Alive and Well!

Hello Friends, Family, Followers!

Scott and I have been terrible about blogging. Like all of you, we have been busy with holiday events, family get-togethers, and plenty of shopping trips. I finished my first semester in my Masters of Public Health (straight A's!), and Scott has had an unusually busy quarter at work. Needless to say, we are both ready to relax for a few weeks and enjoy each other...and enjoy being engaged!

Recapping everything from the last month would be nearly impossible, so let me highlight some of what Scott and I think is important/fun/relevant.

Through my job, we were able to volunteer for an organization called Project Concern. Project Concern is an organization in Indianapolis that aids single, unwed mothers and provides these women with mentors. My office provided Christmas gifts for about 18 women and children. Most of the women provided Christmas lists, but there were a few who didn't. Scott and I's responsibility was to come up with a gift basket for the women who did not have specific requests.

At Project Concern's dinner event, we served as elves, passing out gifts and baskets to the women and children in need. Here are a few pics:



Abby, Stacy, Dr. Lynna, and myself



Scott and I (after enjoying some ah.maz.zing mac and cheese!)



Scott with his parents and grandma!



 Over the last month, we have also been able to spend some quality time with good friends and family. It has been interesting for both of us to learn about each other's families, our holiday traditions, etc. My family tends to be loud and overwhelming at times. There is no such thing as privacy, but it always makes for an entertaining holiday season. Scott's family, on the other hand, tends to be super relaxed, quiet, peaceful... Although our families are quite different, Scott and I have learned to really appreciate the differences between our families and really enjoy the time we spend with them. For example, I love--more than anything!--to go to Logansport (where Scott's parents live) for a weekend and enjoy peace and quiet, and Scott really enjoys hanging out with my crazy 'rents because there is never a dull moment. What a blessing it is for each of us to have future in-laws that we truly love and get along with!

In other news, I have started wedding planning! To be honest, I wanted to enjoy being engaged for a few weeks before diving head-first into the whirlwind of wedding mania. Scott and I booked our venue, the Indiana State Museum, and have a date set! My mom and Teta helped me pick out (read: picked out for me) amazing flowers from Kathy's Kloset of Flowers. The florist (Kathy) is a hoot, and I know she will do a beautiful job. Meanwhile, my mom and I have made a pact (with Scott as our witness) that we would consider each other's ideas/wishes/desires. In other words, I promised to respect what is important to her, and she has promised to respect what is important to Scott and I. In reality, we (my mom and I) are just super excited and get stoked when we have what we think to be a great idea. Thus far, we are getting along wonderfully and have had a lot of fun planning together!

I also asked some of the most important girls in my life to 'head down the aisle' with me. When I asked each of them, I wanted the moment to be special, and I wanted them to feel how truly appreciative I am to have them in my life. I came up with a little book for each of them:



"I said 'yes' to this guy"



"On our special day, everything will be perfect...But you know what would make it better?..."

"You!"

"Will you 'head' down the aisle with me?"

And...here are my girls and their answers...!!:

Maddie/MOH/Sister

Morgan/Sister

Hanna/Cousin

Lauren/Best Friend From College

Nicole/ Best Friend

Krystin/ Best Friend from Childhood

Binal/Best Friend from High School

I feel so fortunate to have such amazing friends and family. Krystin is going to fly back all the way from Hawaii in order to share my special day!!

More wedding plans to come...

(P.S. Scott and I took a break from Super Freakonomics and are now about halfway through Love and Respect)

(P.P.S. Scott was elected to be a board member for Fresh Start! So proud of him :) )

More to come soon. Have a safe, happy, and healthy new year!!

Our Engagement Story :)





(Betsy): We are engaged!!!! I am so thrilled that I get to spend the rest of my life with such an amazing man! I have had a ton of people ask me how Scott proposed, and we wanted to share our engagement story with everyone, so let me start out by mentioning how surprised I was! I had no idea that on November 5, 2010, I’d be saying ‘yes’ to my sweet Scott.

(Scott): mmm surprised – maybe she was just a little, but it’s hard to believe that’s true as she dropped hints every other hour and constantly asked probing questions trying to feel me out. She was slightly surprised because I put forth a lot of effort to propose at a time that she wouldn’t expect anything.

