Almost Finished!!

We have been working on our basement for almost two years now and it felt like it would NEVER get done! This week it feels like everything is coming together!! Today we'll finish painting, next week we'll put the trim up and as soon as possible, we'll put the carpet down!!! It has been such a fun project and we have learned a TON about fixing up a house! Here is a quick glimpse at the outcome so far :)What our basement looked like when we first moved in
(all of this went to the dumpster!)

What our basement looks like now!! Just a little bit of change, eh?

*Special Note to Greta P.: Tell your husband he did a fantastic job mudding! It looks amazing!!

Love Dare

Have any of you read this book?? It is a study with your spouse based on the movie "Fireproof" (we still have yet to see the movie). Aaron and I started this book yesterday and are already so impressed by it...and challenged and motivated by it! Every day you receive a dare: A dare that will help you love and serve your spouse more effectively and give you practical step by step ways of doing so.



Today's Dare? Say nothing negative about your spouse and do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness. Hmm...I have two hours before my husband gets home to think of an unexpected gesture of kindness. I better get off this computer and go think! :) I would so recommend this book!!

Taking Time

Yesterday Aaron, Sadie, and I enjoyed the most beautiful walk we have been on in a LONG time. It was beautiful outside so we decided to take time out of our busy schedule to enjoy each other and our dog (yes, she is doing GREAT....let's just say the spading didn't mellow her a bit which we heard it would. On Thursday morning, she got up, got a bone and instantly wanted to play again. She's a spunky little thing!). I realized as we were walking how often I don't take enough time just to enjoy God, His creation, warm weather, my husband, and life in general. I've been sooooo focused lately on all the drama that is going on around me instead of focusing on the little blessings of each day. So, here are a few blessings from this week:

*I was blessed to meet my parents for supper on Thursday night. We had a great talk and they really helped me think about the step by step process of life.

*Blessed that Aaron and I still have jobs in this economy.

*Blessed by my small group at church. The curriculum we are going through is fantastic and the people have been such a blessing and encouragement.

*Blessed to receive a new couch today!! Our basement is nearing completion and one of Aaron's aunts had a couch she needed to get rid of! In a few weeks, it will have a home in our basement and we won't have to worry about buying something to sit on downstairs :)

*Blessed that the drain in our basement backed up this week (ha, hear me out!) BECAUSE, if it would have backed up later than this, we would have had our carpet put down already and would be devastated.

*Blessed by God's provision of money. I won't even begin to tell you what all "broke down" this week, but let's just say God keeps providing and we keep trying to trust.

*Blessed that I can go to my Heavenly Father anytime and He is always listening. I am blessed by His hand in my life and how He is leading us.

20 more minutes!

20 more minutes and my husband will be home! I debated writing today because I know two days without my husband is nothing and one day without my dog is nothing, but when they're both gone the same day, it gets pretty lonely around here! Aaron left early yesterday morning for a district conference in Des Moines and early this morning, I took my dog to the vet to get spade :(

I felt like a horrible "dog parent" as I took my dog into the vet. The hair on her back stood straight up, a sign she was terrified. I had to pretty much drag her to a cage where the other dogs in the room barked and barked and barked some more. When I put her in the cage, I looked down at her and she looked up at me with her sad puppy dog eyes probably thinking "What are you doing to me?" I almost started crying...what a wimp I am! But, hey, she is pretty much my "practice child" so now I know what I'll be like when I have kids and have to leave them somewhere. *sigh* Well, that's my life lately....not too exciting! :)