its a beauiful day in the neighborhood

Its 7:13, its still sunny out and it warmed up today! It is amazing what beautiful weather does to an attitude. Now I can see why all those celebrity's live in Cali where its warm and sunny most of the time. No wonder they look so good! ha You have no idea what this sunlight does to a photographer either. It makes me want to just be outside and photograph anything my camera see's. The lighting is just beautiful...ok enough camera talk.
 I currently have a to-do list looking me in the face but its almost spring break and I have NO motivation to do it!! I just finished my NCAA bracket and I must say I am not 100% confident in it- I keep telling myself that might be a good sign because when I am confident I usually end up in pretty bad shape.

 One last thing before I get to my to-do list is that today is it is....our niece MORGANS BIRTHDAY!!!! It is crazy that she turned 5 day. The first time I met Mandy she was 8 month pregnant with miss Morgan- I had no idea that 5 years later I would be one lucky Aunt Erin to the cutest little girl ever. Happy Birthday Miss Morgan, Uncle Nathan and I love you very much!!

we just love her!!!

a run

Today I took a run outside with Hoss and it was just what I needed. After a very long day a work, a teachers meeting, and track practice we got home in time for me to get a run in. Nathan and I usually run together but today I needed some Erin(and Hoss!) time. It was so nice being outside, hearing the birds chirping, the water running(we have had LOTS of rain) and the feet hitting the pavement- it really is one of my favorite things. As I posted a week or so ago, I have been going through some tough things lately, but a running seems to take away all of the worries and stresses for the thirty minutes that I am out there. I was so thankful that I went!!
 Today on my run, I thought about Lent starting today and the amazing sacrifice God made for us. I did some thinking about what I was going to do for Lent this year, instead of 'giving something up' I am going to add thankful reflection time into my day. I am going to do 40 days of Thanks. I can't wait to show it to you when I am finished. With all that has been going on I often times forget to reflect on all of the wonderful blessings that surround Nathan and I. 
 After my run, Nathan grilled steaks(yummm) and mom fixed veggies(delicious) and we enjoyed a nice peacefull at home dinner. Now its time to enjoy some American Idol- I probably wont make it too long but I can at least try. night all

happy house

Well our house has been a happy house today...GAVIN IS HOME!!! He had a successful eye surgery this morning and is home for the next 36 hours. Nathan is smitten(and so is Gavin). I think Nathan is just thankful that he is not outnumbered today. Gavin just adds lots of comic and laughter to the house. It was just what the dr. ordered for everyone I think!
 Nathan and I got home from track practice. side note: Nathan and I are coaching track together and I think it is a REALLY good lesson for both of us. It is teaching me that its ok to be a little hard on them and its teaching him that sometimes you have to ease off or they might just quit on you. Today while I was talking to two of the girls, he took the others off(4 to be exact..yes its a VERY small track team) and decided to make them run more. Once I realized what was going on I asked him how many they had ran and he said 'I have no idea, I lost count.' followed by a cute smile. I look over at the girls and they are ready to fall over!! Poor things. I promised them that it would be their last one as long as they worked hard- Nathan agreed but he wasn't a huge fan! I am certain it will be a fun season having him around to 'help'.
 Tonight I came home and went for a run that kicked my but! I have decided that I am on a March Madness kick-Erin style. I am going to work my but off for the next month to get as healthy as I can, I think it will be good for my mind and body.
 We are now settling in for a movie. I am not really sure how long I will last but at least I will get some quality time between Gavin and Nathan on the couch. :) I am one lucky girl!! :)

rest

This weekend did not go as planned however, it turned out to be relaxing and we did get alot of rest time. The plan was to head up north Friday night to watch my friend Katy's basketball game and then go to Semi-State and watch McCutcheon girls play against Penn. However, Katy texted and said her game was canceled due to the weather so we decided to stay put. Our weekend was spent at home getting caught up around the house and catching up on some zzzz's.
 Friday night Nathan and I sat down to watch a movie and I crashed at 7(6:30 if you ask Nathan). He woke me up at 11 to head to bed and I slept in until 8! I think after the emotional week I was lacking some good sleep. Yesterday we stayed at home all day, went for a run, grilled out, I finished my book, edited pictures, Nathan worked on his project and we stayed in our sweats all day. It was very nice.
 This morning we went to church and then stopped by to visit my friend Heather and her new beautiful baby boy Xavier. He is just as cute as can be and sooo tiny!

baby Xavier- two days old.

After our visit we headed home to watch the Boilers put the smack down on Michigan State. I am now working on pictures and enjoying the quite time.

I am stuck on a verse for this week. It was sent to me from a great friend this week, it was on a poster I just happen to click on on etsy and it was the verse our church serviced opened with today. God is working to help my heart and for that I have hope.
 
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

honest

As I sit and wait for pictures to upload I realized its been a while since I last posted. Unfortunately,  I have had no desire to blog.  I am warning you, in this post I am going to be very open and it might not be the happiest of blog posts. I write this post for myself. I want to remember this time so that someday I can look back and say...see I MADE IT and it was WORTH IT. read @ your own risk.

 Sometimes when the going gets tough- the tough really really want to quit!  Right now I am ready to quit. Things are hard and I am struggling through many things right now. This week I have done a fair share of shedding tears, a fair share of talking with God and a fair share of hurting. No, there is not one thing, one person, or one moment that hurt. Its been building up for a while and this week it came to head. I am asking millions of questions, have so many worries, and there are lots thoughts running through my head and I just wonder what in the world Gods plans are all about. I wonder about my job- is it really for me? I wonder about our move- was it the best decision? I wonder about our future- where and what will it bring? I worry about my family, I miss my dad and I hurt for my friends. My head knows that God has a plan but its not in my heart right now.
 My heart is heavy and I wish it wasn't. I HATE feeling this way and I am tired of the 'Erin, are you ok? You don't look like you feel good today.' I just want to scream... I HAVE A HEART ACHE- but very few would understand and I might get some pretty funny looks. I will just keep praying that my 'sickly look' will go away and my heart will hurt a little less. As for now, I am tired and not feeling very tough this week. I pray next week will be better and my heart will start to believe what my head knows.

