Valentines date and watch it Wed.

This Valentines day the 3 of us went out!

I guess this is how I really look

But let me be honest, this is totally how I feel!

So for Valentines day, we went on a lovely date on Gift Certificates. We ate dinner at Terilli's and then went to Studio Movie Grill for dessert. I think we spent $10.00 on a delicious dinner, a movie, and coffee and dessert. 

The movie we chose was "The Vow". I know that I cry a bit more than normal cause I am preggers, but this movie was out of control tear jerking. I cried for more than an hour of a two hour movie! 

I am not sure that it is one I will be able to sit through again.

The story is based on a real couple. They were on the Today Show on Feb 13th. Watching them was absolutely beautiful. They are clearly believers and I loved listening to them speak about marriage. 

I am making this my "Watch it Wednesday"- It is the Clip from the today show. Do yourself a favor and listen to them share their story...and if you want to see the Vow, you should, but let me warn you, I enjoyed the real story so much more than the movie one...It was too gut-wrenching! 

The today show wont let you post the video, but here is the link. 

GO and WATCH!

The News Is Out!

As you know, Andrew and I have been working as a team, in the same office, doing a team-work job; Directing the Student Ministry at Liberty United Methodist church.
Our lives are about to change.

For the last year or so, we have felt the Holy Spirit stirring in us. A "change is coming". That is all we got. Throughout the last year the one re-occurring theme was seminary for Andrew. What ever it was that the Lord held next for us, it included seminary. In October we were given two different opportunities, one that would offer me work full time in the Chicago Land area which would then give Andrew the option of being a full time student, and then another one that would offer Andrew a full time job and Seminary (included) in Dallas, Texas. After a few visits to two very different cities we were left at a complete stand still. We had do idea what we were going to do but had complete peace about moving.

So...We had some amazing people come along as a part of this process and speak into our lives. They prayed with and for us about seeking out our giftings and what we felt like our callings are. (We have been having this talk for a year and it was just great to have people partnering with us.) As we prayed, we started having visions of ways the Lord could use Andrew with the opportunity that was more geared toward him...and then I had a phone call with a friend, Amber Burger. We have been friends for 11 years and have never lived in the same city. She is one of my go-to's. I LOVE THIS WOMAN! So we were chatting and I offered an idea for His Voice (See blog to your left) and she offered me a proposition. She said they were looking for someone who could develop ideas just like the one I had...and then she dropped the bomb. She said they were moving to Dallas...which is where the job offer for Andrew is, and that she would send me the job description if I would like her to. I said yes.

I met with Amber and Vernon over Christmas Break and Andrew and I just knew it. This is what we are supposed to do...

So....................................

We are MOVING TO DALLAS TEXAS!!!!!!!

IN APRIL. April 10th will be our last Day at LUMC!

Andrew will be attending seminary at Perkin’s School of Theology in Dallas, TX and working for Highland Park UMC as the worship leader for the student ministry. The church is closely tied to Perkins, so they are paying for his schooling which is a huge blessing. I will be working for a His Voice Global as the Promotions Director. I actually went to Sudan with this group in January 2005.

The last few years have been an incredible time of growing, learning, and serving in Liberty. Needless to say we are grateful for the opportunity we've had to serve the students here. We have learned so much and will remember the lives we've hopefully impacted and the ones that have impacted ours.

We are sad to move on, but are thankful for our time here and are looking forward to our next season of life. We are so excited to see what the Lord will do next with our lives, but since making this decisions, I have also been having dreams and visions about my roll at HVG. The next two months will be a busy time of prayer, transition, and preparation.

I think that is enough for you today, but I will definitely be posting more soon as I have all kinds of fun things to share!

Intention

On Wednesday night I had a long conversation with a friend about marriage. As I went to bed that night, I kept replaying different pieces of our talk. I will say over and over again, "I am no marriage expert" but I know that Andrew and I are doing something right.

I felt like for the first time, while I was sharing with a friend, I figured out something that I knew, but had never been able to put into words quite right.

The thing I said was this. "Intention is everything."

My friend immediately looked like I was crazy and followed with a line like "intention, never carried out is nothing."

Then I asked my friend to hear me out and this is what I want to say now.

In life, as followers of Christ, it is our job to honor one another, esteem one another BETTER than ourselves (romans 12:10), to build one another up (1 Thess 5:11) , MUTUAL EDIFICATION (Romans 14:19). When we get married and say our vows, we say that we will "HONOR and CHERISH" each other. This is important in all of our relationships and this includes our marriage relationships...it is our job to do these things.

