Jumpstarting and Deal Finding

Our schedule always seems to keep us busy, and this summer has been no exception. In fact, I feel like we've figured out a way to stuff even more activities into the nooks and crannies of our free time. Needless to say, this blog has suffered mightily because of it. But here is my attempt to jumpstart my writing once again! I know I'm a happier, more focused person when I'm writing, and perhaps I can provide you a few minutes of joy, as well.

Before I get into some of the weightier thoughts swirling in my mind, I wanted to share a great deal with you! I must confess I am a terrible scrapbooker. I tried it out when I was younger, and the whole thing puts my perfectionist tendencies into a complete tizzy. I do, however, hoard keepsakes from memorable occasions as if I were a scrapbooking fiend. The result, as you may guess, is a lot of stuff piled in a closet. My husband is just thrilled. ;-)

While perusing this blog (a great place to find photo deals, plus she's fun to read), I came across a a Paper Coterie product called Memory Keepers that may be my solution! It's a 9.75x13 box with a personalized cover. This translates into one easy-to-design cover and no pages to stress me out! Nate and I typically wrote each other letters once a month throughout our dating years, so this is the book I created to house these precious words.

This is one of the first pictures we took of just the two of us, and it still makes me laugh! And here's your reward for hanging in there with me through this rambly post: Paper Coterie is offering a $40 credit by using the code BEGINANYWHERE before August 31. If you order before August 8 (tomorrow), you can get another $40 credit by using the code STACYJULIAN in the promotions bar. I'm really excited to have a cute place to store our keepsakes and even more excited about not paying too much to get it. :-) I'll be back soon with some summer recaps and a few theological musings. Until then, have a great start to your week!

One Year

To my dearest husband,

One year ago my lips were permanently parted in a smile as your eyes danced all day. One year ago we were surrounded by our dearest family and friends, but you were the person who mattered most. One year ago we promised to selflessly love and honor one another through the power of our Savior, and this is the best promise I have ever made.

This year has been one of the most difficult years of our lives, but our marriage has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, short of salvation. You affirm me yet refine me. You give me the confidence to go wherever God calls, yet you satisfy me by simply making me laugh while we cuddle on our couch. You are mine, and I am blessed.

To my husband,

my confidant,

my sweet man,

my best friend.

I love you.

Celebrations

Thanks for the great response to my last post! Writing honestly to an unknown audience is an odd sensation, but your responses were a great encouragement! I've been intending to write earlier, but we've been getting ready for quite a few celebrations (including a surprise party, and I was paranoid about giving away the secret!). Here's a little recap of the festivities.

The Celebration of Two Beautiful Friends

A little over a week ago, two of my dear friends were married. Krystal is one my Fab Five, and she and I have journeyed down many roads together--from loving Northwestern as RAs to going through major surgery and recovery to seeking godly relationships with our men, we've done life together. I've known Jordan for the last 5 years, as well, so it was a very special weekend. I was so blessed by celebrating Krystal on Friday night and celebrating Jordan and Krystal as a couple on Saturday! Plus we got to see several of our Northwestern family which always has a way of refreshing my soul.

© Hannah White Photography 2011

Not only is Hannah our friend, she is absolutely brilliant!

Please click on the link above to check out her work.

The Fab Five reunites at a wedding at last.

Steg RAs 2008-2009: An experience to bond us for a lifetime

Celebration of Nate

Since the wedding was nearby, we were able to host our friends Ryan and Julia overnight. Then on Sunday, Ryan, Julia and a host of wonderful friends helped me throw a surprise birthday party for Nate's 25th birthday! I found out in a hurry that surprising the person with whom you share both an apartment and a bank account is a little tricky. Thankfully Nate interpreted my secret-keeping as planning frenzy for Krystal's wedding, and it ended up working splendidly. It was a beautiful day to be outside, and I more than enjoyed surrounding Nate with people we love while he remained unaware! I neglected to get a group picture, but I do have these.

