Getting Things Together

This year has already proved itself to be a significant one. So far I've had my first birthday as a married woman. It kinda turned into a birthday week with various celebrations with friends, family, and colleagues. Mmm cake and yummy foods! (23 doesn't seem much older than 22. Officially reached the boring birthday years lol)
We are creating new relationships with other 20 something's in the area.
We also hosted our first get together in our new apartment. We had a National Championship party for the LSU vs Alabama game. ROLL TIDE!!! Had some awesome food (not pictured) and then these festive peanut butter balls. :)

Great fun with friends!! It had been so long since we had seen many of them from traveling during the holidays.
We have also accumulated some furniture for our living room. :) Between awesome garage sale deals, and making stuff it kinda looks like a home! Slip covers, paint and wall fixtures are to come!!....eventually.

Living room! (You're not allowed to see the rest of the apartment... its too messy) We are still sorting things we got from Devin's parents, or rather ignoring them in the guest bedroom. Ever notice that when there are big projects to do, everything else just seems like way more fun than working on that project? Kinda feeling the same way about decorating. As fun as it is to daydream on Pinterest, I will have to take like a whole week off just to get my butt in gear to actually work on decorating!
Devin started the State Academy today for the police department! This will be a 12 week program and at the end after his graduation, he will begin with a partner. I guess a lot of it will be review, so that is good news for him.
One resolution I guess you could say, that has shown itself for Devin and I is learning to give things over to God COMPLETELY. And trusting that He will take care of them. As humans we so often have to have our hands in everything, thinking we control our own lives. I don't know about you, but the only place that path has taken me is a dark and lonely one. So silly to think we know better than God, whether its consciously or unconsciously. So as a couple we are trying to learn what that surrender and trust looks like. Feel free to share any pointers!!!
A goal for me: take more pictures!!! I need more to share on here. I fail at taking them lol Till next time!!

New Years and New Lifestyles

WARNING: Wordy update....no pictures
We had a wonderful first Christmas as a married couple! We drove 12 hours..ish up to Chicago overnight to spend a good long weekend with my parents, Trigger in tow. He did awesome! And we had a great time. Then it was over too soon! Aaaaand I totally failed at taking pictures while at home, but that was due to having so much fun!
Got to see my two bestest friends while there, and it was my first time seeing them since the wedding. Also got to meet up with some alumni from my high school gymnastics days, and literally laugh out loud at how old and out of shape most of us were. I can still flip! ....and still look like a frog.
Since being back Devin has begun shadowing some police officers before heading to the Academy later this month. He's been coming home with the coolest/funniest stories!! He got to actually arrest a few people, clear a house and approach a car with gun drawn. SO COOL!!! I love hearing about his stories each day. My youth job has been pretty slow since it's winter break, but have had a few fun times with girls at our apartment. Nails, movies, hair, and food. Good girl fun! But had to put a password on my phone...naughty girls.
With the New Year here, I've been trying to brainstorm realistic resolutions for us as a couple. Resolutions are so easy just to put off, or do for a little while then "forget" about them. I found a website that encouraged ten simple ones, but I want to go beyond the easy ones. And who says we have to start on the 1st? I want our list to be a good, well thought out list that we come up with TOGETHER. (Which may be more difficult than it sounds) One that we have come up with is be better at training Trigger.
He has A LOT of dominance issues, that are not cute. It is so normal for people to just smack or hit their dog, but through much trial and error, I've realized how wrong it is. People told Devin and I, oh you have to hit them to get them to listen and respect you. DON'T listen if anyone ever tells you this. It broke my heart the day that Trigger cowered when I raised my hand! I immediately started researching other ways. So many people rant and rave about Cesar Milan and his training techniques, however not many people stick to them consistently. We can't exactly afford obedience classes, so its taking a LOT of work to stay on top of this. If you watch any of my updates on facebook, you'll see more than a few rantings haha.
And of course, the typical personal resolution of getting into shape. But this one kills two birds with one stone! The more I go out walking/jogging with Trigger, the more I get in shape and the less crazy he is inside. I can't loose!...unless I don't do it.
I hope that all of you who have made resolutions this year, KEEP them!! Whether its just to get in shape or boost your spiritual life. Resolutions are meant to better ourselves! If Devin and I get around to making a list, I may post it on here for my other newly wed couples! :) Accountability is always appreciated!

Proud Wife Moment

This is me having one of many proud wife moments!! Tuesday, Devin got sworn into the Tuscaloosa Police Department, which means he as a BADGE!!! :) Gun to follow, but still had to get out the camera as soon as he came home. He looks so official!

Bad guys beware! Officer Kerstetter coming soon!
He will be starting the State's Academy next month and after that, its really official!
Had to brag,
Emily

We Have Moved!!!!

We officially moved into an apartment complex closer into town. We are still in the Tuscaloosa/Northport area though. In our new two bedroom one bath, we feel like we are living in a mansion! We have been here a week and have saved so much on gas too. We are loving it here! Being in our new apartment also means we have our little ball of teeth.. i mean fur... with us. He is so smart! It's a blessing and a curse at this point lol. I will post a few pictures on here of our new place empty and good before shots. Hopefully sooner than later I will be proud to post after more homey shots.... but that means unpacking boxes first. :(

The door you see in this picture is our front door. Then the person is standing in the living area and looking into the dining area.

