Wednesday, December 31, 2008

On to the next


Today we bid farewell to 2008 and usher in 2009. I can't count how many people have asked me today if "I'm ready for the new year?" as if I had a choice in the matter. I would, however, have to give a whole hearted YES! I'm ready for a fresh start this year...and coming from one who hates change...that's something. This year has been wonderful, horrible, exciting, sad and scary all at the same time. My sweet husband spent the first four months away from me. We then decided to "stay". We also found out that he passed the bar...YES! We traveled, traveled and traveled some more. He quit one job and started another. God provided time and again. We bought a new house, new carpet, new paint, new sofa. We celebrated three years of marriage. Three years that seemed at times too much for us both and three years that held surprises that I could have never imagined.

2009 seems to be terribly promising. My best friend is going to have her first child. We're taking a "real" vacation (one that doesn't include bicycles or spandex). I AM going to loose that 30 pounds that I've gained and I AM going to love more and worry less, share Jesus with those around me and laugh as much as possible. It seems that we are finally "settled". Two jobs, two cars, a house and a picket fence for goodness sakes. God is so so good. Life is short and I'm soaking it up this year. I'm excited...for the first time in a long time...for a new year, a fresh start and promises of new mercy every morning. Happy new year's eve! Good bye 2008...Hello 2009!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Three years...


Three years ago I married my "Buddy". Baby I love you more today than I did three years ago...looking forward to many more adventures with you. Happy Anniversary!!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

A place to call home...

I have been a little hesistant to tell too many people for fear that something would fall through but it looks as though we will close on our first house on Tuesday. This is VERY exciting for us! Obviously we are excited because we'll have something that is "ours" and it's an investment...blah blah blah. But it is also exciting because it's some stability. These first three years of our marriage have been crazy...between the bar and moving and not moving etc. God has been so faithful and we have come full circle and are so thankful for two jobs and now the blessing of being able to buy a home. I have been stressed beyond belief because I want everything to be "perfect" but am learning to chill out and enjoy it. We are going to make a few "small" improvements so I will posts some pictures along the way. God has been good to us...I cannot wait to make some new memories in this new phase of our lives!

Monday, November 03, 2008

DINKS once again!

Eugene started work today with the Mississippi House of Representatives as a staff attorney. We are FINALLY both employed in the state of Mississippi and no more travel! God has really blessed us beyond measure...this market is horrible and we would be lucky if Eugene had found any job much less a job as an attorney. God is good...very very good!

One of my favorite people (Stacy Seago that's you) has always called us DINKS = Double Income No Kids. DINKS again and so so happy about it!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The best $10 we've spent in a while...

Sunday afternoon we went to the pumkin patch with Matt, Mandi, Anna Lauren, Nana (Mandi's mom) and Matt and Mandi's neighbors. We had the BEST time. It was a great fall day and it was really nice to be outside and do something so "fally". Here is a picture of course stolen from Mandi's blog because she's always so good to have her camera ready...HAPPY FALL YA'LL!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Austin 70.3

This past weekend we went to Austin for a half ironman. We had a great time and LOVE Austin, TX! We WILL be back!! Eugene did really well...exactly what he wanted to do. His goal was to break 5 hours and he did 4:59...way to go Baby! Sadly I must report that we didn't take a single picture...this should show you how much fun we had...we were too busy enjoying ourselves to worry about much else. I will say it was a much needed time away for us both. It was nice to forget our temporary troubles and enjoy being together doing what we love most...triathlon and eating!!!! Since I have no pictures...I leave you with an oldy...for Renee's sake I can't leave the spandex off the blog for too long :) And I assure you any pictures I would have from the actual race would look very similar...

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Hmmm...

