little things

good morning, friends. it's 7:36 am on Friday and I slept a whopping 12 hours last night. Yes, I did fall asleep at 730 on the couch. It was probably the best decision of my whole week.

If you've been reading, you've probably noticed that the transition to Austin and this new job has been rough. Well, rough may not even cover it.  So, this week I'm linking up with Hello Hue and focusing on those little things.

If I've learned anything at this new job, it's to really cherish and hold on to those little things. I've got a new appreciation for time at home and my husband (who worked a hated job for nearly a year and a half).

so, without further ado here are my little things for the week:

mid week snow cone date was the perfect way to celebrate making it halfway though. I'm a "seasonal" person, and love summer favorites. Peaches, watermelon and snow cones are absolute musts for me in the summer.  

after reading this post by Ellen, I woke up a few minutes early and caught a sunrise on Tuesday. It was the perfect refreshing quiet before starting another day.

since I work in a basement, it was an awesome surprise to get to go work in the greenhouse on the roof of our building for a few hours yesterday. Just seeing the sun brought new life into my day.

and finally, early this week I got some super happy mail from my friend moxiemandie.  I'm loving my burlap bag--it rides the bus with me daily and holds my lunch, book, and all necessities for the day!  definitely buy a bag from her--you won't regret it!

authenticity: Austin

there are days now that make living in Houston seem like a lifetime ago.

a life filled with smiling days, golden sun and breeze.

and although the time in Austin is short, if I'm really honest it's been hard.

hard to swallow, hard to keep down and blink back the water that's ever springing from my eyes.

it's not what was expected.

it's not as easy as it was.

my heart keeps longing for what was.

hanging to any feeble thread of life as it used to be.

work as it used to be.

and yet my body is here.

in this new, foreign place.

new people, new rules.

and it makes me wonder:

is this what we wanted?  is this really what God gave?

is this really good?

and it is. my mind knows it is,

but my heart's still lingering on something else.

the boxes are gone

and we are officially moved in.
It's Friday and I'm just plain done in.
It seems like months ago we were packing up and leaving Houston, and it's only been a week.
Let's just say we've crammed enough in this past week and a half to last any normal schedule at least a month.
This Friday is especially sweet, it's the end of our first (although short) week at our new jobs,
and the start of our first weekend in our new home.

We're all settled and we worked seemingly around the clock (with LOTS of help from our wonderful families) and everything's in it's place.
While my heart still resides in Houston, this new place is looking and starting to feel a lot like home.

(Our awesome master bedroom--looking good thanks to my sister in law, Kara, and her rad skills)

I'm hoping to have some sort of normal schedule soon, and a little bit of regular life happening.
But until then, I'm going to dance because all the boxes are gone and I finally have my pots in my kitchen.
have a great weekend, friends.

____________________

to celebrate the end of the boxes, I've left the coupon code MOVEIT up for 40% off in my shop!

Goodbyes are no fun

So much has happened in just a short amount of time.
Let's hit the big stuff:

1. Sam got a job with State Farm in Austin.
2. I didn't know if I could get a job in Austin in time to move with him. Plan for me was to stay here and work at my job until I found one.
3. Two weeks later, I've got a job at UT that starts the same day as Sam's job.
4. We've got a place to live.
5. and we're even sneaking in a little vacation between jobs

and this week is our last week here in Houston.
Goodbyes have started, and it seems that I will never quit crying.
we have been so unbelievably blessed by friends.

we're sad, happy, anxious and everything inbetween.

this week is a hard one.
but it's going to be filled with soaking up our place.
and eating a lot of frozen meals.

but come Friday, we'll be loading up our truck and headed to Austin.

big news

there are times in my life when God's movement seems so clear.
at every turn there is evidence of His hand moving--in ways I never thought possible.

This season is one of those for us.
He's moving.
Sam has landed his dream career; we're moving closer to our family.
and in the midst of all the crazy, and not knowing what city I will live in,

I have a job. I have a job.  Only a handful of applications sent out, but after just a few days, I got an email to interview.
and then then interview two days later.
On the Friday we would (already) be in Austin for Sam's grandmom's funeral.

