Move and New House

Thanks to Carrie's trip to Taco Bell, here is the first meal in the new house, eaten in the ground-level kitchen. It was also the first meal of the day for some of us.
Along with all the other excitement last weekend, we moved my parents 4 houses down the street. The first weekend in the new house this weekend has found Grandma T.J. and Coleman here. It is a beatiful weekend and we look forward to a nice walk this afternoon and lots of sports watching this weekend. John Locke is pointing at where the computer used to be in the basement of the old house.
Carrie rode my jet ski this weekend, but this time on land while I drove it to the new house. I'm hoping to take it out a couple more times this year before the water is too low and too cold.
Jason and John and I moving freezer downstairs.
Carrie with both the slalom ski and snow skis. Look out for her with that look!
The crew that made it until this afternoon picture. The move started just before 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 14, and ended at 9 p.m. for me, although my parents were cleaning at the old house until 11 p.m.

The line-up of cars mid-afternoon. Jason had already left but Carrie and John were still there as well as the Kennedy's who came and helped move a clean for a couple of hours. The flag infront of the new house on 10110 Crestmont Dr.View in the front yard of the new house. The tree is beautiful and makes for some good pictures this fall.A view from the back of the house. It is huge with the addition and a nice place fore sure.Another angle from the yard of the garage and driveway. This house has been very easy to get used to in a hurry and already feels like home. Especially after watching the play-offs at Cleveland's Jacobs Field on Thursday night. After I watched 5 games live at the Jake while at MVA it was great to see another one even if on tv. This weekend look for an exciting finish to the series with Game 6 tonight in Boston with Fausto Carmono taking on Curt Schilling. In other sports news there is snow predicted for Sunday night's NBC game between the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. Also the NBA regular season starts in 10 days. It was a big relief to have the move done and now for a relaxing weekend finally!!

Best Weekend of My Life!

Last weekend was Carrie's October Homeleave and she came on Wednesday afternoon and stayed through Sunday evening after helping us move. This is my first blog post from the new house. We went to the driving range Thursday afternoon a couple hours before Carrie and I got engaged!!!
All 3 swining at one time.
As well as go to the driving range, we also went Friday afternoon and took batting practice at the VM Fields for over 2 hours on a beautiful day. Carrie and John Locke and I also played on Wednesday night.
Ryan K. had not got to bat all softball season long at Southern as he pitched for his team. I pitched to Ryan for probably nearly 30 straight minutes at the end and he hit at least 10+ home runs.
Before Carrie came on Wednesday afternoon, I had been at Highland from Friday evening until Tuesday morning, so it was a great stretch of 9 straight days of seeing her.

Carrie and Grant at the softball fields Friday afternoon.

Gabby, Grant, Carrie and myself on Sabbath afternoon at Jaclyn's after Sabbath lunch she made for everyone thanks to nearly everything being packed at our old house down the street now.Kelly and Carlson threw an Engagement Party on Saturday night for Ryan and Jaclyn, and after hearing about Carrie and I being engaged they added us to the party too!!! It was great times and how nice of them to do it. Great food and fun games.The 4 of us at the table before we ate! It was great food and I'm sure I helped down at least 4+ of those sandwhiches!!Playing cards after the meal.
On Sabbath afternoon we went to the Imagination Station at the Greenway and took a ton of pictures of the 2 couples. I'm not allowed to post any of the pictures now as they may be used for something else in the not-to-distant future! Ryan and I got in some catch with his football too. It was by far the best weekend of my life. I am getting used to being engaged in a hurry. It has been great getting to tell everyone in the last few days!! I'll put up another blog later from the move last weekend. What a tiring process that was and how hard my parents have worked during the school year to pull off this move without a hitch. Thanks so much Carrie, John Locke and Jason Herod for the help on Sunday.

Big News!!!

On Thursday evening I took Carrie out to eat at the Olive Garden. After our supper we headed for downtown Chattanooga to the Walnut Street Bridge. We walked accross the bridge and then down by the Aquarium to some fountains that Carrie and Jaclyn have played in before. Then we walked up to the Hunter Art Museum's platform that overlooks the bridge and water. After about 3 or more couples had come and gone, there was finally a moment when we were alone. I finally got up the nerve and asked her to marry me!!!! And she said yes!!!!! Needless to say we didn't watch the baseball play-offs as we had talked about.

