tis the season to be happy!

I am joyful today.  I am happy and mostly content with my life.  This morning in Bible class we discussed the difference between contentment and thankfulness.  A Christian should never feel content with where they stand with God.  Chances are, if you are feeling like things are perfect, then you could be doing something that could stand to change.  I am nowhere near perfect in my relationship with God, and that's something that I am working very hard to change.  But, I am happy with my life here in this world.  I have been given a wonderful husband and a roof over my head.  My car gets me from point A to point B and USUALLY doesn't give me any grief in between!  Kyle and I have both been blessed with great jobs that provide a paycheck that is just enough for what we need.  We aren't starving.  We aren't freezing.  We have an awesome church that we have intentions of placing membership with.  I am joyful today because of those things.  It's the season that reminds us to be thankful for the things we have in life.  While it is wonderful to have this reminder every year, we should be thankful for things such as these all year...every year!  Please don't forget to be happy with what you have already.  Things could always be worse.  Take it upon yourself to think of others this Christmas season.  You'll feel better about life!!!

Now, I'm switching gears..  I forced Kyle to take a few pictures with me for our first Christmas card!  If you're on my Facebook, you've probably seen them already.  These aren't all of them but they're a few of my favorites.  Hope you like them!

my face is very pale in this one!

some mush...

my absolute favorite!

earthquake!!!

I just experienced my first earthquake EVER!!  I live in Wichita, Kansas and I felt an earthquake.  According to Facebook, there was another one last night too that was felt across Oklahoma and around the Wichita area, but I felt nothing during that one.  I definitely felt this one!  The news said it was a 5.6 magnitude.  My first instinct was to pray to God for safety.  I had no idea what was going on.  Kyle was in the bath so I grabbed my phone and jumped up to run to the bathroom while calling my dad to see if he and my mom felt it.  They did.

Because I grew up in Kansas, I have not been taught how to react to an earthquake.  I had no idea that you're supposed to hide under something sturdy.  I just sat here on the couch...  Hopefully we never experience one big enough to need something sturdy over my head.  I will die.

P.S. I am thankful for the whole day of relaxation.  I did nothing but clean my cabinets and cook.  Life is good...  God bless!!

thankfulness.

For the last few days, I have been posting reasons why I am thankful on Facebook.  I have decided to take it to the next level and explain those reasons a little more in depth.  Some of them are pretty self-explanatory but maybe it would be good for me to look back on these during days when I'm feeling sorry for myself...haha!

Today I am thankful for my husband's love for math.  Because he loves math, he takes care of the bills and the checkbook.  I always told myself I would never be the wife that lets her husband control how she spends money, but it's just so much easier!!!  Before I buy something (groceries, lunch, stuff for teaching) I always text him or call to find out how much money we have and what bills we still have to pay.

If this task were left up to me, our credit scores would be terrible and my student loans that are taking most of my paychecks would tell me I'm delinquent! I'm not a money person.  I am good at spending but not so good at saving.

Anyway, Kyle does so much for me.  This is just one thing that I'm thankful for today!  I am one lucky wife...

God bless!!!