Our air conditioning unit decided to quit on us at somepoint Monday afternoon. When we got home and found it broken we called the maintenance guys who actually came right away. Problem was though that since our building is new they don't have the parts stocked to fix anything in our building. Wonderful. So he told us that he would go pick up the parts yesterday and come back to fix it... yesterday. He sounded like he knew exactly what was wrong and that it wouldn't be an issue. Aparently not! I got home yesterday to find a note saying that they worked for hours and couldn't figure out what was wrong, they would be back today. Lovely. I am really hoping that when I get home in a few hours that my lovely ac is on and my apartment is quite chilled. Lucky for us a cold front came through Monday night so we haven't had any issues with it being an oven. But, I'm still getting over a sinus infection and so can't have the windows constantly open. So my dad was gracious enough to bring by a couple desk fans to help keep us cool at night!

It better be fixed when I get home!

I realized that I forgot to update everyone on probably the biggest news of the past few days. My in-laws got a call this past weekend from my brother-in-law Jimmy saying that he had been in jail for the past week and a half (two weeks now) in New York City. The good news is that Jimmy really didn't do anything wrong, the bad news is that it's going to be hard to prove it. My mother-in-law drove up there Sunday and got to see him briefly yesterday, not sure how long she's going to stay up there. His bond is set at $150,000 so obviously we can't get him out but, there's supposed to be a hearing either this Wednesday or next to try and get that amount reduced. The actual trial could take 18 months! I sure hope he doesn't have to stay in there that long, especially since the poor boy is innocent.

Here's my understanding of what happened. Jimmy has been working (if you can really call it working) for this sign spinning company, you know all the kids you see on the street corners with the big cardboard signs throwing them around in the air. For some reason Jimmy and his friend were in New York City for some sort of work related event. His boss asked him to pick up a package at the post office so Jimmy and his friend went to pick it up. Turns out the package was full of illegal drugs and the post office new it and had called the police who were there to arrest whoever came to pick it up. So Jimmy, his friend, and some other kid that was with them were arrested even though they had no idea what the package was. Apparently some rival company sent the package to the company Jimmy works for to try and shut them down. But it's all circumstantial which is why Jimmy and his friend are still sitting in jail with such a high bail. The third kid that was with them has two attorneys for parents and so they posted bail for him and they're trying to help Jimmy and his friend as best they can.

The good news is that Jimmy has been turning to God through all this, even attending daily Bible studies. I hope that maybe this was what he needed to finally see that he needs to change his life around, that he really does need God. He wrote a letter home to his parents and while I haven't read it myself I have heard that you can tell his way of thinking has drastically changed.

Please pray, not only that he can get out of jail without too much pain and suffering, but also that he grows in his relationship with God through this. That he will continue to seek God even after this is all over. Thank you!

I don't think we sat down at all last weekend! I am so tired right now, but we had a TON of fun!

It started with a houswarming party for Katherine and Eric. Kristin went with us and we had a ball! Their house is so cute, and there were sausage balls so I was in heaven. Then Steven and I went to help Brittany and Brian move in/unpack. Steven and Brian organized movies and "fixed" the satellite while Brittany and I unpacked the ENTIRE kitchen and started washing/organizing everything. Now who do you think was actually working? Afterwards we went to dinner with them and had an amazing time!

Sunday wasn't any slower either. Between church, lunch with the Volkers, shopping/errand running, laundry, and small group we were exhausted! I found the most perfect fall placemats/napkins which Steven let me get. I'm so excited about them... perhaps I will take a picture of our beautiful fall table and post it here! We also had to make a pit stop at the Apple store. You'd think it would be me wanting to go in but it was actually Steven. He wanted to know how much my new computer is going to cost us when we actually do get to buy it (hopefully before the end of the year).

Funny story from the weekend though (and Steven is NEVER going to let anyone forget this)! He got up early Saturday to help Brian do some of the heavy moving. When they got to the house there was a priest there to bless the new house. I wasn't there so I'm not exactly sure what goes on during a blessing but apparently it involved sprinkling Holy water around and through the house. Steven was waiting patiently for the priest to finish and at one point thought he was going to be in the priest's way. So he stepped a little to the side, to which the priest responded by telling Steven that it was only water and proceded to douse my husband in Holy water. I think I've had to hear this story about ten times already, although I have to admit it's pretty funny!

