The Randomness

Hey there, all. I have been quite slack in my writings as of late. I apologize and shall break myself in with a synopsis of the events of the last couple of days. I start with a picture of Will and myself, for kicks, from our amazing Christ Mug Party, last Friday.


So, Thursday, I'm at the church working, hanging out with some people, and my friend, Jordan, says that he's gonna do a 10 day cleanse. Hmmm, interesting, I thought. Upon further investigation, I found out that several people were gonna do it. So, I was like, maybe Will and I should do this! I told him about it, and he was like, why not??


Here's how it works. You don't eat a thing for 10 days. Each day you must drink a half gallon of a mixture of the following; lemon juice, water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Due to the fact that you are getting no fiber and it is, after all, a cleanse, you also drink a laxative tea at night and do a salt water flush in the morning. Which is exactly what it sounds like. A quart of lukewarm water and 2 teaspoons of salt.



So, Will and I go to Harry's fresh market on Thursday night and get all of the stuff we needed. We were excited! I was having/still have a horrible time with my allergies, but I figured I'd do it anyway. We went out for a farewell to food dinner and woke Friday ready to start. I was feeling miserable already, but we took our containers of juice with us (which looked like urine) and began to drink throughout the day.

OH MY GOSH! That junk was super nasty. The cayenne was so hot but, we managed to get through Day 1 pretty well. Day 2, my allergies are murdering me, and just getting the juice down is like gag city. We do the salt water cleanse in the morning. It was like drinking the ocean, but it worked. Later in the day, my mom (a fasting/cleansing expert) calls, and I get advised from her that I shouldn't be doing this while sick. At that point (6PM) we were both pretty miserable and decided we should stop.

The thing is, the not eating was totally doable...it was that juice that killed us. I think there is a cleanse that is in pill form that doesn't require the intake of nasty juice.


I want to encourage Lauryn, Jordan and Bobo, who are still going strong! You can make it. I'm so proud of you, and so is this random man, who is giving you two thumbs up. Hallelujah!

Happy Sunday wishes, friends. It's been a busy but great week, which I need to blog about at some point, but I need to tell you all about my birthday weekend before it's too far past it.

My official birthday was Wed. the 29th of October, but Will and I celebrated on Sat, Nov. 1st. I knew ahead of time that he had surprises planned for me but had no clue what it all entailed. I only knew that a nice dinner would conclude the day. Will had various stops mapped out and in between each stop, I was blindfolded and totally shocked at each location. First was Starbucks drive through and my fav- a skinny vanilla latte. While sipping and blind, we headed to the next stop, which was Target. Of course I didn't know this. He allowed me to remove my blindfold, but I kept my eyes closed all the way through the store, and I was lead around like a blind woman. He was throwing me off the track with comments like, do you smell ham? We're in the deli. Or is it bologna. I was confused because I kept hearing music. Ahhhh.....we reach a moment where he allows me the gift of sight, and there before me is the docking station we've been wanting. He said, "It's time". So, surprise #2 was getting us well under way.


Next was on to lunch at this spot in downtown Alpharetta that I've so been wanting to go to. It is a fresh Mexican/California type spot. So incredibly yummy. I was so happy.

Blindfold on and onto our next surprise. We come to a stop, and I find myself outside of a spa. What?? Will, the amazing one, had scheduled a 1 hour deep tissue massage and pedicure! I was so happy and shocked that I wanted to cry or pee or something. I haven't had a massage in like 8 months. It was so good. Perfect. And, my toes are still looking great! It was then on to Bed Bath and Beyond where I picked out a new blanket for our couch. Our other one was falling apart. I think we made a wise choice.

Last stop is pamper to the max, but I haven't tanned since May or so and it was an expense that wasn't necessary. I accepted my ghostly pallor, but Will booked a little tanning session for me and set me up for a month's worth! I know. He is awesome. Really.

We chilled for a bit and then headed out for dinner in Crabapple, which is this quaint town near Alpharetta. They have an amazing southern cuisine restaurant called Milton's. It was the perfect way to end the day. Shrimp and grits for me and fried catfish and grits for my man.

The icing on the cake was coming home to watch the Gamecocks destroy the Tennessee Vol's. What a stupendous day! I feel like the richest woman on planet earth. And the thing is, I don't even require these things to know that I have the exact man that God picked out for me. Who loves you, Will Troutman??

Hey all! This is my first blog as a 27 year old woman. Yikes!! My birthday was yesterday, and I appreciate all of your warm wishes on my special day. I'll blog about birthday surprises after the weekend when I've loads to tell.

Well, if you recall, I wrote a bit about Foster's Grill not too long ago and the suckness of it's Asian chicken salad. Well, I ended up chatting with someone in corporate who was quite nice, and he promised me free food for my bad experience. Cool, I thought. He told me, though, that our local guy would want to do the honors and would be ticked if he wasn't involved, so Brad told me to expect a call that day with news of free goods. Well, that's been over 2 months ago and no call and no free food. I think I'm officially done with those guys.


