Joey's New Toy

So, in my last post I mentioned that we purchased our new computer. But I neglected to include any pictures. So here are a few of Joey enjoying his first time playing with it! (Don't look at the house! I know, it was a mess that day!)

Ever-changing...

I'm sucked in, it's that simple. Blogs are addictive! I've really enjoyed finding friends & keeping up with them, posting pics, etc. But, in my obsession/addiction with the whole blogging world I found that I haven't written anything since the update. I suppose it's because I don't want to bore you, although I know I undoubtedly will at some point. And as long as you're okay with that, then I am too.

Anywho, somethings have changed since the last post. First, so much for neither of us having callings. Joey & I both were called last Sunday to new callings. Joey is the Assistant Ward Clerk working mainly with membership stuff. He's excited to finally have a calling after being in the ward over a year. We're both finally able to come more often, so it's great timing! I will be a Primary teacher again, this time to the 6-8yr olds. At the time they extended the call to me, I was excited because I love Primary & being with the kids. But I was also a little apprehensive. My first thought was, "I'll have the baby with me most of the time unless Joey takes her to class or Mom takes her home. How would she handle all the kids?". Then, my next thought was, "I'll never get to go to Relief Society more than twice in a row, will I?" Haha! It's true. Since I graduated I've been in Relief S0ciety a total of maybe 7 times. This being because I was in Primary with two different callings, I was in the YSA Stake Presidency, my work schedule at the time kept me working most Sundays, then I was pregnant & sick so I couldn't stay for very long. Now, bear in mind this is not a bad thing. I'm so thankful for all the opportunities I have had to serve with wonderful people & strengthen my testimony. Sometimes, you just feel a little disconnected. Especially when you are a young working mother & all your friends are either still single & into their own things, young stay-at-home mothers, or young working mothers as well. Thankfully, my family (Mom, Mamaw, Dad, & Joey) are some of my best friends, so I still have someone. I still miss spending time with my best girlfriends like Tara, Hannah, Becca, Robyn, & Cara; but we're working on getting better at making time. I'm just thankful Joey is able to stay in touch & hang out with his friends. Everyone needs that support group. Not a day goes by that I don't thank Heavenly Father for sending sweet people to touch our lives.

Work is going well for both of us. Joey is staying busy, as usual this time in Lowes. And I'm finally getting a decent workload to keep me busy!

This past Sunday was Father's Day. Joey 1st, keep in mind! I'm absent-minded &, yet again like on Mother's Day, completely forgot to take important pictures. But I assure you, it was a relaxing day for everyone. In other words, we went to church & napped most of the day. I made all of the men ties w/ pictures of Livvy & the grandkids. They all seemed to enjoy showing them off at church.

This week my Aunt Angela, Uncle James, & little cousins (John, turning 12; Garrett, turning 8, & Carolyn, turning 5) were in town visiting from TX. My uncle is working in Saudi Arabia as a pilot, so they are preparing for the whole family to join him in the coming year. We're all glad that it will be a good opportunity for them, but wish they would stay home & close. We miss them all so much! I can't believe how big "my babies" have gotten! I can't imagine how much they'll change when I only get to see them once a year.

Last, the most recent exciting info is about mine & Joey's latest major purchase. The laptop I'm typing on (& two seasons of Will & Grace)! Yep, we decided to stimulate the economy with our money from the government. Joey needed one for school this fall & we found a great deal on a really nice one. I think it was a smart purchase & so far, Joey seems to love playing around on it!

Otherwise, everyone is doing well. Livvy is getting bigger, smarter, & cuter everyday! Just look at my pictures >> How cute is that?!?
That's our lives, for now. I promise, I'll get better at the whole blogging thing & not make these huge posts!

Websites of Interest

I'm always adding to this, so check out the link on my sidebar often!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
More on The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS
Safely Gathered In- Family preparedness blog
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch- Amazing!!
Being Frugal is Fabulous! - Awsome coupons & tips on saving $$. Always good!
Emerson Drive Blog- My favorite Band!!
Ancelet Photography- local Knoxville company NEW WEBSITE- Jan 2009
Savvy Portraits - My friend's company
Lindsay Jane Photography- My friend's company
Lindsay Jane by Andrea- a friend who works for our friend's company here in TN!
The Hinckley Brothers Music- My friend's band
AirTight - My friends' band
Seven Mile Building Co.- My friend's company
Jennerous Heart Cards- My friend's company
Give away today- Free stuff!
Bloggy Giveaways- Another site for free stuff!
GrosGrain- Children's clothing & costumes. Giveaways!!
Confessions of an Apron Queen
Life as a Mom at 22
The Pioneer Woman
Sarah Jane Studios- Super talented!!
Shade Clothing
SewMamaSew- Creative stuff!!
LeeLou Blogs- Free Blog layouts & accessories
The Cutest Blog on the Block- Free blog layouts & accessories
My Remeberies- Free blog layouts

Family & Friends' Blogs

I'm constantly adding to this so check out the link on my sidebar often!!