Carrie by the fountains.

This picture was taken a few minutes after I asked her!

Back at the old house for one of the last times before the move Sunday, my parents snapped our picture a couple times.Another picture inside just before Jaclyn and Ryan got back from the Symphony they attended at the Tivoly Theatre (the Canadian spelling).

Smiling for pictures never even started to get old, as I couldn't stop smiling all evening. What a great Fall Break for me!!!

A picture of Carrie's ring taken on Friday early afternoon before we headed over to the VM Fields for some batting practice with 5 of us: Ryan K., Jaclyn, Carrie, Grant and me.

Carrie is looking pretty happy in this picture. I couldn't be any happier than right now. I am so blessed to have Carrie in my life and now that we are engaged we will have many more great times and memories to make over the years!!! I have been on Fall Break all week and Carrie got out for October Homeleave on Wednesday at noon. I was at Highland from Friday evening until Tuesday morning. I have been so spoiled to get to see Carrie for a week straight!! This Sunday will be the big moving day here for my parents 4 houses down the street. They have already gotten a ton of boxes moved in the last 2 days.

Fall Break

This picture was taken on Sabbath after we got back from church. Ralph Ringer preached as part of a 2 hour service. It was a good sermon though and didn't feel as long as it actually was.
One of the things we have enjoyed a lot this weekend has been watching the MLB Play-Offs. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. central is game 4 in New York between the Indians and Yankees. Cleveland is looking to wrap up the series 3 games to 1 and advance to face Boston in the A.L.C.S. starting on Friday. In the NL, Thursday will be game 1 at Chase Field in Phoenix as Arizona hosts Colorado in the first ever all N.L. West N.L.C.S.
Carrie wearing her rally cap on Saturday night.
On Friday we had Professional Development meetings from 8:30- 3:30 at Hardy. It was the start of our Fall Break. Our next day of school is on Monday, October 15. I am excited for the chance to have time off school. I drove to Carrie's on Friday afternoon and am here until tomorrow. Then Carrie is coming for her October Homeleave on Thursday evening and staying for the weekend.
On Thursday mornings I have to be to school at my bus duty post by 7:30 a.m. plus the 30+ minute drive to get to school. Notice some students are happier to see the camera than others!
Carrie's car with sun setting on Friday evening as we were about to head back to Portland.
Another pretty sunset picture in Gallatin.
Carrie's Wal-Mart at sunset.

Whirlwind Weekend

The picnic on Saturday afternoon.

Pre-wedding shots of everyone in the beautiful weather. It couldn't have been any more perfect this weekend for the wedding for the weather.

What a fun weekend it was getting to celebrate with Tara and Erik as they got married on Sunday. I ended up leaving early on Saturday morning since my car was diagnosed with a bent tie rod in the back right as well as a bent wheel and bent tire. I had to get all those fixed and I got the parts from all over and got great help from my neighbor Jim Ashlock. On Sabbath afternoon we had a nice picnic lunch at a house that was rented for the weekend. Then we went over to see the Cook's and then Carrie and Jaclyn disappeared around 5 p.m. and re-appeared Sunday evening in time for the wedding.

Pictures after the wedding.

The wedding party both formal and excited about something!!

Tara and Erik react to something that was said during the photo shoot.

Tara gets picked up by the guys.

This is one of the best pictures I got the whole weekend. The lighting was perfect on the way up to finally join everyone else already eating at the Reception. I had a blast taking tons of photos with the professional photographer with so many good chances for pictures. It was a great time and it went by all too fast. On Saturday night I stayed with Josh C. in the Guys Dorm and then on Sunday night I stayed at the Bed & Breakfast. It was fun getting to see old friends from Nosoca at Pisgah over the weekend. I also got to spend a lot of time with Stephanie and Ryan K. On Sabbath evening Ryan and I went to see Ross get inducted into the NHS along with 7 other students. We then watched college football at Stephanie's apt. and had Taco Bell before going up to the field for the games and 2 bonfires. Then Sunday morning I ate brunch at the cafe and then went over to the Fuller's and watched football and baseball on tv before heading over to the wedding at 4. I will be putting up another post of the Builtmore we visited yesterday morning and early afternoon. Maybe later this week I'll have time.