My birthday boy! Thanks for supplying this genius cake, Michael!

These two men mean so much to Nate, and

I'm thankful they were willing to be here to celebrate.

Celebration of Lydia

Last weekend was much more about getting together with my family than just Lydia, but since it was the first time we've seen her for a few months, she may have been our primary focus. :-) We had a great time enjoying our city with Nathan, Tara, Lydia, my parents, and family friends. My mom has the far better pictures, but here is a little sampling of our favorite 9 month old and the family that loves her dearly.

She may not be the first woman to fall for

James Bond, but she may be the cutest!

She's surrounded by toys, but Nate's

guitar playing has her completely enthralled.

My family out for dinner

Miss you so much, Andrew and Lisa!

This ended up being a bit of a marathon post, but thanks for hanging in there with me. I'm hoping to get on a more regular writing schedule now that these wonderful yet busy weekends are behind us. I hope you're finding celebrations in your summer, as well!

Unbreakable

Friday night is pizza night in our home. Nutritionally worthwhile? Not exactly. Emotional comfort + intentional bonding time + easy clean up after a long week? Yes, yes, and yes! Last Friday we were relaxing on the couch waiting for the pizza to finish when we heard bit of a crash the kitchen. I was unaware stoneware could break from such an innocent act as baking a frozen pizza, but lo and behold, this is what we found.

Cracked like the Stone Table of Narnia! Nate and I were both pretty incredulous, but there was no denying the literal hot mess housed in our oven. And that got me thinking about the other things in life we take for granted until destruction takes its place. Whether its a city mangled by a tornado, a parents' marriage failure that rocks a home, or any of life's losses in between, devastation has a way of revealing things we treasure too much. Are we putting our faith, our pursuit of stability into things of this world? people of this world? Or are we putting our hope, our trust, both daily and eternal, in the everlasting, unchangeable Lord and Savior?

Yes, I know it is just a broken pizza stone, but it seemed to be physical manifestation for the many cracks and fissures in my own life. Do destructive changes still hurt? Yep. No doubt about that. But they also turn us, sometimes quite forcibly, toward the One who never changes. When Moses first asked God what He should be called, God replies "'I Am Who I am.'" (Exodus 3:14). Isn't that such a great promise? The God to whom Moses spoke is the same God to whom we speak! He has not changed. He will never change. God is just as faithful as He was thousands of years ago. He is just as powerful. He is just as good. He goes on to say, "'This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations'" (Exodus 3: 15). Guess what? We are part of those "all generations"!

Isn't that a humbling truth? My life seems so important to me. When a pizza stone cracks, I am annoyed that I have to bake the next one on a cookie sheet. I'm frustrated with the slightest inconvenience. And yet here is the God of the Universe, who was and is and is to come, waiting for my selfish soul to turn to Him and give Him praise. So if it takes a little breaking and brokenness to keep that truth in mind, I'll work on worshipful perseverance.

"And the four living creatures...

day and night they never cease to say,

'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!'"

Revelation 4:8

Bringing Spring to the House of Summers

Several posts have been swirling around my head lately, but I've been lacking the time to sort them all out. So here is a simple subject that will hopefully get me back into my writing mode! We have been enjoying beautiful weather lately, and Nate and I were inspired to bring some touches of spring into our little living space.

While we don't own any ground in which to plant anything, we made the most of the space we have. First we repotted a house plant that Nate has been growing for the last three years or so. Now it has a much roomier home that I happen to think is an aesthetic improvement, as well.

Our Love Fern

We then planted a tree in the previously used planter. The kids in the environment club at work raised these trees from seeds, so we'll see if we can keep this one going! If we can, it will be a great reminder of my AmeriCorps year. Our last apartment landscaping project was planting a flower box for our balcony. We just used a packet of mixed spring flower seeds, so we'll see how well they come in. Here's our progress after a few weeks of growth.

Our last taste of spring came as a slight impulse buy. We were in need of spending a few more dollars in order to use a coupon, and this little guy fit the bill.

