Life & Changes.

So I obviously have had a shift in prioritization....but under advice of my dear cousin, I shall no longer apologize =)

There are so many things to talk about and update on that I considered writing two.  But that's dumb.  So I shall write one and it will just be long.  You ready?  Good.

As always, we'll begin with the deeper things and end on a lighter, picture-filled note. Winter here in Minnesota has held some wonderful things as well as a handful of new and not-as-wonderful experiences.  But being engaged to a winter-lover definitely helps.  Technically I did move here in January, so I did experience cold on the front end of my life here.  But summer is a sneaky lil' guy cuz it comes right in and makes you forget things like snow, coats, and bone-chilling days.  so here I am, totally blind-sided again by it all.  I keep waking up and looking out my window and wondering if today I don't have to wear a million layers.  But it just keeps going.  We did have an epic snow-fall last week which was SO beautiful and totally helped make winter worth it (pics of that to come).

All of that to say, it is a season (literally and figuratively) of new things for me.  One of the new changes impacted me a lot last weekend...more than it has in all my 11 months of being here.  Back in September of last year, when I first decided to move here, I wrote a post called heartbreak.  It articulated some tough things I anticipated feeling when I moved away from my church family.  This past year here in Minneapolis has held a lot of firsts of missing things with Altadena after being there for 22 years...but I think it was all with the mindset that I would return to CA.  Now that I'm getting married and settling down here more permanently, the firsts are also establishing lots of lasts as well that I didn't plan on.  One of which is the Sunday School Christmas Program.

The Christmas Program in Altadena was probably one of my favorite times of year growing up.  Pieces, songs, walking in to "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"  EVERY year, walking out on "Angels We have Heard on High," Grammy's peanut butter balls, Chrystol's Rosettes, gift exchanges between teachers and students, Salvation Army gift wrapping, caroling at the Fair Oaks nursing homes (shudder) and getting a new outfit for it all each year.  I can remember the year that Jason, Theresa and Lindsey were practicing their parts and I got to say a piece with them and I was so excited to be one of the older kids.  I can remember Paula singing a solo part in "What Child is This."  I can remember Justin reading an epic Max Lucado story....the memories keep rushing to my mind.

Well this year, as I saw watching these kids here in Minneapolis sing their songs in front of church, all I could picture were the faces of kids two thousand miles away.  Cody and Caidan singing as loud as they could, Seth waxing eloquent with his piece, Caeleigh being the very picture of lady-like sweetness...and the tears fell.  In fact, they started at the beginning of the program and didn't stop...even as us teachers joined the kids to sing a song.  I didn't know why...i just know it hurt.  I don't want to take away from what these kids were doing and how great it was....it was just different. and my heart wasn't ready for it.

afterward, as everyone sat around eating and talking and laughing, I slipped downstairs to call into Altadena and listen to their program.  Ben came down and sat with me as I cried.  I didn't tell him at first what was bothering me...but he came up with it pretty quick on his own. (the guy knows me well, what can i say?)

I listened to familiar voices say pieces, sing songs...my dad prayed for each kid by name...and my tears kept falling.

In the moments that followed that, i realized that there was an aspect of my mourning that hadn't happened yet.  My heart needed to catch up to where my mind, plans and life was headed.  It was actually a very healing day and much needed.  I'm also grateful to have Ben, who will just listen to me talk, let me cry and give me a hug.

I am learning to let God hold those memories and the heart connections I have to the past.  I have to trust that he'll keep them safe and bring them back around if/when He wants to.  I have to trust that he has me here for a reason and that I will not miss out on any good thing he has for me.  *sigh* But boy, is it hard. 

Ok...on to pictures =)

This is Sierra and Saffron.  Basically Sierra holds a stick in her mouth while Saffron tries to be all tough and pull it away from her.  It both annoys and amuses Sierra.

This is my newest favorite lunch.  Toasted ciabatta with cream cheese and cucumbers with some yummy spices, Salt and vinegar chips and fancy-looking drink out of a wine glass (it makes me feel grown up to drink out of a wine glass).  Mmmm so good. 

Then came the snow!!! 

My street

Joe (Ben's brother) and his friend Adrian were so sweet to clear a path to and around Simon after church!   Well...it was sweet until they pelted me with snowballs as I tried to get in! 

