I thought about this phrase, "Just Living the Dream" this morning as I was getting ready. My friend, and former co-worker, Justin Dillard coined this term. Well, maybe he didn't coin the term, but that's where I picked it up. These days, even on the tough days, that's kind of how I feel.
I have had so many amazing things happen to me in just the last year, that I really am awestruck when I think about it. Within the last twelve months:
*I started dating the love of my life, my hubby, Titus. We were engaged in July and married in September.
*He got an amazing opportunity for a job in NE in June.
*We found a great little house in Bridegport and an awesome apartment for our family in Arapahoe - all to fit within ou budget.
*My parents had a once in a lifetime blessing in the selling of their land to Conoco Phillips in December.
*God has provided for us each and every weekend we have gone to see the kids by providing good road and safe travels...even through one of the toughest winters folks in this area have seen.
*I found an amazing job that is above and beyond what I expected to find as far as pay and hours go in such a small town. And I got the job just two weeks before my wedding. Talk about stepping out in faith. I resigned from the church and made plans to marry and move before I had a job.
*God has provided a church home for us in Bridgeport and Arapahoe...and a new friendship to support the transition.
And I'm sure the list could go on and on. But I'll end it there for now.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
All the latest fun...
We have had a great couple of weekends here lately. We have put 3000 miles on our car in 17 days. Let's just say the Willie Nelson song, "On the Road Again" could be the Staples Family theme song these days. Truly, we love it. There are many Sunday nights we drive back into Bridgeport tired and ready to fall into bed. But come the weekend again, we are ready to get back on the road to our next adventure.
Right now our weekend adventures could be categorized into three areas: time with the kids, helping my folks move, and our own adventures. And often these three overlap.
My parents have already moved two trailers full of furniture that is not essential to keep in CO. They have delivered a couch and bed to our apartment in Arapahoe, for which we are incredibly thankful! It is hard to see their home in CO, where I grew up, starting to look bare. I don't know when it will hit me that they no longer own that place and will be out for good in about six weeks. I'm sure the tears will flow when that day comes.
We have had some wonderful adventures with the kids. Geocaching is our big family adventure nearly every weekend. We hop online and look up the GPS coordinates for these hidden treasures. Then we punch the numbers into the GPS, and start tracking them down. So far we have found 115 geocahces. Our goal is 200 by the end of the summer. I am confident we will make it! And this last weekend, for Titus' birthday, we planted two of our own geocaches. One in the park where we pick up the kids, and one where we drop them off. We are excited to see who finds our hidden treasures and see what trinkets they take, and what they leave behind.
As for Titus and I, we have enjoyed the company of great friends from CO the last month or so. We had a great time showing them around our little area, hiking to the top of Scottsbluff Monument, watching basketball games, grilling out, and playing crazy board games. And, after 7 months, finally decorating our home and buying a new couch. This weekend we look forward to hanging out in Kearney with good friends while I go to a Beth Moore event and Titus does whatever it is guys do when the have a free Saturday.
This time of year is like a pressure cooker at the school. The countdown to the end of the year is on, and there are many unfinished projects on Titus' desk. He works hard and I know he will get everything done in time. I just try to keep the home fire burning so that he has a place to land at the end of his long days. We have accepted the fact that our lives are busy and we are embracing each day and each adventure.
Right now our weekend adventures could be categorized into three areas: time with the kids, helping my folks move, and our own adventures. And often these three overlap.
My parents have already moved two trailers full of furniture that is not essential to keep in CO. They have delivered a couch and bed to our apartment in Arapahoe, for which we are incredibly thankful! It is hard to see their home in CO, where I grew up, starting to look bare. I don't know when it will hit me that they no longer own that place and will be out for good in about six weeks. I'm sure the tears will flow when that day comes.
We have had some wonderful adventures with the kids. Geocaching is our big family adventure nearly every weekend. We hop online and look up the GPS coordinates for these hidden treasures. Then we punch the numbers into the GPS, and start tracking them down. So far we have found 115 geocahces. Our goal is 200 by the end of the summer. I am confident we will make it! And this last weekend, for Titus' birthday, we planted two of our own geocaches. One in the park where we pick up the kids, and one where we drop them off. We are excited to see who finds our hidden treasures and see what trinkets they take, and what they leave behind.
