A real quick update!

Last published blog...July 6, 2010. Yup...fail. I set out to blog all about our lives when we didn't really have lives and now we have lives, I don't have the time to blog! Such is life.

Well since July 6th Tyler and I have had quiet a few adventures among them being, the discovery that we are not ready for teenagers. For nearly three weeks this summer I was surrounded by family. Starting with a trip to Illinois, to watch a softball tournament with my Wisconsin relatives, my grandma Mary, Auntie K and of course my dad plus Shelby and Josh.

The Midwest had a little bit of rain this summer...

We met President Lincoln before he left for Washington

 After the weekend in Springfield we brought Shelby and Josh back to the "arm pit of America" (as it was affectionately called this weekend by a native Mississippian). They slept, watched tv, messed around on facebook and youtube and acted like teenagers. I loved every minute. From walking into my home at 10am, after I'd been at class for two hours, to find they were still laying around watching tv to cooking meals they didn't want to eat. I loved it all. I loved the noise they made, even when they were fighting and I loved that even though we weren't doing much they seemed happy to be with us. We went to see the Gulf and even at Paps, an authentic Mississippi restaurant, hillybilly's included. They played with LeRoy and I didn't have to take him potty once all week, I just had to ask Josh to take him out. I was able to ask, "What are you texting Patrick?" and knew the in's and out's of their everyday lives.

There is nothing in the world like sisters!

Josh and LeRoy playing!

LeRoy showing Shelb his tricks

I miss these guys so much!

I think that is what I miss the most. Knowing everything about them, we can talk on the phone and we can text but for some reason their favorite songs don't come up in the conversation. All those little details get lost somewhere in the 15 hours south. I miss watching Shelby and Josh dance and sing to something they found on youtube…and can’t hear “you probably think your cooler than me” without smiling and thinking of them.

After two weeks in Mississippi we were able to go HOME! I always joke that I need my family to refuel me if I am going to be able to keep my sanity down here, but it’s the truth. I know it is hard to leave but I leave feeling refreshed.

While we were home Tyler and I celebrated our anniversary! This crazy adventure had officially reached a year. We went out to eat at Taco Tico, one of my favorite restaurants in Ft. Dodge, and I stayed at my house and he stayed at his parents to go fishing the next morning. I know it wasn't the most romantic way to spend an anniversary, but Tyler said it best when he said, "I didn't come to Iowa to spend time with you." Now that I think about it that sounds awful! But I knew exactly what he meant, we came home to spend time with as many loved ones as humanly possible in a week and once that week was over it will go back to just him and I down in Mississippi and we will have four months before we get to see these loved ones again.

After we came home LeRoy and I were on our own. Tyler was gone 23 of the next 35 days. He was in Puerto Rico, the Delta, Pennsylvania and the Delta again. I love that man, but I don't NEED him to function. After three years of 5 hours apart I've learned that I don't NEED him, but I definitely want him in my life. So I was really happy when he was home for good, well at least for awhile. He will be leaving again Wednesday for three days. But after him being gone for 10 days in a row then 3 days later leaving again for 7 days, 3 days seems like a really short time!

That basically sums up the last three months very briefly. Now that the semester has started we are crazy busy, but I hope to start blogging more regularly!

A long break...

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alive! I know that I haven't blogged in forever, but I have a very good excuse! I was taking two classes, not just two classes but two summer classes at the same time. Summer school has a way of messing with sense of time, the month of June was the longest and shortest month of my life! Thankfully it was not in vain! It was definitely a God thing because I was able to get two A's! Now I am just taking one course so I'm hoping I'll have more time to blog!

Other then working on school and taking LeRoy to puppy school we have been busy down here except for this weekend. I have always loved July 4th, Tyler has always loved July 4th so it became "our holiday" when we started dating. It was the first time Tyler held my hand four years ago, then two year ago he asked me to marry him before the fireworks. We knew this year would be different, I mean part of the reason we love July 4th is because we spend time with our families. We ended up spending July 4th with our friends from church and their children. It actually was helpful to watch all the kids enjoy the sparklers and fireworks, it was loud...just like home! haha Then we headed to a bonfire with the Mississippi Family. Dan was setting off his own fireworks, Katie described them best when she called them, "Dan's beautiful/dangerous fireworks."