Sierra's half-husky side totally came out in the snow!  She absolutely LOVED it!  

(awesome looking snow shoveler in the background IS Ben.  he loves shoveling snow.  that is not sarcastic.)

Sierra and Nan running around

If you throw snowballs to Sierra, she'll chase them and then dig her head in the snow where they land to try to look for them when they disappear. 

Ok, ok so maybe snow isn't too bad after all =)

holding a snowball in her mouth. 

Karlina likes to wear mommy's boots around.  

Playing at the baseball diamond in the park across the street.  

Christmas cookie fun with my friends!  

Crystal, Jenn and Tanya

Michelle and Andrea 

This guy was supposed to have two eyes...but the frosting was a little runny and it sort of flowed into one.  I call him: Christmas Cyclops.  

We have lots of fun together!  I so appreciate these girls in my life!

She looks so uncomfortable, but she's having lots of fun!  

Mr. Ender loves swinging too. Just can't wipe the grin off that face!

Karlina discovered hand dryers at the mall the other day.  She used to be kind of scared of them...then she realized it feels like a windstorm if you stand UNDER them!  We definitely stood in the bathroom 5-10 extra minutes while she played under them.  

Mall of America has a huge Lego store and outside is a little play place for kids.  Ender is standing up all by himself and as long as he's near something will play standing up!  

Phalen Park does a Christmas light display where you drive through and they have various themes and such.  Really pretty!

...and to all a good night =)

Thanks for joining me again for a snippet of my life!  This afternoon (in just a few hours actually!)  Ben and I are headed to California for the Klotzle Christmas.  I'm SO excited!  Not only to be going to CA, but to be going with Ben and that I get to see all my extended family!  and no work for TWO WEEKS!  wooohooo!!  =)  

I'll take lots of pictures and maybe update while I'm there!  

if not, may the peace of God rest in your hearts as you re-discover and celebrate the gift he gave to us through the birth of Jesus. 

normal life.

I was recently informed that I may have some new blog readers.  Which is both wonderful and intimidating.  I feel as though my updates should come quicker and be more exciting.  But since putting that kind of pressure on myself will probably  make for a forced-sounding and lame blog, I shall continue doing what I'm doing.  

What I am doing, for those of you who need clarification, is living life-- updating when I have time and writing about anything and everything that matters, is important, fun, or otherwise catches my interest.  

And so...here is my interesting, important and and fun life!

haha just kidding. 

My life is pretty normal.  

Who even knows what that is though? 

 Karlina wanted to read Ender books...but seeing as how he weighs 7 pounds less than her...it is a little difficult. 

She has discovered how to climb on the stools without falling over...which makes counter access so much easier.   

 Enderpants is such a smiler.  always grinning and in such good spirits! 

 I love them.  

 I'm not sure if this is socially acceptable, but seeing as how much of our day is spent here, I figured I should share it.  

 Ponds at the dog park froze...so solid I was able to run and stand on them!  It was a lot of fun throwing balls and sticks to Sierra and watching her slip and slide all over! 

Fast-forward to Ben & me time!

 we're crazy. and cool too.  One of my favorite things is eating with Ben.  He loves eating.  So do I.  This makes for good activities.  He also finishes whatever food I don't eat.  We're a good team like that. 

 He likes ginger snaps and pumpkin dip.  isn't he so cute! 

 This was on our outing to Mall of America. 

We have both found that we just enjoy spending time together and it doesn't really matter what we're doing.  In fact, most of our best conversations happen while we're just driving around in his truck! 

 One day Ender is happy...

and the next...

 we were at two doctors on Monday for a total of 5 hours...It was crazy.  One told us he had an ear infection, the other said he didn't.  At the second doctor, his temp was 104.5!  Krissa was sick too, so I was on psuedo-mom duty.  They wouldn't let me leave until he cooled down.  So this is us sitting there in the exam room...he's wrapped in a damp towel and we were waiting for his temperature to go down.  Poor baby was so sick.  He gets all cuddly and sweet when he's sick though...so it was nice to snuggle him.  Finally last night his fever broke for real and he's on the mend.  

 Sometimes I wake up and find this staring at me.  she's so goofy.  and she loves cuddling.  

 Karlina loves singing loudly!

One of Krissa's clients brought this dress for Karlina from Ethiopia.  K has been begging to wear it the past few days...it's just too cute!

