All we've been given!

March was a very good month! I was able to go home at the end of February, which I talked about in my last post, and again in the middle of March with Josh and his sisters during their spring break! We had a good trip - very busy. We did a lot, but I missed spending time with my family. I wish I had gotten to see my parents more and do things with them, but I am grateful that I had gotten to spend so much time with them on my previous trip.

I am so excited that they are coming out here in less than two weeks! They will be driving here for the shower that Josh's mom is throwing for me and I am very excited to show them my new home. It will only be for a couple days but I intend to make the most of it. =)

This past Tuesday I went to work and noticed a cupboard and a box spring mattress along with it's metal frame out on the curb at my employer's house. I asked Sarah about it and said if they were just getting rid of it Josh and I would love to take them! She said the mattress was in perfect condition, they just didn't need it anymore since they got a new bed that didn't require a box spring. So Josh and I borrowed Bryan's truck that evening and came for the mattress! This was a total answer to prayer because Josh had bought a used mattress set but the top was queen and the bottom was king. So we have had our eye out for a deal on a queen box spring and here we were able to get one for free!

After that my boss told me there was some more furniture they were going to throw out and they wanted us to have first pick if we wanted it. So on Friday afternoon Josh and I went over and Randy showed us some of the things they didn't have room for anymore including another cupboard (We are all for more storage solutions right now since his apartment has very little storage space!), some chairs which will be wonderful for extra seating or just putting outside the door for warm summer evenings, and two hip height narrow tables that we have put in the kitchen for some extra counter space. I am SO thankful to them because it is helping to make that apartment more functional. Josh's room finally looks like a bedroom since the bed is off the floor and looking nice. The kitchen is looking great too! Oh and also the rug that we got from the Wak's kind of pulls everything together making it look like a home.

God has been very good to have people in our lives to graciously give us so much! I'm also very glad that Josh and I have both been raised by parents who have taught us frugality, and how to be sensible. We don't need new or perfect things, and we're more than happy to use second hand household items. I hope to look back on this time of our lives and remember all the provision and never forget how blessed we are to have much more than we need to get by.

March 13, 2012 update

It's been almost a month since my last post so I thought I'd give a little update on how things are going. In February I was blessed with a trip to California, my wonderful cousin Deb gave me some extra miles she wasn't going to use that paid for a round trip ticket! I was able to go "home" for a bridal shower and some much desired time with my family. It was strange going back to my same old room where nothing had changed except that it's not empty it has started accumulating wedding supplies.

My church shower was very lovely thanks to two of my wonderful bridesmaids - Bekka and Sarah! I got so many nice gifts and can't wait to transport them back here and put them in our apartment which Josh is currently living in along with one of our groomsmen. I had almost two wonderful weeks with my family and enjoyed just mostly being home and spending time with them.

I've been back for a week now so I've had a full week with the kids again. It just gets easier and easier as I learn about them and figure out ways to avoid problems and streamline all the little tasks I have to do. The time change this weekend didn't really affect me at all, I got up fairly early on all three mornings that I didn't have work so I'd kind of ease into it. And even this morning was fine but it's so dark! Even when I got to work the house was completely dark, it's strange.

Josh and I are preparing for another trip back to California (Yes, so soon!) because he has Spring Break. His two oldest younger sisters are driving with us so we're making a party out of it! We're leaving Friday and driving straight through, and plan on being there through Sunday the 24 and drive back in time for Josh's Monday class. I'm looking forward to another trip home and then I probably will not be back until the beginning of May and will stay through until after the wedding!

I hope everything is doing well. =)

Silverware

I'm pretty sure this is the silverware I've decided on.

I'm pretty excited about it! 

It's not sold at any of the places I'm registered so don't be confused about that.

Registries and Colours

Okay so Grama Glenda asked about where I'm registered and the colours for our new home. I am registered at: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate & Barrel.


Real quick on those places - there are GREAT options for buying online. Did you guys know if you get a Target Redcard (It's their in store credit card) you not only save 5% on ALL your purchases but you also get free shipping on EVERYTHING you buy online? So I think that's super great. Also a lot of things I've registered for are available online only. I tried to pick things that they carry in the store but there is a much wider variety of their online stock. The other two places have online shipping options too but I don't know as much about them.


As far as colours, I think I have decided...hopefully. For sure our kitchen is red and black, our bedroom is browns and maroon/burgundy (whatever the more red one is, not purple), and our bathroom is brown and purple. The living room at this point is black & white with deep red accents. For most of the colour ideas you can look at my registry (probably Target would be most helpful as that has most of the towels, pillows, etc) and see what I've picked out for each of those rooms.


Last night Josh and I started a puzzle. We wanted to have something to fill our free time with so we're not always just floundering for something to do. It's a 2000 piece with lots of little details. We finished the frame and are working on some of the more major parts. You'd be so proud of us Grandma Janet! Unfortunately we don't have a table big enough to fit it on so our backs are a little sore from bending over the floor for 2 hours.


Love you all and can't wait to see the California crowd in less than a week!

I started a blog!

I haven't had a blog in a number of years so this is going to be new for me. I was talking to my aunt the other day and mentioning how it was kind of overwhelming to try and share the details of my life to everyone who is wanting to know. Not that I don't love you guys and WANT to share, it's just time consuming and confusing to try and remember who I've told what and not wanting to say the same things over and over again. So I thought it might be a good idea to start a blog so that I can share some of the things going on in my life with those who care about me and are curious about how I'm doing. I'm also not great about returning emails, phone calls, letters, etc...hard as I try. So it's probably a better every day solution as well!

On January 21st my fiance and I packed up my car and left my home in California of 21 years. We drove to New Mexico and I've been starting a new life here. Within 2 days of me being here, my mother in law (to be) was asked if she new anyone who would be interested in nannying and since I'm the only person she knows who is a nanny she recommended me for the job. That first Friday and met with Sarah and Randy and met their kids, and within 15 minutes of seeing how their 2 year old twins reacted to me they offered me the job! I'm working 7-12 Tuesday through Friday and I love it. The schedule works really well for Josh and I especially now that he is working at his new IT job that has a better schedule than life guarding did. So we have been settling into a routine and the past week has been great with us both adjusting to our new schedules. I'm in complete awe of God's provision for us. I kept saying that I didn't think I would work because there was no way I'd find a job with the flexibility I needed as far as taking time off to go home and get married and stuff. But Sarah and Randy are completely flexible as long as I give them notice. Also Josh has been trying to get a job in the IT department for 2 years now and hasn't been able to. It's just incredible that in the same week we both get jobs giving us 20 hours a week. It's incredible.

Josh and I have started going to a Bible study for young couples. We're the only non-married couple in the group and really enjoy spending time with the married couples. It's exciting to know that we will get the join the ranks in just a few months! It's very nice to have a friends base here already and I'm really excited to get the know the ladies in the group better. It's a very ideal situation since we go to the Sunday night service at church and Josh works in the sound booth, there isn't a whole lot of opportunity for fellowship there. I love how Sunday nights and Tuesday nights work together for us.

I'm writing this while the kiddos eat breakfast and watch their little shows. But it's 8:30 and time for us to go out and explore the city!