Homeward Bound

I'm so excited.

This time next week, Ryan and I will be in Arkansas! We're so thankful that we get to spend Christmas with our families next week. It will be a short trip, so we won't get to see everyone that we want to, but we're glad we'll be with family. Christmastime seems to get better and better as I get older.

I can't believe this year is almost over. What a year it has been! I've gotten married to my perfect soul-mate and we moved to a new city and made amazing new friends. The only downside is we miss our Arkansan peeps. Many nights Ryan and I will reminisce about college days and the year "off" that we took. We had so many good times. (Thank the Lord for Facebook so I can stalk all of you!) This year has been a great learning year. People always tell you about marriage, but you really don't know anything until you're there. We're thankful for the preparation we did receive from our pastors and mentors. It's been very helpful. I'm glad that Ryan and I know that marriage is not only for happiness, but for holiness. We know that when things aren't quite right, it's because we're sinful and the Lord is smoothing out our edges and refining us. Ryan has been the best sanctification tool outside the Holy Spirit and I am so thankful for him. It hasn't even been a year and I can already see how the Lord has been changing us. I'm told the "newlywed" ooey gooey phase will eventually fade, but knowing that marriage serves a greater purpose than making us "feel good" gives me great hope that we'll be together forever.

I'm really looking forward to next year for one big reason: I'll be an aunt! It'll be so exciting to have a baby in the family again. The last one we had was Alex and he is 16 now (oh my gosh).  I know my mom is thrilled and it'll be fun to see my dad as grandpa. I can't wait to spoil that cute bundle of joy!
I'll be 24 next month and that sounds weird. I'm sure I'll be one of those people who won't be able to handle the transition to her 30s well since I'm already freaking about my mid 20s. I still don't feel like an adult. I'm pretty sure I never will. Ask Ryan. I still dance and sing in the living room like a 3 year old. I'm a total dork.

Well friends I hope I get to see some of you next week! If not it's only because we were there for the weekend and just ran out of time! May the Lord bless your time with family and friends this Christmas. Thank you Father for sending your Son to the earth for our redemption. You are truly good. We are nothing without You.

Merry Christmas!

Birthday!

Happy 24th Birthday

to my favorite man in the world!

I love that you wanted to date me after I made you that cake 2 years ago. Thanks Brad Morgan for giving me the great idea for making it in the Ninja Turtle pan.

You're amazing and wonderful! Thank you for the best 2 years of my life so far. I'm so excited to be on this adventure with you!!!

Encouraging a Fun Marriage

For SWI we had an assignment in which we had to either 1) develop a plan to get over our fear of public speaking 2) write a quick speech on a topic of personal interest or 3) write out questions that may come up during an interview with a pastor/staff search committee and your answers to them. I quickly jumped on the topical speech and as I was writing it, I thought it might be fun to share it with more than just the grader. I wrote the speech on one of my passions-marriage. I'm sickened by the view on marriage that our current society holds so I wanted to speak on how to encourage those who are married to have a fun marriage and try to change that view that is so dismal. Now, I know I've only been married 7 months, but thankfully, I've gleaned some wisdom from women who have been married much longer. I've placed my ideas into practice, and I must say I love how fun my marriage to Ryan is. So here is my homework assignment verbatim. Hope you enjoy! Also, if you have other ideas to make marriage fun, post them please! 

               

                I love having fun. Who doesn’t? Laughing and having a good time are always things I am up for. I feel that too many people think that having fun is a waste of time or counter-productive. These people are usually depressed, stressed to the max, or really grumpy or angry most of the time. Why would you want to live like that? I’m not trying to say that we shouldn’t work or be productive or even be serious sometimes, but I think a life full of fun and laughter is just better. God created fun. God created laughter. He made things for our enjoyment because He is gracious and loves us. Shouldn’t we enjoy them fully and declare His glory in them? Although I could go on and on about enjoying God’s creations and worshiping Him through that enjoyment, I want to focus on one area in particular: marriage. We live in a world that doesn’t value marriage very much. Divorce rates are through the roof and people are staying single longer so that they can enjoy life first….and then get married. I want to show how enjoying life increases when marriage comes, not the other way around.

