Thursday Latelies: As Green As I Get

Tuesday Tips: Valentine's

Problem: Birthday close to Valentines Day

Tip: Cards with a blank inside are ideal in this situation and it guarantees that you will not accidentally get a Valentines card for a birthday. You then can write whatever you want on the inside.

Last year for my birthday my husband was so thoughtful and brought me flowers and a card for my birthday. The outside said I love you and the inside of the card read "Happy Valentine's Day". He then signed the card Love Luke.  I died laughing and really have razzed him about not really reading the card he picked up for me. So today's tip is silly but super useful.

Abraham

I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow and I am feeling like it could not have come at a better time. I have been feeling so low lately. It is to the point now that I sometimes feel like I need to wear sunglasses at all times because you never know what is going to make me spring a leak. I was telling Britany today that my sensitivity level has greatly increased. I listed off the top few things that can really get me:

• The song Overcome by Jeremy Camp - If we sing this in church I am a goner
• Any and all pregnant women just make me misty
• Or how about movie trailers like "The Vow" oh man watch out 
• And honestly the worst is those commercials about the abused dogs. I have to turn the channel fast otherwise we have Niagara Falls on our hand.

We have been ready and studying "The Story" in church and in our small group. Last night we talked about Abraham and how God promised him a son. However he had to wait quite awhile. At one point Sarah his wife offers up her servant Hagar to him and she bears him a son. As thrilled as Abraham was God told him that this was not quite what he had in mind and reaffirmed his promise to give him a son by Sarah. I think Abraham had to wait somewhere around 25 years for Issac to be born. Can you imagine? Twenty five years!

God's plan for our life is greater then we can comprehend. One thing God is teaching me right now is that through the waiting it is okay to be sad as long as I surrender to him. I think I have spent a lot of time feeling guilty of my sadness. Feeling unworthy of the right. And feeling like I was unworthy of bringing this in front of my Lord. God called Abraham a righteous man even though Abraham asked God over and over about his promise. I want to be like Abraham! 

Please pray for me I can use them everyday. Please pray for my doctors appointment and that I have the ability to communicate well. Hope you all have a happy Valentines Day! I know I am one lucky gal to have a husband like Luke!

Take that sheets!!

One of my biggest challenges is wrestling, folding and storing my sheets.

 I have quite a few pair bc I hate having to wash sheets every few days. At the base of our bed is a storage bench from ikea where the sheets are kept however, never fail it aways gets to stuffed and unruly. So I came up with a solution.

All you have to do is fold your sheets in the flattest way possible equal to the length of one pillow case. Make sure your fitted and flat sheet are the same length and width. Then insert them both into one pillowcase and fold at he crease. This keeps a full set togther and in a orderly manner.

I went through and did every pair that I had which was a few pair to many.

Me: 1 VS. Sheets: 0

workaholic husband.........

That is my husband to a T. I used to think that it was bad a few years ago but in the last six months I doubt he has been home from work before 6:30. Don't get me wrong I am thankful for his job but it is getting very tiresome on him and myself. I think he is almost at the meltdown point himself. It seems that work is all that surrounds him morning day and night. I feel like our whole lives surround me working, Luke working and then when we come home it is still all about work. I have gotten to the point I do not want to talk about my work or Luke's work or anything related b/c when that happens I feel like that is all we are. How did it get this way? I can tell you one thing I would trade things. I would rather have no money then Luke work all the time and never see him. 

It probably is not as bad as it feels right now but I am just exhausted from life and I know Luke is to. I feel like we both need a big getaway to regain some energy for our jobs and also for each other.

It is not only work that is draining us it is trying to have a baby. We got some not terrible but not good news last week about some test results and it is looking more and more like infertility treatments are in our near future. We should know more in a few weeks. I just keep praying for wisdom and patience and contentment. However, sometimes I just do not realize how it is so easy for people to just get pregnant. I feel like it is a impossible feat that just keeps getting more impossible with every new thing thrown our way. Our baby would have been due in three weeks had we not miscarried. Since miscarrying in July never in my wildest dreams did I think I would not be pregnant again by now. Nor did I think that we would get a new curve ball thrown our way every few months. 

I was talking to my friend Kelli (who suffered from infertility and now has been blessed with two incredibly sweet babes) about her children and how she appreciates them  100 times more because of what she went through. Not that I don't think mothers don't love their children I know they do, but she said that she never once gets mad about getting up at night or rocking a sick baby b/c she remembers every day what it felt like to just yearn for a baby. So that is what I have been telling myself that God obviously needed to do work in me to prepare me to become a mother. I hope that I am learning!

26 Goals UPDATE - January

So here is my update after January. I am really just doing this for myself to bed able to reflect and keep myself accountable.  Updates in pink my favorite color. 

#1: Have a baby - Still trying :(
#2: Become more healthy - Still off the pop not sure if anything else has changed but hey pop was a HUGE step!
#3: Workout 2 to 3 times a week - Well I started Master's Swimming and I have accomplished this this week.
#4: Stay away from pop and Starbucks hot chocolate - POP yes, HOT CHOCOLATE NO
#5: Make dinner at least once a week  - Um can I change this goal :(
#6: Do Laundry twice a week so that it stays current  - Big big no but hey I will go downstairs right now and make it count for FEB.
#7: Clean out my clothes closet and get rid of at least ten items a month  - YES, Erica can attest for this!
#8: Use all the food in my fridge so it does not go to waste :(
#9: Start or join a women's bible study - Reading The Story does that count?
#10: Go on a date with my hubby once a week. - Not so good here he has been really busy shame shame hubby!
#11: Get something for my fish tank once a month. - No my fish are fighting and so I have been afraid
#12: Send a encouraging note via mail once a month to one of my family or friends. - YES
#13: Make my bed everyday - Horrible but probably only once a week
#14: Get up at 6:30 everyday so I have some down time. - Same as above
#15: Go to bed by 11:00pm every night on the weekdays - Okay I am not on a good role here
#16: Write down one positive of the day - I will give myself a 50%
#17: Tell my husband at least one thing I appreciate or love about him every day. - # one thing I promise I will be able to say yes to for the next 11updates
#18: Eat breakfast every morning - NO
#19: Do not nag my husband about his shoes or clothes being everywhere when he gets home - I have put them away for him
#20: Call my sisters at least once a week - 75%
#21: Go above and beyond at work at least once a week - I think so
#22: Not complain when I feel sad or bad - Hi my name is debbie downer
#23: Learn a new scripture once a week and memorize it - :(
#24: Read a book once a month - Hungar Games
#25: Start and finish projects within a two week period - YES
#26: Blog at least twice a week - I blogged 11 times in January so I think I did

Well there you go not so great.  I need to print this and hang this on my mirror.

Thursday Latelies: Sweedish Games

• AUDIT(S) Finished
• Sweedish Googles
• Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons & Spice Spoons
• Ticket To Ride