Overall, it was a very relaxing weekend, spent time with friends, watched eclipse, slept in, and ate some great food. So it wasn't the same but I guess that is apart of growing up. My mom said it best when she said, "It won't ever be the same again."

One year ago...

One year ago I experienced some big changes in my life. I graduated college and a week later my fiancé left me standing in front of This N That crying my eyes out. He was on his to Mississippi and I went home to my mom's hug.

May 16th marked a year for Tyler, one year in Mississippi. I cannot believe how quickly the year has gone! Of course I was able to enjoy three months with my family before I moved down here, which maybe why I can't believe he has been here for a year.

We have experienced so many ups and downs in year. Disappointments when we've worked hard, blessings when we didn't deserve them. We have made some wonderful friends and grown together in ways I never thought we would. Our lives have taken some twists and turns, including me not having a job and deciding to go back to grad school but overall I've never been happier.

He is growing fast!

I thought I would share some new photos of our little bundle of joy!

Causing trouble....

the only time he is good....

boys napping...

Should not have let him sleep..this is what happens when he naps!

My theme song

If my life were a movie this would be my theme song. I know that I'm always saying I LOVE THIS SONG! And I do actually love most music, but this song at this point in my life is exactly what I need to hear.

At twenty years of age I’m still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But you've already won the battle
And you've got great plans for me
Though i can’t always see

`cause i got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on your shoulders i can see
I'm free to be me

When i was just a girl i thought i had it figured out
My life would turn out right, and I’d make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes i would doubt

`cause i got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on your shoulders i can see
I'm free to be me
And you’re free to be you

Sometimes i believe that i can do anything
Yet other times i think I’ve got nothing good to bring
But you look at my heart and you tell me
That I’ve got all you seek
And it’s easy to believe
Even though

`cause i got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on your shoulders i can see
I'm free to be me

There are so many reasons this song is my theme song. First off, I'm not twenty but I'm pretty close to 20 and feel/felt completely lost. I know he has a great plan for me, but sometimes I have trouble seeing what it is I'm supposed to be doing.

Before moving to Mississippi I thought I had it all figured out. I'd get a good job, we would have insurance and more money than we would know what to do with, but like the song said sometimes things don't come that easy and I started to doubt.

For those who had the pleasure of knowing me while I was growing up, haha, you know that I'm so clumsy and I really do allow perfection to be my enemy. I'm an all or nothing person. So if you come into my house and it is clean most of the time it will be completely clean. If you come in and it is dirty well I suggest you leave because it won't get any prettier. If things are not going to be perfectly done I don't like to do them, I'd rather not do anything at all!

The last portion of the song "Sometimes i believe that i can do anything, Yet other times i think I’ve got nothing good to bring. But you look at my heart and you tell me that I’ve got all you seek, And it’s easy to believe"

I've got all you seek. I have a heart that is open and wants to know more. An imperfect heart that needs and wants Gods love to overflow into my life. He isn't seeking my perfection just my loving heart.

So in case I forget, once I am rich and famous and they are making a movie about life before I was rich and famous, this song has to be my theme song. It will play when things start changing in my life, kind of like "Eye of the Tiger" for Rocky. haha

Love believes...

Love believes all things, hopes all things --1 Corinthians 13:7

One of the dares for this week encouraged us to write down everything we love and dislike about our spouse. When I sat down to write out my lists I wasn't sure where I should even start. There are so many reasons I love Tyler and so many things I love about him. The purpose of the lesson was that there are good things and bad things in our relationship but if we focus on the good things and not the negative things the positive will outweigh the bad.

While my list of nice things about Tyler was far too long to share everything, I'll share a few of the reasons I love him :)

He gets me. As simple as that he just gets me. He can walk in the door look at me and know how my day went, what he needs to say to make it better or if he just needs to stay out of the way until the storm passes.

He never judges me. With the exception of my mom I have never spilled my heart so completely to one person. He knows everything about me and still loves me. We talk about everything, things I'm proud of and even things I'm ashamed to admit.

