Thursday, October 29, 2009

We Have GPS

One of the few things (other than free tv service) that Ace liked about working at DirecTV was that he could get some free stuff.

The latest free thing we got is a new GPS. We're hoping that we'll have better luck with TomTom this time (it tried to send us the wrong way last time we tried using one). Even if it's not perfect, it's still a free GPS, so we aren't complaining, at least not right now.

Nicely, it got here before we would even possibly be moving to Springfield, so we now have something to assist us in finding our way around our soon-to-be new hometown. It's always a good thing to be able to find our way around, so we're happy (provided it installs the new updated maps this time).

So, we are ready for our new lives to start, mostly, but we have to wait at least a little bit longer (2 nights, we believe) before we can move. But, we're looking forward to it.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A Time To...

1TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:
2A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,
3A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,
4A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,
7A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,
8A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (AMP)

This has always been one of my favorite parts of the Old Testament. It's a good reminder for the bad times to endure them, as they won't last. It's a good reminder for the good times to cherish them, as they won't last forever either.

Lately, life has felt like a time to lose and a time to cast away. On one hand, it's a strong reminder that everything Ace and I didn't bring with us is just a thing, we can get it (or something similar) again. On the other hand, it's hard to sort through 6 years worth of stuff and decide what isn't vital.

But, it has brought about a new hope for a future without some parts of the past weighing us down. We're freer now from some bad memories. We can move forward in our lives instead of glancing back in an effort to make sure we never forget. We won't ever truly forget the past, but now we can make a fresh start of life. We're going to be moving to a new city and a new state. We'll be learning things together. It's a chance to grow.

I'm still partially mourning the loss of the old and familiar life, even as I'm looking forward to starting the new. It's odd, to feel some sorrow mixed in with my hope. But, looking at how my life has been this past year, maybe it's time for all these changes. Maybe these particular changes, the ones I was dreading, are the ones I need the most.

It's becoming an interesting ride lately.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fluidity

Ace and I have been having to react to new and seemingly ever-changing situations lately.

We found out that we had some savings that we forgot about, so we're moving again as soon as we have access to the money. We're heading up to Springfield, MO. We've found somewhere to live (it'll not be a ton of space, but it'll be private), and we found out it will be cheaper than originally quoted.

With our savings, we'll have a chance to look for work up there without having to impose on my dad and step-mom any longer than we have to. The only minorly bad thing is that we need new cell phones, as we have no service with our current phones. But we'll get that sorted out soon.

Guess it's a good thing we're happy with things changing right now, huh?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday. 29 years ago, my mother gave birth to me. I feel like I should have more to say about that, but I really don't.

Instead, I'm taking a page out of Jenna's book (or a tradition from her family) and posting what I've learned this last year.

1. While it's embarrassing for a little while, you get over the embarrassment of having gone through a foreclosure. And you get over leaving the better part of a houseful of furniture, because it's just stuff.

2. My marriage is strong. It doesn't always feel that way, but that's usually because we are focusing on the small differences. When we're dealing with anything big, those differences can come in handy.

3. My family rocks. My dad is currently letting us live with him (we aren't sure how long that's going to last). My sister came up to help us move (even though we didn't end up needing her help that much). My dad has also offered to store some of our stuff until we are ready for it again.

4. Sometimes someone else's pain cuts just as deeply as our own does. We can mourn for their loss as if it were ours. It can make us long to be able to comfort someone, even though there isn't really much we can say or do. It can give the past some merit, even if it doesn't feel like enough.

5. Often change, even painful and surprisingly drastic change, is a good thing. Sometimes when things seem the hardest, you find that you're happy to see the changes happening. And while you may get nostalgic for what was, you're happy that things changed.

6. No two people, even when they go through the same experience, feel the exact same way. You can sympathize more, but it's not the same.

7. My sister is fun to talk to, even when she's talking about people I don't know. She's a great person and I'm glad I got to spend a lot of time with her Friday and Saturday. Also, we both describe movies the same way (We jump around in the movie, trying to tell everything we think is important. I'm sure it's annoying.).

8. Sometimes situations are more fluid than they seem. Things can change quickly. It's amazing how quickly you can adjust to change. It's also amazing how quickly you can figure out what is really important and what isn't.

Today is my birthday. This past year has been one of the roughest of my life. But, I survived it and am able to meet new challenges.

But first, I'm going to celebrate. Because it is my birthday.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Moving Day

Today, Ace and I move. We're working on finishing up our packing and waiting for the assistance of my sister and her boyfriend.

We're moving in with my dad for right now. We aren't sure exactly what the next few weeks will bring, but we do have a plan in place for the future.

So, I should probably get back to working on that.

Later.

Friday, October 16, 2009

A Break In Packing

I am taking a break in the craziness that is packing and trying to figure out what is important to go visit my dad with my siblings for today and tomorrow. Ace is so cool, as he is fine with this.

