Made in 'Merica

Hello there y'all! So, first, I started this green smoothie challenge for the month of May. It has been so much fun!! But as part of the challenge, I have realized my desire for a big girl blender. At this place in our lives, however, we simply cannot afford one. To remedy this, I decided to enter every possible giveaway in hopes of winning one. Seems like a great idea, right? Right.

Did you know that Blendtec blenders are made in America? Isn't that awesome? I am all for supporting groups that make their products in America as opposed to outsourcing. So let's take some time and support our local businesses!!

Bring on Summer

          Ahhhh. Facebook has been reminding me again and again lately about the upcoming end of school. Has it really only been a year since I was in that place - finishing up the last weeks of student teaching and preparing to move 8 states away? It seems like just yesterday. So congratulations to all of y'all finishing school in the coming weeks and months. It's a wonderful feeling!

          On another note, I have been doing quite a bit of crafting as of late. Most recently, I made a little flannel receiving blanket. I had every intention of making the blanket to give away to the first woman I found having a baby girl, but as soon as I finished it, I fell in love. I decided that I was going to save it until we had a baby girl (however long that my take). This was the first non-clothing-item project that I have done, and it was way more fun than I anticipated. Just for reference, I used a pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Company for a self-binding receiving blanket.

Next project - a chevron patterned something made with striped fabric. This will be so much fun!!!!

Hope y'all are having an awesome week!

Marriage

Marriage is awesome. 

I feel like every time I check out Facebook, another couple is getting engaged or just got married and I am so excited for them. There is something about marriage, about the joining of two people, that is so beautiful. 

The hubster and I will celebrate one whole year of marriage tomorrow and I am thrilled. That's part of where this post is coming from, I think. Every time I see those recently engaged or newly married couples, my mind floods with all of the things I want to say. I want to encourage them that marriage will be filled with fantastic moments, but warn them that there will also be times of trial. I want to urge them to remember the reasons they fell in love, especially during those trials, and remind them that the best time of life is always right now. When we look forward all of the time, we miss the magnificence of the here and now. And finally, I want to praise the Lord with them. Because perhaps the most beautiful part of marriage, beyond all of the ooey gooey love stuff, is the fact that God miraculously brings together two horrible sinners and enables those two people to live in wonderful harmony together. I am in awe of our Creator. 

"Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 

Mark 10:9 NIV

Marriage is awesome. 

A World of New Beginnings

Let's chat. I know, I know, it's been six months since my last post. Sorry.. But let me give you an update. In the beginning of May, I graduated from college. (Whoop whoop!!!) The hubby and I spent most of May living out of a suitcase, sleeping on an air mattress, and eating take out since we sent almost all of our personal belongings to Texas ahead of us. Finally, at the end of May (and after attending the wedding of a few friends and the graduation of another friend), we made our last journey from Ohio to Texas. We packed our car as full as humanly possible and drove eighteen hours to the beautiful land of heat and bugs and heat and humidity and heat. :) We love it here.

Just one week after this long trek, we left our new home to spend a week in Alaska with part of our family. It was awesome getting to travel to such a beautiful place, see so many gorgeous landscapes, and meet so many lovely puppies. While in Scagway, Alaska, we took a bus up some mountain and into the Yukon Territory to a dog mushing camp, where we got to meet quite a few dogs and even go on a dog sled ride. It really was an incredible experience, probably second only to the buffet! Oh I'm just kidding, though we did spend a lot of time eating. Despite the relaxation and vacation time, I was really ready to get home. There was so much to do and my world had already changed so much so quickly.

So by the end of June, we made it back from Alaska, and little did I know that my world was about to change again. The day after we got back from our vacation, my hubby and I decide that we should go to the local animal shelter just to look at a few puppies. The ones in Alaska were so adorable, we thought that maybe one day we would like one of our own. Yes, we took a puppy home with us that day. She is the most adorable dog in the world. Those first few days were rough, though. I had never had a dog as a child and now I was the sole caretaker of one. It was stressful. But now, almost two weeks later, little Coco is one of the best parts of my life.

