Marriage: {Two Years}

Two years ago today, I said 'I do' to my best friend. Two years ago today, my life changed forever. Two years ago today, I entered into married bliss...and I'm even more in love than ever! 
Over the past two years, my life is more enriched with love and happiness than I could have ever imagined. Is every day a breeze? Definitely not! Are there days where I just completely fall apart and disagree with everything my husband says? You bet! But is it worth it to work together, learn from each other, and live life every single day with my husband by my side? Absolutely. 
Marriage isn't easy. And I don't think there is a married couple out there, no matter how long they've been married, that would tell you otherwise! It's work. A lot of work - by both individuals. But it's so completely worth it. The bad days are nothing in comparison with the good days. I'm unbelievably blessed to experience this life journey with my best friend. He makes me laugh, knows exactly how to make me feel better when I'm stressing over something stupid or just had a rough day, and loves me unconditionally every single day of his life. I have never experienced a love like ours, and I can't even put it into words! We laugh together, cry together, and love together. Even the most random, common thing can put a smile on my face when I'm spending time with my husband. We're meant to be together, through all of life's trials and tribulations, we will be successful because we know love and have a healthy marriage. We work at it together. 
People keep asking me if it's felt like we've been married for two years already, and the answer to that is, 'no'. The saying holds true, "Time flies when you're having fun!" These past two years have held a lot for us, and it's been two long years of learning. Learning what makes the other 'tick'. Learning what it takes to truly make each other feel loved. Learning that life isn't full of flowers and rainbows, but it doesn't matter when you're experiencing the hurdles of life with someone you love unconditionally. The joys life brings are magnified when you're living them with your soul mate. Colten understands me in a way that absolutely no one else does, and I love that! He's always been there for me, 100%, from day one. He never judges me or questions my actions, even if he knows I'm wrong. He supports me in ways I've never known before, and he holds me when I fail. He's my number one fan!  Although we've been married for two years already {y'all, that's 730 days!}, I still say that we're newlyweds. I don't know when I'll stop considering us that, but I absolutely love it! I think back to our wedding day and smile. We were surrounded by so much love and support - I couldn't have asked for anything better! It was well worth all of the planning, stress, and tears ... It was perfect. Thinking back to that day now, I am reminded how blessed I truly am. Family and friends came out to support Colten and I's love for each other - they celebrated our love with us! I cherish the memories and the photographs, which will last me a lifetime!  But to be at this point we're at today, I keep in mind that the wedding day is just the beginning. It's the marriage that truly counts. I go to bed every night and wake up every morning with my husband. And I smile. I am a lucky, lucky girl to walk this life with Colten. Sure, there are days when we completely disagree on things and cannot come to an understanding with each other. There are moments when we just need our space and time apart from each other. But those moments pass. We become stronger because of those moments. We cherish the love a bit deeper and appreciate one another a little bit more. 
A marriage takes three. Husband, wife, and God. We vowed forever with God as our witness, and strive to become close to Him each and every day. Are we perfect? Gosh no! Do we have room for improvement in every single aspect of our lives? Yes! But we are learning and living together, striving for a more intimate bond with God and with each other. I am blessed to be the wife to such an amazing man. Every day is a surprise. Every day is a gift from God for us to learn more and more about each other. I never stop learning from my husband, and our marriage is never stagnant. We know that it truly takes effort and that it is a decision to love each other every day. It's a decision we make over and over every day. We choose to love. We choose to share our happiness with each other and to keep learning together. I know there are still struggles ahead. Struggles we cannot even begin to fathom. But with Colten by my side, I know we can do it. I know we'll make it through and will have so much to show for it.  Two years ago began a whirlwind of a marriage. Not a day has gone by in which we haven't told each other the we love each other. That's actually one of my favorite things about our marriage. We say 'I love you' every day, several times a day. And they are not just empty words that you routinely say. I feel the passion and genuine feelings behind his words every day. Not just a few times a week or once a month - EVERY DAY! I look forward to our future, as I have no idea where it'll lead, but I know we'll get there together, hand in hand. I know our love for each other will only grow, as we grow closer and closer to God. I know the road ahead will be a bumpy one, but I truly look forward to sharing every part of the journey with my husband. 
Colten, thank you so much for treating me with the utmost respect and showing me what true love really is. I have enjoyed these past two years and look forward to many, many more! Thank you for making me your wife and for truly making me happy. I love you! 

Roll With the {Punches}

Relationships are hard. And not just with a significant other. I'm talking about relationships with friends, siblings, co-workers, parents, aunts and uncles, significant others and their families...the world revolves around relationships. They're everywhere! And they're work. A lot of work.

I'm the one that people go to - I listen and give advice when it's asked of me. I'm always willing to lend a helping hand or do favors for people when in need because I know that I'm being helpful. I'm nice. I do my absolute best to keep my plans and be on time when I say I will as to not inconvenience those around me. But not everyone is this way. In fact, a lot of people aren't. They don't mull over their words before they say them as to not hurt others' feelings. Sometimes it makes me think if they care about anyone other than themselves at all...