Not much new to report here. We have spent the last couple of weeks celebrating birthdays (his and hers) and watching Alabama games. As a lot of you know Eugene quit his job a few weeks ago and is looking for something new...long story as I'm sure you can imagine but God is faithful and will provide something in his timing...now convincing myself of that on a daily basis has been a challenge. We are going to Austin the first weekend in October for a half ironman and that's pretty much all we have on the calendar for a while. That's it from here...I hope to have a more exciting blog sometime soon!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY


Today is my favorite person in the whole wide world's birthday!!! Hope you have a great one Bud! I love you!!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Happy Runiversary!


Well this past Friday night marked one year of running bliss with my running buddies Matt and Mandi Calvert. We ran the first time together (by accident) at the 2007 Surviving the Sizzle race at the resevior and have been running ever since! We trained for and ran the Memphis Half Marathon last December and are doing it again this year. We have the best time running together and all have the exact same laid back attitude about it...it's great!

This years Surviving the Sizzle proved to be a little more noteworthy than last! A few minutes before the start Eugene "challenged" Mandi (note: I wouldn't do this if I were you!) and bet her $100 that she couldn't get Matt and I to finish in under 45 minutes. (We typically run 12 minutes miles making a 48 minute 4 mile race) She rose to the occation and drug us both (well mainly me...Matt had an extra pep in his step as well) and we made it! Only after I fell on my face about 1/10 of a mile from the finish line...nice! It really was fun despite the dirty looks that Mandi had to endure from me...Eugene was also especially proud he was able to light a fire under at least one of us.

I REALLY enjoy every run with these two and their precious little one Anna Lauren. A wonderful friendship has been formed and I only expect it to continue to grow...in the meantime...we run!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Going private...

Hey! For a short time (we don't plan on forever) we are going to be making our blog private so please leave me a comment or email me (jodonnell408@gmail.com) and let me know if you would like an invitation. I, of course, have to figure out how to do it first but will be doing so in the next week or so. I've got pictures to post and there will be updates coming soon. But in the meantime...email me so we can continue to entertain you :)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

New York state of mind

We head to New York City in the morning and I. CAN'T. WAIT! It's one of my favorite places on earth and it never NEVER gets old, there is always something new to go see or do and I love it! Eugene has to be there for work on Monday so we are going tomorrow for the weekend and staying with some friends we met in Vancouver. I may make fun of my husband's ability to make friends with a rock but these are the times it pays off :) We are going to a Yankee's game, our first and one of the last in the stadium. THEN we are doing the Sex and the City tour. Let me say...I DESPISE touristy things...hate them. I usually think they are cheesy and a waste of time and money and get bored...etc. However, this one may just be the exception. It was Eugene's idea and he bought the tickets before I could object because he thinks I will really like it and I think he might be right! I'll report...See you on the flip side...Happy Weekend!

Monday, July 28, 2008

The triathlon that wasn't...

We went to Louisville/Philadelphia this weekend for Eugene to do the Heart O Dixie triathlon. We were excited because he had never done it before and we had always heard so much about it. Well we get there, he does the swim, good time...then I get in the car to follow him to the next spot and I see this figure walking back towards me. Don't be Eugene, Don't be Eugene...it's Eugene! Flat tire! First one in a race ever and I can probably count on one hand how many times he has had one training as well. So he just put his bike in the back of the car and we rode the rest of the course watching our friends and cheering them on. We had a great time together anyway and I told him I'm kindof glad it happened since we had so much fun! I think we freaked a few of his friends out on the course because they would do a double take when they heard his voice....kindof stinks but we had fun anyway...happens to the best of us! It was the first race ever that he hasn't finished but I keep trying to remind him it's better to leave like that than in an ambulance or something!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Sunfish

Here are the pictures from the triathlon this weekend. Matt and Mandi both did this one as well so it was fun for me to cheer for all of them. I was VERY impressed by Mandi yesterday...Eugene is still telling me how hard and hilly that bike was and Mandi did great!!!! Very impressed!


I love this picture. As serious as Eugene is about racing he is always sure to let me know that he's feeling a ok...he's giving me a thumbs up...he's sweet people!




