This time last year...

• I had had two bridal showers already.
• We were receiving RSVP's.
• We did not have rings yet, and I did not have a veil.
• I was finalizing our wedding night hotel/transportation plans (we stayed at the Hyatt at the airport!)
• We were still working some details (stump cups/table numbers/programs/chocolate Army men and Gators), but mostly done.
  
• I was yelling at Josh and his groomsmen to go get fitted for their tuxes.
• Josh's passport had just come in (funny story. ask him about it sometime.....)
• I was picking out the music for our ceremony and reception, downloading it, and making playlists on my computer.
• Our bridal parties were planning our bachelor and bachelorette parties.
• I was up til 3am every night trying not to forget anything.
  
• My dress was back at the dress shop to get steamed.
• I was putting together the Out of Town bags for our guests at the hotel.
  
• We were constantly talking about how we were so ready for the day AFTER the wedding, when we'd be in St. Lucia.

This time last year, we were freaking out with so much left to do, 3 weeks before the wedding.

This time last year, we were so ready to just be married.

Can't believe it's been a year since then. Now, we're counting down to our first anniversary in less than a month, when we'll head to Savannah. No preparations necessary except packing our suitcases!

Our wedding was wonderful. We loved our day.

But this time last year, we were discussing eloping... and only half jokingly. =)

Count down the last few weeks along with us using the ticker I put on the right side of the blog!

Josh, Kim & Abby

The Touchtons and Math Don't Mix

So.... one of the things I haven't mentioned about the GMAT test I had to take to get into MBA school was that I didn't do too well on the math portion. In fact, I did less than average...

I've never liked math. Josh and I have this in common.

Luckily, my high Verbal score was able to pull up my Total score enough to meet the requirements for UF. That, and I got a score of 6 on my essay portions (out of a possible 6).

I'm excellent at English and writing. Josh and I also have this in common.

When I got my Admitted Students packet in the mail last week, I couldn't help but notice the rather large Accounting textbook that came with it. The letter (well, one of the letters, there were multiple) stated that I needed to complete said Accounting textbook before school starts on February 11th, or I'd be behind the rest of the class.

And I couldn't help but wonder... Does everyone get this textbook to complete? Or, do just those who do less than average on their math GMAT sections get this book to complete?

I really hope everyone got it. Otherwise, I feel a little silly. But also thankful that they let me in, even with my lack of math knowledge.

It took me awhile to even open the book to start, though, because Accounting is the reason I didn't Minor in Business in my undergrad years. I heard horror stories about this class and got scared, dropped my business minor, and re-focused onto hospitality/tourism.

But, I'm on Chapter 2 already and doing pretty well. So far it all makes sense and I haven't had to do any serious mathematical equations. Hopefully it continues this way and I can completely understand everything I need to for my classes that start in... 3 weeks!

By the way, my best lawyer friend (that would be Robyn) says that the UF MBA school would never send selective students an Accounting book - they would open themselves up for a lawsuit if some students did better than others in the program because of the book.

Which means, I don't have to feel silly about my math score anymore. =)

Josh, Kim & Abby

Abby's baby pictures

Josh mentioned last night that he made a picture of Abby and I his background on his cell phone. He said it's a picture of us from when Abby was a puppy.

And, my boss at work just got a new puppy that I puppy-sitted last Friday, which also got me thinking about Abby as a puppy.

She was just so darn cute.

And, she's like our kid anyway, which of course you can probably tell from me talking about her all the time. (I know, all the time. Sorry.)

So here are some of our favorite of Abby's baby pictures. She turns 3 this year (in May).

Whenever you're having a bad day, come back to these pictures. They'll make you smile instantly! I guarantee it. =)

Josh, Kim & Abby

Josh's 6 Weeks in L.A.

L.A. stands for Lower Alabama. I know, not quite as exciting as you thought.

He's going into week 3 of his rigorous training at Fort Rucker, which is just west of Dothan, Alabama and about 2 hours north of Panama City Beach. Really, it's right smack-dab in the middle of no-where. There's not even a Chili's in the town. lol

Luckily, there has turned out to be lots of people he knows up there with him, including guys he served overseas with that he hasn't seen in quite some time. Our friends Paul and Angela also live up there.

So far he's doing really well, has passed all his exams, and has started the flight portion of the training. And he's literally studying all the time, which, as you probably know, he absolutely hates. But this course is very important to him, and I'm really excited that he was able to get into it.

We sure do miss each other though. This is the longest we've been apart in... well, a long time. We don't think I'm going to be able to make a weekend trip up there either, because of the amount of studying that's involved.

