So You Think You Can Dance?

I am obsessed with this show. There are dance shows on TV right now that I think are just plain silly, but this one I LOVE. I only wish that I could have been part of it. The last two years when it came to ATL and Charleston, I was so close to going to the audition but I never did. Too scared to try, I guess and who wants to get publicly humiliated if you don't make it through...not me. It is a grueling competition but sometimes when I watch them, I get envious that they get to just dance...that's it. What a life! I love that Tom will watch it with me and even make good critques, too. I guess that's what you get when you are surrounded by dance on a daily basis. He even knows some technical terms. I think it's great:) I've already got a few favorite dancers picked out for the season. Do you?

Graduation Tribute

Two years ago this month, Tom graduated with his Bachelor's Degree from Kennesaw State University in Business Marketing. I am continually proud of Tom and his accomplishments and for the man that he is. I can't believe it has been two years! That was a hard time...going to school full time...working...trying to make finances work, etc. Those are definitely memories we will keep with us and always remember. It makes you appreciate what you have so much.

Trying to make Tom smile for the picture;)
Graduation smooch after he gave me the stole of gratitude.

It's Nationals time!!

It's that time again. NDA College Dance Team Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL!! I took my team (Kennesaw State University Rhythm Dance Team) of 11 dancers and we competed in the Dance Open Division going up against team such as UGA, Southern Methodist, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern, etc. This is only our 3rd year being Nationally competitive and the team did well. We didn't make it to finals and although that would have been great, that's not what it was all about. We went expecting to learn a lot, soak up the experience and have a good time and we did just that. We had so much fun and I have to say although it was an incredibly exhausting season...it was rewarding to see the team grow as dancers and women and I was very proud of them.

Amanda dropped this off at my house the night before I left. She's awesome.


My girls. Our theme was "touch." Love the glove. Can't touch this...

Tagged!

10 years ago...
I was 15...staying busy with Marching Band, Chorus and Track in High School.

5 things on my to do list today....
1. Make it through work!
2. Teach dance class at the studio
3. Do some laundry
4. Go to the pharmacy
5. Hang out with my Tommy

What would you do if you had a million dollars?....Go on a shopping spree. Build an amazing recording studio for Tom and a dance studio for myself. Pay off bills.

Three bad habits.....
1. Popping my knuckles
2. My cell phone being attached to me all of the time
3. I can sometimes be impatient

4 places I have lived......
California, New Jersey, Florida and Georgia

5 jobs I have had.....
1. Kennesaw State University Admissions/CAPS Center
2. Universal Dance Association Instructional Staff
3. Sprint- Corporate Office
4. Kennesaw State University Rhythm Dance Team Coach
5. Dance Studio Teacher

5 things people don't know about me......
1. I can sometimes be self conscious
2. I am the tallest girl in my family
3. I was on the drum line in High School
4. Before getting braces, I had a pallet expander to expand my mouth. It really hurt!
5. I used to take karate

What is your hubby's name? Tom Lukens, Jr.

How long have you been married?
5 years, this Thanksgiving.

How long did you date?
About 6 months and then we were engaged for another 6 months.

How old is he?
28

Who eats more?
Tom

Who said I Love You first?
I did, but we both said it to each other in the same conversation. It was a really big deal and we were both nervous.

Who is taller?
Tom, by about 7 inches.

Who sings better?
I do, but believe it or not, Tom can sing…he just chooses not to.

Who is smarter?
I think we complement each other on our “smarts”…it just depends on the topic of conversation.

Whose temper is worse?
Mine. Tom is very chill. I love that about him. It takes a lot to upset him.

Who does the laundry?
I do for the most part. Too many tricky ways to wash my clothes…

Who does the dishes?
We both do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Looking at the bed, I do.

Who pays the bills?
Tom does. He’s very on top of our finances!

Who mows the lawn?
Tom. He is doing landscaping so we have MORE of a lawn! YEAH!

Who cooks dinner?
We both do. It just depends on the night.

Who drives when you are together?
Tom

Who is more stubborn?
Probably me, but we both have our things we are pretty firm in.

Who is the first to admit they are wrong?
I think we both take ownership if we’re wrong.

Who's parents do you visit the most?
I’d say it’s about even.

Who proposed?
Tom. In an amazing way at that! He sent me on a scavenger hunt that was so creative! He was at my last “stop” which is where he proposed.

Who has more friends? I do, just because I’ve had opportunities to do so many different things and meet so many different people. Most of our friends we see on a regular basis are mutual, though.

Who has more siblings?
We’re even…one of three.

Who wears the pants in the family? We make decisions together.

People I tag...Amanda Sainsbury, Amanda Erickson, Shannon Carey, Pamela Watts and Jamie Shores!

Timing's everything

I’m sitting here relaxing on my amazing couch and feeling grateful that it’s Friday, the last working day of the week. I try to take advance of moments where I don’t have something going on because these moments can be very few and far between. Tom has been downstairs in the basement re-recording some songs he wrote a while back. He just started working on a song he wrote for me while we were dating and has been laying down new guitar and drum tracks. It’s called “Ready.” When I hear that song, it brings back such memories and at times makes me want to cry. I can feel his love and his heart seeping out of that song. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing man, husband and best friend in my life. He is so amazingly talented. That is one of the first things that attracted us to each other. He played the piano for me while I sang at a YSA Conference. That’s what initially brought us together: music. It will forever be a part of our lives. The song is all about timing. The first couple words of the song are “Timing’s everything…” When I think about that…timing…it truly humbles me. I have learned many lessons over the past couple years and most of them have involved timing. I have to remind myself that my timing is not always the Lord’s timing. He knows what and when things are going to happen before we do. For those that really know me, you know that I am a serious planner. With all of the responsibilities and obligations that I have in my life, if I didn’t plan…I would be living in a mess with absolutely no organization whatsoever. I would never be able to get anything done. With that said I sometimes have things planned to the hour, even minute to fit everything in that needs to happen, that I want to do or that I want to happen. So when things don’t fit in my “plan” it can throw me off. I am learning to trust in the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind and strength because he knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I need, what I want and the every yearning of my heart. I feel so blessed for what I have in my life and I trust in the Lord that things will happen the way they are meant to happen.

A quarter of a century...

Thursday, March 6th, was my birthday...I'm 25...a quarter of a century!!

Tom and I work together and we drove into the office on Thursday. About an hour after we got there, Tom came over to my desk with a big "Happy Birthday" balloon and a vase full of pretty flowers. It made me feel so special! Everyone kept saying "Happy Birthday" to me all day and it really made my day. Tom is such a wonderful husband and I feel so blessed to have him in my life. Here's the pictures of my birthday surprises from Tom. Thanks to all for your call and messages. I appreciate it:)!!

25th Birthday Party!

One of our closest friends, the Ericksons, threw me a surprise birthday party. It was an 80's theme and it was a lot of fun. I appreciate all of the hard work Amanda and Trev went to, to make this a special birthday for me and it was! Here are a few pictures. More to come...

That is a lot of candles!!

Some of the girls