Monday Reflections

Today I start my new job in Oklahoma City! I'm very excited and also a tad nervous. So many unknowns right now. I'm certain by the end of the week I'll have less unknowns to worry about than I do right now. I was inspired by this post about picking a word for the year. Even though it's September I'm sure it's never too late to start, right?! I feel like if I had to pick a word the first word that comes to mind is Courage. This past year I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. Between the joy of being newly married and leaving family and friends back in Colorado. There have been times where I have felt so glad I could have burst for for happiness. Other times I have felt so alone the whole world seemed to be engulfed in one giant rain cloud. I have learned something about myself this year: I don't like doing things by myself. Living at home for a good part (well, all) of my life there was always someone to "go with" to the grocery story, Walmart, clothes shopping, you name it. While Hubby and I try to do as much as we can together sometimes it's just not possible as he is often hours away. This means I have to go by myself. Courage. The courage to job search by myself. Courage to grocery shop and come home to an empty house and try to muster up the enthusiasm to "make" dinner. Courage to meet new friends. Courage to drive to new places and embrace getting lost. I found this definition of courage: the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. While I don't pretend the things I'm facing are life and death, they are uncertain and often unknown. Courage. I have to be wiling to confront the fear of the unknown. I must be willing to confront the uncertainty of a new job. I must be willing to tackle the pain of leaving family and be willing to courageously find friends here. Courage. First day at work, I am aiming to courageously take you on!

Love,
Bethany V.

Monday Reflections

I'm letting you know in advance this is a sappy post. Okay. That is my disclaimer.  If you're not up for sincere sappiness you do not have to continue reading (lol, ;-). On August 24, Hubby and I celebrated our one year anniversary! I know it's cliche, but it REALLY flew by! It's been a good year for us. We've learned a lot about each other. I thought I knew Bret pretty well when we were married. Nope! Every day I learn something new about him and I love that! We learned quickly how we're not perfect. We are, however, perfect for each other. That's probably been the biggest lesson for me this past year.

I had all these high expectations of who I was going to be as a wife. Expectations on how I would respond in certain situations. I was pretty convinced I'd never lost my cool. I knew being on the road would have challenges, but I thought I could handle it. The expectations I had for myself were pretty high and I've learned so much about myself this year. I've grown to love my Savior more and I'm thankful He forgives our mistakes. I've also grown into a greater understanding of what a great man I married.

I'd have to say Bret's expectations for me were zero. He simply loves me for me. He's loved me through happy days and sad days and the-in-between-kind-of days.  I knew I married a great guy on August 24, 2012. A year later,  I see to a greater depth how I've been blessed with this wonderful man. Bret's my best friend, my faithful listener, my encourager. His love for the Lord and for me points me back on track when I'm off my rocker! ;-)

Our faith and laughter has been the glue that's held us together this past year. It's grown us closer. One of my favorite things in flipping though all the wedding photos is seeing how much we were laughing on our wedding day! I love that we have a sense of humor!!

Happy 1st Anniversary Hubby, I love you so much! Second year of marriage - we can't wait to see what you hold for us!! It's an adventure....!

Love,
Bethany V.

Monday Reflections

The last six weeks have been a whirlwind of activities and I'm happy to be back home! I will not bore you with all the details, lets just say I spent the last 6 weeks in 4 different states (more on that coming soon)! It was fun and a bit crazy at the same time. The last week was bittersweet as I was ready to go home and at the same time I was sad as it may be a while before I travel with Hubby. Why? I was recently handed the ticket to find another job. So I will be job searching for awhile here in good 'ole Okie. The reason I'm reflecting today is because I've noticed a pattern in my life where I don't really fully appreciate something until it's gone. Does that ever happen to you? No? Oh, well guess I'm the only one ;). In the last year and half a lot of things have changed for me: I got married, moved to a different state, adapted to a different life-style, got used to living with another person (who happens to be my best friend) and so on! I've been realizing there were so many things I took for granted and the sudden change brought out how comfortable I'd become. Being uncomfortable is challenging. I've found myself wishing for things to be back in my comfort state. Now with the recent job loss I had a sudden jolt of reality. How many times had I complained? How many times had I considered I would be happier doing something else? Now that it's gone I find myself wishing it back. It was comfortable. It worked. I knew what was expected of me and what was required. Now all that has changed. It's as if I can be unhappy with the present and then when it changes I begin to think I'd be happier with the past. Crazy, right?