(Betsy): Ok, so maybe I knew I had something coming. And drop hints? Me? Never...I was just being helpful: “You know, Scott, wouldn’t it be neat to be engaged before my cousins come in for Thanksgiving?” “Wow, Scott, wouldn’t November be a beautiful month to get engaged?!” Despite my helpful suggestions, Scott completely threw me for a loop. And here’s how…

(Scott): About a week before, we had selected the ring. Then, it was up to me to pick a diamond and a “delivery date”. I had always had spring in mind as the “delivery date” but changed my mind because I knew we were meant to be and knew we had something special. On November 5th, I made sure to call the soon to be in-laws and my parents to inform them that I might be proposing soon. This again was difficult with “snoopy” but we all somehow pulled it off.

(Betsy): They sure did pull it off! But there were some close calls. For example, here is a conversation my mom and I had a few hours before Scott popped the question:

Mom: “Hey there, what’d ya’ need?”
Me: “What do you mean what did I need?”
Mom: “Well, I have two missed calls from you.”
Me: “Uh…well, I didn’t call you.”
Mom: “Yes you did. It says right here that I have two missed calls from Scott.”
[I check with Scott…he says to tell her ‘never mind’]
Me: “He says never mind.”
Mom: “Ok, love you. Bye”
[10 minutes of me nagging Scott about why he called my mom…I think he has
something up his sleeve, but I finally give up.]

THEN, my mom calls back!

Mom: “Tell Scott that I checked his message, and I think it is a good idea to move
those things up to Noblesville. I don’t need them in my house.”

DARN! All this time, I was thinking that Scott called my mom to ask her if it was ‘ok’ to get married when in reality, he just was making sure it was ok to move some furniture up to his house in Noblesville! Or so I thought….

(Scott): On November 5th I had the ring in my possession with the intention of proposing on Saturday, November 6th; however, I myself could not stop starring at the ring and thought, “how and where am I going to hide this thing?”. Meanwhile, Betsy knew I went to look at the assembled ring, but I told her that I left it there until I was ready to propose. The entire time it was in my possession, I was worried about losing it or her finding it – then I realized that I would not plan anything, and I would just have a ‘feeling’ about when the right time would be; however, I didn’t know it would hit me on the night I bought the ring.

We spent most of the day moving and capped it off with dinner. We enjoyed some nachos – our favorite—and had great conversations. The quality time was great and that night was starting to feel like ‘the night’. I knew she was the one for me and she means everything to me – it was confirmed that night. We got home, and we opened our favorite wine and as I was getting the wine, she was nestled in on the couch. I thought to myself what a great end to the night if my precious lady could get what she has wanted for a while. I brought her wine to her, sat next to her, said some kind words and asked if she wanted a surprise. I could tell she was confused, which was good, as I wanted badly to surprise her, and I think I did as I pulled out the ring and asked if she would be my wife. I was relieved when she said yes, and she hasn’t stopped smiling since. It felt perfect, and it made me very happy to see her so happy.

(Betsy): Happy is an understatement!! There are no words to describe how thrilled I was…and still am. After we got engaged, we made calls to close friends and family, and it was so nice to have support and encouragement from EVERYONE! That night, my mom picked out my colors, informed me when I was sending out save-the-dates, and showed me what kind of flowers we were going to use for decorations! Oh boy!

…

Ok, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but it is nice that she, along with the rest of our families, is so excited and willing to help with wedding planning. We will keep everyone posted with our progress.

Meanwhile, I’ll let everyone know when I am planning on driving somewhere because it is dangerous to be on the road with me—who knew engagement rings were driving hazards!? I can’t stop starring at it…Scott has asked on a couple occasions if he needed to give “us” (my ring and I) some alone time!

More important than the ring is my love for Scott. We feel so blessed to have found one another! We can’t wait until we get to cross “Get Married” off of our 30 list!!!

Eye Opener...

(Betsy): Last night, Scott and I attended a donor's banquet for Fresh Start, the organization where Scott is a candidate to be a board member (He should find out if he gets to serve at the beginning of November when the other board members 'vote'). The banquet was held at Laurel Hall, a beautiful mansion in the Fall Creek area of Indianapolis.

This organization is so incredible. I learned so much about domestic violence and was blown away by the frequency of abuse that occurs in Indianapolis alone. Some 30,000 families are affected by domestic abuse just in Marion County. Not only are thousands of women physically tormented, but they are also mentally and intellectually attacked. Fresh Start is for women who are serious about leaving their abusers for good. Oftentimes,we learned last night, those being abused won't leave (or will leave and go back) their abusers because they are fearful, without money, and feel incompetent. Fresh Start offers counseling (financial, character building, etc.) and provides resources (such as furniture, housing, employment opportunities) for these battered women.

