Not a Freak-Out Woman

     Today I woke up and knew it was one of those days...of the month...that are NOT my favorite...if you know what I mean. Plus Jon was late for work so we were both in a slight mood. So, its on days like today that I have to check myself and remember the things that are most important to me. I'm working on building good, foundational habits that will hopefully come naturally later on down the road.
     As a single woman I never freaked out (ok well very rarely) but as a married woman I have gained quite a few more very big, redefining variables in my life. There's a loving husband, a shared bank account, bills, that type of thing. Anyway, when we first got married I freaked out A LOT because I wasn't the only one in charge of what went on in my life anymore. Ha, I remember the first few months of marriage when life was exciting because we got a pay check. It was money, glorious money!, and we would cash our checks and I would be so excited because we had money again! Then, bill day came faithfully every other week and WWHAAAWHHHAAAAwwaaAAAAAAAA! **sniff, sniff**  We ar-are bbroooooke! BwaaAHAAWAAAHHAA! Life-fe-fe-fe is h-hard-d-d! And I would cry my eyes out!
     Dear Jon always lovingly gave me 30 minutes to get it all out and I would get over it and be my normal happy self again (smiling, sweet, and unshakable) until pay day came around and then again, WWHAAAWHHHAAAAwwaaAAAAAAAA! **sniff, sniff**  We ar-are bbroooooke again! BwaaAHAAWAAAHHAA! **choke, cough cough**
     Lol I don't know what got into me because I'd be determined not to cry and freak out but as soon as I checked our account... Whew! Life was rough with only a little more than $500 of spending money every two weeks. ;) Anyway, I think I'm finally over that phase but really, for my emotional self, there's always something I could choose to freak out about. So I've been reading the book Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst and she has made quite a few good points.

"Brain research shows that every conscious thought we have is recorded on our internal hard drive known as the cerebral cortex. Each thought scratches the surface much like an Etch A Sketch. When we have the same thought again, the line of the original thought is deepened, causing what's called a memory trace. With each repetition the trace goes deeper and deeper, forming and embedding a pattern of thought. When an emotion is tied to this thought pattern, the memory trace grows exponentially stronger.

We forget most of our random thoughts that are not tied to an emotion. However, we retain the ones we think often that have an emotion tied to them. For example, if we've thought over and over that we are "unglued," and if that thought is tied to a strong emotion, we deepen the memory trace when we repeatedly access that thought [This also causes us to have the same reactions to the same type of situations]...We won't develop new responses until we develop new thoughts...The Bible encourages this process, which only makes sense because God created the human mind and understands better than anyone how it functions... 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.' (Romans 12:2)

Scripture also teaches that we can accept or refuse thoughts. Instead of being held hostage by old thought patterns, we can actually capture our thoughts and allow the power of Christ's truth to change them: 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.' (2 Corinthians 10:5)

     I am not perfect , but I can make progress. What about you?

The Coupon Nazi

     Coupons! Oh, they are such a delightful way to get unsuspecting people to spend money they were planning on keeping in a nice safe bank somewhere. Its a chance for you to buy something you wouldn't normally buy, and you consider it only because it's on sale. It could be $5 off a dinner for two or 43¢ off a 50 pack of toilet paper but somehow the word SAVE just makes the world seem so much brighter!
     So in my case tonight, it was a free Chik-Fil-A chicken sandwich (with a  purchase of another sandwich of course). Lol I had told Jon I was feeling Chik-Fil-A and then I mentioned that I had a coupon. His response was, "Wait. Are we buying Chik-Fil-A because you have a coupon or because we feel like eating Chik-Fil-A?" I proudly responded, "Babe, we feel like eating Chik-Fil-A because I have a coupon!" Well this was a new concept for him and he thought it was hilarious! But it was so true! It had come in the mail a few days before so I'd already been dreaming of this meal for ages it seemed. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that I didn't need to eat out, the more I wanted to "save money" by spending money to use my coupon! And I get caught every time. :)
     Every once in a while they do come in handy and man do I make good use of them! Jon jokes that he's gonna be the old man shoving the credit card into the Wal-Mart cashiers hands while I'm the little old  lady that holds everyone else up because I have to use all my coupons! And if I have a coupon for a restaurant but I forgot it at home, I can't eat at that particular place unless I have a coupon! (I was disappointed this past weekend when we went to The Outback because I had a coupon and we discovered when we were paying the bill that my coupon was only valid Monday thru Thursdays. Oh, that was such a hreatbreaker! But we enjoyed ourselves anyways)
     So I admit I'm a hopeless coupon pushover but if I am going to buy frozen veggies and there just happens to be a coupon then of course I'm going to use it!

