Hovater Update

I am updating to you that there is absolutely nothing exciting going on in our lives. I was looking over my favorite blogs and found myself getting irritated because those folks have not update in over a week and then I looked at mine and realized that mine had not been updated in almost a month. So here goes, we have gotten 2 items of furniture since the last post. Both of which I am super pumped about. We are anticipating the next 2 items in which case we should be good to go in the furniture area for a while. We have been really busy mostly because it is that time of year to be busy but also because we are gearing up for the summer. Here is something kind of exciting... We are going to Africa in the summer and I am going to start to work only 4 days starting in June. I am so excited about both, but to be perfectly honest probably more excited about only working 4 days a week. Next month Fletcher ( my 4 runner) will finally be paid off! My sister and brother-in-law got Steven probably the best birthday present ever... an I heart Fresno shirt. Isn't that awesome! He is proudly sporting it today. I bought a really cute lamp for $7.64, how awesome is that? It has been so unbelievably cold here. Which isn't such a big deal except for the fact that we put our winter clothes away on Saturday. I went to a wonderful wedding 2 weekends ago and will be going to an equally wonderful wedding in April. I finally found a great black dress to wear. Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to find a good black dress? Two nights ago Steven sat straight up in bed and said in a very panic-y voice, "What the crap is that over there?" That will get your blood flowing. It turns out there was some weird light that he saw but only for a second. That is what he tried to convince me of anyway. Well I think that is about it. Have good days!

Why do I love furniture so much?

Over the past month or so I have been saving like crazy to buy new furniture for our house. Here is my thoughts on that. Part of me feels really frivolous and prideful that I want new furniture. I feel like I need to be content with the hand-me-downs that we have been so blessed with. I feel like all this money could be used to go in our "emergency" fund because who knows when something "emergency" like is going to happen. I feel like this money could be used more wisely. BUT I also feel like I have worked my butt off to pinch those pennies, denying myself social events that are held at restaurants just so I can get that new chair, table and entertainment center. I'm worth it! I haven't been using any of the money for our "get those school loans paid off fast" fund. It's all from my personal sacrifice! Don't I deserve it? Part of me thinks so. Well the part that likes to furniture shop thinks so. The other part of me says.." Kelly you chose to marry the most wonderful man in the world who also happens to be a youth minister and also chose to spend 50,000 on your education with the goal of becoming a social worker knowing full well that your secret desire was to never work again, lets just face it sister living that kind of lifestyle is just not in the cards". BUT I SAVED says the furniture shopping side. Here is what is probably going to happen. I am going to get that furniture that I want but in 10 or 15 years from now I will still have that same wonderful furniture that I was dying to have at one time in my life when I was younger and much more materialistic. I better chose wisely because I am going to have to love it for the rest of my life. Man, these inner battles suck!

January 29, 1979

January 29, 1979 is an important day to me because it's my birthday. That makes Sunday the day that I am going to celebrate my 27th birthday. 27! When I was 16 I thought that 20 and up was so old. Now that I am 20 and up I don't feel that way at all. I really thought that I would feel differently by now but alas I still feel like Kelly. Every year that goes by I kind of get sad. Last year a very good friend of mine made me say my whole birthday day, "I am 26 and I'm pretty!". So here goes..."I'm 27 and I'm pretty!" Maybe I will feel better about that on Sunday. I need to learn the value of growing old gracefully while remembering that I am still young and there is still so much ahead of us.

Back to normalcy

For Christmas Steven and I went to Fresno, CA where I am from, to visit family for a week. We had a great time. Lots of eating, laying around and staying up playing computer (for Steven of course). It was very relaxing and was much needed. For the last week Steven has been in Nashville at NCYM. He has been having a blast, but I am ready for him to come home. I have been keeping myself busy by cleaning, decorating watching the first 4 episodes of Lost. It is really good. Umm lets see, that's about it. Work is getting back to normal and I am so thankful. I discovered that when I am stressed out and tired my tolerance level is very low. The break was good for recharging. Oh also I was reminded of how much I love Stroke 9 so I went and bought the CD. I have hardly listened to anything but them since. If that makes me a dork I am willing to take that responsibility.

My jaw hurts!