One woman, Charlene, shared her testimony with the donors, and brought Scott and I (and the rest of the audience) to tears. This woman had been in an abusive relationship for over 39 years before deciding to leave her marriage. She had lived on a farm in Southern Indiana, where she and her husband raised cattle. As she told us her story in her amazing Southern-bell accent, I was floored by all she had endured. Her 'job' (what her husband forced her to do) was physically demanding; she 'threw' one-hundred pound bails of hay every morning, delivered baby calfs, and milked cattle on a daily basis. She also raised three children and worked in a factory.

Despite all of her hard work, she had no money. Her husband, a 6ft 3in, 275lb man, used her income to pay bills and buy food and clothes. Meanwhile, he stashed his cash in a separate account. Not only did he control her finances, but he also controlled her social life, family life, and private life. She wasn't 'allowed' to do much of anything; rather, she was required to serve him when he demanded.

One night, after coming home trashed from the bars, Charlene's husband woke her up from a deep sleep. She had to wake up at 4:30a to begin her daily tasks, but that did not matter to this cruel, disgusting man. He violently woke her up, demanding that she get him a glass of milk. When she responded that he was a 'big boy' and could get it himself, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the kitchen, insisting she do what he told her to.

Unfortunately, this story was only the beginning. Charlene had been raped numerous times and was constantly verbally assaulted by this creature she lived with. After coming home a little late one night after a wedding reception with friends, Charlene was kicked in the throat by her husband, who, at the time, was wearing his huge farming boots. She couldn't swallow for a month...

Despite her unfortunate circumstances, she was 'tickled to pieces' to let everyone know that she just signed papers for a new home. Fresh Start gave her the opportunity for a fresh start. She was provided legal assistance and left her husband after "39 years, 11 months, and 17 days." Her story, her faith, is so inspiring, and I am so humbled by her tale.

Scott and I want to volunteer--both time and money--to a great cause, consistently and frequently (30 List, anyone?). As we learn more and more about Fresh Start, we become more and more passionate. I hope that we can continue to build a relationship with this organization (specifically, through Scott's contributions if elected as a board member). We will keep you posted!

On a much lighter note, I discovered the most amazing wine ever while at the banquet (the organization brought in a gentleman giving free wine samples)--Moscato d'Asti. If you love sweeter wines, this is definitely worth trying. I'm trying to learn more about wine so I can roll with Scott and his fam :) If any one knows of any good books, let me know!

Have a beautiful weekend!!!!

Crazy Week!!

(Betsy): This week has been quite a busy week; I have exhausted myself with studying for/taking midterms, and poor Scott has had a full workload while trying to suffer through a common cold. We have been tired, cranky (esp me!), and frustrated that we have not been able to spend a lot of quality time together because we have been busy hitting the books and/or meeting work deadlines...

The good news...the week has come to an end! In the midst of our exhaustion, we did take some time to think about things that we are grateful for (healthy family, friends, employment) and work through a list of questions we thought were really important to consider as a couple: Check Them Out Here. Scott and I have very similar values and belief system; however, it was interesting to see where we differed and, moreover, how we are planning to handle those differences.

On Friday night, we took on the challenge of watching four seventh-grade preteens. Maddie, my 12-year-old sister, and three friends came to the house, fully loaded with cell phones, fake-nails, and the latest gossip from junior high school. We thought and thought and thought about what we could do to entertain these girls...take them shopping, take them to a movie, buy them pizza?

As it turns out, you do not have to do any of these things. In fact, all you have to do is provide them with a camera because, as Scott and I quickly learned, all seventh-grade girls want to do is take pictures of themselves...and watch Jersey Shore. So, what Scott and I anticipated to be a long, stressful night, actually turned out to be quite relaxing (and entertaining).

(Side note: Abby-do you remember our green frog days at your gmas? and making those silly videos? Watching Maddie and her friends reminded me a lot of those days!)

