I know, I'm a slacker

In my defense though, I'm busy! However, I thought I would post an update on what we've been up to:
Chris is taking tests and studying all the time. I swear I never studied like that during my undergrad. He has taught me a whole new definition of studying.
I'm still working like it's going out of style. I've obtained a new attitude toward my job and I have regained a love of what I do that was lost for most of the summer.
Still doing our part at church...
We built a deck in the backyard for the hot tub, covered it by tearing down and extending the awning. It looks pretty much amazing. My hubby is probably the most amazing man I know.
This weekend we are skipping town. We need a break.
My older brother and his wife are here from AZ for the week, my dad will be coming in tomorrow from NM for the week, my sister-in-law and her family will be coming in on Sunday from WA for the week, and my grandparents will be here Monday for the week as well. Needless to say, we'll be busy for the holiday. But, nothing makes the holidays for me like spending countless hours talking with family and remembering why I'm so glad we are families for forever!
Have a great holiday everyone!!

Autumn

I went to Twin Falls on Wednesday for a day business trip and got to experience one of my favorite types of fall mornings: crisp air, slight fog, the sun trying to break through. It was beautiful. I love this time of year! After a summer of fun in the sun and late summer nights, I love the fading light of the fall, crisp air, hot chocolate, sweaters and scarves, not to mention the boots get to come out!! YAY!! The buzz of the holidays is beginning and I love that too. I love living in a part of the world that has four seasons.

Definition

I've been doing a little soul searching lately trying to decide what defines who I am. Of course all of the experiences I've had, from college to marriage to my family, all contribute to the definition of who I am. But what else? Does my church position define me? My marital status? My job?
After much searching and sifting, I've finally decided that it depends on the day as to what defines me. Sometimes I put on my loan officer face and that's who I am. Other times, my calling is all I am. Some days, when I don't keep it in check, my fertility defines me. But at the end of the day, I am more than all that, I hope. I'm not too naive to think that none of those things affect who I am; I don't believe that one defines me more than the others, but all of them adding to make the whole.

I know I am nerd.

Just a side note before I start: I'm sitting here updating my blog enjoying a day off and my favorite song "Red Light" by David Hale is playing on the radio. Love it!!
Anyway, when I graduated from college my older brother gave me a book titled The Enoch Letters and inside was a bookmark with this on it: 78% of college graduates never finish another book after graduation. I laughed of course because my major was english/poli sci so reading is just something I did, kind of a necessity for those two majors and I was sure this would never happen to me. I taught myself how to speed read when I was studying for the LSAT my senior year and I thoroughly enjoy that I have that ability.
So, a year after graduation I realized that I had started to become part of that statistic because I hadn't finished a book in a year! I had been used to burning through 18 novels per semester and in that process I had burned myself out of reading. So, like any true english nerd, I decided I needed to read again. Since then I have read lots and lots! I was laying in bed the other night and looked over at my nightstand and realized just how big of a nerd I am. I have a stack of 12 books on my nightstand. The following are the books found on my nightstand:
The Wealthy Barber
My Sister's Keeper
Women of Destiny
The Enoch Letters (again)
Running for Women
Take Two Chocolates and Call Me in the Morning
Between Husband and Wife
The 5 Love Languages
You Can Never Get Enough of What You Don't Need
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The Alchemist
The Psychology of Winning
And this doesn't include the standard works that I read every day or the two business books I'm reading at work.
I know, I'm a nerd. But at least I'm diversified!! HA! I read bits of each one every day so needless to say it takes me a while to finish one but eventually I'll finish them all, at least once.

Updated favorite quotes...

Excellence belongs to those who let their actions rise above their excuses.
Business book

One with passion is better than 40 who are merely interested.
Business book

Fight like a girl.
Bombshell

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. Ingrid Bergman

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
William Wallace

Work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on the Lord.
Dad

A Milestone

Last Thursday was a milestone in my life: it was our fifth anniversary. I know! I'm impressed too! Just kidding...

In looking at the pictures I can't believe how young we were! Here's a little snapshot from the special day.

To celebrate the special occasion, we had dinner and stayed at a very nice theme suite. It was great.

Strange to think that it's been 5 years already. But when I stop to reflect on all that has been packed into those 5 short years, I'm pretty satisfied. What more could I possibly have expected on my 5th anniversary than to spend time with the man I am more deeply and completely in love with now than I was when I said yes 5 years ago?

Lalala...

Ho hum...
I feel like my life has kind of crashed into a rut...same thing day after day. Yawn...sad, I'm making myself tired just thinking about how lame my life is these days. Ever feel like your life is the calm before the storm? I do. In fact, the last time I felt the "calm" this bad was right before I met Chris! HA! That gives me hope that something amazing is about to happen...:)
Things are pretty uneventful at the Dudley home...just workin' and schoolin' and churchin'. The three things we do best around here. Ahhh...yawn...time for bed. Lame. I'm officially old when 9:30 is late to me. Bleck...