Normally, I just accept what others say and/or do, knowing that that's just how they are, and I am how I am. But every now and then, I try to put my foot down and push back against those that are hurting me. But every time I stand up for myself or call someone out on something, I feel terrible. And by terrible, I mean that I will dwell on my force words and/or actions for hours and hours later, sometimes even days later if I don't have contact with that person. It's happened twice recently, and what I said to stand up for myself wasn't even that harsh. I'm a wuss...

But, I take the abuse over and over again because I'd rather my feelings be hurt or me to be put out than for it to be the other way around, which often results in my sadness and resentment against others for continually treating me badly. So let's face it, I'm a people pleaser. I show up. It's what I do.

People pleasers "want everyone around them to be happy and they will do whatever is asked of them to" keep it that way.

I struggle with this. Daily.

No matter how I feel, though, I continue to roll with the punches. These people are my family. These people are my friends. It's my problem, right?

Yes, it is my problem. But it's also up to me to do something about it. But that can also be tricky. What if I try to change things and it results in lost friendships and bad blood? What if the other party doesn't understand where I'm coming from and gets their feelings hurt? What if I stop hearing from these people? What if they begin to think of me as a bad friend? What if... What if... What if... I could drown in the what ifs. But it's got to stop.

I recently looked into this and found that consistently putting others' needs above my own could develop into some negative consequences, therefore causing other problems:

Neglect of self. People pleasers devote very little time to taking care of themselves. This can cause me to be more prone to health problems. Umm, no thank you!

Passive aggression and/or resentment. Being passive aggressive is making sharp comments, crack sarcastic jokes, or make subtle actions that let a little of our negative feelings seep out. Check! And apparently, this is the biggest destroyer of relationships. Awesome...

Reduces ability to enjoy other people and activities. Constantly thinking of all the things that need to be done, especially for others, leads us to be disengaged. What good does that do?! None, that's what. Being present but disengaged is not better than being absent.

Stress and depression. The definition of stress is having more demands than you can handle. This website says that people pleasing can turn into a vicious cycle of chronic stress and unhealthy behaviors. And who wants that added with other stressors of the world?

Be taken advantage of. By always saying yes to requests for favors, people may begin to take advantage of your kindss by asking for more than is reasonable. Even worse, you may become the target of exploitive people because they will quickly see that you can't say no and take as much as they can from you. {Okay, this one maybe takes it a little far, as I haven't personally experienced this yet, but I'd rather keep from doing so!}

So really, I must stop this behavior before it really causes chaos in my life. I tend to lean towards being passive aggressive with those that I feel are hurting me. I stew over it and don't let it go. But luckily, it hasn't developed into anything super serious where I'm constantly resenting those that I love or truly neglect myself {hey, I've recently lost 11 pounds, so you can't say I'm neglecting my health!}. But, why not just nip this in the bud right here and right now?! Well, it may take time, but I'm determined to do it. I've got to teach others that my opinion is important, too, and that my time is valuable. If I'm upset about something and feel the need to talk about it, I have to do so without letting the other person turn the focus of the conversation on them. Although this is hard to do with the elitists of the world, it'll be a work in progress. After all, there's a difference in being nice and being a people pleaser. I can still be me without being mean!

And the thing is, these people most likely don't even know that sometimes their actions and/or words hurt me, as I'm so used to just bottling it up and hiding my hurt feelings from everyone {besides my husband of course}. It's time to make some changes in this aspect of my life, and I've found 8 ways to be a God pleaser and not a people pleaser that I'm keeping close by:

1. Be honest; no matter how hard it is to face the truth, remember that the only person you're cheating is yourself.
2. Be humble; never get ahead of yourself and allow yourself room for growth.
3. Dedicate time for God; dedicate a portion of your free time to God. Go to church. Pray. Allow God to be present in your life.
4. Don't change who you are for others; you do not pray to your friends and family; therefore, you shouldn't change for them either. God wants you to be the best version of yourself. Do not be influenced by the people surrounding you, instead be influenced by the man who gave up everything for you.
5. Hold on to your values; do not cave into temptation or evil. Deep down, you know the difference between right and wrong. Don't lose yourself trying to be something that you're not.
6. Live every day like it's your last; never let a single second or minute get away from you. Live each day like it is your last because you are blessed to be alive with your family and friends. Life is unpredictable and will throw you curve balls, but remain appreciative to God for giving you the opportunity to live your dreams.
7. Put others before yourself; God sacrificed himself so you could have a fulfilled life. Help others that are in need of assistance and charity. Your good deeds will not go unnoticed because God is always amongst us.
8. Put your faith in Him; it may not always seem like he's listening, but God has a reason and a plan for everything. No matter how hard a situation may be, you must put your faith in God. He is the one person you can always count on.

Being aware of this 'problem' of mine is the first step. The second step: put a plan into action! It'll be a work in progress, but I've got to start somewhere! :) I got this. And until then, I'm just going to keep rollin' with the punches!

