On the road again...

Well now that we have made the rounds for Christmas (very fun I might add!) we are headed to Denver for this weekend and new years. Eugene is in Vegas right now and we'll meet in Denver tomorrow (Thurs) night and we will check out the city yet again. I will house hunt while Eugene works on Saturday and Sunday and then we will look together the rest of the time. Still no word on my job but we're just praying. I still have a strange peace...whether that means that this is THE job or not I don't know but God has granted me peace for today and I will take it! Hopefully we'll have plenty of pictures to post when we get back...looks like it's snowy and COLD...guess I'd better get used to it!

Two years ago today....

I married the love of my life! God has blessed me beyond measure with a man whose passion for Him challenges me everyday and his love for me amazes me! I love you Baby...looking forward to 100 more!

St. Jude Half Marathon

Well I'm a little late with this post but better late than never! I did the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis on December first with my running partners Matt and Mandi and had a great time. It was a wonderful experience and I really look forward to doing it again. Everything came together really well and I had a great day...not the fastest time in the books but we had a great time doing it! One of the highlights was that Matt would read a laffy taffy joke every mile marker...really made the race fun! It was a lot of time training for it and some not so fun long runs but I would highly recommend it!









...makes it all worth it!

Lake Caroline Pics

Here are the pictures from the 15K I did a couple of weeks ago with my running buddies Matt and Mandy. The Memphis Half Marathon that we have been training for is this weekend...woohoo! There is only one picture of us actually running because I look like I'm dying in the rest of the pictures...there's no need for you to see that!

Rich and Skinny

No! I am neither of these things however I just purchased a pair of jeans bearing this name. Typically my clothing purchases are not blogworthy...although I do get rather excited about them...I figure I might be the only one...however these are certainly of the blogworthy category! They are great!!! I paid entirely too much for them and they probably weren't worth it to most people but to me...they were! The inside of the waist band is leopard print silk (maybe not silk per se but some sort of silk like fabric that makes them feel wonderful!) and hello! the name is rich and skinny...how could you not love them! Just wanted to share with those of you who might have an obsession with overpriced jeans like I do...check them out!! I had to go up a size but they fit great and I LOVE them!!! Just had to share...oh! and I'll let you know if they make me rich and skinny :)

God is ever so good!

I have shared this with some of you but wanted to let all of you know what God has provided for us. I have become more and more at peace with this move over the last few weeks and God continued to grow that peace last week. I had called the department at the District Court of Colorado that is the same as what I do here. I talked with them a little and knew before I called that they were understaffed but did not have any listed positions. Well the lady I had talked to emailed me last Wednesday to tell me that there was an official position and where to apply. A position in Colorado...doing exactly what I do here! God is great! The job is by no means already mine but wow what a confirmation that we are doing what God wants us to do! The job that I have is very coveted and therefore these types of positions do not open up very often. I was so sad at the prospect of having to be a "regular" attorney mostly because I know I would be horrible at it. Keep us in your prayers and the Judges that make the decisions over the next couple of weeks. The job posting closes next Friday and I hope to hear something after that. God is good and answers prayer! Whenever I doubt that he reminds me of his faithfulness! Like I said the job is by no means already mine but I feel whatever the outcome is that God has used this to confirm in me that he is faithful and is all over us and this move.

2 Timothy 2:13
"if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

This morning...we were..."those people!"

Well for my whole entire triathlon/marathoner's wife's life I have relentlessly made fun of those people that showed up early to a race and "warmed up" before hand by running two or three miles. I have NEVER seen any sense in running before you run because personally it would take all that I have in me to run the distance at hand. Well...this morning...my fearless running "buddies" (that's for you M and M) Matt and Mandi and myself ran 3 miles before we ran the 9 mile race! (well actually 2.7 because it was a 15K which turns out to be 9.3) We are training for the Memphis half marathon and we were scheduled to run 12 this morning so we entered the race to be able to run 9 with several other people and then added the other three...I mean seriously...do I do that?!?!? I must say it's been very fun training for this race and it's something I thought I would certainly never do! My husband to say the least has been very impressed :) Pictures to follow...

BOSTON BOUND!

Eugene qualified for the 2008 Boston Marathon this weekend at the Louisville Marathon. He completed it in 3:10:19 and the qualifying time must be 3:10:59. We're so excited and I couldn't be more proud! He worked so hard to get there!!! Congrats Baby!

I just had to share...

