As I close in on six months of marriage, there are a few things that I have observed about myself and my marriage this past half-year. Allow me to share a few.
1.) My husband is the most PATIENT man ever. Period.
2.) All the books I read about relationships and marriage and all the conversations with married friends didn't even scratch the surface on preparing me to live a man.
3.) Secretly, there is a part of me that enjoys making dinners and keeping a home. I just won't admit it yet.
4.) I didn't realize how selfish I can be until I married.
5.) Managing the family calendar is much harder than managing the church calendar.
6.) There is no one on this earth I would rather go on a car ride with than my husband.
7.) The enemy is at work to drive a wedge in our marriage. Prayer and reading the Word is the best weapon against this action.
8.) As much as I want to be, I cannot be a perfect wife.
9.) I will keep working at supporting my husband even when I'm at a loss for where to begin.
10.) Being in the arms of my husband is my favorite way to say good night.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Wrestling & Winter Royalty
I think one of the best things about being married to a high school principal is being able to attend all the events with my husband. These past few months I have been to volleyball games, basketball games, school plays, pep assemblies, football games, parent-teacher conferences, and probably other events I'm forgetting at the moment. I think of all the events I've attended, this past weekend takes the cake!
Saturday morning we went to the District Wrestling meet in Hershey, NE. This is a first for both of us. We have been to a handful of wrestling meets and duals this year - something neither of us experienced before. We really don't know how points are scored, although we figured out pretty quickly that it doesn't matter if you are ahead or beind, if you are pinned, you lose. But back points, reversals, escapes - these are all wrestling terms we don't know. All this said, we have had a blast watching wrestling this year.
First off, the crowd is unique. We love to people watch and these meets have proven to be great places to people watch. Imagine walking into a huge high school gym filled with people on both sides of bleacher. In the middle on the floor are three large wrestling mats. Parents are yelling, coaches are on their feet shouting instruction or encouragement to their wrestler, cheerleaders are sitting cross-legged on the floor chanting cheers, and photographers line the mats ready to capture that perfect shot. Now imagine that times three as this action takes place on three mats. This past weekend determined if someone went to state. The tension and excitement was almost too much to handle at times. On more than one occasion I found I couldn't keep up as I tried to take in all the action going on at the same time. In the end, all the eruptions of cheers and disappointed wrestlers left me exhausted and ready to go home.
After a quick nap, we found ourselves getting ready for the Winter Royalty dance. Other than my Jr. & Sr. Prom, I never attended any other high school dance. I didn't have a date to either prom and I wore the same dress both years. Are you feeling sorry for me yet?
The dance was a blast. Loud music, bright colored and disco lights, and all the students decked out in their best dresses! I loved seeing all the fabulous shoes, which immediately came off as soon as the girls entered the room. All that time and money to find the perfect shoes, and they didn't last past the front door. I even had a chance to dance the last two slow songs with my husband. It was fun!
One small town observance with this all: You know you live in a small town and everyone goes shopping at the same one or two places when you see the same three dresses on more than one girl at the dance.
Saturday morning we went to the District Wrestling meet in Hershey, NE. This is a first for both of us. We have been to a handful of wrestling meets and duals this year - something neither of us experienced before. We really don't know how points are scored, although we figured out pretty quickly that it doesn't matter if you are ahead or beind, if you are pinned, you lose. But back points, reversals, escapes - these are all wrestling terms we don't know. All this said, we have had a blast watching wrestling this year.
First off, the crowd is unique. We love to people watch and these meets have proven to be great places to people watch. Imagine walking into a huge high school gym filled with people on both sides of bleacher. In the middle on the floor are three large wrestling mats. Parents are yelling, coaches are on their feet shouting instruction or encouragement to their wrestler, cheerleaders are sitting cross-legged on the floor chanting cheers, and photographers line the mats ready to capture that perfect shot. Now imagine that times three as this action takes place on three mats. This past weekend determined if someone went to state. The tension and excitement was almost too much to handle at times. On more than one occasion I found I couldn't keep up as I tried to take in all the action going on at the same time. In the end, all the eruptions of cheers and disappointed wrestlers left me exhausted and ready to go home.
