I am BACK!

Hello everyone!!! Sorry that I didn't post yesterday...I slept WAY too late and couldn't really get myself going. But...alas...I am back in Texas to days filled with nothing to do. Today I am going to begin what I hope is a profitable adventure for me. I am going to try out this CVS Extra Care Buck shopping. I have been researching this stuff since I moved here, and I think I finally have a grasp on what I am supposed to do. I will fill you in on more details after my first trip. I might not end up buying anything. I may just get the sale flier and the Extra Care book and come home to plan a little more. I will keep you posted.

Anyways, I had a fabulous time in Columbus. Although I missed Michael WAY too much. I don't know that we will be doing that again, but it was nice to see my family. All future trips will have to be together. Even my parents said it was strange to have me home without him! He really is a part of the family now!! I was basically just really lazy...we didn't do anything to thrilling. Friday we got off to a late start...breakfast at 10:30...lunch at 3:00...ice cream for dinner!! Saturday was much the same...we went to Julie Dalrymple's wedding and then Dad took us out to eat at Harvey's (the best cheesesticks EVER). Then we went home to visit with Stephen and Ashley a little bit.

Side bar: CONGRATULATIONS to Justin and Jenny Caldwell upon the birth of their son THOMAS!!! I hear Jenny was a real trooper...no meds...all natural...WAY TO GO!

Back to where I was...Sunday we went to church (I had to go to the couple's Sunday School without a husband...I was late....they all turned and stared...there was no available chair...awkward!) Then we had lunch with Nanny and Pa and returned for dinner at their house with Uncle Doug, Aunt Cindy, and the birthday boy Uncle Stan! Happy Belated Birthday! (I was the only niece/nephew in attendance, so I now rank high on his list!)

Then Monday I headed back to Texas with Kristy, Deanna, and Jessica (Kristy's Cousin). I am sure Jessica was petrified of me all the way here. I am a little wild and crazy and she wasn't used to me. haha! No we had great fun! Especially once I found the iPods and was put in control of our listening pleasure. We rocked out to Reba, *NSYNC, Britney (Spears that is), Beyonce, Christian Aguleira (who knows how to spell that), and so much more! It was GREAT fun! We had a little...no no...a big detour in Jackson. I stopped to have lunch with Michael's mom, Kristy stopped to visit with a cousin....what was supposed to be a 30 minute lunch break turned into about 1.5 hours in Jackson! WOOPS! It was great to see Mrs. Betty though!

So now you are caught up! No pictures, I know that is boring, but I am so sorry! Wish me luck on my trip to CVS! Hugs and Kisses to all!

I'm Going Home!

Just so my readers know, I am flying home tonight to see my sweet family. My darling husband has agreed that I can go. Mainly because he doesn't know when he will have any time off work to take me. I will be in Columbus until either Sunday or Monday. I am riding back with Kristy, so I'm at her mercy. So, I probably won't be posting until I return. Just letting you know! Have a fabulous weekend...I know I will!

Blog Feeder

My lovely friend Kristy introduced me to this most fabulous internet invention. It is called a feed. Maybe I am just way behind in the game, but just in case I'm not, here is what it does. Do you ever get tired of clicking around on all your friends' blog sites only to find that no one has updated anything? Well a feed is the answer to your problems. I use Google's feed which is called Google Reader. You just need a google account to access it. Most of you already have a google account because you are using BlogSpot. Anyways, just go into Reader...you can find a link to it on your dashboard on the right hand side OR you can get to it from your g-mail account on the very top of the page...you might have to click the MORE button (if you have to login, use the same info you use to login to Blogger). So, as I was saying, go into Google Reader...then all you have to do is click ADD SUBSCRIPTION (on the left side of the screen)...in the box type the address for the blog you want to add. For example, if you want to add me (which you should) type www.mandmketchum.blogspot.com then click add (you can also copy and paste the web address from another screen if it is too much to remember). It will automatically pull all of my posts into your Reader. You can mark them all as read in the beginning. Then each day, you simply log into your Reader, and it tells you who all has updated their blogs! AMAZING! If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me. I am not the best explainer on things Internet...but I can try! marybethketchum@gmail.com

Our Anniversary Trip

We spent the weekend in Downtown Dallas for our 1st Anniversary. Michael booked us a room for 2 nights at the Omni West End in Dallas. We had dinner Friday night at the Steak and Shake and went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D. That was WAY cool! I highly recommend it! Especially for the kiddos! Saturday we got up early and headed to the aquarium to be there when it opened at 10:00. Boy was it already busy! Luckily we beat the heavy crowds and got the see everything we wanted. We were most excited to see two fully grown manatees. AMAZING! See photos below. Then we went for the most romantic part of the week-end...we toured the Holocaust Museum. I know that isn't so romantic, but we had extra time and it was close-by. It was very interesting. Then we went back to the hotel to clean up for dinner. Michael took me the Pappas Brothers Steak House. WOW! Valet parking. Reserved table in the wine room. (Not that the waitress gave us a chance to order any. She took our glasses away before even asking. I guess she assumed we were under age.) The food and service was exceptional! I am not the biggest steak fan in the world, but that was a fine piece of meat I had. Plus mashed potatoes and bread with REAL butter! AHHHH! We came home Sunday morning and had a marathon of 24 to complete season 2. How exciting! I know you are all jealous of my wonderful life! The pics below are from the aquarium. There is a picture of my brother Stephen's long lost twin in there somewhere. Can you find it?