On Saturday morning, we were able to enjoy a great breakfast with our friends, Breena and James (who, by the way, are amazing cooks! Last weekend, they spoiled us with heavenly cheesy/sausage potatoes and chocolate chip pancakes!!). Scott and I, after our stressful week, were in much need of a date night, so bearing in mind our food budget, we jumped on Resaurant.com to find a good deal on a local joint. We agreed on The Tap Room, a little diner in Zionsville, IN. For just three bucks, we scored a twenty-five dollar gift certificate, and it was so worth it! The atmosphere was great and the food was delicious. The Tap Room is located in a community in Zionsville called Stonegate, modeled much like The Villages of West Clay. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend checking out the neighborhood. The homes are beautiful, and it is fun to drive around because the neighborhood has so much character.

(Mo and Eric, we definitely want to go back with you guys. We think you would enjoy it!)

We are now ready to start another week, with fresh, clear minds. Midterms are over, and Scott has recovered from his cold. Everyone have a great week :)

George

(Scott) - Hello all!  Just wanted to say a few things about this past weekend. 

First off, I love this weather and all other things that go with the fall season - the scents, football, pies and the leaves changing colors - just to name a few.  We made our way down to Bloomington on Saturday with some of Betsy's family members for some tailgating and to spend time with her brother, Alex, as he recently turned 21.  It was a little rainy and chilly but, apparently, that does not prevent people from tailgating.  Let's just say we had a good time and most of us were done 'celebrating' by about 5 pm as we exhausted ourselves with being outside and, well, doing what people normally do while tailgating. 



Wow - Betsy's photography skills at work



With that said, Sunday was not what you would call productive as far as getting stuff done - studying and work.  However, we ended up having some great quality time on Sunday as Betsy and I decided to head to a pumpkin patch.

Sunday was a glorious day to be outside and perfect for hunting down pumpkins.  We enjoyed the atmosphere of the pumpkin patch and all the activities that were taking place.  We did have a mission though - find the perfect pumpkin.  So, we hopped on the wagon and headed to the patch.  We attempted to take a picture of ourselves to capture the moment but we were unsuccessful after several attempts as it is rather difficult to take your own photo.  Betsy then pointed out that the other passengers probably thought we were in love with ourselves considering how many pictures we attempted to take when, in reality, we just kept messing up each photo.  Once we made it to the patch it, was time to find the perfect pumpkin for us.  After walkling around for a few minutes - there he was - a perfect pumpkin.  We decided to name the pumpkin George and I am sure some of you have been wondering for quite some time as to what is up with the title of this blog - now you know.

We finished up at the pumpkin patch, drove around for a bit and had some lunch.  Throughout the entire day we had some great conversations and also gained insight to a very important lesson - be happy with what you have, don't live in envy and try not to constantly chase after 'stuff' because if you continue chasing something you think is better, you will likely never be truly happy.  Thanks for reading.

(Betsy): I wanted to add some more pics from the weekend!

Dad and Alex, celebrating the BIG 2-1

My mom and my stepmom, JC....

...versus me and my sister, Morgan!

Favorite pic ever of my dad and cousin, Hanna! Go IU :)

Scott and George, our pumpkin!

Stoneycreek Pumpkin Patch, Fall 2010. Such a great time :)

                     

Yard Sale and Weekend Update

(Betsy): Dave Ramsey has coined several phrases and ideas (i.e. "Live like no one else so [that later,] you can live like no one else.") One of our favorite components to his teachings is his idea of attacking debt with "gazelle intensity." Let me explain.

Imagine a camera skimming Africa's grassland habitat (think: Discovery Channel/Travel Channel). You may spot an occasional tree or pond, but we all know the camera man's true intentions. Somewhere nearby is a herd of animals--probably gazelles--with a predator--the cheetah--close by. The camera man continues filming as the gazelles become aware that their enemy is on the prowl. When the cheetah makes his move, darting towards the group of seemingly helpless animals, the gazelles scatter and run like hell. Usually, the cheetah chooses one victim, and a cat and mouse chase develops over the next few seconds. If you concentrate on the gazelle, you will notice that he (or she) is running from the cheetah with a 'focused-intentsity'. In other words, this gazelle is on a mission: to get away from this cheetah, and get away fast. His life depends on escaping his hunter.

We, the American consumer population, are much like the gazelles; our predator, credit card debt. We are constantly being encouraged to go into debt so that we can have what we want instantly. We are encouraged to finance cars, furniture, cosmetic surgeries, televisions, homes, the list goes on... When we finally realize that our lives our now swallowed in debt, we begin to panic. Dave Ramsey argues that we should run like hell from credit card companies, with this 'focused intentsity' that the gazelles use. Likewise, we should be using this same intensity to pay off our debts. Sell things you don't use or need. Work extra hours. Pick up an additional job. Whatever it takes.