                First, be silly. This is something that my husband and I do frequently. We talk in goofy voices, we make up funny dances, we play silly games. When you can be silly with your spouse there is some serious “one-ness” going on. Your guard is totally let down. You’re being vulnerable. You’re letting him see the goofy stuff that’s in your head. He is accepting who you are, encouraging your creativity, and loving you deeply. You’re also doing the same things for him. Let’s face it, we all do weird stuff, we just don’t let anyone see it. We’re so afraid of what people will think. Because of that mindset there is some degree of disconnect with those around us. When you get out of that shell with your husband, there is huge bonding that happens. For me, it has encouraged me to be more real and transparent and truly increases my effectiveness in ministry.

                Second, get cuddling! This is a HUGE one for me. Physical touch is my primary love language. In my pre-sleep ritual, I have to have 5-10 minutes of quality cuddling. For me, cuddling helps me feel safe and secure. When my husband is holding me it communicates “I’m going to care for you and protect you.” This may be a more intimate moment than fun, but we like to mix in some silliness sometimes. Knowing I can truly trust my husband makes our marriage very fun.

                Lastly, DATE NIGHT, DATE NIGHT, DATE NIGHT. To have a fun marriage you have to mix fun into it! Date night is a chance to make great memories to look back on. One of my favorite date nights was actually last week. My husband and I went to eat at Chili’s (our favorite) and watch a movie. Dinner and a movie is a classic date night and it is our favorite date night to do. At dinner we got to talk and share some “us” time and my sweet husband shared his heart by telling me how much he appreciated me being so understand while he has been busy every night with homework. My heart melted. This man loves me and doesn’t take me for granted. He really does want me by his side! Next, we followed up dinner by seeing Megamind. We are still kids at heart and love watching animated movies. This one was especially great because Will Ferrell and Tina Fey were voices in it: two more of our favorites! We love watching movies because we talk about them at length afterward. Usually with comedies, we pick a few lines to quote frequently. It creates a memory or an inside joke that only we have. That night was incredible. It was simple but it was perfect. Make date night special. It can look a hundred different ways, but find time to get alone with you man and cherish each other.

                Hopefully, I’ve provided some ways to encourage a fun marriage. Sure, there will bumps in your marital road, but those should be exceptions, not the rule. Delight in one-another like the couple in Song of Solomon. Enjoy this life as you share it with your best friend who knows you better than anyone! Through our marriages, may we be an example of love to those who do not know it.

Baby Fever

Real quick...no, we're not pregnant.

Not that anybody thought we were.

I've been stuggling with contentment. Not in the way that I wish we had a different house or lived in a different place or wish we had more money, but in that I really want a baby. It seems like every other woman I see is pregnant or has a small child. There's got to be something in the water up here. I know right now is definitely not the time to bring a child into the world. For one, we cannot afford it. Two, Ryan is in school and having a baby would mean he would have to take less hours and work more. Three, I really want to be a stay-at-home mom and in our situation, that just would not be possible. Four, we've only been married about 7 months! I'm just now getting used to living with a man so bringing a baby in could be chaotic.

I'm not saying people are wrong for having a baby in the circumstances we are in. I know the Lord would absolutely provide if we were to be blessed with a child. We simply want to be good stewards with what He has given us. First and foremost, we want our children to have a parents who love Jesus and each other deeply. We're trying to figure this whole marriage thing out and we know the best gift we can give to our kids is a loving, gospel-centered marriage. Second, we want to be able to have me stay at home and be the primary care-giver of our children. There's nothing wrong with working moms, but we believe it is best for me to stay home than to pay a stranger to raise them. Third, we would like Ryan to graduate from seminary in a reasonable amount of time. Fourth, we would really like to have a little more financial stability, but ultimately this is up to the Lord and how he chooses to bless us.

I think I'm mostly posting all this as a reminder to myself to wait. Obviously I can't "make a baby" on my own, but I also want my heart in the right place and to not cause my sweet husband grief. Ryan loves children and we want to have a big family, but he is definitely the level-headed one and often has to tell me how impractical it is for us to have kids now and in the next 3-4 years.

The Lord knows my heart. I am excited for the day that He gives us the amazing gift of tending a precious soul. In the meantime, I refuse to let my thoughts dwell on what I don't have. Lord, stir up contentment within me.

