Marriage. Fairy tale? Actually, it's Real Life.

I'm back from London!  I got back Saturday afternoon after a very long flight.  We were delayed on the plane close to an hour from leaving due to a delay in cargo getting to our lovely airplane and then you have to wait your turn to take off.  I was in a window seat.  No one was in the middle seat.  The man in the aisle seat was a gentleman (he got my carryon down for me when we returned!).  I was able to use a bit of the middle seat to sleep.  I didn't want to take up the entire seat out of courtesy for the man on the aisle as I felt he had the right to utilize some of the seat too.  I watched 3, yes 3, movies (The Help, Larry Crowne, and Julie & Julia) on the return flight.  I also watched one new tv show, Revenge.  I thoroughly enjoyed all the moves and the tv show!  I would have watched more of Revenge but the pilot was all they had availalble.

London was wonderful!  I will do a post on it eventually.  However, right now I feel the need to talk about marriage and the idea that it will be a Fairy Tale (i.e. as is portrayed to us by Hollywood, Disney, etc.).

I married my beloved, amazing, wonderful husband, Matt, on December 19, 2010.  Our first date was September 15, 2008.  We had a period of time where we didn't date but it was a time of growth for both of us.  We were engaged on April 8, 2010.  He is everything.  He is who God designed just for me.  He is my love. He is my best friend.  He is my prince charming.  Does he match every detail I had on "The List" when I was younger?  No.  Is that ok?  ABSOLUTELY!  Why is that ok?  It is ok because in all honestly some of the things we tend to put on "the list" are not necessities.  They are wants and not needs.  I needed him to be a Christian.  I needed him to be the head of our household.  I needed him to be the man.  I needed him to love me with all that he has.  I needed him to want to be with me.  I needed him to know that I am the one God has for him.  I strongly wanted him to be a college graduate and have a career that he loves and that could support us one day.  He is a college graduate.  He does love his career. He doesn't make a lot of money and I doubt we will ever fully rely on his one income to sustain us, but I'm sure with God's help we could make it work if need be.  Did I want that to be the case?  No.  Did I want to marry someone who made more money than me and that I knew from the start would enable me to hopefully be a stay-at-home mom one day when it was the right time?  Yes.  Am I okay with that not being the case?  Yes, I am.   I won't lie and say I have don't have my moments where I am not okay with that but I am because this man that I married is perfect for me.  He is the calm to my storm.  He is the adventure to my structure.  He is more than I can put into words.  Do we have our moments?  YES!  Do we agree on everything?  NO.  Is it a fairy tale in Hollywood/Disney standards?  No.  Is it a fairy tale in God's standards?  I think so!  That makes me happy.

I remember going through our marriage counseling with the pastor who married us, Mark Poe.  I really respect him and his wife, Kristi.  They both married later in life and waited for God's timing.  That's what Matt and I did too.  Mark told us it would not be an easy road as husband and wife.  He told us that sometimes we will not like each other but we will still love each other.  He reminded us to keep God as our center as our cornerstone in the marriage.  He gave us such great advice during our meetings.  I must agree with him.  Now, Matt and I have not had any serious arguments or any times that we just can't stand each other or whatnot, but we have had discussions.  We have brought each other down back to reality.  We are working as a team and getting used to living together.  Hello, he is a boy!  Have you ever lived with a boy and shared every aspect of your living space with a boy?!  Yes, I have a brother but he had his own bathroom and his own bedroom and I was in college and working for the majority of his teenage years.  I do remember his bathroom and bedroom, though.

Anyway, I write all this to say that it can be a Fairy Tale.  The one that God wrote for you.  That doesn't mean it will be butterflies and smiles and giddiness and perfection all the time.  Marriage takes work.  Marriage takes commitment.  Marriage takes a friendship.  Marriage takes a love that grows, even if you don't see it growing.  Marriage is worth it.