Andrew and I know, 100%, that we intend to honor each other with our word and actions.

It is never our intention to do or say anything that does not honor or cherish each other. Our promise is to mutually, MUTUALLY, edify one another.

This is my example of how this works and what I see on TV, which is way too close to real life.

I just found out that Andrew doesn't love pancakes. He doesn't dislike them, but he would rather eat something else for breakfast. Somewhere along the line I got the idea that he really liked them, so occasionally on Fridays or holidays that we don't have to go into the office, I will get out of bed a little early and surprise Andrew with a pancake breakfast.

(This is where intention comes in)

Andrew wakes up and walks out, smells the pancakes and stands in the living room looking at me with fresh morning eyes and a smile and says, "Oh, you didn't have to make breakfast...you love me."

This is where he understood that my intention is to serve, love and bless him with a breakfast that I was cooking for my Beloved husband.

If he didn't know my intention, his response may have been..."Oh, you made yourself breakfast...good morning (He reaches into the fridge and pulls out eggs)."

Or "Did you know that I don't really care for pancakes, after 5 years of marriage you should have known that."

These responses would not make me feel very good.

You may be saying, "BUT HE DOESN'T LIKE PANCAKES!"

And you are right, sort-of, I mean he doesn't dislike them, he just doesn't choose them...anyway. To that I say this; when I found this news out I asked him why he didn't say anything and he said..."I knew that you were making breakfast to show me you love me." To him, the food didn't matter as much as the action...and his response mattered more than the food too.

If we can truly know that we are in the mode of intending to bless, honor, encourage and build each other up with our words, actions and body language then the results of your relationship will be much more like God intended.

I have more to say, but I have more posts to post...so I will end today's post with one question;

What are your intentions?

Oh snow...

You know those scenes in movies where someone does something that causes a mess and then people laugh. Like, someone throws food on someone and then follows a two person food fight. Then they sit in their mess and laugh. I feel like this is a far cry from reality. Most folks don't see this ever happen. Most people would see this start, then worry about their clothes and space being ruined or dirty. I have discovered a way for this to happen without making a mess.
It has been snowing a lot here recently. The snow is piled on top of our car because we don't have a garage. Yesterday we went to the movies and then ran a few errands. We were chewing gum and Andrew decided it was time for the gum to go (while we were driving). He says, "I think I'll throw it out of the moon roof!". To which I reply, "okay" (with a laugh). Only thinking about the 24 degree temp. Well, Andrew opens the moon roof and and in falls the avalanche!!!! ON MY HEAD. Andrew had like maybe a snowballs worth of snow on his arm and I got it all down my shirt and all over my lap! All I could do was laugh. We just cracked up.
Don't get me wrong, if it was something that would have ruined my clothes, I may not have thought it was so funny...but it just was.
In the process of the moon roof opening, some ice slid into the opening and the moon roof got stuck open.
So the next time you want to have a silly movie scene turned real life-use snow!
Thanks for stopping in!

probably the hardest part

I think that I have decided the hardest part about being married. Holidays.
This is such a predicament. Let me say that I love my family and love my in-laws. And I think that this is why it is so hard.

This is the kind of stuff that needs to be talked about in pre-marital counceling. We are doing the best we can with it and try our hardest to let everyone know how much we love them and care for them...we just hope it is working.

I think the thing that makes it so hard is that we live close to Andrew's family and we live far from mine. They are both amazing and totally understand and never complain or say anything to us...but, it doesn't change the way that Andrew and I feel.

We switch holidays with our families. Like this year we spent Thanksgiving with my family in Imperial, and we spent Christmas with Andrews parents here...but my parents decided to come into town on Christmas day...so My family got to see us on Christmas and Thanksgiving, but Andrews family only got to see us on Christmas...and a lot of other days for lunch or at the office...but soooo not the same.

And then there is the thought that when we go to see my family, we are literally spending a week at their house. We don't go many places, we just spend time at my parents house...this isn't fair to Andrew's parent's when we stay at their house for a day rather than a week, because this is Their holiday but we also happen to live here.