My apologies for not having some deep profound or story-filled blog.  This is just a representation of my every-day life.  It is simple, but oh so sweet.  I am reminded at every turn in the road that God loves me.  Just the other day...IN DECEMBER...he gave me a 55 degree day.  It was so beautiful.  There was a fantastic sunset and all I could do was stand in awe and revel in the fact that it was his way of reminding me that he hasn't forgotten me here in the frozen North!  

(side note: just looked out my window and there is SNOW!  correction.  snow FLURRIES.  I was recently reminded by my sweet fiance that there is a difference between snow and flurries--same as there's a difference between rain and mist.  Hmmm I'm learning...slowly!)

 

And when God isn't reminding me I'm loved, I have a fantastic man in my life who does a pretty good job with that too ;)  

until next time!

Ben's FIRST Honorary Blog Appearance

Ok that's not true...as you will soon discover.  Be ye therefore warned, however.  This is a lengthy post.  BUT it is a special post!  Ben is the featured writer!  (granted, I'm adding a few tidbits here and there, but it's mainly all him!  It was his idea too...such a creative fellow)  His writing is italics, my blog quotes are regular, and my current commentary is in bold. =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you see it coming? It being Suzy's engagement.

I didn't either.

And ironically so, seeings how I'm the one she's engaged to. And seeings how I have been a regular follower of this blog for the past 4 months or so and didn't pick up on any of the hints she was dropping in her posts. Looking back on the past 4 months of posts knowing what I know now, it seems to me that any keenly observant, semi-regular follower of this blog with a touch of inside information might have been able to piece together that something was happening.  

I wasn't necessarily dropping hints... ok maybe a little bit.  But he really did play a significant role in my life here...

Observe the evidence with my commentary below. I only went back as far as her moving to MN. And the first two months of that didn't have much to offer. Anything not in italics is a direct quote from her post.

Post dated 3/13/2012 – Significant Other
We really are MFEO (meant for each other).
Signing off until next time,
xoxo

Technically she was referring to her new dog here. She had no idea what was coming! (And I must say that Sierra is noticing that she is no longer Suzy's significant other. Not that Sierra is insignificant, but...)  it is mere coincidence that I say the same thing about him...  and I got a lot of blog-reader hits on that post because of the title...i think people weren't exactly expecting a puppy!  


Post dated 3/27/2012 – Snippets of Life
and in this moment, i am completely content to call this home.

'This' is referring to St. Paul, MN. Little did Suzy know...
Little indeed...Ah well, the sentiment still remains =)


Post dated 4/30/12 – back on track. Hopefully.
This post includes the first time I was mentioned by name on her blog after her move to MN, if not ever (I didn't check pre-move, but would be shocked if I was). Apparently Suzy and I made a palm tree out of cheese and olives while at J&Ks one evening. If I'm not mistaken, that was the fateful evening when the Words With Friends (or Words With Fiance, as we now affectionately call it) games began.
This was one of the first nights I was really surprised at how much fun he actually was!  Like I have previously mentioned, the guy has got layers!

Post dated 8/2/2012 – two for the price of one
In this post, she talks about a myriad of thoughts and emotions that she isn't sure where to place. And then she gives an example of two lovers in a romantic scene in a movie. Interesting, huh? And I like think a number of those thoughts and emotions involved me.
It's true...actually part of that post was inspired by walking through the dog park and I had been thinking that I really wished I was walking with Ben.  And God told me to not look for what I didn't have, and instead enjoy what gift he was giving me...and the rest would fall into place later. 

And the reference to a birthday party after Bible Study was my sister's birthday party at my parent's house. For the record. 
already feeling like part of the family ;)


Post dated 8/10/2012 – trash, Jesus & life
The book referenced in this post was loaned to me by Suzy exactly 2 weeks to the day before she said YES to my marriage proposal. At the time I received the book I was wrestling with some issues about putting my identity in Christ into practice in real life – and this book played an instrumental role in bringing me through that battle. That battle (and the book) also played an instrumental role in bringing me to ask Suzy to marry me.
I had no idea when I lent him this book that it would play such a big role.  I just really liked the book and wanted to share it with him.  love how God uses those types of things...

I'm also the guy who started making the giant bananagrams board with big and sophisticated words.
told you he was smart.  


