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!

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!!!

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!

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!

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!

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...

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!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

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

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!

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 :)

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!!!

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 :)