On Thursday this week, Reed told me that I couldn't schedule an eye appointment Saturday afternoon because he had a little surprise for me Saturday afternoon. I had NO idea we were doing anything other than Habitat on Saturday and naturally my curiosity became a burning fire inside of me
But Reed wouldn't budge, all he would tell me was that it didn't cost any money whatsoever and that I would MUCH rather be doing this than going to an eye appointment. These "clues" were so vague, that I decided just to give up on asking, because I had no clue what we would be doing that didn't cost any money...so I decided to suck it up and wait.
Now on Friday night, we were planning on having dinner with Reed's parents because we hadn't seen them in forever. I left work at around 6:30 and got home around 7:30. We headed down the road to his parents house and finally, when we got there, Reed told me that he thought someone else might be there cause a car was in the back driveway. I was curious and when we walked in the front door, all I could see was some girl with blond hair in the kitchen...I was confused cause we didn't know anyone from Dallas with blond hair.
THEN...out of nowhere, my MOM pops out from behind the door. And the blond girl, was my SISTER! That was the surprise! My mom and sister surprised me and came to visit :)
It was the best surprise EVER :) I have had a REALLY hard past couple of weeks just from feeling tired all the time to feeling like I wasn't doing so well at work. And even though I didn't know it, having them spend a day and a half with us was EXACTLY what I needed. Just to have my family, who is always loving and encouraging, there for me.
We had dinner that evening and I was so giddy the whole time...part of me wanted to cry because I was so happy/touched but I held it in ;). The next morning, Reed and I went to our Habitat build (which was so much better than I though it would be. I was glad to be there, but was nervous I wouldn't know how to do everything they were telling us to do, but I did, YAY) and after the build we came home and hung out with my mom and sister all afternoon. We went to bed bath and beyond for a little bit, but mostly we just talked about life and my mom gave me recipes and we just were together :)
Later that night, we went to my CPA exam dinner. This had been planned for a while because Reed's parents wanted to take me out for passing the exam first time. We went to this REALLY REALLY nice Mexican City cuisine restaurant named Javier's. It was so neat that my mom and sister got to join us for my CPA exam celebration dinner. We all got dressed up and had a great time! We came back and played wii (I passed out around 9:30 sadly, cause I was a little tired from the work week and habitat), but overall the whole day was amazing.
This morning, we took my mom and sister to church and then to Einstein Bagels before they headed out. It was just a great weekend...and so needed. I guess I just needed a break with my family :)
And I was so blessed by it :)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wow it's been a while....
I'm sorry that I have not been very faithful in updating on my life. I truly LOVE blogs, I love that I can follow up with people easily and it helps me feel connected with people that may not live around us anymore....that's why I have loved writing too. I really do enjoy updating people on our lives, but lately I have been such a bum!
SO really quickly, I want to reach out and say that I'm alive and well!
Work has taken me by storm and I've found it much harder to get motivated and post about my life. Danielle actually called me the other day and was asking me what is going on, what's happening in life and as sad as it was, right now, work is happening. The weekends are definitely work free (except maybe a couple of hours on Sunday, not too bad), but for the most part, I spend a BIG chunk of my time working (right now it is around 50 hours a week).
How do my days look?
I wake up anywhere from 6:00-6:30, depending on how tired my body is hehe. I usually get to work around 8:00-8:30AM and leave between 6:00-7:30PM, depending on the amount of work I have gotten done throughout the day and whether or not I work while I eat lunch etc.
I get home and usually am brain dead. Sometimes I handle this well, but lately I feel like I have not been a very fun person to be around during this time. One thing I will say, God had used work to reveal a lot of the ugly and negative sides of me. I tend to come home exhausted and instead of bringing joy into the house, I bring my selfish self in, feeling like I deserve to just act grumpy and tired. I'm glad God is faithful and showing me this so that I can work on loving Reed better in the evenings when I get home.
Reed usually starts dinner before I get home and I help him fininsh. We eat, usually watch a little baseball (or any other sport) and then we just vegg until 9:30 when I start getting ready for bed again.
Now, I know this sounds like the monotonous work life that everyone dreads and I guess it is a little, I definitely have a pretty rigid routine throughout the week days...BUT I've been growing a lot as a person through this adjustment to the working life.
Here is just a short list of the areas I've either grown or at least seen areas that I need to work on:
1. Embracing quiet times with the Lord and taking time out of the day to enjoy Him and His Word (still learning this one)
2. Time management
3. How to handle stress (DEFINITELY still learning)
4. How to go to bed and stop thinking about work (I have to force myself to stop thinking about it so that I can really BE at home)
5. Finding purpose at work (like if my life is completely for the Lord, how do I not get caught up in the wordly things but seek to honor and serve God at work?)