After a quick nap, we found ourselves getting ready for the Winter Royalty dance. Other than my Jr. & Sr. Prom, I never attended any other high school dance. I didn't have a date to either prom and I wore the same dress both years. Are you feeling sorry for me yet?
The dance was a blast. Loud music, bright colored and disco lights, and all the students decked out in their best dresses! I loved seeing all the fabulous shoes, which immediately came off as soon as the girls entered the room. All that time and money to find the perfect shoes, and they didn't last past the front door. I even had a chance to dance the last two slow songs with my husband. It was fun!
One small town observance with this all: You know you live in a small town and everyone goes shopping at the same one or two places when you see the same three dresses on more than one girl at the dance.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Five Months Later
This past weekend I realized that Titus and I have been married now for 5 months. That is crazy to me to think about. Just last night I was driving to a banquet a few hours away. My parents were with me and I made a comment about "my husband". It still feels strange to say "my husband."
Life here in the Panhandle is good. We keep busy. Every day. Busy. Titus' job as the principal can be stressful. It is a love / hate relationship. Most days he loves it. But then there are those days that are overwhelming. He basically doubled the number of students and staff from his last school. And with any new job, especially as a prinicpal, there are growing pains as everyone gets used to the new administration and as he learns more about the school and the community. This fall we enjoyed football and volleyball and cheered on our Lady Bulldogs as they went to state with Volleyball. We are just now ramping down basketball and wrestling. Injury and personal issues have led to a somewhat disappointing finish for both the boys and girls basketball teams. But it was a fun season to watch. And we have both learned many things about wrestling we never knew before.
I have 5 months under my belt with my job at the dental clinic. It has kept me busy and I have learned more about oral health and the importance of taking care of your teeth than I ever imagined I would. I am an avid flosser now! It's amazing what seeing some folks so young being fitted for dentures will do for motivation to take care of my teeth! I have been so blessed to have a very generous boss and a schedule that works perfectly for my time with Titus. With Fridays off I am able to maintain (somewhat) a home and get things ready for our weekends with the kids.
Speaking of the kids. They are doing great! We go down to see them every other weekend. We are always amazed how God works things out for us. We have had clear roads and safe trips every time. We have a two bedroom basement apartment in Arapahoe, NE. It is a great place for us to land when we are down there. Very cozy and lots of room. And we like the area. My parents are retiring to Arapaphoe this spring...so soon we will see Nana & Papa twice a month. The kids are excited to get to see them more often as well.
Life in Bridgeport has settled into a bit of a routine - if such a thing could truly exist in our lives. We are feeling more and more at home here and think we may have found a church we can start to get connected with and call home. We have been craving that for so many months...but again, on the road so much has not allowed us the time to get into that routine.
For now, we are thankful for good jobs, good bosses, God's provision in every area of our lives, and each other. We lean on Him and lean on one another to get through the craziness that is our lives right now. Truly - we are so blessed.
Life here in the Panhandle is good. We keep busy. Every day. Busy. Titus' job as the principal can be stressful. It is a love / hate relationship. Most days he loves it. But then there are those days that are overwhelming. He basically doubled the number of students and staff from his last school. And with any new job, especially as a prinicpal, there are growing pains as everyone gets used to the new administration and as he learns more about the school and the community. This fall we enjoyed football and volleyball and cheered on our Lady Bulldogs as they went to state with Volleyball. We are just now ramping down basketball and wrestling. Injury and personal issues have led to a somewhat disappointing finish for both the boys and girls basketball teams. But it was a fun season to watch. And we have both learned many things about wrestling we never knew before.
I have 5 months under my belt with my job at the dental clinic. It has kept me busy and I have learned more about oral health and the importance of taking care of your teeth than I ever imagined I would. I am an avid flosser now! It's amazing what seeing some folks so young being fitted for dentures will do for motivation to take care of my teeth! I have been so blessed to have a very generous boss and a schedule that works perfectly for my time with Titus. With Fridays off I am able to maintain (somewhat) a home and get things ready for our weekends with the kids.