After being recognized by a professor after taking his class 3 1/2 years ago,
repeating a conversation with my boss as my very first answer to a question (PCR troubleshooting for you science geeks).
It became evident that all that was going on was a bit of divine intervention.
and Sam and I saw all that was moving around us, stunned and astounded by the God who cares enough to orchestrate it all.

As of July 19th, I am employed by none other than the University of Texas!
I'm thrilled to be able to work in their labs, and do a bit of switching from cancer to genetics.
________________

More news:

We have a place to live! Lots of phone calls, pictures, and some help from my amazing in laws--and we've got an apartment!

Apartment to apartment is much preferred to having to put all of our stuff in storage for a time!
________________

And EVEN MORE news:

With all the boxes, moving, patching, and painting going on in our current place, it's a bit of chaos.
My etsy shop will VERY soon go on vacation until we are settled in our new place, so THIS WEEKEND ONLY it will be open (Until Sunday)

Use the code MOVEIT for 40% off. 

I'll open again as soon as we're settled and unpacked--but it may be August before that happens, so if you've been eying something take this advantage to get it (and cheap!)

we've begun

packing.
with under 3 weeks until moving day, it's time.

slowly going through the house and getting rid of everything we don't use was yesterday's goal.
and then pictures started to come off of the walls.
Spackle went up, and the tears started to flow.

in the two years we've lived here,
we've gotten married and made some great memories.
great friends, great experiences.
and yet, it's time to pack.

so as all of our stuff goes into boxes,
we're trusting that the same will be true for our next home.
knowing that He is able to do and provide more than we can imagine.

Houston list

We're three weeks away from moving day! The boxes are starting to pile up in the guest room, and I'm still not sure just how to get so much newspaper and packing material, but it's starting to get real.

We're moving.

we're MOVING.

We've spent almost 2 years in Houston, and have really come to love this big city. It was a change and complete shock at first, but it grows on you!

so since we're three weeks away from the big move, we've complied a list of things we would like to do, and some we would like to do again!

  it's going to be a packed three weeks of finishing up some summer classes, packing, moving, saying goodbye, but we're going to cherish every minute of it.

if you've got something you think we should add to our list, let me know!
we want to soak up every last bit of our city before we leave.

the state of my heart

if you missed our big news: we're moving.
You can catch yourself up over here.

we're 33 days away from the day Sam leaves Houston.
and in my heart, this very minute, the questions and doubt ring loud.

why now, Lord?
why leaving our friends?
why when we are comfortable?
why leave when I love my job?

because He is better.
this plan is better.

better.
better hurts.
better means leaving good--leaving great.
better means trusting that this isn't as good as it gets.

and at moments, just moments better doesn't feel right. better leaves me crying daily in my office.
better doesn't seem enough when it might mean living separately. better seems harsh when plans get postponed. it doesn't feel better to walk this and know He gave it. that He's allowing my heart the pain and sorrow of leaving.  when, at times, it feels a world sitting on my chest, keeping the air from filling my lungs.

but He's better.
and better is enough.

A true story: We're moving to Austin

part 1: Great Grace
Not everyone knows our story.  We're college sweethearts, now married and sweethearts foveva.  Sam's from Austin, I'm from Fort Worth. after college I got a job in Houston, and we've been here almost 2 years. I work in cancer research, Sam works for Ford Audio Video.  I am head over heels in love with my job. I love the people I work with, and the guy I work for. It's a first job people dream about--if the pay was different, I would do it for my whole life.

Sam, on the other hand is a different story. His story is of sacrifice and provision. He's learned a lot in the job he has, but it's never been his passion. But daily I've watched him work a job that has driven us both to our knees at times for our family.  He's the picture of a selfless, giving, loving man.

