nature v. nurture

so when i started here at WGU {in august} i bought a little green plant to brighten up my dull cube, to keep me company and well, let's be honest, to see if i could keep something alive...

every newlywed couple thinks about this. the day after you get married people start asking you "so..when are you planning to 'start' a family?" whenever i'm talking to my sister and there happens to be a short pause in the conversation she asks "are you PREGNANT?!" no, people. this is not an annoucement. what i'm trying to say is after you get married the next "big thing" you start to think about is....can i really keep something alive...like something as important as a baby?! well, of course the initial thought is "whoa! let's not get ahead of ourselves..i mean, that's a big responsibility.." then... "hmmm, how about a dog? could i take care of a dog? no, no, those have to be trained..let's start smaller..how about a plant?! yeah, i could do that. i could take care of a plant. just needs water and sunlight, right? easy."

so that's what i did. i got a plant. and here we are 5 months later and its still alive! barely.

{this is very sad because my mom, with her green thumb, happened to have the most coveted garden and flower beds in the neighborhood. i thought after all that childhood slave labor, pulling weeds, i would have inherited some of her abilities... but alas..}

now compare that to some of my co-workers plants... {oh, and apple bear..he is matthew's pet apple.}

heck, if the plant could just tell me what it wants! less water? more sun? a cuter pot? what?!

needless to say, sorry little crew, it might be awhile before you have another cousin...

one year ago

i can't believe we have hit the one year mark...time goes so fast!

we have been blessed to go to some amazing places and make many wonderful memories during our first year. sometimes, i feel like it must be a dream.

i have grown so much this past year and having steve by my side is the best part.

i love experiencing all that life has to offer, together.

i cherish this time.

best of 2009

happy new year!

Christmas Time

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!

xo. Steve and Liz

{sigh}

i apologize for my lack of postage...

with the holidays, a week of sickness and a death in the family {my dear aunt melodee}

my mind has been racing when it should be resting, which makes me super tired and also uninspired. thus, no blogging.

like, a newborn, i need at least 1o hours of sleep a night.

but... i have noticed that as my sleep levels decline, my annoyance levels go up.

which means...i have complied a list of complaints for your reading pleasure.

To Whom it May Concern,

I realize right now times are tough, economically speaking, but as an employee of your company I do expect a certain amount of consistency, respect and etitquette.

For example, do not give your employees a paid holiday year after year then, one week before said holiday, tell them they will no longer receive that day off. And just so you know, telling them "we will close at 3:00pm instead of 5:00pm that day" does not soften the blow.

Another bit of advice, don't threaten your entire team with being fired on a weekly basis and tell them "there are plenty of people lined up for your jobs." That does not necessarily make me want to work harder. I'm just saying.

Finally, I know that "the company" can't really control this last complaint, but maybe there is something that could be done. I have a hard time working with someone that I just saw zipping and buttoning up his pants, while walking out of the restroom into the main hallway.

And just one more thing, as a side note, if someone could invent some sort of teleportation device, that would make my life a lot easier.

Sincerely,

All Employees Everywhere

if i had a million dollars

my first stop would be here. no question.

then of course, i'd give the rest to charity. i promise.

happy veterans day

veterans day facts:

• U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919
• In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I.
• The holiday is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements. While these spellings are grammatically acceptable, the United States government has declared that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling
• I passed 39 american flags on my drive to work this morning.

i have a deep gratitude for those who have {and still do} serve our country. i have gained a greater respect these past few years as i have learned more about all the sacrifices that are made in the pursuit of freedom.

all the recents events, including Fort Hood and the Afghanistan War casualties, make me so sad... i think of all the families losing loved ones....people who are willing to give their lives for others.

that's heroic.