Struggles

I have been absent from the blog for the past few weeks. I have missed reading all the other blogs, writing out all my thoughts, and just having me time while I blog. Yet, my heart has just not been in the place to blog. My husband and I have had some spiritual battles and that required most of my time. Prayers were all my mind could gravitate around. The verse from Jeremiah 29:11 kept me calm. I leaned on that verse more then I have ever leaned on a verse before.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 Another verse I leaned on as well was Philippians 4:13. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

How great is our God? He carries through every struggle that we face. As long as we lean on Him & His word, we are fine. I can't wait to be reacquainted with all the bloggers I have missed over the past few weeks. Sure, we still have the hills to overcome but we are out of the hardest part Praise Jesus!

How do you blog?

I loved this idea. Thanks to Kiki & Julie for posting this idea first. I love to read what others are doing with their life and how they well do it. :) If that makes any sense. I figured I share my blogging style too.

Where do you blog? My MacBook is my laptop of choice. It has my life story on it I swear. Normally I will set up camp at our kitchen table in our tiny little home. I have everything I need within arms length. My total lax water bottle, my planner, & my iphone. Of course our bulletin board with our invites, pictures of family, and little things is hanging right by me.

When do you blog? I tend to post blogs right before my night shifts at the ED. Sometimes on my days off, I will blog while Mr. Mueller is at work.

Do you schedule posts? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. It honestly just depends on the post, the day, and how I feel about it.

Where/how do you think of posts? I have always loved writing. Yes, I was that nerd that would love when a test had essay questions on it. :) I think of post all the time. I get my inspiration from everywhere. Whether it be my crazy life, stories from the ED, other bloggers, my dog. Seriously, when it comes it comes. I don't try to force a blog at all.

When do you read blogs? How often do you read blogs? I love to read blogs. Next to writing, reading is at the top of my list. I normally read some blogs right before I post & then after. Sometimes I just want to read so I will open up my blogger dashboard and read. And on occasion I read while I am on my break at work, so my time about 4:15 am.

So tell me how do you blog? Go ahead copy and paste and blog away.

1 Month Challenge

One month ago exactly I said, I DO, to my best friend and soul mate too. The month has flown by way to quickly. As I tried to savor each part of our special day and the days after it but they all went by in a blink of an eye.

Yesterday, God really pushed me to be the wife he has made me to be. To be encouraging when my husband is down. To be there for him when he needs me to be. To push him to be the best he is no matter what. To love him no matter what. I called it the one month challenge! The hubby has been having so major tummy trouble and after some convincing he called his doctor. Very typical that guys don't like anything that includes the word doctor. Anyways, his doctor was awesome and is giving us a very healthy alternative to help his tummy troubles disappear. I am so happy that he had a wonderful doctor who did not just prescribe medicine or a bunch of expensive testing. However, the appointment left my husband extremely upset and discouraged. The doctor took him off gluten, dairy, soy, and corn for 2 months straight. All of the good foods in his book are gone. Things that taste good are gone. Poor guy. God showed me to how much my husband needed me yesterday. I know it won't be an easy journey for either of us. Learning to cook with foods I am not use to won't be easy either. But I have to respond myself, my husband needs his wife to support him no matter what. I will def have to keep reminding myself of that as our lives go on. But oh he is so worth it!

Sunday Verse

hopes dreams & goals

~To visit countries over seas

~To participate on a mission trip in Africa

~To complete one marathon

~To run the Tough Mudder with the hubby

~To have kiddos

~To grow old with the one whom my soul loves

~To have the dream job with people in the exercise field

~To reach young girls and show them their inner beauty!

~To be the best hockey/lax mom there is 


What are some of your hopes, dreams, & goals?

You are Beautiful

What defines the word beauty in our culture today? As I walk through the store and look at all the different fashion magazines I see the fashion icons of today's society. Actresses, models, singers, song writers, all of these women that have done something in our world today to become an icon for so many other women to see. These icons just aren't your average person you see walking down the street anymore, they are somebody whose looks, actions, and even signature means something. This all is having an affect on many young girls in today's world. So many young girls cover the face with lobs of makeup or wear less clothing to make a statement. They don't realize they have raw beauty. Inside and out, they feel like the girl on the cover is who they should become, and not shine through themselves. I just want to reach out to every young girl....and scream YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. I have such a heart to help them, but I can't reach all of them, I can't even reach half of them. But how cool is it that some companies are trying too!? The other night I was on YAHOO and find an article about Dove and their newest campaign called real beauty. Their goal is to reach out to women across the world and tell them, hey you are beautiful just the way you are, others think so too. I love this idea!!