Scott and I are fortunate to only have car debt. But, let me tell you, we HATE it. Scott makes double payments each month, and we are both making compromises and sacrifices in order to stick to our budget. We are on schedule to pay off the loan in 12 (or fewer) months. We are incredibly happy with that, as the loan was originally scheduled to be paid off in 5.5 years! To illustrate our 'gazelle intensity' (our roommates now have it too!!), we had a yard sale. Not only was this a great time to make some extra cash, but we also were able to spend some quality time with my roommates. We had many laughs and many customers. The yard sale also gave us the opportunity to meet some of our neighbors and learn some interesting history about our 18th century home.

 

On a much different note, Scott and I started a new book, Super Freakonomics. The authors, two economists, put a unique twist on interesting topics. For example, they propose that you are at greater risk by walking drunk than by driving drunk. We are currently reading a chapter on why "A Street Prostitute is Like a Department Store Santa." Interesting stuff... 

Everyone, have a great week!

Labor Day Weekend

(Betsy): Hello all! I hope everyone is enjoying the transition from summer to fall. While I'm a huge fan of warmer weather, I'd have to say, fall is probably my favorite season; there is something refreshing about crisp air, and who doesn't love the beautiful outdoors during September/October?!

Like most of you, Scott and I started our September with a long, fun-filled weekend (with a lot of studying in between). Friday afternoon, we drove to the central library where I was able to get a significant amount of reading done for class, and Scott was able to finish up some things from his work week. The downtown library is gorgeous. In the past couple of years, the structure has changed quite a bit, and visitors get this cool "old/traditional meets modern/state-of-the-art" experience. It is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

On Saturday, Scott's parents came down for the last Indianapolis Indians' game. We enjoyed some wine at Tastings before heading to Weber Grill where we met Scott's aunt, uncle, and cousins (It was so great meeting you guys!). After a great dinner, we headed to the game (less than a mile walk) on a perfect night. Although I've never been a huge baseball fan, it has been fun learning baseball lingo. I now know what a pinch-hitter is, and I am slowly learning the dynamic between the different professional levels (i.e. Indians versus Yankees,etc.). Scott is super excited to take me to a Cubs' game (on our 30 list!), and, from what he has told me, the subculture at these games is nothing short of exciting...Anyway, I don't know that I've ever sat through an entire baseball game, but the fireworks show at the end of the game certainly made it worth it! We also were able to enjoy the entire night for less than $40. Between Tastings, dinner, and food at the game, we could have easily spent $70-80, but by budgeting and only spending cash, we were much more aware of where our money was going. Call us nerds, but we were SO excited about that!

We also spent Sunday with family. We headed to Danville, IN for my family's annual hog roast. Here are some pics we snapped:

Breena and Scott

My dad and his beautiful wife, JC :)

Only the sweetest little cousins ever....Chris and Nick!!!!

The poor hog!

Hanna!!! and myself

Grandpa Al, my wonderful mother, and Janet L.

Finally, on Monday, Scott and I got to spend some quality time together at one of our favorite spots at the Lily Gardens in Indy (pictured to the right). The Lily Gardens is a seriously beautiful  hidden treasure, located behind the Indianapolis Museum of Art. There, we finished Mindfulness which turned out to be a really great book despite the sometimes drag content. I'll save my thoughts on the book...and share my absolute favorite story from it...for another post!

Also, I wanted to let some people know (specifically, Mo and Amanda) that you can subscribe to our blog (down at the bottom of the blog page) or "follow" us if you have a gmail account. You will automatically be sent updates when we update. I'll also send you the directions in an e-mail.

I cheated!!

(Betsy): Ok...so...you know that whole request from me in my earlier blog about praying that I didn't burn the house down...well, I was serious! I need your prayers, people!

Tuesday started out a lovely day. The weather was perfect, I was on time to work, and my amazing boyfriend had my lunch ready to go--tortilla chips, cheese, and a yogurt. My morning flew by, and I was all smiles....