But, last weekend a star was born. We were starving after working out and were like where do we want to eat. We decided on Longhorn. We never lose there. Mmmm....but the wait was a shocking 25 minutes, and we just couldn't do it. We noticed a place when we pulled in to the parking lot that at first glance looked like a mechanic shop or car place but upon closer inspection realized that it was a burger place, The Counter- Custom Built Burgers. Would they have something besides a beef burger?? Wow, we decided to give it a go, and it was simply amazing! You can do beef, turkey, chicken, veggie and they even had a lamb burger! 15-20 cheese options, ridiculously amazing topping choices as well as sauce options. They bring it out to you on this large white plate and there is your gourmet looking burger in all its glory. Sweet potato fries were pretty much to die for, as well. They even have burgers in a bowl. (pictured below)


We picked up on a huge California vibe and upon visiting the website, I confirmed our suspicions, but they are growing and could be coming to a city near you!! It is pricey for burgers, but Will and I were talking about the fact that quality costs more sometimes. It was totally worth it. Did I mention an apple pie milkshake? Yeah.

So, this will probably be the briefest blog ever written by me, but I just had to share with you what happened last Wednesday.

So, I was dropping by the school, after work, to pick Will up for a little hang out time before church responsibilities. There he is waiting and immediately I get excited, of course. There is also a kid waiting for her mom or dad to pick her up. Will is about to open the door when I hear, "That's Sarah?", in this completely shocked and border-line condescending voice. I'm thinking, "What"? Then he opens the door to get in, and she puts one hand on her hip and says dramatically, "What the heck?".

I am left stunned and feel like developing a complex over this 9 year old girl. Will then explains to me that she is a very strange kid, and he would completely expect her to say and do something weird like that. Oh, the power of children, though. She had me wondering what in the world was wrong with me. I mean, most of the kids adore all that is me.

Anyway, I thought that was comical, and I hope the feel of it and the humor of the moment was captured. Love you all and hope you are well!!

Hollywood has a great way of seeing human desire and fulfillment as supreme. These feelings/desires supersede all else, and they draw you into a story where you are expected to want the same for these characters, even if it means abandoning commitments or promises.

A perfect example of that was in the film that Will and I watched recently; "Spanglish". Every story has an antagonist and a protagonist. In a lot of stories the antagonist is perfect in their role. There is very little redeeming about them and their protagonist counterpart shines by comparison. I felt this story had a sea of antagonists of varying degrees.



This was obviously not what the writer wanted anyone to think. It's clear who the heroes and supposed victims of the story are intended to be.

Family breakdown; A chef husband who worked long hours, a neurotic wife who was obsessed with perfection, an overweight daughter, a son who garners no real description, and an alcoholic mother in law. Enter Spanish, single mother housekeeper. Her earthy and natural beauty plus good deeds toward the members of the house put her in the perfect spot to be adored.

Long story short, Sandler ends up having an emotional affair with the housekeeper which results in an evening of shared feelings, kissing and an admittance of love. All the while the wife is having an affair; a full fledged one. But, because she's been painted as not so likable and because her affair is full on affair style, it's meant that you pretty much loathe her.

With the love expressed between Sandler and housekeeper and the way these characters have been set up, it is intended that you sympathize with them, feel sorry for them and wish for them to be together. There was an obvious conscious there, but they bathed this affair in beauty instead of the destruction that it always is.



We saw the opposite of this yesterday in Fireproof. While the cast was all volunteer and at times that showed, there was an amazing richness and heart in the story, and the moments that were important were very well done. I encourage couples to go see it before it leaves the theaters, which will probably be soon.

Peace out! Love you all!

Happy Saturday! Well, we've caught another mouse since last post and are currently dealing with another. They just don't get it. They will perish! Silly mice.

Well, I would like to devote the next couple paragraphs to just how amazing my husband, Will Troutman is. Let me start by saying that the following would not have needed to be done for me to still consider him a great husband, but they were done, so they need to be referenced.

Let me start with last Sunday. I had had a rough Saturday emotionally, and I cried a lot. Well, that crying left me with a migraine on Sunday. I stayed at home, under the covers, while Will went to church. He stopped at the store on the way home for some things (including ginger ale for me) and as I was greeting him, I noticed a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He bought me flowers!! He bought me lilies. My 3rd favorite flower, because the didn't have my 2 favorites (peonies and tulips). I squealed. How sweet! Here's a pic of the beauties.



Secondly, Will's day off is Wednesday. I knew he was going to try to catch up on some rest and what not. Well, he totally cleaned the bathroom. Like, sparklingly clean. I love to take baths, so he especially worked on the tub. It glistened. There he was in his tired state after having cleaned the bathroom waiting for me when I got home. How amazing???

