100th Post!!

I can't believe I have had so much to talk about over the last 2 years that I have posted something 100 times!  ...or that anyone would even care what I have to say, but apparently you do based on the hits on this page!

I intended on blogging about going to the Magic game last night, but I also want to share how overwhelmed we have been by our friends' support over the last couple of weeks since we announced we were moving.  We have had so many people send us nice messages, want to see us before we leave, or just tell us how excited they are for us or that we will be missed.  It is so nice to know we have made such caring friends that are supporting us, even if we are leaving!

Tonight, our community group threw us a going away party, and they even prepared gluten-free snacks!  I even took a doggie bag home - such a treat :)  Yet, I think what amazed me most after we got home and I had time to think about it, was that everyone that came was there to see us.  We feel so loved and blessed to have you all as friends, and look forward to continuing our relationships with all of you from the West coast!  I just hope we give to others and care for all of our friends in the same overwhelming way!  Thank you for all of those who have walked with us during any part of our journey -- we appreciate your friendship :o)

Now that I am emotional about this whole thing, I will move on to happier topics!  We went to the Magic v. Nuggets game last night.  We were trying to fit in one last home game and bought the tickets even before we went to LA for our house hunting trip!  Our tickets were great, and the game was even more exciting!  The Magic won the game by sinking a 3-pointer in the last few seconds of the game!  It was a good end to 4 seasons worth of Magic games for Todd...I know he will miss being here, and it will be hard to have to support them from a far!

To make sure we are fully prepared for Laker-loving neighbors, we stocked up on some Magic gear before leaving the Amway Center.  We will have to try to make a Lakers/Magic game while living there.  Otherwise, we can sport this stuff around the house on gamedays!

Moving Pros & Cons

I know my last post about moving did not elaborate very much on our feelings about moving, so I thought I would take a minute to share some of what we are feeling (at this moment!!)

Lets start with the not so great:
- We will greatly miss all of the friends we have made in Orlando over the last several years
- We will be further away from our families, and will miss them being in a "driveable" distance from us!
- We will miss all of our friends coming in and out of town to go to conferences and spend a few days with Mickey!!
- Everyone in California will think my Southern accent is bad until they meet Todd - we will be aliens!
- Our church has been such a great support system here, and we will surely not be able to replace it!
- I will miss restaurants that have horrible names, but are so yummy like Hannibal's and The Ravenous Pig!!
- While I know we will have other wonderful things in California, I will miss shopping and eating on Park Avenue, mornings at the French Bakery, and Saturdays at the best farmer's market!
- Brick roads, oak trees canopying charming streets, lakes on every corner, and the charm of Florida will be long gone! (who knew I would ever love anything about Florida!!)
- We will greatly miss not having state income tax -- 9.3% in CA will HURT!
- Todd will have withdrawls from the Magic, and the new Amway Arena that is not even 3 miles away from our condo!
- The unknown!!

And the great:
- Todd's new position is a wonderful thing, and a much needed change we are looking forward to
- We can find a new church, and will meet new friends!
- We can then introduce said friends to the wonderful new Southern gem in the middle of their city that they don't even appreciate, I'm sure:  Chick-fil-A !!
- I can have In-N-Out burger whenever I want it...bunless for me of course!!  If you don't know what I am talking about, see here!!
- We will be missing the worst part of the year in Florida (hot, hot, hot), and enjoying perfect weather in California during the summer
- The beach will be practically in our back yard!
- Todd is excited to be in a city that actually has pro sports other than just basketball....however, he wants to make it clear he will NOT be a Lakers or Clippers fan (who likes the Clippers, anyway??), he is staying true to the Magic!
- As a child, we lived in San Diego for a few years (my little brother is a Californian by birth) and my Aunt and Uncle and one of my cousins still live about 2 hours from LA so we will be able to visit them!  In addition, my extended family is in Seattle so it will be easier to make a trip that way!
- We will have all new weekend getaway locations!
- I'm convinced living Celiac-induced gluten-free will be much easier in the land of skinny-minis on Fad Gluten Free Diets!

Well, that's it for now!  I'm sure I will have so many more thoughts on this, but will spare you from reading more until a later date!

Love is in the Air!!!

It is the month of LOVE!  I am such a corny, lover of all holidays and especially love Valentine's day!  This year, Todd is out of town (as usual, lately!) so we are doing dinner tonight instead!  I hope everyone else didn't have the same idea to celebrate the Saturday before! 

We put each other on a $30 limit, so I added to our Tervis Tumbler collection!  They just came out with these NBA licensed Tervis' so I snagged one with the Orlando Magic logo!  Then, I filled it with Todd's favorite candies....nutter butters and Twizzler's nibs....a candy parfait ;)  I topped it off with gum, a basketball lollipop, and a basketball cookie from the amazing cookie shop across the street from us!  Here's what the final product looks like:

Happy early Valentine's Day to all of you!!!