Post Dated 8/13/2012 – undeserved blessings.
I'm pretty much all over this post. I'm the song leader that ended up calling off the correct song at the correct time (and thus was used by God in her life – I should note that I had no idea the impact it was having on her at the time). And I'm the good friend that told her she would be fine. AND, she called her (our?) nephew Benender (emphasis mine). I wonder who she was thinking about!
He makes it look so obvious!  but it's true...he was sort of all over that post, cuz he was all over my life!  kept popping up and kept...mattering.  it was around this time i realized just how much he mattered to me.  


Post dated 8/16/2012 – And the summer rolls on...
I love sleeping. Once my dad asked me if I was depressed because I sleep so much. The answer to that would be no, I'm not depressed. I'm actually a relatively happy and content individual. Just really love my feather comforter, pillow and snoozing away. Helps that I have some good, interesting and adventure-filled dreams. Another blog post for another time. Maybe.

I didn't read it this way at the time, but knowing what I know now I like to think the following three things about the above paragraph: 1. 'relatively' happy meant that she would be happier with me :) 2. adventure-filled dreams probably involved/were about me 3. that 'other' blog post for 'another' time has come (Post on November 12 – Who'da Thunk it).
We'll just let him think that ;)  Haha, just kidding.  he was right about #1, and possibly #2...ok he was right about #3 too.  

Post dated 8/21/2012 – ThaiCircusERKids
I'm not specifically mentioned in this post. However, I have since been told by Suzy herself that I was deliberately NOT informed of her stay in the ER until afterward because I was the one person she REALLY wanted to have there. Hmmmmm...
Yeah, I was sitting in ER and really wanted to text him, but didn't know what he would do anyway.  Honestly it was moments like that that made me realize that he's the one I wanted standing by my side through these kinds of situations in life.  


Post dated 8/28/2012 – Hope
I'm not sure anything in this post referenced me specifically – but I like to think that one of the things she was 'hoping' for was for our friendship to turn in to something more than what it was then. A keen observer with inside information might have picked up on that... or not.
WHAT?! of COURSE it referenced him specifically!  The entire thing was about us and our friendship and holding out hope that someday he might be mine...and how painful that could potentially be if it didn't turn out that way!  


Post dated 9/11/2012 – home...where my spirit feels at rest
WHAT?! Both places are home? I still can't understand how I can be so content and happy in both locations...so opposite each other.
A wise man once said, "Home is where your spirit feels at rest."
This means it doesn't matter where you are geographically at all. home is fluid. It can be one place or many places.

I believe Suzy sent me a text while writing this post to ask me what the quote was about home. So I shared it with her (I got the quote from my dad, who heard it from somewhere I don't know). And (knowing she was in CA) asked her if she felt at home more in CA or MN. I kind of want to take credit for the 'geographically' thought.
Yeah, I'll give him credit for that.  He is full of profundity.  I'll be honest though.  I did text him to get the quote. But also just to have a reason to text him.  I used to look for those a lot...reasons, that is. 


Post dated 9/13/2012 – watching sheep
...and then he asked me "The Question." The "what are you up to these days" question. When I informed him of where I was and what I was doing I must have looked wistful or had some kind of face, because he said, "And you're hating it...?" I told him I wasn't hating it. He said, "Then it's probably like you're happy but you wonder the time-line for things." I told him that was exactly it. That I just wanted to know when things were going to happen. I told him I get impatient sometimes with this season and wish God would let me in on what the next big thing would be or at the very least, when it would happen. He smiled at me and said...

I didn't realize this at the time – but given what I know now I'm pretty sure the 'wanting to know when things were going to happen' was referring to when I was going to get around to asking Suzy to marry me. If you remember, the professor in the above conversation later told Suzy that she has the opportunity to watch sheep like David. Well, the way I look at it now I was the sheep. And I was wandering all over the place. But God in His mercy brought me back to the sheep fold. See my comments on the post from 8/10/2012 above and 9/19/2012 below for a little clarification on that.
Just wait til I tell Williams what has happened since we talked in September.  Turns out, letting go and letting God do his thing can produce a lot of peace and contentment until he has the next thing for you to do... which has turned out pretty amazing, as well =)


Post dated 9/17/2012 – 48 reminders
Oh yeah, my dog. She was having a grand old time...I got an email update, a few text updates and this one picture. The bottom dog is Sierra, and the one above her is Nan. She belongs to a family from church who graciously agreed to keep Sierra while I was gone. Apparently things didn't go too bad, since Sierra is happy and the family is still talking to me. It was good to know she was taken care of.