The Hubby (Joey)
The Aders (Valerie)
Stephanie Ader
The Angolas (Katina)
The Barnetts (Allison)
The Bergers(Stevie)
The Beveridges (Hailey)
Trudy Bockoven
The Bourns (Allyn)
Mayemma Buchkovich
The Clapps (Laura)
The Connatsers (Jula)
The Cooks (Meredith)
The Copelands (Crystal)
The Copelands (Jenn)
The Crichtons (Cindy)
The Crossleys (Marla)
The Cruzes/Calico (Cally)
The Cruzes (Kay)
The Dennis' (Ashley)
Kim Devlin- New Blog Feb.'09
The Dixons (Erin)
Heather Elam
The Everetts (Mandee)
Vanya Maybe
The Evers (Debbie/Sedgie)
Nick Franks
The Golds (Alice)
The Gold Girls
Koni Helton
The Hensleys (Elisa)
The Hinckleys (Amy)
The Hinckleys (Christina)
Derek Hinckley
The Hinckleys (Paula)
The Howards (Kendra)
The Howards (Leeanna)
The Johansens (Peter)
Peter Johansen
The Johnsons (Teresa)
The Jones'(April)
The Larsens (Andrea)
The Loveless' (Tara)
Beth Lynch New Blog 06/2009
The McCombs (Becca)
The McCormicks (Lindsay)
The McDaniels (Farrah)
The Bolanders (Courtenay)
The Moncurs (Donna)
Erin Packham
The Rees (Savvy)
The Roses (Lindsey)
The Schutz (Kiffen)
The Shafers (Katie)
The Shaffers (Angela)
The Smartts (Laura)
Laura Smartt
Emily Thomas
Robyn VanLeigh
The Reeds (Jessica)

Playing Catch-up

Life's been crazy the last year or so! Our lives have changed completely, but definitely for the better. It's been hard to keep everyone updated, so here are some things you might have missed out on!


On August 3, 2007, after dating a little over a year, Joey Everett & I were married in the Atlanta, GA temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My name changed & we both inherited a wonderful family of in-laws! Our reception followed the next day in Knoxville, TN. The following Monday we left for a week to spend our honeymoon in Outer Banks, NC. My first time at the beach & I loved it! We moved into the Pleasant Ridge Ward(church) & have remained there since. No callings as of right now.

One month later I wasn't feeling so good, & -you guessed it!- we found out I was one month pregnant & due April 5, 2008. We found out not long after that we were expecting a girl. (Skipping over the sickness, lack of sleep, weight gain, waddling, contractions, & all that jazz.) On March 31, 2008 at 9:54pm, after 14hrs in the hospital & 10hrs of active labor, beautiful Olivia Marie Everett (aka.Livvy) was born. As you can see, she's gorgeous! She is now 9wks old & getting bigger, smarter, & cuter everyday. She truley is heaven on earth & an amazing blessing! Although that might not seem like much to some of you, it is completely life changing not to mention time-consuming. But I wouldn't change a thing.

Joey (now 26) works at Lowes Home Improvement (still), but now as their full-time assembler. In Winter of 2008 he graduated Pellissippi State with his Associates in Journalism. This fall he will be pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism at UT-K. As you can imagine, he stays quite busy but handles in beautifully. He loves spending time as a family & hanginout with his friends.

As for me (turning 20), I originally decided to take a semester off school to get used to married life. When I found out I was pregnant that became two semesters & now possibly a few more (until Joey's finished, unless I pursue online courses). When I do return I will be continuing my pursuit of an Associates Degree in Business Management. After working at CarMax for a little over a year as a Business Office Associate/Duplicate Title Clerk/Payoff Administrator, in May 2008 I left the company for a job with ABS National Auto Services as a Processor in the Leasing & Titling Dept. A Mon-Fri 8am-5pm job is much better for a family life than retail hours of as early as 7am to as late as 1am. Leaving Livvy at home to return to work was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but it will only be for a little while. Luckily, family is extremely close, so Gramma & Mamaw (my mom & mamaw) are taking care of her instead of us having to put her into daycare. Joey & I both still work with Children's Hospital's Fantasy of Trees & we'll be looking into becomeing a co-chairs in the coming years. This will be my 11th year, & Joey's 3rd.

My family: After battling heart & lung conditions in addition to Alzheimer's for many years, my Papaw passed away in January at the age of 89. Although it has been hard on all the family, we know he is in a better place. It has also taken alot off Mom(51) & Mamaw(71). They still have a ton going on, but it was a relief that he is no longer in pain. They are now caregivers to Livvy & eat up all the baby time! Dad(turning 49) is busy as usual. He is now the High Priest Group leader in our ward, which keeps him busy in addition to work & family things. As for Tucker (the Jack-Russel Terror *cough* I mean Terrier), he's rotten as usual.

Joey's family: Having built a gorgeous new home & horse arena on their new farmland in Crossville, TN, his parents(Carlene & Jim), sister(Elisa), bro-in-law(Dale), & two neices (Jalene & Janele) moved in taking them two hours away. This meant seeing them less, as well as not spending as much time around the animals. Last month, Joey's brother(Jammy) graduated from UT's Veterinary School. He accepted a job in CA, & they (Jammy, his wife Mandee, daughter Ellie & son Karson) moved last week. Needless to say, there have been alot of changes & Joey misses them all. We visit his family as much as possible & are planning on taking turns with his brother on traveling to see eachother.

Head spinning yet? I know mine does sometimes. Isn't it great?!? No, I'm not completely insane (although some may beg to differ). I'm just enjoying our new crazy, beautiful life!
(By the way, I promise that not all of my posts will be this long!)