Speaking of the kids. They are doing great! We go down to see them every other weekend. We are always amazed how God works things out for us. We have had clear roads and safe trips every time. We have a two bedroom basement apartment in Arapahoe, NE. It is a great place for us to land when we are down there. Very cozy and lots of room. And we like the area. My parents are retiring to Arapaphoe this spring...so soon we will see Nana & Papa twice a month. The kids are excited to get to see them more often as well.
Life in Bridgeport has settled into a bit of a routine - if such a thing could truly exist in our lives. We are feeling more and more at home here and think we may have found a church we can start to get connected with and call home. We have been craving that for so many months...but again, on the road so much has not allowed us the time to get into that routine.
For now, we are thankful for good jobs, good bosses, God's provision in every area of our lives, and each other. We lean on Him and lean on one another to get through the craziness that is our lives right now. Truly - we are so blessed.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
My New Life
I don't even know where to start. The past few weeks have truly taken my breath away in so many ways.
Titus & I were married on Labor Day weekend, 2009, in Estes Park, CO. My dream wedding, truly. We were surrounded by our parents, siblings, and their families. It was a small and intimate wedding. The outdoor chapel at the YMCA provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony. The weather was cloudy and overcast - perfect! I was hoping it wouldn't be too sunny and hot for the day...and the clouds helped with the pictures, too. Truly a wonderful day.
We then took two days to spend time in Estes at a resort right on the river. We enjoyed a couple days relaxing and enjoying the mountains before we began our trek back to Bridgeport. God blessed me with a job right before the wedding, so Titus and I both headed to work the Wed. after we were married.
Life here in Bridgeport is good. Different, but good. We are loving it. Just a great place for us to be right now. I hope to share more as I have a chance...and get some pictures up, but life is busy, as usual, so those things will come in time!
Titus & I were married on Labor Day weekend, 2009, in Estes Park, CO. My dream wedding, truly. We were surrounded by our parents, siblings, and their families. It was a small and intimate wedding. The outdoor chapel at the YMCA provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony. The weather was cloudy and overcast - perfect! I was hoping it wouldn't be too sunny and hot for the day...and the clouds helped with the pictures, too. Truly a wonderful day.
We then took two days to spend time in Estes at a resort right on the river. We enjoyed a couple days relaxing and enjoying the mountains before we began our trek back to Bridgeport. God blessed me with a job right before the wedding, so Titus and I both headed to work the Wed. after we were married.
My job in town is with the dentist. I run the front office. My fears of starting a new job and being overwhelmed were quickly eased. After just a few short weeks, I feel very confident in what I'm doing and love my job! Interaction with the public on a daily basis keeps me connected to people. And I am always doing something. I love being busy and filling my days. And finacially, I can't believe how God has blessed me! But the best part has to be the fact that I am going to Hawaii with my job. It is for the National ADA convention and I will be attending classes along with some R&R and team building. What a treat!
Titus and I have both been blown away at how God has been working in our lives this past year. Neither of us can believe how far we've come in 365 days...but God knew all along. We are so thankful. I am so unbelievably thankful for a husband who is humble before God and prays dilligently for our marriage. I am convinced that God listens to his prayers and Titus' heart is open to what God wants to say and do in our lives.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Bittersweet Transition
This past weekend I moved all my belongings, minus a suitcase of clothes, to Bridgeport, Nebraska. It was a strange sight to see all my possessions I've accumulated over the past four years sitting in boxes and loaded into the back of a trailer in less than an hour. My cozy little home now barren and waiting for the next resident.
After a three hour drive on Saturday morning, it took 30 minutes to unload all these same boxes and furniture into our new home in Nebraska. And four and a half hours later, everything was set up and our little home took on new life.
It really is a great little house. Two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen, dining room, a large family room and office downstairs and a utility room with washer and dryer. And the best of all - a clothes line out back. I love it!
