Whew! You know that feeling you get when things are so busy in your life that sometimes you realize that simple things are falling by the wayside? Like laundry? Or washing your car? Or posting on your blog? Well I'm there! I often wish that I was an organized person, but the fact of the matter is that being organized is something that I have to put extreme effort into. It may be something I strive for my entire life, but I'm OK with that. I'm sure things can only get better!
Jimmy and I were very excited to get an invitation to my niece's joint birthday party in January. Jimmy's favorite part was when Melissa called him Uncle Jimmy. He really liked that, Melissa! My favorite part was kicking those little kids' butts in Musical Chairs. I have always excelled at children's games. I did get to witness a repeat performance of last year's party, in a way. Last year Kalyn was eating her birthday cake and had frosting on her hand and when she went to wipe her hand on the carpet I told her not to and she started bawling. I felt like I ruined the whole party but I still couldn't help but laugh a little. This year, it was Melissa's turn to bring the children to tears in the form of a balloon game. It was all fun and exciting until the balloons started to pop, and the noise scared the kids and they all shed some tears. I was laughing, not because I think it's funny to make kids cry, but because I feel like each year it is inevitable that there are tears at the birthday party. We had a great time and can't wait for next year!
I'm not the biggest Valentine's fan. OK that's a lie. I LOVE love. I love being in love and the color red and hearts and kisses and love poems. However, I do believe that people should love each other every single day and not reserve to show it just in February. I'm lucky that Jimmy feels the same way. We haven't celebrated V-day on the 14th since we've been together, we always do it the day before, on the 13th. I like this. The truth of the matter is that I just need tomorrow with him. I don't need V-day. I just need the next day. And the next. He is truly amazing and if I started counting my blessings he would fill up a large portion of my list.
So the week of the commercialized day of love was upon us. I knew that Jimmy had been planning something because I just know the guy. He wouldn't give me any clues! None at all. I knew we were going somewhere, and I had taken Friday off to facilitate his masterful plan. I asked him questions for which he only gave very vague answers. For example:

A-what should I pack?
J-well, it's going to be cool, but a little warm too. You should pack, well, some shoes...
A-what is the dress code? Give me a hint!
J-extremely over the top and laid back at the same time.
A-should I pack my passport?
J-I'm sure you'll be find with whatever you pack.

That gives me nothing!! Well he is a great secret keeper and while I had a good idea of where we were going I didn't ask about the specific place I had in mind.
I got home from the office on Thursday and he was rushing me out the door to get on the road. He was so excited!! I love seeing him happy. So we start driving and I soon realize that I was right: we were headed to Eureka Springs! I've been talking to him about wanting to visit there and learn the city. We got there late that evening and Jimmy had gotten us a Bed and Breakfast all to ourselves. He reserved the whole thing so that we would be the only ones there. I loved exploring it with him. I was so excited that I couldn't even sleep the night before and I was very happy with the place he picked for us to stay. The next day, Friday, we went into town to start checking it out. It reminded me a lot of some places in Europe I've been. We stopped at a bar to have some mid-day drinks and met a couple who had just gotten engaged and I will never overcome my sadness over people who get engaged on V-day. It's just too cheesy and there are better days!!!! Anyways they seemed happy and a little drunk but still happy. Alright so this story is getting very long. The moral of the Eureka Springs trip is this: We will not be going back. Some wild craziness happened and we actually ended up leaving early and I'm not interested in having the same encounter again!
Last weekend I was finally able to see the my love's bio diesel plant in Crossett. I have seen a lot of his work but never that particular plant. It is amazing! The intelligence that that man and his team have is mind-blowing. I'm so impressed and am excited to learn more about it.
I hope everyone is happy and doing well. I may try to post more often, but then again you never know!