The Big Bathroom Renovation

So we finally decided it was time to redo the master bathroom. The room is by far the smallest room in the house and probably the most out-dated, so it was time. Josh and Aaron are doing all the work. Josh has been pushing through like a champ.


The project is moving slowly but surely. The first two pictures are of what the bathroom used to look like, before Josh and Aaron ripped everything out. The second picture was taken in the midst of demolition, The last two where post-demolition, and deep in the middle of shower reconstruction.

Craig's Graduation and CO and UT Trip 2

Craig's Graduation and CO and UT Trip 1

Mysterious Flower

Does anyone know what this crazy looking flower is called? The flower part is bigger than a softball. They are widely used in landscape down here but I can't figure out the name. I believe they are some sort of bulb. We have a few of the plants in our front garden, but they only bloom sporadically. This is a picture from the first bloom, two years ago. Oddly enough, this past year it finally bloomed again and I am amazed to say there is even another one getting ready too bloom. I wish I could figure out what it was so I could figure out how to take care of it and get it to bloom more often.

Jacksonville, Florida

The closest big city to us is Jacksonville, FL which is south of Fernandina Beach. I work on the south side of Jacksonville and the city is pretty neat. Downtown is located along the St. Johns River. These pictures are from our stay in Jacksonville when our company celebrated their 20th anniversary last year.

SuperStar!!

Nicole Barhart... What can I say? She is destined to be a SuperStar! We are so proud of all her soccer accomplishments, not to mention she is a super smart girl and a great friend. She just told me that her contract with the Women's National Time was signed for another year and that she will be on the Women's World Cup team. How sweet is that!? Congrats Nicole!!!

Picture from http://www.pac-10.org/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/082404aaj.html from her Stanford days.

Cumberland Island

I have found that my favorite place down here so far is Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. This is the next island north of Amelia Island, FL, where we live. Although there are still some private homes on the island, all housing rights will eventually be handed over and the only people living in the island will be park rangers. You have to take a passenger ferry over there and once you get there, its mainly walking. I love taking people there and I love going myself. Lots of cool shells too. We have camped here twice and gone plenty of other times for the day. I am always up for a Cumberland trip!!

Friends from Florida

I'm sure you may have heard about some of our friends down here in Florida enough that I should at least give you a face to put with the names.



Crystal and Aaron are "The Other Young Couple" from our church and have been great friends We get together frequently and it gives me a good excuse to go crazy in the kitchen and cook too much food! This picture is from a Jacksonville Jaguars football game that they took us to, even with the rain at this game, it was still a ton of fun.



Brian is from my office and has been great fun to have around. He has also been a great running partner for Josh in the 5ks and other races he has started doing lately. I get to play track mom, after I drag myself out of bed that early on a Saturday morning. I think it amazes Brian how I roll out of bed at th last minute and into the car and we still make it on time. Plus, he likes to camp, so he gets extra bonus points for that. This is a picture of Josh and Brian after the Gate River Run in Jacksonville this past March. This was a 15k race and I was proud of both of them, even though I never actually saw Josh running (he says he did at least!) since there were so many people.

The Pluses to being a Flatlander

I would be lying if I said there wasn't anything good about being a flatlander. Among other things, people come to visit and they also go to visit Disney World and invite you along too!! Josh and I have been privileged enough to get to go 4 times since moving down to Fernandina. First with Joan and Ron (Joan is a parade crosser!), then with my parents, then with Steph and Adam, and most recently with my Mom! Flat Stanley even got to go!

Pebbles and Vinny

For those of you who may not have seen pictures of our pets, or just want some newer pictures, here you go! Vinny is the handsome dog and Pebbles is the cute cat, usually up to no good. Vinny is loud, but very loving. Pebbles is playful and loves to get into trouble.

For example... Vinny can blow out your eardrum when he barks, well, maybe not for real, but it can seem like it! Pebbles, she got into Josh's cereal bowl this morning!

Catching Up

We have been wanting to do this blog for a while, but it has taken me a while to actually get motivated and set it up. So, some of the postings may seem a little odd or out of place for a while until I get caught up, but bear with me. Enjoy!

Hi from the Flatlanders!

During our recent trip to Colorado and Utah, Josh and I quickly realized we have in fact, become flatlanders. Here in Florida, we are just above sea level and we never realized it more than when we were standing thousands of feet above sea level at the top of the mountains! Someday that will change I am sure and we will be back to more elevation and we can regain our former stamina! But for now, I guess we just embrace the fact that we have morphed into flatlanders, hence the start of "A Flatlander's Diary."

Definition of "flatlander" from Wikipedia: Flatlander is a term used ... by people living at higher altitudes...to refer to those living at lower altitudes.