 

 Kitchen! Directly to the right out of frame is another door that leads into the hallway. Please note: THE DISHWASHER!!!!!!! And full size oven. :) I'm not happy or anything...

Our HALLWAY! Crazy! Little door on the left is furnace. Then the next is the guest bedroom/storage room right now. Then last door on the left is our bedroom. Last door on the right is the bathroom. Second is water heater. Then first door with a knob on the right is our hall closet. Open door on the right is the kitchen.

Bedroom! Window faces the east so its always SUPER bright in the mornings when the sun comes up.

Trigger just chillin while Daddy plays MW3. Typical night in the Kerstetter Kasa. :) I love my boys!

 Till next time!! Hopefully I'll have more exciting pictures up, or news. As for right now though, its just surviving the unpacking process!

Love Always,
The Kerstetters

Changes Keep On Comin'

As the Holidays approach Devin and I have decided to take on the adventure of moving! We are staying in Tuscaloosa/Northport, however have chosen to move more into town and to a place with a little more room. It was important to us to have a place with two bedrooms for when friends and family come to visit. We are SO excited!! Northbrook Apartments. And the best part is... We get to have Trigger for GOOD!!!!! We've felt so bad that he had to stay at a friend's house, which is part of the reason we wanted to move ASAP. Our cute little barn was perfect for those first few months, but we miss our little puppy. Who by the way, is NOT so little anymore! Just look at him!

We bring him to the vet in 2 weeks and I can't wait to hear his weight! The next few posts may be of my frustrations of training a puppy! Hahaha He is proving to be quite the persistent little man, and not always in a good way. Gotta love teething! Oooo but I love him so much! We are so excited to have him!
Work is going well for us both. Devin got his uniform yesterday and looks so studly!! ...I mean... professional. :) It's so fun to hear all his stories of training and cleaning. His boots are all shined and ready for wearing, and I can't wait till he comes home with a gun and a badge! That wont come till much later I'm sure though; probably sometime after January. WHBM is also going well. For anyone who shops there consistently, [Warning: Shameless Plug Coming] call ahead and make an appointment with your favorite associate. It will make them VERY happy!! You can call and say this is what I'm looking for, and they will have it ready for you when you come in to try on. (If you're in Tuscaloosa, you can totally ask for me! But there are two Emily's so ask for Emily K) Just makes work more fun if we have people to look forward to. Okay, plug over lol. The youth job is going great! Public speaking will be no problem for me by the end of this next semester. I'm really enjoying it, and getting to hear feedback from the kids. It also is a great personal learning experience when it comes to boundaries and maturity. (Realizing my own most of the time!) Humbling to say the least when you realize how many eyes are on you and following by example.
Got our wedding pictures!!! They were done by the amazing Samantha Jensen, and they look so good! Look on facebook for my favorite ones, and on her website is some of her previous work.
As for continuing changes, the next one is a new phone. Only has taken me 4 years...

Welp, its been almost two full weeks at our new jobs.
Devin is pretty much in cop school right now till January, and is a Recruit, not to be confused with officer (That is what they are telling them right now). Tomorrow he gets sprayed with Pepper Spray!! YIKES! I guess its so they know what to expect if it ever gets turned around on them. Either way its going to be an awful night for him!
I am loving being with the Youth Group! It always takes me a while to settle into a new job, but I love people so this is making it much easier. Actually gave the message tonight, and it went well. I was SUPER nervous but everyone listened and didn't Boo me off, so that was a good thing! White House Black Market is going well too, its just getting used to the double part time jobs that is taking some getting used to.
Its definitely Fall now! People keep saying that I should be used to this weather and it should still feel warm... Yeah Right! I didn't like the cold weather up North so why would I suddenly be okay with it down here?! Brrrrrrr!!! Going from 80's to 60's is no fun. Trees are starting to turn so that is pretty, especially to and from the barn.
Trigger is now with our friend Lindsay and we are enjoying every play time we get with him!! Good to know he's now temporarily with someone who will love on him and not just keep him outside!
Cute Trigger pictures from this week:

 Sleepin with Momma

 And driving with Daddy! Look at how he's just looking up at Devin! TOO Cute!!!!

Till next time,
Emily

I promised pictures, so here they are! Just a few from our apartment.

 Please note the mini oven! It works great, but we just get to use cute little cookie sheets.

 You can see the shower through that door. That is our bathroom.

 Bed set. This is one of the few times its completely made.

View of the side of downstairs. There is an upstairs also, which is our living and bedroom area, however there's no good angle to get a picture of it. It is lofted so it's open from the kitchen area.

Then last, but certainly not least! As of this weekend, this is our newest addition to our family. My first dog! We named him Trigger. He is 1/2 silver lab, 3/8 pitbull, and 1/8 chow. Got him after seeing a sign go up in our neighborhood. Be prepared for more pictures of him as he gets older :)

Little job update, Devin started his TPD job today. Looks like he'll be in "school" for a while, just listening to lectures and learning in office. But good news is that we will have wonderful insurance!! Biggest blessing that he could start this job so soon! More updates as time goes on.

Love Always, Emily