  How do you balance others' happiness and your own?  

Life {Lately}

Life lately has been hectic! I keep drifting back to this ol' blog of mine and wanting to fully immerse myself in all of its glory and amazingness {hey, to me, it's totes amazing!}, but then life gets in the way. But, at least I have a life!

 

Well, that's not a good excuse anymore! The point is to blog about this great life of mine, so I need to figure something out to where this ol' blog gets more of my attention! Thus begins Operation: Life Management. Seriously. My life needs to be managed much, much better!

 

Why is it that I have an amazing Erin Condren life planner and I still seem to not be able to keep up with the days and weeks and blogging and living and being a wife and being a friend and being a daughter and a sister and a cousin and having relaxing days and catching up on television shows and providing ample doggy time with Ace and keeping up with house chores and helping my hubby with schoolwork and work two jobs?! Oh, because that's a LOT! That's why. Okay *exhales*.  But wait, doesn't this only get worse with kids?! Joy...

 

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And although I'm not doing so well with this whole 'management' of my life, I'm definitely not complaining! So much has been going on and I'm loving every bit of it! And I need to blog about a lot of it still {it's coming, just you wait and see!}. So, I won't spoil the lovely surprise of what is to come in future posts, but I did post about some of the exciting things that have happened recently, like that time we went to Dallas to support our cousin in the only way we know how - stand out and quite possibly be a little bit super embarrassing, and my birthday was this past weekend! With my birthday came my 30 before 30 list, so be sure to check that out! 

 

 

Some not-so-great things have also been going on recently, and I'm still working through those. I pray about them daily and turn over my hesitation, anger, and frustration over to God, for I know that he's got it all under control. Hey, I'm learning! I used to try to fix everything on my own and in my own way, only to have it backfire and cause more stress in my life. One step at a time. God's got me! And while He does, I continue to pray, because prayer is powerful, and in some moments, prayer is all that I have. BUT, I will not allow for these negative aspects take over my life, so I'm pushing to work through them in a positive manner and learn how to dance through the storms instead of drowning in them. :) 

 

 

I struggle with control. I apparently strive to control every aspect of my life {at least the important aspects}. But I've learned from experience that the way to make God laugh is to make plans, and boy has God been laughing at my expense lately! This is a learning process, and I'm figuring it out along the way, so bear with me!

 

I took to running recently when all I wanted to do was curl up in bed and cry hysterically over something I couldn't control. That's right - I ran! It might not have been for very long, but it was therapeutic! I ugly cried as I ran in the country, with nothing but nature surrounding me, and it was great! I took my headphones and ran. Literally. And every single song that came on was perfect for the emotions I was feeling. Did I know that this too, shall pass? Yes. Did I know that those words weren't absolutely true? Of course. But I was able to release my feelings and do so in a positive manner, so it was rewarding! Boy do I wish I still lived in the country to take to running each and every time that I needed to release my frustrations. But, it's a step in the right direction, and I felt much better afterward.

 

 

So, as with all things in life, I've got some positive and some negative things going on, all which make up my crazy world. I wouldn't trade it for a single minute! I know that the trials and tribulations that I'm experiencing are only going to make me stronger and better equipped for what is yet to come. And I know that I must cherish every minute that I get to spend with my loved ones because time is precious and is not guaranteed.

 

So...life lately has been pretty typical, with highs and lows, tears of joy and tears of sadness and hurt, and mixed emotions. Isn't that what it's all about?? ;)  But Operation: Life Management is definitely going to happen so that I can at least feel in control of what I can.

 

And in other, super awesome news, it's COLD today! Okay, not 'cold', but it's super cool outside, the wind is blowing, and the sun is hiding behind clouds and stormy weather all day long. I'm one happy, happy girl!

 



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My feelings exactly. :)

 

2 Timothy 3:16 {GROW in His Word}

Linking up for an amazing Scripture study group with Vanessa, Kelsey, Faith, and Melissa: GROW in His Word.  It's a weekly Scripture study in which we use the acronym G-R-O-W.

G - Greet - Welcome God's presence into your study with prayer

R - Read - Read the verse a few times, both silently and aloud

O - Observe - Ask yourself what stood out to you while you read the verse

W - Write - Write out the verse, note your observations, and share a prayer for this verse

This past week's verse was 2 Timothy 3:16.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

All Scripture...

This is the part the really stood out to me the most. Although it's only two words, they are so very powerful! Think about it - ALL Scripture; not just some of it. Don't pick and choose which verses to live by. It is telling us that we must grow in His Word - ALL of His Word, not leaving out any Scripture. Wow!

is breathed out by God...

God is telling us what to do. He is showing us the way to live out His will and to succumb to His glory - to really reach out and change our way of life to follow His teachings. We are blessed to learn from our Creator, our God. How amazing is that!  

and profitable for teaching...