So we went on this retreat with some other couples from Pleasant Valley. It was so fun but so cold. We left early because Steven had to be at church on Sunday and I was okay with that because I was so looking forward to a warm house and bad. Much to my disappointment, our house was not warm and continues to be in this state until tomorrow morning at 8:00! Our heater is busted and my jaw hurts from the constant chattering of teeth. It was somewhere in the 40's when I got up this morning. Oh man, I am so thankful for heaters! (well more thankful when our works) It will be fine though we have a fire place and an enormous amount of people are offering their space heaters. The Hovaters will survive!!!!

I have a problem

My fears of a previous post have been confirmed. I watched TV from 4:30 to 10:30 last night. SIX HOURS!!!!!! We still have not gotten cable but one afternoon I wanted to watch an Alabama game so I bought and antenna and it has been down hill since. I knew this would happen. It also happens to be that the latest book that I got was kind of on the boring side so I have not be motivated to read which makes my problem worse. TV is just so handy when you are folding clothes or wrapping presents. I have a problem and I need to help. I don't want to be a family that watches TV. I am going to have to start to get really creative and find something else to occupy my time.

On a side note... Steven shrunk my new sweater. I have only worn it twice and now I can't anymore unless I am interested in looking like a hoochie mama which is never something that I am interested in. In his defense he did look for the sweater, having remembered it in the washer, before he put in the dryer. He just didn't look hard enough. So after work The Limited here we come. Steven is buying me a new sweater! This may not be such a bad deal.

This year I like Christmas music

Okay, so I don't really prefer Christmas music. I feel like there are 10 songs written by 10,000 artists and it normally drives me crazy. BUT this year I have been able to tolerate this particular genre a little more. Wait no that is a lie, I actually LIKE it this year. Here is my theory as to why. It's simple...We have a house. I know that is so silly but it is so fun to think about decorating and putting up lights and tree. In fact I think that the tree buying will come tomorrow and I am super pumped. An update on the house... We still have some trim to paint. This job is on the agenda for Saturday. Oh and I think that I am going to change to color of my bathroom. I've decided that I don't really like it. Which is such a hassle and I think that Steven might never talk to me again if I ask him to do it. He did such a good job on the purple, yes that is correct I said purple.

It was a debacle!

I am not lying. The powder puff football game was a disaster! We lost big time. I think somewhere in the range of by 30 points! I was never really so competitive in high school that a losswould consume my mind, but for some reason I had a hard time letting this one go. I think it was because I really thought that we would do well and then me hopes were crushed when I saw the other team. I think 4 of their players were rugby girls and we debated the whole game whether they truly were girls. It was rough. I can't talk about it anymore.

Practice #2

Last night was football practice and I am pretty excited about this team. Everybody was getting more comfortable with each so it was really fun. No huge scandalous thing to report as of yet but I will keep you posted. By the way, after last weeks practice they talked about me all morning on the radio. Isn't that so fun! I was loving every minute of it. Okay that is it for now. We have another practice this Saturday so there will be another update on Monday.

My new adventure

I love flag football! Last night was my very first practice as the new quarter for a powderpuff football team. What is so adventurous about this team in particular is that it is with a local radio station here in Little Rock. 103.7 The Buzz. This new adventure could pontentially be a scandalous so I have reserved the right to quit at any moment regardless of the heckling that I would most certainly receive on the radio. The girls were all really nice and so much less prissy then I was thinking. I know how these things work. Radio guy challenges another radio guy to game of powderpuff mostly emphasizing looks rather then skill. I feel okay about this UNLESS they ask me to wear something scandalous or make me feel like even the slightest bit of compromising will have to happen. A guy from our church is one of the D.J's / coaches so I am clinging to the hope that he will follow through with his commitment to God thus protecting me from having to do anything sort of shady. I will keep you updated...

Why is cable such a big deal?

