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When does a house become a home??

I really don't know how to answer that. Some people think it is the stuff you have in your house. Some say it's how it is decorated. But really is it the people? The sense of belonging? The knowing that this is where you live? The security?

Ryan and I moved into our new apartment about a month ago. Before you freak out, we do not live there together! He is living with friends in Lake O. But he has his stuff at our "house".

We love our little apartment. We have unpacked most of the boxes. We have a few pictures up and some decorations. Our furniture is where we want it, and my kitchen is AMAZING!!

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I have a "home". I loved living with my parents, but it was slowly feeling less like "home" to me. But now, both Ryan and I feel like our "house" is "home". It is safe. It is warm. It is welcoming. It is already filled with memories.

So, does our stuff make it feel like home? No, it is us. We have made our cute apartment, home. I love it! I just cannot wait for my soon to be husband to live there too!

Nothing Great

I was listening to Late Tuesday this morning and their song, "Nothing Great" came on. It made me think. There are days when we hate our jobs. Where it always feels like a Monday. Where the day to day stuff gets old. Where we just go through the motions. Where we feel like nothing we do really makes much of a difference. Where the gifts and talents we have are never used to their full potential. I am there. I am at that place. But this song got me thinking about what I am doing and why I am doing it.

The same old stuff I have to do

Over and over and over again each day it seems

Nothing great to show off my abilities and my worth

So show me my purpose in the midst of this routine

Because I'm trying to understand why I am here at all

with so many guesses and too many simple answers

Could it be that life is not what I think at all

It's not the big things but the ordinary in between

And maybe this is not the time to be waiting for

any better reason to be glad that I am alive at all

So help me take each day each simple thing that I must do

to bring glory to you

And I could search out a lot of ways

To keep me doing things in attempt to make my mark

But then maybe I'd miss the mark of your desire for me

So I will trust in you and in everything I do

do it as for you

And I am learning to understand why I am here at all

there's no need for guesses when you are the simple answer

and you show me that life is not what I think at all

It's not the big things but the ordinary in between

And maybe this is not the time to be waiting for

Any better reason to be glad that I'm alive at all

So help me take each day each simple thing that I must do

to bring glory to you.

ONE YEAR!

It was a year ago today that I went on my last first date.

Ryan and I have been together for a year now. It is amazing to me just how quickly time has gone by. And now we are looking at two short months before we are married!!!

We were talking earlier today about the past year. It is filled with so many joys, hurts, frustrations, victories, and so many memories. We have been through some rough stuff, but we have come out stronger. We have so many sweet memories of things we have done. It has been an amazing year.

I am more in love with Ryan today than I was a year ago. I am so thankful that he is in my life. I couldn't be happier, or ask for a man who is as incredible as he is. The Lord is good.

Football

When I was in high school I never missed a home football game. Seriously. I loved to go the games. I would put on all my red and black and cheer...I must confess I didn't know what I was cheering for. The friends, food, entertainment and the something to do in Yelm on a Friday night was the draw, not the game!

I have watched many a football game. Especially this last fall with Ryan. He LOVES football. He has been patient in explaining the game to me, and helping me understand what is going on.

This last Saturday we were given tickets to go see the Seahawks go play the Chicago Bears. I was sooooo excited! I had been wanting to go to a game for so long, and we were finally there! It was so much fun! I was actually enjoying a football game for the game not just the fun stuff around me!!!

So, while I don't LOVE football, it's beginning to grow on me, I am looking forward to this season!

Coffee/tea snobs?

Ryan and I are creatures of habit when it comes to Starbucks. He orders a grande mocha frapp. light. I order my tall extra-hot non-fat chai. So, we may say our drinks wrong, but it never changes.

Today, I threw a wrench in the order. I ordered a grande, non-fat, vanilla, tea misto (it's basically a milk tea..yummy). Which not only confused my poor fiance ordering, but the barista as well. Apparently his normal basic drink confused them as well.

He got a normal frapp, all the sugar and whip cream included. I got a lukewarm tea. Yuck.

Now, please know that we never ever send our drinks back. In fact, we were over charged the other day and just didn't bother with it. But today, today was unacceptable, well unacceptable enough for us to send our drinks back. Does that make us coffee snobs? I mean we are not those people who order everything weird and then have it a certain temperature, and then once we get it know what that temperature actually tastes like.

The barista certainly thought we were picky. Dirty looks and all. I just don't want to be labeled as a coffee snob.

A heart of gratitude

This past weekend Ryan and I went to Yakima. We went not only to see Ryan's family but because I had my first Bridal Shower. It was a ton of fun. It was so enjoyable to talk with these women who have known Ryan for years, and because of their love for him and his family, they chose to pour that love out on me and bless me (and Ryan) with some very sweet gifts. As we got the gifts loaded in the car and pulled into my future in laws driveway I was overwhelmed with excitement to share the new treasures we got with Ryan. We got the gifts inside and I brought Ryan in. He was excited. But as he sat there and looked at the beautiful new things we received he was overwhelmed. He was overwhelmed that people would lavish such nice things on us. That they would give so generously. He was consumed with gratitude. As I watched him, I too became overwhelmed with the sweetness of these women. We were so thankful and appreciative of those who chose to bless us, and our soon to be marriage.

So, to everyone who blessed us this weekend, thank you. We are so grateful for your love, encouragement, support and prayers. You blessed us greatly.

I am spoiled

This morning when Ryan came over he was carrying in his arms a large bouquet of orange roses.

Then he took me out to starbucks for breakfast.

I love him. He spoils me so much. What a great guy!