And, thirdly. Let me just say that I cannot stand titles, tags, DMV type offices. I or Will have been into our title place now 5 separate times and every time we've needed something more or different. Why they can't tell us all of that at once is beyond me. Well, I had just finished up 2 stops at the office and come out with nothing, feeling rather frustrated. Will knew of my irritation and upon my return home, he had some Ben and Jerry's yogurt out for me with spoon! Yeah, so I'm telling you, the title of my blog is not an exaggeration. It's the truth.


Marriage isn't bliss one day after the other and there is certainly work involved, but I love my husband beyond words and feel like the most blessed woman on planet earth. I have married my best friend. The hottest best friend ever!!!

Hello Friends! It's been a good 3 days preceded by a very interesting weekend. Will and I had a relaxing weekend planned with not too much going on.

Friday evening we made salads with grilled chicken and sat down to some House and relaxation. After House we switched to a little Fable, which by the way is a super awesome x-box game. Yes, I am a girl who enjoys her video games. Will happened to be playing at the moment and after slaying a group of bandits, I noticed that he was looking suspiciously around our apartment. "What's wrong?", I asked. "I thought I saw something", came his reply. My mind goes straight to a giant spider, roach, other horrible insect. He saw a mouse!

After getting out the flashlight and looking around, we thought it was his imagination until we heard scurrying in our pantry shelf. The shine of the light revealed a tail sticking out of one of our boxes of goods. Dang it! A mouse! Then came the debate. Was he still in the basket? If so, could we grab it off the shelf and haul it and it's contents onto our tiny deck? After much deliberation, we decided to go out and get mouse traps. 10:30 finds us at Kroger getting multiple sticky traps.

Our place looked like a mouse barricade. Didn't hear or see anymore of the mouse that night, and we went to bed tired and annoyed.

Saturday night around midnight, we are lying about to drift off to sleep when we hear a noise, a squeak, if you will. Up out of bed, we each searched the multiple traps until it was found on the last one. The tiny, little mouse was stuck to the pad, and I automatically got sad and my heart went out to the struggling vermin. I won't tell you how it was disposed of. After which, we went to sleep.

4 AM, jolted from slumber by the neighbor dogs barking their heads off. What in the world? After lying there, listening, we decided to get up and shine our light over to them. Unbelievably, there was a possum on the fence and their electric collars wouldn't allow them to get at it. So, they just sat there like morons barking. And the possum wouldn't freaking scurry away already.

So, Will tried to throw tennis balls at the possum to jolt it. He was like a stone possum. Then he went outside and tried to scare him off. The possum didn't leave, but maybe Will scared the two giant dogs, because they stopped barking.

Creatures were abundant this weekend. But,we still have traps, little mouses, so I'd advise not to return to the Troutman home!

Wednesday night, 10:26PM, Will is playing Halo with some friends via the Xbox, and I'm here next to him starting this blog. First off, the music for Halo is super sad, so now I'm all depressed and not at all sure what to write about. All that comes to mind is of the melancholy. My horrible salad comes to mind. I'll talk about that.

Okay, so driving home from work today I got so incredibly tired. The kind of tired that inevitably will turn to irritability. I was at that point from the time I got home from work to the time that I went to praise team practice. By God's help, I never went to the bad place and managed to come out of practice feeling loads better. The husband and I were hungry. Okay, where to eat...mmm...uhhh... We decided to try this joint called Foster's Grille. Burgers, chicken sandwiches, asian chicken salad. Wow, I thought. That sounds yum. What an unexpected treat from such a place.



Yeah, unexpected menu option is more like it. It was a far cry from a treat. The irritation came driving into my mind like a freight train, crashed and just laid there until it pretty much took me over. Evening wasn't ruined. God once again provided me with patience and the ability to breathe and know it was okay that my meal was lackluster.

I've been sick off and on since my return from Slovakia, so there was a lot surrounding my ruined meal. I go to the doctor on Friday. It's time I had a physical and just a general, make sure I'm okay time.

This was textbook rambling, to be sure. I hope it wasn't mind numbingly boring. Blessings, people.

It is difficult to fathom that we have already come and gone from Slovakia. It always feels that way, but you are shocked by it every time.

God was so good to me during our flights; especially coming home. The takeoffs and landings and all that lied between effecting me very little, and I am so grateful for that.

Well, our amazing students arrived on Tuesday evening and it was pretty non-stop until we arrived home on Wednesday night. These were some of the best english speaking kids I've ever had at a camp. We tested them as they arrived and placed them in classes late that night.

Will and I each had an upper intermediate group and taught in classrooms next to one another. Mine was a bunker style room and felt quite comfy vs. creepy, which was they way I thought it might feel. Will's classroom was the ping pong room; how perfect!

My class:


Will's class:


So, here's what a day at camp looked like.

6:30 AM wake up for 7 AM leaders meeting. We had a small devotional and prayer time.

8-8:45 AM Breakfast

8:45 AM Camp dance, morning announcements, etc.

