Last week Titus & I headed to Sidney to exchange something at Cabellas, pick up some groceries at Safeway, and try a new restraunt. We were told it was the "best in Western Nebraska", so of course we had to check it out. Dude's is connected to a bar and dance hall. We didn't go in the right door to start with. OOPS! We got a tour of the bar with pool tables, the smoker's area and the darkened dance hall before we found the right door leading us into the restraunt area.

Once seated at our table, we had a great view of the establishment. The decor was right out of the 1960's, or maybe 1970's. We couldn't decide. But the food, the food was good. We each ordered a sandwich with steak fries. There was not one crumb left on either plate when we were done.

I'm not sure I'd give it the best in Western Nebraska title, but then again, I haven't eaten at too many places in Western Nebraska. I will say this, it was busy, and has always seemed busy every time we've driven by. So I'm sure everything else on their menu is just as good as the prime rib sandwich I tried. I look forward to enjoying more sometime in the near future.

Spring Snow

This morning we woke up to the wet white stuff falling from the sky. I tried to get a picture of my hubby clearing off my car for me, but the camera failed me. I was able to capture this picture before my feet froze to the pavement. Glad I did get a shot when I could. It has already melted away and the weather is just barely starting to warm up.

Settling In

This past weekend was likely the best weekend yet since moving to Bridgeport last September. Titus and I are finding our rythmn in married life. We spent a lot of time relaxing and laughing. It was grand. At one point I looked up at my husband from my spot snuggled by his side and realized that deep down this is what I have always longed for. I am where I belong. We are building a life together, following God as best we can and enjoying the adventure.

Saturday morning started off by sleeping in until nearly 11am. That hasn't happened in a REALLY long time. After a couple of weeks of company, late nights, traveling on the road, and everything coming together at the end of the school year, we were thrilled to have weekend with very little to do.

Once I finally pulled myself out of bed we got to work quickly on the yard. Mowing and turning over flower gardens to plant new, fun, brightly colored flowers kept me busy all morning. Then a quick trip to Scottsbluff and back to Bridgeport for some graduation parties. Before we knew it we were back home, full of all kinds of amazing food from the buffet of delectibles we enjoyed all night. I think our food induced sleeping coma kicked in about 11pm.

Sunday started off in a bit of a rush as we quickly got ready for church. Thankfully it is only three doors down, so in no time we were gathering with new friends and enjoying a time to reflect and draw closer to our Lord. Then it was a quick turn-around for Titus as he had to get to the shcool for graduation - yes, graduation was on Mother's Day. And of course, there were more parties and more food all afternoon. We ended our day around a campfire with good friends. As we went to bed, laughing and smiling, we commented how great it was to have fun and relaxing weekend.

I have decided we are settling in to Bridgeport. While I miss friends and the mountains in CO, there is no doubt that this where we are to be. And I know God has us here for a reason and a purpose. We are already seeing glimpses of that these past few months. I wouldn't change anything about where we are right now...well maybe if we could figure out how to be here and have the kids closer. But we keep praying that God will continue to bless our time with them and work out all those details that are out of our control.

Living the Dream

I thought about this phrase, "Just Living the Dream" this morning as I was getting ready. My friend, and former co-worker, Justin Dillard coined this term. Well, maybe he didn't coin the term, but that's where I picked it up. These days, even on the tough days, that's kind of how I feel.


I have had so many amazing things happen to me in just the last year, that I really am awestruck when I think about it. Within the last twelve months:

*I started dating the love of my life, my hubby, Titus. We were engaged in July and married in September.

*He got an amazing opportunity for a job in NE in June.

*We found a great little house in Bridegport and an awesome apartment for our family in Arapahoe - all to fit within ou budget.

*My parents had a once in a lifetime blessing in the selling of their land to Conoco Phillips in December.

*God has provided for us each and every weekend we have gone to see the kids by providing good road and safe travels...even through one of the toughest winters folks in this area have seen.

*I found an amazing job that is above and beyond what I expected to find as far as pay and hours go in such a small town. And I got the job just two weeks before my wedding. Talk about stepping out in faith. I resigned from the church and made plans to marry and move before I had a job.

*God has provided a church home for us in Bridgeport and Arapahoe...and a new friendship to support the transition.


And I'm sure the list could go on and on. But I'll end it there for now.

All the latest fun...

