Proverbs 3:5-6....

....."trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."

I have used this bible verse (one of my favorites) on my blog many times, as most of you know, and boy has the Lord had Chad and me trusting in Him "big time" lately.   As promised in my last post, I am finally ready and able to share why I was on quite the hiatus from my blog over the past couple of months.  From a very special experience between Chad and I to a heartbreaking turn of events, from my nephew's first birthday and godson's first birthday to Chad and my ONE YEAR anniversary, it has been quite an eventful Fall 2009.  Chad and I have grown closer this past year than I could ever imagine, and I am so blessed that God put him in my life.  We can get through anything together, and I am so excited about what our future has in store.  I will go in order as to what has been going on....and I will apologize ahead of time if it is a long post.

It was the end of July and I had been traveling in Indianapolis for work for the week.  I knew it was about "that time" but my usually regular monthly visitor still hadn't arrived.  Chad and I had figured that it would take a while to start a family, so I really didn't think anything would have happened that soon, but just in case, I stopped in the Indianapolis airport and got a little pair of Colts socks...just in case.  After a huge fiasco in trying to get home with cancelled flights, etc, I finally arrived in Chattanooga.  I let Chad know that I wanted to take a test just to see, and low and behold, it was positive!  Not believing our eyes, about 4 tests later, we realized that it had happened...we were expecting our first little peanut.  We were beside ourselves.  Over the next month, we saw the baby, saw the heartbeat (the most amazing moment EVER), told our family and close friends, and everything seemed to be going just as it should.  Our due date was April 14th, and I was super pumped that I was going to be pregnant during the cool months of the year!  Well, late September (I was a little over 10 weeks along), I went in for a routine appointment so we could "hear" the heartbeat with the doppler.  Chad tagged along and we were super excited.  I will never forget that day.  We were being silly and cracking jokes while waiting in the examination room at the doctor's office, and then our midwife came in.  She used the doppler, but couldn't hear anything.  She said not to worry because usually around 10 weeks is the very first time you can actually hear it, and some people can't hear it with the doppler until like 12 weeks or so.  So from there we went to the ultrasound room so we could see our little peanut again.  Unfortunately, the ultrasound showed that the baby had stopped growing around 8 weeks and no longer had a heartbeat.  I had absolutely no signs that anything was wrong, no spotting, no cramping...nothing.  It was devastating.  I had surgery that next Monday.  Chad and I were so excited about this baby and we were so ready to start our family....I have never been so heartbroken.  We are so blessed to have such a great support group with our family and friends, and we really leaned on them to get through this tough time.  We both truly know with all our hearts that everything happens for a reason, but it has really been hard...I didn't realize how common miscarriages are, and of course you never think right off the bat that it could happen to you.  All I know is that the doctors said that I am in great health, everything looks good, and we are able to start trying again!  And if anything, Chad and I truly know how ready we are to start our family and we can't wait until God blesses us with a little baby Dueker.  I had already written several blogs that I was going to post when we decided to announce it over the internet, full of pictures from telling our family and taking the tests, the video of the heartbeat, etc.....I just pray that sooner rather than later,  I will be writing all those blogs again!  Here's are a few pictures from this hard but truly amazing time...

Chad and I have gone back and forth as to whether I should post about our miscarriage experience.  At first I just didn't think I could ever talk about it....but after several people reached out to me, letting me know that it had happened to them (and I had had no idea they had been through this), I told Chad that if our story could provide help, comfort, or support to even just one person, then it would definitely be worth sharing. 

Now to something FUN!  In the midst of the miscarriage and my surgery, my Godson turned 1 year old!  One of my best friends, Heather, had her baby just a few days before our wedding last year, and yes, my friends, she was still in the wedding.  She was such a champ.

I can't believe that it's already been a year!  He was sooo little back then!  Here are a few pictures from his birthday party!  :)  We had such a good time and it was so good spending time with some of our best friends after such a crappy couple of weeks prior to his party!  Happy Birthday Huddy!

So after Huddy's birthday, Chad and I celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary!  We went out to dinner the Friday night before our anniversary...to our favorite restaurant, Sushi Nabe!  Chad has gotten me hooked on sushi (the nigiri, not the rolls), and I absolutely can't get enough of it...especially after not being able to have it for 10 weeks (focusing on the positive...I can now eat it again). 

Our first year of marriage has flown by and it has been fantastic!  We have made so many memories and had so many great times.  The birth of my nephew and godson, trips to Gatlinburg, hanging out with friends, our trip to Indianapolis for the Colts Game, Thanksgiving in Illinois with Chad's family, Steeplechase in Atlanta, Seacrest Beach with Heather and Jesse, our New Years Eve party, our Fourth of July Party, the summer on the lake with the boat....the list goes on and on.  We are truly blessed and here's a little montage remembering the first day of the rest of our lives together....