While in London I heard of Kim Kardashian's filing for divorce from her husband, Kris Humphries.  I read a lot of articles.  I watched a couple of videos.  Since being home I've read more.  I did watch the 2 part wedding special.  I did watch part of the Keeping up with the Kardashian season where they were dating and then got engaged.  This entire situation saddens me.  I do not know the situation.  I do not know why she is divorcing him.  I do know that I don't believe in divorce but I do believe there are situations where it is warranted.  I don't believe, at this current juncture in time with the information that I have been given, that this is a warranted divorce.  Do I feel as if they were in it for the ratings and money?  Part of me says yes.  Part of me says no.  Part of me is indifferent.

What saddens me the most is that she has said it wasn't a fairy tale and she wanted a fairy tale.  She says she should have broken it off before the wedding but got caught up.  Honey, break it off before the wedding!   You had millions of viewers, and I'd speculate that a lot of them are younger generations.  We can all get over the over-the-top wedding that had way too too much money spent on it.  However, it is hard to see that happen and then a divorce.  Unfortunately, I feel that is the way of the world and Hollywood these days.

So, right now I'm sad because I think they should work it out as I do with all couples.  I will say I don't agree but I will say that it is her life and she must do what she feels led to do.  Some may say, well, I went through this.  I have friends who have been married and then divorced; even family members.  I can't say I agreed with their decisions but I can say that I trusted they made the right decision and we all moved on.  Many times I've found out after as is the case when we find out about Hollywood marriages and divorces.  There isn't much that can be done then.

However, I can still say that marriage is worth it.  It is worth the fight.  It is worth counseling, if that is what it takes.  It is so absolutely wonderful to know my husband is always there for me, to know we come home to each other every day; to know we have each other's backs no matter what.

So, if you are struggling...fight.  If you need counseling....find a counselor.  If you need to talk to a friend....talk.  Talk to your spouse.  Try, try, try, to make it the best marriage in the world!

I know I want to make my marriage the best in the world.  I love you, Matt!!!!

Football Season (HS) is Quickly Coming to a Close

Yes, you read the title right!  the 2011 Football Season for the Mustangs is quickly coming to a close.  They enter into their second-to-last week of games this week.  They play the best team in our district and this team is now either #6 or #7 in the entire Country, I believe.  Yes, they are an awesome team.  Yes, they are always an awesome team.  Yes, they will always be an awesome team, even in those rebuilding years that come.

Do I believe the Mustangs can be an awesome team in the future?  Yes, I do.  Do others in the community need to believe this can happen?  Yes.  Do boosters/parents need to believe this can happen?  Yes.  Do we need people to not move to another area of the district to just go play on another team?  Yes.   Will the mustangs be a better team next year?  I believe they will be.  Do I believe they will have more wins next year?  Yes, I do.

Now, is all of this up to the coaches?  No, it isn't.  It is also up to the players and parents.  Football is such a mental game.  Yes, you need to have players with talent and athleticism.  Yes, you need to have coaches that know how to coach a winning team and know how to mentor, teach, and grow young men.  Yes, you need parents who are supportive of not only their son(s) but also the fellow coaches.  Yes, yes, yes.  All are needed.  Can we have all of this next year?  Yes, I believe we can.

So, as the season starts to end I hope and pray we end on a strong note.  I, unfortunately will miss the entire last week of the season and all of the last games (sub-varsity and varsity); however, I will be thinking of the coaches and players from afar on my business trip.

The good news:  I will have my husband back so soon!  When I return from my business trip the season will be over.  We will finally have weekends again!  We will finally be able to go to church as a couple/family again!  We will finally be able to work on that never-ending to-do list again!  I am so excited for all of these things!  I wish they could go to playoffs this year and would be more than happy to give my husband back for this to happen.  However, playoffs are not in the plan for the Mustangs this year.  Hopefully, next year.

We still have the Aggie football season going!  Whoop!  We also still have the Colts season going, even though we are desperately missing Peyton.  So, keep fighting Colts!  Keep playing hard Aggies!!

We...Finally....

...Got....A........WIN!!!!