No matter what stage of life you're currently in, all Scripture can be used to teach - to teach others the way that you've found, to teach yourself how to be more Christ-like, centered, and focused.  I learn from Scripture every.single.day. And regardless of what verse it is, it speaks volumes to me and I am blessed to truly learn from God and to deepen my relationship with Him. No one else can do it for you - YOU have got to learn from His teachings. 

for reproof...

I am very self-centered in my faith and strive to work at it every day. So with this comes the idea of repentance. God graciously forgives us for our sins and welcomes us into His heart with open arms. So should we, too, do this unto others. Do not cast blame and doubt upon fellow sinners. Instead, welcome them back to God with open arms, just as God has done and will continue to do for you.

for correction...

I love how each of these sections of this verse go hand in hand. Correction continues from where I left off with reproof. But I want to take it a step further and really look at myself with this one. In my current state of my faith and relationship with Him, I am called to use Scripture for correction in my own life - in my own mind. When I think I'm right...WRONG! I turn to Scripture to focus my life to be Christ centered and to correct my ill-thinkings and actions.

and for training in righteousness.

Learn to do His will, not yours. Righteousness - the state of moral perfection required by God to enter Heaven. The ultimate goal. The reason to learn all Scripture. Using Scripture, we are able to train throughout our lifetime to live by God's Word and to sculpt our image in His eyes. We are able to truly become Christ-like and enter into His kingdom upon His calling.  This is truly glorious!

What a perfect verse to begin this link-up! It truly starts you at the perfect place - to obtain the perfect mindset to continue this journey of deepening our faith and relationship with our Creator! I admit, I am guilty of picking and choosing which Scripture to study.  But God calls to use all Scripture in shaping my life as a Christian. This definitely opens my eyes that my study needs to be all inclusive. My study needs to get much deeper and centered on where God is leading me. This can and will happen.

This also leads to where my heart has been turning towards: the Bible. Let me explain. My heart has been yearning to truly read through the bible and actually learn what it is saying. I want to have a better understanding of what God is asking me to do. Yes, I attend church and listen to God's Word weekly, but I truly want to understand better. I see an extensive bible study in my future, really learning each book of the bible and knowing who is speaking and to whom he or she is speaking, as well as the time each book was set. I want this. I need this. And it'll happen. Overtime ends this month, so come September, I know what will be utilizing my time. Not only will I have my home back (70 hour work weeks do not allow for much time to devote to maintaining a household), but I will become organized and will begin the next chapter of my journey of faith.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for allowing my eyes to open further and to be set upon Your Word. Please allow me to fully utilize Scripture to deepen my relationship with You and to GROW closer to You. Thank you for the blessings that are the women who have created this opportunity for others to grow in your Word together. Without them, this experience would not be the same. Thank you for such an amazing community of Your followers that have come together through this link-up where studying Your will is a priority. I pray that you continue teaching me to dive into Your teachings and to develop my understanding even further than what's on the surface. Please continue to speak to my heart and teach me to follow the path to righteousness so that I will enter Your kingdom when You come calling my name.

In Your name, I pray.

Amen.

Monthly Marriage Goals {August Challenge}

I've decided to join in the Marriage and Relationship Goals link-up with Amberly and Kalyn.  This link-up happens weekly, but I am going to commit to it monthly instead.  It's more reasonable with the amount of time I have to devote to journaling my goals and updating them.  So, here we go!

I've said so many times before just how blessed I am to be the wife to my dear husband.  I'd link up several examples, but it's pretty much every post.  Okay, okay, here are just a few in which he's the center topic: My Husband, My Hero; Lover, Lover; Happy Birthday, Colten.

I try my best to be optimistic - every day.  I've had my rough days, believe me!  But I'm much happier and better off when I stay optimistic, when I'm not festering in my unhappiness.  Marriage is part of that, too.  Marriage is hard work!  No relationship is perfect, and I'm definitely no exception to that.  I love this idea of monthly marriage goals.  It makes me more intentional in my marriage.  It opens my eyes to truly appreciate my husband and strive to become a better wife for him.  With that said, this month I am going to really focus on my husband's love language.  With everything that's beeng going on in my life with working so much and family things, he's 100% supportive.  He doesn't argue with me; when I lose my patience and take out my anger on him, he doesn't get mad at me; he tells me that he's there for me and loves me.  He goes out of his way to make sure that I'm taken care of as best he can right now.  I don't want to fail him.  I need to make more of an effort to really show him that I love him - to really go out of my way and succumb to the needs and wants that his love language calls for.  I'm going to intentionally love my husband. 

