Day 20

Someone you see yourself marrying

Well this is just so easy/ridiculous that it's almost not worth posting.  Um, I can see myself marrying...MY HUSBAND!!  Hello!

That special moment right after we walked down the aisle as husband and wife...

Anywho, I absolutely adore him and doubt in no way that the Lord crossed our paths to bring glory to him.  We are a great team and work so well together.  He was my first kiss and I plan for him to be my last (and only!).  I love him and meant every word I said in that church 4 years ago when I vowed to stick with him through it all.  We're in it for the long haul!

love, angie

Day 19

Nicknames you have and why you have them

My dad has always called me Tenue--no idea where it came from or why he calls me that.  But now it's the family tradition.  It has also been morphed into Neusky...no clue, but I answer to it!

When Mel had Aby, I didn't want to be Aunt Angie--the alliteration was a bit too much for my liking.  But I wanted something that still had something to do with my name.  So we settled on GiGi, and oh how I love hearing those sweet voices call me that!  And now that I chose that name, I know so many people who use it as well...funny how that works--when your attention is brought to something, you notice it everywhere.  It's also funny how we have all started calling each other by the names the kids call us.  Mom and Dad are now Mimi and Papa, Michelle turned into a constant Aunt Chelle, and we have Uncle Hunter and GiGi.  Even Hunter and I call each other by those nicknames when we're at home!  

And then of course I guess Ang (or Anj according to Claybird) and Angie are technically nicknames.  And Hunter's brothers call me Angaleena.  

And pretty soon I'll be mama :)

love, angie

Day 18

Plans/Dreams/Goals you have

My number one dream has always been to be a wife and mom.  Hopefully, with the Lord's blessing, this little tot will just be the beginning for us.  Those two jobs are the most important of my earthly ones and I am so thankful to be given that opportunity, responsibility, and gift. 

As far as a job...I really want to open my own tutoring company--hopefully in the next few years.  I love teaching, but the educational system in place in this country is one with which I am no longer impressed.  There are few greater feelings than helping a struggling child understand a concept and renew his faith in himself.  Tutoring provides that with so many fewer restrictions than a public classroom.  Plus the one on one teaching/learning experience is extremely effective when it can be done.  I was able to work for a fabulous tutoring company through college, and it opened my eyes and heart to the profession.

I love to travel.  I hope that Hunter and I (and sometimes the kids!) are able to travel all over this world that God so beautifully created.  There is no better artist.  We would love to visit Australia, Italy, Greece, Alaska (again and again and again!), and maybe somewhere in Africa.  We also hope to get another travel trailer one day and take many family vacations across our country that way.  Both of us grew up vacationing in the camper and we hope to be able to provide those memories for our children.

When I resigned from teaching, the thought crossed my mind of publishing a book--a teacher's manual.  I created most of my own worksheets and activities for my class, and I've thought of compiling them all into a book.  Right now it's just a thought, but one day, it may come to life.

Those are the biggies...what about you?

love, angie

Day 17

Someone you would want to switch lives with for a day and why

Hmmm...I mean I guess it would be interesting to switch places with someone rich and/or famous just to get a glimpse into what that lifestyle is like.  Kind of like that new show "Same Name"...we only watched one episode (and it just happened to be Reggie Bush!), but the concept is really pretty cool.

But, if in all reality I could actually switch lives with, it would have to be my boy.  I just think it would be so neat and truly beneficial to our relationship to understand how he sees and interprets things.  What does he experience in a day?  What does the world look like through his eyes?  How do I treat him from his point of view?  What are the needs of his that I need to do a better job of meeting?  How does that odd little brain of his work?!  And maybe I could finally grasp the concept of the "nothing box"...

I just think it would be pretty nifty and give me a much better understanding of him.  But until that magical days happens, I'll just have to try to figure him out on my own!

Be happy with yourself and your life--don't ever wish your life away, and don't live in constant discontent with the blessings you've been given.  Embrace them and your life will exceed anyone else's in your book!

love, angie

Day 16

Another picture of yourself

Ok, so in actuality, by now, it's probably already been more than 30 days...but I will finish this challenge!  Even if it's not in the scope originally set out by its creator...

