Christmas Break & Blessings

It is my 3rd day of Christmas break and I am enjoying it.  Jon has time off at the same time so we have had so much fun.  We had lots of date nights, shopping, movies, and most important relaxing.  We saw The Black Swan this weekend.  It was totally not what I expected but I really liked it.

I am blessed in so many ways.  Jon is the best husband (for me) in the world.  It's so amazing how he is perfect for me and I am perfect for him.  God knows what he is doing.  We long to expand our family but I have comfort God has a plan for us.  I have given those concerns to God.  The doctors and I can only do so much.  I just have to give that situation to God.  There is always something to worry or stress about but I just can't do it.  I have learned that it doesn't help anything - if anything it only hurts. I have peace that God is in control.  I thank God for my many blessings. 

Great Message

There was a great message at church today.  I'm so glad we went.  Things have been crazy since Jon is taking exams over the next 2 weeks.   Jon got up at 6:30 this morning to study so he could go to church at 9:00. 

The message was about seeking the face of God instead of the hand of God.  We always try to seek something but we have to make it God we seek.  It totally hit home with me.  I think we all hope to have that personal relationship with God.  I'm going to really try to make my priority time a real priority.

  http://imperfect.tv/

Different Trips To The Same Place

Sometimes I read something and I just love it and want to share it with everyone.  Well this is one of those times.  My friend Jessica posted this on her blog.  It was written in reference to adoption.  However, Jon and I could relate to it in different ways after having 3 pregnancy losses.  I just wanted to share!

  Different Trips To The Same Place

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place; you've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.


So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you; you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait, and wait, and wait.


Flights to Australia continue to come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax. You'll get on a flight soon." Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"


After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry; we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."


"By BOAT!" you say. "Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three more times, marveling about each trip.


Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. Is is more exquisite that you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnigfied by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.


People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh, be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible; traveling by sea is so easy."


You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you get there, but in the place itself.

It's the Little Things

Lately, I have been trying to focus on all the many ways I am blessed.  It's so easy to think about how we don't have a child but, I have so much to be thankful for.  I don't want to live thinking only about the future.  I know God has a plan and he is with us.  Right now I am thinking of the many ways I am thankful for Jon because I don't tell him enough.  However, there are so many different aspects of my life I am thankful. 

The little (and big) things I am thankful for about Jon:

-Getting me gas because he knows I don't like it
-That I married a man who enjoys doing the dishes
-Making my lunch and breakfast for me everyday (yes)
-Complimenting me almost everyday
-Kissing me goodbye and telling me "love you" everytime we say goodbye
-Telling me he loves me for no reason
-Being married to my best friend
-Watching a certain runway show with me
-Surprising me for lunch at school
-Surprising me somewhere just because he misses me
-Working out together
-AND SO MUCH MORE

I have so much to be thankful for!  I think it helps for us to actually think about all the actual ways we are blessed. 

No Complaints

I'm reading a great book right now.  It's all about not being anxious about anything and giving everything to God.  The chapter I'm on right now is on not complaining.  The author challenges the reader to go a week without complaining.  I started last week and failed.  It's really hard!  I did think a lot more about it.  This week I'm trying again...but it's so hard.  I really want to do better.  I'm just realizing that we love to complain.  It's almost fun.  That's so bad.  Another chapter talks about worry and how we shouldn't do it.  Now talk about hard to do!

On another subject I want to give thanks!  Jon is interviewing for jobs right now and we're hoping all his hard work has paid off.  We are just praying that God will guide him where he should be.  He has a lot of tough decisions coming up.  We can't believe he will be working this summer.  We have been through a tough 2 years - a lot has happened.  It has made us stronger but it has been hard.  We're hoping things are going to get better for us in many areas of our life.  We know God has a plan for us!

Thankful

It has been too long since I have written.  I'm so thankful August is over.  It's always stressful because it marks the beginning of school.  I have so much to be thankful for right now.  I have to remember this no matter what!  Sometimes it's so easy to think about what I don't have but, there is so much I do have....

Things I am thankful for:
-My faith
-An wonderful and supportive husband
-My family
-My doggies
-A good marriage
-a job I love
-a student teacher and part-time assistant

There are a lot more things but, those are the big ones.  I have been trying to think this way lately instead of thinking of the stress I have in my life.  I really don't have a lot of stress and none of it is anything I can control. 

Support

I started back to school last Thursday.  It's almost been a week.  I will admit that first day I was a bit overwhelmed.  It's my first year without a full time assistant.  That first day back was really hard.  I cried several times.  I prayed a lot about it.  Jon just kept telling me I could do it and that I was a great teacher.  The next morning I started feeling better and I found out I was getting a student teacher.  Plus, the day was much better. 

Saturday I had a Junior League retreat.  I'm really excited about the Junior League and I think it will be a great way for me to meet other women.  Too bad I attempted the rock climbing wall - I am still sore.  Then on Sunday Jon helped me a lot in my room.  We went to school and did a lot of work.  He was a great support for me.  It's so important to have people there that are support people.  It can be husbands, friends, family, or even actual support groups.  People that when you say "I can't do this" they are there to cheer you on.  Those are the kind of people you want close to you.  The people who believe in you and encourage you.  Not the kind of people who feed your anxiety.  I am blessed to have several people like that in my life.  Thanks Jon for all your support!  I love you!

