Yesterday we took Sox, our dog, to Petco for the first time.
I think I had about as much fun watching him check out all the stuff in there as he did.
I took some pictures of him grocery shopping, for your entertainment.
He also found several toys that interested him, but found that his bank account was running a little low.
;)
The other day, Ryan and I were at the pool just hanging out.
And I can't help but eaves drop on conversations being had at the pool, and if you are honest, you are probably the same way.
I over heard some women talking.
As I listened to their conversation, I heard stories of their broken lifestyle, and my heart sank.
I realized as I listen to their discussions of life that I have something that they don't.
That I am someplace they are not.
Not physically, but spiritually and relationally.
I hate to admit it but sometime it takes events like these to wake me up and make me realize how blessed I am; how much I have to be thankful for.
It made me feel guilty for the times that I get so focused on myself that I forget how wonderfully blessed I am by God.
Over the past few weeks, I was so temped, and even gave in to the temptation to grumble about moving and starting over, finding new friends, a job, the "hassels", that I lost sight of the blessings I was complaining about!
My husband has a wonderful job!
What more could I ask of the the Lord to provide?
I am so thankful to be where I am in life right now.
A bright future, with a supportive husband.
I believe that in our moments of weakness and doubt God sends us signs that he has us under his wing.
I am afraid this is going to be on of those life long struggles for me though.
Romans 8: 26-28
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Writing this post is quite challenging because I have a sleeping dog in my lap, but I wanted to stop in from this busy week and say hey to all you wonderful people and give a little update on our life.
Moving
Our week has consisted of the following:
Monday: Wake up and Pack
Tuesday: Wake up and Pack
Wednesday: Wake up and Pack
but tomorrow is the big moving day!
We have been eating meals on the couch, using boxes as our table, and eating up all that is left in the cabinets.
I would like to do a post about our new place when ever we eventually get settled.
Fingers Crossed on both of those happening sooner rather than later.
Ice Cream
As a break from the packing we went to Chick-fil-A for some Ice Cream and took the doggie!
I shared with him and he was in heaven!
Blog Updates
I apologize for the lack of blogging this week, but I plan on having up round 2 of my "... Meatless" series {which will be a meal plan of vegetarian meals} on Saturday.
I am thinking that round 3 will be my favorite vegetarian options at some popular restaurants, so be on the look out for the later on!
So thankful to see Thursday come this week. Usually I am not one to wish weeks away but I sure am glad to see some relief from this sickness.
Mean while there has been some fun, like last night when Ryan and I got soft served ice cream cones from Dairy Queen! Yum!
And how about today when I was walking on campus and ran into this hanging mess of inch worms! There where inch worms having everywhere! I had them all on me! (ick)
What is a week with out an up date from the pup if the family? Sox is doing fabulous! He is sporting some pearly whites from his latest dental cleaning and has been into squirrel and bird chasing these past few weeks.
Oh and I'll admit it, I am into The Hunger Games now. A little late I will also admit but just in time to finish the book before I see the movie with my Mom in Saturday! My mom also gave me a book all about dog stories which I live because I love dogs (as if you hadn't noticed haha).
I can barely believe that another week is coming to an end so soon already.
This week has not been as amazing as last week, but when I look back on it there have been some pretty funny highlights and interesting events.
Yesterday Sox had had his teeth cleaned, which is much more of a fiasco for a dog than for a human. It was an all day event. He was put to sleep and everything, which makes for a quite comical dog. When he came home he staged a sit in at the dog bowls because he was so hungry, and doctors orders were to only give him 1/2 his usual amount of food, which he was not crazy about. He also was a slobber drool baby and could not figure out where to lay down. I think he getting back to his normal self today, thank goodness! Still a little sleepy, but what is new!
I gave a presentation in a class this morning with some other classmates, and despite a rather large misunderstanding, our professor still gave us a 92! I was quite alright with that!
In other good news, Ryan is moving on to the final round with his job opportunity! We are so thankful and are praying for good outcomes!
The down of the week has most certainly been my unrelenting migraine that has now been around for 4 days. If had time to just sleep and take medicine for one whole day then I might have gotten over it in 1 or 2 days, but life goes on and so the migraine lingers. I am just praying that it goes away soon because I can't take it much more. If you have ever had one before you know what I am talking about.
I am really excited about this weekend because Ryan and I are going to a Theological Development Seminar at our church Vintage 21 this Saturday morning which should be really good. The topic is on marriage and I am always eager to learn as much as possible to make our marriage the best possible. After the seminar we might even get to go get a special lunch!
I am going to try to get lots of homework done with weekend so that graduation will come even faster and maybe we will do something fun with some friends!
All before 2 PM... what does that even mean?
Well Ryan works tonight, and we didn't want to compromise our fun Saturday adventures so we tried to get it all in before 2!
We started by celebrating furry child's adopt-aversary!
1 Year ago today we brought our little buddy home!
He is so much fun, and I love that dog so much!
So of course we made him a party hat, took some pics, danced around!
{Sox eventually caught on}
Then we actually went to the adoption event to see the dogs that Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue has right now. What better way to celebrate our 1 year with Sox! There were lots of cute dogs there!
