Rolling with the Punches

In the past couple of weeks, the weather has been OUT OF CONTROL. I had NO idea how much I do no like 'winter' weather and much of a tropical person I am! Once David and I get debt free, I really, really, really, want to go to Costa Rica! It is like Hawaii but less expensive. :) Volcanoes and beaches all on one island - how amazingly romantic! I am all in. When we go, this is what I want our view from the room to look like. No pressure Costa Rica!

Did I mention I can't stand cold weather? Well, I can't. Of course David has absolutely LOVED the cooler weather, as he doesn't get along with 10 months of summer sauna weather like I do. What can I say opposites attract? To make myself warm up, I stumbled upon an amazing deal of orange and pink flip flops! They were on sale for $3 and I just HAD to have them. I just so happened to have exactly $3 in change in my purse, so I totally got them. (And yes you just read that correctly, I paid with change). :) I instantly, warmed right up. BRING ON SUMMER. (OK, really like mid 80's and holding would be just fine). While the flip flops aren't exactly like this, they are very similar. Maybe they will help warm you up too if you are still facing dreadfully cold winter weather!

Naturally, while all the winter weather was coming through North Louisiana and we were both home and could do chores around the house, our washer went out. We had a technician come out and replace the pump - thank God for warranties! No charge. We have a very nice washer and it is our intent to keep it for several more years. Arcadia, doesn't have very good filtered water, and so that was the majority of the problem. We now have our washer back and working. Yes, I sure did experience what it was like to wash clothes/towels in the bath tub.... no, I don't have any pictures, but rest assured I am DEFINITELY more appreciative of my washer! :)

We also got a virus on our main PC at the house, and got it to the computer doctor. We now have (knock on wood, and by the grace of God) everything up and working with more memory and updated software for David and I to finish our courses needed for school and not have to drive or go someplace else to complete the assignments! Praise God!

We are slowly but surely, taking one punch at a time and are determined to win this fight! lol.

This is totally random, but I just would like to give a 'shout out' to SUCH a wonderful movie! David and I had dinner the other night with Aunt Char, which doesn't happen very often and we got the movie Secretariat to watch. It was absolutely, incredible. Amazing acting, and such a wonderful story. It was the perfect 'feel good' movie.

***Last thing***

One of the things that I have continued to struggle with is patience; having any for myself, others, life, etc. I come by it naturally :) and I know from watching people in my family that are older than myself, with time and prayer I will eventually learn how to calm down (essentially).

With that being said, I have been in constant prayer (or so it seems) about this sense of myself being impatient and unsettled. We have so many blessings upon us living here in North Louisiana, but for whatever reason I couldn't keep focused on those countless items, instead I was constantly being distracted by the few things that drive me nuts, or worse the daydreaming problem of 'the grass is always greener on the other side'.

This Winter Quarter for David - has flown by, for me it seems to have drug on with no promise to ever end! Dramatic I know, but this is truly how I have felt. Anyway, David was taking a test a couple of weeks ago and was really stressing. I was trying to be supportive, but I have no clue about Business/Accounting courses for college as I didn't ever take one during my undergrad! So really other than encouraging words and being quiet so he can study, that is really all that I could offer.

David was being advised a couple of days later after this big test and wanted to go over what courses he should take this spring. Naturally, I am all about planning and seeing what and how the 'future' will play out. So I was all game. We planned to make a date night out of it and figure his schedule out over sushi. Everything is better with sushi!

That day before our date night, while I was at work, something happened. All of a sudden it hit me, that while I wasn't vocally expressing 'hurry up', 'finish faster', etc. it was though God just made me realize that I was putting un-do stress and pressure on him because of MY own impatient issues and not being able to be content. After discovering this, I happen to come across this prayer:

I have heard this prayer a thousand times, but not until that day did I really understand and realize what it meant. I instantly had a calming peace come over me. It was as though God came down and hugged me. I was going to be OK, we were going to be able to live here and survive, be successful and could be 'content', while being able to enjoy ourselves living in North Louisiana.

That night at dinner, I told David what had happened. He just smiled and while not voicing the truth of me pressuring him, without saying it - I could tell he was relieved and grateful.

Don't we do that all too often to loved ones? Or is it just me? That we can be so consumed and wrapped up in our own thoughts, desires, etc that we unintentionally put pressure on our spouse. Maybe I am the only one. When all of this came to light, I apologized profusely.

David is taking 9 hours this quarter. He will be in class Tuesdays and Thursdays only and he is SO excited! We are both very much learning together. He wouldn't let me take as much of the blame as I wanted too, but I can honestly say, God touched my heart. Because of that, I have found myself having a lot more patience with people and life. I am continuing to embrace who I am called to be in Christ and moving forward. I don't have a deadline on us to move, but to enjoy. This season will be over soon enough, there is no sense in rushing it.

Everyday we learn something new and different about each other and something we like while others we don't. We aren't trying to change one another, but simply be able to lift each other up through Christ. While we may not understand things at the time, we have to believe and trust that we are part of so much more than our little box. God is over the universe, how dare we box Him in!!!