Happy to be home

Today was the first day all week that I left school at a decent time.  Staying at school 10-12 hours definitely wore me down this week.  It's been one of those school years where I just don't feel like I can keep my head above water without staying until 6 or 7 o'clock at night.  However, because of my extra effort, the next two weeks are planned, copied, filed and ready to rock. 

Another positive I found from staying late this week is that I'm REALLY thankful, I mean seriously feeling blessed to get to come home.  Usually, I don't think about blessings such as having a sturdy garage to park my car, a warm house to find shelter in, a cozy couch to rest my body, a fridge full of food, an indoor toilet, or a bed to snuggle up in.  The list could go on and on. 

Instead of just running through life taking my blessings for granted, this week really opened up my eyes to the blessings overflowing in my life.  It's not that I didn't want to come home before, I definitely breathe a sigh of relief as I pull into my garage after a day at work, but I didn't realize how awesome I have it.  I love seeing Tom every day and being able to kiss him hello, eat dinner together and live life together, but this week I couldn't WAIT to see him.  I couldn't wait to get home and hang out with him. 

My home has been a refuge this school year and I am so incredibly thankful for it and everything in it.  I've learned that just because I am going through a rough patch in one area of my life doesn't mean that all areas of my life have to be affected by that one aspect.  Also, my prayer life has definitely flourished these past couple of months.  I know that God is with me and has a plan and purpose for my life.  He is my ultimate rock and my ultimate refuge.

I am proof that when you seek God with all your heart, He will be found and He will be found faithful. 

30 before 30

I was inspired by a fellow blogger, Hannah over at http://willmoveforcake.blogspot.com/ to compile a list of 30 things I want to accomplish or do by the time I'm 30.  I've got 8 months before I turn 30. 

Here's my list...

1) Get pregnant.
2) Eat ice cream without getting a migraine.
3) Sell 3 of my paintings.
4) Learn how to french braid my bangs.
5) Sign up for a mission trip.
6) Start a journal.
7) Read through the entire Bible again.
8) Volunteer somewhere outside my comfort zone.
9) Make my own bread from scratch.
10) Run/walk a 10K.
11) Read Gone With the Wind again.
12) Write a poetry book.
13) Make my own laundry detergent.
14) Make my own hummus.
15) Run 5 miles straight.
16) Go horse back riding and be comfortable with the horse trotting and galloping.
17) Go to a local winery.
18) Be a mentor.
19) Make a snowman with Tom.
20) Drive my SUV out of state.
21) Go kayaking.
22) Watch a sunrise with Tom.
23) Watch a sunset with Tom.
24) Learn to sew.
25) Start a Bible Study for college students.
26) Write a thank you letter to my 1st grade teacher.
27) Go to a fancy dinner and eat out of the bread basket without getting a migraine.
28) Bake a turkey all by myself.
29) Make my own Christmas cards.
30) Be thankful that I get to turn 30.

**1 year**

It's been 1 year since I got to pledge my love and devotion to my awesome hubby, Tom.  What a great year it's been!  So many people ask us, "So how's married life?" We say, "It's really great!"  Their response is, "No really...you can tell us the truth.  How's married life REALLY??"  And we still say, "Really, it's great!!"  It's odd how many times we have had this conversation in the past year.  I can still honestly say that it's been an awesome year.  Yes, of course we've had our differences, but I really can't recall ever having serious issues. 

All smiles on our 1st anniversary :)

Trying to keep God at the center of our marriage has made a huge difference.  Prayer changes things.  Every night before we go to sleep we take turns praying aloud.  I can't be upset at a man who is sincerely praying to God for us and our marriage can I??  No, because it just melts my heart.  Also, I'm a sinner who also married a sinner.  We all screw up and we could all use a little more grace.  When people ask how we made it through our first year without yelling or screaming or going a little crazy I say, putting God in the center is what made our first year great.  I've heard it described as a triangle with God at the top and the husband and wife at the bottom two points.  The closer we get to God, the closer we are to eachother.  It really doesn't get better than that <3

We are spending our week off together "stay-cationing" at home and at the local attractions.  Hiking, movies, the zoo, state parks, biking, working on landscaping, doing improvements around the house, and most of all, enjoying eachother's company.