9-11 AM English class

11:15-12:15 Initiatives- this was a time where there was some kind of activity with our english class which prompted conversation. This would generally be in Slovak, but the point was to get them talking and about deep and thought provoking topics.

12:30-1:30 PM Lunch

1:30-2:30 PM This was the time to hang out with students in a non-structured atmosphere and to relax a little.

2:30-4:30 PM Sports/Crafts- Will and I hung out with students and played sports during this time. We tossed the American football, played some basketball and one day Will taught a few kids the basics of football and we played a quick touch game. Super fun!

4:30-6ish PM Group Activity- I say 6ish because during this time where we played a group game with our English class, we usually played until we finished, which varied every day. We usually played for our dinner. Our class was barely last the first day but was first the next. These games were both physically and mentally grueling.

6-7 PM Dinner

7-8 PM Planning for evening program

8-10 PM Evening program- this consisted of the band playing a few songs, a video each night, icebreakers and an evening talk. These were awesome. Will had the privilege of speaking one night, and he did an amazing job.

10-12 E-Nite- We planned 3 of these and the Slovaks the other 3. We had a luau, a bonfire with smores and an international night. The Slovaks planned 3 awesome nights as well.

So, there you have it. A day at camp.

One day we took a 10 mile hike uphill with loose rocks. Yes, it was insane. The feeling of accomplishment when we reached the top was pretty substantial. The trip down was a little rough for my ankles, which couldn't not be wobbly, but I look back with fond memories.

Top of the mountain:



Awkward siblings:


The descent-we were at that tower:


After camp we had follow up with students in the park in Bratislava. We played sports, danced, talked and said our final goodbyes. That night we went to Castle Devin, which overlooked Bratislava. It was gorgeous. Really cold and I got sick as a result, but totally worth it.

Our team, last night:



Will and I both think of this trip as one of the best we've ever taken. It was amazing to do ministry together. It's something we've really never experienced together. This is my 4th trip to SK and Will's first. We were praying before we went that if God was calling us to ministry in that capacity that He would make it clear to us.

We had dinner with Mel and Amy Ellenwood one night. They work for Josiah Venture in Czech Republic. They met us at camp and just shared their story with us. We asked questions, they shared scripture with us and we prayed together. This was a powerful time. I tell you all this, to ask you to pray for us as we pray through this.

One of my favorite memories of the trip was the return from camp. Will, Laura and I rode back together, all crammed in the back seat. We danced to Under the Influence of Giants, laughed and just experienced the goodness that is the 3 of us together. How blessed were we to work with Laura and share in this experience with her. Love you, Laura!

This is really long. Hope you stuck around for it all! Love you.

Will and I, along with our four college students arrived safe and sound in Vienna yesterday morning.

The Girls



The flights weren't too bad. I'm not saying that I was completely free of anxiety of all kinds, but I know God provided peace and a relatively smooth flight. The plane was warm, however and space minimal, so Will and I didn't get sleep. We arrived in Vienna 2:30 AM our time. The sleepiness was starting to set in. We then waited for our greeters and transportation; Laura, Mike and Robbie.

While waiting, I decided to visit the ladies, and upon exiting, Laura surprised me with her presence. We ran to embrace one another. It was glorious to see her face. We were also waiting for another team who was going to another camp, to take the bus to Bratislava. So, we finally boarded the bus at 10:40. Upon arrival in Bratislava around 11:30, we got to meet Laura's fab interns, Sarah and Leila. We waited for a bit longer for Mike to settle the other team and send them on to their next destination. Then it was on to our accommodations for the evening. One of the first people I met on our first trip, Esther, was allowing us to stay with her family in the flat across from theirs. It is beautiful and had room for all of us.

Although we wanted sleep, we weren't allowed any. We showered, rested (not slept) and headed out to take in beautiful Bratislava. Laura, I and the 2 interns were the only ones who had seen the city, which was awesome to witness 5 people seeing it for the first time.

Bratislava photos:







We met our national team for dinner and meet and greet time. It was really cool to see old friends. I think I knew almost all of them.

Then it was on to our flat and another shower and SLEEP! I woke up this morning with the sense that it was not possible to be up already. I am experiencing more jet lag than ever this year and while today was much better then yesterday, I'm still not quite there. Tomorrow should be back to normal. Esther prepared delicious breakfast for us and we loaded up the cars to drive to our camp in Malenovice, Czech Republic. This is the most beautiful camp site I've ever been to. It was our training center when I interned 2 summers ago.

I am really excited about the arrival of the students. Being here has felt a little strange this year. I think I'm over the honeymoon stage and shock and awe of being in Europe. I haven't felt super giddy or ridiculously elated. That had me feeling a bit strange at first, but I think it shows me why I'm here. I'm happy about where my excitement seems to be coming from.

Will is adjusting to the Slovak culture. We are both feeling the jet lag, but we are having a great time. Please pray for us as we start classes on Tuesday. Love you all!

