A November Full of Thanks!

Wow...well, it was a really good November!
My job is still going well and I am still (and forever) learning how to do it well/if not better. Jim's job is still rockin' and rollin' and is all good!
Here are the highlights:

1) Dog Parks Lead To Dog Happiness - okay, as our friend put it, yes...we are "THOSE" people when it comes to our dog Easton. There is an amazing place here in Knoxville called Petsafe Village, and they have an off-leash dog park that just rocks! We started taking Easton on Sundays to run and socialize with the other pups and then found out that they have a "doggie day camp" experience - where a dog can have a full day of socialization and furry fun. It's like day-care for your dog. So, since we're a pretty busy family, I said - let's give it a try 1x a week and see if he really likes it. Well...HE LOVES IT! Ever since he had to say goodbye to our beloved Lady Bear Harmon, he misses having a 4-legged play pal. The funniest thing is that all dogs have to go through a day-long "socialization evaluation" to make sure he "plays well with others". He passed with flying colors and gets to go 1x a week to frolic and play. I cannot believe that we're so in love with our dog - but you know, when you still don't have 2 legged kids of your own, you really learn to look at your pets as your kids. It's silly, I admit, but hey - we're all happy with it!

2) Thanksgiving Fabulousness - First off, the BEST thing about thanksgiving was that I got to have a little slice of my home here in Knoxville. My Dad made the trip down to Knoxville and spent the holiday with us! I think he was really impressed with our house, which made me happy and we both spent a lot of time in the kitchen together...he made me my FAVORITE - GERMAN POTATO salad, which was divine. I made an old recipe my Mom and I used to make together when I was young - chocolate "wacky" cake. It was like being transported back in time with each bite. I miss her a lot, but having him here made me feel more connected and centered in a lot of ways. We brine our turkey which turned out AMAZINGLY (see the Alton Brown recipe for your own deliciousness - at Food Network); AND my high school EASTON gave our 100 year old rivalry with Phillipsburg High School, the shine it needed - beating them in football on ESPN2. It was awesome getting to watch my high school football tradition on national television - my shrieks of joy where LOUD LOUD LOUD. I'm as crazy about EASTON Football as the Knoxvillians are about their VOLS.

3) DO NOT go to Dollywood on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Oh my God. That's all I'm going to say. TOO many humans. TOO MANY.

Well that's the wrap for now...Christmas is looking bright and amazing! Now, can we actually get a Wii before December 25th? HA!

October...Things Still Pretty Darn Good!

Hello everyone...well October has come and gone already, and the mood and mindset drifts to the upcoming holiday season. Things are still going pretty well in the ville of Knox so here's an update.

THE JIM JOURNALS
Jim's still doing well at his main gig for HGTV and seems pretty content with everything. He's still active in other pursuits and interests which keep him very busy. He did some minor audio help for The Haunted Cave here in the greater Knoxville Area, but with scheudules being what they are he wasn't able to help out in a larger capacity. He's starting to settle into his new home studio - which I call "The Boiler-Room Tikki Room", and he's patient with my ever-changing ideas about interior housepaint.

ANNA ANNOUNCEMENTS
I have finally found my path back to faith...my spirituality had never left me, but since the passing of my Mother in 1999, I found myself completely shattered, especially faith-wise. I have pretty much attempted to run far away from anything having to do with organized spiritual life, but the calling to return to my center kept gnawing at me. I have tried out a few congregations in the Knoxville area since we've moved here and on 1o/15/06, I signed the register and became a member of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church here in Knoxville (www.tvuuc.com). It's a place I have felt very comfortable with, and Jim seems to be comfortable with as well. I'm working on "building my own theology", as we say...because ever since my master's program, I have found that there is some beauty we can all take from the major religions and even-though, at heart, I'm probably a "Lutheran Unitarian Universalist", I find that my search for a deeper faith allows me to understand the common threads we all share as we look for meaning. I also may start attending St. John's Lutheran Church here in town as well, so my sundays may have a WHOLE lotta church soon! :) I am on the art gallery committee now, and am pretty active within the church so far so I'm pretty happy and feeling very connected in many ways.
I've also started dancing again, with Dance Dimensions in Knoxville - but progress is slow, and I'm just starting to get myself energized again when my heart is so often torn between wanting to get back into my social scene and wanting to keep unpacking boxes and setting up my house. Needless to say, my house wins quite a bit - I just like feeling settled.

FAMILY FILLER
Lastly, we finally sold our house in Nashville at the end of September! Yea!!!! It was a great house, but we are glad we have moved onward and forward. The coolest thing is that with some of Jim's extra work, we were to pay for our own vacation to VEGAS which we plan to take in February 2007 - it's booked and if you ask me, I'd pack my bags tomorrow! :)

Easton (our Lab-Pointer doggie), is doing well; and our two cats are "getting along better" - with Iris finally seeming to become regulated with her diabetes (who knew cats could get diabetes), and Kira getting a bit chubby from the high-protein food that Iris has to eat. Sadly, however we had to put our other beautiful doggie "Lady-Bear Harmon" to sleep...I never thought I'd grieve like that for an animal, but it was her time and we definitely didn't want her to suffer anymore. Animals so become parts of our lives and families...it is that which makes us richer.

Anyway...I'm still afraid of plaster walls (afraid of damaging them), but my Dad is coming down for Thanksgiving which makes me happy. It's good to have a slice of home for the holidays. Plus, with the Easton/Phillipsburg Football game being broadcast on ESPN2 this Thanksgiving , I'll be WAAAY happy.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as you are often in ours...we continue our efforts to start a family hope that your good wishes will bring a good "announcement" in the near future. Much peace, love and hope to you all...talk to you next month!

New Beginnings and New Adventures!

Hello everyone...my dear friends and family. I know, it's been quite a while since you've heard from/or about Jim and me, but things are starting to settle down and we're beginning the NEXT chapter of our lives.
Wow.
Jim and I have moved back to Knoxville after 2 years of struggle and growth in Nashville. We learned a lot about life, friendship and our love for each other. In the final analysis, we are so stronger for all the experiences we had there...the good, the bad and the ugly.
Anyway...that's all I'm saying about the recent "past" for now.
Now, this little-big house you see is where life is for us and we COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!
We bought a historic home in the Fairmont-Emoriland section of Knoxville, Tennessee and aside from the fact that I'm working on learning how to live with plaster walls, the house is amazing! It's big but cosy. It's very well laid out, and has a great vibe/karmic-cosmic feel to it. Good news is the house was owned by a couple who lived here for 40 years, and were married for 47 years - so definitely good karma in that department.
This is where we will start a family - hopefully.
It feels like it's where we're supposed to be.
Knoxville...look out...here we are!
Here's to life and keeping you all posted.