The Great Date Experiment

I absolutely love my church and wouldn't go anywhere else unless God drug me there. With that being said, the only thing that I don't like is that there is really no marriage enrichment. Being that we are young marrieds we'd love to enrich our marriage now and start developing a healthy marital relationship. Our church provided excellent premarital counseling, but now what? Besides the occasional sermon of course.

I have a mentor relationship with a woman I admire and desire to be more like and that has been such an encouragement for me in my pursuit to be a good wife. Cody doesn't have something like this as of yet. And we don't have anything we can do together either aside from reading the bible together and praying together. We need to get involved in some sort of home group but they are out for summer so we will have to wait for a little bit longer.

I want to be challenged. I want to attend a seminar or a retreat. I want something that really will help enrich our marriage and maybe something that isn't even spiritual. By all means, I do want spiritual enrichment but there are some things in marriage that are simply just a reminder that people are different and we need to learn how to live together. I have been seeking a challenge whether it be just as a wife or as a couple and today I found just that so I encourage you my married friends to be challenged as well.

This is a challenge that lasts six months. The fact that it lasts six months will be extremely beneficial for those of you who have kids and really do have to schedule a date night on the calendar if you want to make it happen. We are still lucky enough to squeeze in at least one a week. This challenge has you set aside for a date a month for six months. We will start our first date in July and work our way through it. Hoping some of you will take this challenge as well and we can share with one another our experiences.

So go...be challenged.

http://www.marriedlifeonline.com/greatdate_np.jsp

Tristan's Two!

Tristan Michael turned 2 on the 17th and we got to celebrate on Saturday!!

Tristan's new fire engine. He loved this so much that when we left for lunch he tried to take it with us. And when we went swimming he wanted to get out of the pool and into the fire truck. Gramma got a great gift!

Lunch at Genghis Grill with a special dessert for the Birthday Boy!

Tristan had fun wearing my sunglasses!

Mmm, Happy 2nd Birthday to Tristan!! He was far more interested in the cars on the cake and not the cake itself.

It took awhile, but he finally started playing in the cake. A DQ ice cream cake!

The first present Tristan opened was his cars and he wasn't all that interested in the other gifts until they were opened and ready to play with.


Tristan playing with his cars and pushing his new lawn mower at the same time. But at least he played with the mower or vacuum as he says. Cody & I gave him the mower!

Grad School

I would just like to announce that Cody has been accepted into grad school at UNT. He will hopefully start school in August if all goes as planned. I am very excited for him in his endeavor to get his Masters degree.

Please be praying for us for the funds to pay for his education as we wish not to take out any loans for this part of his education.

Six Months

This month we celebrated six months of marriage together. Over this past weekend we went to San Antonio for a mini-vacation to celebrate! Cody surprised me with the trip a couple weeks ago and I was excited to get away to spend time together. Our lives have been so hectic, especially lately that this weekend was perfect for us.

Baby B's Arrival

I am excited to report that my newest niece has entered the world. Baby B was born at 12:43 pm weighing 6 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She is a very beautiful little girl! I have been told that she doesn't have as much hair as her siblings did but still a lot and it's lighter.

I can't wait to get to Tyler to hold Baby B and hopefully by the time I get there I can call her by her name and not by Baby B! Continue to pray for her health especially since there was a minor scare in the beginning! Cody & I are very excited to go visit her on Friday!

Shrub 3's Arrival

This week my sister will be giving birth to her third child and I am beyond sad that I won't be there for the first time. It makes me sad that I won't be there to greet the little one upon their arrival here. I enjoyed getting to be there for both Ellie & Tristan's birth. However, I am very excited that this week I will have a new niece or nephew!! I can't wait to meet them and love on them. When I get there Friday I probably won't want to let go of them.

Ellie's Birth
01/20/2006



Tristan's Birth
06/17/2008


Pray that Baby Bush "Shrub" arrives safely and that mommy & baby are healthy! Cody & I will be traveling to Tyler for the weekend to see Ellie's dance recital and to meet the newest member of the family. Also, pray for me that I won't be too sad about not being there because right now it is really hard for me to imagine not being apart of this.

Weight Loss Frustrations

This is exactly how I feel about it...we both make the changes and he sees immediate results and I see nothing. Not fair.

I'll Be Sore Tomorrow

We started our day off today by doing the Epilepsy Stroll at the Dallas Zoo in honor of Kiersten!


She decided to sleep through a good portion of it and I don't blame her. I would have been asleep too had someone been pushing me around in a stroller. We most definitely enjoyed our time at the zoo and supporting the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas through this event. Next years event will be on April 9th so consider joining us next time for a fun morning at the zoo supporting a great organization and in Kiersten's honor. Praise the Lord for 3 months seizure free!

