Here something you did not need to know about me and Jon: We love carpet.

Yes, yes, I’m quite aware that it is completely and utterly out of style. I’ve heard about its allergenic-nature, its propensity to stain and how some people just can’t stand the look of it.

But, I love it. I love getting out of bed in the morning and your toes just sinking into the nice warm fuzzies right there.

For the last almost-year, Jon and I have been living in a house with zero carpet. We have one 5×7 area rug that is in the living room (and truth be told, was incredibly cheap and therefore not comfortable). Everywhere else is tile. And it’s beautiful tile. It’s easy to take care of and it was super nice when Kody was being potty-trained.

When I get up in the morning though, and my feet hit icy cold rock…Or when Kody is shedding like crazy and instead of the fur just staying where it was so I can vacuum it up, it floats across the floor avoiding the vacuum… Or how I can vacuum, sweep and mop and twenty minutes later, there’s again an invisible coating of dust on the floor…

I’m SO ready for carpet.

We’ve been having some mis-communication with our installer, but it does look like we’re getting carpet put in today and tomorrow. Which means that my house is a complete and utter disaster. Everything is either stacked in the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room or in the garage. And it has to stay like this for tonight and tomorrow.

Oy.

I told Jon we’re putting our coupons we’ve been saving for dinner out to good use tonight. AND on top of that wonderful news (I love eating out!), I also have a coupon for a buy-one-get-one free at Seattle’s Best Coffee inside Borders! Can we say a Hot Chocolate Trio (bestest hot chocolate in the whole world)? It’s been the most perfect weather for hot chocolate lately – cold, cold, cold! We have officially entered long-sleeve weather. I’m so happy!

Jon and I got some pictures taken with Kody the other day by our fabulous photographer, Sarah Eastwood. And she said I could share them with you! The ones of just me are for my new author pictures. I think I like number 10 the best for that. What do you think? Number 21 has mine and Jon’s vote for our Christmas picture this year. And please excuse Kody. He looks goofy in most of them. 🙂 And the ones where he appears to be attacking me? I think he thought “Smile Kody!” to mean, “It’s time to wrestle!”

Here’s the link! Be sure to let me know what you think okay? 🙂

Thank you guys SO much for all your sweet comments on my post the other day! You all are just so fabulous – thank you! 🙂

So, since I mentioned the “awesome chili” on my last post, I thought I’d share the recipe with you today!! This is soooo good – it’s seriously one of my favorite recipes ever. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s the epitome of comfort food. And since fall is here and winter is quickly approaching, I figured now is the perfect time to share this!

Thanks so much to my friend Naomi for giving me this recipe!! 🙂

St. Louis Chili

(all can sizes are approximately 15-16 ounces)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can pinto beans – drained and rinsed
1 can kidney beans – drained and rinsed
1 can of water
1 pkg. chili seasoning (I use McCormick Original Chili Seasoning – or whatever is on sale)
1 pound of hamburger – browned and drained

Pour everything in a big pot and simmer on low for about twenty minutes. Then add:

2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup of brown sugar

Simmer again for twenty minutes. Serve with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream and cornbread.

SO delicious! And so easy! I hope you enjoy!

Yesterday was my long day at work, because on Wednesdays, I work mornings and afternoons (unlike the rest of the week where it’s just mornings). And trust me. It was long. The kids were going absolutely crazy! This job has given me a whole different respect for teachers, so if you’re a teacher, then my hat is off to you – you guys are absolutely amazing.

I came home and told Jon that if I had his job (he’s a fourth grade special ed teacher), I would not live through the first month of school. None of the kids were listening at all yesterday. When I got home, I told Kody to sit, he sat and I told Jon we might just have to stick with dogs. No kids.

Just kidding. 🙂 Jon and I are too crazy about little kids to not have any of our own. Sheesh, we even treat Kody like he’s our kid. I think that’s part of Kody’s problems. 🙂

I was so tired and cranky after work yesterday that I drove straight to the store and bought two bags of coffee and two bags of chocolate chips. I made an awesome chili for dinner, since it’s been kind of rainy and drizzly outside lately, and then I made chocolate chip cookies.