He never rolls his eyes when I say, "So I've been thinking..." Sometimes he chuckles but he always listens. He never tells me that I'm stupid or that I'm overreacting. Even if my thoughts are ridiculous he never says he thinks that they are outrageous. He gently points me in the right direction and I eventually decide I'm over thinking everything.

Of course then there are the obvious reasons I love him. He makes me laugh; he makes lots of people laugh. He is patient with me even when I'm being difficult. The man could talk to a wall and get the wall to talk back. He is the typical only child and doesn't mind when I tease him about not wanting to share. I fit perfectly in his nook while cuddling. He never quits, when looking for a graduate school Tyler's self-esteem took a couple blows but he didn't quit. After a brief pep talk he started calling professors again, which eventually led us to MSU. He encourages me to do my best and isn't offended when I push him to his best. He wants to be a great husband. Even if he and I aren't the perfect married couple we both are focused on making each other happy.

I could go on but it’s not necessary, I'm a very lucky woman. After making my lists I thanked Tyler for a few of the reasons I love him and hid the list of negative things. The next day the dare was to burn the negative list, but after all the fires in Starkville I decided to just shred it. Plus I liked the symbolism of shredding the list and throwing it away.

It has been awhile again...

So it has been awhile again. So many different things have happened but for some reason I haven't wanted to blog about it maybe it's because I'm worried about who is or isn't reading my blog. Anyway I'm back and I'm going to update everyone.

LeRoy was sick and was super cuddly but now he is better and back to being super naughty. Even though we always say he is super naughty he does have his really sweet moments. This morning I really did not want to get up at 6:00 with him, but I climbed out of bed to take him potty. On my way out I "accidently" left our bedroom door open. Of course when LeRoy and I got back into the apartment he headed straight for our room. He hopped up on the bed and started jumping on Tyler to wake him up. I laid back down and it was AMAZING the sweet little dog just laid down on my feet and went to sleep! And he kept sleeping until I had to get up at 8:00!

I have officially registered for my courses this summer and fall. Its looking like I will be super busy again. I just need to get back into the swing of things.

Tyler and I have been participating in the Love Dare! It actually is really challenging! The very first day's dare is to not say anything negative!! Holy Cow you don't realize how many negative things you say to the person you love until you try not to be negative!

For instance it was toward the end of the day and Tyler was being so pokey. He said "Let's go to bed," which was what I wanted to hear, but then he just laid on the couch for like 40 seconds. I'm not sure why but it just made me mad! So I yelled, "Why are you always so pokey?!" Then I remembered that I was trying to not say anything negative all day. So when he asked what I meant I said, "never mind" which just made him mad! Yup...we were both feeling the love.

I know that some of the dares should come easy, but honestly the each day the dare for the day just doesn't seem to fit! One day was focused on being kind, which meant I had to buy something for Tyler that said I was thinking of him. When I read the dare, heaven help me, I honestly thought, "I don't have time to be kind today!"

Tyler on the other hand, seems to be accidentally falling into our dares without reading the book! One dare was to call your spouse in the middle of the day to see if they needed something. Before I went to work that day Tyler called to check on me and LeRoy. I automatically assumed he had read the book and was just completing the dare. Well on Friday night I reminded Tyler we needed to do our Group Session homework for Sunday and Tyler went "O yeah and I better read the last three days of Love Dare." Once we looked through them together we realized he actually had done each of the days and he never read the book! Here I am trying to find ways to fit these dares in and here he is just accidently completing them!

Before I started working I was bored to tears and now that I have a job I feel like Tyler and I are always busy! I think adding LeRoy to the mix definitely added to schedules but we are crazy about him! I had wanted a dog for so long so I knew I would love him, but I’m not sure what I love more, LeRoy or the way Tyler loves LeRoy. Tyler hates to hear him cry in his kennel so I’m already the bad cop while Tyler gets to be the good cop pulling him out of the kennel every time he cries. They are too cute together, Tyler teases me and says LeRoy loves him more. Which at first bothered me, but I know he doesn’t love Tyler more. He loves that Tyler lets him get away with being naughty!

Safe in his arms....

I have an announcement! I received my letter and email stating "Mississippi State University is pleased to offer you full admission for the summer 2010 semester to the master's degree program in English." I was so excited I didn't know what to do...well first I ran into the man cave (which will now have to just be an office, because I'm going to need a place to do school work!) and grabbed Tyler. I didn't say a word just grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room. I pointed at the computer...he gave me a huge hug and said he knew I could do it!

