And then I said..

Me: "What was that you said? It was funny and I wanted to quote you on my blog."
Brenden: "Babe, you can't quote me on everything I say.."
Me: "I am quoting that."

And then I promised him that I wouldn't quote him on what he said about dorky people. It was funny :)

Damn this restless soul.

I told you my plans change daily. My new plan involves us moving to Colorado! I don't know the future and my direction is ever changing. But I do know some things: I really dislike Portland (and most of Oregon), I want to be closer to my family without being too far from my married family (Colorado is a very long day drive to both locations), and I want to raise my kids in a healthy environment with great schools.

I am so restless.

Hem and Haw

Brenden and I have been "hem-and haw-ing" about a possible (future) move to....are you ready for this...Yamhill county! Yes, you read that correctly. My current plan (it seems to change daily) is to send Brenden's resume to A-Dec, a great company with great benefits. Who knows what will happen, but I am praying that something wonderful opens up for him and for us. And since the company is in Newberg, we are considering living in the area.

I've never lived in a city with a population less than 500,000 (metropolitan areas). And even that seems small (Portland seems like a small town to me). So I wonder if I'll love real small town living or if I'll hate it. It's an adventure either way! And we want to be closer to family when we have babies, which I am sure will happen sooner than we think :)

I love how life can change on a dime! You never know what is around the corner but I am excited to find out :) Please pray that Brenden finds an awesome opportunity with A-Dec.

I can see you smiling LanaMom!

A struggle.

I've always been proud of my self-reliance and resilience. I think it is very important to be able to "make it on your own". When I was 19, I moved 1,700 miles away from home to attend a college I'd never visited, to a city I'd never been. I was very unsure how I would do without my parents (or any family) nearby, without a phone to contact them, or a computer to email them. But I did it. And it was one of the best experiences in my life.

A family friend bet that I'd move back home after graduating college. I knew differently. To make it (and save money), I lived in a trailer park that was condemned to be torn down (it is mostly gone now). Some friends laughed at me while others thought it was as fun. (Personally, I loved it).

Then I felt a "call" to leave my beloved city. I moved 1,000 miles north with some friends I had just met, to another unknown city, with no job prospects (but plenty of savings, thanks to cheap trailer rent). Within hours of arriving, I met my husband. I'd say it was a good move :)

My struggle is pride. Although I come from a financially successful (and very generous) family, I don't like asking for help. I feel uncomfortable receiving anything expensive, something that I didn't struggle, plan, or save for. I feel more pride showing off the fruits of my labor than standing next to something that I didn't work for. I get that from my dad.

My problem is pride. Now don't misunderstand me, I think it is good to feel pride after working for something, accomplishing something big. However, pride shouldn't morph into feelings of failure. Pride is a dangerous beast that I continue to wrestle.

This is my struggle.

My sister is smarter than yours...

My sister-in-law, Reka just passed her PhD entrance exam in the statistics department. She is the smartest person I know. Congrats Reka!

Seth and Reka Howard in San Diego

Ambitious Planning.

The travel bug has bitten me! I am renewing my passport and getting one for Brenden (Hi, Brenden!)! I haven't been to Europe in 10 YEARS! And since my family is partly Hungarian, I was thinking a Hungarian trip is in order some time within the next couple years. I'd love to see Budapest and travel through to Austria and then to Czech Republic.

Who wants to come???

Mama Bear.

It's very hard to control my temper when someone hurts my husband. Suddenly, I feel like a giant mama bear ready to attack.

So then I said..

"The average rich American is rich because he/she is cheap very careful with their money. The average middle class American is in debt because he/she over-borrow and over-spend and want everyone to think they are rich."

Plans, plans, plans...

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

So (as you may have read below or on my Facebook) I am planning a trip to Iowa and Chicago. Yay. Our first order of business is to visit family and see the newest member (due around Christmas). Second order of business is to have a mini-vacation (from the vacation) in Chicago! Brenden has never been and I've already made plans to visit the Field Museum, the Art Institute, Gino's East Pizzeria, and ice skating at Millennium Park!

We are trying to decide whether to fly out there in January (when the ticket prices are so much cheaper) OR drive out there in time for Christmas for an extended vacation (more than a week!). I am partial to the driving idea (what an adventure!) but Brenden isn't sure about the weather. I'd LOVE to see my family for Christmas but plane tickets are just too expensive during that time. So I came up with the driving plan!

Any thoughts?

My Favorite City!

I am planning an awesome vacation to my FAVORITE city of all time. Here is what is on the itinerary (can you guess which city?):

Museum #1: You can find the famous T-Rex "Sue" here:

World famous art institute:

If you like pizza, this is a must (and you can write on the walls):

Famous skyline:

Now can you guess which city???

One Year.

I married my sweetheart one year ago (on Sunday). I love being married to him and we've had an amazing year. Here are some silly pictures for you to enjoy (or laugh at..hehe)

A little annoyance

It really bugs me when people use their good luck as proof of God's existence. A friend of mine was exclaiming that her success in getting a good job was proof that God exists and that He loves her. I am very glad that she has a good job. And I think it's important to be thankful for these things. However, I hate hate hate the mentality that God exists to make us happy and/or successful. Nothing could be further from the truth. God exists. We exist to glorify Him. Therefore, I will proclaim and honor Him whether I am poor or rich, whether I am homeless or live in a mansion, whether I have a job or am unemployed.

Don't even get me started on the sermon "Jesus came to fulfill your dreams" that Brenden and I had to suffer through.

*Rolls eyes*

And then he said...

Brenden: "Women are catty bitches to one another. And then you die."


True story. And I wish they'd stop looking at my boobs. Thank you.

Practicing my rusty Hungarian

Ez a szomorú élni a hely, amelyet még nem hasonló, és nem a barátai. Kész vagyok rá mozgatni és távol körülbelül emberek szokásos és valóságos. Szeretnék isten, Oregon és helló, valami új. Brenden, készen egy kaland?