Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Funny Things in Life
We have a trash can that doesn't fit regular-sized trash bags easily. The ones that fit perfectly, though, are way too expensive to buy. I figured out how to make the regular bags fit...you just have to wrap it tightly and fold some things over. It's really not that bad, but I guess Ryan feels like I've mastered it and he can't figure it out. He came home for lunch today and took the trash out... then I found this waiting on me. I'm glad I'm good for something. :-)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Great House Hunt
Looking at buying a house for the first time has to be one of the most stressful things two people can do together! We're just really getting started, and already I'm wondering if maybe the apartment life is really the best option for us for another year. :-)
We looked at several houses last year, even before we were "officially" engaged, but God made it pretty clear to us that we needed to wait on that for a least a year. Well, it's time again. Our lease isn't up until the end of August, but with the whole timeline that's involved, we really need to start seriously looking in order to potentially make an offer around early June. Exciting? Yes. Overwhelming? You betcha.
One of the girls I work with is a part-time realtor as well, so she and I browse through listings once or twice a week. We found one that we liked a lot in the online pictures in what we call our "old neighborhood." Last year, there was a house in this neighborhood that we were soooo close to making an offer on before somebody else came out of nowhere and bought it outright. Anyway, the house for sale there this year went under contract the day after we saw it online. Our "old neighborhood" seems to be somewhat unlucky for us!
Take 2 - my mom drove through a neighborhood in Springdale that looked really promising, and we looked at a couple of houses there last weekend. On the outside, they're beautiful. On the inside, total dumps. Also, when every other house is for sale in the neighborhood, and mostly on short sales (meaning they're near foreclosure), it doesn't feel like a long-term neighborhood potential for us as a family.
Take 3 - our first promising option! We looked at a house in the Johnson area on Saturday morning. It's bank-owned, so we'd have to buy it as-is, but it seems to only need paint (in every single room) and new carpet. This one feels a slight bit out of our price range, but if we can end up getting it down some, it could be a house that would last us 10-15 years because of the size and neighborhood. I love this house, but we felt like we needed to see some other viable options before declaring it a go.
Take 4 - we ran across a good-looking listing online, and as it turns out, it's owned by a dear member of our church. We looked at it last night, and while I really love the house, it's lacking quite a bit in terms of the neighborhood. The area is okay right now, but seems to be declining quickly. Still, it was really good to see another good option to compare to the Johnson house.
So that's where we're at right now. The hardest part of the whole process is that Ryan's parents are 8 1/2 hours away, and pictures can only do so good. We are so blessed to have them wanting to put down a down-payment for us on the house, so we really want to involve them as much as possible in the search. My parents are certainly helpful in that, as they can offer a home-owner's perspective to his parents that we aren't able to give.
This is certainly a process of great faith! I'm eager to see how God works in our hearts the whole way...and eager to have some extra living space so that we can start planning for babies to fill it. :-)
We looked at several houses last year, even before we were "officially" engaged, but God made it pretty clear to us that we needed to wait on that for a least a year. Well, it's time again. Our lease isn't up until the end of August, but with the whole timeline that's involved, we really need to start seriously looking in order to potentially make an offer around early June. Exciting? Yes. Overwhelming? You betcha.
One of the girls I work with is a part-time realtor as well, so she and I browse through listings once or twice a week. We found one that we liked a lot in the online pictures in what we call our "old neighborhood." Last year, there was a house in this neighborhood that we were soooo close to making an offer on before somebody else came out of nowhere and bought it outright. Anyway, the house for sale there this year went under contract the day after we saw it online. Our "old neighborhood" seems to be somewhat unlucky for us!
Take 2 - my mom drove through a neighborhood in Springdale that looked really promising, and we looked at a couple of houses there last weekend. On the outside, they're beautiful. On the inside, total dumps. Also, when every other house is for sale in the neighborhood, and mostly on short sales (meaning they're near foreclosure), it doesn't feel like a long-term neighborhood potential for us as a family.
Take 3 - our first promising option! We looked at a house in the Johnson area on Saturday morning. It's bank-owned, so we'd have to buy it as-is, but it seems to only need paint (in every single room) and new carpet. This one feels a slight bit out of our price range, but if we can end up getting it down some, it could be a house that would last us 10-15 years because of the size and neighborhood. I love this house, but we felt like we needed to see some other viable options before declaring it a go.
Take 4 - we ran across a good-looking listing online, and as it turns out, it's owned by a dear member of our church. We looked at it last night, and while I really love the house, it's lacking quite a bit in terms of the neighborhood. The area is okay right now, but seems to be declining quickly. Still, it was really good to see another good option to compare to the Johnson house.
So that's where we're at right now. The hardest part of the whole process is that Ryan's parents are 8 1/2 hours away, and pictures can only do so good. We are so blessed to have them wanting to put down a down-payment for us on the house, so we really want to involve them as much as possible in the search. My parents are certainly helpful in that, as they can offer a home-owner's perspective to his parents that we aren't able to give.
This is certainly a process of great faith! I'm eager to see how God works in our hearts the whole way...and eager to have some extra living space so that we can start planning for babies to fill it. :-)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It's Only Water...
 | |
| Three of these a day should be easy! |
I've been going to see a chiropractor for the past week or so because of terrible pain in my back and neck, and he's been pressuring me about drinking more water as well.
Then my mom recommended I look at the "diet manager" available for free on WebMD. It's almost exactly like the WeightWatchers program, only it's much more cost-effective!! My mom and I did WW together several years ago, and it was highly beneficial for both of us, but then we tried to manage it on our own without paying for the program and the weight slowly started coming back. Anyway, I figured I'd give it a go again....and there in bold print once again on the food logging screen it was harping about drinking 64 ounces of water a day.