AND THEN… I got the bestest email ever!! 🙂 I just found out that NavPress signed the third novel in the Cool Beans series! Yay!! 🙂

So, Cool Beans will release Spring 2010, Latte Daze will release Summer 2010 and now Double Shot (tentative title. We’ll see what it ends up becoming!!) will release Fall 2010. I’m SO excited!

I’ve got a new deadline of February 1st and so I had better get busy writing away here very soon! 🙂

Also, I thought I’d show you what I did the other day. I went to Michaels and ALL of their fall stuff is on sale. I bought a grapevine wreath for $1.89, a cranberry colored ribbon for $2.99, two mixed fall daisy bouquets for $0.99 each and two little scarecrow people for $1.49 each and this is what I came up with:

It was SO easy! It seriously took me about ten minutes. First, I wrapped the whole wreath with the ribbon and tied a bow. Then, I cut the bouquet apart, wove the individual stems through the grapevine and added the little scarecrow people.

I think they are so cute! 🙂

Don’t these colors just scream fall? This was so much fun to make – totally helped me soothe my “I Must Decorate SOMETHING” feelings I was having! And, it was way cheaper than buying one of the premade wreaths at the store.

Here’s Kody watching me take pictures of the wreath. Poor dog. I think he might be easily confused. 🙂

I’m SO excited about the new book! I cannot wait to share Maya’s story with you!

Okay. Confession time.

I love Christmas catalogs.

LOVE them.

They are SO much fun! We got our first one in the mail this past week and I’ve purposefully left it on the coffee table just so I’ll accidentally glance it and then I get a big grin on my face. I look through every single catalog we get. I rarely order anything, but I definitely love getting them!

Christmas catalogs mean that Christmas is coming very soon! And with how fast this year has gone by, I’m pretty sure that I’ll blink and it will be my most favorite time in the whole year! 🙂

I already have big plans for this year. Last year, we spent Christmas with my in-laws (which was WAY fun!), so this year will be our first year in our own little house. Which means that this little house is going to be bursting with holiday cheer! You guys already know how nuts I get around December, but I have a feeling that this year is going to be even worse than normal! I’ve already planned out how we’re going to decorate, a few of the gifts I’m giving and I’ve had my eyes open for any deals on Christmas movies since Jon and I haven’t started our Christmas movie collection yet. 🙂

Okay, okay, I’ll tame down the Christmas spirit for all of you out there who believe we should get through Thanksgiving first. I think it’s annoying Kody. Just look at him:

So, to change the subject, does anyone have any fun (and cheap!) ideas on how to decorate the house for fall? Since I’m all excited about decorating for Christmas, I thought I’d channel that energy into something a little more timely. I’d like to try my hand at making some kind of a fall-ish wreath (I like the idea of using pinecones on it!) and I know I want to get some pumpkins for the front porch. Any cute ideas that you’ve got?

So… you all know my favorite season! What’s yours? What are fun ways that you celebrate it? 🙂

Does anyone else feel like we should just now be wrapping up July? I cannot, seriously, cannot believe we’re already halfway through September!

Thank you guys so much for all your sweet comments on my last post – you guys are beyond awesome!! 🙂

So, what did y’all do this weekend? 🙂 I had such a nice, relaxing weekend! Saturday, I slept in, then Jon and I made a breakfast feast of omelets and pancake muffins (compliments of Bakerella’s website!). We chilled with my family, celebrated my brother’s new permanent job at Olive Garden (yay Bryant!) and just goofed around.

Today has been slow. I’ve been going over my editor’s notes on Latte Daze, writing about conflict for Scribble Chicks and snacking on chocolate covered pretzels (which I am now out. I’ll need to go to the store now).

Here’s a verse that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust in your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

Seeing as how I got labeled “The Loud One” growing up, I’m thinking I might have some work to do here. 🙂 How about you? Any verses popping up in bold font for you lately?

