Energy Savings

So sometimes Warren thinks I'm a little obsessive when it comes to conserving power and lowering our bills. I like to keep our TV, Wii, and DVD player on a surge protector and at night I flip the switch to completely cut off all the power. When we are not in a room the light must be turned off. I use as low a watt bulb as possible in all our lights. Keep the heat set low and air dry clothes on nice days.

Over the last couple years this has really paid off, and our power bill has dropped tremendously! Last week I got this nice little letter in the mail from our power company that showed our average usage and compared it to 100 other comparable homes in my area. Needless to say...we are energy saving superstars :)

They estimated that we saved over $400 dollars last year!!! Wahoo!

Marriage Retreat

Last year my dear friend Courtney invited us to the annual marriage retreat hosted by her church, but with our foster child at the time it was just incredibly difficult to get away. So this year when she asked, we were happy to be able to say yes.

I always love getting to spend time with one of my best friends, but that we were going to be able to spend time together, with our husbands, and in God's word made it SUPER AWESOME!

The theme of the retreat this year was The Art of Marriage

Friday evening began with dinner at the Lure Lodge at Lake Cumberland. I was really uncomfortable during this time because I don't know anyone from her church and felt really out of place. Of course, anyone who knows my husband knows that he was cucumber cool the whole time as he enjoys meeting new people. But, her church is so warm and inviting and soon I felt at home, too.

Dinner was followed by opening worship and then entertainment by George Fields from L'ville. We had a blast!!! During this time we were seated at a table with 3 other couples whom we would spend the next day discussing our study with. It was nice to have a night away with my husband, to laugh, and enjoy the company of new friends. 

Saturday began EARLY, 7am!!! Can we all say YUCK! But after breakfast and some fellowship we were able to get it together enough to make our way to the conference room to begin the session with worship. After that, we dived right into our lessons. 

Video Teaser of Study

Because of our restricted time schedule, we were only able to focus on a few of the topics in the book. Below is a brief description of some of the big take aways, called "the Big brush strokes", from the chapters we were able to cover.

1: Love Happens 

• God designed marriage and has a great plan in mind
• The primary purpose of marriage is to reflect God's glory
• It is important to receive your spouse as God's perfect gift for you

2: Love Fades 

• Couples naturally drift toward isolation
• Our differences and weaknesses can push us apart
• Sin has affected every marriage
• The gospel brings healing and reconciliation
• Couples must learn to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit in marriage

3: Love Dances 

• God designed different responsibilities for men and women in marriage
• Though their responsibilities are different, men and women are still equal in value
• God calls men to sacrificially love and lead their wives
• God calls women to respect and support their husbands

4: Love Always

• To leave a godly legacy, we must think about the impact of our lives on future generations
• Our hope for leaving a lasting legacy is through the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Leaving a godly legacy requires putting a stake in the ground

I am looking forward to going more in-depth with this study with Warren over the next few weeks and enjoying the wonderful gift God gave me in my husband. We are also looking forward to next year's retreat :)

Out with the Old, In with the New

We finally did it!! We bought a new mattress and it arrived today.

Up until this point, we had a mattress that was passed down to me when I was in middle or high school. Considering the length of time I've had it, and that it was pre-owned before that, I'd say we were way over due for a new one.

I kept telling myself that a new topper would fix the springs that could be felt and that surely that's a better option than spending savings on a new mattress. But, that logic just doesn't really hold up when you keep waking up just as tired as you were when you went to bed. Also, a new mattress is cheaper than a new topper in the long run.

We have been looking for months to find the perfect fit for us. We found one that we both liked so we placed a price lock on it. After price shopping for similar mattresses in the area we went back to made the purchase.

The really great thing is that when we got there we noticed the price was almost $100 different. When printing their Black Friday week sales, they misprinted the sign. Double score :)

Out with the Old

In with the New

Fellowship

Had a wonderful time of fellowship at Applebee's with the lovely ladies from Bible study. It's so nice to have a group to meet with to study God's word, discuss marriage, family, and to pray together.