This is another favorite...Matt is running out by Eugene...I don't know if you can tell but he's attempting to give Eugene a high five. Eugene is in the "zone"...I'm not sure if he's even aware where HE is much less where Matt is...just shows me how nice and encouraging Matthew always is...thanks Matt!





Krist Voss also did the race this weekend. We had just started to get to know Kristi and her family (through the Calverts) when it came time for them to move to Meridian. We hate it but I'm sure we will continue to see her at local races...she's an incredible athlete and great friend!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

New posts

Well I've finally updated the blog after much prodding from several of you...scroll down...enjoy :) Oh! and we went to Meridian this weekend for the Sunfish triathlon...2nd place in his age group and 17th overall...it was great fun but HOT!! I will post pictures of that soon...bye!

Dragonfly Triathlon

Eugene did the Dragonfly Triathlon in Sardis a few weeks ago. It was a great race and we will certainly go back. We ran into our friend Toby there too so that was certainly an added bonus! Eugene won his age group and was 15th overall. Way to go Bud!

Vancouver...FINALLY!

Well since Mandi threatened to hijack my blog and post for me I figured it was time to buckle down and do it...Eugene is out of town so I've got some free time on my hands...We went to Vancouver at the beginning of June for the World Triathlon Championships. Unfortunately the swim was cancelled because of really cold water and horrible wind so the race was a duathlon (run, bike, run). Although there was no "triathlon" that weekend the whole experience was incredible. For Eugene to be able to represent USA in something like this was a very cool experience. Vancouver is a great city and we had a wonderful time! Here are some pics...



TEAM MEXICO!


Monday, June 16, 2008

California dreamin'...

Our time in San Fran was wonderful! It was a great city and absolutely beautiful and oh so clean! Here's just a few pics...



We spent one day in Napa and Sonoma and had a wonderful time...I would highly recommend it...even if you don't do a tour...it's just beautiful!

Need I say more...

At "Julia's Kitchen" at Copia...yeah...it's THAT Julia.

While at Copia a girl approached us and asked us if we had a few minutes...then proceeds to ask us to be in a promo for a reality show...it was awesome! I asked if we won a million dollars...all you win is your own wine...oh well...at least I asked.

I would post pictures but...

Eugene has the camera in Austin today. (I really do seem full of excuses these days...I assure you they are legit) He will be back tomorrow night and things are looking up for a blog post with actual trip pictures some time this week. My inbox looks no better but I'm kindof over it for the time being...whatever...they're not going anywhere. We went to Sardis, MS this weekend for a triathlon of which Eugene won his age group and placed 16th overall. We had a great time and met up with my family in Pickwick for the rest of the weekend. We came home last night and Eugene turned right back around and left...our summer is shaping up to be quite busy but I'm gonna try my darndest to keep up the blog. Also, a LARGE piece of news...there are talks of my debut on the triathlon front...don't get crazy people...it will be a relay...fo sho!

And NO Renee we did move to Colorado and forget to tell you...I promise!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Bad blogger...


This is why I still haven't posted pictures from our trips...once I climb to the top of this mess I will have the pictures up asap! FYI...I like to have 5 files in my inbox at a time...I have not counted but I think it's safe to say there are more than 5!!!

Monday, June 02, 2008

Don't give up!



Please don't give up on us...we will update this thing soon...we have pictures from San Fran and will have pictures from Vancouver. But here is a pic of us from Saturday as the finish line "announcers" at the triathlon in Madison. Then the second picture is of our "photo shoot" last night with Matt and Mandi. Eugene needed some pictures in his world championship uniform for some different things...you can imagine the stares we got at the resevoir :)

Friday, May 09, 2008

God is good...ALL the time!

We got GREAT news this morning! Eugene is moving to the territory that includes Mississippi...soooooo...the job search is over for both of us...we can settle down and move on with our lives! Next stop...buy a house!

