Busy Busy Life

Life is busy again. I love to be busy. Sometimes the line is crossed, where I have bitten off more than I can chew, but most of the time I feel good about all I have going on. School is going well for both Jaren and I. I also got a job a few weeks ago which is a blessing. I'll be a PSR worker for an agency called South Fork Services. I worked with my two bosses when I worked at the BYUI Student Honor Office and I love them! Work is going to fill up my schedule even more, but I'll learn a lot. Jaren's semester is a crazy one as well. He can easily do up to 80 hours a week of school (between classes and homework). We try to do something as a couple each day. The quality time I spend with Jaren keeps me going :)

Homemade chips and salsa + Monopoly Deal = Date night!

Homework party :)

It is also these really busy times of life when it is easy to put the most important things aside. Like really digging into the scriptures or serving those in need. I need to constantly check myself. Am I closer to my Savior today than I was a month ago? I need to remember what is more important than my homework. More important than my work schedule. More important than everything. My Savior.

   

DATE IDEA #1

Jaren and I love to go on fun yet cheap dates together. We have thought of and done some fun ones throughout our marriage! We always have an excuse to do something fun. So today, when we were thinking of something fun to do to celebrate school starting (ironic celebration), I decided that I wanted to start putting fun and cheap date ideas on my blog. I will include date ideas that Jaren and I think of ourselves, along with date ideas that we have heard of through other people or through other websites.

I'm really excited to start these "date idea" posts! You can always find a reason or excuse to do something fun with your honey :) Hopefully these posts will give some ideas that others can enjoy! Feel free to comment if you have any fun date ideas to add!

For my first "date idea" post, I am including a few ideas that we have done in the past... Let's start this out with a bang!!

Make homemade pizzas together then watch a movie

If it's raining outside, grab your honey and dance in the rain :)

Sparkling cider by candlelight is always romantic :)

When the weather is nice, go to a nearby lake and build a sandcastle

Volunteer together! It not only builds your relationship but it also serves those in need.

Pack a picnic and go to the park (don't forget to bring a Frisbee or football to throw around!)

This is an idea I got from another website. Surprise your honey with a movie night!
Rent their favorite movie from Redbox or Netflix (so cheap!) and then make a movie ticket to give to them.

This picture goes with the one above it.
Add some treats and popcorn to the movie basket that you surprise your honey with.

Ten Years Ago...

Ten years ago today, the United States of America was attacked. The events of that day brought much tragedy, sorrow, and fear. Loved ones were lost and the security of our home land was questioned. Our country was changed forever. Those personally affected are in our prayers on this anniversary.

I also believe that those tragic events brought us closer as a people. We bonded as a human family in our home country. It was on that day that many people became closer to God. It is during times of heartache, that we realize that we cannot do it on our own.

This video takes an inside look at one 9-11 survivor’s story. He found refuge in God and it is inspiring. 

Come What May

"The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. FAVORABLE CONDITIONS NEVER COME.” This is a quote that we were given at orientation for my graduate program and it is the quote that I’ll be living by for the next year and a half. My program starts tomorrow. I have been a bit overwhelmed tonight. It seems as if the conditions are “unfavorable” to be starting a masters program right now. A graduate program means more debt. A graduate program means that starting a family any time soon would be much more difficult. It means more stress.

But, more importantly, starting a graduate program means following a dream. Starting a graduate program means that I can stretch myself in a different way. It means that I have gotten an answer from my Heavenly Father and He is okay with it.

So, come what may! I’m heading into this program full force and with a smile. Life can be hard, but I can do hard things.    

Low-Carb Craver #3... Mashed Potatoes

Time for another low-carb craver! Potatoes are one of the few vegetables that are very high in carbohydrates (probably the highest carb vegetable of them all). So what about the classic mashed potatoes and gravy side dish?! It’s my favorite. My mom emailed me a great idea for a substitute: cauliflower! Sounds crazy right? It was actually good! We just steamed some cauliflower, mashed it up, and put gravy on top. The only big difference between the mashed cauliflower and mashed potatoes (besides the amount of carbs of course) was the texture. The texture of the cauliflower was not as smooth as the mashed potatoes. We liked it though.

I’m totally fine with eating actual potatoes once in a while but this is good substitute when you don’t want to totally “carb-out” (as Jaren says J)

The Open Soul

One of the reasons why I started this blog was because I love to write. When you see a thought from your mind, come through your hands and onto paper it can be liberating. For me, writing is one of the ways that I express myself. A while ago I wrote this poem and I thought I would share. It is written about a principle that I believe is very important.

The Open Soul

The open soul,
Oh, the soul that can share
Inside lies the dark and the light,
Opening can bring hope and show care.

Nobody is perfect,
That is why we are here.
Open your soul to others,
They shall gain from your joy and tear

How can the soul be opened?
That is the question for all.
Opening our souls can be frightening,
How do we take down that wall?

And yes, there are the few we can open to,
The few to whom we can share
But oh! The growth we would feel,
If we widened our circle of care.

     -Sarah W. Dickey