband

View from camp, very pretty.

The Lake

Back to trekin' across America.....

Through Wyoming

more wind mills

Beautiful Sunset

Finally to Kansas @ 3 in the morning. We were exhausted and ready to sleep. I was unable to sleep that night due to some sort of stomach virus I must've picked up while camping. It was ridiculous, I couldn't keep anything down and most of the time it was just water/bile. It was Sunday through Monday night of me throwing up. Luckily it slowed down enough (after taking anti nausea medicine) for me to go to work on Monday morning (which turned out to be a half day, thank goodness). So I survived. Scott started law school the same day I started work and he seems to be loving it so far. I'm so happy for him and proud of him. He makes my heart smile.