I have been accused of thinking too much at times, and more then once it has ruined or almost ruined a big moment. The best of example would have to be when I almost ruined Tyler's proposal. Anyway, as soon as Tyler headed into his office, the thinking started. First it was the idea of starting classes. I'm going to be so far behind all these students, most of which will have thier undergraduate degree in English. Then my mind went to money. My courses this summer will have to be paid for by me and unlike Tyler I will not be getting a paycheck for my work. Hopefully, this fall I will be able to get a Teaching Assistantship, but that isn't a sure thing.

Once the thinking starts the doubting starts. Will I be able to keep up? Am I smart enough? Will I be able to pass my spanish class? How will we pay for this? Will I be able to handle school and working at the leasing office? Will Sherie fire me when I tell her that I'm going to start school this summer? Will I even be a good teacher?

Then this song came to mind

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart.
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone
Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me
These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

If God gave me this purpose and he is making it possible for me to follow this purpose, why would he leave me? I'm not sure about this path, but I am sure that he placed me here and I'm sure he will be there through the trials that are sure to follow.

It's puppy love

He is naughty. Super naughty, we can't turn our backs on him for a second but we are crazy about him. He is constantly getting into something, chewing on something or going to the bathroom. He decided that our table and chairs are his chew things, he decided every cell phone he can get ahold of is his chew toy and he decided I am his chew toy. Saturday and Sunday he was constantly chewing on me, and it hurt! So I would try to make him be submissive (Tyler did this once and Leroy stopped trying to chew on him). But of course when I did it he thought it was fun! He would be submissive, get up and try to bite me as if he was thinking "That was fun lets do it again!!" Bur he is so darn cute I can't even stay mad at him.

He slept the entire way home, when we pulled in I turned around and he was looking at me like, "Are we there yet?!

He loved his bed right away...

How can you not love that face?!

He has a hard time acutally sleeping on his bed...he always seems to slide off.

He does know how to sit. He sits before he gets food, treats or gets to go outside...he will sit as long as we want if we have food in our hands.

He really will be a good boy someday...its getting through the first few days. He doesn't cry long at night when he is in his kennel and has not gone to the bathroom in his kennel once. Yesterday we hit a milestone, he did not have any accidents on the floor and so far today there haven't been any messes!!

It is official!

Leroy is officially ours! We will go to Jackson this Saturday to pick him up! Tyler might be even more excited then I am, he is constantly looking up kennels and toys for our new family member. I'm a little worried about bringing him home because he some how managed to get mange while in his foster home and now has a secondary infection from scratching. Which means he is missing hair, Tyler said he is going to look ugly...hopefully it isn't too bad.

We aren't entirely sold on the name Leroy, so we decided that we aren't going to officially name him until we meet him on Saturday. I'm going to spend all day tomorrow and Friday cleaning and "puppy proofing" our apartment. Someone, I'm really not sure who, decided the living room would be an excellant place to store decoys. At least once Leroy arrives Tyler will have to keep all of this things off the floor unless they are Leroy's new chew toys.

Today is my Friday, I do not work tomorrow or Friday. And while I had a good week at work I am so happy to have the next few days off. I'm slowly but surely gaining confidence. Today I experienced a new first, I asked a couple "Why are ya'll moving?" Yup...I said my first "ya'll." I couldn't believe it, I guess living down here is having an unwanted impact on my speech.

Our chicken potpie dish turned out great, I think next time we will use more chicken and get two packages of biscut mix. I was happy that it was cooked properly and wasn't burnt! When we first got married I had a horrible habit of of slightly burning things or slightly undercooking things...hopefully it was just a phase.

I will update on Sunday with photos of the newest member of the Stubbs' family! Hopefully he isn't too homely.

A quick update!

Well it has been a week without an update! I guess I forgot how much time working takes! Okay, Okay I didn’t really work that much, I think I ended up with 26 hours this week. But still, working for a week after having six months off definitely wore me out!


My week has been full of ups and downs. My mind decided it was not going to work while I was trying to work which meant I was making really silly mistakes. Oh well I made it through the week and get to start a new one on Monday.