As my life is changing, here in Texas, so are the lives of my family in PA. I found out recently that my sister and brother in law have received the okay from One Mission Society to begin their assignment and move to Indiana. They are leaving this weekend. Growing up, I was so blessed that my entire family was within an hour's drive. Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Cousins. They were all right there. I was the first to go. I looked forward to it with every breath I took and then when it was time, I was terrified, nervous, and a little sad to leave the home I knew. Now, my sister is going as well. At times, it feels like my whole world is being flipped upside down. My greatest consolation through all of these changes and new beginnings has been the fact that God's plan is perfect. God directed to my husband, and thus, to Texas. God led my sister and brother in law to One Mission Society. And He will continue to guide us through the uncertain future days. Trust in Him with me. 


Thanks for joining me y'all! (I have to practice my Texan accent somehow.)
Peace out. 


Oh! If you read this and decide you'd like to support my sister and brother in law at all, please send me an email or something and I'll give you the information. Thanks!

End of the Semester

So my fall semester is officially OVER! And I could not be more excited. Seriously, the end of my eighth semester is college. What could be more exciting?! Besides maybe the day I married the love of my life, (cue the "awwwwww's") or the day I finished knitting my first hat. Ok, so maybe this is the tenth most exciting time in my life so far, but still, pretty exciting. Now all that remains is to teach high school students for twelve weeks at Xenia High School. Wooooohooo!!!

Also, my parents came to see me this past weekend. It was wonderful to have my mom and dad staying in our living room so that we could have a little early Christmas. I love my parents. I could not have asked for more wonderful role models of love and marriage. With my parents, came fun gifts and food from my grandparents as well. (Thanks guys!!!!!) 

So yea, life is good right now. This first Christmas as a married woman is wonderfully exciting. :) I hope ya'll enjoy a wonderful Christmas as well! 

Long Time No See!!

I know, I know. It feels like it's been WEEKS since I was last on here. Sorry about that, but ya know, life gets in the way sometimes. So here's an update on the life.

1. I made my first soup with roux. It was incredible. Chicken and rice soup... Really, what can be better. Thank you Pioneer Woman. (I love you. For real.) You must go here and try this soup.. please please please.

2. I made my first spaghetti/pizza sauce. I thought it was wonderful, and so did the hubby. :) His only request was to use fewer onions, which I can totally do! I love knowing exactly what goes in my food.

3. I only have one semester (and three weeks) left of my college career!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure this is the most exciting. I'm finishing teaching two sections of Algebra I. Honestly, before this time of teaching, I thought that maybe teaching was just not for me. Now, I totally know. Even when I'm exhausted and the kids are killing me, I love it. It's a good feeling. :)

4. My husband and I went to PA for Thanksgiving, and let me just say, it was a fantastic break. Essentially, I slept, relaxed, played video games, and did zero homework. BEST break ever!!! 

Finally, the hubby and I just celebrated our 3 month anniversary. And by celebrate, I mean we sat on our couch and he played video games while I worked on homework. :) I love my husband. 

Have a wonderful day!

The wife

Date Night

Since my husband and I both have really busy lives (him working a full time job and a part time job and me, a full time student) we don't get to spend as much time with each other as we'd like to every day. To make up for this, we set aside a special date time each week where just get to spend time together. Tonight was that night for us. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse and let me just say, I think they have the best salmon I have ever eaten. Overall, it was a wonderfully fun evening. I really just love spending time with my husband. 

When we got home, I tried and tried to focus on homework, but it just never worked. Instead, I was distracted by a craving for something brownie-like. So I decided that I would take a moment to experience a small piece of heaven by making and eating these Cookie Dough Brownies from Kim at Lovin' From the Oven. In retrospect, I probably should have waited until tomorrow to make these so I could make a better judgment on whether or not I actually needed them, but oh well. Overall, the brownies are like a buy one get one sale. You love it because you can get such a great sale (they tasted SO good), but you hate it because you spend five times what you wanted to (I now want to throw up). They were rich. You think you've tasted a rich dessert before, but you're wrong. Unless you've tasted these. When Kim says to only eat a little at a time, listen. You're stomach will thank me. 

 Also, I finished my hat. :) It's adorable. I love it. 
Have a great day!!
the wife