Hey guys. I'll keep this short, but I wanted to request some prayer from you.

Will and I travelled to Charlotte yesterday to visit our good friends, Wade and Ferris Joye. It was awesome news, in January, when we found out they were pregnant and even more awesome when it was confirmed that there were identical twins in her belly!

Well, with twins, there are certainly more complications involved so a couple of days ago, the Joyes went to Cincinnati to see a specialist just to be sure all was well with the girls. They were shocked with the news that they needed to have an emergency c-section either there or back in Charlotte. So, they decided to go the Charlotte route and got a flight back immediately.

The girls were born just over a pound and 2 pounds and Wade and Ferris find themselves in a strange place that they never expected to be. Wade took us back to see little Adleigh. We had to go back separately. Will went first and then I joined Wade and Adleigh. She is precious, beautiful and God's amazing creation.

Please pray for the entire Joye family. I don't need to tell you how to direct your prayers, but they all need it.

I can't wait to watch these children grow and remember back to the beginning when they were so tiny.

Love you all!

I have to work this week, my husband does not. So, it makes getting up and going to work that much harder. Boo hoo. This morning while getting ready, Will was online reviewing some games for the 360 in hopes of renting one and having a side project for his downtime during the day. For a while now, the new Grand Theft has intrigued him but at the same time, he knew the content of the previous ones and sort of steered clear, if you will. We watched the game preview this morning and his suspicions were confirmed that it wasn't the type of game that he should rent or play.

An example for me; I am drawn to the glitz, fashion and New Yorkness that Sex and the City has to offer, but it puts my mind and heart in a place that it shouldn't be; one of materialism and immorality not seeming so well, immoral.

The world offers a lot. Some of it good, some bad but the good and bad have something in common; neither will last. I am praying for the wisdom to protect what is eternal. I know that protecting that will effect some choices, and I'm praying for the peace to really be okay with missing out on a few things. This will ultimately effect my relationship with God, as well as so many others in my life.

I am so grateful for God's continued patience and grace, as I continue on this journey with Him. He redefines the word awesome!

In the summer of '06 when I interned in Slovakia, we went on a hike one day. The night before they defined the hike as a walk, so I didn't worry about the fact that my shoes weren't designed for rock climbing etc. That next day took us on a 7 mile hike in my Target shoes. I could feel every rock, pebble and boulder that I climed on or over. There was a random assortment of gnats that followed us around, preying upon our arms and legs. I had a vegetarian meal packed for me and at lunch, I was so hungry that I wolfed down the meat paste sandwich that I mistook for my veggie meal.

The culmination of meat paste in my belly, gnats on my body and indented feet from rocks gave birth to the "caveman". That is how Laura described me as I walked down the mountain, waving my arms and speaking in some kind of low, rumbled garble. That's me and Laura after the hike



Well, I've stumbled upon another form of the caveman; me on birth control. I was struck yesterday afternoon with a case of the caveman. I didn't wave my arms or talk in an unintelligable language but I just got super grumpy for absolutely no real reason.

Will agreed to play ping pong and go on a walk with me while in this state. He is so understanding in those moments and has already learned the best way to handle it. We already look back with laughter, but I leave you with how he later referenced that evening together; a walk throught the valley of the shadow of death.

Love and molten awesome,

Sarah

I know it's been a while, and I have to say that I just haven't felt like blogging, but I have the bug again and will promise to be more faithful. It's hard to believe that I've been married now for over a month. Crazy!

Will and I had a "date night" this weekend and went to see the latest Marvel comic set to film...Ironman. Well done.

I have been a bit unimpressed with similar films in the past, and I think part of that was the casting. I went to see Transformers last summer and left feeling drained. Arrogance is huge pet peeve of mine and Shia LeBeouf's 17 year old stripper love interest was pretty much the definition of that. If she was cast to be a villain than it would have been perfect, but it was intended for you to actually like this person and root for her, and while she is beautiful, she isn't likable.

I didn't much care for Spiderman either. Kirsten Dunst just kind of rubs me the wrong way...and I don't know, the good vs. evil just didn't do it for me. I also have issues with Batman, but I'll stop there.

Ironman has a fun youthful feel that is layered with maturity. Downey was perfect for the part and scenes where he works on the iron suit in his workshop are some of the best and most interesting in the film. I was battling a sore throat throughout and still left feeling like it was $10 well spent.

Sunday night we hung out with our friend, Josh and went to see Baby Mama. I mean Tina Fey, Amy Pohler...we figured that would equal funny. It did not. The story line was convaluted and the jokes just didn't resonate. There was a group of people that laughed at EVERYTHING, so that could have had some effect. Steve Martin had a small, quite funny part where he played an eccentric, vegan, totally weird owner of a natural food store chain.

But, I'm not daunted. It's super fun hearing about all of the summer blockbusters and expectantly waiting for them to make their way to the theaters.

Thanks for letting me ramble and it's good to be back!

