Who would have thought???

Who would have thought it was this hard to pick out paint?

Here's my new dilemma. Its not really a "dilemma," but to a type A person like myself, it is.

I just don't know what to paint the trim on our new house!

I know this sounds like a stupid thing to fret about, but it really is a taxing decision.

Currently, the house has cornflower blue trim. That's right blue- YUCK!! It will be one of the first things removed when we move in (two weeks by the way!!) I really can't stand the current curb-appeal... well, I wouldn't say it really even has curb appeal right now. Oh but it will in due time!!!!

So, I've been getting paint sample after paint sample and holding them up to every part of the house trying to narrow it down to something... but I just can't decide. You are probably thinking "its just paint, its not that big of decision." Wrong. Its so important for two reasons:

1. We are new to the neighborhood and I don't want people to look at our newly painted house and think "who are these new people that moved in and made our street look ridiculous?" I know it won't look as bad as the current cornflower blue, but still... I'm a people pleaser:)

2. We are sort of "flipping" this house to sell in a few years and I don't want someone not to buy it based on the trim color- that would be terrible. I've watched enough HGTV to know that people have a hard time looking past the current color of a house so I don't want someone to not give our house the credit it deserves based on the trim.

Side note: as I'm sitting here writing this, I'm thinking "just pick a color and go with it Taryn!" Geez.

Ok, this post was more therapeutic for me, than entertaining for you. Sorry.
I believe I'm going to go with a grayish/brown color.

Stayed tuned to see if I actually pick that color.

Until next time,
Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks.
T

My First Easter as THE CHEF!

Happy Easter!!!

So far it has been a wonderful day!
Chase and I woke up early and went to the early 8:30 service. Our church just started this early, early service today, so we though we'd try it out.

We love our church. Today, I was especially moved by the sermon. Our preacher started a new series called, "Confessions of a Preacher." Its about how even preachers struggle with sin and NOBODY is perfect. At the end of the sermon the preacher wrote on an index card what sins he struggles with and has decided to surrender them to God. He then nailed the index card to a wooden cross on the stage to say "I surrender." He then invited us all to do the same. There were wooden crosses all around the room and Chase and I wrote what sins we struggle with and nailed it to the cross. I loved this. Not only did it actually make me think about what I struggle with, but that I have the freedom to surrender it to Christ and let him help me overcome these sins. What a great service!!!

After church, Chase and I came home and I made my first Easter meal. Since we had such a short break for Easter and we live so far from home, we didn't go home this weekend to be with family- its been a little sad this weekend, but Chase and I have enjoyed our little holiday to ourselves.

Anyway, back to the cooking. I mean I cook and all, but not really from scratch very often. Earlier in the week I asked Chase what he wanted for Easter lunch, and you can only imagine what he said. "Umm... have to have a ham and at least four sides and rolls."
My response... "Chase, its just the two of us." But, I agreed because lets face it, the guy loves leftovers and from my point of view, I sure don't mind cooking one HUGE meal on Sunday for him to feast on the rest of the week.

So, no more cooking for Taryn the rest of the week!!!!!

I would like to announce that my first Easter feast was a complete success!!! We dined on baked ham, broccoli rice casserole, HOMEMADE mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and my favorite green bean casserole!!! Delish!

Oh and of course cake for desert. I've attached a few pictures for those family members who may need actual evidence to prove my stellar cooking abilities.

And to round out the afternoon, Chase and I are watching some fantastic Master's action. Go Tiger!!!

Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks.
T

Fireproof.

We finally did it and broke down to watch Fireproof. I've wanted to see it because I love those types of movies but Chase was a little less enthused. He definitely wasn't about to pay $9 at the theater, but due to the wonder that is the "Red Box," he was more willing.

So Friday night, I was feeling pretty nauseous (no I'm not pregnant... I don't think) and just wanted to stay home and veg. So, with a little convincing and begging Chase said we could watch it.

We made a little pallet on the floor and started the experience of "Fireproof."
I don't know if you know the premise, but its about a husband and wife of 7 years that is on the brink of divorce and neither of them have Christ in their lives.

Now, let me clear one thing up, the acting leaves much to be desired, but the story is great!

Halfway through the movie, Chase said, "I'm glad you made me watch this."
Aaaahhh, the joy of being right:)

If you get a chance to see the movie, you should. It is such a good reminder why God puts up with our antics everyday and why marriage is so sacred. It reminds people not to take the other for granted and to treat them with REAL LOVE daily. Such a great movie.

After it was over and I had cried for a while, we talked about how happy we were married and how thankful we were for each other.

PSA for the day: Go see the movie.


Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks

When is it time to say goodbye?

So once again I am sitting in my ethics class and bored. Which is really weird considering this class is one of my favorites I've had. Anyway I'm bored so I have a question. When is it time to say goodbye to your favorite jeans? Or for that matter any other article of clothing.

Last weekend I bought (or I should say my wonderful mother in law bought) a new pair of blue jeans. I had not purchased a new pair of jeans or received a new pair since Christmas of my freshman year so needless to say I needed some new ones. What prompted this decision you might ask? Well beside the fact that my mother in law is awesome she saw me wearing my favorite pair of jeans that I got my sophomore year of high school and the holes all over them (including the most important part my back left pocket wear my wallet is stored). On a side note is it not just so awkward to change which cheek your wallet is stored on?