I just finished a wonderful book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I'm sure you've heard of it or already read it, I can be behind the eight ball on these things! She writes on the attitude of cultivating a thankful, in the moment, heart of gratitude in Chapter 4: I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. Wow. So simple and yet SO difficult to do. I'm purposing to not wish for what was. I'm not going (Lord help me) to wish for this season to be over. I'm going to ENJOY it right now. For tomorrow it will be gone. Reminds my of what my Lord said, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34). It's easy to talk about, Lord, help me live it. Next up I'll be sharing some photos from our recent travels. Stay tuned......


Love,
Bethany V.

25...last day

Today is my last day to be twenty-five and to a certain extent I am sad. Sad because I liked being twenty-five and well, it just had a nice ring to it. Plus, some of the best things in my lift happened in my twenty-fifth year (getting married for one!). So, instead of shedding a tear on waving goodbye to twenty-five I have decided to write up twenty five things I'm thankful for (please note they aren't written in order of importance.....well number 1 is:

1. My Hubby - he leaves little sticky notes for me to find when he's gone. He loves me when I've broken the budget and I'm grumpy. He makes me laugh! He's killer in a pair of jeans and cowboy boots and well, he's my Man! I adore him and I'm so thankful God brought us together.
2. My Family - they are the best. They're funny, smart, talented, and oh so wonderful. I wouldn't be who I am without them.
3. Our Little House - I've loved nesting. Today I realized how blessed I am to have a little place to call home. It's a wonderful feeling.
4. My slippers - my Hubby bought me a pair for Christmas and my feet have never been happier.
5. A Washer and Dryer - as much as I love "Little House on the Prairie", I like using a washer and dryer.
6. My Kitchen-Aid - it's wonderfully easy to whip up cookies!
7. The Lord - without Him I couldn't' have made it through this year or any of them. He is my strength and song.
8. Phones - I can't imagine not being able to talk to family or only hearing from them every six month because the mail was so slow. I love that I get to keep in touch with friends and family even though I'm miles away.
9. A bed - a warm bed with sheets and pillows. A real luxury.
10. Nutella - not much else needs be said :)
11. My camera - documenting life as it goes by.
12. Flowers - they have to be in here! I love how beautiful and colorful they are. I'm always in raptures over them!
13. Macaroni and Cheese - what can I say, I'm a kid at heart!
14. Freedom - something I take for granted.
15. New Traditions - I'm having fun creating new traditions with my Hubby.
16. Instagram - I love the instant connection with my sisters and friends! Love you guys!
17. My little Nieces and Nephews - they brighten my life with their personalities! I adore being an auntie.
18. Hobby Lobby - a place to let creativity run wild - yay!!
19. Classic, Old Movies - thank you Hubby for introducing me to these. They're wonderful and wholesomely good (I don't think wholesomely is a word, but oh well.)
20. A Hair Dryer - okay don't laugh. I'm pretty happy how quickly this speeds up my life.
21. Candles - they're calming, romantic, aromatic.....wonderful.
22. Happy Childhood - I'm blessed to have lovely memories with my siblings. My parents did a great job raising us. Home was happy, fun and I got to have an imagination as kid, something I hope to pass onto my kids someday.
23. Music - it fills the empty place in the heart with a song.
24. Birds - they're beautiful free creatures.
25. My Twenty-Fifth Year - filled with so many firsts for me! My first love, my first Valentines, my first (and last time :) planning a wedding, my first four-wheeling adventure, my first kiss, my first time being a wifey, and my first time to Hawaii. Yes, it's been a good year!!! I welcome my twenty-sxith year with open arms!

If you made it to the end, I congratulate you. :)

Love,
Bethany V.