Saturday, January 31, 2009

Another Saturday of Babysitting...

I'm off to spend the day babysitting in Edgewater. I've been taking care of this little girl since she was 4 months old - now she's turning four next month! She's adorable and hardly ever gives me trouble, so I couldn't ask for a better weekend job :) Her vocabulary always makes me laugh too - like last weekend she said I was "irritating." Then a few weeks ago we walked outside to play and she told me it was "blustery." I asked her what blustery meant, to check if she actually understood, and she said, "It's windy Olyvia." Yes - exactly.

Matthew's car is a stick shift and I was supposed to drive it by myself today. You notice I wrote "supposed to." Well he's gone to photograph sports teams and took his car because I told him I just can't do it. Now, I've driven it about five times (all with him), but the last time I drove his car was maybe 5-6 months ago. It stresses me out. If we lived in the country, maybe - but we don't. Driving SR 436 is like being a part of a heard of animals, all steered by traffic lights, with never a moment to go the actual speed limit (unless you're driving on Sunday mornings). I went over every possible scenario in my mind and decided I'd be a danger to those around me if I drove his car today :) He needed my car to load up the photography equipment for this gig he has, but told me he'll make it all fit in his somehow (I honestly don't know how he'll do it). My husband loves me and I'm thankful for that! In frustration I told him I know I'm being a baby about it - he agreed, then kissed me on the forehead, told me he loved me, and said we'll practice driving tomorrow :)

So tomorrow I will learn to drive his car... again. This time I'll be confident! Thank goodness I have a very patient teacher.

Off to Edgewater I go!




Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Blueberry Waffles & Strawberry Milk

Here I sit with blueberry waffles for dinner and strawberry milk (my favorite drink!). I was suppose to tutor two students tonight, but the mother cancelled as I was driving to meet her. Hence the reason for the simple dinner. Oh well - at least I was able to see Matthew for a bit before he headed off to praise band practice. He plays guitar :)

I've been reading an excellent book lately - Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. When I crave and have time for great Christian fiction, I usually read books by Lori Wick. I have read every book of hers and highly recommend them! A lady at church gave me Redeeming Love to read recently and I was hesitant at first - mostly because I'm a devoted Lori Wick reader (silly, I know). Well, I began reading it and have become completely wrapped up in the story. It is a fictional representation of the biblical book Hosea. If you haven't read this book of the Bible, it is a short, intense read that reveals God's love for his people through the love of Hosea and the prostitute wife God chose for him. Incredible. I have fought back tears while reading Redeeming Love and can't wait to finish it! Read Hosea in the Bible first, before reading this book, and you're understanding and awe for God's love will certainly increase.

Besides reading my book, and this other book for a Book Club, I have been all consumed with getting paperwork accomplished for substitute teaching. Oh the hoops I must jump through. It'll be over soon and all I'll have to do is wait (hopefully no more than 2 weeks!) to hear back about acceptance. I can then venture out into the academic world once more and find my place. I miss being in a classroom! Best case scenario, at least in my opinion, would be finding a long term subbing position that transitioned into full time teaching. Anything can happen :)

I took some time to try out a new recipe today. West African Lime Cake - extremely simple to make, as well as a simple flavor. I am supposed to bring two on Friday night. I'll be heading into the Projects of Sanford for another monthly "girls' night." Me and a few other ladies from the church hang out with the teenage girls in that area for a few hours. We bring dinner and share some sort of devotion with them. It's Africa themed this month because one of the ladies is sharing about her trip to Uganda. I offered to find an African dessert - so lime cake it is. Matthew tasted the one I made today and loved it. Actually, he loved it so much that at practice tonight he ran into our small group leader and said I would bring two of the cakes for dessert on Monday! I love my thoughtful husband :) He did call to ask if it was ok... although it was after talking to our leader. Guess I'll be buying more limes. Maybe now he'll buy me a juicer!

Well, my glass of milk is empty and my husband is home. Time to go...

Friday, January 23, 2009

The apartment's clean...Food is made...now I wait

Tonight Matt & I are having the juniors and seniors from the youth group over to our place. We teach the 12th grade every other Sunday at church and decided it was time for another "night out." We're excited because it's our first somewhat big hosting event as a married couple! Matthew wanted to give it a fun title... so tonight is officially "Captain Planet's Home Party." :)


I'm not sure what prompted him to use Captain Planet - but it definitely grabs their attention. We even found Captain Planet's Planeteers Certificates to hand out! Basically we're just going to relax and hang out with the youth: playing the Wii and other video games, board games, maybe walk to the cheap movie theater. It's great getting to know them outside of Sunday School. I'll have to remember to take pictures.

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Last night was wonderful! My dad was in town on business and came by to have dinner with Matthew and I. We sat down to a bowl of rock soup that I had cooked and enjoyed conversation around the table. I absolutely love my dad - definitely a Daddy's Girl. He introduced us to this site called LinkedIn and we all sat on the couch with our laptops making profiles (nerds!). The night ended with the three of us playing some games on the Wii (it's always fun to watch dad play!). I have to say that it was a great feeling sitting in between the two men I love the most!


**Oh, so I have a funny "newlywed" story....
When Matthew gets out of the shower, or changes his clothes at all for that matter, his clothing winds up on the bathroom floor. We have a clothes hamper in the closet (just a few feet away!) but his clothes are rarely there. After a couple weeks of this, I kindly asked him to put his clothes in the hamper instead of throwing them on the floor... Ok, well maybe I didn't exactly use the kindest method of pointing out that his clothes don't belong there. I began by asking him if the clothes on the floor were dirty - knowing full well they were. Then I asked him, "Where might be a better place for the clothes?" Needless to say, "mothering" your husband isn't the best way to get a point across.
The next morning after Matt left for work I walked into the bathroom to find the hamper where his dirty clothes used to be. I laughed and moved the hamper right back into the closet. He's a smart one and I love him ;)


Well the youth should be here any minute...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

My First Blog!

So I've decided to try blogging... It's a new year and so much has happened recently that it's kind of one of my "new year's resolutions" to actively journal on a regular basis. I love journals and writing in them, but for the sake of time, a blog is much quicker :) 

I was married less than a month ago (more to come on that later!) and also graduated from university about two weeks before the wedding. A lot has changed for me and I want to use this blog to reflect on daily happenings - as well as allow family, friends, and others to see how the adventures of marriage and everyday life are progressing. It's such an exciting time! 

Now I can't promise an entry every day... but I will do my best to write as often as possible. There's always plenty to journal about!


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