This afternoon we spent the day raking leaves and pulling weeds. My body is already sore as can be and I am pretty sure getting out of bed tomorrow will be close to impossible. The yard looks significantly better now but will still need a lot of work. Trying to figure out what we want to plant in our flower beds, how to get the tree pruned back so the grass can begin to grow. Lots and lots of work to do still, but a little bit went a long way today.

Abby has something against the weed eater...

New Job

Most of you probably already know this, but for those who don't...I started a new job over Spring Break. It was a very sudden change for me, but one I am very grateful to have made. I was nannying for my best friend so that she could go to school but had started looking for a job to replace that in May. I had applied at a number of places and had not so much as heard anything back.

I found a job posted on Craigslist that was for an Administrative position at a place called Christian Life Ministries. I was far more excited about the organization then the position itself. They helped find sponsors for orphans in Uganda and I thought that would be such a neat ministry to work for. I started my first week in the administrative role and at the end of the week the girl working the orphan side of the program quit and I was offered the full-time position.

This week is my first week as a full-time employee in about two years. It has been a change for sure, but a true blessing! I absolutely love my job and knowing that I get to make a difference in the lives of nearly 1,000 orphans! It has been fun brainstorming ways to better serve our orphans, ways to help with fund raising and different ways to find sponsors. I am so blessed to be in this position!!

Some Changes

I will be making some changes to my blogger account. This account will now be for Cody & I not just myself. It will mostly be used as a way to update friends & family about our life. I have yet to decide if I will change the domain from crazygal4god or not. And I have yet to decide if I want to make my blog private. Not real sure how many people read this anyway so making it private might be the best idea.

In case I choose to make it private you might wanna let me know to add you! (That is if you care to keep up)

Homeowner Blues

I've got the homeowners blues today! I have now lived in my home for a little over 3 years and have had a little bit of a love/hate relationship with it for a good portion of the time. I will say that it has been a great learning experience and a good home for me as a first time home owner. The following complaints or home makeover needs are in no particular order...

Need/Complaint #1&2: The tree in the front yard needs some serious pruning or could even use a complete extraction. It's nice that it's so big but I can't grow grass because of it and the limbs are hanging close to my roof. Mind you, I bought a new roof during the past 3 years so I would hate to have it ruined because of some tree. And about the grass, I desperately want grass in my front yard but nothing seems to like not having any sunshine.

Need/Complaint #3: Shortly after moving into this home it began to shift...and I mean a lot. Funny thing is that the inspector said it was a-okay regarding the foundation which is absolute crap because you can now see where the former owner covered up the cracks. My doors no longer close properly, the back door doesn't stay shut unless it's locked and other random ghetto things have occurred thanks to the foundation.

Need/Complaint #4&5: I desperately desire to have a privacy fence. This has been something I have wanted all along, but now more than ever. With two very social dogs it would be nice to close them in to where they wouldn't bark at every single thing that walked or drove by and I could purge the nasty bushes creating a hint of privacy at the end of my chain link fence. The nasty bushes are a safe haven for a few zillion birds that Abby loves to chase and bark at. If the bushes were gone then Abby would potentially have no reason to bark.

Need/Complaint #6: The master bedroom closet is for an infant and not two adults. So I managed to survive when I was single but it definitely does not have the space for both mine & Cody's stuff.

Need/Complaint #7: After recently replacing the toilet in the guest bathroom our master bathroom toilet decided to go ka-poot too! So it's time to replace yet another toilet...

Now regarding my own inadequacies which make my house even less appealing...

#1: I can't manage to organize the office no matter how badly I may want to. Any advice in this area would be appreciated.

#2: The dishes seem to never be done. I read recently on Ashley Ingram's blog how she cleans through out the week and I was inspired to never go to bed with the dishes undone.

#3: Dog fur...how do you get rid of it? It's seriously EVERYWHERE! It grosses me out to no end, but I can't manage to vacuum it up or brush the dogs enough.

#4: Tacking weeds and growing plants seems like a daunting task that I don't know that I am up for. I tried planting some stuff last year and it all died. However, I did notice that some of it has come back to visit. Thank you Lord for the rain every 3-5 days!

Wordless Wednesday

My Adorable Niece

I'm a Model.

My friend, Lindsey has been doing photo shoots for her wedding photographer for awhile now. At her last big deal she met a local photographer named Lauren Dennard who works for Fairy Tale Photography. She asked her to do a group photo shoot for a workshop she was holding so her and her husband were an engaged couple. Last week Lauren's two brides both had to back out at the last minute to unforeseen circumstances and she desperately needed a bride. Lindsey asked me if I wanted to do it since I was recently married and although hesitant at first decided to do it since I never got any bridals done. I had an absolute blast and here is one photograph per photographer thus far...can't wait to see the rest!!

