Seth + Beth Part 1: Young Love

This is the beginning of the Love Series (or the story of us)

I say it began in the 8th grade...Seth says it started on the playground in elementary school. I was one of those chubby, brace faced, four eyed little girls and Seth was the scrawny kid running around with a crew of buddies. I was a year older than him so I never knew him very well, but apparently he had some major crushes on me during recess. I also learned that when him and his buddies would call me it was him that had the crush on me not his friends. I still think that is hard for me to believe, due to the fact that I had an extremely awkward stage pre-Jr.High. Thankfully by the 8th grade I had contacts, no braces, learned how to do my hair, and had turned into another string bean pre-teen with purple eye shadow.

So in Jr.High, Seth finally got up the courage to "ask me out"or did his friend do it? I can't recall, but it doesn't matter. I thought he was the cutest kid ever. I think we "dated" for a few months but first I should clarify what "dating" meant for us; it meant that we hung out after school and made up secret handshakes (Seth was clever enough to sneak a kiss in at the end of one of those handshakes. We both remember that very clearly!), sitting together at lunch, and writing each other love notes. At one point I had my best friend tell his best friend we were breaking up, but then his best friend told my best friend he was crying in the bathroom so I decided to stay with him. I'm assuming a few weeks maybe months went by when Seth broke up with me and said..."I want to save you to be my girlfriend in high school". How cute and confusing? What is funnier is that he did :)

We didn't talk for a few years and it wasn't until he tapped me on the shoulder at lunch (I was a sophomore and he was a freshman) and said, "Hey, you know the band Relient K!?" I was wearing one of my new Relient K shirts that I had gotten at a Youth Conference that summer and little did I know that I had fallen in love with the new, punk rock, Christian band that also happened to be Seth's favorite. Thanks Relient K for your matchmaking!

my valentines day present from Seth in 2001

Part 2: High school heartbreakers
Part 3: Dating at a Distance
Part 4: Let's make this forever

{Thankful Tuesdays} November 27-30

Finishing off my series with a recap of what I was thankful for the last 4 days of November.

November 27th: The holidays bringing family together
We had more family time this week at our house. We enjoyed seeing Seth's grandparents, cousin, and baby Addi.

November 28th: The church (and having veterinarians for friends)
Our precious Tina scared me a little this week. She was acting lethargic and quiet and I knew something was wrong. I will spare all the gory details, but after calling our local animal hospital (and being told they only take appointments...say what?) I started texting a friend from church who is also a veterinarian. She was so sweet and was able to diagnosis her with just a photo and a few descriptions and she was able to get us some pain medications and antibiotics that evening. I am so thankful for her and her kindness to continue to check in on how Tina is doing and that she is willing to see her. It sounds so silly, but I had a glimpse of what it was like to worry and get help for your sick "child" (ok, I'm sure it's not that close).

November 29th: King Sized Bed
The day finally came where our long awaiting and talked about King sized bed arrived. We have always talked about getting one (probably since our honeymoon) and some family was getting rid of theirs so we jumped on the opportunity. Topped with four inch memory foam, we are understanding what it means to "crawl out of bed".

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November 30th: I'm thankful that God's mercy's are new every morning
I'm thankful that everyday this month I have struggled to think of just one reason to be thankful (because there are always too many to count). That everyday I can be reminded of God's love for me and see His blessings all around me. I am so thankful for the life that my husband and I have and those that surround us. I am thankful for Christ's redeeming love and that He is constantly restoring me.

{Capturing December} December 1-2nd

This is my first post for my December Series {Capturing December}

 

Saturday, December 1st: Your View Today

Sunday, December 2nd: Favorite Holiday Movie (I cheated already! My incredibly clever idea to take the picture of the Lord of the Rings DVD cover failed when I realized they are at my mom's house. And because no holiday movie comes close to my love for the LOTR trilogy and how it pairs so well with Christmas lights, coffee, and snow days, I decided to cheat.)

A Glimpse of December

I cannot believe how fast November came and went! It was an extremely busy month, but I especially enjoyed the time with family this month and I am looking forward to more in December.

I'd give my first month of trying series a C+.

I failed at writing my book review. Still reading the book...I just found it really hard to write a review...maybe just not for me. My Friday Letters was hit or miss...but I will continue to do those whenever I desire to. I did post every Tuesday (one last posting to finish the month coming this Tuesday) for Thankful Tuesdays.

The main reason I give myself a C+ is because my overall goal was just to blog more and I definitely did that.

