Things I'm Loving :)

I am linking up to Jaime today because it's been a while.

Today I am loving that with some pretty great work connections, I scored two free tickets for Mattypookins & I to go see Blake Shelton & Justin Moore in concert on Friday night! 

I texted him today that I should win the best wife of the year award.

:)

I am also loving that I got to create a "Kitchen Remodel" board on Pinterest because we are making some changes.  Our house was only 5 years old when we bought it & there are so many things that I LOVE about it but our kitchen wasn't quite my favorite space.  I didn't think we would make changes so soon, but Matt was in a demolish/change mode over the weekend and I didn't stop him. :)  We decided to rip out the linoleum and ordered more of the beautiful, dark wood that is in the rest of our downstairs to put in our kitchen.  Our cabinets are a lighter wood and we have decided to PAINT them white.  I'm a little scared but I think with so many tutorials online I can do it!  We also are getting new lighting....we have a pretty gross plastic orb and I can't wait to see new canned lighting in there.  I am ridiculously excited about all of this! These are some of my pinterest finds that are my kitchen inspiration.

I am loving the new Mark Driscoll book Real Marriage.

It is so, so good....for any marriage.

I am reading it now and Matt is going to read it when I am finished.  I think something HUGE that I have taken from it is that you have to remain friends with our spouse.  Matt is my best friend, but sometimes when work, demands, sin, others, selfishness, money, etc. all come in to play we lose track of that and find ourselves getting frustrated & take things out on each other.  Mark and Grace write candidly about their marriage and how the Lord desires for your friendship to remain strong and when you fight, fight FOR each other & your marriage, not against each other.

I am so thankful that my hubby and I are on the same page with life right now.  Because life is so "daily" that is not always the case but it is so refreshing when we are.  I am so thankful to be his best friend (Well, maybe behind Lucy, lol. :)) and that I know he loves Jesus with all of his heart and desires to be a man after God's heart.  So thankful that even when he is on a work trip we can watch American Idol "together" and text comments to each other & without fail he will make me laugh.  I'm definitely loving him today. :)

I am loving that Audrey Assad's new album Heart is almost out.  I am listening to her pandora station and it is so wonderful.  If you haven't heart any of her songs, you are so missing out.  Such real, fresh, worshipful lyrics. 

On a whole other trash reality TV level, I am loving that Emily Maynard will be the next Bachelorette.  Enough said. :)

Hope you all have a happy rest of your hump day! :)



2012- A New Year :)

Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed.

A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. 

Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year.

Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me

involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind.

As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you.

I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite.

I know and understand you completely; My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love.

I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you a hope and a future.

Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence.

-Jesus Calling, January 1

These words are so refreshing to my soul.  There is something exciting and refreshing about a new year.  In reality it's just the roll of the clock to another day but with the new day comes such hope and anticipation for what's to come.  There is also a feeling of wanting to see change in my own life.  In years past I have made New Year's resolutions only to break them shortly after...like really shortly after.  Last year I tried to be as specific as possible but that only made it worse.  I'm just not good at following through with things.

What I really want is my life to reflect true repentance in areas that aren't glorifying to the Lord, bear fruit, and live under God's grace.  I do desire change in certain areas but I know that those kinds of changes don't just happen in a year--living the gospel out is kind of a life-long process. :)  

This year, I have set some goals for myself (maybe that will help because they aren't called resolutions :))

• Fall more in love with Jesus- talk with him more (& LISTEN :)) throughout the day & memorize passages of scripture
• Pray with my husband more- for each other, for others, be united in prayer
• Be more intentional about loving my husband in HIS love language and not mine. (Mine is words of affirmation.  His is acts of service...I naturally use words to express my love for him & he always says "actions speak louder than words".)
• Be a better long distance friend.  Return phone calls.  Call friends FIRST.  Write letters & notes just to say that I am praying for & thinking about them.  (Joanna, Sarah, and Vanne--I love you so, so much.  I am so sorry that I suck at this.)
• Be more generous with my time AND money
• Keep healthy food in our house, make healthy meals, & don't go out to eat as much.  (If we want to be around & healthy for our future children, this needs to happen.)

These are things that I am excited about in 2012:

• I am running my first ever Half Marathon February 26th- the Disney Princess Half :)
• My sister in law is getting married June 7th- fun times for the fam
• A very exciting thing happening for two people I love very much (can't say just yet)
• We haven't planned it yet & my very frugal husband doesn't know yet, but we WILL go on a vacation with JUST the two of us :)...don't know when or where but it's happening
• Investing in our friends lives more & lots of fun hang out times
• Making our house a little bit more "ours"...doing some work in our yard & painting rooms

Happy 2012 Blog Friends! :)