Here's a preview of the newest masterpiece! I'll post photos of it in the frame once I get it back.

I mentioned earlier that Steven was extremely sick over Labor Day weekend. Well as it turns out we got a call from the urgent care doctor a few days ago that I had taken him to letting us know that his test came back and was positive for the swine flu! Thanks for letting us know AFTER he's completely better! I guess there wasn't a quick culture for that in the office and so they had to send it out. Just kinda would've been nice to know while he was actually sick! On the doctor's office note, I had to go myself today. My sinuses have been hurting off and on and at varying degrees for a few weeks now so I knew I had a sinus infection. I finally decided to call and make an appointment this morning. I knew from prior experience that if I go in too early they would just tell me to wait a few days and come back so I was trying to wait as long as possible. Turns out I waited just long enough, they concurred with my diagnosis! So I went straight to the pharmacy to pick up my meds and take them, it's a tiny bit better now but still hurts pretty bad. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

I finished my artwork for the fair! I'm going to scan a copy of it tonight so I'll post a picture soon. Steven and I are taking it to Michael's after dinner tonight to pick out a frame/matts and then beg and plead with them to get it done before October 9th, which is when it has to be at the fairgrounds for judging. I'm pretty sure they should have enough time to get it done without a problem though!

Well I finally did it today, I finally called and talked to the Special Forces recruiter myself! I was never really worried or upset about Steven joing the SF but I just had so many questions and never could find answers. So I called the man, and got a lot of information that I didn't know before, and that surprisingly makes me feel TONS better about this whole decision!

First off, we were under the impression that SF training lasted for two years. Yeah, I know! But as it turns out it's only going to last between 52 and 56 weeks. Hooray!

Training is divided into five phases. During phases 1, 3, and 5 he'll be gone the whole time and I won't be able to talk to him. BUT, during phases 2 and 4 he gets to come home every night!! I thought he was going to be gone for the entire length of training so this is AWESOME news!

Also, wherever we get stationed once his training is finished is where we'll stay until his contract is up. SF soliders don't get moved around like everyone does.

Now that we have more info, we have a lot of decisions to start making! For example, are we going to move closer to Bragg while he's in training or stay where we are and he can drive the hour there and back every day. And are we going to try and find him a car so that he doesn't have to ride his motorcycle and I don't have to take him/pick him up. Also where do we prefer to be stationed at, cause we at least get a chance to voice our opinion. It'll be an interesting next couple of months!

Anyway, I just wanted to share all my new information. I feel like now that my questions have been answered and I know a little more, I can really be the supportive wife that I need to be in order for him to make it through this training.

Well we had a tiny issue this holiday weekend. Steven started feeling bad Friday night and then Saturday evening started running a fever of 101.5, fun right?! Sunday morning he still had a fever but we managed to bring it down to normal after several rounds of tylenol (sp?) and he was feeling better. But then while we were out on the lake his fever spiked again to 102.5. He was wrapped up in a blanket, it wasn't cold outside, I felt so bad for him. It took several more rounds of tylenol but I finally got that fever to start breaking around 11:30 and was able to go to bed. Then Labor Day rolled around, and he woke up with no fever at all and insisting he was fine. I didn't believe him, and took him to the urgent care anyway (which ended up being smart because his fever spiked again while we were there). After almost THREE hours at the urgent care and multiple tests and a steroid shot to reduce swelling in his throat we learn that he doesn't have the flu, strep throat, or mono. "But you're definately sick and contagious for 24 hours" were the doctor's exact words. So we cancelled all our plans for the day, much to Steven's dismay. I went to the pharmacy, picked up all his favorite "sick" foods, and played nurse for the rest of the day. It was actually quite nice to just pile on the couch, be lazy, and watch tv all day with him. It sucked for him I'm sure, being sick and all, but it was still nice.

He conviently had the day off today as well which ended up being nice for him. I left for work giving him strict instructions to stay in bed or the couch and watch tv/movies, play video games, and do homework all day. Did he listen to me? Of course not! He doesn't like being a patient, I pretty much have to force him to be one. And since I'm not there to force him, he's ignoring me and cleaning the apartment. Which I admit, is very nice of him to do so. But still, he deserves to be lazy for one more day!