[one year]

Everyone said before we got married, that the first year is the hardest.

I guess we were lucky because the first year was a truly wonderful time in my life.

It helps that I married a man with incredible patience, love, and support for me.

Still we learned more about the “ugly” parts of one another and loved each other despite them.

For example: Todd learned I am not a morning person, 

and I learned the boy can’t close the washer door to save his life.

Todd learned that I do not cook everything just like his mom, 

and I learned he punches in his sleep.

Our biggest “disagreements” were about cleaning 

and our aggravations were petty and forgotten quickly.

All in all, I’d say we had a relatively easy transition.

However, I think the harder part was intentionally making every day count in our marriage.

It is easy to get in the routine of waking up, going to work, 

making dinner, and getting ready for the next day.

And it is just as easy to forget to make the other person feel special on an ordinary day.

Therefore, we started a tradition of making each Sunday night a time to focus on just this.

We have a list of questions we ask each other that include “How can I pray for you this week”

 and “What could I do to make you feel loved in the upcoming week” etc.

I believe what made our first year so easy were these questions,

the daily texts just to say “I was thinking about you,”

the dance parties while washing dishes to make the mundane tasks fun,

and the prayers we said together each night.

What made it so easy was reminding ourselves and each other how much we are in love.

[for mother's day]

Being a “Proverbs 31 woman”

has been something I have strived for, and hope to one day become.

This type of woman is rare,

“A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth more than rubies.”

Not only has this chapter given me a standard to follow,

it has shown me that there will be many times in my effort to

achieve this status, where I will need grace.

Despite the great cook and friend that she is, my mother is not perfect.

As a daughter, this was hard to come to grips with when faced with the reality.

Yet, I understand more now that being a Proverbs 31 woman

is hard, or else it wouldn’t be rare.

I am learning what exactly it means to become a noble wife,

and one day mother, and I thank my mother for

all she did to work towards the same goal, sometimes without grace.

So instead, I will forever “honor her for all the great

things she has done.”

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for the household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity;
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her fall that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 

[we're moving to florida]

Since my freshman year of college, I knew I would leave Marion someday.

For how long or where to, I didn’t know.

All I did know was I wanted to see and experience more.

To my luck, Todd felt the same!

Since the moment we became engaged, we started looking for what would be after college.

We quickly came to realize that our options were endless,

a freeing yet overwhelming feeling.

We started praying that God would prepare our future ministry, and our future home. 

Since Todd finished classes in December, our search has been full force.

We looked at and interviewed for ministries all over the country.

One night, we made a list of qualities we both wanted and needed

in our first real ministry position.

The list included opportunities to form friendships with people our age,

an older married couple willing to mentor and invest in us,

and among other things warmer weather!

The next day Patrick, the DS of Florida, called.

An answer to prayer.

He wanted us to seriously consider serving somewhere in Florida.

So we met with Gabe about joining his team

to plant a church called Overflow in New Tampa, FL.

This ministry opportunity had everything on our list.

Another answer to prayer.

A month later, we made the decision.

We are going to move to Florida and help start a church in August.

We are overwhelmed with questions like

Where are we going to live?

Are we going to find jobs right away?

How are we going to afford moving there?

What exactly does a church plant entail?

In a lot of ways, this will be the first time Todd and I

will have to truly rely on God.

Our faith is being tested.

But instead of being scared by the “what ifs,”

we will be excited for the new adventures,

appreciative of the new ways to grow together,

and blessed by the new opportunities for God to provide.

[graduation]

Well....HE DID IT! My handsome, intelligent husband graduated

Cum Laude from Indiana Wesleyan University with a

major in Christian Ministries and minor in Business.

 I couldn't be more proud.

He really did make the most of the past four years,

and took every opportunity he could to

gain experience and better himself for the future.

So much has changed since we started college 4-5 years ago, most of all us.

I can't help but smile at how much he has grown and learned.

He has worked so hard for our future, for us, and all I can do is say thanks.

Thanks for walking me back to my dorm on cold, snowy nights.

Thanks for buying me Peach Jet Teas when I had a bad day.

Thanks for spending hours on end in the Game Room during my shift. 

Thanks for sitting next to me every Chapel.

Thanks for putting sweet notes in my mailbox.

Thanks for procrastinating on homework to spend a couple more hours with me.

Thanks for spending time in the prayer chapel seeking

God's will for our marriage and ministry.

 Thanks for working so hard to graduate early so we could get married.

Thanks, most of all, for being a husband I can be proud of.