6. Learning to make the most of my time at home with Reed...especially when it comes to appreciating him and what he does (he makes me coffee in the mornings, makes me a lunch everyday and gets dinner started for me every evening :) :) )
SO that is my life, it's been bumpy as I've been trying to learn to adjust and sometimes I've felt so overwhelmed that I've failed to keep in touch with the outside world. I promise I'm working on changing that :)
Until next time ;)
SO really quickly, I want to reach out and say that I'm alive and well!
Work has taken me by storm and I've found it much harder to get motivated and post about my life. Danielle actually called me the other day and was asking me what is going on, what's happening in life and as sad as it was, right now, work is happening. The weekends are definitely work free (except maybe a couple of hours on Sunday, not too bad), but for the most part, I spend a BIG chunk of my time working (right now it is around 50 hours a week).
How do my days look?
I wake up anywhere from 6:00-6:30, depending on how tired my body is hehe. I usually get to work around 8:00-8:30AM and leave between 6:00-7:30PM, depending on the amount of work I have gotten done throughout the day and whether or not I work while I eat lunch etc.
I get home and usually am brain dead. Sometimes I handle this well, but lately I feel like I have not been a very fun person to be around during this time. One thing I will say, God had used work to reveal a lot of the ugly and negative sides of me. I tend to come home exhausted and instead of bringing joy into the house, I bring my selfish self in, feeling like I deserve to just act grumpy and tired. I'm glad God is faithful and showing me this so that I can work on loving Reed better in the evenings when I get home.
Reed usually starts dinner before I get home and I help him fininsh. We eat, usually watch a little baseball (or any other sport) and then we just vegg until 9:30 when I start getting ready for bed again.
Now, I know this sounds like the monotonous work life that everyone dreads and I guess it is a little, I definitely have a pretty rigid routine throughout the week days...BUT I've been growing a lot as a person through this adjustment to the working life.
Here is just a short list of the areas I've either grown or at least seen areas that I need to work on:
1. Embracing quiet times with the Lord and taking time out of the day to enjoy Him and His Word (still learning this one)
2. Time management
3. How to handle stress (DEFINITELY still learning)
4. How to go to bed and stop thinking about work (I have to force myself to stop thinking about it so that I can really BE at home)
5. Finding purpose at work (like if my life is completely for the Lord, how do I not get caught up in the wordly things but seek to honor and serve God at work?)
6. Learning to make the most of my time at home with Reed...especially when it comes to appreciating him and what he does (he makes me coffee in the mornings, makes me a lunch everyday and gets dinner started for me every evening :) :) )
SO that is my life, it's been bumpy as I've been trying to learn to adjust and sometimes I've felt so overwhelmed that I've failed to keep in touch with the outside world. I promise I'm working on changing that :)
Until next time ;)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Another reason why I hate walmart
Reed here.
Anyone living in the Dallas area today will certainly attest to the fact that it has been raining cats and dogs ALL day today. I personally enjoy this weather, particularly when it is sandwiched in between lovely weather like we have been having recently. Its a nice little curve ball (I couldn't resist the sports analogy there, especially with the baseball playoffs in full swing).
The reason I am loathing walmart at present has to do with my umbrella. Jess and I went to walmart probably around a month ago now, because it was raining that day and we both needed new umbrellas. Normally we would go to Target for something like that, but we were on our way home, and there happens to be a super (yeah right) walmart close to our apartment. I only needed something small, and there were some ok looking ones for only $5, so I got one.
I got what I paid for.
I have used the infernal thing no more than 3 times now, and it is already starting to fall apart! I really wish more companies would take the time to make a lasting product. I guess I should also admit that I should be willing to pay a little more for the quality that I desire.
The whole thing just reminded me how disgusted I am that walmart has become an integral part of our society. To be honest I do admire them in a few, select ways. If you are out to simply make a profit, they have a rather remarkable business model. The fact that 3 members of the Walton family are among the 6 richest individuals in America attests to that. But the fact that they pressure their suppliers to produce items at as low a cost as possible leads to corners being skipped, or workers being unfairly treated, so that in turn leads to a drop off in quality. Walmart sells so many things that are really just pieces of junk, but because those pieces of junk are so cheap, people keep going back to buy the same junk over and over again. Even people like myself that despise the store buy things there from time to time, simply because of the price, and the "deal" we think we are getting. The brand of consumerism that they perpetuate sickens me, plain and simple.
