Coasters Cupcakes and Commuting

Well my first two weeks of work have gone great. There is a lot to learn so I'm super busy all day. This is a much welcome change from my last job. The biggest downside is that I have an hour and a half commute each way. [Hence my lack of blogging.] I've taken to leaving the house before 6:15A so that I can hit the in-office gym for about half an hour before work. This is nice because I just go to bed in my workout attire and grab my bag in the morning and go. It makes for an easy morning.

On Friday, me and 100 of my closest friend-commuters were stuck for four hours behind the cleanup crew of an early morning accident. I had just passed the last viable exit as I came to a parked halt on the road, blocked on one side by a cable fence and on the other by a ditch. So for the majority of my morning, I rationed my phone (no car charger) and radio (for fear of draining my car battery). I changed out of my gym clothes in the car. And abandoned the car to hop the freeway to use the restroom at some tractor company. It was an eventful morning. Thankfully, my boss thought it was rather funny and didn't mind at all when I strolled in for work just before lunch.

My Desk!

I can tell that I'm going to like working here. We even had a mid-afternoon ice cream social just because. Ahhh snack time. Someone knows the way to my heart.

Aaron spent all of last week camping in Oklahoma. Ever the survivalist, he fashioned himself a bed out of rope and thick branches, sleeping under a tarp.

Turns out, despite his lack of a comfortable nights sleep, he was the only dry camper, as it poured for the first 48 hours of his little adventure. It was a great time, or so I'm told.


Now that life's starting to look more normal, we've had a few fun adventures around the house.

For my boss's birthday, I made DIY coasters! I swear these are the easiest craft ever - so cheap and super fast to make. I ended up making four sets. They turned out great!

Coasters

The father-in-law came to visit this weekend, which meant a trip to the local gun store. Thankfully, no one came home with more than what they intended to purchase.

Between my sister and myself, SIXTY cupcakes have been made in the past week. I revisited my go-to French Toast Cupcake recipe for "Cupcake Wars" that took place at my sisters office.

Aaron and I played house a little bit on Sunday, we took the older two nieces to see The Lorax. Everything went so smoothly. Both the girls stayed entertained throughout and we didn't have to take anyone to the bathroom mid-movie! Quite a successful outing if you ask me.

Now we're just waiting for things on Aaron's end to come through, jobwise. I'm getting super excited about the idea of having our own place. It's actually rather bittersweet. I like living here a whole lot, but it's going to be fun to have our own home. I'm too much of a Susie Homemaker to be restricted to being hosted and not getting to play host. It's going to be nice.

Someone please point out to me when we are in the moving process that I actually put in writing that I was actually looking forward to it. I'm sure I will need the reminder.

In the mean time, pray that a job comes through for Aaron. Pray that my commute is light and swift. Oh and pray that The Walking Dead comes back soon!

Submission

Today's blog is about submission. It's also about jobs.
Niether are "fun" topics. But there is much to be said.

My last post had quite a hook to it and I'm happy to say that you shant be disappointed with your wait.
Our patience produced a lot of fruit these past few weeks... Aaron likes to pray that God would give us fruit from the Tree of Wonderful Jobs. Well, God definitely came through.

Earlier this month, I was nearing the end of my sanity rope. I finally broke down and applied for a sort of 'sure thing' job [though nothing in life truly is...] Within 24 hours they had given me an offer. As politically correct as I can be while saying this... I did NOT want this job. It would have likely been a fairly well-paying opportunity, however my creative soul just couldn't bear the thought of making 100-plus calls from a cubicle farm during a 50-plus hour workweek.

But I need a job because we need money.. and now. So my sweet husband, in his ever-faithful efforts to provide for us, asked his teary-eyed wife to take it anyway. And I did, though not quietly.

...

I think it's important to distinguish the differences between Godly submission and being a doormat. Godly submission does not mean that you are voiceless. It does not mean that you cannot make your case, state your opinion or pour out your heart. It also does not mean that he chooses everything we do, his decision could be to let me decide.  It just means that ultimately, with loving consideration of me, my husband makes the decision, be it in my favor or not. It does not mean I have to be happy with his choice. But it does mean that I have to respect it.