I guess I should give commitment to this a go. I'll feel so much better, save money, avoid nagging, and feel a sense of accomplishment.
There's a good spiritual lesson in there, too, I think. Just translate:
"I'm constantly thirsty, but for some reason I always resort to diet sodas rather than than the water that would really satisfy my thirst"
to
"I'm constantly thirsty, but for some reason I always resort to sinful cravings rather than the true Living Water Who would really satisfy my thirst."
Perhaps drinking more physical water daily will serve as a reminder to go to the spiritual Water more consistently.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing
Sunday, May 1
9:15pm
I read on Twitter that the President was scheduled to speak at 9:30 and that we had no idea why. I was intrigued. I asked Ryan to switch over to Fox News.
9:25pm
My heart was racing. Geraldo Rivera was telling us that this kind of announcement was unprecedented and that it was a major development in the national security of the United States. Ryan checked my pulse. I was seriously getting nervous about what this was and how it might change my life.
9:42pm
I saw a teenager's post on Facebook declaring that Osama Bin Laden was dead. I assumed it was a joke, but then saw reports start to come in that it was official. My heart rate immediately calmed down, but then the thoughts started racing instead.
10:00pm
Thought process: Why are we rejoicing in the death of a unbeliever? Would the same people who pumped their fists at Bin Laden's death not mourn even my death? Bin Laden was no greater sinner than I in the eyes of God, even though in the eyes of the world he was a "monster." I remember so clearly sitting in my room soon after he was declared the villain behind 9/11 and weeping in prayer for this man. I desperately longed for his redemption, and mourn tonight assuming that he will face eternal damnation. Why is the world rejoicing over this?
10:05pm
I have a heart-to-heart with my husband, who tries to understand, interpret and explain my feelings. Thankfully, we started seeing Tweets and Facebook posts from those wiser than us. For example, from Dr. Russell Moore: "The sword of justice, when exercised justly, is a minister of God's righteousness. Rom. 13."
10:15pm
I am choosing to find my joy in the justice and righteousness of God being put on display throughout the world right now. I am sorrowful in the death of an unbelieving sinner, just as would be the case with the death of any unbelieving sinner. I have wept because of the actions of one man, Osama Bin Laden, actions that cost the lives of thousands of men and women, and I weep now at the price he will pay eternally for his own sin; however, I will forever rejoice in the one act of one Man, Jesus Christ, an act that cost Him everything but that saved my life and the lives of each and every one of His children from suffering the penalty of our sins.
I am sorrowful, yet I will always be rejoicing.
9:15pm
I read on Twitter that the President was scheduled to speak at 9:30 and that we had no idea why. I was intrigued. I asked Ryan to switch over to Fox News.
9:25pm
My heart was racing. Geraldo Rivera was telling us that this kind of announcement was unprecedented and that it was a major development in the national security of the United States. Ryan checked my pulse. I was seriously getting nervous about what this was and how it might change my life.
9:42pm
I saw a teenager's post on Facebook declaring that Osama Bin Laden was dead. I assumed it was a joke, but then saw reports start to come in that it was official. My heart rate immediately calmed down, but then the thoughts started racing instead.
10:00pm
Thought process: Why are we rejoicing in the death of a unbeliever? Would the same people who pumped their fists at Bin Laden's death not mourn even my death? Bin Laden was no greater sinner than I in the eyes of God, even though in the eyes of the world he was a "monster." I remember so clearly sitting in my room soon after he was declared the villain behind 9/11 and weeping in prayer for this man. I desperately longed for his redemption, and mourn tonight assuming that he will face eternal damnation. Why is the world rejoicing over this?
10:05pm
I have a heart-to-heart with my husband, who tries to understand, interpret and explain my feelings. Thankfully, we started seeing Tweets and Facebook posts from those wiser than us. For example, from Dr. Russell Moore: "The sword of justice, when exercised justly, is a minister of God's righteousness. Rom. 13."
10:15pm
I am choosing to find my joy in the justice and righteousness of God being put on display throughout the world right now. I am sorrowful in the death of an unbelieving sinner, just as would be the case with the death of any unbelieving sinner. I have wept because of the actions of one man, Osama Bin Laden, actions that cost the lives of thousands of men and women, and I weep now at the price he will pay eternally for his own sin; however, I will forever rejoice in the one act of one Man, Jesus Christ, an act that cost Him everything but that saved my life and the lives of each and every one of His children from suffering the penalty of our sins.
I am sorrowful, yet I will always be rejoicing.
On Again, Off Again
My cooking skills are as inconsistent as the Razorback baseball team right now. It's either really good, or fails late in the 9th inning. Perfect example is below:
What began as a perfectly beautiful skillet full of okra, yellow squash and onions...
Ended up as a horrible gooey mess of vegetables and charred remains of vegetables.
I love fried okra and squash, and I've seen my mom fry it many times. For some reason, though, I never noticed that she began with grease. Lesson learned: critical ingredient.
At least the barbecued chicken and rice was good. We have leftover dessert made by a wonderful cook and dear friend...the perfect way to nurse my pride. :-)
What began as a perfectly beautiful skillet full of okra, yellow squash and onions...
Ended up as a horrible gooey mess of vegetables and charred remains of vegetables.
I love fried okra and squash, and I've seen my mom fry it many times. For some reason, though, I never noticed that she began with grease. Lesson learned: critical ingredient.
At least the barbecued chicken and rice was good. We have leftover dessert made by a wonderful cook and dear friend...the perfect way to nurse my pride. :-)
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