Acts of Service

My husband feels most loved when I perform acts of service.  Now, let's be honest here...I haven't had much time or energy (to be frank) to keep up with this.  But this month, I'm going to be intentional and really focus on showing my husband just how much he means to me.  How? By his love language of course! Doing the dishes, laundry, picking up around the house, taking out the trash, paying the bills, taking the dog out - these are all examples of what makes my husband feel loved.  Why? Well, because it shows that I love him enough to take care of these things so that he does not have to worry about it.  Cooking dinner or baking for him is another great example, since my hubby likes to EAT! ;)

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter. Finding ways to serve speaks volumes to the recipient of these acts. - www.5lovelanguages.com

My goal this month is to really hammer down on my husband's love language and ascertain exactly which acts that I perform around the house and for him really mean the most to him. He does so much for me, it's only fitting that my first goal for this linkup be to really show my husband that I am attentative to his needs and really put forth the effort to not only reaffirm my love for him with words but to show him that my love for him runs ever so deeply.  Emotionally, I tend to be a tad bit super complicated and needy.  There, I said it! But my husband is so amazing and always knows when something is wrong and when I need something from him - even if it's just for him to listen to how I'm feeling.  I truly want to focus on my husband this month, not the other way around.  Although I will still love the love my husband will continue to show for me, I'm going to intentionally focus more of my time and energy on him.  It's well overdue and much deserved! And I can't wait! I'm excited to show my love for my husband and to really make him feel my love for him. I hope he's ready!

Stay tuned to find out whether or not I accomplished this goal at the end of the month! ♥

I'm tired.

I'm tired. More than that, I'm exhausted, and my body hates me right now.   

 

While I've seen so many people enjoying vacation after vacation and really living it up this summer, I've been working.  And not just your average, "this is the real, adult world and I have a job to be at every single day" kind of working. Nope. It's much, much more than that. 

 

It's working two jobs PLUS overtime all.summer.long kind of working. 

 

 

Here's what my average day looks like:

-Wake up at 4:00am

-Get ready for work

-Arrive at work at 6:00am

-WORK

-Get off work at 4:30pm (that's right, 10 hours [at least] EVERY DAY)

-Drive to second job

-Clock in at 5:00pm

-WORK

-Get off work at 9:00pm

-Arrive at home at 9:30pm

-Make/eat supper (all depends on the husband's work schedule)

-Shower

-Entertain the dog so he has some kind of stimulation for the day

-Blog (in all of my spare time)

-Spend about 5 minutes with husband once he gets home from work (usually around 10 or so)

-Go to sleep at 11:00pm

 

This happens every day, unless I specifically request off from job #2 or work 12 1/2 hours in one day for overtime instead of 10 1/2, etc.

 

And the weekends...well, let's see.  Saturday, I'm at work by 7:30 or 8 (depending on IT maintenance hours) and work until noon.  And for the past 11 weeks, I haven't really had time for myself - it's always going here or there or everywhere with things to do and people to see.  No wonder I'm worn out! Sheesh!  I look forward to the weekend in which I can literally spend in my pajamas, sleeping in late, and watching movies all day.  *sigh*

 

And to top it off, there are other responsibilities and commitments that I have to stay on top of...or try to at least.  I know that so many things are lacking in my life right now and not getting the right amount of attention that's truly needed, but I can't help it! I'm tired. Not to complain or anything...

 

Thank God for Colten.  Seriously, that man is nothing short of amazing! We have our ups and downs, sure! Every couple does. But without him, there's seriously no way I would be making it through this long summer! He picks up so much of the homelife duties, it's ridiculous. He vacuums, sweeps, cleans, does dishes, laundry, takes care of the dog, keeps up with our financial budget, listens to my nagging about my day, holds me when I'm upset ... and all on top of working full time and attending school full time! He's pretty much my superman ;). I am so unbelievably blessed to be his wife and to fully have his support. He's constantly telling me to take it easy every now and then and not earn every hour of overtime possible - yeah right! I then explain why it's necessary, and he gives me a giant hug and tells me that he loves me, on top of thanking me for all of the extra effort and hard work I'm putting in to earn every extra dollar that I can. 

 

Okay, to explain a little further, overtime at the OAG is not something that comes along very often. In fact, this is the first time it's been offered in well over ten years. TEN YEARS, y'all! How can I not take full advantage of that?! Let me tell you. I can't. Simple as that! It's been available since mid-May and will continue through the month of August (the end of the fiscal year). So I've literally worked the entire summer, including overtime - about 70-hour weeks! But, it's only one more month, so I've got to kick it in gear, find some energy from somewhere, and push through this last month.  And for those that don't know, in order to earn overtime, you've got to work the regular 40 hour work week (rocket science, I know!), so that means you cannot call in sick or take a day of vacation in order to earn the overtime. That's right, we've been going to work sick.  But not super sick...thank goodness we've held off on that!

 

But in all of the long hours, stressful days, overwhelming feelings, and tears, I am blessed. I am so eternally grateful that this opportunity has presented itself. As a newlywed couple, we still struggle to make ends meet. Colten is still in school until the end of the year and we've got loans coming out of our ears! But seriously, money is tight. And in our moment of need, God provided a way for me to earn extra income! God is oh so good! Nevermind the exhaustion and burning want to just sleep an extra hour or two - there's money to be made! It's truly amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. I perform on very little sleep each and every day [for the past 3 months] and I've survived. Yep, I'm still alive! (Hallelujah!) And just when I'm ready to say "enough is enough", I get to earn extra income for my family for another month! Praise God!