I stole this pic from Stacy Seago's blog. The Seago's little girl Mary Grace loves her some Eugene and loves loving on him. He's not always really sure what to do with kids but the small group children are allowing him to ease into it :) We're in the practicing stages...we will be practicing for a LOOOOONG time!

I've been moved...

I have been reading the story of the Farleys (connorbootheandgirls.blogspot.com) for a few months. I found their blog through Whitney Akin's and have been amazed by their faith and their constant unwavering devotion to our Father. Their little girl was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 and was born on September 18. She is still alive but it seems that it will only be days maybe even moments until she goes home to be with our Father. Read their blog if you get a chance...it will move you! Keep them in your prayers...I cannot possibly imagine what they are going through and to go through it with such grace and transparency is amazing to me.

Ella's here!!!!

Adelle had her sweet baby girl on Eugene's birthday!! He couldn't be happier to share it with the cutest little thing! We love you Ella...can't wait to watch you grow!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

Today is Eugene's birthday...I love him more than anything on this earth and thank God every day for sending him to me. He is more wonderful than anything I could have possibly imagined!!!! I hope you have a great day Baby...I love you!!!

Colorado

Well we're back and exhausted but had a wonderful trip. We were able to see so many different parts of the Denver area and really feel like we've narrowed down to at least a few suburbs that we like/can afford. I will post more pictures later...mostly of the view...it's beautiful out there! I really feel like it is somewhere we can live and be happy and have an adventure together. It's hard to go somewhere for a weekend and ask yourself "can I live here?" but I feel like we answered that question. It's going to be so hard to leave Jackson I can't even imagine it and I'm still just really not thinking about it but I will certainly say we are going to enjoy it. Please continue to pray as we transition through this move. Eugene and I really felt a peace while we were there and really even felt closer together. I can already see how this is really going to bring us even closer to each other and to God in the process. It's exciting and scary!

On our way...

This weekend we are headed to the Denver/Boulder area to check it out...more to come!

The Bachelor and Ironman

This past weekend Eugene and I went to Louisville to visit my parents and while we were there we volunteered at the Ironman. It was a lot of fun!! We were at the run turn around so we got to see a lot of the athletes up close and personal and were able to cheer them on! One of the most important athletes that we saw was THE BACHELOR!!! Andy Baldwin! I was able to give him a high five..highlight of my life :) You can see me jumping up and down in this picture...no pride!!



Heather Golnick won it for the ladies. We had the opportunity to meet her in Arizona in April and she is a very Godly woman who brings glory to God in every step she takes.

Surviving the sizzle!

A few weeks ago I ran a 4 miler with a few friends....I think everyone else enjoyed it more than me! I recruited Eugene to run it with me in his khaki shorts...he comes in handy!!!

Adelle's Shower

I didn't take any pictures at the shower but stole this from Jenny Woodruff's page (thanks Jenny!). Adelle is one of my closest friends and one of the first to have a baby. We can't wait for little Ella to get here!!! By the way...I promise I do own another dress than this :)

Change

I hate it! Really I do. I almost had a nervous breakdown when I moved from one apartment to another in Ridgeland. Yes I wasn't even changing parts of town and it really made me crazy! All this to say there is a lot of change going on in the O'Donnell house. We have been praying and seeking and searching out why God seemed to have us at a stand still for a while. Eugene continued to go down several different roads and it appeared that God was closing every door he was trying. While God opened a HUGE door here for me with my job, part of loving someone the way I love my husband is that just because I was happy and content doing what I wanted didn't mean that WE were happy. Seeing him go through this trying time has been difficult. Ok all that to say that it seems God has brought us to our next place and this comes with much change! I have told several of you but wanted all my happy blog readers to know :) that Eugene took a job with Kaplan/PMBR. It's a bar review company that we both worked through during law school and was recently purchased by Kaplan. He applied for a position that he thought would be here in Jackson well it turns out it's in Denver. Yes kids that's not here! He is thrilled! First of all it seems to be a job that he will love and be soooooo good at and has a tremendous amount of flexibility which with his personality is a perfect fit. It's a position that will use his competitiveness and his passion and if you know Eugene you know that he will thrive as a salesman. He is required to a have a law degree as well so that helps that he is using it in some capacity. He also would love love love to live in Colorado...well...perfect fit. I am committed to the court until May and then we will be moving. This is all if we go and think it is somewhere we can live. Now back to the change part...YIKES! I'm scared to death! My parents have just recently left Memphis and I may be moving across the country...this thought makes me feel homeless! There is a huge lesson I learned while at MC and my semester that I took off...I must be content regardless of my circumstances. Meaning my contentment (contentment never seemed like a good enough word for me...joy, rest, etc. always seemed more appropriate...anyway) must be from the Lord. It seems that I have gotten very comfortable in my surroundings. Although Eugene and I have been struggling lately with why the Lord hadn't allowed him to pass the bar and/or find the career path that he would stay on for quite some time...I was comfortable. I know everything here and feel very safe. God, it seems, is forcing us out of this comfort zone. My adventuresome husband is taking this on full force (he doesn't do anything any other way) and is so excited. Some of his excitement however is dampered by the fact that his wife is freaking out! Eugene has pretty much left the decision in my court. I of course want to follow where the Lord is leading us and also follow my husband. Sorry this has gotten long but I could go on forever about how I am terrified and this is pushing me out of my comfort zone but I am almost 100% positive this is what we will end up doing and have a strange peace that God will make it okay in the end. I'm just scared about the meantime. God grant us the grace to do this and honor you in the process. We'll keep you all posted!

