Thankful: November 12

Today I am thankful for two things.

1. Our garage! I have never in my life been able to park my car in a garage and when we got married and moved into our little house we also got a two stall garage. What an AMAZING blessing it is! It snowed here yesterday and the temperatures have dropped dramatically in the last 72 hours. It is so crazy what a difference it makes to have your car protected from the elements!

2. Our community group! I love the community group that we are a part of through our church. Our group is made up of singles and couple that are all our age or a little younger. They are all in the same stage of life as JP and I and it is such a blessing to be able to walk with them in the word and share about the struggles and blessings in our lives! Last night we had our group and it was such an amazing night. I really felt Jesus in that place.

One of the things we talked about last night was things that worry us. We all worry and as women we tend to worry a LOT. I discovered that I worry a lot about what people think of me and I am constantly comparing myself to everyone in my circle or even strangers. Why? Why do I think that other people have it so much better than I do or that if I was like them then I would be happy? I hate how I will see someone that I know and have thoughts like, "why can't I look like that?" or "I wish I was as good of a wife as she is." or "I wish I was as creative or compassionate as she is." The silly thing about that is I am only seeing one side of someone's story. I only see the stuff on facebook or instagram and I only see them when they are perfectly put together. I don't see them when they are in their pajamas with their hair a mess or when their kids are throwing a fit or when they are having a fight with their husband. How can we think anyone has it all together? I can tell you that I definitely DO NOT have it all together. I want to rejoice in that because JESUS fills my gaps. This truth is something that I am going to try and remember.

I am constantly looking down on my own gifts and abilities and seeking to be someone else! God made me! He crafted me in His image and I want to seek JOY in that. How could I not? I want to use what He has given me for HIS GLORY instead of giving up because I don't have the abilities that someone else has.

 

What do you worry about?

 

Love,
             Lindsey

 

 

Thankful: November 11

Today I am thankful for our Veterans! Thank you for serving and for risking your lives for our country! Words cannot express how blessed I feel to live in such a free and amazing country! Thank you to the families of those serving for giving up time with your family members so we can live safely! We are eternally grateful!

I am also thankful for a fun and relaxing morning with my husband. We both got up early to do some of the housework we didn't get done last night. It was such a fun morning! We were goofy and completely silly this morning and I loved every second of it. I am so thankful that my husband loves me just the way I am and that I love him just the way he is. JP is truly my best friend and I am lucky to be married to him. After we were done cleaning and before we went to work he made us both a delicious breakfast and then read out loud some verses of the Bible to encourage us today. He is such a blessing and I am very thankful for the time with him this morning.

 



Thankful: November 10

Today I am thankful for our church. We go to a small church in our town. It recently combined with a church about an hour away from where we live and it is now 1 church with 2 locations. We are a multisite church. It has been amazing to see the growth and changes that have happened since we merged! God is definitely moving in that place and it so awesome to be a part of it. I love the authenticity of the people and how much both JP and I have grown in our faith since attending there.

JP is one of the worship leaders there on Sunday's and today he was able to lead in our other campus! It was such a great experience and he did an amazing job! He has such a great voice and it was cool to see the people at our other campus getting into the worship music. It was a great morning.

After church, our pastor and his wife invited us over to their house for lunch and to hang out. It was a great time and an awesome day!



Love,
             Lindsey

Thankful: November 9

Today I am thankful for God's faithfulness. He has blessed us more than we ever could have imagined and MUCH more than we deserve. Even through the past 5 months {almost 6!} of our marriage God has taken care of us an provided everything and more that we need. One of those examples is an iPad. Now just so you know, we do not NEED an iPad. It is not a necessity that we have to have in order to survive or to live life. BUT, both of our computers are almost toast and we were hoping to get a tablet to replace them.