The Wal-mart Effect, by Charles Fishman, far better articulates many of the points that I have inadequately tried to express.
Ok, now that I am finished with that rant, Jess is a little run down from work over the last few weeks and not feeling well as a result. Please pray for her, that her health would be good, and even more importantly that the Lord will continue to give her a good attitude towards her job so that she can bring Him glory. School is still going well, but I have definately reached the point where I am ready for the semester to be over. Hopefully I will still put a priority on studying and doing more than just "getting by".
Anyone living in the Dallas area today will certainly attest to the fact that it has been raining cats and dogs ALL day today. I personally enjoy this weather, particularly when it is sandwiched in between lovely weather like we have been having recently. Its a nice little curve ball (I couldn't resist the sports analogy there, especially with the baseball playoffs in full swing).
The reason I am loathing walmart at present has to do with my umbrella. Jess and I went to walmart probably around a month ago now, because it was raining that day and we both needed new umbrellas. Normally we would go to Target for something like that, but we were on our way home, and there happens to be a super (yeah right) walmart close to our apartment. I only needed something small, and there were some ok looking ones for only $5, so I got one.
I got what I paid for.
I have used the infernal thing no more than 3 times now, and it is already starting to fall apart! I really wish more companies would take the time to make a lasting product. I guess I should also admit that I should be willing to pay a little more for the quality that I desire.
The whole thing just reminded me how disgusted I am that walmart has become an integral part of our society. To be honest I do admire them in a few, select ways. If you are out to simply make a profit, they have a rather remarkable business model. The fact that 3 members of the Walton family are among the 6 richest individuals in America attests to that. But the fact that they pressure their suppliers to produce items at as low a cost as possible leads to corners being skipped, or workers being unfairly treated, so that in turn leads to a drop off in quality. Walmart sells so many things that are really just pieces of junk, but because those pieces of junk are so cheap, people keep going back to buy the same junk over and over again. Even people like myself that despise the store buy things there from time to time, simply because of the price, and the "deal" we think we are getting. The brand of consumerism that they perpetuate sickens me, plain and simple.
The Wal-mart Effect, by Charles Fishman, far better articulates many of the points that I have inadequately tried to express.
Ok, now that I am finished with that rant, Jess is a little run down from work over the last few weeks and not feeling well as a result. Please pray for her, that her health would be good, and even more importantly that the Lord will continue to give her a good attitude towards her job so that she can bring Him glory. School is still going well, but I have definately reached the point where I am ready for the semester to be over. Hopefully I will still put a priority on studying and doing more than just "getting by".
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Random Thoughts...
I get to go to the chiropractor tonight! I'm so excited! My neck needs it! Like REALLY bad needs it, plus this guy let's Reed come in so the three of us visit while he adjusts my neck! It's like a little hang out :)
In other news, I'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday...the past couple I haven't gotten to, but ya know what, every once and a while, you just need a good sleep in Saturday morning! Plus my throat feels yucky lately and I think resting will help.
Dang flu going around. I REALLY hope I don't catch it.
Alright, sorry for the short update, just taking a quick little break!
In other news, I'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday...the past couple I haven't gotten to, but ya know what, every once and a while, you just need a good sleep in Saturday morning! Plus my throat feels yucky lately and I think resting will help.
Dang flu going around. I REALLY hope I don't catch it.
Alright, sorry for the short update, just taking a quick little break!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Confession
I need some prayer right now...
I have been idolizing cars lately. My beetle recently had to have a rebuilt engine put in ($2000 August) and then just yesterday we picked it up from the shope for some other $350 dollar expense. Then this morning the check engine light came on again...I called Reed and apparently the catalytic converter isn't quite right from the last time it got replaced, so the repair guys left it and told Reed we should take it back to the shop who first did it so they can fix it for free.
Everytime something goes wrong with it, I instantly let my mind reel on ways that we can fix it.
I am having a hard time not taking control and just simply trusting and knowing that God WILL provide. Not might, but will.
It's hard, because I get frustrated about having a car that breaks all the time. I really WANT either to win or just get a new car. I will be honest, I feel like I deserve it. To the point where that is all my mind thinkgs about.
It's become and idol in my thoughts which is reflective of where my heart is.
So yeah, if you could pray for me, not for a car, but for this idol to be removed. That my heart would solely belong to the Lord and that I would let the things of this world drift off my thoughts like the fleeting things they are.