God has brought us down this road for a reason and we know that. We have seen shades of his purpose over the last few months and I'm sure that he will continue to reveal many "lessons" to us. He deserves TOTAL glory for this! We would have never made it through this time without Him and continue to seek His face for His purpose in our lives. It's been a tough several months but God has taught Eugene and I to lean on Him in a way that neither of us ever have before. He's grown our marriage and our relationship with Him in a way that I am ever grateful for. God is so good and we are so undeserving of his grace. His timing is perfect...we have learned that for sure!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

The San Francisco treat...

I'm sooooo excited! Eugene is going to Davis, California for work in a week and I was so jealous when we found out all the great cities that will be very close. Well after some research and discovering that he will be there for Memorial Day weeeknd...we wrangled (after much pleading on Eugene's part...they're stingy with those holiday weekend tickets!) a frequent flyer mile ticket and I'm going to San Fran for the weekend. I. CAN'T. WAIT. I've wanted to go forever but there are so many other places on our list that I figured that we wouldn't be going anytime soon. Being married to a traveling salesman (though it stinks at times) has its advantages!

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

And then there were two...

It's official...both O'Donnells are licensed to practice law in Mississippi. We had Eugene's bar admissions ceremony yesterday and were able to celebrate his HUGE accomplishment. (I stole this picture from Mandi's blog...thanks guys!)I'll post more pictures soon...

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Boston Pics


This is Dick and Ricky Hoyt. They have done 29 or 30 Boston marathons and countless triathlons and Ironmans together. Dick pushes Ricky in every race he does...amazing!

We met Lance...need I say more?

Go Sox!

The finish line...hours later...still a great sight!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

We had fun!

We are back from Boston and back to work...poo! I will post pictures soon but I wanted to report in quickly. We had a wonderful time, a much needed vacation and some good quality time together. Eugene had a great race...he ran the marathon in 3 hours and 8 minutes...he makes my job as a proud wife very easy! Pictures to come...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Reunited and it feels so good...almost


Eugene is on his way home as we speak...we have been separated for three weeks which I would absolutely not recommend to anyone! We are headed to Boston on Friday for the marathon and are very excited about the race and especially getting some much needed time together. We have no idea what our next step is or what the next few months hold...we shall see...

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

JT supports the Tigers...


Although the result was not what Memphians desired the Tigers still had a wonderful season and should be so proud! They haven't done this well since dear ole Dad was in college. And...hello! JT was there :)

Monday, April 07, 2008

Eugene's new ride



In a moment of weakness I agreed to this purchase. I have a wonderful husband though and it made him happy so it was worth every penny...

Monday, March 31, 2008

GO TIGERS GO!


When it comes to football season there is no room in the O'Donnell house for any other team than the Alabama Crimson Tide...I married into the mayhem that is Alabama football. Eugene, however, married into a tried and true Memphis family. Both my parents are alumni and are die hard Memphis fans. This, at times, is easier than others. I spent several rainy days in the Liberty Bowl stadium watching Memphis football...many of you know that is a waste of time...but my Daddy has stuck by them. There are basketball seasons that make them a lot easier to cheer for...this is one of them!!! The Tigers have finally made it to the final four and they looked awesome this weekend! Can't wait to see what next weekend holds...

And to answer the questions of whether we are just now Tiger fans or not...I ate white, blue and grey angel food ice cream when Larry Finch was the coach...die hard I tell you...die hard! These are the days when it pays off :)(This picture is from the commercial appeal...hope you can do that!)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Just because...


Nothing new to tell from our end...but I felt the need to update the blog at least with a new picture...Happy Wednesday everyone!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA LAUREN...a day early


Tomorrow one of our favorite little people is turning 1!!! We love this little girl and her Mommy and Daddy so much! She will always have a special place in our hearts...