Those smiles quickly turned to looks of horror when I realized I had set my office microwave on fire. I was trying to melt some cheese on the tortilla chips when I noticed the smell of smoke. Apparently, you can't microwave paper plates with aluminum on them (they were little plates from a child's birthday party with some crazy cartoon character)...who knew!

I quickly put the small fire out (turns out, I exaggerated a bit in the previous paragraph--i only sent the plate up in flames--not the entire microwave) with some water from a sink nearby. Needless to say, my lunch was burnt, and I had a major headache (probably induced from the stress of putting out a fire combined with an empty stomach). Then, I totally broke down. I admit it! I drove to the Mexican restaurant down the street, Real Hacienda, and bought chicken nachos!

Scott helped me rationalize the situation and made me feel better about eating out. So, we are adding one more day to our challenge to counteract my little episode at work. September 24th can not come soon enough!

Quick Trip to Tastings Downtown

(Scott) - Hello there, I have not posted for awhile, so I believe I am due to write.  I have chosen to discuss our experience at Tastings which is a wine bar in downtown Indy.  Tastings is a progressive wine tasting experience as it utilizes a unique way to sample their vino. 

You start your experience by purchasing a prepaid card, putting as much money on the card as you desire.  The prices of the samples range from a couple dollars up to several dollars. You walk around to various stations and have several wines to choose from.  Each wine has a description to assist you which will hopefully prevent you from making a bad decision that could result in that bitter face that we have all made at some point in our lives.  Once you make a selection, you insert your prepaid card, put the glass under the nozzle, push the button and out comes a 'sample' amount of wine to be swirled, smelled and drank or just to be chugged...the preference is yours.  I am a fan of just throwing it down in order to get to the next sample.  If you are finished sampling, or prefer not to sample, you may buy a bottle of wine to enjoy along with various food items.

The crowd was definitely one that aimed to please the avid people watcher. You could determine who was on a date, who was there to impress, who was tipsy and who was having a good time.  The typical patron that night was dressed in very formal attire and 'appeared' to have significant cash flow; although, don't interpret that to mean Tastings is expensive, as you determine how much you wish to spend.  

In all, Betsy, Lauren, Will and I had a great but short time at Tastings even thought I felt very under dressed.  It was a short time for us as the prepaid card ran down quickly (we put a whopping $15 on our card), and it was time to move on.  I would definitely recommend trying this at least once due to the technology, location and the variety of wines.  That's all from me...hope everyone is doing well.

Quick Update

(Betsy): Scott and I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd update everyone with what has been going on in the last couple of weeks. We aren't aggressively pursuing anything on our 30 list right now, but we are being mindful of the list and doing things like reading together, budgeting, etc.

Speaking of being mindful, we are currently reading Mindfulness, written by this guy, Ven. Henepola Gunaratana. We are having a difficult time getting through it, partly due to reading time limitations and partly due to the content of the book.

The meat of the book is about meditation: how to meditate, where to meditate, what to do and not do while meditating. You get the picture. Scott and I have no  intention of practicing meditation, but what we do appreciate about the book is the author's approach to viewing the universe and in particular, the human experience. Details to come. 

I must admit that a bulk of what we have read is over my head, but Scott has a really great skill of interpretation and is able to explain some of the content to me in ways that are applicable to our relationship with each other and with others around us. So, with that said, I'll leave the details of the book for Scott to explain in another blog.

In other news, we have started our Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course and absolutely love it! It is so great to be around others just like us (only older) who want to live life debt free. We feel so encouraged after hearing stories of other couples in our class who are actively working to change lifestyle habits they have developed over the years. We also feel fortunate that we are taking this class at a young age so that we can build a solid financial foundation with no debt. We are fired up about our finances and are so pumped to see our official budget set into action in September.

After examining where our money has been going the last few months, we have found that most of our cash goes to eating out (aside from fixed expenses--Scott's mortgage, my rent, utilities, etc.). We really enjoy the quality time and conversations that accompanies eating out; however, we are always in shock when we get our bill--"60 bucks! That's a whole weeks worth of groceries!"

