Learning How to Be Flexible in Marriage

One of the lessons marriage is teaching me is the importance of being flexible.

 

A few weeks ago, my darling man's work schedule changed. And we were/are thrilled! Instead of working 1 pm to 9 pm my hardworking man works from 9 am - 7 pm. Yes, he did get more hours in a day but instead of two days off he now has three! How wonderful! Not only are we blessed with an extra day off but he gets home much earlier than he used to -- perfect for having friends over or enjoying an evening out together.

 

And yet, despite the goodness of this change, I find my rigid, stick-to-the-schedule personality being stretched a bit. For nearly a year I had grown accustom to Dalton only having two days off and spending his mornings at home. Now, our mornings are a little busier than normal, the time of his absence longer and the workweek shorter.

 

At first I noticed that I was feeling a little uptight -- why should I be feeling stressed over these good changes?

 

I'm sure you too can relate. Perhaps your husband's schedule changed as well or maybe he lost his job and spends most of his hours at home with you and the babies? Maybe he has volunteered and is needed elsewhere?

 

I simply want to encourage you, dear one, to embrace the change. Embrace the challenges and joys life gives and, above all, practice being flexible. For many of us, it is easy to become stressed and weirded-out over changes  (even the good ones!). When that stress comes at you remember these three things:

 

 

Remember that God is uses these changes for good, that change is a natural part of life and that when you feel out-of-the-loop and a little stressed that God understands and invites you to His throne of grace.

 

Oh, and one last thing.

 

Choose joy.

 

Choose to accept the change in your schedule.

 

And choose to love those in your home.

 

With lots of love!

 



Spring Around The House // Bunnies, Plants and Eggs

Spring has sprung around our little place and with it comes new beauty, fresh greenness and plenty of song birds.

 

Oh, and a heavy dose of spring fever.

 

I've been itching the last several weeks for the colder days to pass; while I wait, I have been making tiny adjustments in our apartment. I think wiping the dust from our homes, airing out rooms and decorating in simple ways is an excellent way to usher in the joys of spring.

 

 

In the kitchen, two bunnies (Mr. Salt + Miss Pepper) have found their way on the bakers wrack. A little jar is filled with flowering weeds a little friend gave me a few days ago.

 

While I wash dishes the (deliciously yummy!) scent of eucalyptus wafts from the front window. I found a bunch for $2.99 at Trader Joes. :)

 

Tiny spring touches have come to the living room. Do you remember the spray-painted branches I made in February? They are now "blooming" with yellow and white tissue paper blossoms.

 

(Heeheehe, you may also see dirty laundry waiting to be watched. Ooops! :)

 

A little rocking chair was recently given to us by sweet friends ... I love my new seat as it is perfect for my height! (No more tippy-toe rocking for me! :) The chalkboards have phrases like "Alleluia" and "Abundant Mercy" scribbled over them in an effort to bring Resurrection Sunday to mind.

 

The rest of the living room is decorated with tiny pastel colored eggs from Hobby Lobby. Dalton enjoyed tucking them into different places around the house. He is such a cutie. :)

 

Out the door our flower bed is beginning to grow -- since this is our first spring here I am unsure as to what will be coming up but I think we have some roses, daffodils and tulips among the mix.

 

Last week I enjoyed laying new mulch over the dead leaves. Our neighbors (who are avid gardeners) were so kind in offering their bags of mulch and soil. Lord willing, D and I will try to grow some veggies in containers along the small driveway.

 

Does anyone know what this little beauty is?

 

Look closely and you will see our friends Miss Dove, Mr. Squirrel and three different feathered ones enjoying the bird feeder my daddy gave for Christmas.

 

I would *love* to see how you are ushering springtime into your homes and lives. Are you spring cleaning? Redecorating? Finishing finals? Trading in hot drinks for summer time treats like iced coffee?

 

Tell me what's going on -- I'd love to know!

 

With lots of love, blessings and hugs,

Modesty and Marriage // How God Blessed Me With His Pick

Sometimes my husband makes me laugh

 

and smile

 

and blush.