Dad's retirement

This weekend we went to Memphis for my dad's last day of work and his retirement from the FAA. He has worked for the federal government for 33 years so there were several people there that he had worked with over that time. It was so neat to see how he had impacted his office and those he had come in contact with. Many of his co-workers spoke of his integrity and his sense of calm; both of which can be attributed to his walk with the Lord. Congrats Daddy! You make us so proud! He goes for an interview in the morning for his next career in Louisville as he and mom start over there. There are lots of changes going on in our family right now but we know that God's hand is on us all.

Brodie's wedding

As huge Alabama fans we were excited to get the opportunity to go to Brodie Croyle's wedding. I work with Brodie's new mother in law so it was especially fun for me to get to hang out with my co-workers outside of the office.




Here I am with the "girls" from my office. Far right Alaine, middle Kim (mother of the bride), Stacey and myself. I love the people I work with!!!



The happy couple!



Here we are with current Alabama receiver D.J.Hall...Eugene was in heaven!!!

Last triathlon

Eugene did his last triathlon of the season earlier in July. He was 7th place and won his age group. God really blessed him with a great season this summer! We've had so much fun and looking forward to next year :) Sorry about the bad pictures...apparently I was behind him all day.

My first 10K

Eugene and I ran the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on July 4th. It was the coolest thing I've ever done! Over 60,000 people run it...what an experience. I think I might be hooked on running now! My sweet husband also made a t-shirt for the race to surprise me...so fun!!

100 things...

I have read this on several blogs and thought I would give it a try...let's see...

