$$$TAXES$$$

HOORAY! We just finished our taxes...I'm so glad to have that done. I am frustrated though. The stupid government is still making changes to form 8893 (for education credits), and it could take until March to finish it! That means we can't e-file this year. I'm so bummed...I want my money! Oh well. We're hoping that since we got them done so early they'll do us the same favor and give us our refund quicker.

Taxes suck. Don't get me wrong - I love getting all this money back, but why do they even take it in the first place? The refund forms are so simple, yet so complicated. It's just crazy. Next year will be our last simple tax return too, since Matt is going to be a pastor in 2007. Clergy taxes are a beast that I don't even want to think about. Our friends who are pastors now don't even try to do their own taxes. "Hire an accountant!" is the advice they all give us. Duely noted...

This week has been fun. It's a little crazy at work with Ministry Conference on campus and spring semester starting on Monday. You wouldn't believe how many people wait until this week to apply for classes that start on Monday. Then they're just appalled that they can't be admitted in one day. Come on! The background check takes a week - sometimes more! And no, we cannot hold a spot in the class for you. I don't care who your pastor is. Ridiculous.....My Orlando MySpace friends know what I'm talking about. They're feeling the pain with me.
We were in Indianapolis this weekend for the Pacer game. My grandma bought my entire family tickets for Christmas, so we all went and took up like half of a section. I hear it was a good game. I didn't really pay much attention. I spent most of the game watching this crazy girl with some wicked huge pom-poms cheer all night. She was nuts! She didn't stop moving once. My cousins and I just laughed and made up stories about what she could possibly be doing. We are sure she was getting paid. The Pacers lost (not by much) and we ended up having dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory afterwards. I love that place! It was nice to be in familiar surroundings again.

We were waiting for our table at the OSF when my aunt Becky called. Becky is my dad's younger sister, and is the caretaker of my great-grandma Jordan (who is 96 years old). Grandma fell and broke her hip Friday, and when they took her to the hospital the doctors found that she had a urinary tract infection as well. Top that off with the fact that they couldn't operate because her blood was too thin, and well, it was a crappy day for grandma. God love her - she's amazing. They were finally able to operate on Sunday morning, and we went to see her at the hospital. She was just laying there sleeping, and it hit me how old she was. It didn't even look like her! The biggest difference is that she didn't have her teeth in. I almost laughed to see her that way! She woke up a little and mumbled some nonsense about going home later that day, and then went back to sleep. She's so sweet and so funny. My dad was really torn up though. His parents and grandparents are all gone except for Grandma Jordan, so he's not exactly ready to let her go. (Not that any of us are.) My dad is unstable enough the way it is. I don't want to know what will happen when she goes Home. Just a few things for you guys to pray about...

Well - I'm going to go cuddle with the hubby. We've had a rough night doing math and wearing out our No. 2 pencils, so we're just going to relax together. It's my favorite part of the day. :) You know what I love? I love snuggling up to his chest as we're laying down to sleep. His cologne is still faintly present and I love to fall asleep just breathing in his smell. Maybe that's weird - who cares! I love it anyway. He's the best...

Set it and forget it,
~Katie~

P.S. Thanks to all of you who sent me little notes of encouragement as I recovered from my oral surgery. After talking with my cousin's wife, I realize I had a pretty smooth go of it. She had dry socket and was in misery for a week! All I have to bitch about is not being able to eat pizza (which I shouldn't really eat anyway). Thanks anyway - I'm all better now! :)