Also thankful that our Sunday School leaders wife has also joined our Bible study group. She has really been such an inspiration and rock for our group. She has graciously opened up her home and her life to us, and as young marrieds we are so thankful for her guidance and prayers. I've prayed for a mentor for a while now and I continue to pray that as we get to know each other more, that we will begin to develop those bonds.

Looking forward to our next study in two weeks!! :)

Tim Hawkins

Last night at a dinner party, Warren and I watched Tim Hawkins for the first time. If you haven't heard of him you should check him out on youtube.

We all met over at a friends house and enjoyed a variety of chili (I took White Chicken Chili) and wonderful fellowship. Most of the couples there we knew through church and working in AWANNA, but we did have the privilege of meeting a few new people too. 

I really enjoy spending time with friends and family. I'm so thankful that with our families so far away, that we have friends and mentors to call on :)

Tim Hawkins - The Wife Song

Tim Hawkins - Songs for ADD

Ready for Fall

The weather here has been beautiful! We've had just enough rain to bring in cooler temps and green up the grass some but not so much that it feels super humid or wet outside.

This is our favorite time of year. We turn off the air and open all the doors and windows, and try to have most meals outside. In addition to the clothes I already dry outside, I also like to pull out all the blankets and clothes from the closets to air on the line. It helps to keep them smelling fresh and feeling crisp :)

I've started experimenting with new scents for candles to welcome in the season too! For the summer I used orange, lemon, lemongrass, lime oil etc for a light summer scent. But now I'm looking for warmer scents like pumpkin or evergreen. The problem is that there's not essential oils for that and I want to avoid artificial scents. My latest attempt was to put pumpkin spice in the candle. It smelled wonderful while I was making it and I was so excited to burn it the next day. When I got up I was disappointed to see that all the spice settled to the bottom during the cooling process and no longer smells nice :(  So, if you have any ideas on how to achieve those fall scents without artificial fragrance please let me know.

Auto Pilot

Yesterday as I was leaving Hobby Lobby I totally clicked into auto pilot mode. I had parked at the end of the lot and on my walk to the car I became so engrossed in my thoughts, who knows what they were now, that when I arrived at the car I unlocked it, sat in the passenger seat, reached over and started the car and was waiting on Warren to get in! I've become so accustomed to going places with him that I forgot that I drove there...by myself.  OY, at least I wasn't trying to talk to him in the store where others could see my craziness!

Summer Update

This summer, Warren and I began the journey of international adoption. It's a very long and tedious process, but we are happy to say that we have the largest part of our paperwork, called a Dossier, complete. You can read more about that journey at  http://growingfaithandfamily.blogspot.com.

I've also been busy canning. So far, I think we are stocked on spaghetti sauce, jams, salsas, and blueberries/peaches. I still have a ton of green beans left from last year, which is good because they were nutty expensive this year. I've discovered that I really enjoy the activity, and once I get started I want to can everything....that is until I begin the clean-up process at which point I vow not to can anything again.

I've spent many afternoons working on some embroidery. I found a set of quilt blocks at Hobby Lobby and am determined to learn how to put it all together. There are 12 squares, each with a mason jar in it, and in each mason jar has a different bug or animal like a butterfly or turtle. 

We've also had the opportunity to visit with Warren's parents. Joe was in a national 8-Ball tournament in Nashville, TN around the end of June beginning of July. They decided to drive down for the event, so they stayed with us for a few days on their way down and way home. 

Other than that, it's been uneventful here. Warren and I are doing great, I could not have been blessed with a better husband. We are growing our love, faith, and commitment for each other stronger every day and are eager to add to our family. 

Anniversary

Today is our anniversary! Warren and I have grown so close over these past two years and God has truly blessed us!
I pray that we will have MANY MANY more years together and that we will continue to grow in our faith together!