Homemade Popsicles! How fun is that? I've been filling them with orange juice for late night treats on warm nights. I usually eat them too quickly to have much use of the straw, but I think it will work brilliantly when the temperature gets higher. I couldn't find the mold online, but I've seen them multiple times at our local store.

I promise I'll write something more substantial one of these days, but until then, will you share how you usher spring and summer into your home? (Yes, this is a somewhat shameless plug to hear from you...it's quite a bit more fun when that happens. :-)

God Smiles

My mind is full of lots of heavy topics these days, but this morning got me thinking about the times when I know God is looking down with a smile on His face. Do you know what I mean? Those times when certain insignificant things fall into place in a way that makes life easier or causes you to stop and smirk, and you know God orchestrated that to happen just to smile with you. Here is my random list of God Smiles that happened today.

• I turned the shower onto the perfect temperature on my first try--no adjustments.
• I randomly came across a favorite song that I had forgotten about.
• I had lunch with a longtime friend, and she unexpectedly picked up the bill.
• My boss didn't drive his car to work today, so I was able to park in his prime spot.
• It rained...but not when I had to go outside. This translated to enjoying all of the fresh, spring smell without the frustrating dampness.
• After fellowshipping with new friends I heard this song on the radio which reminded me of my old(er) friends at Northwestern and our baccalaureate service.
• My hubs came home right when I needed him.

I'm always thankful when God opens my eyes to these little moments throughout the day. What's your most recent God Smile?

April Snapshots

Somehow another month has past, and I haven't written a thing. Yikes! In a brief attempt to catch up, here are a few snapshots of our April happenings.

April Showers Bring Weddings

I helped host two different bridal get-togethers during the beginning of April. The first was a bridal shower for my wonderful friend Krystal. It was a blessing to be physically reunited with the women whom I love as family.

The Fab Five with Krystal and Jordan's

Journey of Love in the Background and the

Table Decorations in the Foreground

The Beautiful Bride-to-Be

The next weekend I hosted a bachelorette party for my dear friend Andi. Her friendship is a testament to God's faithfulness in providing the right people in your life at the right time. She and I met right after Nate and I were married, and we've been able to walk together through some similar roads since then. It was so fun to celebrate her! Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have from the night.

Andi with a Mouthful of Marshmallows

During a "How Well Do You Know You're Fiance" Game

Our Chick Flick Jeopardy Game is on in the Background

Time Off

Of course, after the bridal showers comes the actual weddings! Nate and I were able to take a mini-vacation over Easter to celebrate the beginning of Drew and Andi's marriage. We overcame 1400 miles on the road, an outdated GPS, and a morning of illness for me, but all in all, the trip was a blessing.

Congratulations, Andi and Drew!

We were also able to stop in Kansas City to see Nathan, Tara and Lydia. I have to say, this girl keeps getting cuter! I just love her to pieces.

Things I'm Thinking About

• I miss writing, especially writing reflectively. I need to make space in my life to do more of that.
• Somehow it's almost the end of the school year which translates into having the kids 40 hours a week instead of 18. Umm...all the planning we can fit between now and then will still not leave us prepared!
• Earlier this month, poor weather caused Nate and me to spend our first night apart since we got married. It was weird. It's also weird how quickly new normals take hold.
• Weddings & Marriage - Wedding season is upon us and Nate and I are coming up on the end of our first year of marriage. There's been a lot of reflection and reminiscing going on in this household!
• Our first Easter together was unconventional, much like our first Christmas.
• My mom is in Haiti right now and I can't wait to hear what the Lord is doing in her life.
• Our God is one of great mercy, but He also holds us to the highest standard of righteousness. How can I best imitate this in my life?
• Our God is faithful. I am grateful.
• I hope I have time to write more about several of these points of musings.

And there you have it--several peeks into my very random mind! Let me know your thoughts on any or all of these things. Happy Spring!