That would be my family that kept Sierra while Suz was in CA. And I was the one that took the picture of the two dogs and texted it to Suzy. 
Sierra was another convenient reason to text him while I was gone...


Post dated 9/19/2012 – we must go
We must go...stand beside the broken.

I would not be engaged to Suzy today if I had not first become broken in a very real and profound way. I praise God that He brought me to a point where He broke me, but then took me through that brokenness, beyond it, to a place of life and beauty beyond what I had ever dreamed of before. And from that I now find Suzy coming to stand along side me. Praise God.
I love the thought of having somebody to stand by MY side as I take on life.  Grateful it is Ben.  


Post dated 9/29/2012 – two of the real-est jobs
I am proud to say that I may or may not have convinced a good friend that serving takes more talent than he first realized. He kept making off-handed comments about how serving/my job is a mindless job...until I told him what the job included. Even he admitted it might be challenging for him due to certain aspects of the job-- and he's a pretty smart fellow! (I rarely win arguments with him, so that one felt good!) =)

I am the 'good friend' here. It felt good to be called that at the time when I first read this post! And it definitely brought me great delight and pleasure at the time to see her acknowledge that she rarely wins arguments with me!
He still takes great delight and pleasure at this too... and for the record, he WAS a good friend...and still is. my best friend, actually. 


Post dated 10/4/2012 – fall
But you have to understand, I'm surrounded by people who are in love with this time of year. and when I say in love...I mean it. They "ooh" and "ahhh" and give me lists upon growing lists of why fall/winter is so fantabulous. They tell stories and give me tips and pointers. They take every opportunity to rub it in that this season is fast approaching and it's the best. thing. ever.

Yes, I am one of those people 'in love with this time of year.' And Minnesota winter really is fantabulous – she has no idea...
No comment...

This past week a family from church was helping their neighbors host a Cross Country Pasta Dinner. I went over to lend my services. As it turns out, I didn't do much...but it sure was fun to be included in this event. I can't really explain it, but being a part of these people's everyday lives/events makes me feel more at home...

That 'family from church' was my family. So the comment about 'being a part of our lives making her feel more at home' is coming true in a way she was only dreaming of then (which she was...)!
Cannot tell you how great it is to be a part of Ben's family.  I was really excited to be getting a husband, but almost equally as excited to get his family, neighbors, extended family etc... ;)  They are a pretty wonderful bunch and have made me feel super welcome! 

Post dated 10/11/2012 – the card
Recently, I have been really wrestling with some things in my life. Expectations, misconceptions, things that aren't turning out like I planned--which has lead to several of the emotions/thoughts that were on that card. I have been trying to find answers from God. Specific answers that would help clear up some of the things I was facing.

Those misconceptions, dashed expectations and things not turning out probably involved me on some level. (more than "on some level) Not the best way to be included in your future wife's blog I suppose... but it all worked out in the end. In some ways I think my marriage proposal to her kind of showed up like the card did – unexpectedly and only out of the corner of the eye. It did.  And yet, it wasn't so unexpected either.  I knew he'd come around eventually ;)


Post dated 10/25/2012 – the air on my skin
I apologize for my absence as of late. Among other things, I started a new job!

That 'among other things' included getting engaged to me... ! WOOHOO!!! 

WHAT?! yes. i did say snow.
I was hoping it would wait a little longer. But it appears to be the beginning of the end. One of my besties keeps reminding me how amazing winter is and that I'll just love it too.
I'm looking forward to that. -ish.
=)

Any guesses on who the 'besty' is? Thats right - yours truly! And thus ended the final post before our engagement announcement.



And there you have it. Evidence from each of the 14 posts prior to the post of our engagement announcement. And see what I mean? Read between the lines a little bit and you just might have thought something was up!

I for one didn't catch on. At all. But I prefer it that way because it shows that our engagement was the work of God and not man. And praise God for that!