As I read further in the Yahoo Article I got down to the comment section. Yes, there were positive feed backs from mostly women. But then guys & girls both were commenting with negative feedback. Some were making comments about how Dove was choosing average and above average women to be in the campaign and ugly women were not chosen. That is when my jaw dropped. This is what is problem. People categorize people by pretty, gorgeous, beautiful....and ugly!!! This is not okay...every person is beautiful inside or out, God did not create ugly he created good.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

-Genesis 1:27-

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.

-Genesis 1:31-

I love that. God designed us in our image and it was GOOD! God was pleased. He didn't design and create ugly he created beautiful good!  How awesome is our God!? Yes, people look different and maybe created differently, but let me tell you not one person is ugly. I encourage you to love a girl a little extra. Your mom, sister, aunt, grandma, you name it and take time to say, "hey you are beautiful."

                                                                                                                                           

If you are interested in reading the article & checking out Dove's Campaign. Here are the links

Yahoo: Dove

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

*disclaimer: I was not hired by Dove to write this article. This was my own opinion on the subject.

A Fresh Start with Wild Card Wednesday

First and foremost I want to express my greatest sympathy to those who were affected at the Boston Marathon. My heart goes out to all the families, runners, and citizens of Boston who have experienced such a traumatic event. For such a fun day of runners accomplishing their goal of a long marathon to be ruined. I will be praying for them in days to come.

 

So,  it is time for Wild Card Wednesday! Such a fun link up way to get to know some pretty awesome bloggers! If you don't participate already, head over to the hostest with the mostest blogs and check em out! Who knows you may develop some new friends along the way! 

So, my hubby and I have decided we needed a fresh start. The past year has consisted of lots of stress, fast food, junk food, and some extra weight. It has become a bit ridiculous because money we were getting we were spending on going out and eating instead of cooking. Not cool! When we did eat at home it was fast and we liked to eat munchies too...ya know double stuff oreos, chocolate, chips, the norm! So finally we said this is enough. So yesterday, we got on the bus of motivation. I have to say it is so awesome to have an accountability partner in my husband to better our lives together. I am so thankful to God for him. We consulted nutritionist & dietician friends of ours and figured out meal plans that work for us. I am so excited to see how God leads us on this adventure together and I can't wait to share our progress with you all as we go. I ask that you keep us in your prayers though, because I am sure there will be days we don't feel like it and just want to give up. If you have any tips or tricks I would love to hear it as well! 

Life Lessons on cleaning up

Alright, here it is, I have been married for more then 3 weeks and I am at the point that I am passed all the cuteness & I am freaking out...I live with a boy!!! A boy that still plays lacrosse & hockey, a boy that isn't use to doing dishes for himself, and a boy that lets face it is a boy!

It is the first time we have both lived away from home, and yes we both have been a little spoiled by our families in the sense of not having to cook or for him, he never did his own laundry. But now we have to put on the big girl/boy pants & learn to manage that kinda stuff on our own. Let me tell you it has been such a humbling experience. There have been days I just want to scream or even pick a fight about how the dishes were left in the sink & not the dish washer. But you know what, God is in control and I am totally okay with that. Like the other day, I came home from an obnoxiously long night at work and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed, yet when I walked in and saw the puppy, I realized bed wasn't my first choice. No, Miss Bailey managed to poop in her kennel & step in it, all in the 45 minutes that Justin had left for work & I came home from work. Of course, the first 10 minutes of cleaning up I was having a fight in my head with Justin on how he didn't take the puppy out before he left for work. I was arguing with myself for even getting a dog even though deep down I love her so much! Then it hit me, the Proverbs 31 woman was always ready even though she may have had struggles. She took time to care for her family with out complaint. God took care of her because she honored him. Then I realized cleaning up my dog's poop can be a humbling experience. So I cleaned, smiled, and went through all the things I am thankful for with my husband and my family! It was great & before I knew it I was completely done cleaning. I had a peaceful night sleep too!

What ways does God help you through situations. What life lessons does God teach you through little things?

Happy Monday!

Sunday Verse

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another about yourselves. 

Romans 12:9-10

Little Life Lessons

Life Lessons from this Week:

• It is okay to wear the same pair of jeans twice
  
• It is okay to still talk to your mom everyday after your married
  
• It is okay to still miss home ( a little)
  
• It is okay to kiss your dog a million times
  
• It is okay to make left overs for dinner
  
• It is okay to let your husband be in charge of dinner
  
• It is okay to put an extra shot in  your latte
   
• It is okay to turn all the lights off and watch Holiday Inn by yourself
  
• And it is totally okay to smile a little more when your husband comes home and kisses you each night. 

