Weekend Update

Parents in Town
We got to spend the weekend with my parents. They were in town for the China Bible Ministry Exhibition, so we got to see them while they were here. It was definitely a fun weekend, full of great meals, bowling, and movies. Of course, we're doing what we can to convince my parents that they just need to move up here...but until then, we are grateful for the times we do get to spend with them.

CIC Designation
This weekend I learned that I passed my last (of 5) Certified Insurance Counselor exams and received my official designation! This is definitely something I am excited about celebrating, as the long hours of studying for those specific letters is over! :) I will continue to work toward my CPCU designation, but another one has been conquered.

Conversion Confession
So I finally said goodbye to my beloved Blackberry and switched to the iPhone. My Blackberry finally died on me, and I had no choice but to replace my phone. With my customer credit, it cost the same for me to get an iPhone as it would have been for me to just replace my Blackberry. So I made the switch and converted to Apple :) So far, I am loving the switch. So the conversion was for the better ;)

Happy Halloween
And I just couldn't go without posting about the sweet note I found in my lunch today...

How can something like that not make your day better? :)

Married Life, Day #100

WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN 100 DAYS:

Living life with the one you love is fun :)
Someone to come home to, to share meals with, to go do things with, to wake up to...just live life together. I am so grateful for the time I had as a single person, and as much as the Lord used that time for His purposes, I love how the Lord has designed the marriage relationship. As Mike often says, it's comforting to know you have someone who is always in your corner. So true.

Marriage is for our good, but for God's glory.
While we do get to enjoy the good things of marriage through relationship and living life together, marriage is first and foremost for the glory of God even more than it is for our benefit or enjoyment. And for us, as sinners, that requires the [sometimes painful] revelation of our own sinful hearts. The Lord is constantly calling us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and marriage is just a sharpening tool to reveal and then deal with sin in our hearts. I love what Dave Harvey says in his book When Sinners Say I Do...

"Your spouse was a strategic choice made by a wise and loving God. Selected by Him, for you, from the beginning of the world, your spouse is an essential part of God's rescue mission for your life...realize that God is behind it all, revealing the familiar sin so that it might be overcome by amazing grace."

What a humbling thought that brings me to my knees in gratitude. To know that Mike is a gift from the Lord to draw us both closer to our Savior. I'm learning that I don't always love how my sinful heart responds. It's not that this doesn't happen in other relationships; I pray to have the kind of relationships in which it does. It's just that it's so intimate and so obvious in marriage. But praise God for His grace and for the beauty of a God-centered marriage that can often be that picture of grace if we allow the Lord to work in us for His glory.

I have SO much to learn.
Every day I am reminded of how little I really know of marriage, how much I have to learn about being a good wife. I want to love Mike well, to honor and support him in the ways he should be. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, and I often wonder why in the world he thought I would be a good choice haha. But I am learning a little each day, by God's grace and with Mike's patience.

Mike is awesome.
He just is. Every day I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to call him my husband. How much of a gift it is to have him by my side. He is the picture of patience and grace-filled love. He is constantly encouraging me, supporting me, challenging me. I couldn't have asked for a better man, and I am excited about what the Lord has to teach us both.

Happy 100 days, Babe! I love you SO much, and I'm praying we get to enjoy hundreds more together ;)

San Antonio, the 'Rents, and Chocolate Cake :)

This weekend, Mike and I picked up my brother on our way out of Dallas and headed to San Antonio to go see my parents. This was the first time we had been home since the wedding, so it was a fun trip to see my family as marrieds. There was nothing particularly special about this weekend, we just got some good time with mom and dad...which was VERY much needed.

Saturday we had the opportunity to visit my grandparents, who unfortunately were unable to make it to the wedding. It was good to spend some time with them, and listen to them reminisce over there past 61 years of marriage (yep- they celebrated 61 years together this weekend!) Kind of made me excited to think about the time the Lord will give to me and Mike :) Granted, we're only a little under 3 months, but I am sure my grandparents can attest to how the time flies...

There was plenty of good Mexican food, fun and laughter, but overall it was a pretty relaxing weekend. One of the highlights (at least for me...I have to confess that this highlight does border a little on obsession. But only a little...) was that my mom had made her famous homemade German chocolate cake. I L.O.V.E this cake! I blogged about making it on my own a few years ago, so I know I can make the cake anytime I want it. But there's just something about mom making it that makes it taste that much better ;)

Of course, the weekend was short and I was sad to leave, but we're so grateful for the time we got to spend with them. The good news is that we will get to see them at the end of October when they make their way to Dallas for a conference. I'll take whatever time I can get with them!

I Miss the Sun...

I have not fallen off the face of the planet. No major crises has occurred. Work is just SUPER busy right now, and I guess after my forever-long wedding-post marathon, I just needed a break from blogging. But today I needed a quick break from work, so...hello again blogging world!

God is good, and we are enjoying life in McKinney. I love being married and love even more that I get to be married to Mike :) I am still trying to adjust to this crazy weird work schedule though. Because things have been so crazy lately, there have been many days when I leave a couple hours before the sun comes up and don't get home until the sun is long-since tucked below the horizon.

It's. Downright. Depressing.

Haha- this sun-loving girl is starting to feel a little crazy from not seeing the sun on a consistent basis. And I know that it will only become increasingly more difficult when it's actually cold outside. Thankfully though, this is not a normal schedule, but rather a temporary season of busyness at the office. But I still have a few more weeks of it, so could use some prayers for strength and endurance. And more opportunities to see be in the sun- because it doesn't count if you can only glance longingly at it through your boss's window haha.

I am VERY much looking forward to this weekend, when we will be able to head down to SA to see my family. I miss them SO much. It's only been a couple of months since the wedding (and since we saw them last), but with my new work schedule, I haven't been able to talk with them as often, which is hard. I mean, I have tons of time to talk at 5:45 in the morning, but not everyone appreciates that time ;) So I am definitely looking forward to the weekend...

...too bad it's only Tuesday ;)