Nashville

We're heading to Nashville tonight for a much needed vacation. Well, actually we're heading to Nashville so Chad can go to his case competition for two days (while I write 3 papers for school) and then we're staying Saturday and Sunday. We're going to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night, and I am way excited. =) Pictures to come next week...

Tag, I'm It!

I hate these things, but I like Andrea...so I'll do it:

8 things I am passionate about:
1. Chocolate
2. Playing the piano
3. My Monday night TV (Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill)--I'm addicted to these show, I know they're total smut and I still watch them.
4. My husband-- when I actually get to see him =)
5. School--even though I'm lacking in the motivation department these days
6. The population over 65-- some of my best friends in life are 70+
7. My new kitty--Mokie, cutest thing I've ever seen
8. Being an aunt--best job ever

8 words or phrases I say often:
1. That is nasty
2. That is gross with a capital "G" (I use a variety of adjectives)
3. Niiiiiice
4. Seriously?
5. Holy Mokie or Holy Mokes-- due to the new feline, I know it's quite corny
6. Should I wait up for you tonight?
7. Delectable
8. Ba da ba ba ba---I'm lovin' it

8 things I want to accomplish in the coming year:
1. Survive the first year of grad school
2. Rock at my practicum
3. Finish the BOM
4. Learn 2 new really tough pieces on the piano
5. Begin an exercise regimen. I hate exercising by myself, so this will be tough.
6. Become more open-minded
7. Learn a new craft
8. Take a vacation (Florida for Christmas, hallelujah!!!)

8 places I would love to go or visit:
I've already been to the first 3, but I'd like to go with my husband next time...
1. Palmyra and the pageant
2. Nauvoo
3. Paris
4. England
5. Egypt
6. Machu Picchu
7. Jamaica
8. Bahamas

8 things I need or want:
1. to add to my professional attire for my upcoming practica
2. some new piano music
3. to paint my house, which leads me to
4. a house to paint =) (This will take a few years.)
5. a vacation...far far away
6. a Kitchen-Aid mixer
7. a grand piano
8. guitar lessons from a professional

I tag... YOU. If you read it, do it! =) And if you read this and you think, "I wonder if she's talking about me..." Yes, I'm talking about you. And I'll be checking...

Surgery

Chad was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on his left lower eyelid. He had this removed and then had to have the lower lid reconstructed so that his eye could look somewhat normal and tears would not just fall out of his eye. Here are some pictures documenting our journey:

Before surgery 1 (above)

After surgery 1 (above)

After surgery 1 (above) Most of what the doctor took out was on the inside of the lower lid. Sorry this is so blurry...

After surgery 2, before removal of the bandage (above)

After surgery 2, after removal of the bandage

New addition

We added another member to the Byron clan. Please welcome:

MOKIE! (Isn't she cute?)

Since Chad is gone all the time and I'm spending a lot of time home alone, we decided that I needed a friend to keep me company. =) It took some persuading because Chad grew up close to a house where there were lots of cats that weren't very well-behaved. So after months of talking about it and me convincing him that cats are actually pretty low-key and lots of fun, we decided to adopt. We adopted Mokie (Moh-key) at the PetSmart adoption center. She had just barely come in from the local Spay and Neuter Clinic about 30 minutes before we arrived at PetSmart. We weren't planning on coming home with a kitty, but she was just exactly what we were looking for. We didn't want a baby kitten because they take a lot more time to train and you have to constantly be watching them to make sure they're not causing trouble. So, when we saw Mokie, we decided we couldn't pass her up.

MISSING!

If you see this man, could you tell him that I really, really miss him?

Name: Chad James Byron

Description: 6', blue eyes, brown hair, incredibly handsome

Last seen: Way too long ago

Possible location: Rawls Hall

Happy 2 years!

Just some memories from the best day of my life =) Enjoy!

The Masses Have Called...

and I'm finally going to answer. For your viewing pleasure, please visit: chadandbekah.smugmug.com. There are like 7 whole albums spanning 5 months. I got so backed up with blogging, and I had so many pictures I needed to show that I just couldn't handle it anymore. Therefore, I will be posting our picture albums at smugmug. I won't be getting rid of the blog, but this just makes it easier for me to keep track of all our pictures and whatnot. (I'll still post pictures on here, too.)

As for an update: Chad and I are in Indiana! We are loving it here, so far. We have both started school and are incredibly busy. Chad is also teaching an undergraduate level public speaking class, so he really doesn't have much time. I am traveling to Indy three times a week (1 hour and 20 minutes) to attend class.

This last weekend we celebrated our two year anniversary. Chad surprised me by taking me to a Bed & Breakfast in Logansport. It was a fun time, even though the B&B wasn't the nicest place in the world. (It looked much better online.) We had a good time, though.

We like our ward. I'm teaching the 6 and 7 year olds in Primary, and boy are they a handful.

We LOOOOVE our place. It's been so convenient to have an extra bedroom that we've converted into an office (and we have a blow-up bed for those of you who want to come visit =) ).

Welp, I think that's all, folks!