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

it truly is a miracle

Yesterday, for the first time since April, my home computer worked all day! holy cow this is an amazing thing. I got to edit some pics that I have been waiting to edit. This is so exciting, however, I am going to be purchasing a new computer here soon and I am giddy about it.

Here is a pic of some of Sam, and the others I can't put up cause they are a suprise gift...I don't want to ruin it, but I will be showing you soon!

Love to ya!

Missing you!

It's true, I do miss you! I haven't seen many of my friends in a long time! I hope everyone is doing well! We are so good, and again, as it is the middle of summer, we are crazy busy...I have fallen a bit under the weather the last few days, but I think I am coming out of it! Since the last post we have been to Kennett, MO to re-roof a house with our students. And I think that is the only actual trip we have been on. . It was really fun, and is a great way for us and our students to learn how to do some crazy stuff!

Also, I got a new little toy! It is a Flip. It is cute and fun, and one day I will be able to use it on this computer!

I also have just started watching the Next Design Star...I have decided, I really want to be a designer, so if anyone wants to redo a room...i want to do it! You should watch the show. It is on Sunday nights on HGTV.

Okay I think that is it for now! Love you, miss you...comment and let me know how you are, Steph.

Sarah.

to the 4th of July and New Friendships

Well, this 4th of July started out as any other day. We woke up with no plans...none. A few people told us they may call, but by Sat. morning, we still hadn't heard anything.

My phone rang, and it was our new friends. Heather and Tate. They invited us to the lake with Tate's family. We love new people, so without a thought we said yes. We spent the day just hanging out at the lake. It was such a relaxing day and now we have new friend! When fireworks started we were surbrised to find out that not only could we see one fireworks show, but 3. It was awesome!

Thanks Heather and Tate!

This is 2 of the fireworks shows!

This was taken at about 9:30pm. It was so dark! The "Kids", (heather) were lighting sparklers, so I was able to find a focus...when I did...VIOLA! By the way, I was able to take this photo becuase my in-laws bought me an awesome tri-pod for my B-day! Thanks Scott and Anne!
This is Tate and Heather, and Finley. We met heather first at her boutique. Catfish & Tater. you have to check it out! Blog and Website! check out the website! also, she has an Etsy!

Tate and Finley

This is my hott husband Andrew on the 4th of July! Just Chillin in his new shorts! I love this man! Hope you had a fun and safe day too!

29 and dont feel a day over 18...

This is me, yesterday, at worlds of fun in line for the Mamba...yes, that is how I chose to celebrate the Day of my birth! ROLLER COASTERS! I was listening to a birthday message and I was much happier than my face shows! Thanks to everyone for sending out a message! I am truly blessed to be in the place that I am. I have a brilliantly amazing husband, a family who loves me and supports my life, a ton of precious students who I love and who love me...and I serve a living Savior that gives my life hope, meaning and purpose..."who could ask for anything more!"