Friday, August 30, 2019

Autumn Bucket List // 2019



☑ Meander through a corn maze. // 10/27 {Rock Ranch}

☑ Visit a pumpkin patch. // 10/5

☑ Decorate the house for the season. // 9/19 {pretty much all of September off & on again}

☑ Take a scenic drive to see the fall colors.

☐ Go hiking &/or camping.

☑ Dress up on October 31st. // 10/31 {We were Yoshi {me} + Mario {Dan}.}

☑ Make our birthdays special. {My husband & I both have fall b-days.}

☑ Bake something pumpkin-y. // 11/23 {Click here for the easy 2 ingredient recipe!}

☑ Go to a fall festival/fair. // 10/31 {we volunteered at our church's fall festival}

☑ Shop some fall yard sales. // 9/28/19 {+ several other dates}

☐ Light a fall scented candle.

☑ Go star gazing. // 9/21/19

☑ Make crock pot soup. // 11/2 {vegetable chicken noodle}

☑ Build a blanket fort, add some twinkle lights, put in a movie, cuddle up, & have a date-night-in.  // 9/6/19

☑ Go out for a donut date & try their seasonal treats. {I'm thinking apple cider & pumpkin flavors!}  // 9/8/19 + 9/30/19

☑ Put a fall wreath/sign on the front door. // 11/23 {better late than never}

 DIY some fall decor. // 11/3 {We went to a free watercolor pumpkin class at our public library!}

☐ Continue our tradition of making a "thankfulness tree." {Click here to see just how easy it is!}

☐ Try my hand at making candles.

☐ Take some fall photos.

☑ Go for a walk & collect some colorful fallen leaves.

☑ Have friends/family over. // 11/23

☐ Watch some nostalgic Charlie Brown specials.

☑ Browse through an antique store or two. // 9/28/19

☐ Add some Mellowcreme pumpkins as a festive touch to fall desserts. {I know they are so sugary, but I just love 'em!}

☐ Enjoy the {slightly where I am} cooler temps & eat outside.

What's on your autumn bucket list?

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Our 1 Year Bucket List // 2019

So I typically put this up early in the new year, but that just didn't happen this time around.  I'm giving myself some grace & sharing it now.  Yes, I know it's almost Labor Day! 
{Insert all the little sheepish faces here, my dear.}


Laura & Dan's Big Adventure: 2019

☐ Find new ways to serve Christ together.

☑ Become debt free!!!

☐ Go camping in the great outdoors together.

☐ Prayerfully try to start our family.

☐ Lose weight & eat healthier.

☐ Make fun travel memories together.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

Our Debt Story // Update Vol. 2: We Are Debt Free!!!


First, I've gotta say, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"

Second, I'm gonna link some previous posts I've shared about our money story:

Honestly, I can't believe it!  We are officially debt free as of August 8, 2019!  You know, it kinda scares me - I don't know if I'm afraid that we'll fall back into it {which we promised each other we would never add any new debt (other than a house) into our marriage} or it's just the devil trying to steal my joy, but I got to get myself in check here.  We are debt free & it is all thanks to our gracious Lord providing & I should be dancing on the rooftops over it.  We have worked so hard {4 yard sales in less than 3 years, working jobs that have been downright hard, & choosing to say "no" to many things}, & even though my tough perfectionist mentality always said inwardly {& often outwardly} we could always be doing more, we are surprised we got here as fast as we did.  Praise God!!!

We used the debt snowball method {you can find more about that in the 1st link above}, & the small little old snowball that just wasn't much at all at first kept rolling & picking up more snow & growing... sometimes fast & downhill & other times slow & uphill.  Working together as a couple over it has strengthened us & showed us in a very tangible way how we are stronger together.  What Dan felt was years & years from reach on his own, we were able to accomplish in about a month before we celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary this September.

To those of you still on the debt free journey, keep on keeping on.  By the grace of God, you can make it!  Dan & I are living proof.

Let me know in the comments if you have any money / debt related questions.  We'd love to hear from you!   

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

It Wasn't Supposed to Be This Way


It wasn’t supposed to be this way… those words have been coming up like Coca-Cola bubbles & fizz for way too long now.  I hated to admit what I had said I didn’t have from the get-go, I actually had in spades – expectations.  They were there & real & alive & triggering that statement over & over again like a broken record: It wasn’t supposed to be this way.  Yet it was, & it is, & it is causing much hurt to my heart, ‘cause this is real where fairy tales end & the rubber meets the road, & sometimes Cinderella’s glass slipper shatters or is just left on the stairs completely without a prince to even give a care she’s running around with one shoe &, oh yeah, her grand coach is turning into an overripe pumpkin.  But this is life, & I’m trying desperately to make it beautiful & to see the beauty in it, but sometimes it is like grasping at fairy stories that never seem to make it in our reality.  This life does not go happily ever after, but as believers & followers of Jesus Christ, our ending does, & it is a hope & promise to cling to in times like these when It wasn’t supposed to be this way is on our tongue, because truth be told, it wasn’t supposed to be this way, but humanity messed it up all those thousands of years ago in the most beautiful garden ever known, but you know that story, don’t you?  I pray you know the story of Jesus, too, because His story changes everything & brings the beauty {in spades}, & makes it wasn’t supposed to be this way a phrase of unmerited mercy, grace, & love to us all through the gift of Jesus Christ.

I penned this in my journal over a year ago, & I'm still feeling these words, but I cling to the hope that I have a good heavenly Father who has good things in store, & I know the story ends in happily ever after for His children.

P.S.: Sorry I have been so very absent from the blog for so long.  Stay posted as I try to get back to it!  Thanks for being here!