Christmas, Basketball, and Racing

what's the deal with people putting up their Christmas decorations so early? some neighbors in our apartment complex have had their tree on the balcony for over 2 weeks now. can't we just be thankful for a while before we get all wrapped up in gifts, trees, etc.? yet i can't deny that i've been buying a few gifts here and there. thinking of what i can make some people for Christmas. might need to get my nose outta my books for a few days and get creative. had i mentioned that i married mr. creativity?

 

last tuesday night i went to a college basketball game at reinhardt college. it brought back so many memories of when i played b-ball. the school i went to, Nebraska Christian College, was smaller than reinhardt. i was majoring in missiology. my heart was set on being a missionary i listened to people when the told me that i needed to be educated in order to be an effective missionary. it’s a lie. i wish i would’ve jumped right into a program like YWAM instead of wasting time. when i look back now, i see that God had other plans for me, or He altered his original plans because i didn’t follow what He had intended for me. not sure how that all works.

 

it’s crazy to look back on life, and see where i’ve come from. i can honestly say that my thirties have been the best days of my life. started out raising support for my six month adventure in Tanzania. financial support started coming instantly and i was completely overwhelmed by the response. then february came around and it was off Kilimanjaro. that six months in Tanzania  resounds through my life everyday. in my mind, i still translate words into swahili. my emphasis on ‘stuff’ is nearly non-existent. Troy talks about wanting this and that, and i don’t have the same wants. (this is something we are working together.) troy and i met because of our interest in missions. he had been on a mission trip to Brazil, and i had this blog about my adventures in Tanzania. that was the basis for our first discussion in an email. i can hardly believe that it’s been nearly a year since he first emailed me. now we are over six months into our beautiful marriage.

 

last weekend we were in miami for the final nascar race of the season. had a great time cherishing the time away from the normal routine, sleeping in hotels, staying with friends, enjoying good company, and watching some racing. its was great to have the break. i have to admit that i love showing troy off. he’s like a wonderful prize that i love to introduce to my friends. it’s great. troy got along with florida friends just lovely. then again, how can you not love troy?

 

 

 

Non Half Anniversary

yesterday i told all my friends from the office that today was my 6 month anniversary. i truly was convinced that it was. so i'm talking to troy last night as he's driving home, and asked him what he had planned for our 1/2 anniversary. he mentioned, 'how about on the 10th we order pizza?' i asked, 'on the 10th?' his reply, 'our anniversary is the 10th. we got married on the 10th of may'. then it hit me that today is the 6th. so i may have lost the wife of the year award over not knowing the exact date of our anniversary. guess when troy forgets my b-day, valentine's day, or an anniversary, i really don't have any right to be upset.

so i get to the car this morning and troy had bought flowers. guess he didn't want for me to be disappointed on our non half anniversary.


so this is me enjoying a piece of chocolate cake and my purple daisies on our non half anniversary.

Learning

i'm starting off with this statement: Troy and i are in the middle of a discussion.

 

we are not fighting, simply discussing. we keep re-visiting the discussion. i think he wants me to tell more of what i really feel about this conversation, but i've held back some in order to not hurt his feelings. yesterday was a different story. there are days when i get chatty, and spew whatever is on my heart. guess i was having one of those days yesterday. hoping it will benefit both of us.

 

this is one of our first discussions which requires both of us to make some changes. i see a need for change; Troy is getting there. yet i realize that in order for things to thrive, both parties need to move together in a forward direction in order to progress. so i've spent much time in prayer about this, and i'm continuing to pray for us to see eye to eye (which isn't that hard since we are the same height.)

 

tomorrow is our six month anniversary.

 

our marriage has been a breeze; i honestly can't recall any days when it's been a tornado.

 

i just looked over at my wall of pictures and saw the photo of Troy and me on our wedding day.  memories of that day fill my mind - i married the right man (truly Troy is more than i have ever prayed for). then my mind jumps to Lacey helping with planning, Casey the great wedding singer, Shottie, Denise and Laura with all their support, Valerie bailing us out with the photographer, my family stepping up to help with the food, some relatives driving all night from wisconsin to make the wedding, my beautiful Grandma give me her blessing, the moments of getting the flowers in the buckets with my dad, grocery shopping with my mom, taking a stroll around the falls, getting a good night sleep before the wedding, getting to the church on wedding day and people already hustling to make everything look great, taking a ride to Carole and LeRoy's new house, all the guests who attended our wedding in the rain, having all our family together for the first time, meeting my brother's girlfriend and my niece, introducing Troy to everyone, etc.

 

what an amazing blessing. my heart deeply overflows with gratitude to our Maker for matching us up. Troy and i make a great team. i love having kids who are 8 and 11, and Flora is just about 11. it's like having 2 boys and a girl. then there are all my wonderful in-laws. i married into a really welcoming and wonderful family. I have 3 great moms, 2 wonderful dads, and the list goes on from there. my life feels full right now, but never forgot i long for Africa.

 

i see there is great celebration in Kenya today over the election results. my friend, Dex, is in kenya - in the northern region of Lodwar. she's traveling with a group who is deliver food, compassion, and love. i can't wait to return to tanzania. it's been a year and 3 months since i returned from Africa. i think i'm currently going thru a second round of culture shock. i miss that life - the simplicity, low cost life. i try to explain to Troy how i feel about it, but my words fail me. my heart breaks for my friends who are struggling to survive. i wish i could be there for Flora's b-day on the 29th of this month. i see her picture sitting on my desk - i see the desire and potential in her eyes. i miss that kid, even more so now than every before. i long to wrap her in my arms again.

 

guess i'm all over today.

 

 

 

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there is so much random stuff on the internet. i was surfing today, came across a website to make ransom notes. how bizarre. yet, it was very interesting and cool how it works.

been reading some murder mystery books by james patterson. finised two books so far. need to get back to the library tonight so i can get another. they are the types which hold your attention to the last page. love that type of book.


love this photo of my guys.

had a fun weekend surprising my in-laws with their trick or treating grandkids. then drove down to the lake to spend a couple of nights with deanna.

andy had a traumatic weekend.