I don't want cable. I don't. I want to be a family that reads not a family that watches television. Steven, my dear sweet husband loves to make fun of me by saying "Like I am going to stop reading". For those of you who don't know him loves to read so much that the only reason why reason why he hasn't shelved his books in out new is because he hasn't had time to work out the details of the Hovater's Card Cataloging System. I am not concerned about him stopping his reading habits, I am more concerned about stopping mine. Also when we start to have kids, I don't want them to grow up glued to the TV. I want them to sit with me and enjoy Harry Potter together. I really am not sure what Steven is wanting to get out of cable, that we can't get out network TV. He says football games but that is only in the fall and once a week. Do you see the problem I have? I don't want to pay for minimal use and I don't want maxium watching. Two other reasons... everytime we going anywhere with a TV I have to practically do a dance for him to pay attention to me. I think that is a bad habit to form if the TV is on at home. Last reason... Every single middle aged to older adult that I expressed this opinion to say that I need to stick to my guns. Don't' you think that there is something to that? I know that we are adults, but older adults are wiser then us. No matter how wise we think we are we have nothing on them. Especially the ones that have raised kids. They understand the effects of TV on their kids and I am trying to prevent that stuff now. I am trying to establish good habits from the start. Is that so wrong? Steven wants it so bad and I don't want it just as much. Any thoughts out there?

We are mostly in!

Well, that might be a stretch. We haven't touched the kitchen stuff yet. But most all the big furniture is in and I am so thankful. So worn out but thankful. All this unsettledness has really done me in. I don't handle it very well. I get grumpy and gripy and that sucks of me. Things are looking up and once we get a shade on the window in our bedroom where I broke the blinds then I will get good sleep and be able to handle all of this better. I will keep you posted.

So I am feeling some pressure

2 words...Jesse Maddox. Why is it that there is so much pressure to update your blog. I read Jesse's then looked at Leslie, then felt like I had to put something down. Really Jesse, all this pressure just because you are bored. I just don't know how I feel about that. Wait, yes I do, it makes me hang my head in shame. I committed to this blogging thing and I need to follow through with it. But if I am following what Jesse commands ( and yes I mean command) then I have to post something new every hour. No Ma'am. Can't do it! I am just not that interesting. So how much blogging should one do to be a committed blogger? Once a day? Once every 2 days? I don't know. I am just feeling very pressured right now.
Oh a little update on the house. It is coming along much more quickly thanks to so many wonderful friends. Hopefully most of it can be done by tomorrow, but we will see. It that stinkin' trim that is killing me!

Is that a light?

So for the past almost 2 weeks we have been working our tails off on trying to get the most hideous wallpaper off in our new kitchen. I think that we are seeing a light and I am super pumped. We only have a few more things to do then mudd, seal, prime and then finally paint!!! Oh what a wonderful day it will be when I can sit in my freshly painted and cleaned living room and read while drinking some tea. I miss the days of relaxation after work. Oh just to give an update. Disneyworld is not better then Disneyland. Here is my theory. If you are going to compare parks, then the only park that you can fairly compare Disneyland to is the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. And when you complete the comparison you will realize that they are exactly the same. Yes the castle is bigger in Disneyworld but the princess' that live in these 2 castles are different and it is not Disneyland's fault that sleeping beauty's kingdom can't afford a bigger castle. Don't you think?

Good Times!!

Well I am assuming it will be good times. Today at 11:00 am (6 hours before I normally have to leave work) we are leaving to join our dear friends in Florence Alabama for Donnie Stover's wedding!!!! I am about to pee myself excited. There will be so many wonderful people from Harding and Memphis. Oh man this is so great!! THEN after all the festivities are over Steven and I are going to Disney World for our 1st anniversary / vacation. I have never been but from what I hear it is awesome! Some have even claimed that it is better then Disneyland. Don't worry Cali., I know where is the REAL happiest place on earth is. Only park that Walt Disney himself had ever visited. Either way, I am excited to see Micky and spend time with my Punk. Well that is all I got. Happy Donnie's wedding to everybody!!

Some big news for the Hovaters!

No I am not pregnant! We found a house!!! Two things worth mentioning about this house, 1) it has a loft that over looks the living room and 2) it has a hot tub. We are pretty excited about it. So because Steven was out of town yesterday I decided that I was going to attempt to pick out colors for the walls. Oh my gosh! I am so overwhelmed with colors! There are so many colors!! AHHH! I really thought that I this was something that I was going to be good at. After yesterday, I am not so confident. Also, refridgerators are soooo expensive. Who would have thought that all these big girl things were so expensive! Well probably the whole world except for me. Anyway we are super pumped! And this is totally off the subject but, Banks, this is no where near as interesting as thesecondchance but, it makes me feel good that you take the time to read this so I promise that I will be better about posting more regularly. (Is that appropriate to have personal shout out on a post? Wait, this is totally MY blog, I say what is appropriate!)

