To Wherever And Back

Lately things have been crazy. Crazy busy and crazy fun! We had my parents come for a visit. We went on a weekend trip with Ryan's family to Chattanooga. We had Andrea stay with us for a whole week! We had a quick visit in Atlanta with Julie & Jason and with Chris & Sarah. We had Rabbi and Lisa here for almost two weeks! We had a fabulous weekend trip to the TN river with wonderful friends. We've been to several braves games. We had Adam and Theresa here for Labor Day. We've been blessed!

But today, well, today was one of those wake up too early, work too many hours, sit in traffic too long, have too much cleaning to do when you get home but too tired to even try kind of days. The kind of day when you wish something good was on tv, but isn't. The kind of day when you just want to snuggle with your puppy and not do anything that a grown up is supposed to do. Like go to bed at a reasonable hour so that tomorrow doesn't start off in the way too tired way that today did. One fabulous thing happened today. One of my sweetest friends had a baby! Alice Elizabeth Thompson has arrived safely and I spent the majority of the day in prayer over her and her mommy. Marissa, Julie, Brooke (and Emily too, though she was busy giving birth) and I were emailing and texting all day. Today I miss my friends.

Meet Bauer Paco Pearman

Bauer's first bath.

Sips and Strokes with Mom.

Bauer meeting Shelby. His head is soaking wet from being in her mouth.

Bridesmaid luncheon cakes

Potty training time. (notice shoes have been moved from the floor to the ledge - someone hasn't learned what is and is not a chew toy)

Bauer's first visit with Mr. Danny. You should have heard the other dogs barking their heads off - Bauer was definitely the best patient of the day.

Watching Julie get into her wedding dress.

My new snuggle buddy

Meeting Barkley

When I was 27 I...
... lived in Miami on the Miracle Mile
... lived in Manhattan in Midtown East
... lived in Atlanta
... passed the CPA exam
... re-entered the working world
... watched my little brother get married
... cheered Ryan on as he passed Step 1, Step 2 CS, and prepared for Step 2 CK
... was lucky enough to see 5 Broadway shows (love Broadway so much)
... started exercising, stopped exercising, started exercising, stopped exercising
... gained approx. 7 pounds - having a desk job can be hard on a girl with my chocolate habits
... regularly attended Sunset Church in Miami, Trinity Church in Manhattan, and North Atlanta Church in Atlanta
... became a huge Yankees fan
... attended several Marlins games and one Braves game
... went to a Knicks game and cheered like I'd been a fan all my life
... got a new niece and found out I'm getting another one
... went to a Minute Clinic in Miami, NYC, and Atlanta
... lost my tan
... had to start regularly coloring my hair to cover up the grey
... celebrated cupcake Wednesdays every Wednesday
... applied for a holiday position to be an elf at Macy's on 34th street (as in Miracle on 34th St)
... finally talked Ryan into getting a puppy!

To sum up, when I was 27 I was loved, healthy, happy, homesick, stressed, excited, thankful, a little bit fat, and very, very blessed!

Things I hope/plan/am excited about when I'm 28:
1. Add a new member to the Pearman home - a soft coated wheaten terrier!
2. Watching my BFF get married
3. Finding out where we will live for the 3+ years of residency
4. Losing at least 7 pounds :)
5. Planning my first trip ever to Wisconsin
6. Finally making it to the Naples in November trip
7. Wathcing Ryan graduate medical school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The poem I wrote for Julie's wedding:
Nearly sixteen years ago, in the fall of 1994
I walked through the doors of JCS not knowing what God had in store
I was new in Jackson and not sure where I would fit in
Of all the people I met my first year in school, you were one of the "forever" friends
From the day that I showed up in shorts and the assembly began
I know that us being friends has always been part of His plan
Memories from the youth group, church camp, and devotionals
Experiencing Chrysalis together - where we were all quite emotional!
Attending tons of sporting events and summers at the pool
Discussing the perfect outfit for the first day back to school
Many hours talking about boys - but then acting like we didn't really care
Sitting behind each other in chapel so we could fix each others' hair
Physics parties, pumpkin launching, and even butt charades
Swimming at my house all summer and going mudding on the rainy days
Dave Matthews concerts, dances, and learning how to drive
No matter how many times you tried to teach me - I still cannot do a proper dive
Trips to the beach, many sleepovers, and even more telephone calls
Singing songs at the top of our lungs and cheering on the Vols
We had so many conversations about our future dreams and goals
Although our plans were constantly changing, we knew God was in control
We made lists of the characteristics our husbands must possess
When I look at us today I can't believe how we've been this blessed
When graduation came and it was time to move away
I hated that things were changing - I didn't like that day.
I was not as excited as you for our college years to begin
I can't tell you how thankful I was to start that phase with a friend
Pledging quickly came and we were as excited as could be
I don't know how you made it through without your 9 hours of required sleep
Delta Na Na Na was always a blast and we were sure to stop the show
From the Supremes to Britney Spears to choir members in robes
Remember the day we found a house where we could afford the rent?
You, Mandi, and me - all grown-up and independent!
We always had people over - for TV nights, egg hunts and cake walks
For showers, parties, and sleepovers, or just to hang out and talk
I loved our girl trips to Chicago, especially the super short flight
Our suitcases filled with H&M clothes really were a sight
After college graduation we headed to New York to see shows and the Yankees too
We met Charlie Gibson and Dianne Sawyer and made an appearance on The View
We are so blessed with great friends, we both know that's a fact
But there aren't many friends who will make a trip to Dominica and back!
We have been together through all the major phases in life
And now I get to watch as you become a wife
I know that Jason is an answer to many prayers, just as you are an answer to his
Of all the things we've done together, it doesn’t get better than this
I'll walk down the aisle first and watch Jason as he anxiously waits for his bride
And as you make your vows to him, I'll be right there by your side
You pray for your friends to find someone who will love them as they should
Who will help them get to heaven and stand by them when things aren’t always good
I know you’ve found that someone who knows how special you truly are
And you will share the kind of love you once wished for upon a star
Tomorrow is the day you have dreamt of since you were a little girl
The day when you will marry your best friend in the world
I am so honored to be a part of the happiest day of your life
When you will become Mrs. Jason Orr, united as husband and wife
I pray for you and Jason to share a life full of love and laughter
And after tomorrow I know you’ll live happily ever after…

And now a few Bauer video clips... He reached a milestone this week! After 2 weeks with us he is finally able to get in the chair with me without me having to pick him up. He literally throws his neck into the chair to try to sling shot the rest of his body up the side of the chair! As the middle-school cheer goes, you've got to want it to win it - and he wants it bad!!!