And right after that we headed out to the Farmers Market to get some fresh and local goods!
We bought some amazing locally made ciabatta bread, sweet potatoes, and strawberries!
And then we cooked up a delicious lunch!
It was nice to still get to do the things we enjoy before work stole him away :(
Oh man!
It is Thursday, which for me and my crazy school schedule means my Spring Break Starts!
I could not be more ready!
I have a wonderful week planned, which means that the blog posts should be equally as great!
Oh and this is me at lunch with Ryan celebrating Spring Break! {yummy Mexican}
I feel like we have a lot to catch up on, but here is what is most important for now.
~God is certainly teaching Ryan and I patience.
We are currently in the final stages with some job interviews and anxiously awaiting call backs! {and when I say anxious, I mean anxious}
So the waiting days are really difficult and I try to prepare myself for disappointment.
But I want the security of those jobs so bad.
I want to know that we will be set after graduation, no worries.
I am a planner!
And then today, in the midst of the crazyness, I remembered this verse and looked it up to read His promise to us.
{Read it, it is long but it is worth it.}
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6: 25-36
Why do we {I} forget? and so quickly?
God, has not, and will not leave me stranded, alone, unclothed, unfed.
HE KNOWS MY PLAN! WHY WORRY SO MUCH!
{why I blog 101: it is like self therapy, and free!}
~ I had mentioned that Ryan and I would be doing Sacrificial Spring Break in a previous post. We are really excited to see what God has planned for us during this time. I will just fill you in quickly on what it is exactly. Sacrificial Spring Break was started 2 years ago by college students from NCSU who go to our church, Vintage 21. It's whole purpose is to sacrifice your spring break in order to love on and give back to our city of Raleigh. We will be going to 5 different sights in Raleigh to do projects and build relationships with the people that Vintage can then continue through community groups. This year we are working at an elementary school, the New Bern Transitional Home, Neighbor to Neighbor, the Boys and Girls club, and local non-profit farm that grows food to give to the needy. We are so very excited to be a part of this and I can't wait to share some stories an pictures!
~Finally Ill leave you with yet another picture of Sox.
This fine weather has put a little pep in his step per say!
So today, I thought I'd let you in on what life is like through Sox's eyes...
~
Hi, this is me, doing my thing and keeping watch on the neighborhood.
I go for three power walks a day to take care of business and get some exercise.
Last time I was at the vet, I was told to maintain my weight, so I am doing just that.
{How Rude!}
I have two awesome owners, the guy likes to wrestle and the girl likes to snuggle.
On the first of the month we pay the rent bill and that is pretty awesome because people in the office think I am the coolest things since sliced bread. {aka lots of petting}
Don't tell Clara this, but I am pretty sure that people only Like her stuff on Facebook if it has me in it.
It might sound preposterous but I am seeing a trend here!
Well, I guess that is about all, it's back to my perch by the window.
Hey guys! It is finally Friday and I am not up to much but visiting my family! Sox and I had a little photo shoot today in the car so I thought I'd share that with you! He is cuter than ever!
Some of my favorite things: Sox and coffee. We are missing Ryan though :(
By the way, I am working on a 30 before 30 list that will be coming very soon, so stay tuned!
As soon as we got engaged and started planning our wedding, I knew that I wanted the music at the ceremony to be more than just pretty.
I wanted it to be meaningful, to serve a purpose, and something that our guests would not forget.
There were automatically two songs that I knew had to be incorporated some way, some how.
My good friend, Jamey, from the good old homeschool days, and soccer, etc can sing like no other.
I knew he would be the perfect one to perform these two songs for us.
Right before the ceremony started, Jamey played a medley of these two songs with his acoustic guitar.
It was amazing!
{Honestly my favorite thing about our whole ceremony}
I want to share these songs {most importantly the lyrics} with you today.
Love Never Fails - Brandon Heath
Love is not proud Love does not boast Love after all Matters the most Love does not run Love does not hide Love does not keep locked inside Love is the river that flows through Love never fails you Love will sustain Love will provide Love will not cease at the end of time Love will protect Love always hopes Love still believes when you don't Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound When I can't turn back around When the sky is falling down Nothing is greater than this Greater than this
Love is right here Love is alive Love is the way, the truth, the life Love is the river than flows through Love is the arms that are holding you Love is the place you will fly to Love never fails you
http://www.lyricsmode.com
Love is Not A Fight - Warren Barfield
Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
Then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
To some, love is a word
That they can fall into
But when they're falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
Love will come to save us
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
But demand we give our all
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It's worth fighting for
http://www.lyricsmode.com
These words could not be more scripturally based.
I literally pray these words sometime.
I can't imagine a marriage without Christ as the center.
This Valentine's Day some people may be fighting to keep their love alive, while others are starting new relationships.
I hope that we will remember these lyrics and bible verses.
{Valentine's Day is our 6 year Relationship-Anniversary}
Prepare you Heart for Christ
He will prepare it to love your spouse.
{or future spouse}
xoxo
Clara
[sorry this post is kinda long, but I promise the words are worth it.}
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