We had a very busy week. It started on Sunday night, at “Young Married Group.” We meet up with other young married couples for some food and fellowship. We will be meeting with frequently during April because on March 28th we are starting the “Love Dare.” I know this goes back to my pride issue, but originally I was not going to sign us up. I had this idea that the Love Dare was for couples who were struggling with their marriage. In the end I signed us up because it won’t hurt us, and hopefully bring us closer to God and each other.

Monday and Tuesday were both a blur because of work and Tyler working extra at the office. Wednesday night I had bible study. Thursday night was girls’ night and Tyler and I’s date night. Friday night we went to happy hour/supper at La Terzza (I’m sure I spelled that wrong) for Thad (On of Tyler’s fellow graduate students and one of my favorites). He finished school last December but was still working for the University; however he is now on to bigger and better things in Nebraska. After supper I went with Tyler to clean fish. No, I did not help what so ever, actually I sat 15 feet away and tried not to watch.

Now I’m waiting for Tyler to get home from setting a trout line. Hopefully, he will be home soon! I’m going to try to make a chicken pot pie…I’ll update on how it tastes! It might be an adventure!

P.S. We still have not heard from the pound...so still no Reggie/Aldo/Leroy/Petey

God is good...all the time...

Wow this has been an intense couple of weeks. I took the GRE to get into graduate school. It didn’t go as well as I hoped but I just kept singing,

“Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name”

Through the years I’ve realized songs move me. I can take almost any song and say “They wrote that about me!!” While it sounds silly, music has helped me through the most difficult seasons of my life.

Anyway…along with the GRE this past week I officially applied to the Mississippi State University English masters program. I really thought that pushing send on the application would give me a sense of satisfaction. It didn’t, it just makes me nervous…I’m trying to remember that I have a purpose. It might not be public relations, it might not be teaching English but there is a plan for my life.

I have also been attempting to learn Spanish. At Mississippi State to be in the English program you need to know be proficient at another language. I choose Spanish because I had an AMAZING Spanish teacher in high school, which hopefully will translate into me remembering what I had learned.

We are attempting to adopt a puppy. For those of you know really know me, you know I really want a dog! I had the most amazing dog named Skip while I was growing up. He made me a dog lover for life. When he died on Christmas three years ago I was devastated it took me nearly two years to want another dog.

Back to the point of this little story, we want to adopt Reggie, a golden retriever/hound or beagle mix who was abandoned along the highway in Jackson, Mississippi. Unfortunately, adopting a dog is turning out to be harder than I thought. There was a long application that asked us questions like, “If the dog was destructive what would you do?” and “If the relationship above (Tyler and I’s relationship) were to change who would take the dog?” I wanted to answer, “Well, since we have only been married six months we aren’t planning who gets what in our divorce.”

Reggie, Aldo, Leroy, Petey?

Now we are waiting, it has been nearly a week and half and we have not heard a thing from the shelter. At first I was the one who really really wanted a dog, but now Tyler is the one who keeps asking “Have you heard from the pound?” He wants to name him, Leroy…or Aldo (after the father of fisheries?!) I’m not sure about either name, but feel free to give us suggestions!

Along with all of this activity I am still going to bible study, making new friends and even starting a kinda job! God is truly good, even during our struggles. Today Tyler asked me to go talk to Sherie, the property manager, about our lease for the next year. (Can you believe we signed our lease for his apartment a year ago?!) She asked me if I would like to help out in the office, she is having some health issues during the busiest time a year and would like me to help out when needed! I said it’s a kinda job because I will not be getting a pay check, instead she is going to pay me via our rent! I told my mom that this was better anyway because I couldn’t spend my money where it didn’t need to be spent!

When I walked out the office the sun, that had been hiding, beamed on my face…and I just thought God is good, and I couldn’t help but respond to myself, all the time…

Into the Wilderness...

As you know, or might know, I have been “Breaking Free” through a bible study by Beth Moore. So far it has been an amazing experience. I do homework each day and every Wednesday I get together with a group of women from the church to watch a message from Beth Moore and talk about the homework for the week.