Our anniversary weekend also included going to my aunt and uncle's house to see Carrie and Allan and their new baby, Laura!!  It was good seeing everyone, and holding that little baby...she is so precious.  I wish they lived in Chattanooga...right now they are living in Richmond so we don't get to see them a lot.  They were celebrating their 5th anniversary!  :)

After leaving there, we went home and enjoyed smashing the top layer of our wedding cake in each other's faces!  My mom had it frozen for us and I have to say, what cake made it into my mouth tasted awfully good!  Even Ranger got in on the fun! haha.

As you know, Chad and I are HUGE football fans.  When it comes to college football, we are a house divided....he cheers for TN and I cheer for UGA.  We were given tickets to the TN/GA game in Knoxville the weekend following our anniversary and despite the loss my team suffered, we had a great time!  Here are the pictures from our adventure to Neyland Stadium the weekend of October 11th.

Even after the loss, we were still on speaking terms and even made it home for the big games that evening on TV.  Football Season is MY favorite!

So I guess there's just one more thing that has happened over the past few months.  The Monday after our anniversary (and before the football game), I was sitting in my office at work and my boss called me into his office.  I figured he just had a question on some stuff I was working on, but much to my surprise, he callled me in there to lay me off.  They are facing some big changes and a lack of work, so since I was the last hired, I was the first to be let go.  Yep, that's right people, I am officially job-less and have been for the last few weeks.  I know, right....that was just the cherry on top of a terrible month, huh?  Again, TRUST IN THE LORD....I repeat it to myself every day.  Chad and I are alright.  I filed for unemployment and have really just been taking a little time to myself these past few weeks since I was paid through the end of October.  I have a couple of opportunities that I am interested in, so we'll see how everything pans out.  In the meantime, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a stay at home mom to Ranger!  :)  Going to the gym around 9-10 am each day, getting the house organized a bit, using my creativity to help my mother in law with some shower invitations she was needing....cooking dinner with my Chad....just enjoying the beautiful weather.  I really need to finish our wedding scrapbook, so after an upcoming baby shower me and a couple of other girls are throwing at my house for a dear friend of mine, I will probably tackle that project. 

I hope this helps in knowing why I've been MIA for a while.  I promise, however, that I'm back in full swing and hope that my downtime will allow me to blog even more!  :)  Hope everyone has a great night!  I'm going to go spend time with this guy (see picture below) and watch some Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice while we wait for Chad to get back from being out of town the past couple of days.  Til next time.....Proverbs 3:5-6!

October 27, 2009 - Caleb's First Birthday!

Here I am. No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but over the last couple of months, a lot has been going on in mine and Chad's life. I promise the next post will cover why I have been absent from my blog (the bad and the good), but today, we have something to celebrate! And there's not a better way to get back into the blogging world than to start with a post dedicated to my (now) ONE YEAR OLD nephew! I can't believe he is already one year old! This time last year, Chad and I had only been back from our honeymoon for about 2 weeks when this little guy made his entry into the world. Chad and I love him so so much! :) On Sunday the 25th, we all celebrated his birthday, and what a time we had. Caleb was soooo good. He opened all of his presents (gently laying on the floor each piece of paper he pulled off - -it was adorable), he showed off for everyone (taking lots of steps all by himself), stuffed his face with cake (even when he was in the bathtub, he was still trying to get icing off his hands), and was the happiest little guy ever. These are only a few of many pictures taken, but as you can see, a good time was had by all....especially the Birthday Boy!

Have you ever seen such a cute cake eating, pinwheel loving, little feet walking, hands clapping, present unwrapping, little fellow? I sure haven't (although I am extremely biased)! At his 1 year old appointment, this little guy was 28 inches long (6th percentile), 20 pounds 4 ounces (25th percentile), and his head circumfrence was 42 (50th percentile). He's a little shrimp with a big ole' personality!

Happy Birthday Caleb! Your Chuncle and Cissie love you very much!

"Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello...We are the girls of old Chi O!"

Chi Omega Recruitment (aka RUSH) was a SUCCESS! We had 57 AMAZING new girls run out the doors of Patten Chapel on Sunday at Bid Day. This week definitely aged me, as I realized that staying up until 2, 3, and 4 am for 4 nights straight and then trying to go about my life as usual during the day just simply wasn't going to happen! I am still trying to recover, but it was definitely worth all the hard work and late nights! We have an amazing Chapter at UTC, as Delta Alpha never ceases to amaze me. Now, we have 57 beautiful, amazing, and scholarly girls that are excited and ready to join and contribute to the chapter! We couldn't have asked for a better recruitment! Thanks to all the alums that showed up to help us throughout the week. We don't know what we would have done without you! GO CHI O!

The actives before heading down to Patten Chapel!

Delta Alpha...including the new Pledge Class of 2009!

The theme for Bid Day was ADORABLE!

The New Baby Hooties! :) Pledge Class 2009!

I'm still alive!