And then there is birthdays...which leads me to this post. My dad's birthday is on Saturday. Scott's birthday (Andrew's dad) is on Sunday. And since we live by his parent's we all get to celebrate every ones birthday together...which I love! But, at the same time, I don't get to celebrate my dad's birthday and 2 weeks ago, my family all got together to celebrate my grandma's 90th Birthday. My only living grandparent, and the only I have had since 7th grade. But the celebration was on a Sunday...so I couldn't go cause I had to work...but we are celebrating Scott's birthday on a Sunday and we can go, because they live a mile from home and work...do you see where the frustration comes in!
I guess it is good that I get frustrated that both of us want to spend more time with our families...

I know there really isn't an answer to all of this, and it really isn't that bad, it is just weeks like last week when two friends have babies and you can only make it to see one...or this week when two dad's have birthdays but you can only celebrate with one...that make me cry a little and then be glad for the fact that I have family close, or even family at all...

The way we deal? Well, I sit on my floor and cry and pout and Andrew explains how we don't have 8 extra hours of drive time to spare and how Dave Ramsey says spending that much money on gas at this time is not wise. Does it help? NO, but what will? The only thing that helps is the fact that I am nearly best friends with my brother, I talk to my mom and dad all the time and I have in-laws that people can only dream about having. I am married to the man that far exceeds any dream I ever had and I know that they all love Jesus...and me...

And that is how I will get myself through this short pity party.

On the list of things that are worth complaining about in life, this is probably near the bottom...but that just gives us another reason to thank God for the blessings.

Love ya,
Sarah

another story

Two days ago, We were driving home from work. This actually took place just minutes before the story in the previous post.
We have been working out and my legs are so sore. They were really sore around my knees.
As he is driving, I am telling Andrew how sore I am and so I reach over and touch his knee and say, "I am sore right here!" On the word "here" I squeesed his knee (or right above). He nearly swerves off the road as he screams and starts laughing, I was totally surprised by this reaction. I say, "What the heck was that?"
he is still laughing..."I am boy crazy!"

I love my husband.

Thanks

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for voting. I went with number 5, Cinque Terre.

Not a whole lot has happened in the last few days that I am ready to blog about, but here is one funny story so I don't just leave you hanging.

It has been really cold here. Last night, Andrew and I got home at like 9:00 and had to drag in the trash can and the recycle bins. The plastic handles were FREEZING. So we are already cold (we live too close to home for our car to even warm up) and now our hands are frozen. I hate being cold like this.
So we get inside and we are standing there and Andrew says. "My hands are freezing." I start to think about the warmest part of my body and it was my waist - due to layering and a coat. I take his hand and lift my shirt up a little on the side and try to put his hand on my side...(totally being silly)
He starts screaming and trying to pull away, "NO, I can't let you do this to yourself, you hate being cold, No! Don't do it, I can't let you!!"
At this point we are both cracking up and I am yelling and pulling his wrist, "I am willing to do this for you...I hate seeing you cold! Just let me!"
"Your willingness is enough, Don't do this to yourself!"

We can barely stand up we are laughing so hard and then he lets me put his hand on my side. at this point, his hand is FREEZING!!!!!!! So cold that I can't speak. I just put my head on his shoulder and squeeze my eyes shut (yes, this looked as weird as it sounds)!
He steps back after about 30 seconds and looks at me...then I say, "My side is so cold" (with a laugh, of course) So then the unthinkable happens. He lifts up his shirt to show his side and pushes it against my side that he just made freeze...and then he says. "Holy cow, Your Side is Cold!"
when that moment was over, we just laughed about how weird we are.
And I like to think that you are that weird too, you just don't tell people.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sarah

Blood Type

This weekend/Monday we went to the Switchfoot concert. (pics to come) We went with Amber and Vernon. We talked about the Eat right for your blood type diet. I cannot find my blood type! It is not documented anywhere. We (my mom and I) even found my original birth certificate on Tuesday morning and it didn't say...so this has led us to many topics about blood samples and such...
Segue.

We made PB sandwiches for lunch. Andrew had fluff on his. We ate and an hour has gone by, I am doing some work. We have both been silent for almost an hour, and then...

"Sarah!"
He hold up his bag from lunch, it has a dab of fluff left in it.
"I have a blood sample from the state-puff marshmallow man, I need to submit it to the lab for further research."

My response...."Hold on, I have to blog."
but I do wonder what type he is!?

Have a great Ash Wednesday!
S

I love love

Andrew and are having not only a special weekend, but a pretty amazing week.

