Retreat and Car Problems

Spring Retreat is this weekend!

I am so excited to actually get to go to a youth event with Jeremy!

Sadly it is a rare occasion.

I don't get to stay the whole weekend, I still have to come back for work Sunday, but at least I get to go for a bit!

We had to take my car in yesterday for "periodically not starting"

Stupid Honda dealer didn't believe me the last time I brought it in for this....and this time we took it in, the VERY SAME RUDE MAN was the man we had to deal with again!

Used to, if it didn't start, it would eventually start in about 2-3 tries. This time, if it doesn't start it is taking a few hours to days between. That's really not working with the whole me having a job thing!

So Mr. Rude man, he says "Well we can't run any tests unless it actually doesn't start while it is here"

Well Mr. Rude man, the problem is "periodic not starting! It is probably going to start for you!"

So what good are you to me?

Then he tried to argue with me that they had not already seen it for this problem.

Yes Mr. Rude man, you HAVE seen it for this problem and I am back because it is happening again. Therefore, you did NOT do your job well!

Jeremy and I tried to explain to him that it is my starter. We know this because as soon as you tap on the starter with a hammer, guess what? IT STARTS!

Mr. Rude man says "Well, that is probably just a coincidence"

UGH!

I realize that I am not the best "customer," I tend to get irritated easily.

• If you don't let me use my coupons.
• If you don't know what you are talking about.
• If you treat me like I don't know what I am talking about.
• If you are a telemarketer for the Daily Oklahoman and you call me 3-4 times a day.

I might shout at you.

Just to clarify though, I will not pay for this unless they actually fix it this time. I am serious.

I try to be nice. I know I should be nice. I am working on that.

Redeeming Love

I just finished re-reading Redeeming Love.

I loved it as much this time as last time! I would highly recommend it if you have never read it.

I couldn't help but wonder if maybe the people that lived in the 1800's had it a little better than we do now. Sure, there were no modern conveniences, no blow driers, hot showers, medications, or coke zero. But they seemed more content.

I realize it was only a fictional book, and there were many hardships that people faced in the old world, but the idea of the "simple" life sounds so appealing when we live in a fast paced world. It is impossible to get away from the stress of the business of life. It is expected of us here. If you are not working 2 jobs, taking care of a house, kids, pets, and running to four million activities then you are not living the "American Dream."

Since when did the "American Dream" become the "Stressed-out Life?"

Laugh all you want about me living on a farm (I am laughing at the thought) but seriously. I love the idea of living out in the middle of nowhere and having no one to rely on except God, your family, and if you are lucky, maybe a neighbor family.

I realize that they worked from daylight to dark, but they got to work together. They didn't all go their separate ways and only reunite for an hour for dinner time and then split up again to go do their separate evening activities.

They did not spend their evenings in front of the TV, at back to back sports activities, or at weekly events. They read the bible as a family, they danced with their neighbors, sang songs, and ate dinner together.

You have to wonder, did they have it better than we do now? I love the simplicity of it, even if there is no way I would ever survive like that now. I would have been just fine if it was all I ever knew.

The modern conveniences we have now are wonderful. Trust me, I am very thankful for doctors, nurses, and the new medications we have discovered to increased the life span. I am thankful for hot showers, and that I can just turn on a faucet and hot water comes out. I am in love with zero coke and my hair dryer.

But, we could all survive without these things. (Modern Medicine, maybe not as much, but you  can't have everything!)

Anyway, on that note, I am very thankful for where I am today and the wonderful blessings that we have in this world. Instead of day-dreaming myself back into a simpler time, I need to try and make my life less stressful now!

I realize that stress is a choice. So apparently I just need to choose to not worry, and choose to allow my life to slow down a bit.

Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

Great Songs

Best Going to Bed Song:

When the Rain Comes: Third Day

Best Christian Song:

Audience of One: Big Daddy Weave

Best Revenge Song:

Better than Revenge: Taylor Swift
Before he Cheats: Carrie Underwood

Song Stuck in my Head Right Now:

Airplanes: B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams

Best Love Song:

Love Story: Taylor Swift

Best Dance Song:

Get Low: Lil John

Best Couple Song:

Better Together: Jack Johnson

Best Boy Band Song:

Tearin' Up My Heart: N'SYNC

Best Twilight Series Soundtrack Song:

Flightless Bird, American Mouth: Iron and Wine

Best Soundstrack Song:

At the Beginning: Anastasia Soundtrack

Happy Listening :)

Home Sweet Home

I have come to really love our apartment.
It is my first home with Jeremy- how could I not love it?

I am really starting to feel like the decorations are coming together (minus a few things still needing help)

I feel like I have finally got it clean enough, considering how filthy it was when we moved in.

Do apartment people ever ACTUALLY clean before you move in? Or is that just what they tell you to make you happy?

Bleach has become my best friend when it comes to cleaning here. I mean honestly, you just never know what could have been here before you...GROSS!

Anyway, on the note of finally feeling like home...I am in desperate need of a puppy.
I don't think you understand just HOW bad I want a puppy

I am that person that stops on the side of the road whenever puppies are for sale...

Stupid apartment complex will not let me get one.

I could have a puppy here and my apartment would be ten million times cleaner than ANYONE else's!!

I'll clean up the poop too!!

Just PLEASE let me get a puppy!

I have some justification....I only work 3 days a week, so I am here...all alone 4 days out of the week (excluding the very few weekends I am off).

I need a puppy friend to keep me company while I am home alone.

I need a snuggle buddy to sit on the couch and read a book with me while I wait for my sweet hubby to come home!

What about when Jeremy is out of town and I am all alone and scared?

I bet if I had a puppy I would not have to sleep with the bathroom light on, my contacts in and fear in my heart of a burglar!!

So, in light of my super convincing argument: May I please have a puppy?

How can you turn down that face?
PS: I will move somewhere new, ANYWHERE that will let me get my puppy Murphy.

Yes, his name will be Murphy by the way.

7 Random Things about Me

So in response to Amy's request, I find that I must share 7 random things about me.

I realize that most of you won't care. But I am banking on Amy reading them all, taking notes, and asking questions later.

1. I sometimes wonder what I am going to be when I grow up.

2. I could live on Ice Cream and Pepperoni Pizza

3. I want to write a book. Scratch that, I want to write multiple books and be good at it. We like to call it an Author.

4. I don't really have any good ideas for this book I want to write.

5. I think about how much I weigh, way too much.

6. I am very stingy about my time with my husband. Don't mess with it!

7. I eat ice cream out of the carton throughout the day. I will open the freezer and get a spoonful with my breakfast in the morning, then I will do it again later in the day. It's a bad habit. Don't tell.

Well I hope this was insightful! I have a few other things I thought I might share though!

My homemade pizza is the best. Sorry Alyssa, Kitty, and Bradleigh. I know you guys miss it. Come visit me and I will cook for you :)

Also, who knew I could make for real Chinese Chicken Fried Rice? I am not going to lie. This is possibly the best thing I have ever cooked. The recipe is on allrecipes.com under Chicken Fried Rice. It is the first one that pops up.

Warning: You will use almost every single one of your pots/pans/dishes in your home to make this Chinese wonderland!

Enjoy!