Monday, March 17, 2008

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

Well unfortunately I will not be able to share any more pictures of our cross country trek...yesterday...we were robbed! Eugene's car was broken into in downtown Denver while we ate lunch. Praise God all they got was his work computer...we had all our luggage, our camera, both blackberries and my purse in the car! God certainly protected us!! However, ALL our pictures were on that computer...so no more cross country pics...poo! We are thankful for the protection yesterday and are still praying for direction...we wait...

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Cross Country Trek

Two weeks ago we drove out to Colorado for Eugene to stay (poo!) and I flew back. This is a temporary fix...as most of you know...we have no idea what's next, but for the time being he needed to be in Colorado and I am still looking for a job...here are a few pictures...we hope only to do this one more time!


Who knew?!??!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

From the non blogger in the family...

Here is an email sent to some of you by Eugene...he wanted all the blog world to know as well!! We are so thankful!!

Praise god praise god praise god!!!!!!!! I could say it 10000 more time a day for life and that would not be enough. Say it with me please and if you do not know how ask me. God came through I am lawyer right now only because of god. He is ever faithful and true to us no matter how much we fail him. In other words he never let's go!!!! Please do as I did rely on god and use him to get you through the darkest days of your life. His love for us is 100 percent everyday. Here is a story to show that for you.......

I failed the bar right after law school I had studied the wrong way or got stressed whatever but I failed. God allowed me to work for 10 dollars an hour at the ag's office and I took up the prospect of taking the bar again and I only had to take the essay's. So all in god's plan I studied with jennifer and she took the bar early in feb. I feel that god allowed me to fail the first time so that jennifer and I could study for it not that my wife needed me but we could feed off on another and praise god with our passage of the bar exam. Well as you all know jennifer passes it with her hard work and studying and I fail by .03 points so we move on to round two. As far as what I did for jennifer; The only part was one make her study even when she did not want to and I told her the areas of the bar that she did not need to mess with etc possibly saving time. We did study well together and learned things one would not have learned by themselves. Like a scout report in football. But she did the work and I would fail the bar again if that was why god's plan was for me to fail. Other than god jennifer is number one on this planet.

So moving on here is the hard part. One I had no license and got to watch as no only wife got a license but all my friends and hers!!! It killed me next the I lost my job. Basically life was down in the bottom. No job no bar nothing but my weaken faith in god and jennifer. Which I praise cause with out those two I might have been in even worse shape. Next enters a godly man named hastings who gives me a job within 24-48 of asking him no questions asked!!!! So here we go god lifting me up when I am down. But all along there is a plan going on. Praise hastings for giving me a job unrelated to law it kept me and jennifer from going broke. Next uplift god gives jennifer the job of the century. As her current position she is a district court clerk for the district of southern miss. Those two jobs put food on the table and without jennifer taking the bar early we would have had one 15 dollar an hour job for the summer wow god came through. But I was still shelfish I was mad about life, my job (since it was unrealted to law), not having a license. I was pissed and god might have used that anger for me to push for every job imagable. But I will be the first to say I did not handle failure perfectly. I was mad and did not rely on god to get me through this at first. I started to see maybe there was a plan in all this? God had provided me with the best professor (professor christy) in law school who was still a friend of mine and knew a thing or two about the bar. He lead me to WORLDS BEST APPEALS attorney who used to work for the board of bar admissions. Tom lowe!! He tells me it will be an uphill battle but we could win. Tom work tireless on my appeal and keeps me from wanting to kill the board. (Ungodly by the way). Ps I never knew the stress of a client till I was one. Lawyers such as mr. Lowe calmed my stress and crafted my appeal so that it would be correct and not by passion. I would have messed it all up. Wow god thank you for professor christy and mr lowe without them I would still just be a jd. So moving on I get a wonderful job with kaplan pmbr another praise from god for the job I love and enjoy doing. I was to become the regional director for west including 7 states and 15 law schools. I took the job in august and appealed the bar a few days later. We are in the process to be moving for this job to brommfield colorado (next prayer request). My job has been to help students prepare for the bar. I have been and will do my best to movtivate students to work hard and to be balanced for the bar. To be honest it has been hard to do without a license but I did pass the mbe which is the part we sell and of course with gods strength all is possible. At times I was frustrated but I knew god had a plan and I relied on it not me. The funny thing about gods plan is we only get to be a part of it not make it up. I have at times been faithful but at times unfaithful. But god has been 100 percent faithful to me and all along knew what was going to happen. I think in the end god delayed my passage for these possible reasons I am not god he is the only one that knows..... But here goes, to help me find my path (which I now have many), help jennifer and I pass together as one, open our hearts to colorado, bring glory to himself through this testimony, to make me appericate him and his glory and for me to rely on him 110 percent.
So finally on feburary 12, 2008 I found out the board dropped the appeal (as to why it was a great appeal well written and they felt it had merit) and I would be passed offically within days. As soon as they could draft an order. I will be sworn in as a offically licensed mississippi attorney with the month. Thank you all for your support. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you also please let me know if I can share further what god has done for me and what he can do in your life. I promise it is for the better do not let the world and its views ruin what is so great.