It just so happens that a gift I got Andrew for is birthday, Switchfoot tickets in St. Louis, falls on Monday night. So, to follow up this weekend we will be leaving on Monday and swinging byAmber and Vernon's and then we are all going to see the "best album ever" - Hello Hurricane, Performed Live! CAN NOT WAIT!

But in the mean time Andrew and I got a hook up from a parent of a student this weekend. We went to our Dave Ramsey class on Thursday night and then checked into a hotel! (for a super cheap deal!) On Friday we had our free breakfast, went to meet Brandon and Angie Roach, (the old youth pastors from Liberty) and had a free lunch and then we went down to the plaza to watch a Valentines day in the VIP room, using the Gift card my Aunt Linda sent us. (we have been saving it for months...Thanks Linda!)

The movie was cute...then we took a swing to pick up a meal to go at Texas road house and brought it back to the hotel to split while we watched the Olympics opening ceremonies.

All of this for $12.00! Dave would be proud!

Andrew and I are in love...And I feel so blessed that the Lord would allow us to share life together. To share like every moment in life together!

So this morning, we woke up this morning to go get our breakfast

Side note: (At breakfast I heard this couple talking. He was making a waffle and she came over to take over so he could go do something else. He said, this will beep in like a minute, just letting her know that it was about half way done...her reply, "yeah, I know, go" in like the most rude and sassy way I have ever heard, you would have thought she was a teenager just learning that she knows more than mom and dad. My heart hurt. I hope we don't get annoyed with each other that easily! Love is patient. So, I guess, it doesn't matter where you are, there is always a lesson to learn.)

and now as I am typing, Andrew is getting ready to go...And on to do our Taxes.

Taxes aren't too difficult for us yet, so for me, if I just look at it like this, "Let's just do this thing and get a return" then it seems like I am getting paid for a few hours of sorting through papers! I am at least excited about getting them done...and then off to the Liberty HS play, the Diviners, tonight.

How are you celebrating your Valentines day?

Marriage purity

In our devotions last week we ended up doing one called the Purity Code.

This section talked about making a life long commitment to purity. It was so fun to talk about how this is a continuous thing. I use fun in a way that is exciting, rather than like a theme park.

We discussed the constant renewing our mind, turning our eyes from worthless things and guarding our hearts. In a marriage, guarding your hearts and keeping your eyes from "worthless" things is so important.

We talked about how we have shows that we watched for a few episodes and we knew they were "worthless" for our eyes and so we have stopped watching them. But are we doing that regularly?

We talked about healthy boundaries in our friendships. We both grew up running around with people of the opposite sex. Andrew had a ton of friends who were girls, and I, well, shoot, my roommates in college were boys by the end of the run. This is something that we are very careful about as a married couple. I have so many great guy friends who I have known forever, but if I was to say to Andrew, "I am going out to dinner with (insert a name) tonight. See you later." That would be hurtful to him. There is no reason for me to be getting dinner alone with a "friend".

I feel like this is common sense, but it isn't. Especially for people like me who have lots of friends in another gender. They think "it's no big deal, it's just (fill in name)." The thing to me that makes the difference is that Andrew and I love each others friends and get to know them. I am not exactly sure what has kept the jealousy out of our marriage, but I am fairly certain that it is honesty. Andrew and I are not jealous of the friends of our past and so having friendships with them is not a hard thing to do. So all of us go out together. It's way more fun anyway.

The thing that stuck out to me about this particular devotion, was the questions we were to ask. One of the questions was, "Has there been a time when you were concerned about my fidelity?"

I felt like, for us, we haven't had enough time away from each other to even think that someone could be cheating...but not to take it lightly, there is the Internet and there is texting, and we don't check in on each other...but the answer is NO.

To us, we have to be able to communicate. We discussed how hard this devotion is, asking questions so forward, but the key is being able to actually have a conversation with out hyperventilation. I feel like I have more to say about things around this subject, but am not sure how to word the rest of it...

But you should know that the best way to start any conversations that may be hard, is to pray (together) for grace, patience and understanding...and then the important part is to actually want those things and then to respond in a loving way.

Has this struck a chord with anyone else? Thoughts?

funny

Andrew and I were walking through the hallways at church when we, like high school kids, grabbed hands and swung them as we walked. He squeezed my hand really hard. I laughed and proceeded to tell him that it hurt and he should stop. Then he smiles at me, lifts our hands up, pretends to hold a cup under our hands and says, "Hand juice". Then he pretended to drink the cup...of hand juice...and I think that was funny!