We have had a great couple of weekends here lately. We have put 3000 miles on our car in 17 days. Let's just say the Willie Nelson song, "On the Road Again" could be the Staples Family theme song these days. Truly, we love it. There are many Sunday nights we drive back into Bridgeport tired and ready to fall into bed. But come the weekend again, we are ready to get back on the road to our next adventure.

Right now our weekend adventures could be categorized into three areas: time with the kids, helping my folks move, and our own adventures. And often these three overlap.

My parents have already moved two trailers full of furniture that is not essential to keep in CO. They have delivered a couch and bed to our apartment in Arapahoe, for which we are incredibly thankful! It is hard to see their home in CO, where I grew up, starting to look bare. I don't know when it will hit me that they no longer own that place and will be out for good in about six weeks. I'm sure the tears will flow when that day comes.

We have had some wonderful adventures with the kids. Geocaching is our big family adventure nearly every weekend. We hop online and look up the GPS coordinates for these hidden treasures. Then we punch the numbers into the GPS, and start tracking them down. So far we have found 115 geocahces. Our goal is 200 by the end of the summer. I am confident we will make it! And this last weekend, for Titus' birthday, we planted two of our own geocaches. One in the park where we pick up the kids, and one where we drop them off. We are excited to see who finds our hidden treasures and see what trinkets they take, and what they leave behind.

As for Titus and I, we have enjoyed the company of great friends from CO the last month or so. We had a great time showing them around our little area, hiking to the top of Scottsbluff Monument, watching basketball games, grilling out, and playing crazy board games. And, after 7 months, finally decorating our home and buying a new couch. This weekend we look forward to hanging out in Kearney with good friends while I go to a Beth Moore event and Titus does whatever it is guys do when the have a free Saturday.

This time of year is like a pressure cooker at the school. The countdown to the end of the year is on, and there are many unfinished projects on Titus' desk. He works hard and I know he will get everything done in time. I just try to keep the home fire burning so that he has a place to land at the end of his long days. We have accepted the fact that our lives are busy and we are embracing each day and each adventure.

Inspiration

The other night I watched the movie Julie & Julia. I am am a fan of Meryl Streep and had heard good things about the movie. Watching the movie made me think of two things. First, I wish I was a better cook. I'm average at best. But I do plan to try some new dishes. But secondly, I am looking for inspiration of my own. Something to blog about - an adventure or challenge to write about regularly. I do enjoy writing and getting my thoughts down on "paper". But as of right now I'm not sure what to blog about.

So until that inspiration comes, I guess I'll keep blogging about the every day life I lead here in the Panhandle of NE!

7 months of adventures

Life has been good the past few months. Today is the 7-month anniversary of my marriage to Titus. I didn't realize that until just now as I was typing. Adventure is one word I would use to describe the first 7 months. Just this past weekend I told him that I would have never imagined the places I would go and all the adventures I would be on. And it all started when I said "yes!"

Our adventures aren't grand like skiing in the Alps or flying all around the globe. Some day we dream that the will include those adventures. But for now our adventures are going to revival services in Loup City, NE. Or taking a day trip into the sandhills to show him where Cody worked. Or grabbing ice cream at the Whoa 'N Go in Broken Bow. Or meeting some of the most wonderful people and sharing time and space with them for a late night snack.

Every adventure in our past seven months has included a map and a game. It's the We-Can't-Take-the-Same-Route-Twice game. No matter where we are going - to pick up the kids or somewhere new - we have to take a different route. Even going and coming to the sandhills this weekend we took a different route. I usually drive because of the funny little condition I inherited from my dad called motion sickness. That leaves Titus to man the map and be the navigator. And he does a fabulous job at it...especially when I'm tired and just want to get to our destination.

We don't spend much time in our little home town. In fact we feel like we have several "home" towns. We have a church and a place to stay at all of them: Arapahoe, Eudora, Bridgeport, and Broomfield. I'd say we are pretty blessed to be doing what we are doing and have so many places filled with comforts of home and friends and family to share it all with. It's not a life for the faint of heart. We are on the road a lot...but we wouldn't have it any other way. When we do have a weekend in Bridgeport we sometimes look at each other and ask, "well, where should we go?" It's in our DNA.

In fact, I've started telling people, it's only a road trip if it's over 4 hours. Anything less is just a commute.