RetailMeNot  Coupons.com
Here are some links to my favorite coupon websites. And if you can do it and not get addicted then I say, 'Happy couponing to you!"

Home...

Life Lesson Learned: Reviews, opinions, two cents worth, and a say in the matter are all very important, especially when looking to rent an apartment.

     This weekend, Jon and I had a day off to spend together and we decided to go apartment shopping! We weren't neccessarily ready to move out of our basement situation but we wanted to see what was out there. Now, I have to admit apartments in Denver are waaay more expensive than in Albuquerque so when we saw a sign that said some apartments were on special for a price we could afford, we decided to stop by Hocus Pocus Park Apartments* (name changed for reasons unbeknownst to even me) ;)
     Anyway, we stopped by their front office asked about pricing and specifics and utilities, etc. Then we got the Grand Tour. Jon and I became more impressed by the minute! There was an indoor basketball court, gym, pools and hot tubs, Zumba classes, a cafe, tennis courts, and multiple parks! The actual units had fireplaces and washers/dryers, dishwashers and a patio. This place was incredible! Our tour guide was nice and everyone waved as we passed by, it was the perfect place for us.
     Jon and I are firm believers in asking for an outside opinion. This seemed too good to be true, but we didn't want to get swept away by desires and emotions so we talked to my parents and asked them what they thought.

"Hey Mom and Dad! We found the perfect place and its right at our budget so we won't be able to save a lot but seriously its amazing! You should see the place!..."

     And the conversation went on. In the end, we all agreed it seemed perfect for us, but we wanted to sleep on it and pray about it. Cause there was just something about it...
     The next morning we woke up and talked about it a little. When Jon left for work I was still thinking about it and began to ask God if He thought it was a good idea. This had to be a quick decision and also a long commitment, who knew if that place was really all it was played up to be. God began to bring to mind different scenarios when we'd had to make decisions before and we got multiple opinions and reviews, so I Googled it. "Hocus Pocus Park Apartment Reviews"
     Oh My GOODNESS! You will not believe what I read! Out of like the ten review websites I pulled up almost everyone said, "Do Not, DO Not, DO NOT, live there!" Everyone had complaints about management and how nothing ever got fixed. Apparently its almost impossible to leave even if your lease is up and they slap fees on you like "Hail Mary's" in morning mass! Everyone is always drunk because of the cafe drinks and no one cares if you are married or not they just want to hook up! Plus all the major sex offenders in the area happen to live there!
     I texted Jon immediately and we were both blown away! We couldn't believe that something that looked so nice on the outside could be so rotten on the inside! This goes to say you really can't "judge a book by its cover".

     We were protected by God and other people's reviews. And I'm so glad we didn't move there. But its definitely a good reminder of why we pray about things and don't make major decisions off a whim. So, we are still living in the basement, at least for now, but you know...

     "Home is where the Heart is."

     And my heart is with Jon so we are living in the perfect place, even now. :)

Live. Laugh. Love.

