Just Me and the Puppies!

So we don’t have TV. When we lived at Avalon, cable was included in the rent, so we had cable. When we moved to trailer we decided cable wasn’t worth the cost, so we didn’t have it installed. We survived . I like the basic channels. I don’t see any need for more than five channels. Well, we moved to Guntown and for some reason our tv does not pick up the basic five or six channels. In fact it will only, rarely, pick up FOX. At first we were so busy I didn’t notice. When we finally got settled and had time, Tyler and I started watching a movie after supper; the lack of the TV doesn’t really bother me. Correction didn’t really bother me. Tyler left for Biloxi yesterday, and our tv won’t come in. Combine this with the fact that I don’t feel well, and gosh I just wanta watch some junk TV. Instead I’m cuddled under the blankets with my crackers and some, and don’t ask me why, war movies. I’ve watched three movies about three different wars. On the positive side, Tyler being gone means that my puppies, especially EmmyLou, are super needy and cuddly, which is exactly what this sick girl needs!

So we’ve been in Guntown for almost two weeks. Cleaning the trailer was quite the experience. I knew it would be awful. I knew this because of several reasons, one of which was that when the previous tenant left he didn’t really clean. In his defense, we were already there, which complicated matters. The second and largest reason I knew it would be awful to clean is because I had an awful attitude the entire time we lived there. To be really honest, I knew it was best for us, but I didn’t want to live there. I didn’t like it, so I avoided cleaning. Yes, I would tidy up, but I didn’t scrub. I didn’t truly clean. And I paid the price. Blood, sweet, and tears went into cleaning the trailer. From start to finish the move took us weeks (we started moving things into the storage unit on December 12). But the bulk of the moving still took us five days. I’m not joking five days, but we did it all by ourselves. I was able to help carry absolutely everything we own out of the trailer and into the new house. Monday night was our last night in the trailer, unfortunately we underestimated the amount of items we had left, so it was going to take yet another Explorer full. Well, because we didn’t plan ahead we accidently packed our air mattress (the bed was long gone). Which meant that Tyler and I (oh and LeRoy) slept on our old, uncomfortable couch. We left the couch in the trailer to go to the dump, so it was the only thing we had left. I curled up at one end, Tyler reclined at the other and LeRoy, slept curled up next to me, which I didn’t mind because it was freezing! Which was yet another impact of our lack luster planning, we had one blanket.


So in honor of the trailer I want to list the things I miss and don’t miss

I miss the smell of the wood burning stove

I miss the outdoor space

I miss being able to look outside and see a pond

I miss the yard dogs, especially the dog we named Jerry who I almost brought with me to Guntown

I miss the quiet

I miss the crazy hot showers

I miss being so close to friends

I miss Mr. Bill calling me “girl” because I’m sure he didn’t remember my name.

I don’t miss the stove going cold in the middle of the night and waking up to a freezing cold home

I don’t miss the holes in the floor

I don’t miss doors that didn't latch when they shut

I don’t miss my crazy hot shower becoming ice cold because the hot water ran out in less than five minutes

I don’t miss beagles underneath the trailer barking up at my dogs, which had to respond with barking. I felt like I was trapped in a tin can.

We had great memories in the trailer, some bad (most of the bad were because of my bad attitude). There is no doubt in my mind we were meant to live in that trailer. I learned a lot about myself and my husband while we lived there. The trailer will always have a special place in our hearts, but I suppose we are on to other things now.

We are moving…yet again. We decided to rent a house from the man that Tyler replaced, despite the fact it was for sale. He offered us a great deal that we really couldn't pass up. We decided we would rent his home until it sold. Well unfortunately for us, it sold less than a week after we moved in. So we are going to start this process allllllllll over. Luckily things are mostly packed. We will leave a lot in our storage unit until we are settled. We are moving to Fulton, which is another small town outside of Tupelo. It will take Tyler 20 minutes to get to work, which is actually comparable to where we live now. Three bedrooms, one bath home in town, but has a big back yard and partial fence. It has some storage space outside. And a HUGE Magnolia tree in the front yard. The décor of the house varies. Some of the light fixtures and wall colors are very modern but the appliances are from the 1960’s. The bathtub is actually blue! When the landlord showed us the bathroom he said “Welcome to the 60’s” and he meant it!

2011

Holy Cow! It has been a LONG time! Life got busy and the blog suffered. But have no fear! I am back! So I thought I'd start the year by blogging about our goals. Last year our goals were: 1) Tyler finish his Masters program successfully
2)Tia finish her Masters program successfully
3) Pay off Tia’s credit card, and start paying off Tyler’s credit card
4) Live healthier
5) Lose 60 pounds
6) Grow closer to God and one another
7) Tyler get a job!

So we accomplished four of seven of our goals. We struggled with our weight (which has gotten worse) and our finances (which obviously gets worse). BUT we did accomplish over half of our goals so I’m hopeful for 2012!

Our goals for 2012 include:

1)      Grow Closer to God and each other

2)      Tia get a job

3)      Pay off ALL credit card debt

4)      Start to live healthier, which includes going to the needed doctors and eating properly

5)      Lose 60 pounds

6)      Mail birthday cards to our close family and friends

7)      Purge positions

8)      Eating out only once a week or less

I believe these are all possible! So here we go…a new year, a new home, a new town, and a new life which includes self-discipline with our finances and our health.

