The Last 12

A recap of the last 12 days... 

I left Memphis on the 18th planning to return on the 26th after our we had our Ladies' Day Out booth (separate post) on the 25th. Then I was going to stay there for the remainder of the season in hopes that we would be called up in September.

Instead, on the 23rd he called and told me he was getting called up. We were ecstatic. I had been praying for something to happen for us. We just felt in a rut and not really relying on the plan that was already been laid for us.The week before we found a verse that we liked and we used it daily to remind each other there was a better plan. Jermiah 29:11. Sure enough in the days following we got to see that plan. I use the Bible app on my phone and always search quickly for uplifting verses unless there is something that I've remembered. What I hadn't told Brandon was that all the encouraging ones I found and sent him were from a job loss reading plan. It wasn't even in a time of job loss that we needed them just job struggle and they were fitting.

I was super excited because I was thinking this was for the rest of the season and that now all I needed to do was make a trip to Memphis to pack up the rest of our things, sheets, towels, kitchen stuff, etc.  He flew out to Cincinnati and I stayed put at my parents house. We were finally going to be in the same place and hoping for it the rest of the season.

He got to pitch on Saturday after eight days of rest and we'll just say it wasn't his best outing. However in that game it didn't matter they were already losing when he went in. 

Tonight he got the opportunity to pitch again,in Pittsburgh, in a game they were already losing 7-0. He pitched three innings and even got a hit. I'm thankful for the game he had today and the opportunity to redeem himself from his last outing. I know he wanted a chance to show them he deserved to be there. I think he did.

I've been counting down the days until he gets to come home to St. Louis and it was only six more. He would have been back on the 2nd. Instead I receive a text after the game tonight, "And I'm going down." 

It's always hard to understand their moves and not take it personal. Yet again I find myself rolling with the punches.  

Tomorrow I am going to meet my guy in Memphis. I'm going to go to Jerry's for a sno cone on a date with my husband. I'm going to sit and have a nice chat with my lovely baseball girls that I've become so attached to this year. I'll probably get an Icee too. I'm going to pack up our apartment and be a little sad about it. I might even cry when I tell my friends goodbye. Secretly, I'm a teeny tiny bit glad I we get to go back one more time to say good bye. I've found that my heart has actually become a bit fond of Memphis. I think it's because all the fun memories from our first year of marriage have been made there. I think how some day we will share with our kids that we lived there and show them places we remember.

As much as we love being in the big leagues, this year has humbled me and taught me how to be flexible. It has taught me to have faith in the unknown and to find joy, big or small, in each circumstance. I have felt so much love and support from the community I live in and the people that ask about Brandon and tell me they are keeping up with him. It is amazing and I'm so grateful for that. Grateful for you reading this! My family too, sheesh, they are awesome and ALWAYS comforting me. The ups and downs and moving and me coming and going, they've been great and I think learning flexibility also.

Then there is my guy. My never complaining guy. I know I brag on him all the time, but he is the rock in this marriage. Everything I say about him I don't make up. I find him comforting and trying to make me laugh when we get moved when I should be the one comforting him! I'm excited for the few days of memories he made and hopeful he will get recalled soon. Little did I know those verses I had found were already preparing us for the future. It's awesome how things like that work. 

Shameless plug: 

My mom and I have been working together on some new awesome rhinestone apparel like shown! If you're interested or needing some sparkle email us - www.threadexpressions@gmail.com 

Finally a big thank you to all our family, friends, and fans all over the place. 
Y'all are the best!! 

LD

Sunset

The sun has set on another weekend but I hope you enjoyed celebrating the awesome Dad's in your life! 

I promised myself when I found out we would be living in Memphis that I would try to take in more of the city. After being here since Tuesday I tried a new restaurant downtown and went to the river twice. It was so pretty the first time that I had to take Brandon the second. We watched the sunset together and took some silly photos. I love that he is an outdoorsy guy and we can go enjoy these simple blessings together.

I know it isn't a huge accomplishment and doesn't really add many explore Memphis points but its a start. Although I'm not thrilled that I won't see my guy again for two weeks I'm looking forward to taking my favorite little tykes swimming, getting some sewing in, and jewelry making. I've been seeing some awesome beaded jewelry lately and have gobs of beads at my parents that I got years ago. I think its finally time to put them to use, we'll see. If you've seen or have any great inspiration - send it my way please.