Lord, help me to experience YOU today and everyday...help me to let that be more than enough for me. Help to free me from the things of the world that pull on my heart, specifically a car. Help me to have true faith. Help me to walk in that faith, especially when things do not go according to my plan. Amen.
I have been idolizing cars lately. My beetle recently had to have a rebuilt engine put in ($2000 August) and then just yesterday we picked it up from the shope for some other $350 dollar expense. Then this morning the check engine light came on again...I called Reed and apparently the catalytic converter isn't quite right from the last time it got replaced, so the repair guys left it and told Reed we should take it back to the shop who first did it so they can fix it for free.
Everytime something goes wrong with it, I instantly let my mind reel on ways that we can fix it.
I am having a hard time not taking control and just simply trusting and knowing that God WILL provide. Not might, but will.
It's hard, because I get frustrated about having a car that breaks all the time. I really WANT either to win or just get a new car. I will be honest, I feel like I deserve it. To the point where that is all my mind thinkgs about.
It's become and idol in my thoughts which is reflective of where my heart is.
So yeah, if you could pray for me, not for a car, but for this idol to be removed. That my heart would solely belong to the Lord and that I would let the things of this world drift off my thoughts like the fleeting things they are.
Lord, help me to experience YOU today and everyday...help me to let that be more than enough for me. Help to free me from the things of the world that pull on my heart, specifically a car. Help me to have true faith. Help me to walk in that faith, especially when things do not go according to my plan. Amen.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Workin Hard For the Money
That's why I haven't blogged in a while...a real 10 hour a day job has caught me by storm and not to mention the 80 mile roundtrip that goes with it (I'm located in Fort Worth at the moment)
I really have been working like crazy! Work life has been quite an adjustment, but honestly, not as bad as I had thought.
Some mornings, I must admit, it's hard to wake up early (believe it or not readers, I wake up at 5:50 AM everyday to get out of the house by 6:50), but overall I enjoy what I do. Sometimes its stressful, but overall it's challenging and, dare I say, fulfilling? I must admit, this positive attitude is not from me...God has been so faithful and good to work in me and give me an amazing perspective on things.
Speaking of the Lord...I've been just in AWE of how amazing God is and how clearly He works! I mean sometimes I just can't believe how much I don't see the beauty and majesty that are in the ordinary things. And isn't that just how God works, He makes us look at the ordinary to see His might and power (I mean Jesus was an ordinary carpenter's son and a King whose triumphant entry was on an ordinary donkey).
The ordinary right now is my day-to-day life. I'm not going through a crisis, I'm not living the dream in a different country, I'm not out doing mission work all the time, and I most definitely am not doing anything that would appear glamorous or amazing for the Lord.
YET, He is still meeting me and challenging me through the ordinary, my experiences at work and at home and with family. Every moment can bring glory to Him. It's blowing my mind how much He is teaching me right now. I can't even put a finger on it all, but I experience God so much...and most of my time is spent at work!
I guess I am realizing that although our society describe's work as a mundane cycle of boring, nothingness, I'm experiencing God moving every day. Challenging me to show His light and love more and more. Whether that is in daily interactions with Reed, or maybe even just encouraging coworkers who are taking the CPA exam, I feel God's presence and it gives me joy.
I promise I want to try and blog more, I REALLY want to keep everyone up to date on life, especially with how God is moving at our church, it's amazing! He is so MIGHTY!
So hold me to it! Make me keep you in the loop! I don't want to keep you in the dark ;)
I really have been working like crazy! Work life has been quite an adjustment, but honestly, not as bad as I had thought.
Some mornings, I must admit, it's hard to wake up early (believe it or not readers, I wake up at 5:50 AM everyday to get out of the house by 6:50), but overall I enjoy what I do. Sometimes its stressful, but overall it's challenging and, dare I say, fulfilling? I must admit, this positive attitude is not from me...God has been so faithful and good to work in me and give me an amazing perspective on things.
Speaking of the Lord...I've been just in AWE of how amazing God is and how clearly He works! I mean sometimes I just can't believe how much I don't see the beauty and majesty that are in the ordinary things. And isn't that just how God works, He makes us look at the ordinary to see His might and power (I mean Jesus was an ordinary carpenter's son and a King whose triumphant entry was on an ordinary donkey).
The ordinary right now is my day-to-day life. I'm not going through a crisis, I'm not living the dream in a different country, I'm not out doing mission work all the time, and I most definitely am not doing anything that would appear glamorous or amazing for the Lord.
YET, He is still meeting me and challenging me through the ordinary, my experiences at work and at home and with family. Every moment can bring glory to Him. It's blowing my mind how much He is teaching me right now. I can't even put a finger on it all, but I experience God so much...and most of my time is spent at work!