 

Along this journey, I've increased our income, leaned on my husband for support and was not disappointed in the least, celebrated triumphs with my family, laughed, loved, made new friendships, and furthered other friendships. Basically, I'm living life! And I couldn't be happier! Well, a few hours of sleep here and there and I'd be ECSTATIC! ;)

 

So, I'm tired. So what? Tired is temporary. Glory is forever! And I'm giving all the glory to God, the most deserving of it all. It's because of Him that I am able to accomplish the feats that I have.  It's because of Him that I'm able to get out of bed each and every day to face a new challenge and overcome obstacles.  It's because of Him that I have such an amazing support system that I can turn to no matter what. It's because of Him that my life is amazing and I am able to truly be thankful for it all.

 

How have you spent your summer? Are you ready for fall? I AM! :)

 

Life Lessons

I've seen this floating around, and I really wanted to share it with even more readers and remind everyone of these amazingly true life lessons!  No matter how old you are...

Regina Brett’s 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

As published in The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday May 28, 2006. “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:”

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion.

Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

 
   

Feed your Dreams; Starve your Fears

Go to work, work two jobs, work THREE jobs (?!), give up on keep up with housework, tweet what you're doing, blog about it, take lots of blog-worthy pictures, edit said pictures, instagram said pictures, post it all over facebook to hope that someone cares enough to read what you have to say and cross your fingers that comments will ensue (seriously, you're reading it anyway...why wouldn't you comment?!), check email, respond to email, tweet about nothingness, text your parents, text your friends, text your parents' friends, take more pictures, post more pictures, get back to work, cuddle with your husband, force your husband to take pictures together to keep in a folder on your computer for all of eternity, instagram those photos for all of your social networking friends can show you some love, go to church, keep up with your bible study, fall behind in your bible study, feel terrible, cry about something stupid, be an emotional disaster, tweet about how hard you believe your life is, throw a pity party, be sad that your friends have no time for you, text your friends, check your phone five billion times for social media updates/text messages/phone calls, eat, meet up with friends, be crazy, be random, be YOU, post about YOU on twitter, facebook, and instagram - blog about how awesome YOU are, answer emails, reply to texts, get sucked into that mindless game on your phone, eat, cry again, cry some more, check facebook, call your parents, sleep for a few hours...

And that's all in one day.  DUHHH!

In today's society, life is hectic. But in all of that mess, it's easy to lose sight of yourself.  Life is hard.  No matter if you grew up in the 60's, 90's, or 2000's, it's hard.  It has its ups and downs and all arounds, and a lot of times, it's not fair.  But it's absolutely important to remain true to yourself.  You've got to be courageous. 

Be confidant in who you are - no one can be YOU better than you can!  Do you have dreams? Go after them!  Is there someone keeping you down?  Release yourself from their grasp!  Life is absolutely too precious to not life it to its fullest. 

This week, I began a bible reading plan on my YouVersion app on my phone.  The title of the plan:

COURAGE

Don't belittle yourself just because there may be someone better looking than you or better at their job than you may be.  Everyone starts somewhere, and it's up to you how you want to achieve your dreams. 

And in all of the craziness that is life, you've got to keep one thing in mind: Success in life requires one important tool - God's Word.  It's not enough to simply own His Word - we must use it, read it, meditate it, obey it. 

Have I not commanded you?  BE STRONG and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

Don't be afraid to be successful.  Don't be afraid to be yourself and strive for excellence.  It's okay if you fail, even if it happens time and time again.  Because remember, nobody is perfect.  Nobody skips through life completely unscathed and blemish free.  It just doesn't happen.  We all fall on our asses time and time again, but I know that I will succeed because I will trust in God, even if he chooses not to grant every prayer and petition I offer up to Him. 

Daniel 3:17 says, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand." 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego allowed themselves to be bound and thrown into the furnace becasue they did not serve Nebuchadnezzar's gods or worship the image of gold he had set up.  They knew that God could save them, but they also trusted Him even if He chose not to do so.  When life doesn't go the way you'd hoped, and you're stuck in the furnace, will you choose to trust that God is still good? 

I will.  I do. 

Just recently, I received some not-so-great news about my husband's job, and I took out my anger on him.  Was I wrong? Absolutely!  Did he forgive me? Of course!  Did I apologize? Heck yes!  Repeatedly.  It's easy to be quick to anger and slow to peace, but I've got to make a conscious effort to change it all around.  I just have to remember that God is good all the time.  He knows what my future holds.  He knows every twist and turn that my life has taken and will take in the future.  But because I fully trust in Him, I know peace. 

I have dreams.  I have obstacles in the way of those dreams.  But I don't give up.  I won't.  My dreams will be fed, day in and day out, with my husband by my side and the Lord as my guide.  That doesn't mean it will be a seamless path, because I know for a fact that it won't be.  I'm learning every day to not let my fears win; to not miss out on the ride of a lifetime by giving in to my fears. 

Do you dare? 

