"That must be nice!"

Maybe it's just me, but this saying drives me absolutely nuts! I have been the receiving end of this saying before and I have also been the one who thinks it. But, I have recently learned how to change this view and I think that others could use a reminder as well.

Kasey and I both work pretty much full time, him definitely full time and me the pretty much. We are both crazy busy and always worn out. I know we aren't the only ones. The other night, I was closing at my work and I thought to myself, "I want to go get away for just two days!" I had recently seen on Facebook how several of my friends were enjoying the last bit of summer vacation at the beach, concerts, on a planned trip, and even on random road trips. I must admit, I wanted that too! I called Kasey and I said, "We both have a day off tomorrow and you don't work until 10pm on Thursday, let's go to the cabin and spend some time together!" I guess I should now admit that I am the spontaneous- do life as it comes one- and Kasey is definitely the let's plan this out three months in advance one. After a long back and forth conversation, he reminded me that it was 11pm at night and the cabin is 3 hours away. He also reminded me that we have two dogs and we were on a budget at the time. So, we didn't go. 

I was kind of crabby about the whole situation because I wanted to be like all my friends, living my life to the fullest during the last part of summer! But then it hit me....

At 22 and 20, we have a home. Not renting- a literal home. We have furnished this home with furniture and decorations. Now, maybe you're reading this and thinking, "Well I'm 26 and I can't afford a house, must be nice!" But instead, train your mind to see this differently. Maybe you don't have a house, but maybe you only work part time and you love your nights and weekends and free time to spend doing whatever you want! Maybe you love cars and you have spent your extra money on restoring old cars and you have several cars that no one else has. Or maybe, you love clothes and you have a closet fit for a queen! Whatever it is, remember that your choices have landed you there. 

Kasey and I couldn't pack up and leave that night because we have made choices that have made spontaneous road trips not possible at the moment. We make a sacrifice so that we can have other things in life that we want. We are "living like no one else now, so we can live like no one else later." Can you guess who said it? Ding, ding, ding the famous Dave Ramsey! I told you I was a huge fan! 

So remember this, if you sit and wallow in the fact that your car isn't the latest and greatest, you will spend far too much time wallowing and far too less time being grateful for what you do have. Also remember that you have made a choice to have what you have and it is no one else's fault that you don't have something. The next time you find yourself saying or thinking "that must be nice", think about why that person has what they do. Maybe they are in debt $50,000 because of that fancy new car and you are debt free! Just a thought. 

Setting Goals

You may have noticed that I tend to like Dave Ramsey, and the truth is that I do.  I like what he stands for.  I also like that he takes something he is good at and uses it for the good of God and for the good of God's followers.  Dave uses his life's testimony to help others who are struggling financially and he shares what he has learned to inspire others to live their life debt free.  He also encourages people to set goals; which, is something that I believe is so important to live a fulfilled life.

A goal in my life- because of watching people like Dave- is to use one of my life's lessons to help the good of others.  I haven't been the best at it lately, but I do always try* to include in my prayers that God help guide me in the direction to serve him.  Some ideas that I have come up with are: starting a dance studio at my church and using my passion for dance and for teaching to serve God through dance, counseling teens who are struggling with peer pressure to drink, have sex, or use language that they are not comfortable with, and also grouping with young wives (even if I am not quite one yet) to come up with meal plans, share in fellowship, and help with the ups and downs that come with being in a lifelong relationship.  These are just a few of the many things that God has put me up against and I know that I have the ability to do something about it to help others who are currently struggling.

I also have other goals in my life.  I think a lot of people do.  I want to be a great wife and mom someday- don't we all!?! Because I am a business major in college, I want to someday own my own small business or work in a position that I am practically the boss.  I want to someday have $1,000,000.  I wrote it out because I think it looks way cooler and bigger than just saying "one million dollars", don't you? I want to someday come up with the cure for cancer, after I win the Powerball.  Fine, the last one was just a pipe dream, but I would totally do it if I won the Powerball.

A friend of mine recently said, "If you say you are 'trying' or any form of 'try', you are going to fail. You have already said you can't and won't if you are only trying."  I thought to myself, "That is not right. I try to do a lot of things and I succeed at them." I tried to get the laundry done before dinner finished and I did. I tried to get straight A's through college and so far I have.  But then I thought about it, I have also tried to study for a test and I didn't have time.  I tried to diet and lose weight and I still haven't.  I have tried a lot of things that I didn't fully commit to and needless to say I failed.  So, did I really even "try"? Or, did I have the choice to do or not to do and I chose not to do it.  I would go with the latter.

When goal setting, we have to decide if we are going to do or we are not going to do.  If it is something that you tell yourself, "I'll try to squeeze this in," then don't even bother writing it down.  You won't do it.  You have to decide if you will do something, or if you won't do it, and then you write it down as a goal.  Have fun checking it off, because if you wrote it down it better be important enough to you that you will make it happen.  Remember, if you "try" you are not doing you are just saying.

And with that, have a great day of DOING!

"Before and After's" of our new home!

First, I want to share a little about our style.  We both love the outdoors and love the feel of cabins.  We wanted our home to have that same feeling, but not quite as much cabin and a little more homey.  So, our colors are very warm and our furniture is all dark browns with bronze as our choice for metal.  And with all that said, here are the pictures! :)

BEFORE (these are pictures from the past owners)

DURING

 

AFTER: (finally!)