Wedding Presents

I've been missing my camera cord for a couple of weeks. I've looked all over the apartment but still can't find it. This morning I went to run at the gym and I told Adam if he wouldn't mind looking for it, and he looked ALL over for it but couldn't find it.

I got home and I was talking to Adam about the camera cord.

"You didn't have it in that yellow bag in the closet did you?"

In the yellow bag in the closet is where I've been hiding his wedding presents (and Ailee's bridesmaid gift).

"No..." I said slowly, "Why did you look in there?"

"I saw some boxes, but I didn't look in them!"

"Adam! That's your wedding presents!" I went over to the bag and grabbed the big blue box that holds Ailee's present.

"So, you didn't look in here? It's ruined now! I might as well show you!" I start to pull out the crystal vase.

Adam's staring at me with wide eyes from the bed. "No! No! I didn't look in there! I didn't! I don't know what it is!"

I pulled out the crystal vase and for a moment he looked confused. Why would I buy him (a boy) a crystal vase for a wedding present?

"Just kidding! This is Ailee's present!"

Soup Night!

Adam's in the kitchen making bean soup and it smells delicious! I can't wait for dinner!

He got to spend the whole day at home. We had a snowstorm, and his work was shut down for the day...not mine though. So, he got up early anyways and worked out with me (it's true - I'm getting up at 6am every morning to work out!) and then while I was getting ready he went out in the cold to scrape off his car and then drove me to work. Very sweet...it makes me anxious for the day when we live in our own little house and we have a GARAGE!

While I'm (sort of) patiently waiting for dinner, I'm googling honeymoon spots. We've determined we want to go somewhere warm for our honeymoon. We're finding all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean for pretty cheap. I daydream at my desk about laying out in the sun in April...can't wait!

Adjusting My Christmas Sprit

Going to church this morning, I was touched by the sermon. It's the beginning of the Advent season (and our church is not holding Wednesday night advent services, much to my dismay!) Christmas is more than the "mood" of Christmas - the decorations, the food, the holiday songs on the radio.

Working in retail, I've started to really begrudge the Christmas season. I'm six hours away from home, so I will be missing out on multiple Christmas parties and traditions back home since I will be required to work - I will be in the stores December 17th through December 26th. We've been talking about our Christmas product and assortments and markdowns since July. The Christmas trees have been up in the stores since October. I haven't even bought any presents yet and threw my own Christmas tree up in one afternoon mid-November since I knew I wouldn't have time during the month of December. Like one of my co-workers said on break last week: "I can't wait until Christmas is over."

But Pastor Pakora reminded me this morning, that while its a bummer that I will be missing out on some of these Christmas traditions, and I will be tired of working by the end of the month, the true meaning and the true spirit of Christmas is what is important and what I need to remember. It's hard when retail is on my mind 40+ hours a week and my company is seeing dollar signs, but I have to keep Christmas sacred.

Something big is coming. Something important - the coming of Jesus.

Wedding Dress...

I have been worried about trying on my wedding dress for the last few weeks...but I overcame my fears this evening and tried it on...and could barely get it zipped up! I have four months until the big day and need to lose about 25 pounds. I think I can do it, but I need to be REALLY serious about it. So I'm going to blog about it, which I'm not excited about, but I need something to hold me accountable.

So, tomorrow morning I am getting up before 6am and I'm going to work out, make a soy and blueberry smoothie for breakfast, banana at morning break, salad for lunch, and oatmeal for dinner. Running tomorrow night.

Okay, December 3rd, 2009 - Here I come!!!

Laundry Card Found!

In our apartment complex, we have laundry facilities on the 2nd floor of each building. We were given a laundry card when we moved in and have to load the card with money to be able to do our laundry.

As I was away for the weekend, Adam called to tell me he couldn't find our card anywhere! He looked in the bowl by the door, bookbags, pants pockets, etc. No card.

Adam bought a new one yesterday for $5. Tonight I found the card in our laundry pile. Isn't that how it usually goes?

Anyways, Adam is gone for the night working, so I'm just hanging out at home working on chores and making a yummy salad for dinner. I'm going to go to sleep early and plan to get up early tomorrow morning to work out before going to work...I'll let you know how it goes!

Last spring Adam, my finance, and I were sitting in church listening to Pastor Pakora's sermon. It was the end of the Lenten season and he was reflecting on the last few weeks. It's tradition in many denominations to "give up" something for the season of Lent and Pastor Pakora was preaching about why people would do this: to become a better person, to reach some kind of understanding, to feel sacrifice. Lent is a start of something for many people...to see where they will end up come Easter morning. Will they have a better understanding of their faith? Will they have more knowledge? More Insight?

The beginning of a new year is much like this. Why else do most people start eating right and exercising on January first? It's a good time to start something - to see where they will be at the end of the year.

On Easter morning, Pastor Pakora looked over his pulpit at his congregation and asked, "So how did you end up? Did you do what you set to do on Ash Wednesday?"

Adam and I both looked at each other in shame. I had planned to do a daily bible study during Lent and I didn't make it past a couple days before getting caught up in other things. We had wanted to go to every Wednesday service, but didn't make it to about half. I didn't even get up to go to the 6am candlelit service before Easter. It's a common feeling to want to do something, but not doing it. So this is why I have decided to start a blog. It's the start of something. Of what, I'm not sure. Maybe it will be a way for me to keep my goals in check (like finishing my printmaking portfolio). Or maybe it will just be something fun to do when I'm being lazy and sitting on my cozy couch, trying to get through the cold Iowa winters. We'll see!