 

He loves me. Unashamedly. Unabashedly. Without reserve.

 

I always imagined I would marry a Charity man (or Anabaptist in some fashion). Why? Because I dressed plainly in pretty jumpers and simple skirts and covered my head. No traditional man would want me.

 

So I spent a (shameful) amount of time secretly inspecting fellow brothers in Christ; men who attended the same Youth Bible Schools as I did; men who sang acapello, disdained tv, tucked in button-up shirts and talked of owning their own business, raising a godly family and missions.

 

I inspected them because they were what I expected.

 

But someone else prayed for me.

 

A man raised outside of Anabaptist circles; a man who never read a courtship book, grew up in a divorced home with a loving and hard-working mother who owned a hair salon and video store. This man prayed for me, waited for me and hoped for me.

 

And when he found me he loved me without reserve and shame. Plain, ol' me who covers her hair and sometimes dresses like a granny. He loves me.

 

Today, Dalton came home for lunch (a rare treat since he normally works shifts later in the day). I was standing over a pot of boiling cabbage wearing a faded apron and dressed in my favorite light green jumper. We had already shared our greeting kiss so when he came back into the kitchen, took my arms and said, "You look so beautiful today all clean and tidy and put together" I couldn't help but grin. What about my plain appearance could make me beautiful? I've far more dressy outfits and am normally tidy in appearance. My hair wasn't down and a red pimple blotch could be seen.

 

 

Whatever the reason it doesn't really matter.

 

All that matters is that I am loved by a man who values modesty more than fashion, appreciates godliness more than gaudiness and cherishes uniqueness over popular opinion every time.  

 

And that is why I laugh, smile and blush.

 

I hope you have that too.

 

Yummy Iced Coffee in Four Easy Steps

Traditionally, I take my coffee hot, steaming and black -- it a cute mug of course.

 

But sometimes its good to shake things up a bit.

 

After reading this post by Catherine, I knew homemade iced coffee was the perfect way to shake my day up.   

 

 

Simply, pour the leftover coffee you had sitting in the bottom of your cold mug a fresh cup of coffee into an ice tray.

 

If you prefer, sweeten the tray with drops of goodness; I added a small bit of honey to each compartment. I've read that it is far better to add sweetener before freezing the coffee but I suppose you could always sweeten later.

    

 

After hours and hours of waiting simply plop the cubes into a glass.

 

 

Add milk.

 

(I used almond milk.)

 

Stir with a cute straw (required) and enjoy!

 

The coffee tasted better and better as the cubes began to melt.

 

It really was the perfect pick-me-up treat for a day spent busy with cleaning and projects!

 

Have you made anything out-of-the-norm lately? Comment below and let me know --you never know who you'll inspire!

 

Love and a fresh iced coffee,

Downtown Travels | Jefferson City in Snow

 

I really enjoy Jefferson City.

 

 

Surrounded by beautiful country, the city seems to have the perfect mixture of old-fashioned beauty and modern convenience.

 

I especially enjoy living only two miles from the Capital; Dalton often drops me off on his way to work. I walk along the library, pass shops and eventually through the Capital building. It is always open for touring.  

 

The Governor's Mansion is truly beautiful. Behind it hides a Greek-themed garden planted years ago by the Governor's wife and several working prisoners. In the spring dog-wood blossoms and tulips greet everyone who pass by while several fountains have children (and adults) smiling.

 

When I wrote this two weeks ago the the city was cold and laden with small snowy piles.

 

On my latest walk I discovered a little museum tucked along the street; maybe our next date day can take us here. Our favorite pizza place isn't very far away ... ;)

 

 

Behind me are several railroad tracks and, even further, the Missouri River.

 

One day I plan to write a post about falling in love with a new city; sometimes it can be challenging adapting to a new home. Thankfully, the capital of Missouri seemed to have no trouble winning my heart and making me feel at home. :)

 

Do you enjoy where you are living? Is it more country or city? Did you ever have a difficult move? I would love to hear your stories.