My Search for a {Church}

This has been weighing heavily on my mind and heart lately.  But to be completely honest, it's been much longer than just 'lately'.  Actually, it's been bothering me to some extent for the past two years.    I moved to Austin from my small hometown right after graduating high school.  Of course, I have a church at home that I know I have always and will always be a part of, and it has a special place in my heart.  *And as a side note, I'm super pumped for the upcoming St. John's 4th of July picnic! Check it out here.*   

  However, moving to a new city, I longed to have that sense of belonging at a new parish. Sadly, this did not happen.  Not in the many years since I moved away from home. Sure, I would go to mass on Sunday morning and participate, week after week.  But I didn't attend a church that I really felt that I belonged to.  Maybe it was because there were not many younger people my age - they were mostly older families, or at least families with babies - no one that was college age, at least that I noticed.    Moving farther north (I pretty much moved every single year, until I moved in with my husband), we began to attend a church just down the road from our place, and mostly, it was great!  It was more modern and there were definitely people there our age, but something still just wasn't right.  I couldn't place my finger on it exactly, but it bothered me.    With my faith getting stronger and stronger, the want for finding a church where we belonged ate away at me more and more.  So, it was time to take matters into my own hands.  I didn't want to attend a church that would take us an hour to get to.  We're not morning people, so waking up extra early to travel to church was just out of the picture.  And my research began.     This past Friday, I finally found a very possible contender, so Sunday morning, we headed out and attended a new church.    AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!    They are a fairly new community and their service was amazing.  The actual church was so stunning, even more so because they have a giant glass wall looking out towards the trees and it was raining - so it was just glorious!  I'm really excited to have found this parish, and we can't wait to go back week after week, hopefully leading up to becoming new members!  They also do a lot in the community and have many options to dive deeper into our faith through small groups and bible studies. I'm excited for our new adventures to begin and to become more involved!        Gorgeous, right?!    I know that to some, looking for a new church is not important or a 'big deal', but to me, it's huge!  It makes a big difference when you attend a parish where you truly feel welcomed and that sense of belonging.    Here are a few things to assist in looking for a new church:   1. Research your options.  Instead of just going to the closest church, really come up with a few options that are at an acceptable distance for you to travel.  Then, you can find out more about each one until you make a decision.  I hadn't done this for the longest time and just attended the closest one.  I found out there aren't 'too' many nearby, but enough to still have options! I found this website particularly helpful.   2. Figure out what you want out of a church. This may seem obvious, but you really have to decide what you are seeking from a church to help make a decision.  For me, I wanted an active community with many volunteer options, as well as opportunities to interact with church members and study our faith.  For example, I really want to be able to attend small groups and/or bible studies.  It's important to both me and my husband, and we wanted to be able to participate with members our age as well as older or younger members.  We haven't had this opportunity yet, so fingers crossed!  I also really want a church that offers Adoration, so this was definitely on my musts list :).  Don't know exactly what you want out of a new church community, please refer to #5, and ASK FOR HELP!  Ask your spirital friends what their favorite thing is about their church, and go from there.   3. Go forth and seek the Lord. When you've narrowed it down a bit, go to mass at the church of your choice (if there are several, try one each week).  There's no other way to decide if you really enjoy the church without going to a service and meeting the members.  The new church we attended on Sunday had members that were so welcoming.  We didn't feel out of place and it was great.    4. Do not be afraid. Trying new things and meeting new people can be overwhelming and a daunting task.  Don't be afraid to really take that step and venture out.  If you don't want to go alone, get a friend to go with you!   5. Ask for help. If you're lost, stuck, or just don't know where to turn, ask for help.  You never know who may have the knowledge you are seeking.  Upon finding the church we attended this past Sunday, my co-worker also stepped out and asked a friend of hers for any suggestions for my husband and me.  I haven't heard back from her yet, but in the meantime, we have a front-runner!  Don't be afraid to ask others for help.  Whether it be co-workers, friends, family ... like I said, you just never know who holds the key to unlocking exactly what it is you want!      I am so blessed to be on this journey and for all of the newness that comes along with it.  I'm excited for what our future holds for both myself and my husband in relation with this new church.  Fingers crossed!  And lots of prayers going up.  

My Husband, My Hero.

Well, he finally did it! My husband has graduated from college!

It's been a long journey, and I won't go into super specific details here, because that's his story and this is my blog, so there ya go.  BUT, it was a great day and I was simply beaming with pride!  Is it obvious??  

