part 2 ::: (catching up on our lives)

continued.....

: As a couple :

1.Church. Before we got married, we had decided that we were going to look at different churches once Matt was done being a deacon.  We both had gone to the same churches our whole lives (practically) and we just want to see what else is out there and maybe find a church that might fit us better.  A church that we can call our own.  Since the beginning of the year, we haven't done too much looking around yet, just one church so far. But who knows what will happen and where we will end up. We just have to trust in the Lord and listen to His calling of where he wants us to be.


2. Starting a family. We would really love to start a family. But God must have different plans for us right now. We have now been trying for over a year now and in the past months have been getting some tests done to see what the "problem" might be.


3. Apartment Living. All I have to say is. It has been interesting. (it's been good for awhile, but i know now that i write something, i'm jinxing it and there will be drama tonight!) Haha. But let's just say that after a couple of ambulance calls, two girls OD-ing, a stabing, and a LOT of yelling and screaming at weeeeee hours of the night (early morning), we are ready to get OUT OF THERE! 

4. Wedding Album. I forgot to write that we had got our wedding album (seen in this post: wedding album). It is wonderful and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out. It's always different seeing it actually printed out than just on my computer screen!!!! =) 


5. House. Yes, it's a BIG PROJECT and it's pretty much consuming our lives! Surprisingly, it has gone quite smoothly. I think that it has gone by pretty quick (considering it's winter and Matt did the electric and some other stuff "on his own" - with some help from family & friends of course!). We are anxious to get the drywall up, but we are waiting for the fireplace to come in (which has really been our only hold up so far, but we are starting to get a little pissed). But it's looking like we might be able to get the inspection and hopefully the inspector will tell us that we can start drywalling and avoid the fireplace area and at least get it started. But then it REALLY gets exciting for me, here are the things i'm excited for:
 - our NEW KITCHEN TABLE - it's ordered from Ashley Furniture back in November (day after Thanksgiving Sale!) and WAS going to be delivered to my parents' house, but now, if drywall is up... IT WILL BE  DELIVERED TO OUR HOUSE!!!!

- Tile for our bathroom. I found the most perfect gray tile that I have been imaging this whole time. 
- Painting.


I'll leave you with some more photos from the wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago (Dawn & Andy's - friends from church). We had a fun time!

Oh... and I haven't written this either.... my AMAZING & WONDERFUL FRIENDS, Amanda and Brett are getting married!!!! Brett finally popped the question! I'm so excited I get to be in their wedding on July 9, 2010. LOVE YOU GUYS!

part 1 ::: (catching up on our lives)

Let's catch you up on what is happening in our lives.... BESIDES the house!

: Matt :

1. Work is going good.  He doesn't have as much pipe to take care of as he used to, so that is quite an adjustment for him.  He is not gone out of town at all anymore really. Which I know that he enjoyed doing (and i'm not going to lie, I didn't always enjoy it, but it was nice to have the bed to myself!).

2. Church. Ever since I have known Matt, he has been a deacon at his (our) church.  And just recently at the beginning of the year, his term was up.  That is an adjustment for him I truely feel.To not have any responsibilities after church, to count money, to fix thing or that thing is something he isn't used to.  But I think this will open up some opportunities for us to experience church together a little bit more. (more on that later).

3. House - i know I said i was going to tell you what's going on besides the house, but that is just such a big part of his (our) life right now. He is there every night working on pretty much everything. He leaves for work in the morning, doesn't come home, but goes straight to the house and works there from anywhere between 8-10:30 depending on what he needs to get done.  I bring him dinner and help him if I can help with anything. I really appreciate all the hard work that he is doing though. I am so proud of him and I take pride in that MY HUSBAND (along with some family & friends) did A LOT of work on this house (sheesh, he wired up the whole house with electric, how awesome is that!).  I am so excited to call that house our HOME.