As for Titus and I, we have enjoyed the company of great friends from CO the last month or so. We had a great time showing them around our little area, hiking to the top of Scottsbluff Monument, watching basketball games, grilling out, and playing crazy board games. And, after 7 months, finally decorating our home and buying a new couch. This weekend we look forward to hanging out in Kearney with good friends while I go to a Beth Moore event and Titus does whatever it is guys do when the have a free Saturday.
This time of year is like a pressure cooker at the school. The countdown to the end of the year is on, and there are many unfinished projects on Titus' desk. He works hard and I know he will get everything done in time. I just try to keep the home fire burning so that he has a place to land at the end of his long days. We have accepted the fact that our lives are busy and we are embracing each day and each adventure.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Inspiration
The other night I watched the movie Julie & Julia. I am am a fan of Meryl Streep and had heard good things about the movie. Watching the movie made me think of two things. First, I wish I was a better cook. I'm average at best. But I do plan to try some new dishes. But secondly, I am looking for inspiration of my own. Something to blog about - an adventure or challenge to write about regularly. I do enjoy writing and getting my thoughts down on "paper". But as of right now I'm not sure what to blog about.
So until that inspiration comes, I guess I'll keep blogging about the every day life I lead here in the Panhandle of NE!
So until that inspiration comes, I guess I'll keep blogging about the every day life I lead here in the Panhandle of NE!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
7 months of adventures
Life has been good the past few months. Today is the 7-month anniversary of my marriage to Titus. I didn't realize that until just now as I was typing. Adventure is one word I would use to describe the first 7 months. Just this past weekend I told him that I would have never imagined the places I would go and all the adventures I would be on. And it all started when I said "yes!"
Our adventures aren't grand like skiing in the Alps or flying all around the globe. Some day we dream that the will include those adventures. But for now our adventures are going to revival services in Loup City, NE. Or taking a day trip into the sandhills to show him where Cody worked. Or grabbing ice cream at the Whoa 'N Go in Broken Bow. Or meeting some of the most wonderful people and sharing time and space with them for a late night snack.
Every adventure in our past seven months has included a map and a game. It's the We-Can't-Take-the-Same-Route-Twice game. No matter where we are going - to pick up the kids or somewhere new - we have to take a different route. Even going and coming to the sandhills this weekend we took a different route. I usually drive because of the funny little condition I inherited from my dad called motion sickness. That leaves Titus to man the map and be the navigator. And he does a fabulous job at it...especially when I'm tired and just want to get to our destination.
We don't spend much time in our little home town. In fact we feel like we have several "home" towns. We have a church and a place to stay at all of them: Arapahoe, Eudora, Bridgeport, and Broomfield. I'd say we are pretty blessed to be doing what we are doing and have so many places filled with comforts of home and friends and family to share it all with. It's not a life for the faint of heart. We are on the road a lot...but we wouldn't have it any other way. When we do have a weekend in Bridgeport we sometimes look at each other and ask, "well, where should we go?" It's in our DNA.
In fact, I've started telling people, it's only a road trip if it's over 4 hours. Anything less is just a commute.
Our adventures aren't grand like skiing in the Alps or flying all around the globe. Some day we dream that the will include those adventures. But for now our adventures are going to revival services in Loup City, NE. Or taking a day trip into the sandhills to show him where Cody worked. Or grabbing ice cream at the Whoa 'N Go in Broken Bow. Or meeting some of the most wonderful people and sharing time and space with them for a late night snack.
Every adventure in our past seven months has included a map and a game. It's the We-Can't-Take-the-Same-Route-Twice game. No matter where we are going - to pick up the kids or somewhere new - we have to take a different route. Even going and coming to the sandhills this weekend we took a different route. I usually drive because of the funny little condition I inherited from my dad called motion sickness. That leaves Titus to man the map and be the navigator. And he does a fabulous job at it...especially when I'm tired and just want to get to our destination.
We don't spend much time in our little home town. In fact we feel like we have several "home" towns. We have a church and a place to stay at all of them: Arapahoe, Eudora, Bridgeport, and Broomfield. I'd say we are pretty blessed to be doing what we are doing and have so many places filled with comforts of home and friends and family to share it all with. It's not a life for the faint of heart. We are on the road a lot...but we wouldn't have it any other way. When we do have a weekend in Bridgeport we sometimes look at each other and ask, "well, where should we go?" It's in our DNA.
In fact, I've started telling people, it's only a road trip if it's over 4 hours. Anything less is just a commute.
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