Couples Dinner

Cody & I have yet to find a small group in our church. We still run around with many of our single friends which there is nothing wrong with, but we have needed some of that couples interaction. We have entered a new time in our lives and we need to be doing life with other people that know what we are going through. Last Sunday I was deeply convicted that it was time we start something up in our home with other couples. We will be having a First Fridays dinner night with other young marrieds in our church as a way to really do life together.

Last night we had our kick off dinner even though it wasn't the first Friday...simply because I couldn't wait until February. There were four couples present last night and we had a really great time! I enjoy very much getting to eat dinner and play a game with everyone. I had the chance to really get to know the wife of a good friend of mine which I am so grateful for. I will say that I am glad I plunged into the dinner party thing before February because I was greatly rewarded with the fellowship that occurred.

Pet Peeve of Mine

I will be honest to say that I hate nothing more than to be in the presence of many women to hear one of them start talking negatively about her husband. It makes me very sad for that man as from that moment on I know nothing good about his character but only that he is lazy, useless, worthless, or whatever other words they feel like uttering about him.

I think it is one thing to call up a best friend who knows the wonderful character of your husband and tell her he's driving you crazy. Because she knows his real character and also she knows you are just being ridiculous. But it is another thing completely to ruin his name in the presence of many women who know nothing about his character.

Proverbs 31:23 "Her husband is respected at the city gate" is a reminder to me that the words that come from my mouth regarding my man should be positive and uplifting words that will gain him respect at the city gate. How dare I destroy his character and his reputation over something silly and stupid or because I am overreacting! May we each praise our husbands among others that they may not know a negative thing about him (even though we all know that none of them are perfect). If you and I are besties feel free to tell me what's upsetting you about your man and lets figure out what the deal is but don't you dare trash him in a group of women some of which you hardly know.

Bible in a Year

How many of us commit every year to read the bible in a year and by the time we make it to Leviticus we've already given up? For the past three New Years I've said I was going to read the bible in a year, but have yet to do it. This year Cody & I decided to commit to spiritual growth in general but would like to incorporate reading the bible in a year. John Piper tweeted about his bible reading plan that leaves five days to catch up--get it here. So we are five days late already but I guess it works out since there are five days to catch up--but we started it last night. This year I hope to blog about our journey through the bible as well as some of the wonderful things I learn through the books I have on the shelf to read this year...For Women Only, The Power of a Praying Wife, and Love & Respect. I'd love your opinions and your insight as I take this journey into spiritual growth alone and with my husband.

Reading Plan Day 1: Matthew 1:1-17, Acts 1:1-11, Psalms 1 and Genesis 1-2

Honestly I have probably read all three of these every year based on my glorious attempts to read the bible in a year. But each time I read something I tend to get something out of it that I didn't before or am reminded yet again of how good our God truly is.

Acts 1:7 reads "He said to them, 'It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.' "

What a beautiful reminder to me that my timing and God's timing are not the same. I am aware the context of this verse is regarding the ascension of Christ which in and of itself is beautiful enough for me. But when I read this last night I could help but be reminded that God has set aside specific times for each of us and knows just what is going to happen in our lives. And that those things really aren't for us to know but to be able to trust in Him is everything. This is difficult for me most of the time, but have recently seen God at work in my life by showing me that his time is perfect and mine is far from it.

Although I have read Genesis 1 & 2 before...I am still reminded of some things and even taught new things as I read it last night. One of my favorite things about Genesis 1 is that God creates the Heavens and the Earth and when he is finished he says that is it good. Then when he creates man he says that it is very good. I love that when God created man he was satisfied enough to say that we were very good--knowing we would be the ones to sin against him. How beautiful!

In Genesis 2:17 God commands Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Although I have heard many times someone say that the fall is not on Eve but on Adam I never really remembered this verse. God commands Adam before Eve was ever created. Eve may have fallen into temptation but where was Adam to step up and say "No Eve--God commanded us not to eat of this tree" I mean I've heard it preached a million times especially recently through pre-marital counseling but to read that and realize that Eve wasn't even around yet--made such a difference to me in my understanding of the role of husband and wife.

What's your thoughts?

Six Christmases

This Christmas was rather eventful as we hopped from Christmas to Christmas. My sister and her family arrived on Wednesday and we enjoyed a nice family fun night eating at Pei Wei and going to Main Event.The kids had so much fun and so did we!

Bowling as a family--Tristan really enjoyed watching but would much rather have thrown the ball down the lane himself. Little guy was able to hold the 6 pound ball!

Uncle Cody is really enjoying his time.

After family fun time Cody & I did our Christmas together. Cody read Luke 2 for us before we started opening Christmas. It was fun to share in this special time together as newly weds. We both got TOMS for Christmas among a number of other things-but the Toms pictures make me laugh the most. Only because Cody copied me.



Our first Christmas together!