: Jenni :

1. Work is slow. But that is very typical of this time of the year.  Hopefully it will pick up again around Valentine's Day.   I am still off one day a week (which i LOVE).  I use it to do some grocery shopping, see friends, or just catch up on business stuff (which actually was the MAIN REASON why actually started taking days off in the 1st place, haha - but the other things are starting to take over and become a little more important to me). I actually came quite close to changing jobs. I am not always the happiest at my job and I feel like I drive pretty far just to sit on my butt and not do much during the day. So, the bank in town had an opening for a teller/sales rep position.  I actually went pretty far in the application process (and the girls at the bank know me and actually really wanted me to work there), but then one morning on the way to work, I just kinda had an epiphany. I have it way to good at THE SHOPPER. I have the days off already that I want, I have vacation time already built up. So why am I giving all of that up just to work a little closer to home. For right now, the best decision for me, and for us was that I stay where I'm at.

2. Business is slower right now too b/c of the time of the year. I do most of my portrait sessions outside, so the winter is not ever my busy season. But I'm hoping to put together a couple of PHOTO SHOOT EXTRAVAGANZA days starting in May where I go to one location that day and see how many appointments I can "knock-out" that day, so i'm not eating up all my Saturdays of the summer. One will be at a county park in Hobart, IN - one will be at the beach/downtown area of New Buffalo, MI - and the other one will most likely be in fall probably at a state park.  Right now, the places I have thought of are all in Indiana, but I also want to "cater" to those that in the Kankakee area that I think might come out for this.  So.... i'm opening to anyone's ideas (not that I really have any followers of my blog, but i can dream, right?)




to be continued......

time to get BACK ON TRACK

So I really need to get back into this whole "blog" thing. I think since I was out of it for awhile, getting busy with the house stuff, I just kinda didn't know what to do with it anymore.  But now that I am SOOOOOOOO BORED at work, I think i should be able to get it going again.  

But until I get something together, I'll leave you with this photo that was taken January 16th at a friend from church's wedding. 

(Us, Jerry & Nelson Ritsema)

some more photos.....

My seat in our shower!  (I'm kinda excited about it!)

This is what I did on Saturday when I was there working.... putting cardboard over all the electrical boxes so that when the drywallers come... they don't hit the wires Matt put in... i know, i know... very IMPORTANT & DEMANDING work! hehe....

 Insulation between the garage and the house (master closet & laundry room)

 We're just waiting on the fireplace.... COME ON ALREADY!!!

Playing Catch-Up..... i know, i know... .it's been forever!

*(Christmas Day fun!) Matt went to go check on the house b/c of the rain/snow melting and found water pouring in to the basement b/c the septic tank stuff wasn't all hooked up and settled correctly yet! Didn't last too long.... just in time to go home, shower and make it to christmas lunch.

NICOR IS IN!!!

Electric is all done!

HVAC is all roughed in!

Kyle & Lydia came to visit

They got a ride in the shopping cart that the plumbers left for us!

Trim up and around the garage door really makes it look better!!!

Insulation is IN!

Well, most of it, we are still putting a little bit up around the ceilings.

ALMOST ready for drywall!! =) YEAH!

garage (now actually it has a door on it!)

Our Front Porch

Concrete Basement

Basement Stairs

Siding done on 2/3rd's of the house!

Our Sunset! =)

It's been a long time.....

Photo Update:

We have a roof

the windows and shingles are on!

the front door is stained!

we have power hooked up!

tubing is in the concrete floor of the basement for radiant heating!

just thought this was a fun shot!

all the wires have to start and finish at the same point... good thing matt is good with figuring that all out.... it worked out GREAT!!

We are a little farther than this point...
I just haven't gone over to the house to take more photos of what is new. We now have the concrete floor poured, we have stairs going to the basement in both spots. Matt has put in some electrical stuff.... can lights, outlet boxes, and have even started running some conduit!

Talking about Matt.... I am so proud of him for all the hard work he has done so far and all that he will be doing in the next couple of months!!!