I Was Here

I Was Here

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved
In an old oak tree, you wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold, I don't know
But I'm ready start 'cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less than something that says I was here

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
'Cause this dream's too strong and before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
'Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place!

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says I was here

And I know that I, I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says I was here
I was here

-Lady Antebellum

I wanna do something that matters, something that says I was here.

Great song.... Great words to aspire to.

My Beauties...

WARNING: Shameless dog mom post ahead... I just can't help it!

I took the girls to the doggie spa (the groomer) on Saturday and they came home smelling so sweet and looking so pretty that I just had to snap a couple of pictures to share.

My Sweet Petunia (a.k.a. Tunie) - This girl is a little bundle of love and energy. She's the most snuggly dog I've ever had and would be perfectly content just spending the day in your lap. She drools like crazy when she sleeps and has a bit of an underbite, but we love her anyways! She doesn't know the meaning of the word 'fear', and can often be seen running around the house at mach speed as if her hair were on fire (usually with a pair of stolen socks in her mouth). She loves everyone and everything and has been such a fun little addition to our family.

Miss Cookie (a.k.a. The Monster) - This little girl is the best thing that has ever happened to me (right along with Steve, of course). She likes to think she's the Queen of the house, but she's also afraid of her own shadow. She lives to see Steve come walking in the door every day, and I swear there are times when she would flip me "the bird" if she had fingers. She snores like an old man when she sleeps and could sleep 24 hours a day if we let her. She also has Steve absolutely wrapped around her teeny tiny paw. She's been the best dog I've ever had in my life and brings so much joy into our home every single day.

I love these two more than is probably considered normal, but I don't care. I know they're not human kids... But they're OUR kids. They are the center of our world here in the Jones house and we couldn't imagine it without them!

HOMERUN!!!

Yesterday at 3:00pm, I had a follow-up MRI with my endocrinologist.

At 4:25pm, I was given the "all clear".

For the first time in at least 7 years, I am officially TUMOR FREE!!!!

I cannot even begin to say how relieved and excited I am. I was so beside myself at the doctor's office that I had to sit there for about 15 minutes before I drove home. I honestly didn't know if this day would ever come. There were so many times that I wondered if the headaches and side effects were just something I was going to have to learn to live with. It's scary, but I started to understand why people with chronic conditions sometimes start to lose it. There were so many times that I thought to myself, "I am done!"

It's been one loooooong roller-coaster ride filled with too many ups and downs to count. Seeing as how I've never really been a huge fan of roller-coasters anyway, it sure is nice to say, "See ya later! I'M GETTING OFF!!!"

Thanks so much to my family and friends for listening to me whine, being my cheerleaders, and keeping my spirits up when I needed it. Without you all, I never would have made it through this with my sanity (or whatever is left of it). I can't say it enough... I am a lucky, lucky girl!

I am SO looking forward to 2011 and all it has in store for us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A Day of Love and Happiness...

Some have been asking for more wedding pics... So here are some (ok... a TON) of my favorites from our big day!

Enjoy!!

Seeing each other for the first time!

My bridesmaids, Jennifer (Steve's sister) and Dustin

The Bridal Party... having fun!

Such handsome guys!

Isn't she GORGEOUS?!?!

The cutest little ring bearer in the whole world... Braden

Our beautiful little flower girl, Vivien

Here we go....

Inside the Ohio Statehouse... It's beautiful!

Mr. GQ

Roland and Jennifer

We're legal... WOO HOO!!!

Our beautiful and YUMMY cake

Our guestbook tree complete with fingerprint "leaves" from our guests

Best man giving his speech

Matron of Honor giving her speech

I told Steve that if he shoved cake in my face this would be the shortest marriage in history

First dance with my new hubby!

Father Daughter dance

Dad and I

Dustin and Greg

A great picture of THE shoes!

My In-laws... Steve and Julie

The Sass Ass Bump

Roland and Mom

It Had to Happen Eventually, Right?

It's official! Today.... I really feel "MARRIED".

A little backstory...

Steve applied for a new position with the company we work for a couple weeks before we got married. He waited and waited to hear back after his interview, but never heard anything. He basically gave up on the job and had pretty much forgotten about it.

Until a couple weeks ago when he got a phone call that HE GOT THE JOB!!! WOO HOO!!!

So today at work, Steve comes by my office to chat for a minute. As he is standing by my desk, a co-worker of ours walks by and says, "Hey... Congratulations!!" in a really loud voice. (I say "really loud" because this person doesn't know the meaning of the term "inside voice".) The two of them chat for a minute by my desk, Steve goes back to his office, and all is said and done.

About 10 minutes later... I get a phone call from another co-worker of mine. She is beyond excited and says, "OMG... CONGRATULATIONS!!" I said, "Oh, thanks! Steve is really excited!"... Kinda wondering why she is congratulating me and not Steve.

Then she says, "And how about you? Aren't you excited?! You guys are going to have such a cute baby!"

This is about the time my jaw hit my desk.

Once I was able to pick my jaw up off my desk, I said, "Um.... WHAT?!?!"

It became quite obvious to me that she had completely misunderstood the "congratulations" she overheard, and I had to spend the next few minutes explaining to my very embarrassed co-worker that we, in fact, were not having a baby.

I've heard stories about this. I've been warned by numerous people about this.

Seriously... I am SOOO not prepared for this!

To Wait, Or not to Wait...

So... It's been a year. One year since I had Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

My doctor called this morning and told me to schedule a follow up MRI to see how things look. They told me it would take up to a year to see the full effects of the radiation. Well... that year is up.

And I'm scared.

Part of me wants to call, get the MRI scheduled for next week, go in guns a-blazing, and just get it out of the way. The other of me wants to continue to live in ignorant bliss... Simply ignoring whatever is (or hopefully isn't) living in my head. Why is it that after all the crap I've been through up to this point... This is what freaks me out?? This is supposed to be the easy part!

I have the number to call and schedule. I'm just having a hard time dialing.

To wait, or not to wait... That is the question.