It seems since the moment we married (and before) we've prayed for a career for Sam. A place where his great passion can be put into use in the workplace.  And for Sam, insurance is the perfect fit. And after months and months of waiting and hearing "no" and "not yet" and "keep waiting," the time  has come. Sam has a job with State Farm and starts July 19th.

part 2: our incubator in Houston
When I took a job in Houston that started the week after my college graduation, most people thought I was crazy.  We were to be married in 4 months, and I moved our little family to a city where we knew not a soul. We're a 5 hour drive from my family and 3 hours from his.

but the best part: it's been wonderful. it's been an incubator for us--time to grow and stretch and soak our lives in all the best. best friends, best churches, and each other.  and it will be hard to leave. most days are filled with tears of some sort. but through the tears we're seeing the good.  the good that we have been blessed with here, and the better that is to come.

part 3: the job search continues
 so, Samuel starts his job on July 19th. From now until then, I'm job searching for things in Austin.  I want to continue working in a lab environment.  If the time comes for  him to start and I'm still jobless (in Austin) I'll continue working in Houston.  I'll stay here with some friends until I have a job in Austin.  If December rolls around and I'm still jobless, I'm moving to Austin at that point.  we've received grace upon grace for Sam's job and believe the same will happen for me.

part 4: family
we love Austin. Half of our family is there (Sam's side) and my family will be only 3 hours away. We love the state Capitol (where we got engaged!) We love our restaurants there, we love the feel of the city.

part 5: grace upon grace 
When Sam moves, he can live with his parents if I'm not quite coming with him.  And I have multiple places to stay here.  It's strange and it's hard and there are still fears, but this feels more right and more us following God than anything.  This is where God is putting us and it brings me immense joy to watch my husband pursue a job he's desired for so long. I have no idea how everything will work, or when I will join Sam in Austin, but we know God's going to blow our mind in all of it.

SO, in 5 short weeks Sam's moving to Austin. and I'm hoping to follow ASAP. it's none of our doing. We're just praising the One who lavished great grace all over our house. while it might seem out of our "5 year plan", God has given Himself and his Provision, and we're saturated in that.  We'd love your prayers as I job search for jobs in Austin, pack up here and say goodbye to wonderful friends. 

friday ramblings

first, horray! It's Friday!

A) Thank you all for your kind words yesterday. I'm not giving up blogging at all, just changing the way I do it.

B) Keep using that code SCHOOLSOUT until Monday June 4th for 40% off

C) If you follow me on twitter, you've seen the insane amount of tweets about #shereadstruth.  WELL, now there's a website! Join! Go see! It's a wonderful thing and it's women reading the Bible together from all over the world.  It'll bless your socks off. Just go.

D) It's my last school-free weekend!  We're planning all the fun summer things. Like, looking at places to rent tomorrow.  Garage apartments and houses for rent, here we come.

Happy Weekend!

giving up on blogging

I'm linking up with Jessi today for the "Giving up on Good series", and you should too.

________________________________________________

Blogging.
for something that I started out as a hobby,
a way to keep up with friends.
it can sure turn into stress.

posting 5 times a week.
pretty pictures.
recipes, DIYs, and outfit posts
it can all get a little much.

and then there's the countless hours spent reading other blogs
their million followers,
perfect pictures,
and daily posts.

and instead of leaving "blog land"
refreshed and renewed,
I can leave feeling depressed and not quite measuring up.

because really,
I don't make homemade dish soap and laundry detergent
my meals aren't all organic and vegan
and most of the time, I don't look picture-worthy

So, blogging for me is changing. it's getting back to the reason it started.

no more worry and stress when I'm not posting every day. no more guilt.
no more counting followers. hoping and praying this little place will grow. and no more feeling less capable when it doesn't.

and YES to:
telling our families story.
making big of who HE is, not who I am.

___________________

and, also: GRACE to you wonderful daily bloggers with the best pictures. if it's your thing, go for it.

___________________

and, B:  school starts for me again on Monday. wah wah wah, summer's almost over.
BUT, to celebrate, I'm having massive sale until Monday. black friday massive. in may. and june.

SO, because summer's almost over

because I love you

and because I just want to

USE CODE: SCHOOLSOUT for a whopping 40% from now until Monday, June 4th.

Memorial Day and peeling skin

Our three day weekend was wonderful.
Filled with friends, food, and lots of relaxing.
Just the way it should be.
it was good to just be home.
with no appointments, and nothing on the calendar.

