Phew..what a whirlwind

I have been MIA the past week or so. That is because the greatest in-laws were here!

But before I get to that, I need to share about my wonderful Valentine! Ryan loves to spoil, and that he did. He bought me a new beautiful trunk for our living room. I have been eyeballing it for a while. Came out with roses dusted in glitter. Took me to dinner at our VDay favorite: PF Changs and got me Dove Chocolate..all I really wanted! This all took place a few days before Vday. I loved it. I love being with Ryan. I am so thankful for my amazing hubby. And Vday is just a sweet reminder of him and our love for each other.

The next the whirlwind began. House cleaning. Of course, I had to have it PERFECT with the inlaws due to arrive that night. I got to work. Then realized that I clogged our disposal. Yuck. So our friend Dave came to the rescue! After that I finished restoring order to my home and we waited anxiously to get to the airport!

Finally Dave and Judy arrived! Yay! Their visit began quickly that night and I feel we never stopped! I saw so much of Tennessee in their week long visit! We went to the Opryland Hotel, and missed the tour of the Grand Ole Opry by two minutes! We spent some time downtown goofing off. We spent a day poking around Historic Franklin and ended up at the Carnton Plantion. Which was used as a field hospital during the Civil War. It was pretty cool.

The following day we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then off to Belle Meade Plantation. By far, one of my favorite sites! An afternoon of relaxing was much needed!

Our journey's continued at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Wow. We then drove around a bunch looking at houses (my FIL is a Real Estate Agent..so this was fun!!!). Ryan and I took them to dinner at the Melting Pot and they loved it! Thursday I surprised my MIL and took her to Homestead Manor for afternoon Tea. It was my first experience as it was hers. We had a great time sipping tea and eating small sandwiches!

Friday we went to an Antique Show which was pretty impressive. After that I had to have them experience Chick-fil-a! It was a hit! Then it was off to The Hermitage: the home of Andrew Jackson! What a beautiful place!!

Their week-long visit ended with breakfast at Loveless Cafe and a trip to the Jack Daniel's Distillery and a drive to Chattanooga!

We sooo loved having them here. It was such a fun experience to share our life here with our family. I can't wait for the rest to come!

The Man I love...

I am so in love. With Ryan. He is just such an amazing man.

He is the hardest worker I know.
He is the most generous man.
He is so random and funny.
He is so sweet and caring.
He spoils me.
He comforts me.
He takes care of me.
He loves me.
He loves Jesus.

Czech Video

While we were at English Camp in the Czech Republic, Ryan was in charge of the video camera. Our friend Daniel put together a video. If you look close enough you can see both Ryan and myself (I did the filming that Ryan is in-dancing!).

The Force

I can't help it. This commercial is just so cute. Everytime I see it, I just feel all warm. It makes me so happy.

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Here is the interview with the boy on the Today Show today!

In sickness and in health...

This past week I have been so sick. Probably the sickest I have been in years. Turns out it was the flu. Type 2. The more serious, long lasting, wont leave you alone strain. Name a symptom, I had it.

To make it worse, I am a big baby when I am sick. I blame my mom. :) Since I was a kid, whenever I would get sick, she would sit with me on the couch and we would watch Beauty and the Beast until I fell asleep. Some things never change. Only this time it was my bed, and the first 4 seasons of FRIENDS. And while my Mom wasn't with me, Ryan was.

Unfortunately he still had to work. But he did manage to get some time off to take me to the doctor..twice, and be home with me. He has been so good to me. He has cleaned the house, changed the sheets on the bed, made dinner, driven all over to get medicine and hunt down a movie. He has been so wonderful at taking care of me.

I am still not feeling great...and Ryan told me today to just rest and take it easy this week. He only cares about me getting better (I think he is tired of cooking!:) ). He has been so great and I just wanted to share how lucky I am to have this man who cares for me so well.

Thanks Ry-I love you!

Fearless

Last week I sat in Ryan's Boss' living room. There were some other couples there. A few of which had moved to Nashville from other states. These wives easily sympathized with my fear of the Tornadoes. As we sat there, we all kept wondering and waiting for word on the storm that was going to appear overnight. I sat there anxious. Wondering, will there be a Tornado with this one? I was almost paralyzed with fear.

On our drive home I began thinking about this more. I am truly truly afraid of the Tornadoes. I know some of you may be laughing. Some thinking, what? Tornadoes are nothing. But to me, they are something. They are something fearful. Something that has kept me from really enjoying Tennessee. My fear is really controlling me. I have tried to ignore it, but then the mention of a storm comes and I feel my heart racing. I feel myself longing to get on a plane and hurry back to Oregon. I start to panic.

All this week on my drives to the Church, I have been hearing songs that talk about being fearless. I know it may not seem like much, but these songs have got me thinking. Thinking about fear.

I should not be afraid. Not because Tornadoes are not a big deal. Or the chances of actually encountering one are slim. But, because I am a child of God. He cares for me. He protects me. He desires the best for me. All through the Bible people are afraid. And God is there to comfort them. I think of the disciples on the boat in the storm. Jesus is just sleeping and they are FREAKING out. I can relate. They go to Jesus. He doesn't criticize them. He doesn't laugh at their fear of the storm. Instead he gets up, and just calms the storm. That is where I am at. I am on that boat. I KNOW that Jesus can calm the storm. I know that he often does. But I am more like those disciples than I often care to admit. I am terrified. And I wonder, even after the storm stopped, were they fearful of the next one? Or was the memory of Jesus calming this one enough for them? I want to be there. I don't want to have the storms in Tennessee keep me from experiencing so much more. I want to enjoy the life that we are living here. I want to enjoy all that Nashville has to offer, without fear of the storm.

So today, I am trying to trust the Lord and allow him to take away the fears in me. But today is easy, there are no tornadoes! :)

Living the Dream

I have to kick myself sometimes. I am sitting in my office living my dream. Those who have known me the longest know I have wanted to work in Television since I was a little kid. My childhood friends remember me drawing TV sets and talking about TV news. I used to only dream I would get to do this and get paid for it.

I love how God works. Just when I want to get down, God reminds me this is what I have wanted and this is what he has made me to do. I am so fortunate, so blessed, so honored...really honored. I don’t know what tomorrow holds or when God will move me in a different direction. Several years ago when I produced my first newscast – and mind you it was terrible…I prayed a prayer of thanks and told God he could move me in a different direction whenever he wants.

Several years later, I still tell the Lord that often. He has blessed me beyond belief. There isn’t a job I think I deserve or think I have earned. Frankly, I am just blessed beyond belief that the Lord has brought me to this place in life. I always view my work as I’m just filling a spot until someone else takes it.

And far superior to any career achievement I will ever have is the great relationship I have with my wife and with my family. Every once in a while, it’s good for a man to remember how blessed he is – and if anyone ever doubted, I don’t take this life for granted. There is reason to live, there is reason to work harder than the people around you, there is reason to love people more and there is reason to share our excitement…because God is choosing to show me favor and I hope my actions will be an example to him.

-Ryan