We have been saving up our money for the past several months and decided not to do Christmas presents between the two of us in order for us to be able to afford a tablet. After a LOT of research (by JP not me!) We were deciding on either a iPad or a Samsung Galaxy. One afternoon last week  Jordan was at work and his boss told him that they had an iPad donated to their store. He told him that it was a iPad 4, it had 64 GB AND he was only selling it for $400 instead of $700 like what it was worth! Well that was almost exactly the amount that we had saved up so Jordan was able to buy it from him! We are so fortunate to get such an amazing device for a price that was perfect for our budget! I know it is silly and kind of materialistic but I am praising God for His faithfulness in this!

 

Playing with the new toy! :) We love it!

 

 

How have you seen God's faithfulness in your life lately?

  

Love,
             Lindsey

Thankful: November 8

Today I am thankful for my dear friend Bree and her husband Peter. They are such wonderful friends of ours and I have LOVED getting to know them better for the past couple of years.

Peter and my husband have been best friends since they were little and I am so thankful for their friendship. They share so many interests and JP really values his time with Peter. They are so funny when they are together too. Bree and I laugh a lot when we are all hanging out. :)

Today, Bree surprised me at work with these wonderful little gifts! She is so thoughtful!!

 

 

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte (YUM!) She knows me so well! :)

2. Oven mitts with owls on them! (I love owl print anything!)

3. Owl mug! So cute!

 

 

I am thankful for Bree for soooo many reasons! She is kind and generous and very thoughtful! I am just so glad we live in the same town! Thanks for being so awesome Bree!

 

 Hooo has been a blessing to you today? Get it? ;)

 

Love,
             Lindsey



Five on Friday!

-ONE- Last Saturday we attended an Iowa game! It was pretty cold when we were tailgating but when we got in the stadium it was PERFECT weather. Unfortunately, they lost but it was still fun! Here are some pictures from the game!

 

Such a handsome husband!

 

JP with his sweet Momma. They matched!

 

Beautiful day!

In his happy place. :)



 

 

-TWO- I have been OBSESSED with hot chocolate this week. I have almost had a cup every day this week. (not healthy I know!)

 

It was very needed at the Iowa game last weekend! Yum!

 

 

 

-THREE- On Sunday afternoon/evening the hubs and I had a much needed "night in." Sunday's are so precious to us because he works every Saturday and I work M-F so we don't ever get an afternoon together. It was wonderful, he bought me surprise flowers, we cooked dinner together, had scratch cupcakes for dessert, rented a couple of silly movies, curled up on the couch and relaxed! I love spending quality time with my husband. It is my favorite thing to do. I forgot to take a picture of our supper but it was DELICIOUS!

 

-FOUR- I love my job. I am in charge of the childcare for our MOPS group on Thursday mornings  as well as our women's Bible studies on Tuesday mornings. One of the MOPS ladies brought me this on Thursday morning. I am so blessed by them. She gave me a kind note as well as a gift to one of my favorite spots. She is such a sweet woman. I am blessed. Pumpkin Spice, here I come!

 

 

 

 -FIVE-  The small group that I lead meets on Thursday nights. This week we decided to do a fun night so we played board games at a cute coffee shop in town! It was so much fun! It was also jazz night at this place too so we had mood music while we played! It was a delightful time together!

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Love,
             Lindsey 



Thankful: November 7

Today I am thankful for my small group. I am leading a small group of girls who are Juniors in college. It has been such a blessing to meet with them and hang out with them every week. We have been studying the sermon series through our church and I am thankful for what God has been teaching all of us through this study. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and speak truth to this group of women and also for all that they have taught me through the last 6 weeks.

 

 

What has God been teaching you lately that you are thankful for?

 

  Love,
             Lindsey

Thankful: November 6

Today I am thankful for my beautiful friendship with Matt and Dana and their family. They are the family that I lived with for an entire year while I was doing my internship and before I got married. They opened their home to  me to live with their beautiful family and have consistently treated me like one of their own children. They have been such an incredible blessing to me and I am a better person because of them.