So I decided to set a few goals/series for the month of December:

1. Capturing December Photo-A-Day Challenge posts every Monday
 

2. Seth + Beth {love series}

On Thursdays I will be writing out portions of our love story because (1) I have never written it out before and (2) because I put under the "our story" tab that I would be writing something in December (I was just making things up at that point, but no one has to know that :) 

So a love story it is!

Other goals include:

Taking pictures at our holiday functions (I failed miserably at Thanksgiving)

Sharing about our Christmas traditions

maybe getting enough guts to put a link to this blog on facebook

Here's to December!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It is really starting to look like Christmas around here! I loved creating new decorations this fall in preparation for Christmas and I think the hard (but fun!) work paid off! I continued my tradition of making paper birds and decided to add origami cranes to the mix this year.

I will let the pictures do the talking :)

(beware...photo dump of around 20 photos!)

{Thankful Tuesdays} November 21-26

November 21st: Ohio
Mostly, I'm just thankful that we live within two hours of our families. We traveled home after work on Wednesday and I have always found the hour and a half drive to be relaxing and not overwhelming.

November 22nd: My family
Happy Thanksgiving! We spent all day with my family. Coffee, cinnamon rolls, and conversation in the morning and a mid-afternoon lunch with my extended family. We ended the day with my mom watching The Fugitive on the big screen in the basement. I wish I could rewind and go back.

November 23rd: My Husband's family
Happy Thanksgiving round 2! Because our families live right down the road we can spend time with both families. We lounged with Seth's siblings, parents, and his grandparents and cousin who came in from Oklahoma. I am so thankful for the love and acceptance of my Simmons family.

November 24th: Ben and Jen, Friends
By Saturday we were back at home and we had a wonderful day with our good friends Ben and Jen. They have been good friends for a long time and I always enjoy when they come out to visit. Seth and Ben spent most of the day in the basement working on writing and recording new music (so good by the way!) and Jen and I did some crafting (Jen crocheting and me putting up Christmas decorations).  We are really compatible and they remind me how good friends are :)

                    

November 25th: My Camera
I am starting to settle in to this camera and I am loving it! Seth has me take pictures and video each Sunday to gather footage for our church's website. I am still learning, but I really feel that I have picked up a lot. I only use the manual setting, which I guess is rare for a beginner. I'm really dreaming of getting some sort of business going sometime in 2013. I'm also thinking of doing a photo challenge in December.  (now I just need to learn how to edit!)

November 26th: Christmas Season
 OK, now we can all start thinking about Christmas. Yes, I am one of those "please don't start decorating/listening to Christmas music before Christmas" kind of person. But the weekend after thanksgiving it is all fair game! I started decorating on Saturday but we still need to put up our Christmas tree (I won't do that without Seth).

{Thankful Tuesdays} November 14-20

November 14th: My job
I know a lot of people need one and I know what it is like to feel like you can't find one. I'm thankful for a challenging job to perform in and to help others.

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November 15th: That my job is just my job
Did I mention that last week was stressful? Because it most definitely goes down as one of the worst. Honestly though, my weeks can be bad because of the amount and speed of work that needs to be done, but it is the emotional part that is the icing on the cake. Sometimes I am the last hope for people in between them and homelessness and sometimes the weight of that is incredibly heavy. Numerous times last week as I was driving home (and trying to decompress and leave everything behind) all I could think of was the opportunity to have a car, a home, and a supportive family and that my job is just my job...and not my life. I pray for those who have little and need support.

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November 16th: My car
Not very creative, but very simple and important. I'm extra thankful we have no car payments.

November 17th: Date days
I love days with my husband. We decided to camp out at the movie theater on Saturday and watch two different movies. I really love days where we put our phones aside and just enjoy one another's company.

November 18th:  clife
cLife is the name of our church's small groups. We meet every Sunday evening and get spoiled with a full meal, lots of sugar, and good discussion. I'm thankful to be plugged in and for the opportunity to love on others and let them stretch you.

November 19th: Cleaning supplies (Laundry machines, mops, vacuums)
I was in a cleaning mood on Monday and I can't imagine life without my swifter mop, vacuum, dishwasher, and laundry machine. Not to mention, we sell and use the best cleaning supplies out there and I don't take for granted how awesome they work.

November 20th: Coffee dates
I am looking forward to a coffee date tonight and I am reminded these need to be more regular. In college I constantly had coffee dates with friends and peers. I've noticed that as life gets busier and more comfortable it is harder to put yourself out there and just take the time to sit with people and build relationships. I've let so many relationships slip away over the past 3 years and I know that I can do better (and am called to do better) in investing in those around me.

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