Each day has its own challenges, it is not always easy to hear that you have strongholds in your life. I know personally, I like to think I’m in control and that I have all the power to change my circumstances. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power because if I was in control I would have a job by now. The bible study has brought me peace in ways I never believed possible.

The bible study started with a foundation, then we looked at generational bondage, last week we looked at ways our hearts are broken (childhood abuse, betrayal, and loss) this week we are looking at how God gives us beauty for the ashes. We are looking four dreams every little girl has, to be a bride, to be beautiful, to be fruitful and to live happily ever after. While we were looking at the dream of being a bride, Beth Moore brought us to a bible verse I thought was interesting:

Jeremiah 2:2

Go and cry in the city in the hearing of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth. The love of your betrothal, when you went after me in the wilderness, in the land not sown. “

This caught my attention for two reasons 1) I followed my love into the wilderness of Mississippi 2) I have followed God into a wilderness I do not yet understand. I want to say I’m in a wilderness of rejection and a complete loss of self-esteem, because that is where I feel I have been for the last six months. Even as I write that I know there is more to this journey. Maybe I should actually title my current wilderness “God allowing me to struggle with the issues I’ve face all my life.” I know that God would not have brought me to Mississippi without a reason, even if it is just to help Tyler through his program. I know that there will be an end to my current wilderness and I’ll follow God into my new adventure.

Our "first" Valentine's Day

I know that this year is going to be full of “firsts,” our first Thanksgiving married, first Christmas married, first Easter married. As much as I try I can’t really get excited about our “firsts” because they aren’t our first. At the end of February Tyler and I will celebrate our first date, four years ago. That means we have had four Christmas’ and I guess we have only had three Valentine ’s Day celebrations but still this was our fourth Valentine’s Day celebration.

Our Valentines weekend started the way I like all weekends to start, sleeping in! I’m not sure what time we got up but I felt well rested! I started to study for the GRE and Tyler started looking out the window for the mail man. He was just sure his Christmas present from his “little sister” Brittany would be in the mail. He was right, and as soon as he opened the package I decided what my Valentine ’s Day gift to him would be. I decided to subject myself to his favorite movie of 2009, The Hangover. I told him I would never watch it…but because I don’t have any money that it would be a cheap gift.

So we spent the afternoon watching his movie…and I tried to appear entertained and not look bored. After the movie he went into the office to get his assignment he’d forgotten. I figured he would stop and get me flowers while he was out, but he came in empty handed. After taking off his shoes and putting away his keys he asked, “Who left that pile of stuff out there.” I honestly figured he meant the trash; our neighbors have a terrible habit of leaving trash in the hallway. But when he smiled I knew it was for me, beautiful flowers that I need to attempt to keep alive. Hopefully, they will last longer than the flowers he gave me last Valentine’s Day!

Tyler wanted to go out for supper, but since we are poor and he had a ton of homework I decided to ask if we could have my favorite meal, pizza! So our Valentines supper was eating pizza in the living room on the floor by candlelight. I know that this probably isn’t the general population’s idea of romantic but I thought it was really sweet. After supper Tyler went back to work on his project, while I studied for the GRE and watched the Olympics (which I love!). About midnight we decided it was time for dessert and ate some cheesecake. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day and our first/fourth Valentine’s Day!

Update on list

Good news! Tyler must have read my blog because last night before going to bed he took off his socks! When I asked if it was because of the blog he told me, "No, my feet are just hot!" I'm pretty sure I don't believe him, I guess we will see if he does it again tonight.

Waiting...

So previously I've mentioned that I was telling God to hurry up! I wanted a job and I wanted it now! And the song, "Waiting" by John Weller has brought me so peace so I thought I would share! I first heard this song on a former teachers blog, she was waiting to find out if their adoption would be possible. It moved me that she was still believing the adoption would happen after waiting for such a long time, if she could wait for a baby I could wait to find a job!

I really love the line, "I will move ahead bold and confident...while I wait." Waiting doesn't mean that I need to just sit and wait for God to move in my life, but that I can take the steps to bring that change while I wait.

There are just so many lines I love in this song! I felt like it was written for me! haha Maybe someone reading  the blog will allow God to renew their peace through the song, like he has done  for me countless times. It seems like whenever I need this song the most it comes on the radio or on my phone and I always feel better after hearing it!