And now I have to look something up for him before I forget and am gone.

TTFN!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Change in the Wind

Well, the big change that I knew was coming, but was ignoring refuses to be ignored anymore.

Ace and I are moving. Within the week. And we aren't sure where we are moving right now.

And I'm sitting here, possibly a little shock, trying not to think about it. My life isn't really in my control right now.

It doesn't help that my dad recently got in an accident on his motorcycle. He'll be fine, will have a couple of scars probably.

But right now, I think I've had 1 too many things happen lately. I don't know how I feel. I don't know what I think. I just know that everything seems to be changing, and I'm not the one choosing these changes.

So, I'm focusing on breathing and will start packing up books here soon. After all, if I'm moving, I'd like to take as many of my friends as possible with me when I move.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Walking in Love

Lately, Ace and I have started focusing more on spending time in the Bible and spending time listening to teaching from the Bible. And it's helping us both a lot, I think.

I know that it's feeding our faith. And it reminds me of when we were first married. We spent so much time with God and each other. I never realized before now that I had missed that.

As I've looked back over my life (over the broad-strokes, I'm not messing with looking at the details right now), on the good times and the bad, I've found that for every event that seemed like it should or could shake my faith in God, it's instead brought me closer to Him.

When my parents divorced, I was going to a church that really didn't know how to react to that or how to support me emotionally through that time. When my mom got remarried, we changed churches, which was awkward for me because I really didn't know anyone there. Through all of this, my faith in God just got stronger. And even when things have happened that have shaken my faith in humanity's ability to be good, my faith in God hasn't wavered. It's constant.

While my faith has remained steadfast, my attitude and my habits have changed over the years. My knowledge of the Bible has grown and my beliefs on the smaller issues, things that I see as minor details now, have changed as I've gained knowledge. And while Ace has helped with that, I'd like to think that I would have adjusted my beliefs to what I saw in the Bible had I been growing on my own.

I'm still trying to find a way to fully walk in God's agape love. I know that I'm not perfect, most days I feel like perfect is a long way away, but I'm trying. I'm also trying to figure out how walking in love with my mother works (I guess it's easier when I'm not dealing with her, but it feels more awkward).

So, while my faith is stronger than ever, I'm feeling like my attitude and my habits still need work. Maybe all this time with God will help.

Later!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

We Must Be Thinking of Something Good

(Jenna, I blame you for my post title.)

Since Ace and I got our couch from Karen, we've started a few new traditions.

1. Ace is lotioning my feet every night. Which helps make sure we spend at least a little bit of time touching each other everyday, which helps keep us connected. Also, it means my feet won't be dry.

2. We are coming up with 5 things we are grateful for and sharing them with each other. This way, we focus on good things, just like we're told to do in Philippians 4:8. They are usually simple little things, but I think it helps us both concentrate on the good things in life instead of the bad.

It's amazing what all can change in just 3 days.

P.S.: We have a slip-cover on the couch. It's not pretty and doesn't really fit quite right, but the couch is no longer clinging to our skin so we're happy.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Good Things

Well, yesterday was a day for good things.

I discovered the toilet I thought had to be baby-sat to stop flushing just needed a minor adjustment (which has now been made), so there is a fully functioning half bath in this house.

Also, while Ace and I were shopping, we decided to get some pillows for the new-to-us couch (for support/something to cuddle/something to nap on/whatever), and are planning on buying some slip covers for both the couch and the love-seat so that at least some of our furniture in the living room will match (the only things that currently match are the massage chair and it's footstool). I'm not sure when we'll get the slip cover for the love-seat, but we are looking at getting the slip cover for the couch very soon.

After several months of feeling like we've just had bad news piling up, it's good to get some good news.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Great Re-Arrangement

Yesterday, we got a newer couch. We bought a couch from Karen and her husband shortly before the wedding, and yesterday they delivered it.

Between the time Karen called to let me know they were coming by and the time they got here, I spent a good portion of my time moving furniture around (something Ace scolded me for last night). I moved our love-seat to another wall. I moved my massage chair temporarily into the dining room (it's back in the living room now, I was smart enough to let Ace move it around).

Now, our living room looks a lot smaller, but has a lot more seating than it did before (if someone came by, they could sit on something besides the floor). And today, I have a somewhat sore back from moving furniture. But, overall, both Ace and I are feeling good about how things are arranged and are happy that I'm not feeling as bad as we both thought I would today.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Time for a Hobby?

Today, I'm thinking that I need to take up a new hobby. I think I need to learn how to knit.

I've always been interested, but I haven't taken the time to do anything about it. Maybe now is the time to do it.

Plus, I want to start being able to say "I knit sweaters, yo" and seeing who knows what I'm talking about, while at the same time not lying about my abilities to knit (right now, I can't knit sweaters, yo).

So, yeah. I think it's time for a hobby.