Sui Generis

It has been a long time since we've written any updates on our blog and with some insistence here we are again. From the last time we've posted a lot has occurred. First, we moved from our apartment up on Lookout Mountain to some apartments near the mall. It was a great 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with more than enough space for the two of us. We were located on the 3rd floor and near the car wash spot of the complex (one of my personal fav's). The complex had a nice pool (Kelly's fav) and two fishing ponds, were the local residents would catch the same fish over and over again and take pictures with it as it if was a impossible catch. You would think that after seeing the 12 holes on the fish's mouth they'd understand that it was the same fish everyone else had caught previously, but apparently not. Another really great feature about living there was that it was a gating community and good people. The location was excellent as the farthest grocery store was 7 minutes away, everything else was just right around the corner. Also the Chickamagua Dam was just 10 minutes away and I loved to fish there. Once Kelly was up in Washington for a wedding and I was out fishing at 1 am with a bunch of other strangers. I was bear foot because the water came over the sidewalk from where I fished and the water was very warm. Those were good times. Second, I had returned to Covenant and completed one of the 3 semesters I'm missing in order to graduate. If you remember I took a year off once Kelly and I had gotten married. During this time as well, doing school and also working at Chick-Fil-A for while I was on a search for a house for Mom and Dad where in Tennessee and Georgia. After a little more than a year and half of looking for a house and sending listings to dad to go through and even taking them to see houses every time they would come up, we finally found the perfect place. It was exciting because I didn't like memorizing real estate. It came to the point where you couldn't open a magazine or a website and show me a house that I hadn't already seen several times.

The New House

The new house previously owned by a Christian couple with 3 kids. They were a very loving family and everybody who knew them knew that. They hosted many Bible studies and church related activities in the house. They were also acquainted with many people we knew, including the Waldeckers. All through our their house were verses describing their love for the Savior and their love for service. When previewing the house they welcomed me in on any of my spontaneous visits and trusted me. There really wasn't any question in my mind that this was the house the Lord had been saving for Mom and Dad due to all the signs I had seen. I was tired of not finding anything that could match the description Mom and Dad wanted I was about to give up. Mom wanted a house that had an old look and feel to it, Dad wanted a custom made house that was new and not old. Then one day as I was talking to Dad through Skype I just happen to be browsing through real estate listings and a new listing appeared with the words, "Custom made home with old world charm." Ironic right? Needless to say I showed it to Dad and he liked it and show it to mom whom also liked it. And to make a long story short here were are. Dad came up from Peru to finish last transactions and to move us into the new house. We were excited but it was right at the time of my final papers and exams so it wasn't the most convenient but I can't complain. I passed all my classes and we love the new home.

Snake made it's way into the garage....
Snake finding itself cornered. 
Snake Making its way out.
Snake in tree. 
Reggie! 
The Bike.
950 cc all under one engine. Don't tell dad. I think he thinks that its only a 250.
It is so hot it's on fire! hence the flames. Don't worry they are not real. They are painted that way.

Today is August 23rd, Happy Birthday Caleb! 

After having settled down for a few weeks we decided that it would be nice to have some life around the house, besides our own. So we thought that some fish would be just perfect. However, when we looked up the prices of an aquarium (fish tank) the prices were outrageous! Unless you wanted to get a small tank like those that kids in the 1940's would have in their rooms. So we prayed about it and the very next day came our answer to prayer.

A girl living in sin.. I mean living with her boyfriend, placed an ad on "Craigslist" (an internet classifieds for those that don't know) saying that her boyfriend's parents don't want her fish tanks any more so they were getting rid of them. The prices on the 3 tanks we offered were really good. We bought just one the we were looking for and she gave it to us with fish and plants and rocks and a filter. All we had to get was the food and air pump. 

The girl was very sad to see her fish leave but was happy at the same time. (Something Michael Scott would have said). She was happy that the fish ended up with someone (me) who had previously been a fish owner. I've emailed some pictures of the fish and the tank to her and she was very pleased, saying that she was not as good an  "aqua-scaper." That ought to tell you something... jk.   

Here's the front view. I'm not going to lie it did take me some time. The next picture is taken from the side. 

I hope you liked it. It wasn't easy. I looked all over the web for these pictures. Here are some pictures from different angles. 

Coming back home was probably the best part of our trip. It is not because we disliked all the places we've traveled too but simply because home is home. No more moving around but resting peacefully in our place of Zen. 

For the second half of our honeymoon we went down to Peru. It was a very restful time once you get used to the dogs barking again. It was great to have all the wonderful Peruvian foods and see Peruvian friends that you don't see as often. Personally one of my favorites was having my lion dog with me again. But when your with a lion dog, it doesn't take much to know that he needs a bath. 

 Momma and Papa happy. While this picture was being taken

 this was happening on the other side of the house. Meeting with friends in the park.Benji, Kelly and little Nathaneil loving the pizza party.Caleb loving the after pizza party ride at 150mph with no helmets, gloves or anything and I mean nothing. We were going so fast I couldn't even see where I was going. I think at one point we hit something or somesone but we past sooo fast!!! that I didn't see what or who is was! Okay fine.. so we only went around the block. It was still fun. My wife is super cute here! more than I can say for about the other 3. jokes jokes.

If you can see my shoulder you'll notice Pe Pe taking off.Momma walking her boy around the house. Innocent bystander in dark red was attacked by the dog. Mom smiles.As is normal, Kaiser is in the way. Stupid dog.