I write to you today as a married woman, yes as Mrs. Troutman. Will and I said our vows in front of close friends and family on March 29. It was glorious, and I'll have a link to pictures very soon.

Sunday after the wedding, we made our way to Charleston, SC. My parents have a time share and were generous enough to give us 5 nights there free. What a gift. It honestly could not have been more perfect. It suited our personalities and interests beautifully.



We ate some fantastic food. Bocci's had amazing duck, Will got the most ridiculous bowl of shrimp and grits at Fleet Landing and Hanks did me right with a tuna filet cooked to perfection. One of my favorite moments was at Paolo's where they serve the most amazing gelato ever. Oh, how I squealed with delight.



The weather provided for great shopping on King Street. We got a new rug for our place, candles, some clothes, and I got a great pair of black pumas.

We took a ghost tour of the oldest jail there and got to step inside the cell rooms and holding rooms. We took a carriage tour and a "dark side" tour, with more seedy and gritty information. Our tour guide was pretty much the most authentic Charlestonite imaginable. His delivery was outstanding, and he just engaged you with his storytelling.

We left wanting more of Charleston, but that's the way it should be. I didn't want to have my absolute fill. I can't wait to go back, knowing that it will always remind me of our amazing time there.

Well hello there... so at this time next week, I'll be a Troutman. WOW! That pretty much blows me away.

While engagement can have some stressful times, it is also totally exciting and a time where you feel ridiculously loved by those close to you. We have had several showers over the past month and a half, and our church just threw one for us. The children's ministry staff and parents got together and it was awesome. We felt so blessed. And get this, we were told that there would no thank you notes. That was pretty much the best thing I've ever heard.



We also got a gift basket from the staff at Will's school. In that basket was our fantasy gift; a super nice, bright yellow Dyson vacuum cleaner. We also got our coffee maker, a tool kit for the handyman, a flashlight and a gift card.



We are so appreciative and feel your love so much. Thank you, thank you.

You all are loved,
Sarah

Hello my fellow comrades and pilgrims of planet earth and beyond. It has been a long day, and I wind it down with a little blogging.

For a while now, Will and I have been noticing a humongeous building on our way to the gym. It appeared to be finished, just unoccupied. So, we speculated about what it could be. We thought, maybe a Dick's sporting goods or Bass outlet or perhaps a Walmart.

Then finally it appears. A Wal-Mart, a Wal-Mart...I hate Wal-Marts!

Today took us there to try and retrieve a new battery, but what we saw was pure Wal-Mart goodness and what is pretty much the essence of the store. I think we all know what I am talking about, but have we ever really "talked about it."

The clientele resembled the line-up from a carnival act. Upon entering the store, I distinctly remember a couple who looked like they were started on a pure baby food lard diet at birth that continued into their formative years and through their teens culminating in what we saw. An extra layer of flab that covered the extra layer of fat that covered the extra layer of goo that covered the stomach, which is where the gut sandwich started. They apparently passed it down to their 8 children, who were all with them, screaming and complaining that there weren't any Captain Lard Bars in the candy section.

Why is Target not like this? Or even a Kroger or Publix? I don't understand. I truly feel that before the building of a new Wal-Mart, there is work that goes on under the ground. I believe that there are tiny seedlings of these "hybrids" that are planted beneath the structure. They are nurtured and strengthened with butter feedings thoughout the process, until they burst through the ground at the grand opening, fully grown. Just a thought.

Peace out,
Sarah

Will and I had the privilege of going to Richmond 2 weekends ago. We had two showers and also last minute, scheduled an engagement photo session with our wedding photographer. We went to downtown and had an absolute blast. We started in the old train station and made our way out and through the Farmer's market and through some alleys with character and style. We did a shot in the barber shop and one in the street with traffic. We gave a Richmond police officer someone to reprimand.

It was amazing fun, and we are so happy with the results. I leave you with a link to an online slide show. We sent this slide show to our friend, Eric. He said, "My computer just received a slide show of awesome." So prepare yourself and enjoy!

Sarah and Will Slide Show

Yes, my title is a bit misleading and mysterious, I know. This blog is pretty much just me ranting a little on my disdain for the Ray.

I fully enjoy the Food Network and like quite a few of the hosts. There is Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Giada de Laurentiis, among others. I've even gotten semi-fond of Paula Dean. There is a warm, interesting quality that the above mentioned chefs embrace.

Then comes the shrill, irksome and over the top form that is Rachael Ray. There are so many irritants which possess this woman. I won't ramble and will hit on just a few here in this blog.