To counteract our eating out habit, we have done two things. First, we have challenged ourselves to not eating out for 30 days. This includes sit-down restaurants and fast food. We had made plans to eat out with Scott's parents before an Indians' game prior to our challenge, so this will be our one and ONLY exception. Scott frequently has to take clients to lunch/dinner, but that is on his company's tab. Our challenge is strictly for financial purposes, so while Scott gets to enjoy Indy's finest restaurants for lunch (on Blue), I'll be enjoying Lean Cuisines and turkey sandwiches. I'm not jealous or anything... :)

Secondly, we have subscribed to a genius website, e-mealz.com. The idea behind the website is to keep people from grabbing fast food or going out to eat simply because they don't have all ingredients at home to make a quick meal. For just 5 dollars a month, you subscribe to a menu of 7 meals. Additionally, the website generates a grocery list, so you know what to buy. Many of the ingredients are used in several of the meals for that week, so you are not wasting and throwing out extras. You can also personalize your menus. For example, Scott and I chose "Walmart for two," and we got a menu specifically designed for two people who buy groceries at Walmart. You can also choose options like "Vegetarian Kroger for a family." The options are endless. Pray I don't burn down the house while attempting to cook.

In addition to our financial class and new eating challenge, Scott and I are both keeping busy with our personal agendas. I started my Masters of Public Health this past Monday. I am currently going part-time but hope to eventually attend as a full-time student. Many people ask me what I would do with a Masters in Public Health; I am currently deciding between two "majors"--Health and Policy Management and Epidemiology. I'll keep you posted, but I am sure loving my Epidemiology class right now.

Epidemiology is essentially studying why people get sick--on a population level, rather than an individual level. Epidemiologists look at groups of people and study illness and disease trends. All of the course material is really fascinating. In my Wednesday night class, we were discussing mortality rates among women in the United States. If you ask the average woman what the number one cause for death among women is, she will likely answer breast cancer. Clearly, this is because breast cancer is marketed so well. We constantly hear about breast cancer--the risks,the causes-- though advertising by organizations such as the Komen Foundation. Each year, millions and millions of dollars are pumped into marketing the disease, but what many do not know is that much of this marketing is funded by tobacco companies. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. There is a direct correlation between smoking and heart disease, so by exposing breast cancer so aggressively on a national level, tobacco companies are redirecting attention from the true number one killer to another disease. What a clever, yet dangerous marketing ploy! Good stuff...

Scott recently interviewed to be on the board for Fresh Start of Indiana, an organization designed to support victims of abusive relationships and help them successfully transition out of those relationships. If given the position, he would serve as the board treasurer. Please keep him in your prayers. We are really wanting to involve ourselves with helping the less fortunate, and this would be a great opportunity for him to volunteer his area of expertise, accounting.

Well, that is our last couple of weeks in a nutshell. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend at the downtown library...a lot of studying for me and a lot of work for Scott. Everyone have a great weekend!

White Water Rafting in West Virginia

(Betsy): I am finally getting around to posting about our white water rafting trip. Thank you to everyone who reads our blog!

A few weekends ago, Scott, Lauren, Will, and I packed up our gear and headed east for a weekend of ultimate white water rafting. Lauren and I went on a trip last year, had a blast, and decided to take our beaus along this time around. The company we rafted with, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting, is one of seven rafting companies left in West Virginia. According to our river guide, Walt, there were, at one time, 27 companies. But, not unlike other businesses, the big eat the small, and only the strong survive. Cantrell is locally owned and operated, and we absolutely loved rafting with them. Definitely consider them if you are thinking about taking a trip!

Lauren and I definitely took advantage of our "expert rafting" status and had Will and Scott a little worked up and anxious on the six hour drive to Fayatteville. The conversation went a little something like this:

Betsy: "Hey Lauren, did you mention to Will that we'll be rafting over a 14-foot drop? I forgot to tell Scott..."

Lauren: "Oh. Shoot. I forgot to tell Will, too. Don't worry honey. Only a few people have died. We will be fine."

Meanwhile, Will and Scott started looking a little uneasy, but Lauren and I milked it for quite a while before admitting the trip would be pleasurable and not dangerous.

When we arrived to our cabin on Friday night, let's just say the boys were less than impressed by our rustic bungalow (coined "rusty bungalow" by Lauren and I last year). While the cabin was a step-up from tents and air mattresses, I was certainly looking forward to my own bed after two uncomfortable nights of sleeping.

Despite our rough lodging arrangements, we woke up Saturday morning enthused and energized, ready to hit the river. A five minute, scenic drive took us to the Cantrell campgrounds where we were served a great breakfast--biscuits and gravy (Don't worry, mom. They did not taste better than yours), fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, and coffee.