This was taken a week ago, and I was 36 weeks in it--entering the 9th month!  I don't take many pictures of myself these days except for these monthly belly shots.  We had some scares with fluid levels and blood pressure, so I've been put on modified bed rest--probably until she comes.  It's not as fun as it sounds.  I mean, it's great to be lazy when it's by choice.  But for some reason, being told that you can't do anything, gives you the energy and motivation to want to get things done!  Such a predicament.  Anywho, it won't be long!  20 days until our due date...we'll see if we can make it that far!

love, angie

Day 15

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs

1.  Back At My Heart--Natalie Grant

2.  Me and God--Josh Turner

3.  Soulmate--Josh Turner

4.  Cupid Shuffle

5.  Your Man--Josh Turner

6.  Thriller--Michael Jackson

7.  So In Love--Jeremy Camp

8.  I'm Broke--JB and the Moonshine Band

9.  House of the Rising Sun--Haley Reinhart

10.  Dream On--Aerosmith

Day 14

A picture of you and your family

Since I've already posted about my side of the family, today we'll focus on Hunter's.

I truly have been blessed with a great set of family-in-law :)  They're a little more wild and crazy than what I'm used to, but I love them for it--and it's definitely never dull!

The family:

Frank--the dad

Ellie--the mom

Shawnette--the stepmom

Hunter--the oldest

Blaine--the middle

BA--the baby

Clint--the older step-bro (and Blaine's twin by marriage!)

Clayton--the baby step-bro

Lindsey--Blaine's wife

Kaitlyn--Clayton's wife

and of course ME!

So there's the core slew of us!  Brace yourself--there's a lot of pictures!

Hunter and his parents, Frank and Ellie, at our wedding in 2007.

The whole gang--it is very, very rare for all five boys to be in town with their wives!  This was at the birthday celebration (Frank, Blaine, and Clinton--they all have the same birthday!)/engagement party (Blaine and Lindsey) in March 2011.

Ellie's side of the family for Christmas 2010.  The five kiddos, Ellie, her mom, Nona, and stepdad, Ronnie.

The five of us--what a fabulous combination.  This is just nifty--between BA and Blaine's birthdays every year, our ages are consecutive.  This year, we were able to pull it off on our fingers--25, 24, 23, 22, 21!

I just love these boys.  I never had brothers growing up, but I certainly gained two great ones!  We were only in 7th (BA),  9th (Blaine), and 10th (Me) grades when Hunter and I started dating, so we've gotten to grow up together.  This was in January 2006.  

This is Frank's family at his parents' 50th wedding anniversary, November 2006.  We've had a few additions since then!

Me, Hunter, and his mama, Ellie.  I believe this was the summer of 2008...maybe?  

Hunter's brothers, their dad, and his dad, Paw Paw.  They're some great guys.  Summer 2008 for Hunter's Tech graduation.

One of my favorite pictures of the five of us--December 2010.

Most of the family at Blaine and Lindsey's wedding, May 2011.   

Most of the gang at Clayton and Kaitlyn's wedding, August 2011.

BA's as long as all four of us!  Christmas 2009.

BA and his girlfriend, Sydney, Ellie, Hunter, Me, Lindsey, Blaine at our baby shower in August.

Here's a little video montage of Blaine and Lindsey's wedding, just because it's fun :)  

So there's a very brief little overview of Hunter's family.  They're extremely close--something else I'm very grateful for.  I hope the Lord blesses you with a second family that you love as dearly as I love mine!

love, angie

Day 13

A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Well...they're just starting to get a little too personal for me.

I am not going to post a letter to anyone who has wronged me.  Forgiveness is one of the most difficult gifts to give, yet one of the most treasured to receive.  This year has been one that I have struggled with forgiveness and am still working on it on several levels.  I hope and pray that you are able to do the same.  

love, angie