House

We won the bid on a house that we wanted, so it's actually ours now!

Isn't it pretty? : ) I'm hoping to post before and after pictures as we fix up each room.

Some color ideas so far...

It's going to be so fun!

My sister comes over early in the morning, right after my husband leaves for work, and we start warming up to a workout video.

"I'm bummed today," I bring it up, hoping, maybe...someone outside my head can offer perspective.

side, two, three, four...two jumping jacks...back, two, three, four...



She listens and I talk, and she talks and I listen ...



step, heel, step, pull ...




We talk about God and trials and how he works in our lives and what the Bible says about peace.



I believe the verses about trust and peace are true. But the process of learning to rest can be excrutiating, because it doesn't happen all at once.


But the conversation was encouraging.

To speak out loud, hear the words, helps focus my thoughts away from anxiety.

David talked to himself too. "Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence." Ps. 42:5

The other day, we had people over, maybe two nights in a row. Somehow the house became overturned, so I took a few pictures, because it was worse than usual. I keep reading that your home should be a haven, so it makes me nervous when it gets to looking like this. : ) In our small space, clutter accumulates quickly.

Even de-cluttered, it's still a little mismatched and plain. Although I'm perfectly content with our little place, also looking forward to future kitchens, bedrooms, etc. to play with someday.


Kitchen...







And I love this kitchen.

Living Room...










Bedroom...

One Year

Our first anniversary is coming up soon! We will still be traveling with Evidence that weekend, but so glad we got to take a little vacation in June!

This was the view out our second story room window in the seaside inn where we stayed.



Beautiful sunsets!!!



We spent a couple days on the beach and got overly sunburned, but it was great. : )



All the learning of this year is a combination of deepening friendship and bliss and growing pains, sometimes baffling and sometimes exhilarating when God gives grace for new understanding of each other.

Thank you, Lord.

How is it Between Us

I feel unsettled. A restless and heavy spirit. Maybe it's because I never settled into my circumstances in the Spring, not aware of God, not thankful. I wonder if the Fall will be the same, and I swallow hard. Something must be wrong, for me to feel this sense of panic for so long, undealt with.

I'm resenting the things that pull me away from the discoveries of homemaking, wishing my other responsibilities drew me as much as taking care of my husband does. I need balance.

Trying to control it all, failing to stop and listen and be quiet. I long to experience God's sustaining, but it's hard to stop looking around at everything else.

I read the Words, but I wish they impacted my heart more.

Praying that they will take hold of my spirit as I take time to quiet my heart and meditate on God's words, home alone on these long summer days. Starting today...

Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Marriage

I love being married. It's wonderful to grow and live life with someone you love. There is familiarity and comfort, knowing the two of us are working on life together. Marriage has been surprising to me. I didn't expect the huge gaps in communication that happen from time to time. Despite our completely different personalities, both of us are fairly easy-going. I guess I assumed we would never totally misunderstand each other! But it's so sweet to get to the place where those misunderstandings are bridged.

I'm also surprised as I watch us grow closer and love deeper even in such a short amount of time. I can't wait to see what God does in our life together as time goes on!

I love being married to this man and seeing God stretch us individually and together.

A couple months after we started dating...



Our wedding eight months after we started dating...


Honeymoon to Colorado...


In Mexico during our first Christmas!


I'm so grateful for this season of life!

Hold My Hand

The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24