Monday we took a little day trip down to Galveston and spent the day reading and sleeping on the beach.

my view all Monday

soul detox on the beach

calm waters.

fresh shrimp for dinner.

the best dinner $20 can buy you.

and then, once we got home, I figured out I had turned as red as a lobster.

and the aloe vera and crying began.

 so Tuesday came, and after a half day at work I called it quits and came home to soak my tired legs.

and arms.

and stomach.

heal, skin, heal.

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day, friends!

We're headed down to Galveston beach to spend the day reading and relaxing in the sun.

I hope you have a wonderful day of relaxation.

Don't forget to use the code MEMORIALDAY through tonight to get 20% off your whole order! 

UPDATE: May food challenge

we're now on the last home stretch of this month.

if you remember, for this month Sam and I decided to change a few things about our diet:

 

and it's been great.

honestly, I haven't missed cookies and ice cream like I thought I would.

and most of our dinners are now coming from SkinnyTaste,

which has tons of yummy stuff.

and I started finding that a lot of my pinterest food was pinned from there anyways.

so, we eat 90% of our dinners from there now.

and we're using MyFitnessPal to count calories.

that part's not as fun, but we're learned a lot about how much certain things are.

like cheese.

if you're on there, leave your username at the bottom and I'll friend you.

because I could use a couple more friends on there to keep me accountable. 

Sam's lost a few pounds, but for me, I'm at the same place weight wise.

but I do notice a change in how I feel.

so, for now, I think we'll keep some of the changes long term.

less ice cream in the fridge for sure.

and with that, we're having a friend in town for Memorial Day weekend

and off for mexican food tonight.

Now through Monday night (5/28) at midnight, use the coupon code
MEMORIALDAY
for 20% off!

two things

I'm sorry for the unannounced blogging break.
last week, I kept trying to get to the computer.
and it never happened. so by Thursday, I just went with it.
it was needed, it was good.

but I miss the community here.
the sweet women who share lives and hearts.
1. She Reads Truth
and speaking of sweet women on the internet.
if you've been on twitter or facebook, or reading blogs you may have noticed a hashtag
#shereadstruth
going around and lots of commotion.

WELL, it's a bunch of women connecting and reading the Word together.
it was an idea formed by Gussy and Kacia, but dozens of women have joined in and you should too.
We're using the YouVersion bible app (for iphone, ipod and just online!) and reading through the Soul Detox plan.
today's officially day 6, but join! you'll be enouraged and refreshed.

this is what social media was really made for.

2. No School
I'm still officially on school break until summer school starts on June 4th. I'm soaking it up.
Lots of shop work, lots of running, and lots of enenings with the husband instead of studying.
it's looked wonderfully like this:

so that's it.
i'm back. i miss community.
#shereadstruth is real online community.
and i'm soaking up the days until June 4.

giving up on good

there are a lot of good things you can do it in life
bible studies, volunteering, and extracurriculars top the list.
and those are just the "good" that others see.
then there's the good inside your own house.
laundry, cleaning, the day to day upkeep. it's good.
but there are things that are better.

and recently I've learned that I have to give up a lot of good
for things that are better.
because I don't do it all.
and there's no substitute for getting around margin in life.

real life not done laundry.

I'm a wife to a husband
I work a 40 hour job
I (most of the time) have classes on the side
I run a small business
I enjoy spending time with Jesus
I like to run
I hope to be a good friend
I want to serve in my church and community

SO today, I'm just going to open right up and tell you about what I don't do.
because those things up there are better. they just are. those are the things I want to get done.
all else falls by the wayside.

Now, in a perfect world, I'd get all these other things done too.
It all sounds great and perfect. and that's just what it is. perfect.
it doesn't happen in my life and I'm not sure if it's happening in yours. 

my house has piles of sheets.

I don't do laundry or cleaning.
I don't buy organic food
I don't cook every night. Or even really half the nights.
I don't have a pinterest worthy outfit or hairstyle every day.
My house is not spotless
We don't wear all brand name clothes

somehow I managed to kill a succulent. I thought these were the plants for people that kill plants?

there are times these things get done. but when they don't, I've learned to not stress.
because I've learned to ask myself.
If I succeed at one thing this week, what do I want it to be?

oh sorry, I thought I deserved that

there's a time for everything.
a time for me to show you weekend pictures,
and diets and goals.

and because this blog is the story of our life and the God who pours His grace over it.
there's a time to show you just how ugly my heart can be.