This used to be the norm for us. The first 2 and a half years of our relationship was long-distance. Not just long-distance, but REALLY long distance. I used to joke that I had a relationship with a computer screen or my cell phone, because we'd Instant Message, E-mail, or talk on the phone to communicate. It definitely wasn't easy, but we made it work.

But since we've both been in the same country, city, and now house, we've gotten very used to being together every day. Very used to it.

They say that the first year of marriage is tough, because of all the adjusting, learning to live together, etc. And they're right. It has been tough. But I'd take the learning curve of the first year of marriage over being long-distance like this any day.

Counting down to Valentine's Day when he finishes the training and gets back to me and Abigail!

Josh, Kim & Abby

The Phone Call

It went like this:

Me: Hello?
Her: Hi, I'm looking for Kim Touchton?
Me: This is Kim.
Her: Hi Kim, I'm calling from the University of Florida's MBA Admissions Office, how are you today?
Me: I'm doing well, thank you.
Her: That's good. Well, I wanted to follow-up with your application for the 2-Year Internet MBA program. The admissions board is still reviewing your application and have not made a decision yet.
Me: Oh, ok.
Her: But I do need to ask you one more question in addition to our last phone conversation we had.
Me: Ok, sure.
Her: How do you feel about being a part of Gator Nation again?
Me: Um... well I'd be super excited about it if I get in!
Her: Ok, well I think you should get excited, because you've been accepted to the MBA program.
Me: Ohmygosh really??? Oh I am so excited!
Her: (now laughing) Yes, really.
Me: Yay! (yes, I actually said that.)

She totally tricked me!
I'm a UF MBA Grad student!!!!!!!!!

And then there was more about how I will be getting my packet in the mail or I can go online to the ADMITTED STUDENTS section on the website, and how Orientation is FEBRUARY 11TH....

God's timing truly is perfect. Never early, never late. Geez, I wish I could just trust.

So here we go! I'm holding on for the ride.

And, I'll leave you with this, which absolutely sums up my entrance essay to a "T" that I didn't let anyone read before I sent it in...


haha. Yay!

Josh, Kim & Abby

Ringing in the New Year 'round a campfire...

Or rather, HUDDLED 'round a campfire...
The backstory to all this centers around our trip to Washington, D.C. in March of 2007. I flew up to Fort Bragg, NC to meet Josh, Paul, Angela and their son Bryce, and we all drove up to D.C. for the weekend. Josh had previously told me that the weather wouldn't be "that bad" during our trip, but to bring a jacket.

So I brought a jacket. And nothing else.

Of course, the weather was awful. It snowed. It was freezing (literally). I had to layer and wear every shirt I brought every single day, buy a head band thing for my ears, and I borrowed a scarf and gloves from Angela. It was so, so cold. And miserable. And I fell in a patch of icy mud just after we took a picture at Arlington cemetery. (The three of them will now be laughing, remembering how pitiful I was after that...)
So, when my husband told me that the weather was not going to be "that bad" for our camping trip to Hanna Park in Jacksonville Beach, I knew that was code for "It's going to be awful."

I packed for awful weather this time. Thank goodness I did.

The weather reports leading up to our trip kept saying that Friday, New Year's Day, would have a high of 50 with rain all morning and then a low of 35 overnight. And that's exactly what happened.

But this time, we were prepared. Angela brought 2 space heaters, and I packed so many clothes, socks, blankets and gloves that it looked like we were moving. But let me tell you, I stayed warm all weekend, and was a happy little camper. Pun intended.

We also kept our campfire going almost 24 hours a day. Josh laughed when he saw the amount of firewood I bought at Publix for the trip, but stopped laughing after we had burned it all the very first night. The boys then went around stealing leftover firewood from other vacated campsites for us to dry out and burn for ourselves, which thankfully lasted until the end of our trip.

Another stroke of good luck was the Gator bowl game that occurred on New Year's Day night. We watched Timmy win his last game at Gators Dockside until around midnight, that way when we got back to our tents, we could go straight to bed instead of hanging out in the cold. It worked out well.

The weather actually turned out to be pretty bearable (only because I was prepared, Josh). But I don't think our little group will be going camping again any time soon, unless there's a surprise heat wave that comes up from the tropics. It's so much more enjoyable when you don't have to bundle up like a Polar Bear or pray to the space heater gods....

Thank you for a great weekend Paul and Angela! We really did have so much fun, like always. =)

Happy New Year everyone!

Josh, Kim & Abby

Limbo

No, not the game. The feeling.