Before the move, Titus felt like he was a wanderer with no real home for the past several months. I promised to make him a home in Nebraska. And I feel I was able to do that this past weekend...or at least a great start.
I can see my life with him there. I can see us coming home after work and eating dinner together. Or relaxing and watching a movie downstairs. I can see my jeans hanging out on the clothes line. And serving dinner to new friends in our dining room. As we drove around town to show my parents Bridgeport, I could see us living here, thriving here.
But all the excitement and adventure of the new place doesn't take away all the sadness of leaving Broomfield. I have grown up here. Thirty one years of memories have been made here. And the last seven years of working for the church have changed my life and my faith in so many ways. This place has become more than a job to me...it is family. And in a month I am moving away from all my family to be with the many of my future.
Truly, bittersweet.
After a three hour drive on Saturday morning, it took 30 minutes to unload all these same boxes and furniture into our new home in Nebraska. And four and a half hours later, everything was set up and our little home took on new life.
It really is a great little house. Two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen, dining room, a large family room and office downstairs and a utility room with washer and dryer. And the best of all - a clothes line out back. I love it!
Before the move, Titus felt like he was a wanderer with no real home for the past several months. I promised to make him a home in Nebraska. And I feel I was able to do that this past weekend...or at least a great start.
I can see my life with him there. I can see us coming home after work and eating dinner together. Or relaxing and watching a movie downstairs. I can see my jeans hanging out on the clothes line. And serving dinner to new friends in our dining room. As we drove around town to show my parents Bridgeport, I could see us living here, thriving here.
But all the excitement and adventure of the new place doesn't take away all the sadness of leaving Broomfield. I have grown up here. Thirty one years of memories have been made here. And the last seven years of working for the church have changed my life and my faith in so many ways. This place has become more than a job to me...it is family. And in a month I am moving away from all my family to be with the many of my future.
Truly, bittersweet.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Stress? What stress?
Well, this week I realized that maybe I'm not handling the stress of this transition as well as I had thought. Monday morning I awoke to painful welts on the right side of my shoulder and back. By the end of the day they had little blisters inside the rash and overnight I was in pain and achy and sick. Between my self-diagnosis and mom's obsession with Google, we realized I am dealing with shingles. Ahh - the ultimate sign of stress in ones life.
But just what do I have to be stressed about? I don't feel overwhelmingly stressed, at least not all the time. There are SO MANY good things going on in my life. The stress is not over bad things - just stress over the amount of good things going on.
Titus and I have been blessed by his new job in Bridgeport, NE. It is a great opportunity for us to get right-side up financially and a fresh start for our new marriage. We fell in love with the town the first time we saw it and know that God will use us and bless us there.
In the course of 8 weeks here's what all is going to happen:
1.) move my apartment to NE at the end of July so Titus has a home to live in during August.
2.) move the rest of my stuff to my parent's for me while I live with them during August.
3.) potentially sell Titus' KS house and pack up everything there.
4.) find a new house in Norton, KS and move our KS belongings to that house.
5.) plan our wedding
6.) Titus starts his new job August 1st.
7.) I will transition out of my job at Colorado Ridge
8.) I am looking for a new job in Bridgeport.
9.) all the details of the parenting plan will be worked out for Titus and the kids' mom
I think that's the bulk of it. So yeah - I guess it's a little bit hectic...but like I said - it's all good stuff. There is just so much good stuff going on!
My life has almost always been busy. In fact, I prefer it that way. But even someone who thrives on the busy reaches their max, and I think I'm pretty close to that limit.
7 weeks to go. I think I can handle that.
But just what do I have to be stressed about? I don't feel overwhelmingly stressed, at least not all the time. There are SO MANY good things going on in my life. The stress is not over bad things - just stress over the amount of good things going on.
Titus and I have been blessed by his new job in Bridgeport, NE. It is a great opportunity for us to get right-side up financially and a fresh start for our new marriage. We fell in love with the town the first time we saw it and know that God will use us and bless us there.