Yes, that is right people, the Varsity Mustangs now have a W in their record this year!  I can't tell you how happy I was for this to happen.  Did they play their very best?  No.  Do they still have much work to do?  Yes.  BUT, they got a WIN!!  Lets hope this can continue for this Friday night!

In other news, we are staying busy...

I attend Outbreak, a women's bible study at our church on Monday nights.  It is led by Gari Meacham and she is fabulous and amazing and such a strong, beautiful Christian woman and speaker!  I know God is going to use her in so many different avenues.

I can't seem to get into a cooking groove!  At. All.  Seriously, and I love to cook!  It really doesn't help that my husband's schedule has been changing lately.  Also, sometimes they parents bring them food in what is called a "pasta load."  So, I don't want to cook just for me.

I'm back seeing the chiropractor and the other day my entire body was all kinds of out of whack.  He put me back into place and shouldn't be standing with a slant anymore!  Seriously, my hips were off by about 1-1.5 inches!  I go back today for another adjustment.  I don't think waiting over 3 years to go back was a good idea, but I'm thankful that things aren't worse!  I love medicine that helps your body without having to take any pills that contain synthetics and other stuff that is bad for you!

I love Whole Foods!  We need a Whole Foods in Katy.

I wish we had a Trader Joe's and in Katy!

Freebirds is coming to Katy!!  So. Excited!!!!  Yes!  It's deliciousness I tell ya!

I'm traveling to London for work, for a week, very soon!  I hope I get to sightsee some!  I better get my camera card cleared and ready!  Maybe an extra one too.  I need to go shopping as I have to dress quite dressy for the meetings while there...no not formal, but I mean business professional.  Plus, I need a new travel/work bag and nows the time to get that.  Plus, I need...yeah things I've been putting off so that this trip will be more enjoyable!  Shopping time!!

Thankfully the hotel has free wi-fi so I can Skype with my hubby while gone!  Ahh!  Yay!!  Wait, the time difference will be the pain and the fact that he will still be in football season.  Oh well.  Yep, I'd bring him along if it weren't football season.

Did I mention that I'm going to London, soon!?!  Nope, not excited.  Ha!  One of my top places in Europe to go see.  Paris is #1, but that will be another trip.

My dear, sweet, close friend Kristin had her second baby, Cate!

That's about it for now, friends!  I must run...

Our Weekend Recap

FRIDAY ~ after getting my haircut and highlights melded in with my hair for a more fall/winter look (love it as it looks so natural, literally not far off at all from my natural color!!), I ran...I mean drove to the bank to deposit some funds for work, then grabbed some grub for an early dinner/supper, then arrived at home, then ate, then changed into my game clothes, then relaxed a bit, then left for what I thought was going to be a 45 minute drive to the game, but thankfully wasn't since I had to stop at 2 gas stations to finally get gas at the 2nd one....I arrived at the football field for Strake Jesuit.  They are in our athletic district.  It was supposed to be a game we were to win; however, after half time, it was decided that it was not our night to finally add a W to our record.  We started off the season of district play with a loss; a loss, I'm pretty sure no one thought we would get, but nonetheless, we did.  So, I saw my hubby for a minute after the game, drove home, waited for him to get back to the school and be given the a-ok to leave, picked him up, got him some after-the-game food (he deserved it and was hungry!), came home and relaxed with my husband, the coach, whom I am so so proud of!