Ark of the Covenant

Here's what my wonderful husband blogs about! Makes me feel like I need to kick up mine several notches!

http://warrenmyers.com/blog/2012/06/the-dimensions-and-approximate-weight-of-the-ark-of-the-covenant/

Hello June

In 11 days we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary!! It's amazing how comfortable and normal marriage feels now. I couldn't imagine my life any different

Lots going on in our home this month! So far we are planning a trip to visit my family, Warren may have to travel some this month, we are having a yard sale, all the adoption hoops (see our other blog for more details), and celebrating marriage, I don't know that we can fit anything else in this month.

Happy June!!!

Camping

As usual, we are preparing to go camping this year for Memorial Day with my parents. This will be the first trip that my Dad will get to enjoy since his injury last year (although, he still will not be able to ride his horses).

We are excited to get out of town this weekend and spend time with my family. With all the crazy hoop-jumping lately it will be nice to shut my brain, phone, and email off for a while!

In other news, does anyone know how to get a funky smell out of the refrigerator? A few weeks ago I discovered I left some veggies to spoil while we were out of town..yuck! Anyway, I've tried everything from baking soda to lemongrass, and even airing it out and nothing has helped!

April Showers? I don't think so!

So April was a great month in the Myers home.

We started the month in NJ, and the rest of the month just kept getting better.

The second week we both completed the last of the requirements for life insurance. I know, a morbid thought, but Dave Ramsey said it's important, and as we all know: if he recommends it, we'll probably do it :)

Later in the month we decided to take a quick weekend trip to Orlando! We hopped in the car on a Thursday evening (after having decided to go just a few hours before) and were in Atlanta that night. It's really nice that with the hotspot on my phone Warren is sometimes able to work from the car. So, I drove, Warren worked, and we were in Orlando by Fri. night. We spent the next 2 days at Universal.

On the way home we stayed with my parents for a few days, partially to visit but also because I needed to take my Dad to an appointment.

No sooner did we get home, get the laundry washed, and it was time to pack again. Warren had to be in D.C. starting the 30th. As much as I have traveled over the last nearly two years of marriage, I still HATE flying, so since we had the time we decided to take the train. We were able to get a room on the train which included all our meals for less than the cost of one airline ticket (we were returning on Derby weekend). It was nice to enjoy the relaxing ride and scenery out to D.C. I would recommend getting a room anytime the trip is more than 8 or so hours.

Anyway, that brings us up to May! Wonder what this month will hold? So far things are going great and we are having a blast! This particular season of life has been very good!

Travel

I have never been fond of Warren's travel. When we first married, he traveled EVERY week (Monday-Thursday) for the first nine months!

Last February he found a job that required only about 50% travel and payed a little better. So for the last year I have enjoyed having him home a lot more than before and now that travel is not as frequent, I am able to go with him some.

Recently, I have traveled with him a lot. A few weeks ago we drove down to Atlanta for his work. On our way home we were even able to stop in Gatlinburg for a quick overnight mini-vacation.

Last week, Warren left for NJ where he would spend two weeks. I stayed home the first part of the week since my Dad had an appointment on Tuesday and was staying with me that night, and I did not want to have to get a sub for my AWANA class on Wednesday for two weeks.

On Thursday I boarded a plane and headed for NJ to join Warren. The next day when Warren got in from work we hopped into the car and drove to PA to visit with some of his friends (one of the groomsmen, his wife, and new baby). It was really nice to have the opportunity to see people we would otherwise not get to see often.

On Saturday, Warren and I drove to NYC and enjoyed some of the sights of the city. At the end of the day we were able to watch the Hunger Games in Times Square.

Then, on Sunday we drove out to Long Island to visit with Warren's grandfather. It was a really good visit. Warren had not seen him since last summer at his family reunion I had only met him once before that - at our wedding (needless to say, we didn't see him much that day). After we left our visit with him we stopped once again in Times Square for a little shopping.

Finally before leaving we made our way out toward the Brooklyn Bridge. In July of 2009, Warren took me to a little spot called the Bridge Cafe and then we walked out on the bridge where he proposed. On Sunday, while it was too cold and late to take the stroll out on the bridge, we enjoyed a quiet and romantic late dinner at the cafe.