In the course of 8 weeks here's what all is going to happen:
1.) move my apartment to NE at the end of July so Titus has a home to live in during August.
2.) move the rest of my stuff to my parent's for me while I live with them during August.
3.) potentially sell Titus' KS house and pack up everything there.
4.) find a new house in Norton, KS and move our KS belongings to that house.
5.) plan our wedding
6.) Titus starts his new job August 1st.
7.) I will transition out of my job at Colorado Ridge
8.) I am looking for a new job in Bridgeport.
9.) all the details of the parenting plan will be worked out for Titus and the kids' mom
I think that's the bulk of it. So yeah - I guess it's a little bit hectic...but like I said - it's all good stuff. There is just so much good stuff going on!
My life has almost always been busy. In fact, I prefer it that way. But even someone who thrives on the busy reaches their max, and I think I'm pretty close to that limit.
7 weeks to go. I think I can handle that.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Oh, the changes, they are a coming!
I sit here on this Saturday morning, digesting the many long conversations I've been having in the past couple of days. My entire world as I know it is about to change in the next two months. And I never thought I'd get excited at the prospect of moving to Nebraska, leaving the job I love at the church, or moving three hours away from my home town. But I am more than excited, I'm ready!
Starting this weekend and into this upcoming week, I will be packing up my apartment. My goal is to have everything boxed and stacked by the time we get ready to load the trailer on the 31st of July. Yes, the cattle trailer will once again be used to move my stuff to a new location. I will spend the first weekend of August getting our little house in Bridgeport set up with all my goods from my apartment here so that Titus is set up for the month he will live there alone before our wedding...I will be spending that month before our wedding in my parents basement.
As for the wedding, things are coming along well. I have decided to have my amazing friend, Amanda, sew the dresses for the girls. The pattern is selected and we go Monday to find the material. My goal is to have them made and mailed by the end of the month so that the WI girls can try them all on to make sure they fit and give us time to make adjustments if necessary. But my to-do list is getting smaller and I feel much more confident after pricing food and putting together a budget.
But the job...that's the one area of change I'm the least sure about. I am leaving a job that I have loved for seven years. I have been through some of the best and worst experiences of my life at this church. And the thought of leaving my job - not to mention the church - is something I haven't let myself think about too much. There is too much to do to transition out that I can't think about how much I'm going to miss the people and the work. Right now, I have no idea what and when I will start working in Bridgeport. I am confident God will provide something for me...I am praying for that now.
All these changes that are coming can be a bit overwhelming at times. But I continue on day-by-day doing what I need to do and preparing for all the changes that are coming in the next eight weeks.
Starting this weekend and into this upcoming week, I will be packing up my apartment. My goal is to have everything boxed and stacked by the time we get ready to load the trailer on the 31st of July. Yes, the cattle trailer will once again be used to move my stuff to a new location. I will spend the first weekend of August getting our little house in Bridgeport set up with all my goods from my apartment here so that Titus is set up for the month he will live there alone before our wedding...I will be spending that month before our wedding in my parents basement.
As for the wedding, things are coming along well. I have decided to have my amazing friend, Amanda, sew the dresses for the girls. The pattern is selected and we go Monday to find the material. My goal is to have them made and mailed by the end of the month so that the WI girls can try them all on to make sure they fit and give us time to make adjustments if necessary. But my to-do list is getting smaller and I feel much more confident after pricing food and putting together a budget.
But the job...that's the one area of change I'm the least sure about. I am leaving a job that I have loved for seven years. I have been through some of the best and worst experiences of my life at this church. And the thought of leaving my job - not to mention the church - is something I haven't let myself think about too much. There is too much to do to transition out that I can't think about how much I'm going to miss the people and the work. Right now, I have no idea what and when I will start working in Bridgeport. I am confident God will provide something for me...I am praying for that now.
All these changes that are coming can be a bit overwhelming at times. But I continue on day-by-day doing what I need to do and preparing for all the changes that are coming in the next eight weeks.
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