S

A post for those whithout kids. or empty nesters...

Note: the LOST video will be up today sometime, but this post has nothing to do with TV.

Andrew and I want a family but are leaving the timing of that to the Lord. (Don't worry we are doing all we can, but that is not what this post is about either.) A lot of our friends have kids and I love them and hope for the day that the Lord allows us to be parents. I say this to state this fact: WE DON'T HAVE KIDS. This puts us in an interesting situation as adults who work some seriously strange hours. We decided that instead of being sad that we don't have kids, we would take advantage of the things we can do now that will take finding an amazing babysitter to do later.

It has been really hard to adjust to this life. We work with students till nearly 10 on Monday and Tuesday, till 8:30 or 9:00 on Wed and Sunday, and till 5 on Thursday (and then we go to Dave Ramsey's FPU on Thursday nights). Our weekend is Friday and Saturday.

We go go go Sunday through Thursday and because it is all work related, it is all about spiritual development and is exhausting emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. In order to make it through the week, while we still can, Andrew and try I sneak out on late night dates. And our excuse...Because we can.

We have come to the understanding that if we have kids, our lives will change and there are things that we will will not be able to do at the drop of a hat. So we need to completely take advantage of the fact that we realize that.

I have said it before, AMC theatres host $5.00 movies Monday-Friday before noon, Almost every restaurant on the Plaza has a late night happy hour, with amazing prices on food, that starts at 10:00, The record bar has shows that start at 11:00pm. Do we do this kind of thing every week? No. But, we go when we can handle losing an hour or two of sleep.

We don't' really make it to bed before midnight on any given night anyway, so sometimes on Monday one of us will just declare..."HEY! lets go on a date this week."

This week we did it on Wed. night. After leaving the office at 9:00, we went home and got a coupon we had and headed to a movie. We went to see When in Rome, Which was actually really fun. And a romantic comedy which makes us romantic...and comedic...Plus, as I have said before, gives us something else to talk about.

Before I tell you the rest about the week, I will have to justify (I told you, we are in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University). So, Andrew then says he is going to take me out on Friday morning too! whoo hoo...Again, because we can. So we have a gift card for a local breakfast joint, Ginger Sues,

so he took me there, and then to see Dear John before noon! (I read the book this week wanted to see it.) MORNING DATE and LATE NIGHT DATE in one week and we only spent $17.00!

The moral of this post, If you don't have kids, don't make excuses to stay home! Fancy yourself up every once in a while and stay out late. It is good for you. What we do know, regardless of whether you have kids or not, you have to keep dating!

If you have read all the way to this point in this post and you have kids, leave a comment and give some advice on what you do to keep it exciting once you have kids. We would love to learn from you!

Love to you and yours...
Talk to you soon.

S

are you LOST?

I know that some of you don't watch TV and some of you don't find it fitting to watch much TV...but I really feel that in my life and marriage, TV is just wonderful.

I always feel like I need to justify this topic because people would think we are crazy, but It has to be justified so that you can get a little perspective into the life of Sarah and Andrew.


One more justification before I begin...we really do use TV/pop-culture references all the time to teach, plus it gives a conversations starter with students.


Okay, now I can start.


As previously mentioned, Andrew and I spend every hour together, waking or not. We love it, but working in the ministry all day everyday gets a little exhausting. Things are serious all the time...reading, planning events, planning worship, planning Bible Study (x4), dealing with student issues, meeting with students about those issues, re-thinking the program to be more "successful", writing college recommendation letters, reading to learn, clerical work, e-mails and dealing with the parents...all while trying to stay Kingdom focused...Yes, there are times for laughter and fun in all of this, but you can probably see that this is what most of our conversations are about...so, for us, there is no getting home and saying, "how was your day"...not only do we know the answer but we were literally having the same day. Our conversations are great and we talk all day long, but we need to have something else to talk about. There are 4 things we do so that we have some down time.


1. Having friends, which is a whole post on it's own.
2. Reading books.
3. Watch TV and movies.
4. Go on adventures. (also another post)


If I told you how many shows we watched you would ask, "HOW?"
the answer is, I don't know how, but I think the Lord allows us extra time so we have something different to take our mind off the things that might tempt us to worry...you can disagree with this all you want, but I'm right! ha ha!