This morning I was able to enjoy a short coffee date with Dana and Ayden (her 5 year old) at their house. Even though it was only 30 minutes I felt refreshed and energized when I left. I love talking to Dana so much. She is one of the kindest and most loving people I know. She is constantly thinking about other people and pouring into so many others. Both her and Matt are some of the most generous people I know. Seriously...they have done SO much for me. I can't even begin to put words to how thankful I am for them. When I was talking to Dana this morning she was telling me about some of her friends who are going through some really hard circumstances. When she was telling me the stories and how she is praying for these people and helping them in every way she can it reminded me how I forget to care about others the way Dana does. She is so amazing about realizing a need and helping with it. I want to be like that. There may be friends of mine who are going through really hard seasons of life and I don't even know about it. I want to be more intentional with the people in my life and the people that God brings into my path.

Thank you Dana for being someone I strive to be like. I look up to you so much and I am so proud to know you and to be your friend and adopted "daughter." I love you Dana!



 

Is there a friend in your life that you are thankful for today?

 

 

 Love,
             Lindsey

Thankful: November 5

Today I am thankful for coffee... I know that it is really silly and insignificant but it is such a dreary day. It has made me so tired today that coffee has been such a blessing to keep me focused and awake.

 

 

 

You have anything silly like coffee that you are thankful for today?

Thankful: Day 2, 3, and 4

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Today I am thankful for my mom. She is such a giving woman and I love spending time with her! She came today for a couple of hours so we could spend some time together. It was so nice to be able to see her in person and chat about what has been going on in her life, family updates and share about what our life has been like lately. She also helped me clean my house! Wow! What a blessing that was. She loves to help my sister and I with any project that we have. She has helped me and encouraged me in SO many ways through the years and I am forever grateful for that. I am thankful for her organizing skills and also her ability to encourage me in accomplishing things I didn't think I could accomplish. Love you mom!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

I am thankful for my handsome and sweet husband. (That might be a recurring one this month!) We had such a wonderful and enjoyable afternoon and evening together yesterday. First, I came from working at a bridal show to these beautiful flowers. :) He spoils me. If you look closely you can see a pretty hott guy in the background.

 

 

We also enjoyed playing Lord of the Rings game cube together. It is such a fun game! (he is so patient with me even when I am not very good at all!) After that we cooked supper together. We made twice baked potatoes, grilled chicken and veggies! I should have taken a picture because it was A-MAZING! After that we just cuddled and watched a couple of movies together. It was so relaxing. We haven't had such a relaxing day in a long time! Very grateful for that time together.

 

Monday, November 4, 2013

 

Today I am thankful for my husbands family. We are going with his mom and dad to go watch his brother Cole play football tonight and I am very excited! I love traveling places with them also watching his brothers and sisters in their activities! It is wonderful to be a part of their family. GO GO-HAWKS!! :)

 

What are you thankful for from the weekend?



 



 Love,
             Lindsey

Thankful for it all!

Long time no see!!

Today is November 1st and I think it is about time I started blogging again! My last blog post is from April! I am very behind... Here is a quick recap of the last 6 months of my life!!

I GOT MARRIED!

Truly the best day of my life!

05.18.13

 

 

We went on an AMAZING honeymoon to Avon, Colorado following our wedding.

We both say it was the best week of our lives.

 

 

 

We moved into our little rental house.

It is very tiny but we love it and it is perfect for us.

 

 

 

We spend a lot of time watching baseball

(JP is one of the baseball coaches in town)

 

 

 

We attended quite a few weddings this summer besides our own!

 

 

 

And of course we watched a LOT of Hawkeye football!!

 

 

 

Visited a pumpkin patch!

 

And.... most recently we BOUGHT A CAR!

This is a big deal for us because we have had crazy
 car troubles ever since we got married.



 

So... that is a small snapshot of what we have been up to. I am going to be posting a full wedding recap hopefully in the next couple of weeks! :)

 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am going to try and post something every day that I am thankful for. So here we go!

 

November 1st.

 

This may be because it is so recent but today I am thankful for transportation. God provided for us all summer when both of our cars broke down and we had no money to purchase a new one. Last week we were able to purchase a new car all our own! It is amazing how God works and how he gives us experiences and seasons that teach us so much and help us grow!

Thankful for my little white car today! :)

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

 Love,
             Lindsey