Happy Wife Blessed Life

I still have this weird bubbly feeling when I realize I am a wife now and not just a girlfriend/fiance'. I often catch myself telling stories and saying, my fiance' and I. Oops... I mean my husband and I. Yes, it makes me want to do a little girl squeal. A few years back, Justin & I took a random class at our college together. It was really just a blow off class, one we needed just for the credit vs what we were actually learning. A few of our friends took the class with us as well. The class was Marriage & Family. At that time Justin & I were not even engaged or talking about it. We had our own problems and really had no clue if we would make it together. However, with lots of prayer, love, & encouragement we made it. We often joke that we learned more then we wanted to in that class, including how to make a loving relationship last. Sure, there was stuff we laughed at &made fun of just like you would in most classes. Just like this little life lesson,  

Happy Wife Blessed Life 

The video this came out of was a super cheesy 80s Marriage Counseling Video. But Justin has kept me happy & he keeps trying. I know we have only been married a few weeks & we still have our whole life ahead of us, but I know our life will be blessed. And I am looking forward to every minute of it I spend with him. 

 

 Today is Wildcard Wednesday. Join the fun! Find new friends. Read new stories! Don't forget to follow your host & me! 

I am back

Holy Cow! It has been forever since I last chatted on this lovely atmosphere. I have missed it! I have so much to catch up on, and read on all those other awesome blogs. Sheesh, I am going to be super  busy for awhile! :) I guess I can't ever say I am bored though right?

Well, the wedding sure kept me busy these past few months, I just had trouble finding what to write or even time to write, when I was working at the ER or planning the wedding, I was trying to sleep. My awesome mom & now awesome mom-in-law, were God sends in helping me with whatever they could. The in-laws planned the entire Rehearsal Dinner and it was perfect. My parents went above and beyond helping me with anything I thought of last minute. My awesome aunt decorated 250 cookies with the Saint Louis Blues & Saint Louis Cardinals logos for the reception. My sister (the awesome Maid of Honor) put up with a lot of crap. Going with me to last minuet dress apointments, folding all the wedding programs, waking up early for hair & makeup on the wedding day. Oh...and my emotional self in the two weeks leading up to the wedding. But oh it was lovely.

I told everyone I wanted a clear sky & warm on my wedding day. Well, when you live in Saint Louis and it is March, you never know what is going to happen. I don't think the weather man here even know exactly what to expect when broadcasting the weather. The week leading up to the big day it was cold and cloudy. I told everyone I was praying & I knew it was going to be beautiful. My parents & everyone else said to me over and over again, "you can't let the weather affect your day. no matter what happens.' But guess what!? Prayer seriously works! Praise Jesus the weather was beautiful. It was perfect....

Look at that blue sky!!

and then the next day it literally snowed 16 plus inches! :) God is so good letting it wait till the next day.

Look at that snow!

Okay, I promise I will upload wedding pictures soon! :) It is good to be back!

Where I have been

Oh how I have missed the blogger atmosphere. The inspiration of other bloggers, the stories, and all the other fun of the blogger world. I have been overwhelmed with all that his been going on in my life lately...all good yes, but it has taken all my time an effort. I am running low on energy and creativity.

I am at the 1 month mark from the day I say those two little words that will change my life forever... I do. I have so much to do and so little time.

So for now, I am asking for advice for this time in my life from all you amazing bloggers. :)

Sunday Verse of the Day

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

Romans 12:2

Post Superbowl Monday

Well hello Monday, crazy how fast the weekend flew bye and let me be honest, I ate way to much during the Superbowl yesterday. My parents had my fiance' and I over for dinner & the game. Oh goodness was she ever prepared. Good ole' Saint Louis toasted raviolis, mozzarella sticks, chips & dip, soup, cookie dough dip, oh and the list goes on! Yes, I did do a little extra training today at the gym, let's call it guilty gym work out! Even though the 49ers didn't win. The game was still exciting down to even the electric power surge during the 3rd Quarter! Crazy right?! I hope you all enjoyed the day & and Superbowl snacks with family and friends!


Sorry, this post isn't very long, due to the Superbowl, late night work, and then the gym, has left me with little sleep & zero ounces of creativity! However, I am working on a post in regards to inspirations of marriage & a marriage survival kit! :) Check back later this week!

xoxo

Snuggle Saturday Link Up

Another link up, wow I was link up crazy this week! But I guess it is a fun way to meet new bloggers right? Anywho, today is Snuggle Saturday Link Up: Superbowl Theme

1. Do you watch the actual game or only watch for commercials and half time?

     Seriously, of course I watch the game! I always manage to find one of the boys and place a bet to see who will win... the past few years I bet right and normally get a pretty good meal out of it. My top pick for dinner is always Buffalo Wild Wings. :) The fiance' teases me I get way more into the game then he does.