SATURDAY ~ the alarm went off way too early for Matt to go to work.  Yes, he had to work...remember when I said he works 7 days a week during football season?  Well, that was no exaggeration, at.all.  So, no, I did not get out of bed but I woke up and made sure my handsome husband got off to work.  I went back to sleep and slept late, but felt like not sleeping late since I had gone to bed really late, hadn't slept well, and woke up when the hubby's alarm went off.  Watched a little tv, did some stuff around the house, got read for the day, then made my 1st (yes my 1st) trip to the grocery store.  See, we were to attend a bible study event that night and every couple was required to bring a dessert.  Well, the last thing I wanted was leftover dessert in our house.  We are trying to be healthy, get in tip-top shape, and I kinda have a thing called, a sweet tooth!  Hubby does too, to an extent.  So, I couldn't just pick something up and take as-is.  I decided on some home-made chocolate chip cookies with a surprise in them...hence the name later on "Surprise Cookies."  No, I couldn't just purchase the pre-made dough.  That stuff is good and I've eaten many a times, but I prefer to bake something where I know everything that is put into my lovely goodies (this goes along with my being healthy thing).  So, I went home and hubby had beat me there because he got to leave work a few minutes before he thought he would.  This meant he was home a little before 2:00...meaning he worked roughly a 6-hour day.  Yay!  So, since I was cranky because our house had no water to drink (the other reason I made a trip to the grocery store) and I hadn't eaten yet, he took me or rather us to get a late lunch.  Love him!  Yum, it was delish, I must say!  Then back home we went.  I then started baking and realized my sugar smelled weird.  So, a 2nd trip to the grocery store was made.  This did not make me happy but was a great excuse to by the natural, more healthy sugar I wanted to buy earlier but couldn't justify.  The One I decided to try  was great!  Now, there is another one or two I will try in the future.  Then I got a $2 off coupon, seriously?! That made me happy about getting it but not the 2nd trip.  I was also missing out on the Aggie game, which was amazing the first half.  So, I get back home start doing everything and realize I had no baking soda!  Since when did I not have this stuff?!  So, the 3rd trip to the grocery store happened, and this time I definitely was not happy!  However, I got it and went back home.  All this time, my lovely hubby has been sound asleep on the couch!  Yes, poor thing was exhausted and had no clue the game was still going on that he had started watching and had no clue I had returned from my 2nd trip to the store much less I had left and come back from a 3rd trip.  So, the cookies ended up turning out Delish!  The surprise...a miniature reese cup!  :)

We finished watching the depressing end to the A&M game (3 years in a row where we should have won!).  We got ready and left for Dinner Draw.  Our bible study class from church, Three's A Crowd (we are a 20's-30's nearly or newly married class with no kids, hence the name!), all met at one of the couple's houses and drew where we were going to go eat.  3 couples were at each restaurant.  So fun!  Then we all reconvened at the designated  house for dessert.  All in all it was a great evening spent with friends!

SUNDAY ~ Slept in a little.  I went to church and Matt went to work (remember the working 7 days a week, thing?  Yep).  Came home; ate leftovers; did stuff around the house; took my usual and absolutely lovely and apparently much needed Sunday afternoon nap; started laundry; folded laundry; watched some One Tree Hill on the Soap channel; cleaned some dishes; started straightening up for our fabulous cleaning lady that is to come on Tuesday; and waited for my handsome husband to come home.  He was home by 7:15!  We ordered pizza...delish; had homemade blizzards; finished Criminal Minds Season 6; went to bed!  yes, we are now ready for the current season which I have already started to DVR!

All-in-all, we had a great but busy weekend.  Not everything happened that we wanted to happen but it could have been much worse.

Hope you have a great week!

It's High School Football Season in our house!

Yes, it is the first day of Fall/Autumn.  No, here in the Houston-area our highs are still in the 90's.  Yes, our lows at night and in the morning are in the 70's, thank you, Lord, for the small reprieves each day.  I know the coaches are grateful for even 90's; however, that still gets stifling with the humidity and lack of wind some days.

Where does Matt spend 95%+ of his time 7-days-a-week?!  When he isn't teaching his engineering classes, he is coaching football on the field and in coach's meetings watching film, strategizing, and game-planning.

Go Taylor Mustangs!!

This week, actually tonight, starts the district games!  We need start out vs. Strake Jesuit.  So if you feel the urge cheer on the Mustangs tonight and they keep up the fight and strive to add a W to their record and start off district play the right way!

More to come on not only Mustang football, but Aggie football (we are ready to BTHO OSU tomorrow!!) and Colts football (we miss you Peyton, but still love the rest of the Colts and know they can get a W!).  I can't forget to mention my husbands team, the Cavaliers!  No, he didn't graduate from UVA, but it is where he wanted to attend and has been a fan of the university for years.  So, I'm now a UVA fan, well, when they aren't playing the Aggies, that is!  