Wonderful Vacation!

I was so stressed about leaving our dogs on vacation. However, we had an amazing time.  It was so nice to get away and not think about anything.  We could just focus on each other.  The dogs did great with my mom so we can leave them again. :)  I hope they didn't annoy my mom too much.  We went to a winery and vineyard called Chaumette, then to St. Louis, and ended at Kansas City (where Jon's brother lives).  We had a wonderful time and we were completely relaxed.  We are thinking now about our next trip.  We want to go back to Chaumette.  As soon as I got back home the stress hit.  It stinks!  I know that it will work out and the little stuff doesn't really matter.  Vacations are a must!!!  It's completely different then just being off work at home.

Vacation

Jon and I are going to take our first vacation in 3 years.  Our last one was our honeymoon.  We used to take a trip once a year.  However, vacations are expensive and Jon hasn't had the time off.  We were determined to go somewhere and have some us time.  We're going to St. Louis and then to Kansas City to see his brother.  We are so excited but didn't know how much goes into leaving town when you have two dogs.  Savannah is staying with my mom the whole time.  However, Dimaggio is staying with my mom over the weekend and we're boarding him at Petsmart the other part of the time.  He's just not to be trusted by himself in her house - since sometimes he likes to leave his scent.  He's doing doggie day camp and playtime.  We had to "dog proof" my mom's back yard yesterday.  We wanted to make sure there weren't any areas where they could get out.  Jon and I are going to miss them so much.  We are going to utilize the "bone phone" and check on Dimaggio daily.  Yeah...we're those people.

Exercise Day 5

Jon and I joined a gym Sunday (5 days ago).  It's part of our "get healthy" plan.  We have no excuses - the gym is literally around the corner from us.  I have discovered I am terribly out of shape.  I mean I had no idea.  I could barely do 1 mile on the bike my first day.  I am now able to go 2 miles.  Jon and I are somewhat having a competition about it.  That's part of my motivation.  Anytime one of us goes and the other doesn't the one who goes gets a point.  Once we hit 5 points we get to buy something.  I am winning by 1 right now.  I really want to stay motivated!  I hope it continues!

About Me

I recently updated my facebook bio and thought I would post it.  I have decided to be more open about what is going on in our/my life.  We recently just had our third pregnancy loss.  It is devastating but I don't know how I could go through it without God, friends, and Jonathan.  Jon is my rock and I love him more than anything.  Maybe I'll even finally "share" my blog with more people than my family and best friends - who knows?

About me........

I was a happy single girl until I met my now husband. He changed my mind. :) He's my tall drink of water. We've been together 6 years and married 3. We have two bad little doggies Savannah and Dimaggio. I'm an elementary school teacher and love it. I am the bread winner right now while my hubby is in law school (he's doing awesome). We love watching old movies, playing with the dogs, exercising, pretty much anything as long as we're together. We have been faced with some challenges the past few years and some of our plans haven't happened on our timeline. We know God has amazing things planned for us and through heartbreak and disappointment we grow closer to God and to each other.

Yard of the Month

Jon and I were on our way home and I saw a sign in our yard.  It was the neighborhood "Yard of the Month" sign.  I was screaming and so excited.  I actually scared Jon - he thought something was wrong.  We work really hard on our yard.  So we were very excited.  Jon does a great job!  It has seriously been a childhood dream of mine to have a really nice yard.  I will take pictures soon.

Mother's Day

Jonathan and I had a wonderful Mother's Day.  We took our Moms out for brunch at Bronte inside Davis Kidd.  It was wonderful.  We are both blessed with amazing moms.  It's a little hard on this holiday for me but, I have peace and hope that one day I will be a mom.  God has taught me so much the past year and a half.  I have grown so much as a Christian and Jon and I have grown closer.  I am so blessed to have a group of women who have gone through similar experiences.  I hope one day I can use what I have gone through as a form of ministry.

Budget Cuts - Sad but True

Well, I knew this day would come...  This is my third year working in DeSoto County and I really do love it!  I drive 30 minutes everyday but, I have a full time assistant.  I just found out today that I would now be sharing my assistant.  I also found out I would get a 4.2% decrease in my salary.  I have to be thankful that I have a job, a wonderful husband, family, home, and my health.

Home with the Hubby

Jon has exams next week. This is always the "stressful time" for us. Jon is in his cave, a.k.a the study. He has been very stressed. I am so glad that he decided to take a night off tonight. We are having a fun night. It's nice to spend time with my family. I am very blessed!

Being Married to a Law Student

WOW! Exams are in less than three weeks and I haven't really seen my husband. He's been in "the cave", aka the study. However, I am so proud of him! I am proud that he went back to school at 28, proud that he was #1 his first semester, and proud that he is doing what he loves to do. Both of us went back to find our passion and I am so thankful we were able to do it. I hope it will be a good lesson to our future children to do what you love. :)

This picture is how I get to see my husband.  He likes for me to set up a couch in the study floor.  This is me asleep with the dogs.