A wonderful friend wrote to me this week and finished the email with this verse... So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (1 Peter 1:6)
I am going to keep praying, keep trying to be tough and know that God has a wonderful plan in store for Nathan and I, and that gives me hope.

another fun weekend & Valentines day

This weekend was another great one! Friday night the weather was beautiful here and I was in the mood to go out for dinner. We decided on one of our new favorite restaurants Moijots and boy was it a good choice. It was so nice just being the two of us enjoy each-others company. I love my husband more and more every day!
 We got up Saturday morning and it was another beautiful day so we went for a run outside and I did some laundry while Nathan did some MBA work. We headed out the door for an overnight trip to see our friends Niki & Josh in Louisville. Although we don't live too far from Louisville it was still exciting knowing that we were going to spend the night in a hotel AND see our great friends. We meet them at the hotel and made our way to Champs bar were we sat for hours...yes I do mean hours. :) We watched three basketball games, talked about everything under the sun and before we knew it it was past 6 and it was time to get ready for dinner. I can't tell you how nice it was to not feel rushed. I really have decided that we as Americans are always in such a hurry that we never really take them time to relax and really enjoy the moment. It is amazing how enjoyable that can be! We then walked back to the hotel and got ready for a night out at 4th Street. We ate a very good pub that served pickle chips(yummy) and we each enjoyed our own favorite drink. side note- one of the funniest parts of the weekend was that every beer that any of us ordered was either out or they didn't carry it anymore. It got to be quite comical! Once again we took our time and just enjoyed being together with our great friends.  We finished off the night at the piano bar- wow what a treat. It was 'Love Sucks' night so all of the single were out on the prowl. I think Niki and I had more fun people watching then listening to the music. Josh and Nathan had'Will' and the 'make-out couple' to keep them entertained too. To say the least it was a great night full of lots of laughs.
 Sunday we got up and ate at IHOP then headed to church. It was a BEAUTIFUL day outside and a great way so spend Sunday morning. After church we said our 'good-byes' and both made our ways back home to watch the Boilers!
When we got home Gavin and mom were waiting for us to start the game. The Boilers pulled out a good W and the rest of the day the Taulman-Railing house was a happy one! I took Hoss on a run and then we enjoyed grilling out and dinner together.
 Valentines Day Nathan sent me gorgeous flowers to school- a very sweet surprise, considering I had told him I didn't want him too(yes, a VERY stupid thing to say). We enjoyed a great home cooked meal here together and finished off the night with the Bachelor!!  :)
 All-in-all...it was another GREAT weekend with awesome friends and a perfect Valentines day!

AWESOME weekend but man a looong week!

This weekend was awesome. totally.completely. awesome. :)
 Friday we drove up to Dyer and enjoyed some Cold Stone(oh, how I have missed you) and then spent the evening in 'our house'. It was so great to be there- I sure miss that house. Saturday we got up and I had a photo shoot in the morning and then we headed over to Hilary & Jonas's house for the day. It was one of the best days I have had in a long time. Hilary and I sat and talked for a very long time while the guys(Gavin, Nathan and Jonas) enjoyed the ball games and guy talk. Then our great friend Bridgette came by and the three of us girls had a great time. I miss those girls more than they know! The plan was to head home in the afternoon to change and get ready for dinner but we were having such a good time that we just left straight for dinner from there. We meet up with Vicky and Joe and it was like old times again. The girls and the guys and dinner. I loved every second of it. I even got to see a former student of mine and she told me how all of the students miss me and wish I was still there. It just melted my heart.
 We then headed back to the house to finish up the evening with more 'together time'. I really didnt want the night to end. Unfortunally we had to get up early on Sunday and couldnt go to our 'old' church but we were headed down to Nathan's parents so we could celebrate Linda birthday. We had a fun meal and the restaurant that Nathan and I feel in love at :) and then went to the mall with the kiddies. It was so much fun.... Nathan and Marek were BUDDIES and I got to hold Morgans hand as we walked through the mall. The big event was that Morgan got her ears pierced and I was one proud aunt! She didnt cry or flinch and they look so pretty on her. I must admit I got a little teary eyed seeing her getting so big. Mandy was pregnant with her when Nathan and I started dating. Its hard to believe she will be five years old next month. I am pretty sure she can stop growing up now! haha
a few pics from the trip to the mall....

little miss morgan and her beautiful new earrings!

these two being great silly sports while morgan was getting her ears pierced

this picture melts my heart more and more each time I look at it. 

He will be a wonderful daddy someday!

best buds.

 After our shopping trip we enjoyed a delicious dessert treat as a big family! We all had a great time and once again I didn't want the day to come to the end. Marek wanted us to go with his so bad- I sure did too!
After an AWESOME(have I mentioned it was an AWESOME weekend!) we headed home just intime to watch the half-time show and then I crashed on the couch. I was so thankful for my friends and family this weekend. They are all such blessings from God.

 I dont know about anyone else but this week has felt like it has gone on FOOOOORRRRREEEEEVVVVERRR! Maybe its because we have another fun weekend planned or because I have been hoping for a snow day each day and have yet it even come close to getting one...maybe tomorrow. :)
 As for now...I am headed to catch some zzzzzz's. My goal it to get up and workout before school I have set my alarm everyday this week it just hasnt happened yet...maybe tomorrow. :)