So the purpose of this blog is to let you know, as if you didn't already, that Our favorite drama, and maybe favorite all around...yeah, okay it is...show is back on this week with its final season.
LOST airs on Tuesday nights starting this week. Which is normally a huge WHOO HHOOOO! BUT GUESS WHAT? Tuesday night is also the weeknight that we host Bible Study for Juniors and Seniors at our house...conundrum? you may not think so, but we were a little confused on what to do...we have a tradition. We watch LOST at Lora's house (she is amazing) about an hour after air time so that we can fast forward through commercials and then talk about it for about an hour after...yes...you read that right.
You may be wondering what DVR is for if we are not going to utilize it in this case. Don't worry we do, but you can absolutely, under no circumstance, call yourself a fan of LOST and wait an entire day to watch it if for no other reason than someone is going to tell you something before your view time and spoil it.
So how have we solved the mystery that is Bible Study/LOST...we moved Bible study up an hour! IS THIS INSANE?


nope.
but it is keeping us from being insane.
What keeps you from insanity?


Love ya
S
Andrew says, "Ask any other LOST fan what they would have done...They would have canceled."

in the bedroom

Hello. I told you we may try a video blog today, and this is what we came up with.

I should note (my mom says) that there is a TV on the other side of the curtains that can be closed off! TV is not romantic!

these are the itso cubes and you can get them at Target.

Here is a suggestions.

This duvet set is from Target, totally gender neutral. The piping is yellow. So instead of painting the bedroom bright sunshiny yellow, go with a smokey grey. (and yes, you can do dark wood with grey!)

Add some elements/details of yellow, white, glass and silver and call it smokey hot!

check out Target for more

These vases are studly!!

Bud vases on the dresser would be so cute!

these are from Crate and Barrel...so great.
Shiny silver lamp with white shade would look amazing against a grey wall.

Funky art work, if you don't know anyone who is an artist check out Urban Outfitters.
cute yellow towel, or clothes hook...for a little funk.
this is the little door pull from target we put on the itso's.

Put it together and VIOLA! Remember it is good to have elements that are classy and elements that bring the personality into the room!

Hope this is inspiring!!

Love to you!

S

It's on the news

I thought this came as a timely news story since I have been talking about my own marriage journey.
Gayle Haggard just wrote a book about choosing to stay with her husband, Ted Haggard.She was featured this morning on the Today show, for some reason it isn't letting me post the link, but you should google "Today Show Gayle Haggard" and watch the video.
There was one thing she said that hit me the most. She said something along the lines of, "The night that he told me, we were in bed. He reached over to touch me and that was when I decided to choose to love him."
She is a good woman.

For some of us, loving our spouse or the people around us really isn't that difficult...but it is always a choice. We should not treat each other with the understanding that "they are going to love me no matter how I treat them...so I can get away with it." What an un-fulfilling way to live.I pray that I am choosing to love Andrew and choosing to show it with my actions.I have heard people say, we hurt the ones we love the most, but if that is true...do we really love them?

Let me know your thoughts...but one quick story before I go.

Andrew does the laundry (and the machine is in the basement). We have been "not home" so much that all the clean laundry is in like 7 piles in our bedroom. The duvet was sitting on the bed for 3 days and I am sure this had been driving Andrew crazy (he is clean). I mean, he does the laundry and I am supposed to fold it and then we put it away together...so last night Andrew knew I wanted some jeans cleaned and so he ran a load while students were over for Bible study. When they left he went back down to switch them to the dryer. As he walked out of the room, I thought, "this is my opportunity to put the downed comforter into the duvet...All without his help...It will be a surprise." Which is totally silly because I should have done it three days ago, but I usually use his help. So he gets up stairs and I put on my "look what I'm doing" with a little kid smile face. He doesn't say anything...booooSo then I actually say, "I thought I would do something too!" to which he replies in a really sarcastic, little kid sounding voice, "Well that's a nice change!"This was my opportunity to try to tackle him, when I couldn't I just jumped on the bed like a crazy person while he shook his head in amazement at what a freak I am.So, the moral of today's story...HAVE FUN, Jump on your clean bed!
We were thinking about doing a video blog post on Friday. So, if there is anything you want us to chat about...well, we are open to suggestions. Just leave a comment and we will see what we can do!
Love ya,
S