I hope you are having a fantastic Labor Day weekend!

Jon and I have been having a blast – we hung out with my family for the last two days and we’re having lunch with some people from our Bible study today. It’s been a fun, relaxing weekend.

We’re talking about creating believable characters this week with the Scribble Chicks, so I’m inviting you to come hang out with us! I’d love to get your take on it! 🙂

Have a great day off!! 🙂

We’re having one of our infamous “Flash Floods” here in New Mexico. It goes like this: It’s a perfect, sunshiny day (my friend Elisa and I had a picnic lunch two hours ago), and now, it’s raining so hard, there’s a river going down my street. There’s thunder, there’s lightning, the gang’s all here.

Welcome to New Mexico.

It’s sad, really. I was planning on doing yet another day in my new 3o Day Shred workout (ugh. Jillian Michaels is TOUGH!). Now, I’m wanting to just cuddle up on the couch and read a book. I do not want to go change into my shorts and sneakers now.

Has anyone else done the 30 Day Shred? Or a DVD program similar to it? I’ve decided I have problems sticking with a regular workout. Usually, I’m doing a really good when I get four days in a week. But on rainy weeks?

Not so much.

But, I’m going to try my best. Then, after a nice hot shower, I’m going to make Butternut Squash soup and enjoy this cool evening.

What about you guys? What are you up to tonight? 🙂

I don’t think I even have a “favorite” memory when it comes to him. They are all favorites.

The time when we asked him to come play in the sprinklers with us and he told us he was too busy. So, we walked away dejectedly only to be completely surprised a few minutes later when he attacked us with the hose.

The time when I went with him to work and he took me out to lunch at the fanciest place I’d ever been to at that point. I sat there so carefully and tried not to spill anything. I felt like a princess.

The time when I got in a car accident at 17 and instead of lecturing me about following the man in front of me too closely, he just gave me a long hug and asked me if I was okay.

The time when I first was becoming interested in Jon and we met for a lunch date and I had to have him explain exactly what a deep snapper was. He patiently explained “football lingo” to me while grinning the whole time.

The time when he squeezed my hand so tight as we tried to walk sort of with the beat of the music down the aisle. I’d been worried about tripping on my dress. I shouldn’t have worried. Even if I had tripped, he would have held me up.

I’m talking about my Dad.

We’re nothing alike, but we have so many things in common. My lack of rhythm? Totally my dad’s fault. My dry sense of humor? Completely my dad’s doing. My tendency toward perfectionism in my work? Yups, that’s my dad. I wish I’d inherited more of his mind for math, but those geometry homework sessions live in infamy instead (let’s put it this way: there were tears and plenty of them).

We used to have a book when we were little kids and it was called “My Dad Is Brilliant.” And for the longest time, I thought it really was written about my dad. The man in the book even looked something like my dad – tall, brown hair, mustache.

My dad really is brilliant. He has one of the best minds for theology and logic and I already mentioned the math. Anytime I had a question growing up about something I’d read – whether it be in the Bible or in a school book – Dad always knew the answer.

Dad’s a fickle Cowboy fan, a lifetime A&M football fanatic and an avid lover of my mom’s infamous chocolate chip cookies (because no one makes them as good as her!). He’s overwhelmingly generous, incredibly hardworking, and snort-inducingly funny.

He’s not the “huggy” type, which is why God gave him a daughter like me who is all about the hugs. He’s awfully good at board games and is always up for a movie night. He tells the worst jokes in the world – so stupid that they’re hilariously funny.

He’s my favorite Dad.

God has given me an incredible gift in my dad. But if you’re reading this and you don’t have a father like this, if your dad is not a blessing, if you don’t feel loved, take heart. God cares for the fatherless. He is your Heavenly Father. It says in Psalm 103 that “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” If you don’t have a godly father, run to your Heavenly Dad.

And if you, like me, have an amazing dad, I hope that we’ll never take him for granted. Being a dad has to be hard work – especially if you had an annoying little kids like I was! 🙂

I love you, Dad. Happy 50th birthday! 🙂