  Friday, May 31, 2013, my husband donned his cap and gown and walked proudly across the stage to receive his diploma.  Well, the piece of paper they give you prior to you receiving your actual diploma in the mail anyway :).    His best friend drove down Thursday night, so they were both off on Friday and enjoyed the day together (and cleaning the house for his wife...hehe).  They also drove me to work and picked me up - it was mighty nice not having to deal with traffic to or from work.  Can I have a car service every day?  No?  Oh ok...never hurts to ask!    I got off work early on Friday in order to prepare and be ready so we weren't late!  Well, he was wanting to have a pool day on Saturday, and this girl needed a new swimsuit!  Fo real - my last one is a strapless number that I only owned because my wedding dress was strapless and I refused to have tan lines on my wedding day!  People, my wedding day was over a year and a half ago! It was time for a new suit.  It's a pain in the butt to constantly be tugging on a strapless top when I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO ANYMORE!  It was frustrating, especially when your husband is a fish and is not okay with just sitting in the water with a cold drink, soaking up the rays.  No, this man PLAYS.  I digress.  For now.   So, after we bought a new swimsuit, we headed back to the apartment to begin getting ready for the big night!  My mom arrived shortly thereafter, and I began my hunt of what to wear.  That's always a challenge ;).  I'm a girl, so of course it was!  After we were all ready, my brother and sister came over to the apartment, and we all headed out to venture downtown for the ceremony.  He had lots of support, as his friend was there, so were his grandparents from Tennessee (they drove down for the event), his mom, step-dad, nephew, and grandparents from Austin.  And, like previously stated, so did my mom, brother, and sister.  And, we all got to sit in the front row.  That's what happens when you're in the right place at the right time.  I was so excited.    It was a graduation like most graduations - several speakers, loooong speeches, and heartfelt moments.  A lady sang both an opening and closing song - she was amazing!   

  Her voice was flawless and she really showed passion.  Colten admitted to tearing up during the final song: Wind Beneath My Wings     He's such a sweetheart!  After the ceremony, we took lots of pictures! :) Of course!     

 

And then we jetted off to Olive Garden.  It all worked out fabulously, even though he made reservations at the WRONG location!  I was upset, but all was okay in the world, and we enjoyed ourselves.   

  I know I've probably said this about a thousand times, but I am so unbelievably proud of my husband!  He's accomplished so much and has persevered even when it was so much easier to just give up.  Negativity from others has been hard to deal with, but through it all, he made the decision to finish school, and he did!  Well, he still has a few credit hours left until he's officially done, but he's almost there!  I do my absolute best to support him in any way possible, and this is one area I really try to remain positive and optimistic.  College isn't for everyone.  That's just how it goes, but my husband has proven that through adversity, he can (and will) come out on top and be successful.    Colten, I love you and I'm proud of your success.  I never doubted that you'd come as far as you have, and I'm so excited for what our future holds together.  ♥  

Poolside Graduation & Rock Band!

Hello beautiful people!    Or, as we say in Texas:   HEY Y'ALL!   I hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday, as I am not.  But, it's Monday so I didn't really expect greatness.  However, my weekend was pretty awesome, so sharing that will definitely brighten my gloomy Monday blues!  It's worth a shot, at least.   

Okay, so to clarify... The graduation was NOT poolside, and the rock band was in our living room...on the television... :).      Friday was my husband's college graduation!  It was so unbelievably exciting, as it's been a long journey with much struggling (a full, detailed post to come later this week!).  He got to put on his cap & gown and walk the stage in front of friends and family, and he was so proud.  The man couldn't sleep a wink the night before!  Too cute, but shhhh! Don't tell him I said that ;).  He still has a few credit hours left until he's officially done, but he's well on his way and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  After graduation, we headed to his all-time favorite restaurant, Olive Garden.  And yes, the man downed 5 salads and a pizza.  *jaw drops*   Saturday was a lazy morning, which I am ever so greatful for!  I spent Friday night at my sister's apartment with her and my mom, so we enjoyed a peaceful morning with spaghetti for breakfast (that's what happens when the hostess works night shift and eats dinner at 8am instead of breakfast) and indulging in a few episodes of The Client List.  Okay, why on earth haven't I thought to watch the show yet?!  Definitely a guilty pleasure, and I will attempt to watch the first season on Netflix, if it exists there yet.  Fingers crossed!  After that, we headed out for a day poolside!  Husband and his friend BBQ'd some hot dogs, which were delicious!  And let me just say how amazingly awesome it is to have your apartment so close to the pool - the guys had to go back several times (to get condiments, etc. without them melting in the Texas sun) and it was NO BIG DEAL!  Bliss!  My friend, Kristy, showed up and we had a great time just relaxing with some drinks under the cabana umbrella.  Our pool is seriously badass.  Just sayin'! ;)  And the night ended with a glass of wine (also brought by my girl, Kristy - THANK YOU if you're reading this!) and rockband with the husband and his friend, Kyle.  It was a pretty amazing Saturday, of which I hadn't had in quite a while. SO THANKFUL for this weekend!   Sunday was another LAZY day as I slept a LOT.  Hey, the six hours in the sun the day before wiped me out!  I forgot how exhausting the heat can be, but it was well worth it.  And the sleep was fabulous!  After rolling out of bed late, we played more rock band (the guys had gone and bought Rock Band 3, so new things awaited).  And that about sums up my Sunday!  Of course, the things that needed to get done didn't get done, but that's just the way things go sometimes (or, ALL the time...).    In all, it was a great weekend, and I'm so blessed to have such amazing friends and family!    And, as always, I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans!