Now I can SEE!

That was a pretty crazy storm last week. What a powerful reminder of the strength of our God! That was definitely evident when looking at our relatively new car. (Anthony posted pictures on his page.) The back window is destroyed, there are dents everywhere! Due to novice adulthood on our part and a clear lack of communication on the part of our insurance company, we are without a rental car, which is totally L-AME! Our friends have been totally great though, escorting me and Anthony to and from work. Thanks! It is hard to be a two person family with only one car--how times have changed.

Anthony and I started going through John MacArthur's Strength for Today. And goodness, do I need some of that! Today we read about our commitment to Christ. MacArthur referenced the story in John 9 about Jesus healing the blind man. I have heard this story since flannel gram age; however, God graciously revealed a new truth to me. In the story, Jesus heals a man that has been blind from birth. When the Pharisees asked his parents, they responded in fear of being expelled from the synagogue by saying, "Ask him. He can tell you." In other words, don't ask me. I don't want to tell you that Jesus did. I don't want to connect myself to Jesus. Umm hello people, we do that, too! Do you find yourself believing in Christ, but not confessing Him? Pray that the Lord will give you strength to recommit yourself to the Lord.

Back in the Saddle Again

The week back to school after a break is always a killer. Waking up early is not my fav, but fortunately I have a great group of students. Some of them I actually missed over the break. I have had these kiddos for a year and a half. In a few short months, they will no longer be mine. I want to make the best impression on them as possible. I want them to remember me as someone who inspired them to be something greater.

We got a new car this week. We are thankful that God has provided the means for us to get another mode of transportation, and we are praying that this car will last us a really long time. My old car has been kind of finicky about going in reverse, so we figured it was time.

Before we had completely decided to buy a new car, we took it to a friend of a friend at Christian Brother's Automotive in Corinth. We were discussing the financial situation and mechanical issues with Brandon. Buying a car is a big deal. Being good stewards of God's money is a big deal, too. So, obviously stress levels were a little higher than normal because we wanted to do the right thing for us. Brandon said something that really stuck out to me. He said, "Remember, it's just a car." It IS just a car. The kind of car you drive is no indication of the type of person you are, how much money you have, what kind of job you have, or how successful you are. You could have a really fancy, shmancy car and be up to your ears in debt. You could have a really old car and have financial peace about your retirement plans.

It is important for me to remember that we don't need two cars and having the additional car is just an added blessing for our convenience.

Anthony and I have really enjoyed the guidance of Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University. If you are looking for a good way to get started with paying off debt, budgeting, and saving his book is definitely worth reading. (We listened to it on a car ride!)

What I am loving right now

In the midst of all the stress surrounding TAKs testing and teacher cuts, let me share with you ten things that I am loving right now:

1. Tapioca pudding--my grandpa used to call it "fish eyes." I try to smash those little things with my tongue while I eat it. What are those things anyway??? For that matter, what flavor is tapioca??

2. Spring air as written by L.M Montgomery, " chatting together near the open door that led to the veranda, through which a cool, delicious breeze was blowing, bringing whiffs of phantom perfume from the garden, and charming gay echoes from the vine hung corner"

3. Reading the Anne of Green Gables series as mentioned above. I am already on book 8! I need good recommendations for reading material after I am finished.

4. Being at financial peace and on the same page as my husband in regard to OUR money. We were both raised to handle money very, very, very differently. Let me clarify, that neither one of us think that either one of our parents did it the "right" or "wrong" way. Blending two different ideas about any subject is going to take work. We have always known that finances would be our testing point. Thankfully, our financial advisor is a wonderful man of God and understands the importance of being at peace with our financial decisions. Peace, for us, meant that we paid off our debt. He helped us set up a payment plan to be out of debt (from college loans) in April 2012. We are so excited about working toward this goal!!

5. My best friend is going to have a baby!!! She will be a great mom because she has always been a loving, caring, sacrificial friend. I love you, Brittany!

6. My brother and sister-in-law are expecting another bundle of joy, too! I love being an aunt so so so much!

7. Playing volleyball at school.

8. Getting Anthony's car fixed completely for no more than our tax return! Thank you, Lord!

9. Playing practical jokes on Anthony. Last week when he was in the shower, I poured a glass of ice cold water on him. I thought it was really funny, but he initially got so mad that I will for sure think twice before I do that again.

10. The pictures on the right: McDonald's egg bacon cheese biscuits, magazines, and snorkeling. Currently I am not doing any of those, but I love them!

10 things Part 2

6. Like a week or so after we got back from our honeymoon, Anthony's car starts having trouble--like major, $2500 transmission overhaul, trouble. Turns out that wasn't what it was and fortunately, the car is still drivable. However, it was kinda like God asking us if we thought He was big enough to take care of and provide for us. I have been slowly (slllllllllllowwwly) making my way through The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. In the section of what wives need to know about God she says, "He considers all the possible ramifications. There is no limit to his understanding. This enables Him to determine what is best for you and how you can glorify Him the most." Anthony's car needing repairs was NOT in our financial plans. I mean, we knew we were going to need one eventually, but we didn't want to fork over the money now. We were faced with an adversity. Martha Peace continues by saying, "One example of good that comes from adversity is changes in your character as you become more like the Lord Jesus Christ. Another example of good that comes from adversity is that God is tremendously honored if you respond biblically." What an awesome thought that God could use a lowly sinner like me to bring Him glory?!?!


7. Hello DVR!!! I had been living without a TV for the last year and a half. Now, I am being spoiled rotten. Cable...a gazzillion channels...DVR...Could I ask for more? I have made sure to keep Anthony up to date on The Real Housewives of Alanta and Beverly Hills, Millionaire Matchmaker, and Keeping up with the Kardashians. He gets so agitated with each show--it is amusing to watch (both him and the shows!).


8. We finish our first couple's project (snaps and claps for us!!). We had purchase some vinyl wall art last weekend. The kind that you press on to the wall and then when you move it (hopefully) comes off. We got the phrase "The fondest memories are made when gathered round the table." I love this phrase! and I hope that it is true for my family as it was true for me growing up. Getting that phrase straight was a big huge ordeal. Getting it to unstick from the paper was another ordeal. I was worried that certain letters would be stuck to the wall and others to the paper. Long story short: we got it up, we didn't kill each other...SUCCESS!!


9. Before we got married, Anthony said that he would help write half of the thank you notes for the wedding gifts. I finally nagged him enough to finish his thank you notes for his shower gifts. His shower was like 3 months ago. SO, if you are waiting on your thank you note, it is taken long than intended because I am having to write them all. Lesson learned: nagging works occasionally and it was dumb of me to believe that Anthony would write thank you notes. Here is an example of his thank you note: Dear_____________, Thank you for the ___________. I like it. Thank you, Anthony. hahaha I love you, dear!



10. Oh apartment living:) I naively assumed that once I moved away from my drunken neighbors on fry street that I would no longer need to hear my neighbors. But apartments are way worse\better. Worse in that you hear people from all sides. Better that it is like eavesdropping without all the effort or guilt. I mean, I am the one sitting in my home. They are the ones being loud. Unfortunately, nothing of interest has developed on either side of my apartment. Updates to follow....