I could be catty and talk about her high waisted pants but won't. That would be superficial and obviously wouldn't matter if she was fantastic.
1. "Her voice" The shrill nature of it. It's like she's shouting at me, cawking out her ingredient list. I'm also not fond of her giggles after the dumb remarks she makes.
2. "EVOO" She refers to oil as "EVOO"- extra virgin olive oil. That's okay, your cutting down on how much you're saying but when you explain what "EVOO" means everytime you say it, it kind of defeats the purpose.
3. "Bombardment" She is also suddenly everywhere. On Wheat Thins boxes, on magazine covers, on book covers on like 4 other Food Network shows and then there's the talk show which showcases an arrogant and annoying Rachael Ray.
4. "Unoriginal and Lame" The capper was yesterday when her dessert was the following; A banana cut in half, with a popsicle stick shoved inside dipped in a mixture of peanut butter and honey with granola sprinkled on top.

Are you for real, Rachael Ray? So, when I dip my banana in a jar of Peanut butter and honey, I should be on TV? I desire to hear from you, dear readers. If you are a fan, convince me why she is awesome and if you also cringe at the sight and sound, please let me know! Love you all.

I send my warmest of hellos to the faithful readers of "The Randomness".

I adore the store, IKEA. It has a plethora of furniture, decoratives and even some yummy treats. I have been to IKEAS both here in the states and abroad and there is one downside to this grand store; exiting this store is a chore. Oooh, I rhyme and in perfect time...okay, I'll stop.

Will and I have experienced the exiting of our Atlanta IKEA twice now. In reality what they are hoping for is that you'll peruse the entirety of the store before leaving. Well, this past Friday, we wanted to bend those rules. We shopped and looked for a while and were ready to leave but, no exit of course. We saw our opportunity, though. We hopped this gate at the deserted kids area with one more to go and there she was on the other side...an IKEA employee in her bright yellow top. Busted! With freedom only one hop away, we were pretty much stuck there in the middle.

"What you doin?", says employee.
"Just trying to leave, is this not okay," says me, mid hop.
"No, you gotta through the gray doors that say employees only," comes the clear and obvious response.

So, she comes over and opens the gates for us and tells us not to come this way again. It was fun hopping the gates and getting busted, but come on people. Take away the "employees only" sign and you might end some frustration and solve some problems.

Peace and love to you all.

Remember how I wanted to write a fun and not super serious blog? Well, I think the time has come for that. I had an "interview" for a job today. My friend, Sarah, told me about a job that she does part time, like a couple of hours a week. She works for a woman out of her house and this woman is wanting someone who can work more than that. So, after finding out more about it, I decided to meet Sarah over there this morning, meet the lady, talk about the biz, details, etc. The hours are super flexible, the pay not bad and no strings attached whatsoever. I could leave at any time. It is a bit of a commute, but I am totally used to that.

Now, when Sarah proposed this idea to me at lunch the other day, she said, "There's a catch, though. It's the business that her and her husband are in..." Well, I am of course thinking something completely sketchy. "They sell portable toilets", says Sarah. Obviously strange and funny but not sketchy. So, I will be answering the phone like so: "Happy-can, this is Sarah, how can I help you?". Wow. It is a great in between jobs, job. I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

More good news; Will and I are getting a great deal for housing after we are married. We are going to convert Will's loft apartment into our own, with our own touches, etc. The rent is great and no utility bill! PLUS, there is a brand new, MTV cribs style pool in the backyard. Up top! Dillon! Love to you all.

I'm hanging out in Will's loft apartment on this Friday evening. I'm on the laptop and beyond the fort like barricade of my boxes and suitcases and such is Will hanging out with some friends via the Xbox. Together they slay and slaughter together as one army. I am listening to U2 and making estimated budgets for our coming months together.

I had my interview today. Between some crossed wires and miscommunication, I was interviewing for a job in which I had little experience. So, after the interview, Will and I waited while they deliberated and the verdict was a no. I kept a stiff upper lip and thanked them but after the elevator doors closed I looked at Will and asked him if I could cry now. He said yes, and I did. I stopped myself from doing that kind of cry that completely destroys your face.

Quick bite in Panera for Will. Sarah just sat and drank coffee and picked at a cinnamon crunch bagel, which I totally recommend! Will blessed our morsels, and I cried again; weepy me.

Well, it is now Monday morning, I've stopped crying, and Will and I have decided to pass on our apartment. After seeking counsel from close friends and family and weighing pros and cons, we realize that saving money by living in Alpharetta is worth it right now vs. higher cost and living closer to Atlanta. We don't have everything ironed out yet, but some things are coming together.

I now begin a job hunt; something I didn't see myself having to do. Geez, no fun at all. I look forward to writing something completely fun and not at all serious, in the near future. If you know of any creative type fun (anything) jobs in the Atlanta area, pass them on to me. Love you all!

Check out some more of our fun purchases!

Sofa
Media Cabinet

Well, I've been in Atlanta for a little over two weeks now and alot has taken place in that short amount of time. I had a job interview my first week. Will and I put down a deposit for an apartment the second week and furniture has been purchased to fill it over these last two weeks. It all sounds like things are coming together, right? In some areas they are but there is alot hinging on this apartment, these furniture purchases etc.

