Friday Night Full of Surprises

One of our favorite places to eat here in Augusta is Pablanos. It is the best Mexican in Augusta, particularly because they are the only ones we have found that make homemade guacamole at your table. There are two locations, and they are about the same distance from our house. As is usual for a Friday night, we decided this past Friday to go to Pablanos for dinner. And for some reason, we decided to change it up and go to the newer location, which is not typically the one we go to. We decided to sit outside as it was raining and was unusually cool for July in Augusta. It was nice to enjoy the sound of the rain and the cool breeze, especially given that I had been inside working all week. Once the rain stopped and the sun started peeking through the clouds, my brother-in-law noticed a beautiful rainbow. By the time I got my camera out, there were two rainbows! It's difficult to see the second rainbow in the picture below, but it is to the left of the brighter rainbow. As you all know, I was thrilled to be able to see one rainbow, but even more thrilled to see two at one time! They were so beautiful and such a reminder of God's awesomeness!

After eating my homemade guacamole, chimichanga and refriend beans, I got up to use the restroom when (I couldn't believe my luck on this Friday night!!!), I saw a few familiar faces in the first booth in the restaurant. I had to do a double-take because I couldn't believe that two of my friends and ADPi sorority sisters from Mercer were sitting in Pablanos in Augusta, GA!!! It was so good to see Julia and Matthew and Meg and Ross! Once they finished eating, they came out to visit for awhile, and we spent the rest of the evening catching up. We ended up closing down Pablanos (which apparently closes at 11:30 for anyone interested.)

So what started out as a typical Friday night dinner with my boys at our favorite Mexican restaurant ended up being a night full of surprises...two beautiful rainbows and two good friends from college!! What a blessing!!

It's Official!!

I must say that March 12, 2008 rivals my wedding day as one of the best days of my life. On March 12, 2008, I found out that I passed the final section of the 4 part CPA exam. (Needless to say, it was an excellent early birthday present!) For those of you in the accounting profession, you know exactly what this means, and it was such a relief to close this chapter of my life! For those of you not in the profession, this test literally sucks the life out of you until you pass it, so you can imagine my relief!

Upon passing the CPA exam, my mother (as well as a number of my friends who claim that they have no idea exactly what it is that I do for a living) was convinced that I was a CPA. It is very difficult to explain to people that passing this test is only one step to obtaining my license. Other requirements include education requirements as well as working under a licensed CPA in public accounting for at least 2 years. May 21, 2009 marked my 2 year anniversary at Cherry, Bekart, & Holland and also the day that I finally met all requirements to become a CPA. After filling out the lengthly application, sending my transcripts to NASBA, receiving a form back from NASBA and completing the remaining portions of the application, I have finally received notice that as of today, I AM OFFICIALLY A CPA!!!!

The Final Lap

It's official.....the end is in sight......we will make it after all! Jason received his final schedule of rotations today! I knew that I wouldn't feel that this chapter was drawing to a close until we had the final schedule. And now that we do, I feel so relieved!

In the fall Jason will go to Doctor's Hospital in Augusta, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro, and back to Doctor's Hospital in Augusta. He will be officially done with the program on December 4 and will graduate a week later on December 11. It's been amazing to me how quickly these four week rotations have flown by, and I know that this semester will be over before we know it!

Off to Athens

As many of you know, as part of Jason's Masters program, he is required to travel to different hospitals in Georgia to complete his rotations. These rotations have taken him to Peachtree City for 16 weeks, Hawkinsville for 4 weeks, and LaGrange for 8 weeks. Jason left for Athens today and will be there through the middle of August. We haven't gotten his schedule for the fall yet, but we are looking forward to being able to count down the rotations once we know where he's scheduled to go!

I'm not the only one that misses him when he is gone. I am almost convinced that Bruiser and Bella miss him more than I do! They lay by the door all week waiting for him to come home on Thursday night. Poor pups!

Green Bananas?

The longer I am married, the more I realize the difference between men and women. Here is one such example....I offered to make homemade banana pudding for a Bible study that we attend once a month. My dear, sweet husband agreed to go to the store for me to buy the ingredients for the banana pudding. I wrote down exactly what was needed, including specific instructions regarding what to do if certain items weere not available. When I started making the banana pudding this evening, I pulled out all ingredients and laid them out on the counter, including a bunch of green bananas. Really? Green bananas? For banana pudding that I am serving tomorrow? When I inquired of Jason as to what he was thinking when he purchased green bananas for the banana pudding, he responded, "You didn't specifiy what color bananas you wanted...". How clueless men are about these things...it's almost cute.

4th of July 2009

My husband and I disagree about the best place to spend the 4th of July. He thinks that the Fourth can be spent anywhere as long as there is bar-b-que, hamburgers, and fireworks. I, on the other hand, think that the Fourth is not complete without decorated golfcarts and the Peachtree City parade.


It just so happens that Jason's Aunt Michelle, Uncle Chris and their four children usually visit Jason's parents over the 4th of July holiday, which is a perfect opportunity for us to visit the family. This year, we spent the 4th of July in Peachtree City with our families. We started the day by going to the Peachtree City Parade, which I love every year. The golfcarts, the floats, the children racing for the candy...it all makes for a perfect beginning to our nation's birthday. After the parade, we celebrated the Fourth with a cookout at the fire station (Jason's Dad is a firefighter), relaxed by the pool with a yummy trifle dessert (thanks to Jen for the wonderful recipe!) and ended the day with a bar-b-que and fireworks at my parent's church, First Baptist Church of Peachtree City. It was so exciting to be able to spend time with family and also see some friends from both high school and college. We are so blessed that our families get along so well as we were able to spend time with the entire family rather than splitting our time. It was a wonderful day!

I got this trifle recipe from a lady I work with, Jennifer Heath. It turned out so great! I also made a white chocolate one for my mother-in-law. It was yummy as well! Thanks again, Jen!

Melinda and her boys.

Me and Mom.

Needless to say, my babies loved the attention from Jason's cousins, Andrew and Adam.

Happy 4th Anniversary

On June 11, Jason and I celebrated our 4th anniversary! I can't believe that we have been married for four years. I know everyone says it, but it has truly flown by. I love my husband dearly, and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful marriage!

Since moving to Augusta in 2007, we have started a tradition of eating at local Augusta restaurants for our anniversary. In 2007, it was a little restaurant called Bistro 491, which had the yummiest tomato soup with a puff pastry baked on top. In 2008, it was a restaurant called Cadwalladers Cafe, which had great food, great desserts, and great wine.

This year, we took the advice of our friends, Ryan and Isa, and ate at this little restaurant out near the lake called La Cantina. While it sounds like a Mexican restuarant, it actually has a limited menu of steaks and seafood. What is so unique about this restaurant (aside from the fact that it is run by a homely couple who, when I called to make reservations, told me, "Now, Honey, we ain't nothin' fancy 'round here!") is that the owner cooks every meal in a chiminea outside on the deck. It was amazing to see him cook our steaks to order - I got my medium, and it came out exactly medium. It appeared that cooking the steaks in the chiminea (what they called an Horno) would completely burn and char the steaks. However, the steaks were probably some of the best we have had in a long time! I have posted some pictures below of our wonderful evening. Once Jason graduates, we definitely plan to go back for a date night!