Eugene O'Donnell, follower of christ, ESQ, ironman. (Pretty cool name huh)

Friday, February 01, 2008

What?!?!

I've been wanting to post but not really sure what to say. The events of this week have literally left me speechless. Most of you know the story but I wanted to let those faithful few that read my blog (and are prayer warriors) know what the latest was. As you all know we have been waiting on hearing something from the Court in Colorado. Well I received a post card in the mail on Wednesday night that said they had "postponed" filling the position and that they would let me know if/when they decided to do anything further. I literally couldn't comprehend the words on the page at first. I came to work the next morning and emailed my contact in CO and asked her if she had any idea what it all meant. She told me that the girl that had left...creating the vacancy...had returned! Seriously?!?! What are the chances? She also told me that they (the powers that be) were trying to decide if they would hire a 4th attorney (they are approved for 4). I had decided to call the Clerk of Court and see if I could get an appointment and go with Eugene next week and try my best to see if I could find out anything. I heard back from him today and at this point he doesn't see any benefit of us meeting face to face. I left him a message just expressing my interest yet again. We have yet to talk but we'll see where that goes...honestly I don't think it will go anywhere.

All that to say...I am disappointed. Words can't express how much I love my job and have enjoyed learning how to do it over the last several months and really want to have the opportunity to do it after we moved. I've expressed this to many of you that I have talked to over the last couple of months but as sure as the sky is blue I thought God had provided that job for me for that very reason. What were the odds that EXACTLY what I do would come open where we are moving?!?!? (The job I have is extremely rare!) In all honesty...I'm in a difficult place! Eugene has been...Eugene... encouraging, upbeat and his faith has never waivered...I wish I could say the same for myself. I can't imagine where I should go next and what I should do. The ONLY legal experience I have at this point is in a very narrow field that literally is only useful in this position.

It has been a hard two years of marriage of always being in transition...we have never been settled. We must be thankful that we have great jobs that pay the bills and allow us to do so many wonderful things. However, they are in two different places...I can't seem to make it all make sense in my mind. I'm lost! Please pray for us as we walk these next few weeks...we have no idea where to step next.

Friday, January 11, 2008

So fitting...

I read this quote from a friend's email that is going through a horrible ordeal physically and it was such a reminder for me and what Eugene and I are going through right now and in our impatience, God has a plan!

Make the conscious choice to move
the attention of your anxious heart
away from [the] waves and direct it
to the One who walks on them and
says, “It’s Me. Don’t be afraid.”
–Henri Nouwen

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Broomfield, CO

We found both of the houses in Broomfield about 20 minutes from Downtown Boulder and 20 minutes from Downtown Denver. GREAT location!

House #1(These pictures were through a window so they're not the best)




House #2