Submission does not make you feel like a doormat. I have never felt taken advantage of. I have never felt that he did not consider my feelings and opinions. Before he makes a decision, we talk about it... A LOT [much to his exhaustion, I'm sure.] I make sure that he is fully aware of where I stand and why I believe the things that I do. I make sure he understands how a decision will affect me. He seeks to know me as a Godly husband should (Phil 2:3-5 & 1 Peter 3:7). In love, he chooses what he believes will be the best thing for our family and indeed, it makes me feel very loved.

...

Though I had accepted that job, the next day I recieved a call with a second job offer. My dream job! I'd have an office with a fancy desk and I'd get to manage people. I'd get to work at a fantastic institution in the beautiful wooded parts of Texas and I'd be living my little marketing, creativity dream. Though my heart was leaping for joy, Aaron's was very concerned.

The area that this job was in would significantly limit his career opportunity, among other, smaller things. But, we talked about it a lot. He faithfully prayed and God revealed to him scripture that convicted him of his role as a self-sacrificing husband (Ephesians 5:22-33 our wedding verse!). Through this, he felt that God was telling him to let me take this job, which I did.

...

Though this would be my dream job [my 99% fantastic and wonderful dream job], I was still super nervous about Aaron. I knew that this would mean we were going to struggle financially, live in a town we weren't yet comfortable with and he would have to wrestle with not being a typical "provider" for me. Still we moved foward with plans to take this great, great, great job.

...

But wait! There's more! [Gosh I should do commercials]

Yesterday, I was offered a third job. This job would keep us here near the city, allow us to be more financially conservative and would retain greater career opportunity for Aaron. But this was not going to be the job like #2 was. I'd work with a wonderful group of people and for a dynamic organization in a position that had lots of room for advancement. Still, it was not the job.

But once again, my sweet husband asked me to take this final opportunity. This time, with much, much discussion and with many, many tears I did. I'm trying really hard not to look at this as though Aaron made me turn down my dream job, though that's kind of what happened.

I dont want to confuse you. This job is going to be great! This company is going to be fantastic and I'm super excited!! I HAVE A JOB!!!

Being with Aaron and trying to attain a Godly marriage has not been easy-peasy. It's taught me a lot about compromise. My new job will give us the best of both worlds. I will have a good career, with a good company. We will save money. Aaron will have better opportunity here. It's a win-win, I guess. If I had made the decision, we would probably be doing something different. But that's not my burden to bear, no matter how much I sometimes wish it were.

I'm still disappointed that I dont get the fancy office and the management role.. that things couldn't have worked out to be favorable for us both in that area. But if this is God showing us He can be faithful and giving Aaron opportunities to be a Christ-like leader and me chances to relenquish control. I'm going to submit to God and to Aaron and Jesus will give me the joy I need!

Even though I'm bummed, I feel very, VERY loved. I know that Aaron wouldn't ask me to do this if he didn't love me because I know how much he hates to see me upset. I know that he is lovingly providing for us in the best way he can. What wife wouldn't respect that?



Princess Pibbit

Check out my super adorable niece singing all of

Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid from memory... 

Shes FOUR!

 [[I know.. I'm bragging]]

(I should mention.. she's also fascinated with watching herself on my computer...)

Spoiler Alert

Man, I've been such a slacker on keeping this thing updated with life's happenings but so much has been happening that it's been hard to stop to write it all down! You can give me an 'F' for the month of February.

To pick up where we left off...
My corny husband planned a super cute Valentines date for the two of us. We spent the Day O' Saint Valentine at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens! His rationale [and yes, he actually said this to me] "I didn't want to get you a small bouquet of flowers. So I thought I'd take you to see a whole field of them."
Doesn't that just make you want to burst into confetti sprinkles?Yeeahhh, he's got that affect on me.

Dying to see pictures?
Jeez Louise. Hold your horses!

This is me!

 

Super pretty flowers!

 I learned that you should plant tulips underneath pansies
because as the pansies die off the tulips are just sprouting up through the ground!

 

Aaron walking through an archway of trees!

  

Goofy headband that reminded me of a spider!

A fun time was had by all!

Alright now back to the topic that is today's disclosure.

Unfortunately I cant divulge a lot of details because we are still in the process of some big decision making. You'll have to fill in the blanks on your own. 

It turns out that even if your living with family, you still can't be unemployed forever. We are getting closer and closer to having tossed all our pennies into the Fountain of Never-Ending Bills and Expenditures [aka the Fountain of Real Life][aka the Fountain of Youth's evil stepsister]. I don't know about the husband, but wifey here has just about reached the end of her sanity rope. It takes a lot out of me to get excited about a potential job only to be turned down after weeks of waiting and waiting and ... you get the idea. 