1. I love my husband. I especially love how crazy he is...it makes me laugh!
2. I don't eat leftovers.
3. This especially irritates my husband.
4. I often demand getting a diet coke out of a fountain and only drink half of it.
5. See #3.
6. When I was 3 my sister ripped the wallpaper off the wall and told me I had to admit to it.
7. She only admitted to this when we were in high school.
8. I'm sure I'm scarred for life for this.
9. I have a law degree.
10. That sometimes makes me laugh.
11. I feel quite certain there are MANY high school teachers who would find that fact very interesting.
12. I was a cheerleader in high school...wow!
13. I love my blackberry.
14. I often pull it out in public to feel important.
15. There is no need for me to have one other than to feel cool.
16. My parents are leaving my home of Memphis for Louisville.
17. This scares me more than I'm willing to admit.
18. I love to write.
19. I sometime secretly wish I had Carrie's life from Sex in the City.
20. I don't actually ever think I could live in NYC although I have seriously considered it.
21. I love to visit New York.
22. I am happy where I am in life. I wouldn't go back or forward for anything in the world.
23. I would never go back to high school.
24. I am oddly comfortable with the fact that my husband wears spandex...a lot!
25. My husband is my hero.
26. He attempts to do things that I could never imagine.
27. Most things adventuresome scare me.
28. I wish that wasn't true.
29. I often watch reality tv shows and wonder how people really live that way...I don't think they do.
30. I love The Hills. Season 3 starts Aug. 13th not a moment too soon.
31. I love the beach.
32. Well really the pool at the beach.
33. This fact makes my husband wonder why I want to go to Jamaica when Destin is the same thing.
34. That's just something I can't explain.
35. I love my job!
36. I love the people I work with.
37. My husband has taught me to love Alabama football.
38. Alabama fans think they're great even with a loosing season.
39. This is why I love Alabama so much!
40. My sister is a natural blonde.
41. I will always be jealous of her for this fact.
42. I have another sister who wasn't born into our family...love you Anna!
43. Me and Eugene say things and laugh at things that I think may offend most people.
44. This is what makes our marriage fun to me.
45. I miss my mom everyday.
46. My mom might be one of the funnier people I have ever met.
47. I think this is not always on purpose.
48. My dad is practical.
49. I love him for this.
50. We want a dog!
51. We have to kindof recover from three years of law school first.
52. I often wonder if we will have kids.
53. I then wonder when that might be.
54. My husband is a democrat...sort of.
55. I am a republican...sort of.
56. This makes for interesting conversations during election times.
57. I love other people's kids.
58. These are the kind that you can give back at bed time.
59. I LOVE my church.
60. Especially my small group.
61. I moved off campus my junior year of college.
62. At most schools this would be normal.
63. At MC this made me an outcast.
64. But a popular one...I rarely was there alone!
65. I would have gone somewhere different for college had I made the decision one year later.
66. I probably would have enjoyed an SEC school. See #37.
67. I hated law school.
68. I think I'm not alone in this.
69. I check dayoldnews all day long.
70. I wish I was famous!
71. I think it would be so much fun.
72. I LOVE to get my hair done.
73. I pay too much for this.
74. I spent a summer in the bahamas in college.
75. While there I showered with a garden hose, slept on an air mattress and had a moped wreck.
76. I still have a scare from the wreck.
77. I love to cook.
78. I hope to have a kitchen one day with everything Viking.
79. I am NOT a morning person.
80. My husband is.
81. This at times causes problems.
82. My parents named their dogs Bob and Sam.
83. This still makes me laugh.
84. My husband at times says he wants to name our son Lance.
85. Many of you know why.
86. I like to tell myself he's joking.
87. I hit a car in the parking lot in high school when I first started driving.
88. I had to tell the guy in homeroom.
89. I think he shrugged his shoulders.
90. When I was learning how to drive...my dad and I got to the end of the driveway with cars whizzing by and I said...which way do I turn the wheel. That lesson was over for the night.
91. My mom couldn't ride in the car with me for quite some time.
92. I almost killed the driver's ed teacher. I came to a full stop on I-40 at Sycamore View...better known as malfunction junction.
93. He apparently still tells that story today.
94. We grew up at the lake.
95. I learned to ski at a very young age.
96. This may be why I don't do it anymore.
97. My sister is much better at skiing than me.
98. I think she likes that.
99. I love talking to people and learning about them. I find this fascinating.
100. I love that I majored in Psychology...this I think scares my coworkers.

Hmmm...

Well I'm posting mainly because I haven't in so long and all the last few posts seem to be of my husband in his unitard. I need to post pics from my first 10K...woohoo! and Eugene's final triathlon of the season but don't have the pictures with me at work so that will come soon! God has been good these last few weeks and given Eugene and I a joy and peace that cannot be understood. This is not to say that we haven't had our frustrating moments but God is going to use this whole thing with the bar and Eugene's search for his future for his glory! He reminded us both last week that there may not be a tangible "why" that we will have answered anytime soon or even in this lifetime but we were reminded of the eternal "why"...God wants us to continually run to him and seek him for our refuge and joy and as long as we're doing that we're right where we need to be! To watch my sweet husband grow in this has been both a joy and a struggle for with growth always comes growing pains. God is good and we are learning! For now we're holding tight and learning patience!

Tri4God

Dr. Seago starting the run...


Here Eugene is telling David..."You better be hurting!" Spoken like a true friend!



Can you post a picture of your pastor with no shirt on....oh well!

One more from Mandi...

He looks so serious...trust me...he is!!!

4th Place!!!

A friend of mine from college (Thanks Mandi!!) took these awesome pictures of the race on Saturday! She's better than any "professional" photographer I know and is so sweet to catch Eugene and her husband! Being a spectator is a tough job :)
Eugene did great...4th place overall and 1st in his age group! He made his wife very proud!!! I will post more candid pictures from the race later...Eugene's buddies Tal and David did the race as well as our pastor Chip Henderson. Everyone did awesome!!!! So proud to cheer all of them on!

6th place! 2:11 Olympic distance!!!

Last weekend we went to Alexandria, LA to do a race. We stayed with Eugene's friend Lawson and had a great visit while we were there. They both did the race and did a great job!!! Eugene placed 6th overall and won his age group. It was the regional championship so he qualified for nationals! I'm so proud!!!!