there is a difference

I have heard it said that we shouldn't make our time with God a "habit". I understand what people are saying. They don't think that you should make something so important just another thing you do because you are used to doing it. I get that, but habits and schedules are not so different, I believe it is just the motivation behind being habitual that decided whether it is actually good or bad. But there is a difference.
That being said, in our home a schedule is the hardest thing to keep. We are up at different times each day. The week to week stuff is similar, but from day to day it is different. The single most important thing in our lives is the Lord. It Is. And we would both say that it is. So, when we are not in a right relationship with God, we are not in a right relationship with each other. So, time with the Lord is a priority. The thing is, we work for a church and it is easy to confuse studying to teach with studying for personal faith development. There is a difference. We found it hard to separate those the first year or so of ministry, but have come to KNOW that our personal faith development is KEY to our marriage, ministry and lives. This is how we have made the Lord the focus of our day.
Andrew sets the alarm...wakes up, hits snooze...turns up the heat and brews the coffee...alarm sounds...I turn it off and meet him by the couch with a cup of coffee...we greet each other...
Every day he says "good morning" (with a smile, of course) and then asks how I slept. I tell him about the weird dream I had and ask him how he slept. We kiss and then I sit on the opposite end of the couch as him. Then we read. Sometimes for 15 minutes and some times for an hour. We read the Bible, I journal and sometimes we will pick up Closer,The devotion I previously mentioned, and do that. And then we pray. Sometimes together out loud and sometimes in silence, but together nonetheless. At some point one of us decides to take a shower and that is the beginning of our day.
I cherish the time I get to sit in silence reading and learning knowing that the man whom with I share my life is learning too. This is a sacred thing.
I hope that you understand that my marriage is what it is because it is second most important. Andrew and I love each other, but we love God more. And whether you are single, married or have kids...Being in a right relationship with God is the key to having any other good relationship. Galatians 5:16 says, "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." and we may spend too much time being selfish, spending too much time focused on our kids, blaming our spouse, or nagging, or complaining, or feeling sorry for ourselves for missing out on our "glory" days by getting married so young...but the truth is that all of those inclinations are of the flesh and we are told that if we "Walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the flesh."
This is not necessarily an easy thing to do...but definitely something that we should be striving for.
What do you think...
S

I'm exhausted

Exhausted, but not too exhausted to blog today! Yea for two post in a week! So, this week was a long one...really. From last Sunday to the end of last night, and I only figured this out to make a point, we worked 104 hours. YES, in one week. When I told Andrew that this morning, he said "did you count sleep time?" "okay 96, but being in charge of students on a trip does not make for restful sleep." The point I was trying to make was for you, my fine friends. Andrew and I literally worked 104 hours in an 8 day period. While that is a 3 day youth retreat/conference and five 10-12 hour days we still went on a date last week. Andrew bought me Lovely Bones for Christmas (I am on this kick of reading books that are getting ready to be released as movies) and so he took me to see it last week in the afternoon between staff meeting and Bible Study. My point of telling you this is not to say "this is how you do it" but to say "find or make time for you as a couple." Last week would have been the perfect time to say "no" to doing anything extra and no we didn't have time to make dinner before students showed up that night, but you know what, We had fun going out on a date. The key is know where to go for cheap. AMC theaters show $5.oo movies M-T, and there is a theatre here that on top of that has a bring your own bowl Tuesday where you can bring in any bowl and get free popcorn! take advantage of those fun things.


We got home yesterday from the conference and had an hour before we had to be back up to church. We squeezed in a nap and got back up there. We took 83 people to see To Save a Life, you should check it out. Anyway, we got home for the night around 10:30pm. At this point we were so exhausted but almost to that point where you can't fall asleep...we had DVR'd the Hope for Haiti and decided to put that on while we did little things around the house. So the telethon is playing and I hear someone singing and look up and didn't recognize his voice or his looks and I say, "who is that?" and Andrew looks at me with shock and awe and says. "Bruce Springsteen...The BOSS" so I say. "I know who he is, it just didn't look like him, he looks to professional...whatever" then we laugh at me...so time goes by and the next guy starts singing. It was only like three words in and I couldn't figure out who it was either and so as I am getting ready to ask who it was, but before the words came out, I looked up. Three words. Dreads, sun-glasses, black...yeah that's right, I almost asked who Stevie Wonder was!!!! Instead of just being quiet I say, "I am soooo glad I looked up." Two reasons this story was funny to us. 1. When we clean house we listen to his greatest hits, and 2. Stevie Wonder is AMAZING, and was on the Cosby show...which doesn't really matter but is fun to know.