Remember to pray for all coaches in all realms of football this season, but also pray for their families.  Many may just have a wife, like in our case, but many have children too.  Not only is it a busy time for the coaches, but also for their families as they support their husband/dad in his career and love of the game.  The coaches are such mentors to the players and other coaches, but they are also that to their families.  A lot of time is spent at a football field by the families too, while time away from football is limited.  Pray for strength, endurance, and joy during this wonderful time of year!  

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!  Yes, that means anything!

Happy, Blessed, and Joyful Friday to all of you!!

Of Late...

Life has been interesting, stressful, emotional, tiring, sleep-depriving, etc...

I've known for a while but even more so now that I am NOT having the baby-itch or whatever you may want to call it.  I am happy for all my friends with children or those that are pregnant, but I am just not in the right frame of mind or place for kids.  I remember people saying that once you get married you will want to have a baby.  Well, we are almost to our 8 month anniversary and I've yet to have a hankering for a little one.  One day....just not now.

Matt started back with meetings and finishing out the day camps for Football on July 18th.  August 1st began Fish Camp.  Sunday, August 7th was the parent meeting so straight to work he went after church.  Monday, August 8th began the grueling 2 weeks of all day practices and meetings.  Basically the Varsity & JV have 2-a-days and the freshmen practice once a day.  This means that Matt is at work no later than 5:45am each day (M-F), gets a break for lunch and some rest during the early afternoon and then is back for either teacher meetings, professional development, or coach meetings.  The afternoon or evening practices begin at 5:00 with the Freshman and then V/JV ends at 8:30.  So, my husband gets home anywhere from 9:00pm on a good night to close to 10:00pm on a bad night.  Most are somewhere in between.  Tomorrow marks the last day of these two weeks with their scrimmage against a school in a neighboring district.  Then on Saturday he will have a Freshman morning practice, some meetings, and then will hopefully be done by 1:00pm.  He will then go back to work Sunday morning at 10:00am and stay until probably 8:00pm.  So, my husband is now working 7 days a week.  This is typical for his school/district during football season.  Did I expect it to happen this week?  Meaning, did I expect he would have to work this Sunday (which is his birthday)?  NO!   But the little 'ole wife can't complain and get him out of work.  So, our Saturday will consist of he and me celebrating his 31st birthday!  I'm happy to celebrate but upset that we will be missing our bible study class' event.  I'm also sad and upset that I will now be starting my months of going to church alone on Sunday.  Not what I had in mind at all for this weekend.  What is God trying to teach me?  I really do not know.

School starts Monday in the district where we live and Matt works.  Hopefully things will "settle" down but I still will more than likely not see him before 8:00pm every night.  I do enjoy watching him coach and attending the football games, so that is a definite positive.

Football season, which will last until the team is out of playoffs, will consist of months (August through November/December) of changed schedules.  It will consist of new meanings for us.  For instance, quality time together will mean more now than ever before.  Quality conversations when we see each other will be taking place.  We will have to get used to talking about what "needs" to be discussed "now" and not just chat as time is limited together.  I will eventually find my new "normal" sitting by myself in church and bible study class on Sunday  mornings.  I pray I can find the strength to get through this time and not appear or get emotional.

Speaking of emotions, I'd really like to be done with all this stress and emotion stuff that has been going on.  They say to not have any big changes right after you get married and well, I have had one.  I changed jobs!  Now, my new job is less stressful in many ways, and much better for me and us.  However, it just hasn't been easy.  But since when does changing jobs happen with such each that it is a piece of cake?  That has yet to happen for me (I'm on my 3rd job since college now).

Anyway, this is basically our life of late.  It is filled with working, working, and more working from each of us.  Along with me studying for the CFE exam, which I will be attending a class on at the end of the month and taking the test for also.  Pray I pass, please!

Here's to a more exciting and upbeat blog post next time!  I need to get my wedding posts done!

Why the blog has been lacking posts...

