One Year Ago Today...

We got married!!!

And then we went to...

Maui!!!

We're headed back to Hawaii May 18th-25th this year. :) Oahu this time. 

Thank you ALL for your unending love, support and care for us. This year has not been easy. 

We've experienced loss (Grandpa Crombie, Brandon Yost, Chuck Doyle - all in Heaven with Jesus), heartache, changes, job loss, schedule adjustments,  and much more. While most people say, "Oh, the first year is the hardest!" We would argue that the MARRIAGE is the BEST part of the first year together, and that all the other stuff - life in general, as tough as it is - was what made it difficult to persevere. But we DID IT! Looking back, we have no regrets, because we've learned and grown. Don't get me wrong; we were very, very hurt and very, very scared many, many times! But we know God is in control. And He has a good and perfect plan!

A brief but current update: I am currently a stay-at-home wife, and work from home in my Etsy shop, selling stuff on eBay, and keeping our home and schedules in order. I also teach piano lessons to 5 wonderful students, and try to squeeze in teaching a coupon cataloging seminar now and again. Robert is still working for Anthony's Home Port, and he's currently wearing many hats in the Everett location (server, lead, front desk, trainer, etc.), as well as helping the Anacortes Location get on its feet by training the new employees up there. He also works very hard to help me as much as he can around the house. We're still serving in ministry as the Directors of the Trek ministry (6th-8th graders) in the Awana program at our church. 

A few things we've gleaned over the last year:

1) Amendment J.O.Y. - Jesus first, others second, yourself last

2) God has the best plan

3) If you put your faith in God, He will give you the desires of your heart

4) Being a stay-at-home wife does not mean that my house is perfectly clean, my things are perfectly in order, and I've got life figured out - and it's OKAY

5) It's okay to be emotional; just as long as your actions aren't based solely on emotion

6) Actions are always better than reactions

7) We aren't perfect; so we'll make mistakes

8) Any situation can make us bitter or better (borrowed from Michelle Duggar)

9) People are only mean when they are threatened (borrowed from Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom)

10) Ask each other questions all the time - communication is a good thing

Of course, we've learned much, much more, but this is just what I came up with off the top of my head.

Things we can use prayer for:

1) Praise God for the kindness of Grandpa & Grandma Byers and Uncle Roy, without whom we would not be going away for 8 days to enjoy a tropical vacation for a second honeymoon.

2) Praise God for our work situations - He is faithful to provide, and we are not going without anything!

3) Pray for wisdom and discernment as we enter our second year of marriage.

4) Pray for better time management.

5) Pray for my working from home, as it's been a huge provision from the Lord, and that He would continue to provide for us in that way. 

Again, thank you for everything you all have done for us. It means more to us than you'll ever know!

Christmas deco down; new attitude up!

Well, Robert didn't have to work today, so he volunteered to stay home with me and take down Christmas decorations. (He also took down the lights at Auntie Karen's and Mom & Dad C's!)

I don't know if any of my readers know this about me, but I've always struggled with a little bit of depression following the holidays. I think that the Lord spared me from that this year, as we've had such a tumultuous first year of marriage. Don't read that wrong; our marriage is wonderful! It's all the events we've had to endure this past year that has been hard on us. So, with this Christmas being the first one without Grandpa Crombie and Brandon, I think that we did okay. There were definitely moments of grief and sorrow, but there were more moments of happiness and joy than anything else.

So here's what I have decided on, with our decorations all coming down and being packed away: I need to make sure that I'm taking pride in my home, no matter what season it is. I need to not be so perfectionist-driven, and be happy with what I can accomplish in a day.

Thus fulfilling one of my goals for the New Year! :)

Here's a few pictures of Robert being a wonderful husband today (and always, really, but today especially!)

Starting the New Year off right...

Well blogger friends, I haven't posted in quite awhile. It's not for lack of eventful days, though.

Truthfully, I just haven't been online much for leisure.

Anyway, to catch up to now, I've been thinking and praying about what I can do for New Year's Resolutions this year. I'm trying to keep it simple, though. Some are more long-term goal-oriented; some are attainable quickly. We'll see how this goes!

Here are my goals for my New Year's Resolutions:

1) Devotions daily. (Sometimes I get lazy, and put it off until "later" in the day, and then later comes, and I'm asleep).

2) Bible Reading done by May 1. (This is to finish off the Journey 24/7 mainstudies I'm working through in the AWANA material to earn my citation this year).

3) Buy used; save the difference. (Just like The Duggars). To me, this means that every time I shop at Value Village for something and purchase it, I will look up the price of the typical retail for the item, and subtract from that what I actually paid. The difference will go straight into savings. Same with coupons: when I use them, I'll subtract what I actually paid from what I would have paid with no coupons/ sales, and the difference will go straight into savings. I did this for a month or so, and it elevated our savings a great deal last year.

4) Keep the family calendar up to date. We have a family calendar on the side of the refrigerator, where I keep track of weekly commitments, important dates, etc. for things involving both Robert and I. My day planner is mine for daily to-do lists, breaking up goals to fit in with each day, and everything I have to do at home while Robert is working.

5) Pick one organizing project per day and accomplish it by 5:00p.m. This can be one drawer, one cabinet, one shelf, etc., but it is not to exceed one project per day, as I think that will sidetrack me from actually getting things done.

6) Clean up after myself. I have a bad habit of resolving to come back to a project during the day, and then I get distracted and forget about it. It just leaves the mess for the next day. :(

7) Stick to my schedule. Sheets & laundry get done every Sunday, as well as the ironing. Of course, I still do the in-between loads of laundry on Wednesdays or Thursdays, but sticking to my Sunday schedule will really help me to get a jump-start on the week. Additionally, it means coupon cataloging and meal-planning for the week must happen on Sundays. Hopefully, my husband can be home some weekend days (he's now committed to working at both the Everett and Anacortes locations), so that I can ask him what he wants.

8) Do grocery shopping first thing Monday mornings. This gives me something to wake up for and accomplish right away.

9) Read one book per week. I used to LOVE reading. I still do. I just can't seem to find time to do it! This will negate the constant stack of library books in front of our fireplace! :)

10) Keep track of my goals and things to accomplish on my To-Do, Doing, Done, Appointments/ Other board.

I'm posting this here for accountability. I want each one of you to ask me about my goals and how I'm doing on them. That way, I have no excuses! :)

Happy New Year's (goals)!