A Bloom to My Gloom

This past week has been, well... interesting. It all started with a pain in my cheek that felt like an earache or like I had slept wrong. The slight pain continued on for a bit but continued to get worse until finally I woke one morning with the right side of my face and neck swollen to three times their normal size! So one slightly hysterical freaking out spell, two eccentric trying not to cry phone calls, and 3 fat as a chipmunk pictures later my official diagnosis was The MUMPS. That's right! Even with the vaccine, I managed to attain a case of the Mumps! (My grammy said, "You know you have the mumps when you can't pronounce the word mumps correctly." Haha that was me!)
So needless to say I was very irritable. And when I'm irritable I get grumpy, and when I'm grumpy I get unreasonable and when I'm unreasonable my poor husband suffers. I was so busy gabbing on about the chicken noodle soup and lemonade that I didn't get that I forgot to thank him for the movies he brought back for me. I forgot to notice all the sweet kisses cause I was whining about not being able to lay down without my face hurting.
I don't have many friends in this new city just yet and so I don't get many opportunities to brag on my dear Jon but I would like to share some of  my favorite things about him! I came up with this list the other day cause I was tired of being grumpy and upset and I just needed a way to help my glooms bloom. :) So here we go!

10 - Compliments me and tells me I'm pretty (even in pajamas with no make-up!)
9 - Listens and comments but doesn't interrupt
8 - Is fun and funny (we are always laughing!)
7 - Dances in the kitchen with me
6 - He's honest and open
5 - Asks for my opinions and cares about my feelings
4 - Strong. :) He can open any jar and I know I can count on him when I need a shoulder to lean on
3 - Smothers me with hugs and kisses!
2 - Super unselfish. He'll wake up to go out in the snow to get something from the car that I need. And he always likes it to be my choice for dinner, a movie, etc.
1 - Leads me in a godly way because I always see Jesus in him.

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice

Each time Jon and I sit down to watch a movie together it somehow ends up to be a movie where someone dies or something really tragic happens! Considering some of my favorite movies are A Walk to Remember, Titanic, and The Vow...well you can see sometimes these movies happen by choice. And others just look good (and they are good) but something happens and they are just super sad! We've been really contemplating the value of life and how important it is that we make the most of every moment cause you never know which will be your last.
Lately we've been challenging each other to make the most of everything and to do things we don't normally do because sometimes we need a little extra sugar and spice in our everyday lives. We are trying to save up money to move into an actual apartment but Jon likes to buy me Chai Tea sometimes in the morning before work and instead of fret that we just spent money, I choose to savor the moment. And even without spending money we can all do something a little out of the ordinary. Go for a walk, read a nice book, dance in the kitchen to a couple of your favorite songs, ride a bike, have coffee or tea with someone, play a game, have a pillow fight, eat the candy you've been saving all year, take pictures, or whatever else you can think of!
The point is to make memories out of moments. Don't let life pass by and leave you wondering what the heck you ever did!

"There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~Albert Einstein

Oh, and here's a sugar and spice recipe to get you started. ;) We made this yesterday!

Spiced Tea
2 cups Tang (orange powdered drink mix)
1 cup Lipton Instant Lemon Tea mix
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Stir or shake all together. Add desired amount of powder to hot water for a nice cup of tea.

A Whole New World



     It was 3 o'clock when a knock on the bridal door brought in a dozen roses and a satin bridal robe. The note said it was from my Love, but I already knew that. :) Sweet words full of promise, passion, and future washed over me with a tenderness I had never known.

     We hurried to take pictures, do hair, and drink Starbucks as 4 o'clock came and went. Peacock colored dresses were zipped and tied, and a peek out the window told of all the tiny white lights being hung in perfect harmony. I slipped my lace dress on, the one I had searched for and found within an hour. It was perfect. My sister laced me up and practiced laying out the train. Then came the jewelry. Pearl earrings from my dad, necklace from mom and grandma, bracelet from my mother-in-law.
     5 o'clock I was ready and waiting with my dad as my bridal party slowly rounded the corner to the song, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Then it was my turn. Pachelbels Canon in D began and I walked down the grassy aisle to my hero, my best friend.

