Where the heart is

A few weeks ago, when I was waiting to hear if I was even going to get a job interview, Andy and I were talking about our finances. We are very diligent budget keepers, working hard to be debt free (and we are....my student loans were paid off in February, so the only thing we have is our mortgage). In a lot of ways, though, that means that we scrimp and save and look for bargains and don't do a lot of fun things, because the money would be better spent elsewhere or it's just not there. Especially after a few emergencies this past year. Make no mistake about it, we are blessed beyond measure. We are in a really incredible position...

All that said, we were discussing what would happen if I got this new job, and a regular salary. Before we were married, we went through Financial Peace with Dave Ramsey. We were discussing our Baby Steps....and how we had completed the first two (starting an emergency fund and eliminating debt). We are currently on the third step, which is fully funding an emergency fund with 3-6 months of living expenses. From there, you start investing for retirement and then paying off your house faster. All great things.

We were also talking about how much our giving would be increasing, and how exciting that is. We are both gift givers--Andy primarily enjoys providing monetary support, in the form of missionary support and church giving. He loves being able to support ministry. I do too, but I also love to give physical gifts (case in point....I have about 46 different ideas for my sister's birthday gift). So we were both excited about what this new salary would mean in that area.

Then, after all this very adult and very wise conversation, I ended it with this:

"But really, I think I'll go shopping more. And buy some stuff that I want."

And that is why I should do this Bible study this summer.

Live Wire

Today while Andy was home for lunch, we heard a really strange noise. At first, we couldn't figure out what it was, but that smarty husband of mine figured it out pretty quickly. He walked outside onto our dilapidated patio into our dilapidated backyard, took one look into the neighbor's yard and walked right back inside. Here's what happened next:

"Ashley, do not go into the backyard today. Do not step on any part of our yard until I tell you too."

"Andy, what's going on?"

"The power line in the neighbor's yard is down, all of our lines are down and they are touching the metal barn in our yard"

"What does that mean?"

"It means there is a live wire in our backyard and if you touch anything back there you could get electrocuted and die."

And have a happy Thursday to you too.

But seriously, it's okay now. The power company came out and gave us a temporary fix....they can't completely fix it because we have had 7.3 million inches of water in the past two days and the ground has turned into a marsh. We lost power for a few hours, but that was all. It could have been so much worse.

On the bright side, though, I think that gives me more of a case in the battle to get rid of the ugly rusted metal barn. We could have died because of that thing! It's got to go!

A tribute to my favorite nut

Two evenings a week since February, I have been exercising at our church with a few ladies there. We do Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home DVDs, which really are a great low-impact workout for all of us. I have seen a definite change in my muscle tone, my energy, and attitude since we started (not so much my weight...eating jars of frosting seems to have kept the pounds on...but others have commented that I'm looking thinner).



Well, I have decided that I need to be working out more than twice a week. So my goal for the summer is four times a week. I have my own copy of the DVDs, and a few other workout DVDs (if anyone has a suggestion for a favorite workout, I'd love to hear it....I like to try new things) and I'm trying to do them at home twice a week.



Andy and I have been discussing for a long time our need to join the gym here in town. I'm not really sure why we haven't done it. We just keep talking, and not doing. Last night, I decided to do a 3 mile walk workout while Andy was doing something else. Instead, he joined me! And it was the most hysterical thing I have ever seen. His motions were jerky all over, he was acting like a goof and ended up spinning in circles and doing all sorts of crazy things. He was clapping and dancing and trippingo n his feet. He was sweating like mad....and was completely unable to do some of the moves. I have never had so much fun working out. It was a blast to be able to share that with my husband....especially because he is just such a goofy person. In large group situations, he is very outgoing and very goofy--it's so easy to love him and to feel at ease with him. At home, he doesn't always do the big motions and goofy stuff as much, so it's always so special to me when he does.

Thinking about it reminded me of all the goofy experiences we have had over the last several years...and of the dozens of photographs I have where Andy is making some sort of ridiculous face...so today, I will show you a few.

Eating dinner on the way to my parents house once last summer. Doesn't everyone eat their vegetables like that?


After getting caught in the rain last summer. In our old apartment.



This one isn't really nutty. But I liked it. In one of the shelters at the park after hiking a few weeks ago.
Figuring out what to do with our yucky wedding cake a few weeks ago.