LD

Roommates

Roommates...you either love them or hate them. Cool thing is we love ours. They provide us a sense of normalcy. A chick that can relate to what I'm going through each day. Friends to watch movies and laugh with. Friends to help us not want a baby any time soon.


Luckily, I've only had baby fever once, and it was pretty fierce right in the middle of my nanny days. Now that it's just us we are okay with that. For right now we still have a little one around, it's just not our little one. Best of both worlds. 


It's not that our roommates child is bad. In all honesty, she is the most well behaved child I've been around. It amazes me how good she is. This is life that pretty much has NO routine. Kids need that routine. Little Miss P rolls with the punches. She is so sweet and loving and at an awesome stage just learning to talk. She is a kid nonetheless that will throw a tantrum, be overly tired, and need discipline every now and again. I can't help but read books to her, teach her nursery rhymes, tickle her and take her off her momma's hands for a little while whenever I can. Just look at this adorable face and darling curls.

Roach Motel

I shouldn't even be writing this post. I am utterly annoyed at this point in the roach motel I feel I live in. Now, before I go any further, I am aware that there are much much worse living conditions than the one I am in. Do I feel guilty for complaining about a few extra critters deciding to mooch off us for a place to live, yes. But you will agree with me, bugs are gross and are meant to live OUTSIDE?!


I honestly don't know why I am awake right now. Around 11 I was tired but being like a kid I fought it and found a zillion other things to do including paint my nails. Shocker right. Normally I sit at a table but tonight I decided not to. As I sat there on the bed I see something MOVING out of the corner of my eye. 


ROACH. 


My days of cursing are behind me but I won't lie when I say I wanted to shout some nasty things to that defenseless little creepy crawly. UGH! You know I'm OCD about my nails but I grabbed my shoe and chased that bug down! He almost escaped under the door but I got him, then of course I check to see if I just ruined my fresh coat of paint. I didn't but that is definitely something that would be worth ruining it over. 


I calm my nerves and decide that turning the lights off to sleep is not something I'm ready to do after that drop in visitor. I sit on my bed not sure if I want to cry or scream. 


I kid you not I see something moving again! That freaking little bug wasn't dead! Now he was headed into my closet. NOT IN THIS HOUSE! I beat him to pieces and I'm not kidding, two to be exact. A proper burial was performed. I flushed him. 


I don't know the lesson in the situation that keeps bugging me. But God help me one day I can look back on this and laugh. It isn't normal that each time I walk into a room in my apartment I look down to scan the floor for critters. Or that each time I pick something up from the floor I shake it first. And we check the bed most nights before we get in. 


Tomorrow I am calling the leasing office and asking if they can have our apartment sprayed for bugs. Until then I'm sleeping with one eye open and all the lights on. Thankfully the Mr. gets home early early Wednesday and he can protect me then. 


Who knew I'd be writing frequently about cockroaches? Sick. 

Exploring Memphis

Okay, okay. I was quick to judge. Really quick to judge. But today despite adding two more roaches to the talley, we decided to explore a little bit of downtown. I essentially was going to go for a coffee run and to drop a few things off at FedEx alone but changed my mind when I found myself packing a small defense mechanism in my purse. This chick is packing. Okay not really but I think that would make this story a little more interesting. It was a small pocket knife. Anyway, I invited my roommate and the toddler to join.  


Before I begin.. let me just update you on what it's really like meeting a fellow blogger in person. We made plans to go to the baseball game together, convenient for me I know, and it had been raining on and off all day. I tried to back out, cause I hate rain delays but my fellow blogger convinced me that hanging out in the rain could be fun. So I went.  We didn't plan very well. I was trying to find a girl with the red rose pinned to her jacket when I realized I never told her to wear a red rose. Instead I just began looking around and I felt like a creeper. Then alas we found one another and it was like seeing a long lost friend you haven't seen ever. I don't know if she felt as funny as I did (only for a little bit). Usually when you meet someone new you talk and get to know one another. Since we read each others blogs that part was already taken care of. Insert cricket chirps here. Okay not really we had a great time chatting about previous jobs, which we have all had in the sports industry, and our favorite spots in Memphis that need to be checked out. The game ended up being cancelled. We plan to meet up again soon without rain hopefully and I'm looking forward to it. If you have opportunities to meet up with your online friends - DO IT! Okay sorry for being rude and not introducing you, my new friend is Alyssa from Ten Feet Off Beale. If you have time you should check her out. No, check her out even if you don't have time. She is a Jersey girl turned southerner. I guess the south is easy to love.