     Nothing could have prepared me for the excitement of marrying my Jon! I admit I was one of those girls that dreamed of her wedding til the day it actually came about. I was the one that fancied over all the satin and lace gowns, the one that had her bridesmaid dresses picked out four years ago, the one that dreamed about a green garden with tiny white lights lit up against a perfect evening sky. That was me...and I got everything I always hoped for! (It was definitely kinda weirdly-awesome to see it all come about in real life though.) :)

     But what I wasn't expecting was the perfect man. Oh, don't get me wrong I knew he'd be great, admirable, even desirable, but a fairytale? For me? I was always so tempted to settle, you know what I mean? I would meet a guy and evaluate him: good with kids, nice hair, same favorite ice cream flavor, wears matching socks, loves Jesus...that type of thing. I remember always thinking, "I could probably make it work with this one, I mean how hard can it be." But wow things do change when you are married. Not necessarily in a bad way, but both of you just become real people and its a little shocking to find out that indeed your perfect boyfriend does not always think about how many coffee cups he's leaving around the house or that sarcastic jokes aren't always the best idea when you're on your cycle.

     There were times in my life when I thought I would never be good enough to marry or nobody would want me. I wanted to give up on the whole "spend-my-life-with-someone-forever" train and either become a nun or marry the next guy that said "Hey". But I didn't. I stuck with it. I kept to my standards and my requirements list and kept preparing to be a great wife. I had to learn to trust that God would one day bring me someone if I was supposed to marry and until then I was going to live my life to the fullest and keep preparing to be a helpmeet.
     If you're single I want to encourage you to do the same. Stick to your guns and don't let any dirtbag come and kiss away your precautions. Don't let them steal your heart. You are worth far more than rubies and I need you to live like it! I promise, there is someone out there for you. Just be patient and he will come. Make it worth a man's while to pursue you and, if he thinks you're worth it, he will scale mountains.
     If you're married, ladies, I suggest we remember that we are now taken. We are not a free show and we love our husbands by honoring and respecting them. I know my husband really appreciates it when I give him a listening ear and we have deep, meaningful conversations together and when his clothes are clean. He loves when I make him dinner and let him play a quick round of video games to get out of the work zone in his head. He loves it when I appreciate something he does or buys for me and when I sit next to him in the truck. It's my goal to be encouraging and to gush over him (and his bright blue eyes) just like when we were dating. We each have a great gift in our husbands and they need cherishing.
     My life is not perfect, but I did choose to wait for God's perfect timing and I want the same for each of you. Let's go love a little harder today. Make it count. ;)

     

All photos compliments of and copyrighted to Cassie Lee Imagery (c) 2012

To Be or Not To Be...

I grew up with the strict Baptist policy "No Credit Cards", because credit and debt would obviously result in eternal damnation. Well, now that I'm older and married and trying to buy a first car with my husband, I have learned that you need at least 5 lines of credit! Who knew that plastic could actually save you from having to ride the train everyday to work?!
About a week ago my husband's car broke down after we hit a pothole the size of the Grand Canyon. Since then he has diligently replaced spark plugs, gas thingie-ma-bobbies, and shindiggs. But all to no avail! So we went car shopping until the salesman told us we had great credit!, just not enough of it... He also suggested maybe he come over and look at our car. *shrug*
So because I've never owed anybody money and since my husband hasn't financed five laptops, we can't buy a car. Instead, we are reduced to considering how long of a walk five miles would actually be while waiting on a family member's car to be available to borrow.

In life it sometimes seems as if everything hits you at once. Occasionally I get discouraged and cry and don't want to do anything except eat Mandarin oranges and watch Psych. But something that really encourages me is Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Sometimes things just happen. And you know what, thats o.k. It's ok to be discouraged or have a bad day or cry when you're paycheck isn't as big as you were expecting. But it is also your choice to remember that God is on your side and the way you live out each and every day is a reflection of how much trust you have in Him and His promises. So... make it count. And make today a great one!