...we have been living life...
...I battled through my job with my old employer and then turned in my 2 weeks notice...
...then after a week off after my 2 weeks, I started my job working for my dad...
...we have gone through an entire baseball season as a newlywed married couple and not just a dating or engaged couple(!)...
...Matt ended another school year and made it through baseball and spring football at the same time(!)...
...We took a trip to Annapolis to see my cousin marry the love of her life at the Naval Academy (beautiful, great weekend)...
...took a work trip with Dad and Matt tagged along to Baltimore...
...saw the Orioles play in Baltimore, twice; and wore my cute Orioles shirts (!)...
...drove with dad through Baltimore into New Jersey back into Maryland for a meeting, then back through Maryland to New Jersey and back down Maryland to Baltimore; all in one day...
...said bye to dad...
...said hello to Sarah for picking us up in Baltimore...
...drove to DC...
...spent a hot, HOT day touring DC...
...drove down to Bristol with a stop to see UVA and Monticello first...
...spent some time in Bristol/Tri-Cities...
...worked some while on vacay...
...flew home...
...celebrated the 4th of July; Happy Birthday America and God Bless the USA!...
...saw the Red Sox beat the Astros in 2 games!!...
...worked...
...Matt worked some football camps...
...church...
...friends...
...worked...
...spent time in Ft. Worth working while Matt was at coaching school and was able to see my brother while he was up there for schooling...
...while in Arlington saw the Rangers play in 3 games!  Got to wear my awesome 2 new Rangers shirts and sweated a ton!...
...braved the roller coasters of six flags over TX with the siblings and my amazing husband...
...worked...
...Matt went back to work for football meetings...
...church...
...birthday celebration of a dear friend...
...church...
...all day, all hours of the day football practices have begun for 2 weeks with meetings also for Matt...
...work...
...some shopping was mixed in to all of the above!!...
...an amazing husband helping with the "to-do list" was mixed into the above during the summer months...
...celebrating our 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months and 7 month anniversaries was mixed in with the above...
...and loving each other more than the day before...

...Needless to say, it has been a busy 2011 thus far and doesn't seem to be slowing down but getting busier.  Will update in more detail with pictures hopefully soon...

...until next time, C'est la vie!

Consuming Fire

Easter Sunday what a great day it was!  We enjoyed amazing music at our 9:30 service with the 11:11 band with some added strings.  I wish it could be that way every week!  I woke up with the chorus from "Glorious Day (living He Loved Me) by Casting Crowns in my head that we sang on Sunday:

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

I had a smile on my face...the first in a long time on a work day morning.  A lot has been going on in my life and some of it is/has been very stressful and unknown.  I'm thankful to have my very supportive husband and heavenly Father.  I'm reminded of something our pastor said on Sunday in his service.  It reminded me of the wildfires that have been happening in Oklahoma and Texas recently.  The fires are not a good situation, especially when a lot of Texas has been without rain for quite some time.  However, God showed me that just as those fires were consuming the land in Oklahoma and Texas, He wants to be the Consuming Fire in our lives.  He wants us to let Him consume our lives and live for Him.  He wants us to spread His Love live a consuming fire.  God sent his son to be born of a virgin, who lived and went through everything we as humans can go through.  Then the ultimate sacrifice was given as Jesus' was hung on a cross, died, and the best part..ROSE AGAIN!!  Why you might ask would a father give his son's life?  So that you and I can have eternal life in heaven, a place that we can try to imagine but is far greater than anything we will ever know here on this earth.  I am not a parent yet, so I cannot even imagine the love one has for their child, but I can imagine that it would be heart-wrenching to have your child go through everything Jesus went through.  However, God did this because He loves us so incredibly much!  I know I do not feel like I deserve that kind of love, but God has given it to me freely and I have accepted it and a relationship with his son, Jesus Christ.  I may not live each day the way I should, but God forgives me and leads me to where He wants me to be in His will and plan for my life.  I am thankful for His love and forgiveness.