The job interview spoken of earlier went very well, and I have a peace that it is going to happen. I just have to meet with some very busy and important people before things are finalized and finding the time to do that is looking to be very challenging. There aren't many perks to not having a job. The not perks are: getting out of a routine, feeling like you aren't contributing much, not having money. All these suck but the clincher is that I can't move into the new apartment and get things in place until I hear about the job. I just found out that I have another interview on Friday for another position. So, doors are opening.

This long process is proving to be very frustrating, and Will and I are having to rely heavily on prayer and patient trust in God over and throughout all of this. Please be in prayer with us throughout this. I'll let you know WHEN things fall into place.

Psalm 27:4 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

The trip to South Dakota blogged of in earlier posts has already come and gone. I take you to Wednesday, the night before I flew out. There I was with boxes and suitcases and all of my goods surrounding (I just moved to Atlanta), and me in the midst, trying my best to stuff my junk into the smaller of my suitcases. I washed particulars that I wanted to take with me and laid it all out. I then smashed and stuffed and neatly organized the belongings into the tiny suitcase. Tada! I got it. It closed, and I would be traveling light.

Next morning I noticed the wheel on my suitcase was missing, leaving it difficult to roll. "I'll just check it", I told Will. We were about to leave when I noticed that Will's toiletry bag lay on the counter and not in his suitcase. Wow, that was a close one. I then grabbed my suitcase, and we headed out. But oddly enough the once missing wheel was present, and I thought, "How nice, I can roll it now." Will said it probably just got jammed and then came down again.

I remember looking at the bag on the ride from our car to the airport. "It's so much dirtier than I thought", I remarked to Will. "I guess both my purple suitcases need to be retired." So, onto the airport, onto the flight to Salt Lake City and waiting in that airport for 3 hrs. and 45 minutes. Onto to the plane to Rapid City, South Dakota and out in the Black Hills where we were staying and onto the moment where it happened. A sweet couple, the Spaders, let Will and I stay with them and after showing us our rooms, we stood in mine and all I wanted to do was get out my jammies and head to bed. I unzipped the suitcase, threw back the top and gasped in utter shock as I looked at the contents of the suitcase I had brought. I grabbed the wrong one. The wrong suitcase. The suitcase containing my makeup, shoes for the wedding I was in, jewelry, clothes, essentials, everything. It started to scream back to me, broken wheel, mended wheel; different suitcases. Dirty and beat up, clean and tidy; different suitcases. Next came tears, anger...sleep.

Rushmore Mall and my future husband's money (so sort of our money) were a powerful combination the following day as we did a pretty good job of replenishing the goods. My brother's wedding went off without a hitch and the ceremony was lovely. The night before we flew out was not at all good sleep so the guy that had just bought me a load of goods two days prior had to put up with sleep deprived me combined with hating to fly me. Screaming baby on the 4 hr. flight finished off the trip and I was never happier to be in Hartsfield Jackson airport and in my new home of Atlanta.

Congrats Jason and Kristi Burton and I wish you happiness and joy and the insight to differentiate between your various suitcases! Perils of an even greater amount would not have stopped me from attending and being a part in such a great moment in both your lives, though. Cheers. I leave you with a picture of how my face probably looked for the most part over the course of 3 days; confused, aggrivated and super attractive!

Williamsburg, VA is a lovely place to visit with many sites and attractions. There is the historical district, plenty of shopping, Busch Gardens, and the Williamsburg Pottery.

Will and I made the trek to the pottery to get an amazing watercolor matted and framed for our friend, Wade. Our day started out dreary but on schedule. We had the GPS on and just cruising when the GPS told us to go a weird way I wasn't familiar with, so we turned around and in the turning around lost a good bit of ground, next came missing the turn off for the interstate and that moment brought Will to a pretty severe point of irritation. After the semi-savage anger lessened, music resumed and we found ourselves arriving at the pottery.

Upon entering this depressing block of large buildings, you must navigate through these and cross a rusty railroad track in order to find the one thing you came to the pottery for. After finding a parking place and working our way through the maze to enter a building, we realized after walking around the overcomingly smelly rows of fake flowers and random goods like hair nets, acrylic nails and flags, that we were not in the correct building.

So, we made our way out to the super cold outdoors and walked across the pavement through various lawn statues and orbs and stuff to the opposite end of the depressing buildings to the framing station. On our way, we noticed Restaurant written on one of the buildings. We wondered what lovely food could lie inside an establishment simply titled Restaurant. That brought much banter about what delicious sandwich might be at restaurant or soft drink or dessert.

The framing station was interesting in itself but we found a killer frame and matting and placed our order. We pretty much ran to the car and worked our way out of the pottery. We went back a couple of days later to pick up the amazing finished product. The price and quality of the work make it totally worth going back to the Williamsbug Pottery, but it is guaranteed to be an experience you won't soon forget. I leave you with a photo of me and some crazy men statues and Will and with his new pal.