Tonight, we are able to have dinner with his parents. We have not been able to visit with them since they visited us at home last fall. It should be a good visit.

So, while I do not enjoy that my husband has to travel frequently for work, it is nice when on the few occasions I get to go along, and even better when we get to visit people we know in the area. We are looking forward to time with other friends in the area later in the week!

Spring Forward

The sun is shinning, it's a beautiful day, and it's time for spring cleaning!!!! I LOVE to clean!!! Crazy I know, but it's my favorite de-stressor!
Now, with that being said, I am learning that not everything can be perfectly organized all the time....especially with my husband and our tiny house! But, it keeps my hands and mind busy and gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day to know that in this small way I am managing our home.

Changes

Today lots of changes happened in the Myers home. It's going to take some time to recover/cope and adjust to the new normal. But overall all, we are fine and it's going to be a good thing!

Surgery

This mornings laparoscopy and such went very well. They were able to remove some of the stuff causing me issues and said that I should begin to heal and resume normal activities in about a week.
Thank you to everyone to sent up prayers, they were felt and appreciated more than I can express.
Also, please excuse any typos as I just got home and am still coming out of anesthesia and have other good stuff in my system :)

Homemade

So in my quest to continue my journey into homemade things I recently made three new items. The first being soap.

I used pure glycerin, added vitamin E, Shea butter, aloe vera, and orange oil and voilà!! The soap is amazing, it lathers and cleans well, is hypoallergenic, smells great, doesn't dry out my skin or leave an oily feeling, and costs a fraction of what even cheap soap costs!

Next I made soy wax candle. This was so easy, and relatively cheap! I simply melted the soy wax, added the essential oil for scent, then poured it into a glass jar. I found some great wood wicks at Hobby Lobby, so not only is the smell great but it sounds great too! The soy wax burns longer AND cleaner (no black soot on the jar) than paraffin wax and the essential oils do not trigger headaches like some other scents found in store brands.

Last I made an epsom salt body scrub. This one the easiest to make as there was no messy clean up involved but with so many different recipes out there (epsom salt vs sea salt vs sugar, vs brown sugar and then jojoba oil vs olive oil vs grape seed oil and so on), it was confusing and hard to pick. Anyway, I chose to use epsom salt, olive oil, and lemongrass scent. This particular recipe will need some minor adjustments before the next batch, but over all it works nicely. The salt is too course for use on the face but works wonders on hands, elbows, knees, feet, and other rough areas.
Making things, though simple as they are, has been a lot of fun!

Laundry Detergent

So in an effort to reduce the number of unpronounceable chemicals that I use in my home I have been making my own laundry detergent and fabric softener for about 2 months :)

I found some recipes online and they have been great!!! Warren even bought me some essential oils to scent my homemade creations with. My first batch was orange and the new one I just made two days ago is lemongrass (his request)! Over all I now spend about $0.03 a load as opposed to $0.15 per load to buy the unscented, hypoallergenic stuff.

I hope that over this next year I will continue to find ways to make my own products, live a little healthier, and save a little money, and for all my Captain Planet friends, it's greener too :)

New Year's

My birthday was Dec. 30 and so my wonderful husband had some great things planned for us to celebrate it and new years.

We started the celebration on the 31st when we took his Escape to a local dealer and traded it in for a brand new 2012 Ford Fusion!!! The Escape had a TON of miles on it but mostly, it was starting to have several problems that were going to cost more than would be worth to fix. So, we opted for a family- and gas-friendly car. I miss having the storage and space with the SUV, but I do love my car...it's so much fun!

Later that evening we took Bella over to the family that her brothers are with so that she could spend new year's with them. So, for the second time that week I was able to have an evening with my husband with no kids :)  Warren took me to dinner at The Melting Pot, our favorite place to celebrate special occasions. We made it home just in time to bring in the new year! It was very different from last year when we had company, Steven (Warren's friend), and we went out to a local spot downtown to listen to a band.

We spend the first day of 2012 in church, as is our usual routine on Sundays, where we picked Bella back up. It was a great beginning to a new year!