We have been fervently praying that God would 'get-after-it!', so to speak. In addition to spending a lot of time praying over our situation, we've also begun a chronological one-year Bible reading plan. It's been awesome. Though we miss a day every now and then, we just wrapped up Job and are back into Genesis. I felt rather convicted the other night because I had been asking God to work in MY timeline and not remaining patient with His plan. 

Funny though, the next day He moved! Having been turned down for the hospital job I'd been praying for, I was feeling very discouraged about not having as many irons in the fire as I'd like.  Well God was so faithful and knew just what I needed. Not only did he give me the courage to apply for a job I wasn't feeling confident about, he also sent a great potential opportunity my way! 

So this past week has been filled with a lot of excitement with interviews and 

SPOILER ALERT

..job offers??? 

Yikes! 

Stay tuned for what may be an end to the blog tale of the homeless, jobless, moneyless, bum bride!!

LoveStory

Ahhh Love is in the Air! 

Valentines Day is near and what kind of wife would I be if I didn't dote on my sweet husband every so often... 

Today I'm linking up with From Mrs. To Mama to share our love story!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Since June-ish of 2009 

 

 

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We met in college. We worked in the same building on campus and Aaron actually was my ex bf's boss! (SCANDALOUS!) Summer of 2009 we started dating after my boss at the time, knowing I was newly single, decided to hire my crush to be my assistant! Thankfully, he was feeling it too! 

 

3. If married, how long have you been married? {do tell}

We have been married for 1 year, 1 month and 22 days! 

I definitely knew he was "the one" long before we were engaged. In fact, we'd only been dating about four months and I just had that feeling. If you've ever had it you know what I mean. The best way to describe it is a feeling of inevitability.. like no matter what happened or what I did, we would end up together. I just knew!

 

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? 

We had a SUPER small wedding near Corpus Christi, TX. I mean like 30 people.

I go into a lot of detail on my "We Do" page.

  

 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

 Lovey! And we share it interchangeably!

 

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1. He seeks God and lovingly leads our family. <<This affects EVERYTHING about our marriage!

2. My honey has such a generous heart.

3. I've never known him to turn down a helping a friend. He is super loyal.

 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

Ha! Aaron proposed after I had finished [jokingly] arguing with him! He had just accepted a position in another city. We were at a small group and someone asked if that meant we were moving, I piped up and said "Well, HE'S moving. It's up to him if he wants a wife to go with him!" Later when he walked me home I told him that I didn't care if he had asked me by then or not, but I was going to start planning our dang wedding. He asked "Are you done?" I said "Yes" [through gritted teeth]. And he dropped to his knee and asked me! The first words out of my mouth (and I'm not proud of this..) were "Are you shitting me?!" And I proceeded to push him around until I knew he was serious!

Though it wasn't how I would have planned my own proposal, it was perfect because I wouldn't have been surprised by something romantic. Plus this makes for a funnier story!

 

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Hmmm.. I would say neither.. He's more of a candles and music kind of guy. 

[Because he knows I'm a bubble-bath kind of girl.] 

 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I am a sucker for doing something to celebrate an occasion. We can do movies or dinner anytime. I want to go and visit a museum or go snowboarding. I'm not into tangible gifts as much as I am into outings.

 

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I would love to visit another country together. I've done a lot of traveling on my own and we've gone many places since being together [he calls me his travel agent]. But there's something about serving God side-by-side in a third world that would be amazing to do with my best friend! 

 

Also... I'd be totally okay with going to Disney with him. I went at an age when I didn't appreciate being there as much as I could have. Going with Aaron would be an adventure.

 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. 

I have no idea! This is bad. I usually leave this up to him but I guess I should come up with a few little-somethings, huh?

 

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

All I ever ask for is for something well-thought-out. I don't like cop-out gifts. I want something he's put thought, effort and energy into.

 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 

The number one thing you can do is seek God together, but in that.. I've found that submitting to his leadership when it really counts makes our marriage that much stronger because he sees me relying on him and I see him providing for me. This is how God designed it.

 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

 

My sweet hubby lets me be such a weirdo and is a weirdo in return. It's one thing to have someone in your life who lets you be you. It's another when they join you in your quirks!