Packing Up

We close Monday on our house. That means that it time to pack (gross)

I have never been a great packer. I think all the moving back and forth between school gave me a bad taste for it. During my senior year, I was excited to stay put somewhere. That lasted for about 10 months! :)

I have decided this time that I am going to do my best to be much more organized this time around.

But what keeps me moving is our cute little house!

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Life Without Bella

It is getting easier without Bella. Sometimes its the little things that can make me sad again. When I am on the computer in the guest bedroom usually the dogs lay on the bed. I went to go let Cooper out and I expected to hear two sets of landings on the floor.

She was a sweet dog (after she barked at you). It would take a her a few minutes but then she would sit on your lap. She was definitely the best snuggler. She was a noisy dog...snored when she slept...would have a soft whine when she was excited to see you...barked at cars driving down the street.

We'll all miss her! I think she had a good life with us.







But I am thankful for my Cooper. He does get a bad rap sometimes but he's been a sweetie to me lately.



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Bella

Bella died yesterday. She had been dealing with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia where her body destroys her red blood cells. And Joe found her not breathing. She was only about three so we didn't really expect it.

I can't say that I didn't cry...a lot. She was definitely part of our family.

I think Cooper was sad yesterday. He didn't even get in the trash last night.

I think we'll get another dog when we move into our house someday.

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All By Myself...Don't Wanna Be

Can you just hear that song in your head?

Joe has been gone since Monday and I must say that I am not fan of this being myself thing...especially at night. But I know that I have my two attack dogs ready and barking. Bella and Cooper would know if someone was breaking in before the robber would!

All and all, I am doing fine without Joe but who wouldn't just want their husband here. When we were driving to the airport, I tried to convince him to stay but as you can read that didn't work. But he is having a fun time touring around DC and going to his conference.

This weekend, I am going back home to see the parentals and so Cooper and Bella can see their grandparents (they get excited if you ask them if they want to see Grandma and Grandpa!) and my other dog Bailey.

Off to catch up on American Idol!

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Marriage Lessons

Joe and I are doing pre-marital counseling with a couple who is going to get married in June. We also invited our youth pastor and his wife to the session. It was a great time discussing and reflecting on marriage.

I think 9 months ago before we got married, I would tell you marriage is a lot like dating but living together. What I am leaning is how much partnership there is in marriage. Got created marriage to unite a man and a woman. Even small decisions I make can affect out whole marriage. Joe is supposed to be the most important person in the world to me, even more important than my future children.

It's been a great time for me to reflect and see the ways that I am loving and serving Joe. I pray that we have 50 years together!

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Neglected Blog

I have been neglecting my blog here lately. I think by the time I get home from a long day and I am just wiped and usually after a night activity, my poor blog doesn't get updated!!

I love warm weather! Today it is in the 70's and that makes me so much happier. I am so ready for spring!

Joe is leaving Monday for the 9 Marks in Washington DC for a whole seven days. Definitely will not be my favorite week ever. I think I do alright by myself but I want someone there when I am sleeping. Thank goodness for my three critters!

I am making Stuffed Mushrooms tonight for a dinner we are going to and we are discussing the 5 Love Languages with other couples. Should be fun!

I promise to do better blogging next week!

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Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

My favorite recipe I found off of Kraft was Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups multigrain penne pasta, uncooked
1 pkg. (9 oz.) fresh spinach leaves
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 jar (14-1/2 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
1 cup 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese

HEAT oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water for the last 1 min.

COOK and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 3 min. Add spaghetti sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer 3 min. or until chicken is done. Stir in Cream cheese.

DRAIN pasta mixture; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon into 2-qt. or 8-inch square baking dish.

BAKE 20 min. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 3 min.

YUMMY!!

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Getting Through

It's been quite a week. We spent the entire week in negotiations about the house but we have both agreed on a deal and we should close sometime next week!

It's crazy that I am all grown up and become a home owner! I have spent quite a few hours on the Ikea website shopping for some new stuff for our house!

Also my doggie Bella is sick again. I just hate having her feel bad. The vet said she is probably going to be on medication for the rest of her life. I am just a ham for her I can just imagine when my own children feel sick!

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We Got the House!

We are so excited! My favorite part of this house is the view. It's right on the river, literally! I can just imagine Cooper running into the river and he would be down stream! This is the view from the side of the house. I am so so excited!

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New House!

Quick update! We looked at the house we like again today and put in an offer this afternoon! They have until Wednesday to counter. We are so excited!

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Priorities

We all have different responsibilities in life. I am a Christian, a wife, a Pastor's Wife, a nurse, and a student.

I struggle with how to do all of these well, not just get by. As I visit other blogs, and read about other women, I feel I am way behind in how I am managing my life

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

As we all carry our different roles and responsibilities, the only way to do them successfully we must first seek God and His direction. I have found when I am most spending quality time in the Word, that I get the most done.

With this in mind, I plan for on for the next couple of weeks post more about my priorities. I hope you join me on the journey.