It has been a crazy three weeks at our house. From traveling with my job, to hanging out on the lake, to Recruitment Retreat for Chi Omega (I'm one of the advisors), to meetings preparing for Recruitment, to trying to spend time with family, to a lot of "stuff" going on at our house right now....to call it "crazy" would be an understatement! I promise to update more very soon, but for the rest of the week, it is all about UTC Recruitment. Go Greek, and Go CHI OMEGA! There are nearly 400 girls going through and it starts today (Wednesday) and continues through Saturday night. There's going to be some long days and long nights in store, but I'm confident we will come through with a great New Member Class of 2009!

So until I have a minute to update (and sleep), I'll leave you with a few pictures from the past couple of weeks! :) Hope everyone is doing well!

8/4

Two years ago today (8/4/07) Chad and I met on a blind date. I was living in Atlanta and Chad was up here in Chattanooga. My sister and brother-in-law set us up and I came up for the weekend and we went on a double date with them....a blind date. The rest is history!

(our very first photo together)

Ten months ago today (10/4/08) Chad and I got married. I love this man! Happy Anniversary, honey! :)

(in the limo after our wedding, on the way to the reception!)

....the Home Improvement Continues....

So how many of you out there have ever had to wait for someone to come to come to your house to either a) deliver something, b) come fix something, or c) install something? I am sure everyone has at some point...I just hope that no one has gone through what we have had to go through with our new washer and dryer!

Just for a recap: The whole reason we got a new set is because we had to provide a set down at the condo in Atlanta for our new renter. When I moved up to Chattanooga last year, we thought we were going to sell the condo, so we had the movers bring my set up when they moved everything else. Since mine were newer than Chad's, we sold his on Craigslist, and moved mine into the house. So when we decided to go the rental route with the condo b/c the market is so bad, we were told we needed to provide them since most other rental units in the area provide them as well. Sheesh, what a hassle. We researched and the cheapest set we could find (new) was more expensive than we wanted to spend on a washer/dryer that was going to be used by a stranger, so we decided to invest in a new set for us and move mine back down.

So we ordered our new units almost 2 months ago. We were told they were on backorder (evidently this make/model is really popular right now), and that it would take a little over a week to get them in. NO. BIG. DEAL. Right? Well, a little over a week turned into like 3 weeks. The day finally comes when they are going to deliver them, and of course, they don't come when they are supposed to that day, resulting in Chad waiting around most of the day for them. We decide to just overlook it, and are excited they are finally installed in the house. By the time they arrive, we have taken down the 2 cabinets above the old set and have bought a third cabinet to go in between them.....installation set to happen once the set was in place and we know what height will work with the units. Chad washes our first load of towels...SUCCESS!! The new set is AWESOME! He puts in the second load of clothes....yeah, the drain on the washer stopped working. We tried everything the book told us, realizing that there is a serious problem, unrepairable by us. So Chad makes a call to Lowe's (where we bought the set) and they schedule through A&E Factory Services...by the way....TERRIBLE company! We had to wait until the next week for someone to get out there. When they did, they didn't come when they said they were going to and my mom sat at our house ALL day waiting, only to leave at 5 pm when Chad got home from work and still no repair man! When he finally "fixed it", he left, only for us to try to wash clothes and it STILL not work! So the guy ended up having to order a part. We called Lowe's and demanded a new set be ordered for us b/c a) we wanted a set that wasn't defective before even really using them and b) we had found a few dings/scratches in the set that was delivered, and that just wasn't acceptable to us. So, they ordered us a new set, which yes, took about 3 weeks to get delivered. In the meantime, we had the A&E guy order us the part and come and install it so we could at least wash clothes until we got the new set.

Whew.....are you tired yet? Seriously, all this wore us out! We were fed up.

So, while the old set was still at the house, we decided to go ahead and install the cabinets. (Not having to worry about denting the tops of the units by getting on top of them, etc)....seriously, we really feel like we should be getting this new set for FREE at this point.

Lowe's calls us the Sunday before they are to be delivered on Monday and says they will arrive anytime between 8 am and 12 noon. I take off work (Chad had meetings) and sit around waiting for the delivery guys ALL morning. We get a call later that morning from the delivery guys saying it will be after 6 pm when they get there......SAY WHAT? Seriously? Chad and I = totally over it! By 8 pm that night, our new set was installed (they didn't show up until 7:15 pm), but is the saga over? Heck No! The washer came with a scratched top! So now what are we doing??? Waiting on a new top panel to be delivered. When? Lord only knows!

Can't you just purchase something these days and it get delivered (unscratched and working)? Anyhow, we love this washer and dryer. It's seriously the best and once we are completely done waiting on Lowe's guys to come to our house, we are going to REALLY enjoy them! In the meantime, check out our home improvement photos! :)

I told Ranger that going under the ladder is bad luck! :)

Aww...Sister Love!

I know, I know. There's still a beach post, a home improvement post, and a 4th of July post that I have yet to get on here. I'm working on it. This work week has totally drained me, not to mention the getting up at 5:45 to work out in the mornings. I promise....they are coming!

In the meantime, I just had to post this picture I ran across today of me and my little sister when we were about ages 3.5 and 8 months. I can't believe she has a baby that age now! :) Enjoy the pic!