So excited about his new game in Freiburg, Germany! Can't believe this was three years ago!

Blessings beyond measure

On Monday, I was officially offerred a job as a ninth grade English teacher, and I formally accepted. Since then, things have just gotten even sweeter.

--First, I was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I got from friends and family. Sweet text messages, encouraging phone calls, and even a congratulations gift from a dear friend at church that was filled with all sorts of fun things a new teacher will need. I was going to take a picture of it, but my batteries are dead. I have just literally been tearing up thinking about how loved I feel--these dear friends truly know how to rejoice with those who rejoice. I just can't praise the Lord enough for them. A year ago, I felt completely alone, except for Andy, of course. I had left home, graduated college (where I lived with my most favorite people), gotten married, and moved to this small little town where I didn't know a soul. It was seriously one of the most difficult times of my life. I sat in our dark little apartment every day and cried while Andy was at work. And now, a year later to be experiencing this support, joy, love, and encouragement...it's just such a blessing.

--Second, I went to the school yesterday and got a tour of the building, and my materials (2 textbooks and 28 supplementary books) and such. My classroom is huge! One of the largest in the school. And, it will have a one-to-one computer lab installed so my students will have access to a computer from their very seats. Oh the writing we will do! My mentor teacher is my department chair, and her room is right next door. She has been tremendously helpful in letting me know what I'm going to need and what to do and such.

--Then, this is kind of an embarrassing story....I had to go to the superintendent's office to fill out some paperwork, and he wanted to greet me and welcome me to the corporation. Well, it was pouring down rain, possibly harder than I had ever seen in my life...and I had to race to my car with my box of books...then into the superintendent's office. I was dripping wet. Literally. I dripped on the rug. So...great first impression. He was very kind about it, though.

--And last night was Bible study at the church...and it was just so encouraging yet again. I'm sad we only have two weeks left. Four weeks is so short!

WOO-HOO!

I got the job!

And I'm thrilled!

Highs and Lows

Last week was an interesting week. I basically spent it going crazy over my interview, so it was nice to have that stress gone for this weekend. I'm just going to split up the highs and lows of the weekend.

Friday lows:
-After my interview, I started to feel really sick. I got a nasty headache and my stomach hurt for awhile, but that went away. I just felt really disgusting.
-My sister had me concerned that she may die at work that night. She kept calling and telling me about terrible storms, evacuating campers, houseboats and campers turning over, all while she sat in the dinky little control station.


Friday Highs:
-My interview. I feel like it went well. I enjoyed talking with them, and I hope they enjoyed talking with me.
-Chinese take-out and a Sonic cherry limeade for dinner. My husband takes such good care of me :)

Saturday lows:
-I baby-sat for some friends of ours for the day. Not for their kids. For two foster kids that were placed in their home on Friday. I actually knew one of the boys, because I had subbed for his class before. There were seven kids in the family that were removed. It was such a difficult day for me emotionally.
-Only four kids showed up for our youth event Saturday night.

Saturday highs:
-I really had a blast baby-sitting. The boys were sweet, it was just a sad situation.
-Our youth event was really a lot of fun. I learned how to throw a football and play cornhole. And it was a lot of fun to spend some time with the young adults that were there. Andy plowed one over while playing football.

Sunday lows:
-I had a fever and a sore throat. Spent most of the day on sofa, asleep.

Sunday highs:
-We had a really great Sunday School class, and a great turnout. It was so much fun this week!
-Sunday's sermon was about marriage, and sort of what marriage should look like and what husbands and wives should be doing....and it was really encouraging. In a lot of ways, Andy and I felt like it was an afffirmation that our marriage was on the right track.

You can't even imagine

Last night we were at our friends Andy and Mandy's house for a youth event. After everyone else had left, Andy started to talk about fly swatters and how he had heard that there was an electric one. My darling Andy (now referred to as Darling A for this story, so it's not too confusing) responds, "Oh yeah, they do. I have one in my car."

You have one in your car?

For how long?

From where?

Why didn't I, your loving wife, know that you possessed such a thing?

And can I use it?

Turns out, I didn't. But the boys did. For like a half-hour. Just chasing bugs arounds, making them spark, sizzle, and stink.