 

With love and blessings,

We've Been "Busted!" | Las Vegas Souvenirs

Have you ever walked into a couple's home and found them incredibly weird? They tend to have odd collections on display, laugh at funny things and have strange habits like pinching each other's noses or wearing socks and leggings and sandals.

We're that weird couple.

(Minus the socks and leggings and sandals ... we don't do that.)

We've managed to collect small soap figurines (an owl, penguin and hedgehog to be exact) which Dalton carved. Oh, and then, yes. We do have these faces.

In Las Vegas, we came across an amazing man who made clay busts for $19.99. We simply couldn't resist. Our only souvenirs, the faces tend to make us smile and laugh every time we happen to pass by ... which is often. The plan is to mount them on an oval frame as they used to do in the old days; until then, we'll just have to keep them in a glass-covered dish frightening all who happen to visit. Mine even has a little head-covering which is pretty delightful in my opinion.

Yes, we are that weird couple.

And I wouldn't want to be anything else.

Do you have any strange collections or hobbies? I'd love to know I'm not alone! ;)

With love, coffee and two adorable looking clay heads,

The Joys of Dust // Cleaning Tales

 

 

 

I've found keeping house one of the greatest joys of life. For as long as I can remember, I've delighted in making ordinary things beautiful, penciling in order where there is chaos and finding ways to make things work smoothly.

 

(Of course, though, there are plenty of times when I don't want to laundry ... my most detested chore)

 

You cannot imagine the joy I had when, after being away for several days for our honeymoon, I was able to get back into routine. The laundry pile had become a tumbling mountain on top of the washer, floors were needing vacuumed and bills asking to be paid.

 

Of course, when all's done and the broom has been put back into the closet, I also enjoy the pleasantness of having an afternoon to blog, drink coffee and watch Sense and Sensibility. I keep dreaming of chocolate cake in the future, too.

 

What kind of woman are you? Do you enjoy keeping house? Have you discovered your favorite and least favorite task?

 

With love, coffee and a clean house (woot woot!),

d.i.y. // Chalkpaint + Branches

 

 

I love the way branches seem to make everything more beautiful; earlier this year I ransacked the side of our driveway scouring for just the right set. Afterwards, I sprayed the grass over as I painted the branches with a few good coatings muted gold spray-paint.

 

I also found a empty spaghetti jar and bathed the insides with the most lovely shade of turquoise (the perfect color to add "pop" to our living room's cream + brown hues). The chalk-paint came in the most adorable little jar from Hobby Lobby. I've painted nearly everything I can get my hands on with it. :)

 

Sometimes, the simplest of things can bring so much joy.

 

Dearhearts, what have you been up to lately? Have you set your hands to making beautiful things?

 

With love, coffee, and lots and lots of snow!

Home Again, Home Again // Las Vegas Honeymoon

It's official.

I love traveling with my darling man.

Not only do I have someone to tote the large suitcase onto scary, metal escalators but there's a constant hand to hold + smile to find ... even when we're lost + travel weary.

Our (late) honeymoon was a blast. We flew to Las Vegas + spent ten warm, sun-shiny days touring the strip + lounging in the lazy river at our resort. A very kind friend had given us a week of his time share so we were able to really feel at home in a Wyndham apartment.

 

 

 

We spent hours walking the strip, eating gelato + exploring the sites.

 

 

 

 

One of our favorite discoveries was Las Vegas' Chinatown. While there we ate at Mother's Grill, a beautiful Korean restaurant.

 

 

Afterwards, we explored a busy grocery store full of foreign foods, fresh meat + produce.

 

Trinket shops were full of adorable items + hilarious signs.

 

And we wandered into one shop that was full of dried goods including shark fin, mushrooms + ginseng. Everything was amazingly expensive ...

 

The Hershey Chocolate store was lovely ... every type of candy lined the shelves.

 

 

Often times, we'd prepare our own meals at our apartment ... Dalton loves pickle juice + took full advantage of the lovely glasses we found in the cupboard.

 

 

And many nights we spent watching a movie with the fireplace ablaze, snuggled close.

 

It was a really special trip + one I'm so thankful we could go on. Now we are back home + making the most of our days here ... but we will always be able to look back to this trip + smile!