April is Here...

I am so glad it is finally April. I forgot what the sun looked like! The dogs have really been enjoying the nice weather. Jon and I have been enjoying working in the yard. We love it! By the way...Dimaggio passed his class BARELY! He would not stay for almost 10 minutes until our trainer had to find a special treat. Thank goodness it worked! We passed :)

Dimaggio's Graduation is Friday...hopefully

This Friday Dimaggio will have his "test" in dog obedience school. I hope he passes!! He's been doing really good. We now have him going in our front yard without a leash and he's not trying to run away. We normally attach himn to Savannah which he doesn't love but he will get over it.

Cupcakes

My friend Sarah came in town this weekend. We had such a great time! Of course, I had to take her to Muddy's Bake Shop. They have the most delicious cupcakes. Jon and I had the last cupcake today. I sat my plate with the empty cupcake liner on the coffee table. I walked out of the room for one minute and came back to find Dimaggio with the EMPTY plate on the floor. Of course, we completely freaked out! #1 he ate a paper liner #2 it was a CHOCOLATE cupcake. I googled and we finally calmed down. In reality, there wasn't a lot of cake on the liner because Mrs. Piggy (me) had basically cleaned her plate. So it wasn't enough to hurt him and it wasn't pure chocolate since it was cake. Also, the paper liner is not as bad as most things he eats. However, we are watching him closely to make sure he is alright. I feel like a terribe "doggie mommy"! This is definitely a lesson to me.

Sick Doggies

Last night was very eventful. Jon and I went to his cousin's birthday party so we got home late. We were sleeping when Savannah woke me up getting sick. I quickly opened the doggie door so she could go out and I went back to bed. Just as I was drifting off to sleep Dimaggio started getting sick. I was helping him when Savannah was getting sick again. Yes - at the same time! What in the world? I've never heard of such. Needless to say - they are doing much better now. However, I think the dogs are helping to prepare us for children in a lot of ways. I was up all night with them. I'm just glad they feel better.

*His favorite thing is my razor.  I have to hide them!!  He jumps in the bathtub to get them!

Obedience Class and Bad Days

No matter what I'm going through my dogs are there for me. I know this from things I have gone through. However, I was recently reminded. I had more than one bad day this week. Work has been stressful with the talk of budget cuts. However, the dogs make everything better. They are always there to cheer me up!:)

We had our first obedience class with Dimaggio last night. He did great! Jon and I were so proud. There were three total in the class - two huge dogs and little Dimaggio. He learned watch me, down, stay, and sit. We have lots of homework. We're suppose to practice 30 minutes a day. I feel a lot of pressure to be the best in the class, maybe it's the teacher in me.

Iced In...

It happens once every five years in Memphis...snow/ICE. The city goes wild and most people are afraid to leave their house. Jon and I were both off on Friday because of it. We have really enjoyed our snowcation. We have watched movies, done our taxes, found him a suit, played with the dogs a lot, and relaxed. It's nice to have time to relax with the family. Of course, now it's back to reality time. Jon is studying. The dogs and I are on the couch. They loved the ice by the way. Dimaggio especially loved it today. The ice was starting to melt and the dog that eats everything loved finding ice to play with and eat. Happy end of January by the way!

If you don't have one - you need one

January is almost over and I am so happy. It is by far the worst month ever.

#1 It's right after Christmas and what can compete with Christmas
#2 It's a long, cold, dark, and did I mention cold month
#3 There is nothing to look forward to in January
#4 It stinks

However, one of the highlights of my day is when I see my dogs. They just make me smile. They are pretty much hassle free. We feed them and walk them (when it's not freezing). They have a doggie door (greatest invention ever) so there is no need to let them out. They constantly make Jon and I laugh and make us happy.

If you don't have a dog - you need one. Especially this month!

Oranges

Have you ever known of a dog that likes oranges? Well, of course, Dimaggio loves them! Jon's brother, Jason, was in town over Christmas and he started giving them to him. Now whenver I eat an orange, Dimaggio is right there ready to have his slice. What a dog!

Dimaggio Mystery and Miracle

My husband and I came back from going out on NYE just before midnight. We wanted to ring in the new year with our doggies (yes we are those people). However, our little Dimaggio was not at our house. We have a doggie door and he somehow dug under the fence and got out. This discovery happened right at midnight.

It was horrible. To make matters worse... he didn't have his collar on. We called the ID tag place to report him missing. They weren't very hopeful. I was trying to be. I was making signs in the middle of the night while Jon was searching in the neighborhood. After going to Walmart at 1am, we posted 16 signs all over the neighborhood. We got back a little before 3am. I had asked my parents and friends to pray that he was OK and he came back to us.

We were about to go to bed when Jon heard a faint tapping on the door. He opened it and there was Dimaggio. I was in the bedroom but I heard my husband say, "He's here" and "He found us". It was the most awesome feeling. It was also a wonderful lesson to me for the New Year. Be thankful for all that you are blessed with and have right now. Not to keep thinking about the things you want or don't have yet. We are very thankful for our little Dimaggio. Happy New Year!