2. Which team did you want to make it to the Superbowl?
     I guess in all honesty I secretly wanted my home team to make it back to the Superbowl...but lets face it the St. Louis Rams just haven't stepped up the game in a long time.

3. Which team will you root for? The Ravens or the 49ers?
      I have enough friends from the San Fran area...so I am going to go with my friends and root on the 49ers.


Happy Saturday & Superbowl Sunday! xoxo

hello friday: Link Up

I am so glad it is the weekend! We have a busy weekend ahead of us and I am sure the weekend will go by way to fast. But tonight it is friday and I am going to enjoy it. So in honor of TGIF I am linking up with a few link ups! Check them all out! :) Find + Follow Friday, High Five for Friday, & That Friday Blog Hop. Enjoy!

1) More RSVP cards. I am so enjoying how many people have already replied in coming to our wedding. We are so blessed to have so many loving and supportive people in our lives who want to celebrate this special day with us. 50 days until I say I do!!!

2) We went food taste testing at the reception site this week. Oh how much we all ate...and let me tell you the food is to die for. Why can't I have all the food???

3) A new Ted Dekker book and In Style for the week! Yes, please!

4) Our chalk board wall! Seriously I am in love with this! I highly suggest everyone to have a chalk board wall in their own home. You can feel like a little kid all over again. Totally worth it!

5) St Louis Blues against the Red Wings tonight at 6:30! LETS GO BLUES. LONG LIVE THE NOTE.

currently

Reading through blogs today, and I found a fun little blog link up over at Harvesting Kale. This week's theme is LOVING, WISHING, CRAVING, MISSING, WORRYING. Every week there will be a new theme for what is currently going on. Head on over and check them out, what a cute blog too. So, I figured for fun to try this one out, and let all my blog readers see what I am currently up to. So follow me & link up too!

Loving: My fiance // the St. Louis blues // the St. Louis Cardinals (less then 2 weeks till Spring training opens!!) // my coffee // the chalk board wall that is freshly painted // our little home //

 

Wishing: on a new queen bed // to find a wedding florist // my lil cousin feels better soon

 

Craving: ice cream // my sister's famous brownies //

 

Missing: warm weather // St. Louis Cardinals Season //

 

Worrying:  about finances // future // job situations

What is going on in your life currently?

wedding update

Over the past two days I have been simply amazed by all the RSVP cards we have already been getting in the mail! :) I mailed out all the invitations last Friday and already we have over 20 RSVP cards. People are just awesome like that. But along with all the excitement of getting down to the final details, I am getting more nervous. I have so much left to do and under two months to pull it all together. Flower girl dresses, reception center pieces, the ceremony, wedding songs (the big ones) and wedding bands. I have been so laid back about all the wedding plans that now I am to the point I am regretting being the laid back bride, even though I am sure my bridesmaids and parents have enjoyed the laid back part of it instead of a bridezilla. :)

Tonight, we taste tested for the reception... by far one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning! Oh my gosh did we load our plates with such amazing food. If you live in the good ole St. Louis, I highly recommend checking out The Christy in South City. The food was amazing. Both the groom and my dad raved about how it was easily the best wedding food they have tried. So we have decided to have the 2 main entrees be Chicken Modegia & Beef Biscuit.  The sides will be a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes, and pasta con broccoli, and of course there will be The Christy's famous Ron & Shirley's salad. Seriously, I might be bold enough to say their salad topped Imo's house salad, and anyone familiar with St. Louis knows that is like something huge to say. With the food selection picked that is one check mark I can put onto my list and slowly move the list down to 0 items.

For you all experienced brides, or girls who have weddings already planned and all you are waiting on is your groom, do you have any first dance song ideas! I totally need some ideas. HELP!

 Also, why not make some new friends since the weekend is just around the corner! :D Enjoy the awesome and fun blog link up! :D

date night turned girls night

Friday nights have always been marked on the calendar, at least for the most part as date night. Where we make sure we do something a little different & just to have fun. Well, this past Friday night the boy tried planning the date night. Oh, he tried so hard to make it fun and special. I will give him all the credit for taking charge and planning a date...but mister needs a little help when it comes to creativity. Let me clarify, this past Friday was double date night with some awesome friends of ours. I was totally pumped and willing to hang with them because lets just face it, it does not happen often enough. However, we ended up in a large underground cave.