I guess I am realizing that although our society describe's work as a mundane cycle of boring, nothingness, I'm experiencing God moving every day. Challenging me to show His light and love more and more. Whether that is in daily interactions with Reed, or maybe even just encouraging coworkers who are taking the CPA exam, I feel God's presence and it gives me joy.
I promise I want to try and blog more, I REALLY want to keep everyone up to date on life, especially with how God is moving at our church, it's amazing! He is so MIGHTY!
So hold me to it! Make me keep you in the loop! I don't want to keep you in the dark ;)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The grind
Reed here.
Hello everyone, its certainly been a long time since I've left a post. I'm really tempted right now to make some witty reference to coffee and how its a metaphor or symbol of modern life and how this whole post will be allegorical and just spectacularly hilarious...
But I've got nothin. Just a bunch of hot air, and a Spanish quiz to study for, which at least should require some of my attention and mental faculty.
Where to start? Well, let me just say that it is better than amazing to have my wife back! The 2 weeks she was in New Jersey were no picnic. It was incredibly difficult to just focus on anything, and it is a wonder that I got all of my school work done. Even simple things such as sleeping were hard, and I didn't particularly pay attention to the little every day details, you know, like keeping the apartment clean and shaving. It is amazing how in 2 short weeks I can go from a respectable looking husband to a grizzly mountain man. I feel somewhat obligated to include a picture of the beard, but sorry, you're not getting one. While the beard was certainly a little scratchy and unpleasant, it was worth it simply for the personal entertainment of shaving it off in creative ways. Chinstraps and funky looking mustaches and goatee's amuse me for some reason, especially when they are on my face. I guess I am just easily amused :)
Well, Jessica and I are now trying to get used to her working 10 hour days, on top of my school work that continues to accumulate. The rough thing for Jessica is that she has been assigned to clients in Fort Worth until at least February, which means a 50 minute to hour drive each way. It makes my 40 minute commute to Denton every day seem easy, even though I feel like small parts of each of us are being ground into the pavement that we travel over every day (witty reference, get it... ha ha, man I'm hilarious...).
On a more serious note, all of this driving makes us wonder if Jessica's car will hold up. The check engine light has come back on in the beetle, so we've spent a few hours the last few days researching crossover suv's. If we had the money, we like the rav4. There were curiously some poor reviews for the honda crv. However this shakes out, we are just simply trying to dwell in the faith that the Lord will provide us with everything we need. I mean, He did save us from our sin, I think a troublesome car should be no sweat for Him ;)
Hello everyone, its certainly been a long time since I've left a post. I'm really tempted right now to make some witty reference to coffee and how its a metaphor or symbol of modern life and how this whole post will be allegorical and just spectacularly hilarious...
But I've got nothin. Just a bunch of hot air, and a Spanish quiz to study for, which at least should require some of my attention and mental faculty.
Where to start? Well, let me just say that it is better than amazing to have my wife back! The 2 weeks she was in New Jersey were no picnic. It was incredibly difficult to just focus on anything, and it is a wonder that I got all of my school work done. Even simple things such as sleeping were hard, and I didn't particularly pay attention to the little every day details, you know, like keeping the apartment clean and shaving. It is amazing how in 2 short weeks I can go from a respectable looking husband to a grizzly mountain man. I feel somewhat obligated to include a picture of the beard, but sorry, you're not getting one. While the beard was certainly a little scratchy and unpleasant, it was worth it simply for the personal entertainment of shaving it off in creative ways. Chinstraps and funky looking mustaches and goatee's amuse me for some reason, especially when they are on my face. I guess I am just easily amused :)
Well, Jessica and I are now trying to get used to her working 10 hour days, on top of my school work that continues to accumulate. The rough thing for Jessica is that she has been assigned to clients in Fort Worth until at least February, which means a 50 minute to hour drive each way. It makes my 40 minute commute to Denton every day seem easy, even though I feel like small parts of each of us are being ground into the pavement that we travel over every day (witty reference, get it... ha ha, man I'm hilarious...).
On a more serious note, all of this driving makes us wonder if Jessica's car will hold up. The check engine light has come back on in the beetle, so we've spent a few hours the last few days researching crossover suv's. If we had the money, we like the rav4. There were curiously some poor reviews for the honda crv. However this shakes out, we are just simply trying to dwell in the faith that the Lord will provide us with everything we need. I mean, He did save us from our sin, I think a troublesome car should be no sweat for Him ;)
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