One Great Big Rollin Railroad

Well I got good news at work today. I have been promoted. I am moving up the chain here at Transentric. Instead of an Associate Account Manager I am now an Account Manager. I am excited. I will have more responsibility and will actually finally have direct reports. Only a few but I am looking forward to the experience. I also will be off weekends in a month. I can't wait to work Monday Thur Friday. I get to go to more Iowa State games now and cheer on the Cyclones. I am so excited.

Family Vacation... Well Sort Of!!

Well it is that time of year. The Oder, Turner and Ratcliff families are heading down to Kansas City to watch the New York Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals. Well there is a slight catch. I don't get to go this year. I lack vacation time at work so I will be staying home and house sitting for my parents. Scott is going to head down on Wednesday night with Jordan and Steve and will come home on Friday. I think it is great that he is going with my family. A little Quality Time spent with my family without me around. He has promised to take pictures of Derek Jeter and hopefully he will get an autograph for me. I told him to get whatever he can. The one thing I will miss this year is sitting next to my dad at the ballgame and watching him managed from the bleachers. I always tell my dad he chose the wrong profession and he should of managed baseball. He knows the game better than any one I know. That is what I enjoy most about going to a baseball game with my dad. He is the happiest he has ever been watching baseball, especially when he is watching the Yankees!!

Thank You

Tonight we will be doing the second annual Council Bluffs Bar Tour. However this tour has a little more meaning. We are doing it a little different this year. This year is dedicated to Kory Werts. Kory went to St. Albert with my sister Jordan and joined the Army after High school. Kory is heading to Iraq in August. Jordan wanted to throw this party for him so he would have a wonderful send off and also thank him for serving our country. So tonight we celebrate with Kory and I wanted to Thank all the troops of every branch of the military and Thank them for protecting us and serving this great Country. For all those soldiers who haven't made it home, God Bless you and for all those soldiers on there way home God Bless you. Thank you for the sacrifice. And Thank you Jordan for letting Kory know how much we appreciate what he is doing. God Bless the USA!!

Crescent, Iowa

Well Scott and I are moving to Crescent, Iowa. It is about 6 miles outside of Council Bluffs. We have purchased land in the Golden Hills Neighborhood. We are looking forward to building our new house and starting a family there. I have posted pictures of the Land. They are not very good but I wanted to give everyone an idea of what the lot looks like. We are hoping to keep as many trees as possible.

Our Visitation

Jeter has come home to visit this weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Ratcliff were really excited to get rid of him. While they head off to camp this weekend. I am glad they are sick of him that means I get to spend time with him. He has adjusted well back at home like he was never gone. He has already visited Grandpa Oder and I am sure Aunt Jordan and Uncle Steve will stop by soon. Scott and I have a busy weekend planned but we will get in as much time as we can with him until we return him to Red Oak on Monday. Torre was very excited to see him as well. They gave each other a couple sniffs and they both went on there merry little way!! Here is a picture of Jeter in the car. We took him to see Grandpa Oder. Grandma Oder was working!

Business Trip!!

Tomorrow I head to Chicago to for my first official business trip. I get to meet the customer I deal with everyday. It is always nice to put a face to a name. It is going to be a busy week. I am in Chicago for two days and then I have an interview for a promotion on Friday. I also have a research paper due on Sunday for school. I am looking forward to the weekend due to the stressful week I am going to experience at work and with school. Everyone wish me luck!!!

It's Offical!!

Well it is official Jeter will be staying at Grandma and Grandpa Ratcliff's and Torre will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa Oder until we sell the house. We feel the house won't sell with two furry animals in the house while people are looking at it. I am going to be lonely on the nights Scott is working. So hopefully the house sells quick. It is amazing how much energy they bring into our house. We will get to see Jeter on the weekends and Torre whenever we would like since she will be just at my parents house. It will be lonely but we will have them back soon. I miss them already and they aren't even gone yet!!!

Well it is official our house in on the Market. Ed came over yesterday and put the For Sale sign up and I had mixed emotions. This is our first house so I was sad but I am so excited to move on. I just hope the house sells fast for Scott's sanity and mine. We have had alot of good memories in this house and look forward to making more in our new house. We are having an open house on Sunday. I think it will hit me then to know we will not be living here anymore.

No Surgery!!

As most of you know I have been battling back pain for a while. Well today I had an appointment at the Nebraska Spine Center. Thanks to Lauren she recommended a great doctor, Dr. Burd. Well everything came out like I hoped. No surgery at least for a while. Dr. Burd has ordered me to do 6 weeks of physical therapy. He told me I needed to build up my core muscles. I can still play volleyball. When he told me that I was so excited. See you all on the volleyball court.

Happy 4th of July!!

Well today is the 4th of July. We are celebrating America's independence. Scott and I are both working today. This is Scott's first shift back since he left for Texas and the railroad never shuts down so I am working. I plan on heading to the Fire Station today. They do a little celebration so the families can celebrate together. We have a had an exciting couple days. As of tomorrow our house will be on the market. We are selling and we hope it sells quick so cross your fingers. We found a couple houses we really like. We are still trying to debate between Council Bluffs or small town Iowa. It is a tough decision. I think we will decide with rock, paper, scissors! Everything is starting to come together. This is an exciting time for Scott and I. I will post pictures of 4th later once I get to do some celebrating.