Shortly after breakfast, we signed release waivers and geared up for the day, avoiding, at all costs, moldy life jackets and cracked helmets. Below are pics of Will and Scott signing their lives away as well as a group shot of us in all our rafting gear:

When everyone (about 35 of us) was dressed and ready for rafting, it was time to take the bus to the river to launch the boats. Surviving the bus ride to the river is an accomplishment in itself. Being escorted by a driver (convicted, we were told, of several DUI's) in a 20-year-old bus up and down winding roads lacking any sort of side railings is not my idea of fun. Needless to say, we arrived safely, and were thrilled to begin our adventure.

The scenery along the New River is breathtaking. I felt so lucky to be experiencing God's beautiful creations once again. The mountains are incredible, and believe it or not, there is an extreme sense of peace that comes along with white water rafting--the sounds of rapids, nice breezes through the trees. I was truly in awe of the beauty.

I must say, however, that our whole trip was not peaceful. Apparently, over time, river guides have developed some sort of river code of conduct, river etiquette, that is to be followed by everyone involved to ensure an enjoyable trip. Walt, our river guide, who has been leading trips for twenty-three years, has never picked up on these rules.

Walt is around 40 years old, about 5'6, and refuses to wear shoes. What he doesn't refuse to do is chew, use profanity, and cut other boats in line when rafting. Big no-no.

As a part of the rafting experience, river guides try to take their parties "surfing." From my understanding, surfing is the act of purposely getting your boat stuck in a hole or pocket of water, only to be released by mother nature. Sometimes river guides can maneuver their way out of the pocket, but sometimes outside help is needed--a pull with a rope from strong helping hands on land.

There are only a few pockets during summer months in which boats can surf. Summer is a busy time for rafting, so there is usually a line of boats waiting their turn to take a whirl. Walt, however, didn't have time to wait in line. He had an agenda, a plan, and that plan did not include waiting for other boats to attempt the pocket.

He commanded us to begin paddling, quickly, and we did as we were told. Soon we were passing other boats who had been waiting for a shot at surfing. While we were busy paddling our hearts out and getting glared at by angry rafters on other boats, Walt was busy cussing out the other river guides, telling them he did what he wanted and he didn't care what they thought or said. To top things off, Walt purposely kept our boat surfing for about 20 minutes (other boats surfed for about 45 seconds-no joke) in order to keep other boats from taking a turn.

Lauren, Will, Scott, and I knew that Walt was completely in the wrong; however, in just a few minutes of getting to know your river guide, you develop some sort of strange bond and alliance. So, despite our confrontation with about 15 other boats, we promised Walt that we would have his back that night at the campground, where he was expecting a fight with several other river guides.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of us actually on the water. An independent company sold video and picture dvds for an outrageous price, but because Scott and I are both being frugal right now, we opted out of paying an arm and a leg for a few pictures. No worries, the picture of Walt using his paddle to threaten other river guides will be forever ingrained in my memory.

Overall, the trip was relaxing and beautiful. There are several points on the river where you can jump out of the boat and float along, carefree. Scott and I did collide with a hidden rock (he has a giant bruise to prove it), but mostly, the trip was safe and fun. We would recommend it to everyone.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend in Florida

(Betsy): Scott and I are back from a great weekend in Florida. We spent some time in both Hollywood (at Polly and Bob's condo) and in Key Largo at the Key Largo Grande Resort and Beach Club. We had a relaxing weekend and were able to help celebrate the marriage of one of my sorority sisters (Michelle) and her new husband, Eric.

The wedding was beautiful--simple yet elegant. Two of my favorite things about the wedding were the reception room light fixtures and the beach-themed wedding cake. I snapped a few pics, of course:

I was also able to catch up with some great friends--Lindsey, Tricia, and Erica (all Chi Omega girls).

When we weren't celebrating with Michelle and Eric, Scott and I enjoyed lounging at the resort's beach and pool. I finished The Shack (Wm. Paul Young) and Scott got caught up on some work obligations. Don't worry. He didn't work too hard!

Here are some pictures of Scott and I at the reception, the resort pool, and the resort beach:

Nothing was accomplished on our 30 list, but I will say that this is our last vacation for quite a while. We are both inspired and motivated to save, save, save!

We both feel extremely lucky to have access to a great beach condo (thank you, Teta!), but feel that putting off vacations for a while (probably about a year) will be so rewarding in the end.

Stay tuned for white water rafting trip details!