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Looking for Recipes

My new hobby is searching through Kraft Foods for new recipes. My favorite show is Top Chef. I love it (while Joe does not; He says it makes him hungry). I sometimes wish I could cook like those on the show but what makes me appreciate Kraft is it uses everyday ingredients! I have a whole list of recipes I want to try. Go check it out!

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Memory Monday

Psalm 62:5

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,for my hope is from him."

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Shopping For a House

Joe and I have been shopping for a house. It's difficult to find exactly what we want in the area we want, and the price we want, which comes with the shopping for a house.

We definitely want a three bedroom house with a good size yard for our dogs, 2 full baths (which is where we get hung up) and pretty much move-in ready (because Joe and I are not handy people).

We found houses that meet some of the above but not totally but today we saw a house that was pretty perfect except it had 1 1/2 baths. It has good sized bedrooms and a cute kitchen and waterfront property on the Muscatuck River. Our next step is to go back to our lender who pre-approved us and see where we are. So maybe sometime soon we will have a NEW house!!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Make sure to spend it with those you love!

I just put our Pot Roast in the oven tonight for our VDay Meal (because I refuse to get out in that mess on V-Day on a Saturday). Joe left me some potted tulips before he left for basketball this morning which are beautiful!

Here's to our first married Valentine's Day!

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Practicing Hosptality: Chapter 1

Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking is doing on-line study on the book Practicing Hospitality by Pat Ennis & Lisa Tat­lock. I bought this book previously but never read it so I thought now was a good time to open it up. If you don't have this book, make sure to check it out!

The first chapter helps us spiritually prepare to be biblically hospitable. They offer a word guide to help us check our hearts and motives.

A Person of Christian Character Who Practices Hospitality Is:

H - Humble
O - Obedient
S - Sincere
P - Prayerful
I - Interested in Integrity
T - Trustworthy
A - Adopted into God's Family
L - Led by the Spirit
I - Instrumental in Producing Righteousness
T - Thankful
Y - Yielded

With my husband being a Pastor, hospitality is something I need to show and get better at. I know how to prepare food and set a table but how to offer the biblical principles of hospitality is something I need to study more.

Lindsey offers 2 questions for discussion.

1. What char­ac­ter qual­i­ties do you believe are the most impor­tant to cul­ti­vate in prepar­ing to prac­tice hospitality?
I open my house once a week to teenage girls in my Bible study and the purpose is to produce righteousness there, but I know that in other instances, I can be more purposeful in producing righteousness to all those who enter my home.

2. Which of these are you lack­ing and how can you begin cul­ti­vat­ing it more purposefully?
I think I need to be more sincere when we have unexpected guests or when girls come early to my study. My emotions are all over my face and when I am unprepared, I am sure I am not the most sincere in my attitude.

Don't forget to get the book and join the study!

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Memory Monday

When I first started this blog, I started doing Memory Monday where my goal was to memorize a verse per week. As you can see by the lack of Memory Mondays in the last few months, I haven't done so well.

But, it's never too late to memorize God's word! God wants us to hide His word in our heart, and memorization is a great tool! Here is what John Piper says about memorizing scripture

So here is Memory Monday!

1 Corinthians 1:12

"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you."

Will you memorize it with me?

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Look Where Those Ears Have Been

Bella has long ears. I want her ears to be all the way to ground, like Lady on Lady and the Tramp.
They can sometimes hard to maintain, and Joe is really good at keeping them brushed. But the best part of her long ears is you can see what she has done throughout the day. When end of her ears are wet, she just had some water. Most times, we find strange things, like candy, kitty litter, and food bits she found in the trash. Her ears always give away what she has been into or what's shes done.

But as you pick something out of her ears, she looks at you with her big cocker eyes and you can't help but forget to get mad at her. I'm a Bella pushover




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Studying Ephesians

On Monday nights, I host a Bible Study at my house for about 7-8 girls in the youth group. We meet for food, fellowship, and of course diving in the Word. I chose Ephesians to study because it is one of my favorite books of the Bible.

We have spent the last three weeks studying the first chapter. I used many resources to study this book but my favorite has been John MacArthur's commentary on Ephesians. It's been a great time in my spiritual life to look closely at Paul's letter. I feel it is important to look closely at scripture in it's context to really discern how to practically apply it to our lives. I think the girls are getting truths out of the lessons also.

The most important thing is that you read the Word of God. What encourages me about scripture is that God reveals truths in scriptures even if we have read them hundreds of times. That's why God describes His Word as living and breathing.

What are you studying in the Bible?

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Current Craft Projects

I wanted to show my current crafy projects.

This first picture is a blanket that I have been working on for months. In this picture it is wrapped up so it is four times longer. I am crocheting it with a single crochet stitch.


I just started this scarf. I got the pattern here. I like because it the stitches look like the are running diagonal.

I like working on two projects (or sometimes more) because when you get bored of one, you just go to the next! What are you working on?

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