Thanks for joining in and reading bits and pieces of our journey!  Actually, reading through this made me (Suzy) realize just how much he meant to me over the past lots of months.  It is so fun to see how God was preparing us both and writing this story before either of us had a clue.  (Although Ben will admit he was the last one to get a clue...even people at church and family members pieced it together before he did!)  It's ok though...point is, here we are...

p.s. I'll post a picture post soon!  so stay tuned!

absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Right?  I mean, blog-posting absences make you want them all the more! 

or maybe at this rate of posting blogs, I may just lose my audience. whoops.  it's a 50-50 chance, I suppose.

But c'mon...you gotta cut me a little slack.  I'm blissfully engaged, I'm working two (and a half) jobs AND winter is fast approaching.  All good reasons for why I haven't written sooner.

Hmmm...so much to say.  First of all, engaged life is all I expected and more! Never realized how comfortable and normal this stage of life would feel.  I kept waiting for this life-changing, world-turned-upside-down feeling.  And it hasn't happened.  I mean, don't get me wrong...life IS different.  Things HAVE changed.  But it feels like a natural extension of my life.  Like this is what was supposed to happen next, so it just flows.  I am also blessed that he lives so close to me and we can spend as much time as we do together. 

And for those of you who have been married and want to impart your advice about how its not all candy and roses...let me put your mind at ease.  We are aware of that.  We have had some discussions already where we had different points of view and took a lot of time and energy to sort through it...and we've both come to the conclusion that relationships are a lot of work.  But it's totally worth it =)

p.s. keep your eyes open for a surprise on my blog in the near-ish future (near future is a relative term when it comes to my blog)

On to other things. 

wow...Just realized it is PAST thanksgiving and now we're almost to DECEMBER!  Crazy.  I guess the second half of my blog will be pictures and commentary!  enjoy!

The weather has gotten a little cooler.  Then gotten warmer, then cooler again.  But it means more bundling up!  

 Bathtimes are so much fun!!

 Last week we got our first "snow"...and it was beautiful. And it didn't last.  The next few days were 60!  

 Miss K walking around in mini loaf pans!  so cute. 

 BRRRRR.  it's getting SO COLD! 

Sierra enjoying the first snow.  Her inner half-husky came out for sure!  she loved it!  (which doesn't bode well for me.  Thankfully I'm marrying a guy who LOVES the cold and snow. So he can take her out in it!) 

Since I don't take her out as much when it's cold, she tends to do things like this.  I was napping and she was shredding my pink tissue paper.  And any other kind of paper she could find.

 This is Kavya.  Karlina loves her.  as is apparent in this picture.  

Ben was working on something in his garage, and Sierra just loved being by him and watching him.  She really does like him...and it's totally a bonus that he likes her too!  

 

 On one of the 60-something days, we went to the zoo!  Most of the animals were inside...The Lions looked fake, they were standing so still! 

 Karlina loved it!

 Such a cheeseball

 He's always so content just to sit in the stroller and take in the world!

 They are such a delight in my life!

 such a little munchkin!

 Miss K looking cute on the fake giraffe!

 I love how she crosses her feet when eating.  Gotta love the nutella on rice cakes!

 Enderpants playing with toys!

 YES!  he loves the kids and they love him!  This totally made my day!  

Spent the majority of Thanksgiving day at work!  Normally I'm at CVE in Mexico...this is the first time in 8 years I haven't gone.  It made me sad...there were tears...i was wistful...but then decided to make the best of it!

 Karen and I were an expo team!

 The kitchen!

 Team of wonderful cooks! 

 One of my managers, Jeremie.

 Everyone just hanging around waiting for the people to arrive.  

 Me busy working!

 Then when I got home that night, it was so pretty with the lights and snow.  

oh yeah, it snowed again last night...

 Not a ton, but still really pretty!

 Sierra loved it! 

So even though my Thanksgiving was spent differently, there were still a ton of blessings and things to be thankful for!  I have a job, which is nice.  But in addition to that, I went back over to Ben's family's house after work and hung out there.  They had an eclectic group of people over and it was nice to just hang around, play games, talk and enjoy each others company!  They had delicious leftovers for me too!  I wrapped up the evening going driving and looking at early Christmas lights and city lights by the river with my man.  

it was a good day.  

Well, I'm needing to go on with my day...so I shall leave you now. But hopefully I will return soon!

=)