We have been married for six months

In honor of Tyler and I's six month anniversary I decided to list the six things I have learned about Tyler I did not know about him before living together!

1) Tyler will drink striaght out of the milk carton if I don't catch him.

2) Tyler seems to think every room in our home is his bedroom. Which means when I start the laundry I have to grab his dirty clothes out of the living room, his "man room", the bathrooms and our bedroom.

3) He needs to play video games. At first I thought this was just silly but every once in awhile I can see that he is really stressed and playing Madden for 20 minutes seems to make it better. I guess the play station might actually be useful...sometimes...

4) He prides himself on  being unorganized but I recently found notecards with a to-do list on his desk. Which means he is secretly organized!

5) He is amazingly sweet and patient with me when I'm most frustrated. We have had some intense moments, some of which were probably just my emotions, and he just tells me he loves me. Which competely defuses the situation and I feel silly for being so upset.

6) He wears his socks to bed, which would be okay if he woke up with socks on his feet. Instead the socks end up staying the bed, so when I change our sheets I find twenty pairs of socks in the sheets!

Well I guess that isn't much of a list, but our first six months have been great. Missing home and learning to take care of each other has been a great experience. We have had some amazing moments and terrible moments but I guess that makes a marriage.

A Story...

I want to make this really fast, as soon as Tyler gets home we are heading over to Val's house for a Super Bowl party. (Go Colts!)

Today at church there was a guest speaker, Mr. Jim Newsom, who has an amazing testimony that he chose not to share today because I guess the rest of the church has heard it numerous times. Instead he spoke about our own individual testimonies. Our stories, the things God has done in our lives and can do in others lives. He spoke about the impact a story has, "you can literally watch their faith rise when they think, "If Jim can free himself from his addiction surely I can."

This really made me think, what's my story? How can I impact others lives? I've decided to find my story, my testimony. I mean I know the basics, I know that when I was six I was supposed to be cleaning my room and instead decided to listen to the doughnut man. So rather then cleaning I gave my heart to Jesus for the first time. I know that numerous times throughout my short life I have fallen short of his glory and rededicated myself and my life.

I want to know, notice and enjoy God's impact on my life. He encouraged the congregation to allow God to work and stay faithful even when we want to ask God to hurry up! That word went right to my heart, I've been praying for God to hurry up and my heart was getting tired. I was tired of waiting and getting rejected. When I was getting the most frustrated, he brought me the bible study. He brought me immediate relief from my student loans. When I felt the most desperate he told me to hold on...just hold on for one more day. The next day my prayer was answered. I still don't have a job, but my faith has been renewed.

God uses impossible means to end impossible situations. I will probably blog more about this later...it was a great sermon!

We are getting ready to leave! GO COLTS!!

Breaking Free!

I was doing so well! Then I went back to my old ways. I think the reason I don't blog often is because I feel like I have to have something to blog about and that it needs to be about the south. After all I named the blog "Adventures in Mississippi," but after discussing blogging with my new friend, Emily, I decided the blog doesn't have to be just about living in the south...instead I want it to be a online journal for Tyler and I as we enjoy, learn and grow together. I'm going to try to be more opionionated, open and defiantly less reserved. So, I hope that I don't offend or upset anyone or make anyone want to puke because Tyler is amazing, just to warn you he does get mushy...and I think instead of hiding the fact that my husband is sweet I'm going to blog about it so I can remind myself that he is a sweetheart when he is driving me CRAZY!! P.S. Tiffany I'm sooooooo sick of picking up his socks! :)

So that is it, I'm starting a new blog right now and a new me!

You might ask what is inspiring this new Tia? Well, for starters I have a plan, yes a plan. (Tyler used to make fun of me for planning to plan and since I've been in Mississippi I have not had a plan!) I'm currently studying for the GRE and studying Spanish to get into the English Masters program at MSU, more about this later.

The biggest reason for my change is I'm breaking free!! In Jesus name, I'm breaking free! Tyler and I found a church in early November, and immediately a young couple Jack and Emily (my previously mentioned new friend), reached out and made us feel comfortable. After a wonderful time at home, my parents always put things in perspective and bring me back down to earth, I was ready for a change when we returned to Mississippi. So when I saw that there was a new bible study at church I knew that this was it, my change. Being me I didn't want to step out alone, so I reached out to Emily. She helped me get into the bible study and even lets me ride with her! Her friendship has been such a blessing to me, and we are quickly finding out that we are very similar, including both having a blog!