So, on this Thursday, I want to be more intentional.  I want to live with this light that is consuming like the wildfires!  I want others to know that life is fun, even in the midst of trials.  Trust, me I have them and am going through some.  However, I feel I've let the darkness in too much and not let my light shine enough lately.  That is not how I want to live, but I want to live in the light!

Live with purpose and abandon, Laugh often (every day), Love with your entire soul...and know it won't always be easy but by doing those things it will be easier to handle and more enjoyable that the other options that are out there in this crazy world.

Have a fabulous day, my friends!

Can I plan another wedding for me?!

Oh, how wonderful it would be to plan another wedding for Matt and me!  Even more wonderful if it was pre-paid.  Yes, I miss that excitement of just getting engaged (a year ago tomorrow, April 8th, will mark our one year anniversary since getting engaged!), the excitement of planning for the BIG DAY!  Yes, our BIG DAY was exactly what God wanted us to have and was perfect!  No, in reality, everything did not turn out as I had dreamed or wanted, but I had the perfect dress, I felt like a million bucks and could be on the cover of inStyle or Vogue, I had the man of my dreams waiting for me at the end of the aisle, we had laughs when our sand overflowed, we had our best friends (or almost all) in attendance, we had as many family members as could make the trip there, we had a beautiful "Sex in the City" reception as one person told me of the entire wedding!.  Yes, it was a blast!  Yes, it went by so fast!  Yes, we have our pictures (well the DVDs)!  Yes, we have almost all of our videos!  Yes, my name is now officially changed to Glover!

However, the past several months have been far from easy.  I cannot say that we have dealt with extreme circumstances, but for me/us there have been obstacles.  I've been dealing with some health stuff that seems to be getting better (slowly).  I dealt with the loss of a family friend.  Matt has dealt with the loss of a former coworker.  I've been dealing with decisions that I can't even vocalize right now.  Relationships with people have changed since getting married.  I didn't expect that.  Some of the relationships had changed prior to the wedding, and even though I have tried so hard for those not to change...they have.  It makes me sad to realize those relationships were never what I really thought they were.  Sadness.  We have celebrated an upcoming wedding at a couples shower!  One of my bridesmaids and best friends just had her baby boy yesterday!  Overall, we are healthy!  We both still have jobs, which is wonderful!  We have a lot to be thankful for.

I do ask if you think of us to pray.  I'd like to have a blog that would reveal great fashion finds and advice as I love this stuff and Matt says I'm so good at it.  But I feel I lack the time and knowledge to do this.  I have a really good friend from my childhood/growing up years that has one and does an amazing job!  I'd like to get back to cooking and make our own recipes and meals but timing is usually an issue with our schedules.  I'd like to bake more but be able to give it away so we don't eat it all! haha!  I'd like to find my way back to my piano and singing, but I'm struggling with the fact that my house may be the only outlet for it.  I'm seeking answers and guidance to things that can't be mentioned right now.

What am I doing?  I'm praying.  I'm trusting God, even though at times it is very hard.  I'm trusting He is opening doors, showing us the path to take, and I know he will guide us.  I cling to Jeremiah 29:11 and the end of Matthew 6.  I'm trying to focus on the fun things we will be able to do this summer when Matt has no coaching responsibilities.  I'm trying not to worry about the fact that I will be working on some of those trips.  I'm trying to focus on the fact that in about a week and a half we will have been married for 4 months!  Crazy how time flies!  I'm excited to be an "aunt" to Nathan!

I'm going to focus on those exciting things.  This isn't going to be a year filled with the excitement of planning the biggest event of my life, thus far, but it will be a great year!  God doesn't give you more than you can handle.  So, I know it will be a great day, great week, great month, great spring, great year!

Have a blessed day!
~M

I know, I know...

...I need to update the ole blog!  A lot has happened since my last post and life hasn't slowed down that much either.  We now have our wedding pictures and as of last week our video, so posts will be coming soon.  It just takes me forever to get pictures we have taken edited, then get the professional ones loaded on the computer.  I consider myself pretty tech-savvy but I'm not the best.  I also wish I had much more time to do such things!  Soon...

Have a blessed day!