One more story for you to giggle at. Tonight on our way home from the office we stopped to get groceries and as we got into our car it didn't start. We called Anne, my amazing mother in law, and she agreed to come get us. You should know that we don't have heat in the car anyway so it was really cold...so as she pulled into the parking lot, Andrew tried once more and the car started. She followed us home. by the time we get home and I am just FREEZING and if you know me, I hate being cold. So, I crank the heat in the house and let Andrew call the repair shop. When he hangs up I am whining about being cold, he reaches out for my hand and says, "Lets hug over the vent." I think this sounds like a funny invitation so I walk over and we stand on the vent hugging and laughing. this is how the rest played out...


I tell him I love him and he says, "you know the best way to get warm?" and of course I know the answer he was looking for and I laugh and say "How Andrew?" and he says "body heat." to which I reply with the action of rubbing the palm of my hand on his bearded face asking him if it is working. Then he says, "Yeah, yeah, you know what is really cold?" at this point we are both cracking up and he didn't even wait for my response, "my whole front side!" now I am outright laughing and I say, "Can I blog that?" his reply..."Well it does show how funny I am!"
Laughter makes you healthy.


On a more serious note, we have started a devotion by Jim and Cathy Burns called Closer and it is the best one we have ever done, so if you are looking for something to do that doesn't take too much time, you should check it out. Check back tomorrow, I am looking forward to tomorrow's post.
Here is a pic I took looking out my window and thought it was appropriate for a story about cold. Love and peace to you and yours,
S

How Time Flies By

Well, I hope you are not disappointed in me...I guess it has been so long that there will be months before you even check to see if I have been here. Well, here I am. I have been evaluating my blogging life recently and Andrew and I have been talking about trying something.

If you didn't know we actually work together everyday...all day...there are not many hours in a week that we aren't physically in the same room (and I am counting bathroom time in the separation.) The thing is. We Love It. Like, really, really love it. I would be a millionaire if I had a buck for every time someone asked me. "how can you two stand being together all the time? My husband and I would kill each other." ....hmmm....

I guess I can "see" where people are coming from, but at the same time, my heart hurts a little bit for the folks who wouldn't want to spent a lot of time with their husband.

This last year was a rough one for the marriages around me. I watched so many friends walk through some real struggles and some of them made it, some of them are hopeful for restoration and some of them are over. It was tough to watch the process and try to speak to the people who are walking through it.

It is a weird thing to us that so many people are so horrible to their spouses. Andrew and I don't fight. We discuss and we never get angry and yell...we do get our feelings hurt and then we talk it out. It is hard for us to relate to a fighting couple, yet we are surrounded by them.

One of the things that cracks me up, so hard, are the people who say, "Oh, well you are still in the honey moon period." It cracks me up because in July we will celebrate 5 years and of the marriages I have watched struggle this year almost all of them were rocky way before 5 years...and some of them haven't made it anywhere near 5 years.

Now, we don't have kids and people tell me that is a huge stress point, but I don't think, and I am firm in this belief...you can point and laugh later...that kids are going to make me scream at Andrew and tell him that he is an idiot...

Our story is different, I get that, we weren't high school sweet hearts...but that story is saved for a later date.

So the idea we had was to write about our marriage and what it looks like to live in our house. We are weird and we have so much fun, and you may be bored by our life, but maybe we can inspire you to love your spouse and bring some fun back into your day. Because when you are with your spouse for 24/7 you have to laugh...it is not an option.

So the other day, Andrew walked outside to take out the trash. It was 2 degrees outside and like 10 inces of snow on the ground. Needless to say he was bundled up. Coat, hat, boots, jeans...you know, it was 2 degrees. While he was taking out the trash, I was brushing my teeth...I hear the door shut and him walking through the house. Then he yells through the house. "Its so cold out there I froze my socks and shoes off!"...I giggle a little, walk out of the room to see him and say..."I haven't heard that one before" and while I am speaking I look at him completely bundled up and I look down...and of course...He was still totally bundled up (hat and all) and with his size 9 winter white bare feet sticking out under his wet jeans.

If you were there, you would have laughed too. These are the tiny things in life that keep us newly weds. He could have complained about taking out the trash..instead he told a joke. I love that man.

Talk to you soon. (Don't worry, I will also have pics and creative things to bring to the blog!)

S