 

Yep, a sand covered cave. Well this cave, has two huge Disc Golf Courses. Which is all fine and dandy, however, for two girls who were dressed cute & wanting a night to catch up, walking through sand and water to watch the boys toss light up disc at poles, wasn't our idea of fun. So let me tell you, we planted our selves at a fold out table & had good old fashion gal pal talk, while the boys for two hours lost themselves in a cave playing disc golf. Not so much of a double date, but a girls night gone wrong. 

 

 

 Even thought the double date did not turn out to what I expected for our typical date night, it will be a memory that I will cherish. 

1) My mister took time to figure out something different and unusual for us to do together. (aww)

2) He planned the night. 

3) And I got to have a girls night in a cave... how often does that happen? 

So to go along with how staying content with right now, I was content with a night away even if it was not to my top expectation.

brotherly love

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitatlity. 

Romans 12:10-13

our little home

Right now, I am airing out our little home, candle is lit, dishes are put away, & I am here. Sitting on our couch, amazed how fast time is going by. 2 months from now, I will be a MRS instead of a MISS and I will live in our little home. When I say little, I mean one bedroom, one bathroom apartment kind of small, but you know what, I am okay with that! We are so blessed to be starting this journey of ours together with so much love and support.

   

    

Right now, this is me. Content and happy. And oh so blessed. 

the unspoken rules

Over this past week we signed our lease to our new home. Yes, exciting, however I must admit I am a little nervous too. I went to school in town & opted to save money and live with my parents throughout college. So, you will have to understand my apprehension on living on my own & being in charge of a household. :) I am so blessed though to have a strong support system behind me as I slowly embark on the transition into married life. Loving encouraging parents (mine & his), extended family, & friends.

As the apartment slowly begins to look like a quaint little home, the more nervous I get for March. My mind keeps racing over and over. You live & you learn. We currently are working on our Pre-Marital Counseling work books. How fun it has been as well as a learning process. I am so grateful my church requires this study & put us with such an awesome married couple to lead us through the book chapter by chapter & step by step. I had to laugh. The first chapter talked about the unspoken rules that one has in their life due to how they grew up. In our work book, we each had to right them down & then discuss them. Totally great exercise! We learned a lot, even if we said we "knew everything about the other." One section made us laugh the most. The "quirky unspoken rules". Neither of us knew exactly what to put or what quirky things we had. But owe when we started unpacking his things in the apartment the first night, did the quirky things stand out the most. For example, I grew up putting the loaf of bread in the fridge. My mom says it makes the bread last longer. Justin opened the fridge Thursday night & looked at me and said "why is the bread in the fridge?" You, see he grew up with the bread being kept on the counter. An unspoken quirky rule. I am sure as time goes on & I move into the apartment come March 23rd, more quirks will come up. Oh, how things will change.

From all you married women, any tips for us as we embark on this adventure? All are welcome!

Sunday

Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have un wittingly entertained angles. 

~Hebrews 13:1-2~

Check out She Reads Truth tomorrow as they start their new daily devotional! Happy Sunday!

In just a few short months

In just a matter of time, I will be walking down the isle to say "I do" to my best friend. My how time flies. It feels like just a few short days I was at my main man's LAX game unknowing how my life would change forever at the end of that specific game. Now that Christmas is over, the craziness has begun. The little things that need to be done. The showers all from our huge loving families!

The sister bridemaids at my first shower. Left: my sister & awesome maid of honor Right: Justin's Sister

How awesome are these Bridal Sunglasses. All part of the fun at the Sisters Tea Room for the first shower.

 We have had 2 showers already, and I have been blown away with how blessed we both are. We have so many family members who have showered us with plenty of love. They have given us more then just gifts, their kind words, and love have blessed up beyond compare. 

I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. -Psalm 116: 7

 

I love that verse. It speaks volumes about how I feel right now & what God is trying to tell me through this time in my life. To relax and rest & enjoy. He has showered me with blessings through this entire time. Even when I have felt as if I am overwhelmed with the wedding plans, He has never left my side. How awesome is that? 

Another thing that has been a nice break & added some fun into my life, is our premarital counseling sessions.  This book is amazing! I love settling for breakfast when I come home from work & reading this awesome book. :) I definitely recommend it to any couple that is engaged.

New Year, New Life

Hello everyone,
My how has time just flown. December was just one crazy month. Between, holidays & wedding planning, and the first wedding shower...oh and work! I just lost all time of anything, including blogging, sadly. Oh, how I do enjoy blogging. Telling my life stories, my crazy ideas. All of it! I don't know even where to start with this blog. I don't want a mess of just random stories. Over the next few days, I will update on all the lovely life stories.

See you soon!