Idea

It has come to my attention that a lot of people read this that I don't know about. This thought leads me to two additional thoughts:
1) Please leave a comment either in the post or on the chat box on the side, so I know you visited. It is good to hear from people I know. Thanks Jessica for already doing that!

2) I should try to do a little more productive something than just post about my little ole life. Thus, I have decided to try to post some of my discoveries from my personal Bible study. Right now, I am trying to write in a Life Journal every day. It works like this: The journal gives you a few passages to read each day. Then you reflect upon the passages using this acronym: SOAP Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. I am not going to post this everyday. Just when I come across something I would like to share. So here goes:

Title: God is Leading
Scripture passage: Exodus 12; 13:17-22 (I read this whole passage and picked the focal verse below)

Scripture: Exodus 13:21 The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night."

Observation: Just so you know, this is referring to the Israelites as they are leaving captivity in Egypt. This passage comes right after the first Passover and right before the parting of the Red Sea.
God specifically led the Israelites both in the day and night. He provided a way for them to travel both in the day and night.

Application: I don't know about you, but I am not trying to escape the Pharoah of Egypt. Nevertheless, this verse stuck out to me. God led them both in the day and the night. He led them very specifically...a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. I began to think about this in application to my life...the day being the good times. When I "feel" close to God. When everything is going right. When I understand what is going on and why. In those times, God is specifically leading me to go places and do things. Just like he lead the Israelites specifically by the pillar of cloud. Everything seems a little easier in the day...you can see where you are going and everything makes pretty good sense. But what about the night? Those bad times? When God doesn't "feel" near. When we don't understand what is happening or how anything good can come of it? When we don't know what our next move should be? Even then, God is STILL leading. Just because He doesn't "feel" close doesn't mean He isn't there showing you the way. Put your trust in Him and follow.

Prayer: Thank you LORD for always leading me.

If you would like a copy of your own Life Journal, I bought mine at the Pinklake bookstore in Brandon, MS. You can check their website at pinelake.org

Happy Anniversary Baby...I've Got You On My Mind!

Happy 1st Anniversary Michael! I can't believe we've already been married for 1 year! It seemed like our wedding day would never come and to look back...time has passed so quickly. I could not be more thankful about how the Lord has blessed me with such an amazing husband. You are exactly what I need to keep me on track and "in line" day after day. You love me even when I'm moody and put up with my silliness and whining. You are such a man of character. You keep our relationship and marriage focused on honoring the Lord. You are honest and so self-sacrificing.

As many of you know, we are in Texas for me to go to school. While I spent the first few days crying over missing my parents, Michael was my rock. He left his parents and family to let me do what I wanted to do. For that, I will always be grateful to him and his family. I am going to start crying now, so I will stop typing.

I love you Michael more and more each day. I didn't know that was possible until I married you. Looking forward to many more years with you...through the good and the bad...I will always be here. I love you.

Driving in Dallas: Lesson #1 & #2

I drove over to Kristy and Deanna's apartment in Coppell, TX yesterday to hang out. It is about 45 minutes with no traffic. I want to brag on myself that I made it over there successfully yesterday morning with only making one wrong turn...yes that is with a GPS helping me, but it didn't give me the instructions fast enough. Anyways, I quickly righted myself and was on my way again. The lesson learning came on the way home. I get in my little car and tell Susie the Garmin to take me home. She says to proceed to the President George W. Bush Turnpike. I think to myself...hey there is a toll for that road. I didn't have too much change...I drove by the on-ramp and saw that it was only $.40. I pulled over in the next parking lot and dug out $.40. YES I know that you can tell the GPS to avoid tolls...but that added like 10 minutes to my driving time and it was way too close to 5:00 to be wasting time unnecessarily. So I scrape together my 40 cents and go back to the on ramp. I am so excited that I get to throw the money in the little bucket! I pull up....not close enough...and lean out the window...and throw. Any of you that know me very well know what is coming...I MISSED! How do you MISS!?! Well I did..but it was only one dime...so I quickly grabbed two nickels and went on my way. Now...After I get on the Turnpike...I remember Kristy telling me that if you stay on it too long, you have to pay again. So I think oh...I will get my 40 cents together before I get there. Well sure enough...I have to pay again...but this time it is a WHOLE dollar. I don't have a whole dollar....not anywhere close...and I have no cash...only a debit card. So I pull up to the little booth and say..."I didn't know I was going to have to pay this again...I don't have a dollar...This is all I have...(I am almost in tears)...I am sooo sorry. I am not from around here!" The guy looks at me (he is an old man, so he pitys me) and tells me not to worry about it, just go on through. He takes the meager offering I do have, and I drive on through. As I do...all these bells start to go off...why...because I didn't pay my toll. Sad Story!

Lesson #1: ALWAYS pull up very close to the bucket.
Lesson #2: ALWAYS travel in big cities with CHANGE!