Anyway so my question is when do you move an article of clothing out of the rotation of everyday wear into the area of work and junk wear? I have been struggling with this question for a week and I couldn't come up with an answer. More so I think this question is so stupid because it really has no bearing on life in the fact that it is just a pair of jeans, but regardless in the last hour I have decided when it is time to retire a article of clothing. When your wife says so. Taryn told me to not wear the jeans anymore and of course I ignored her b/c their my clothes and if my wallet falls out its my fault not hers. But in class just now I just heard "Ain't no one's happy if momma ain't happy" (it was great b/c a 30 year old black women said it.) Therefore, I am going to retire them into the 'I don't care what I look like category.' For those of you that have a pair of jeans or a shirt that you loved and it was always the one that you picked when you went out in, those are these jeans to me and so I ask that when you go home to put your favorite article of clothing away treasure that time b/c it flies by and have a moment of silence for me.

Until next time,
Chase

New Homeowners

It is true.
As of Friday the 13th (now considered my lucky day), Chase and I bought a house!!!

It's been the craziest week. We just started looking last Saturday. We met the cutest husband and wife relators. (He was even an ACU alum, so Chase was just about giddy they were working with us.) They showed us three houses around Lubbock in our price range and we happened to LOVE one of them. So, a few days passed and we looked at a few more houses, but we just couldn't stop thinking about the house we saw the first day... so we decided to make an offer, not really expecting them to take it. But after a few changes, they took it!!!! So in less than 7 days, we looked, offered and bought a house. Wow. So fast. We are so excited!!!!

Here's the deal though. We loved this house because it has so much POTENTIAL. One of my favorite things to do it fix things up. After many hours of watching HGTV, I have found a new passion in decorating homes. So this house will be my new summer project. The house was built in the 60's and it still has the original dark wood paneling, salmon-colored range, orange and brown carpet in the kitchen and no dishwasher... but we see great things. Nothing a little paint can't fix. I've already been to Lowe's 3 times to pick out paint.... I'm ready to get into the house and get busy:)

I'll be keeping you updated on the household changes that are soon to come!!

On another note, I think my camera broke so I can't post pictures of our fun-filled weekend, but I'll give you a little taste of what I experienced.

I attended my first Doctor function. Chase's med school class had a fundraiser event Saturday night. I got to dress up, which I haven't done since we got married, and Chase looked so James Bond in his suit, sunglasses and shaved head.

At the fundraiser, there was a silent auction, live auction, good food, dancing and ...lots of wealthy people.

This was quite a new cultural experience for me. I felt like a fish out of water. I was surrounded by affluent doctors and their trophy wives. Now, let me be clear on one thing, not all doctor's wives are trophy wives, but there are a good handful... and let me tell you... its pretty obvious who they are.

To quote my sweet husband, "Taryn, you're beautiful, but you will never be a 'trophy wife'." In response, Chase's friend said, "yeah, you have intelligence."

I took this as quite a complement, because I NEVER want to be viewed as that.

Then there were also the cute couples that were a little socially awkward, like they have never been to a large social event, but just loved life.

If you don't already know, I love people watching, so really I had one of the best nights ever, especially when the 60 year old doctor and his wife were droppin it to "Get Low." Wonderful entertainment!!!!

That's all for now, until next time,
Live. Love. Pray. Give thanks.
Taryn

Ethical Debates and March Madness

So I'm sitting in my Leadership & Ethics class and we are having a panel that is pretending to have a philosophical discussion about Kantian, Utilitarian or Egotism ethics. An ethical class is important in that it really does help you think about how you react to different situations, but overall it is just a class to make people think they are getting smarter while paying thousands of dollars for an MBA. Whatever read the BIBLE it tells you what to do in every situation, that is my ethical belief.

March madness has begun and I already have the DVR set for Selection Sunday on CBS. More than that this is the first time in 3 years I actually get to enjoy two of my favorite days of the year by sitting in front of my TV and watching the NCAA tournament in HD, o life is good. That's right I will be skipping class, I will be ordering pizza, or other junk food and yes my wife will be right beside me (at least for the night games) to try and will her Sooners to a National Title. BTW it ain't happening. So if anyone wants to do nothing on March 19 & 20 but enjoy the greatness that is March Madness I will be at my Apartment so just come on over.

As a side note 8 predictions before the tournament bracket is set.
1) A 16 seed will come within 10 points of beating a number 1 (my guess is that number 1 is Memphis)
2) This will be the tournament with the least amount of big upsets in a long time.
3) At least three of the four brackets will have a 1-2 game regional final which would make for one of the most exciting weekends in basketball history
4) It's been awhile since a Cinderella hit a buzzer beater, that will change this year.
5) Twice
6) There is a better than 50% chance their could be 3 teams from the same conference in the Final Four
7) I'm going to be upset that Stefan Curry won't be in this year's tournament
8) I will be wearing my Wii pajama pants for the early Thursday games.

Until next time

St. Baldricks and other exciting stuff!

Well, its official, I am married to man who looks likes he is about to join the Marines.

Yep. Chase shaved his head- for kids with cancer of course.
Chase's med school class raised money for kids with cancer and if they raised a certain amount, some people volunteered to shave their heads- and Chase was one of them.

I was a little uneasy about this. I mean Chase does have pretty sharp facial features and crazy dark eyebrows. I was afraid he was going to look like an assassin. But, I think he turned out ok. I'm just ready for it to be a little bit longer- like a buzz cut that's a little softer. It kinda freaks me out to touch his head right now.

There's a few pictures below to document this wonderful occassion.

Also yesterday, we started looking at houses to buy! This is so crazy for us. Its amazing what money can buy you in this west Texas, conservative town. We found this way old and outdated house, but it has so much potential. Its in a wonderful neighborhood with a great yard for a dog. Its perfect for us, but we'll see how it goes!

Anyway, T-minus 5 days until Spring Break!! WOOHOO. I've never been more excited for a break.

Until next time,

Live. Love. Pray. Give Thanks.