I had two classes this semester. and my job working at the lab.
and a little bit of that etsy stuff in between.
and in the midst of all of it, things got busy.

it got stressful to cook dinner.
laundry was a thing of the past
showers--every other day is plenty.

source

this became normal.
 except my greedy heart wanted time to do nothing
time to sit in front of the TV and watch the whole series of Lost.
and my selfish heart decided that since I worked so hard all week,
Saturdays should just be for fun.
no studying, no working, just fun.

and it worked pretty well, for most of the semester.
I had created a system for myself where I deserved rewards for working.

and it worked well,  until finals week came. and I still wanted that Saturday to do nothing.
so, I decided to schedule all my schoolwork for Sunday.
I'll just skip church and do all the work then.

source

and at this point, the Lord decided to use my husband for some nitty-gritty heart change.
amongst the fighting, tears, and heated statements, we got to a place where I said
"I value school over church."
NOT- school over my relationship with Jesus, but school over going to the building weekly church.
"I deserve time to rest and relax on Saturdays"

source

and what Sam said next is nothing short of the Lord speaking to me, using a person to do it.
in quiet and calm he said
"Sometimes we don't get what we deserve"

and I knew. what I deserve is Hell.
and what I've created here is a system where I'm God and I decide when I get rewarded. 
and all I really deserve is Hell.
but that's not what I get. and I'm not getting what I deserve.

so maybe I should get rest time.
and there will be seasons of rest, and seasons of working to the bone.
and it's all fine. I don't deserve full Saturdays of rest. 

because what I really hope to show is that I don't own my life.
it's owned by a God who is not giving me what I deserve.

snapshots

Hello Monday!  The weather is getting warmer here and we're approaching summer full speed ahead.

We had a great, fun filled weekend celebrating being done with finals!  It was full of relaxation, time in the sun, and just being together!

saturday night we went to an astros game.

and I ate my once-a-year hot dog.

a bang "trim" saturday turned into just going for the full on heavy bang look.

they're all nasty and sweaty here, don't judge.

and a lot of time curled up with this book made for a great weekend.

what about you? what were you up to this weekend?



target: cheap and lovely

Target. a wonderful and dangerous place.
it's a go-to store for me for just about everything
trendy items that don't need to least 5+ years?
target's got it at a great price.

I picked up those lepoard flats and skinny jeans yesterday.
my very first pair of skinny jeans.
and my second pair of jeans. 

speaking of a good deal,
did you know you can print online coupons for target from their website?
and they frequently have clothing coupons.
$3 off a top. i'm all over that.

and you can sign up for a DEBIT card from target that gives you 5% off
everytime, on anything.
just take a blank check with you next time you go.
 
what's your favorite thing to shop for at target?
do you have any money saving tips from target?
 

throwing money away

textbooks.

each semester of my undergrad, I was lucky to get out spending under $500 on textbooks.

just books!

and going to sell them back--I could barely buy a single dinner with the cash you get back.
and the new versions. don't get me started. 

a new version a year so that the version of the book you have becomes instantly worthless.

it gives me hives.

This time around--taking my prerequisites and nursing school classes, I'm doing textbooks a bit differently.

Did you know you can rent your textbooks from CampusTextbookRentals

for a fraction of the cost?

and shipping is free?

I've already looked up the books I need for my summer classes, and to rent them is only $56!

for three books!

purchasing them from the bookstore would cost me $322

Um. that's a ton of cash.
Here's my nutrition book for only $13. that's the price of lunch! 

so instead of throwing that money away, I'm a renter for life. 

not to mention how much better it is for the environment.

and my wallet. 

and stacks of old textbooks don't make the best decor.

trust me, we have some of those stacks.

*This post was sponsored by Campus Textbook Rentals, but all opinions are 100% my own!

(Really, we all want to save some cash money!)