It's definitely no secret that I'm not good with change. I like things to stay the way they are, or the way they're planned, and I don't really like not knowing what's next. I get uneasy, irritable and worrisome.

I'm working on it.

The last time I was in giant limbo was just before graduation. I would be moving back to Orlando, but didn't know where because my roommate and I couldn't find an apartment. And part of that problem was because I didn't know how much I'd have to spend on an apartment because I didn't have a job yet. I was one big stressball.

It all worked out, like it always does. I just have to remind myself that God is in control and He orders my steps according to His will. But as hard as I try to keep this in mind, I am still not ok with being in limbo....

...Like we are right now. Josh has several different job applications out, none of which are in Florida. If one of those jobs works out, we could technically be up and moving within a month. Then there's also another option that would take us to Alabama. That could be as soon as say, the summer, but could be up to a year. A third option would take us down to Clearwater - no time table on that one. It's a back up plan if all the others fail.

Our lease on this apartment is up in August.

It's difficult for me to be in the situation of not knowing where Josh and I will be a year from now. Like, not even a clue. I've been doing OK with keeping a "live one day at time" attitude, but I'm such a planner that I just really want to know so that I can start preparing for it.

And then, add all that to the fact that UF has not given me a definitive answer on my admittance to their MBA program. Classes start February 10th... which is one month from tomorrow... and I've done nothing to prepare. Not because I don't want to, but because I can't. I'm pretty sure I've gotten in, but I am still waiting on the phone call that was supposed to come last Tuesday. Can't secure student loans if you're not sure you're actually a student.

I feel like I'm waiting on a new season of a favorite TV show to start. Like I was left with a cliff-hanger season finale and can't wait to see what happens next.

And, I have a feeling that it's all going to happen at once. That God is going to suddenly set the ball rolling and tell me to hold on for the ride.

But I'm ready. I'm ready to know. I'm ready to be excited.

And I'm just really tired of limbo.

Josh, Kim & Abby

Touchton Portrait Studio

I've been wanting to get my whole family together for professional pictures for the past 6 months, but due to our schedules and a couple people in the family who hate pictures and avoid them at all costs, we haven't been able to get this accomplished. We haven't taken one of the entire family... ever. And the last pictures of most of us together was 2003. It's high time.

So, Christmas Day I hung up some white sheets, set up the tripod for the camera, and announced we were going to take some family photos. The women were thrilled. The men were annoyed. I didn't care, and was prepared to hog-tie them if necessary to get these pictures.

Here's the results. My wonderful little family:

This one is my absolute favorite. I can't stand how cute it is.

Thank you everyone for being patient with me and letting me take these! I love you all.

Josh, Kim & Abby

A Merry Little Christmas

So many things to say about Christmas 2009. It may take a couple posts.

To sum, it was great. I didn't have to work, which was a plus (slight scare that I may have had to miss my first married Christmas morning). And it was LONG. But worth it.

We got up at 7am. Spent the early morning just us as a little family, opening our presents to each other in front of our "fire" and going through our stockings. And Abby's stocking of course.

She got lots of new toys from the Dollar Tree... which she destroyed in the time it took Josh and I to finish opening our presents...
A little side note: I found it quite entertaining how Josh and I's Christmas traditions differ, and how we realized it throughout the day. For instance, in my family, all of our stocking gifts always came wrapped, even if it was just a pack of gum stuffed at the bottom. In Josh's family, come to find out, all the gifts in the stockings always came un-wrapped, just piled in there. So, on this Christmas morning once we had our stockings in hand, Josh asked me why all his stocking gifts were wrapped, including his gum, and I asked why mine weren't wrapped........

Santa's going to have to figure this tradition out for us when kids eventually come along....

Back to the day.

We spent the rest of the morning with my parents.
The dogs got more stockings... which Shelby pushed, and subsequently followed, under the table trying to get her treats out of the bottom.
The rest of the day consisted of eating 2 Christmas dinners, one with my whole family and one with Josh's, exchanging 2 more sets of presents, spending the evening with Josh's parents and sister, and finishing up at our good friends' house.

The loot? Well, we kinda felt like we got married all over again when we surveyed our gifts. We got a new comforter, bread machine, grill, BLUE RAY PLAYER (from my parents), quilt rack (for our afghans... not my purses....), blankets, shoe storage, the "perfect brownie pan", a new papasan chair base, a blender.........

There were boxes everywhere in our apartment on Christmas night! Just like when we got home from the honeymoon. lol

We got home at 10:30pm. Abby was the only one awake and ready for more.
Our first Christmas is in the books, folks. Hope yours was awesome too.
Josh, Kim & Abby