Happy to meet one another finally...

sad it rained on our parade game.

Back to Memphis' good side and the coffee and FedEx trip. After we got our coffee we went to the top of The Peabody hotel. It's a pretty significant tourist point in Memphis and worth checking out the view from the top.

The Mighty Mississippi

The Peabody

The Mr's Office

The Peabody Lobby

The Peabody Ducks

Memphis Brewfest - always something going on downtown.

That's just a few reasons why I enjoy Memphis. We plan to keep exploring and discovering the fun historical parts of the city and of course I'll share them with you.

Memphis

Memphis. I'm not quite sure what to make of this place yet. But we have internet as of today and it's accessible in our entire apartment, not just the stairwell. 


From the beginning which should have been Thursday we had a rocky start. Our apartment wasn't ready due to some small maintenance issues. Graciously they allowed us to stay in the guest suite. The 'us' I'm referring to is our roommate's dad, whom I've never met in my life. He was driving up their vehicle. Guess I should back up already. We are living in a two bedroom apartment with another couple and their 22 month old daughter. I quickly realized there will be embarrassing moments when you don't live on your own.  


It was confusion from the beginning with all the keys, garage tags, leases, and parking, but I was delighted to see my husband finally at 5:30 a.m. Nothing says I love you like bed head, puffy eyes, and morning breath.


Friday we got into our apartment. Our apartment is unfurnished. We rented a bed for each room, a couch, table and chairs, and another sitting chair for the living room. We felt like we brought a ridiculous amount of stuff we didn't need but in reality we didn't. Okay maybe we didn't need to bring a small craft room but we did. I'm glad too cause I really enjoy sewing each night and hearing the announcers at the game out my bedroom window. 

Makeshift night stand

We forgot the can opener.

After BD went to work I made a grocery run. If grocery shopping isn't bad enough I feel it's especially painful now. The grocery store I almost feel comfortable going to alone is only ten minutes away. Before I unload the groceries I sort the 'must be refrigerated now' with the 'they are fine til later' bags. I grab the high priority bags, and load as many on my arms as I can, head down five floors on the elevator, across the street into our building, into our apartment. It is quite the task.


I also delivered our roommates dad to the airport in time to make it back to help our roommates wife and child move in. Then Saturday her car was towed we went on a little adventure, in a not so great part of town, to retrieve it. 


We had company in on Sunday for the game. Brandon's family and one of his college teammates/best friends surprised him and the family I used to nanny for all came down. The nine game losing streak was finally broken. 

I'm slowly getting used to downtown living and the fact that we will always have people walking by our first floor ally facing apartment. The noise will hopefully become second nature to me but the loud trolley is not the easiest to get used to. I'm becoming quite heartless when it comes to any six legged critters that cross my path. We haven't had shake 'n pour pancakes, but instead cinnamon rolls, lasagna and tacos. I've missed cooking and can't wait to try some of the recipes I've put aside for later.  

I've also lost my beautiful scenery I use for my product photos and may have to come up with an indoor alternative. I'm open to any suggestions you may have. Also don't worry I have located and been to the nearest JoAnns. I have covered the basics - grocery store, Chick-fil-A, & JoAnns. 


For now though, this is our home and as long as we are together the rest really doesn't matter. 


Okay so I have a funny and not funny story I MUST add... and this is live time as I'm writing this by the way.


I took this photo of our room to share. I quickly realized the bed wasn't really made and there is clothes and junk everywhere. Cue ten second tidy.

So I went in our room to re-take the photo.... 

Much better right? WRONG!!! 

This guy was hanging out in MY ROOM!!! 

I'm really sorry if this is disturbing to you. It is to me! I now need to make a dreaded grocery run for some RAID. That brings the roach tally to three, which is three to many. BARF! Officially heartless.

P.S. It's Winstagram Wednesday be sure to check it out....@larnlevydickson.