Philippians 4:11-13

"...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Fall so far...

I love October. It is probably my favorite month. So far October has been WONDERFUL in Louisville. Sorry for the lack of update folks. This one should be full!
This weekend Ryan's grandparents came to visit us and we had such a wonderful time! We always love when they come to visit. This weekend was also Ryan's and my 6 monthiversary. It's crazy to think we've already been married 6 months! I'm so blessed to be married to my best friend. As our gift to ourselves (and from Grandmama and Granddad) we got a futon for the living room. Sadly our couch couldn't make it through our apartment door so for the first few months we only had a love seat. We decided to get a futon so that we could solve our awkward seating problem and be able to have friends over (finally!). After Ryan and Granddad put it together, we rearranged our apartment and it looks so much better and more like a home. We love it! Hopefully pictures will come soon!
In the time since the last update a lot has changed. I got a job. (yay!!) I now work for Unique Integrated Communications which is essentially a call center for a library. It's a new company and I was one of the first employees hired. It feels so great to be a part of building this thing from the ground up. Ryan has also gone from being a floating teller to being at a permanent branch. He was so excited and we're both very happy that he will only have to go to one location every week!
Since the last post we have also found a church home. We became members of Sojourn Community Church on September 11 and we have loved every minute of it. Most of the friends we have made up here also go to Sojourn and we're so blessed to experience to great community. Praise God for putting us in such a wonderful new church home!
I also want to say CONGRATULATIONS to my brother and new sister-in-law for their recent wedding ceremony. They got married in May, but didn't get to have a real wedding ceremony. Sadly, I didn't get to go home to see it, but I heard it was awesome. They are also expecting a baby the first week of May 2011. I'm not gonna lie when I say I can't wait to be an aunt! That poor baby is going to be spoiled! :)

I'm sorry again for the lack of updates folks! I will try to be more diligent and post pictures too!

God Bless,
Amy

11 hours later....

Dear Friends,

As you know Ryan and I recently located to Louisville, KY. I'm awful at keeping in touch with people so I thought blogging about our lives here may be a good way for all our friendly stalkers out there to keep tabs on us. (We all know we do it. I got the idea from stalking half of you tonight.) Anywho, I've entitled our blog "The Adventure" because from day one of our relationship, we've referred to it as our adventure. Each day has been filled with new experiences and new lessons. Marriage is definitely a beautiful gift and I'm so thankful for it!

August 9th was the day we moved up here. What a day that was.  Eight people in 4 cars hauling 2 trailers drove 534 miles in just over 11 hours. I was stinky and tired and ready for a bed, but we still had to unload it all. When we got to the apartment complex, we were so excited because Kris Burns and 7 of his friends were waiting for us to unload everything. We walked up the stairs to F4 and what do we find? None other than a locked door and no keys to unlock it. We panicked for about 2 minutes and then Ryan knocked on the neighbor's door to see if they had an emergency contact list. Our sweet neighbors are a cute Korean family who speak very little English. Thankfully one of them knew enough to know what Ryan was asking for and we got a guy named Ernie to let us in. Then the moving in process began. The neighbors were very curious and soon we had an audience of Korean toddlers watching us, one of which was half naked...from the waist down. He is now known as little naked man as one of the guys helping us so appropriately named him. Little naked man frequents the stairwell to this day. I need to buy that little boy some shorts. 

We finally got all our stuff into our tiny apartment (minus our couch because it couldn't fit in the door) and then arranged the boxes enough to allow someone to sleep on the love seat and air mattress and set up the two beds for others. To put the icing on the cake we found a note on the door saying that we couldn't use the shower until the next morning because they has just put caulk around the tub. We got to go to bed all sweaty and grimy. 

Although August 9th wasn't the most fun day our lives, it was one of the most exciting. We moved to a new city and got to start life on our own for real.  Both sides of our families got to spend a lot of time together and we all bonded a little bit. It was such a great experience and this is just the beginning. We're now starting the process of meeting tons of new people and finding new friends and a new church home. Ryan is settling into a new job and becoming immersed in school. I've been on the job hunt and finally got some interviews lined up. God's hand has totally been on us.  I can't wait to see what He has planned for us next.