So here is the Stubbs Family 2011 in Review:

2011 has been an extremely intense year. Tyler and I have experienced so much joy, but we have felt deep sorrow. Brantley preached one Sunday morning discussing the importance of courage. Throughout the year I have clung to that word “courage.” It took courage to complete our degrees, it took courage to keep going when the pain was so deep we didn’t know if we could move forward.

Our year began with Tyler and I starting the last year of grad school. If the year had one title it would be “the year of the thesis.”  So he began to write his thesis meeting various deadlines for his professor, while attempting to find a job.  We started the year right, and had a few friends down to visit for a few days. Brittney and Jason  came down so Brittany could show Premier Jewelry to my Mississippi Friends, but Tyler and I just enjoyed their company. While their visit was short, it was extremely productive. Brittany and I had quality time together that I missed, and desperately needed.

This year brought the death of two very special people. Connie Thomson, Tyler’s aunt, and James D. Stubbs, Tyler’s grandfather both passed away from cancer. Connie’s death came after an intense, courageous battle. Connie was Dyanna’s only sister, and felt maternal love for Tyler. She welcomed me into their family, and was always willing to tease Tyler, often with my help. While my families are both huge, Tyler’s family is small, him being one of four grandkids, so he was very close to his aunt. She even traveled six hours north to watch him graduate from SDSU a few years ago.

We lost Tyler’s grandfather on my 24^th birthday on the 24^th day of November, which happened to be Thanksgiving. Six weeks earlier, Tyler received the devastating phone call that his grandfather was being sent home to receive hospice care in his home. A week before that Jim felt ill, but no one suspected the outcome of his hospital visit. Tyler’s father paid to fly Tyler home to be with his grandfather because at that point Jim was told he had a few days to a few weeks. I was unable to visit, but Tyler spent two days pouring his heart out at his best friend’s bed side. Tyler was able to express his love for his grandfather and his grandfather told him how much Tyler had meant to him. . Back down south I was praying and crying, praying and asking others to pray with me. My bible study leader prayed with me and said God told her to comfort us and said “He has shown you how to live, and now he will show you how to die.”

We realized that Thanksgiving was going to be Jim’s last holiday so when Tyler’s father offered to pay for us to travel to Iowa, we felt blessed. On our way there we received the call that Jim was getting bad, and we needed to hurry home. Tyler and I arrived around 9:30 on the 23^rd. Tyler went to his grandfather and told him “I’m here” and his grandfather squeezed his hand. We went home to rest around 12:30 thinking we would spend Thanksgiving with Jim the following day.

On November 24^, 2011 around 2:30 am James D. Stubbs passed away in his sleep holding the hand of his wife of 56 years.

The following days were hard. While our hearts were breaking we felt blessed to know he is now in Heaven. There is no doubt Jim no longer feels any pain. There is no doubt he heard those beautiful words “Well done Good and Faithful Servant.”

Tyler decided to speak at the funeral. I wasn’t surprised, I knew how much his grandfather meant to him, but I was still I knew how hard it would be to stand in front of a crowd and control his emotions. Tyler planned his speech focusing on the best attributes of his grandfather including loyalty and hard working. Some of my favorite comments were his on their marriage. Tyler and I want to be married 56 years, if not longer, and his grandparents have given us a blueprint. Tyler told the congregation about his grandfather’s faithful walks to Casey’s to buy cappuccinos and his endless search for gifts for Bonnie. I will always remember their playful banter and the way he smiled at her when she requested something right after he sat down. Tyler’s speech made everyone bawl and he showed such courage standing up there. Yes he was emotional, but everyone knew he would be. He was witty starting with “I’ll try to keep this short, but if I don’t remember it was inherited.” After his speech everyone was so proud, including his grandmother who told him he did a great job. Tyler continues to hear around town that he did a great job.  I just sat there and prayed he would be able to make it all the way through his speech. I believe that he said things that planted seeds in several hearts that hopefully one day will lead those individuals closer to God.

While there has been heartache, there has also been joy. I was able to celebrate with my friend Courtney as she became Mrs. Behrens. I met her husband Brady for the first time when I arrived at the rehearsal, but their love story is inspiring. It was an honor to be a part of their special day in March.

In April Tyler was given the highest award given by the College of Forest Resources for graduate students. It was nice to see that beyond his professor and beyond his department the college noticed his contribution to the university. I, unfortunately, did not witness him receiving his award because I was taking a final, during a tornado, but loved watching him hang up his award in his mancave.

In July Tyler started working for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. He was planning on working down in Jackson in January. But he was promoted!!! So now we are moving to Tupelo, which fun fact is the birthplace of Elvis. Tyler is the biologist for the Northeast region or Division 1. He covers 19 counties, and manages two employees. He is still adjusting because he started the new job in December. We are moving to Guntown, yes Guntown, so he will have less than an hour commute. So far he loves his job, we both feel truly blessed that he has a job in this economy.

As the year ends Tyler and I have many reasons to believe that 2012 will be a great year. We ended the year celebrating our graduations, ahhh finally, and had a wonderful Christmas with our families. We made a quick trip home, three days, to be with family, with the help of family. We were able to see immediate family and all of our grandparents. I hope to go home sometime in May/June with a quick trip in March. So it won’t be long before we are back with our families.