Kelly time? What's that?

So it totally has been oh about 3 months. I apoligize for the lack of anything interesting on my blog but to be perfectly honest this post will not be much different. The past 3 months have been crazy! I have started a new position with Easter Seals. It has been going really well but has contributed to totally throwing my routine off. So the running interest has dimished some what BUT last night I totally ran 6 miles! Who is proud of me? I am!
Another thing that has been crazy has been the start of the summer. My sweet husband is really truly the best youth minister in the world so the summers for us are BUSY! Well I say us, but probably more him. Well actually even though I can't attend most of the trips becuase they are during the week, I really do feel like I have a second full time job. At times I get worn out. I mean think about it 2 full time jobs! That is crazy! Most of my off time is filled up with kid time, but I really do love it! God really has put a love for teenagers in my soul and if I can't get paid for it I am thankful for the oppertunity to volunteer at it.
Oh this is something exciting and kind of out of the ordinary. This weekend I am going to Birmingham, AL to see my dear friend Matha (no I did spell her name wrong). Along will shopping till we drop we are going to go to Atlanta, GA to run in the Peach Tree Road Race. You might think that this is a boring ole 10K, which if you think running is boring then I guess a race would be boring. BUT this race happens to be the largest 10K in the world! Something like 50,000 people run in this. I am pretty pumped! Maybe slightly on the "in over my head" side, but still very excited. Well actully the goal of 6.2 miles in an hour doesn't seem that unatainable after last nights little jaunt. We will see!

Good Friends

It is amazing to me, the older I get, how many people do not have good friends. I am not really sure why this is. I guess that people just get busy with their own lives and don't think about how important good friends are. Steven and I have both been so blessed to have many good friends. One of those dear friends, for me, is Matha. (No I did not spell her name wrong, that is the way I like to say it) My brother-in-law and her have come to Little Rock for few days to see Steven and I and it has been wonderful!
Last night we went to Goucho's and today I feel 10 lbs heavier, but it was so worth it. Man, I love their bananas! Anyway all that to say, God is awesome for blessing us with friends that love us for who we are and teach us to be more like him.

I am a runner

Well kinda. I guess you can call me a runner because compared most, putting on a tee shirt and running shorts makes you some sort of hard core athlete. On a good week, I run with a friend 3x a week at 6:00 in the morn. Which, by the way, is really cold and up until a couple of weeks ago the sky was pitch black. Yesterday, though, I ran in the morning and then after work. Who's a stud now? When I run, my limit is 2 miles, which is kind of wusy, but I really think that the props are in the effort. This morning's run was sucky. Because I ran 4 miles yesterday, my body was screaming, "Are you crazy? I guess that you forgot you are our of shape and not Martha Kellum". Matha, is what I like to call her. She is a total stud when it comes to running. 5 miles a day? No problem for Matha. Right now I am sitting at my desk, sore, but loving the fact that my body aches because I am doing something good for it.

Just me, ranting about stupidity

So I have this friend, who is the one person I probably talk to more then Steven. I promise, it's kind of ridiculous. So today, she told me that after church she had lunch with some girls all of whom she did not know except for one girl. Well, in the middle of normal lunch conversation, one of the randoms say that she can't be friends with ugly people because she has no sympathy for them. Then another, just as ignorant girl pipes in, saying that when she thinks about this other girl is right because she only has cute friends. What the HECK!!!!!!! When my friend told me about this conversation, I was totally and completely offended. I cannot believe that there are real human beings that would say such thing and also claim to be Christian. I am assuming that they claim to be Christians because this lunch was right after church. Actually, regardless of them being Christians the fact that anybody they would utter such words is horrendous. First of all, who decides who is pretty and who is not. I mean does she have a check list that requires high cheek bones, almond shaped eyes, and not a pound over a 110. "Nope sorry, you have one tiny laugh line and you eye lashes aren't quite a half an inch, we can't be friends". Who really thinks like this? In a world where people are starving for love an acceptance, is she so wonderful that she can reject love because one doesn't have flawless skin? After that comment, I highly doubt it. How shallow is that? It makes me furious to even think about it. Oh, how I wish I was sitting around that table. I am so irritated that such a girl would exist.