On Christmas Eve we drove to Oak Cliff to attend Cody's Uncles Christmas Eve service. It was snowing the entire time so the roads were getting pretty slick. We then had Christmas Eve with his extended family on his moms side then Christmas with his immediate family after they left. We then took a three hour drive back to my parents what normally is only an hour. I really hope we never have to drive in those icy conditions for Christmas again.

Grandma gives all the grandkids teddy bears every year. I am happy to be part of this family tradition. There are even some cousins missing here since they live in China.

These are my new siblings! Christmas Eve with my new family was very enjoyable and I am so blessed to have such great in-laws! Christmas morning was spent with my parents along with my sisters family. Ellie & Tristan were both very excited about Christmas and the gift they got from Santa. (Not that Tristan really understands all that)

Tristan absolutely loved playing with his new basketball goal.

This was my favorite Christmas gift.

The kids loved Tristans new wagon--and Uncle Cody was nice enough to take them for a really long walk in it the day after Christmas.

The day after Christmas we spent most of the day with my family, but ended it eat burgers and doing a White Elephant exchange with his dads side of the family. We had a blast and were proud to take home a fanny bank that farts.

Mema and all of her grandkids! We were truly laughing hysterically by the end of this photo shoot mostly thanks to the farting fanny bank.

On Sunday we spent time back with my family since my Aunt, Uncle & Cousin came in town. It was a great way to end our Christmas celebration...Six Christmases.

Tristan absolutely loved his John Deer 4-wheeler.

Ellie wanted to play her Leapster right next to her Uncle Cody whom she adores.
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Tristan also absolutely adores his Uncle Cody.

Our first Christmas was absolutely amazing! I am so blessed to have married into such a great family. I am also so blessed that Cody fits right in with mine. I am so excited about the many Christmases to come between us. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

A Legacy of Love

In our wedding we have planned to honor the marriages of our Grandparents as we believe they have set before us a legacy of love. I have lost both sets of my grandparents and Cody has lost his grandfather. There are still days that I get teary eyed thinking about my grandparents and how much I really loved them. I have especially been teary eyed in the past several months as we've discussed how we would honor them in the wedding.

I was still very young when my Papaw died so I don't really remember a lot about him. I remember I always had so much fun at his house. I remember his delicious chocolate ice cream that we ate in the small yellow cups. I remember his brown pillow that lies on my bed now. I know that my Grandma loved this man very much. She continued to love him over the years as she survived him by a good 12 years if not more. That is a legacy of love that we want in our own marriage...a love that lasts forever and ever. A love for someone that can't ever be replaced.

I was also pretty young when my Granddad died as it was only two years after my Papaw. I remember him a little better as I was a little older. I remember picking pecans, stacking dominoes, watching tv and eating popcorn, trips to the apple orchard and science museum, and enjoying many days playing around at the church. But something else I remembered about Granddad was that he was a servant and that he loved and adored his wife. Granddad knew what it meant to love his bride like Christ loved the church. My GeeMa was madly in love with this man and to be honest I am very surprised she survived without him as long as she did. That is a legacy of love that I also hope we can mirror in our marriage.

Codys story about his grandfather and his grandma are his to tell as I don't know him the way he does. But I can tell you that one of our first conversations when we were dating was about our grandparents and how much we loved and cherished the people they were. And how he aspired to be like his Grandfather and I like my Grandma. Hard shoes to fill, but we are willing to try.

Today my second cousin, Pam called my mom to tell her that her dad had passed away suddenly today. Her father, Uncle Roy was my Granddads brother. Roy had RSVPd for the wedding and was excited to be attending and I was excited to see him. I saw him back in April at his wifes funeral and seeing him brought back so many happy memories from my childhood. It was sweet to hear their love story and just know their life together as a married couple. Something about his death has really struck something in me. I guess with me thinking about my Grandparents a lot lately I had been excited to see him at the wedding as he was my Granddads brother. It's weird to me that the wedding is two weeks away and he won't be there. Don't get me wrong I am happy that he is in Heaven, but I guess I thought him being there would be like having a part of my Granddad at the wedding.

Recipes

Last week my mothers friend, Susan, my second mom threw me a wonderful recipe/pounding shower. The ladies brought the non-perishables as well as their favorite recipe as gifts. I have enjoyed cooking the various recipes and love adding to my new recipe box. Susan gave me a recipe box that reads "From the Kitchen of Jana Kitts". I am hoping that you guys can help me out by giving me even more recipes to fill my box with. What's your favorite recipe?

My First Shower

My first shower was two weeks ago and hosted by my best friend and her mother. It was such a sweet time to be surrounded by some of the people that I love most! It was good to see my family, my soon to be family, close family friends and my closest friends. It was such a blessing to be showered with gifts for mine and Cody's journey together. We are very excited about all the great gifts we received and can't wait to use them.

Thank you so much Chelsey & Donna for hosting an awesome first shower. And a thanks to everyone that made it out for the shower. I love each and every one of you.