The name of the bible study is Breaking Free, and it is changing my life. I can say that with no reservations because I'm changing. It's not something that is over night and I'm learning to "get through the moments to get to my milestones." When I started the bible study, I will be honest I did it to hopefully make a small change, make some new friends and to be blunt I wanted to have something to do. When I saw the title of the bible study I did not think that it would really impact me. What would I break free from? (How about breaking free from pride?!) But I honestly thought, well I don't do drugs, drink excessively or swear that often.

Well, I guess God had another plan because during the first week I realized I'm a woman with heavy bondage...heavy, heavy bondage. In the bible study we describe bondage as anything that prevents us from living the abundant and Spirit-filled life God has planned for us. When I read that I realized my pride (What am I going to break free from?) stopped me from realizing that I had some serious bondage. Some things, like wandering around lost for the last six months, are things that are preventing me from living an abundant life. Some of my bondage has deep roots, back to junior high and will be hard to change.

We are on our fourth week and it is getting intense. I do homework every day and every day I end up crying and thanking God for his grace, the bible study and bringing me to this place in my life.

Well, for not blogging for a few weeks I have certainly come back full force! Until next time,
Love Always.

Weddings, Weddings everywhere!

I must be that age; all my friends are getting married! Both of my friends down here, Katie and Val, are getting married soon. Val's wedding is actually July 2, 2010 so we are having a lot of fun talking about her plans.


Last weekend we took an adventure to Tupelo, birthplace of Elvis, to attend a bridal show. Unfortunately our friend Katie had to work over the weekend, so only Val, her sister Sam and I made the hour long trip to "the big city."

I noticed while walking around the various vendors that weddings are taken very seriously in the south. Most the prices were higher then I paid in Iowa and nearly everything, flowers, pictures, decorations were larger and bigger then I've seen at any wedding in Iowa.

Val's wedding is actually in Bismarck, ND so in all actuality she was not going to need any services from Tupelo, MS. We just had fun getting ideas for Val's wedding and of course enjoying all the free samples! :)

It's a snow day in Mississippi!

Yup you read that correctly! Tyler had a snow day last week. There was no snow on the ground at 6pm last Wednesday when he received a text message saying "Maroon Alert: Due to the winter storm warning classes have been canceled for Thursday."


This Winter Storm warning meant we could expect 1-3 inches of snow. I had to laugh. We had just endured the typical Iowa Christmas, snowed in, and now MSU was cancelling classes because there was the threat of an inch of snow.

Needless to say, it didn't snow. Well it did for ten minutes before it turned back into sleet. Tyler enjoyed being able to sleep in, considering he was supposed to have an 8:00am class.

Although, I was mildly concerned that it was snowing in Mississippi because I had been promised it never snows! My dad said that it snowed in Mississippi because I was there...some sort of Ice Queen joke I guess. I didn't even care because they were snowed in...and I wasn't :)

Christmas Time!

Okay, Christmas is over, but I thought I would just update everyone on Tyler and I's first Christmas together :)

We were able to go home for two full weeks which seems like a long time, but really isn't! There were tons of people we weren't able to see while we were home! But hopefully next time we are home we will get to catch up with those were weren't able to see!

Within the first 72 hours Tyler and I had been to a Christmas concert, a wrestling meet, a high school basketball game, a sixth grade basketball game and a bowling tournament! It was crazyiness but it made me so happy to be able to see Shelb, Josh, Bear and JR participate in their activities!

If you want to have fun you should definitely watch 4 year olds bowling! JR was absolutely adorable granny bowling and scored above his average (26) every game we watched him bowl.

We managed to make it to five out of seven Christmas celebrations and were able to celebrate at a different time with the families we missed. I was pretty proud of us!

Now we are back in Starkville, I am still looking for a position and have a second interview coming up in the next few weeks! Tyler has started classes and is going to have a crazy busy semester! Good thing he has me to keep him organized! :)

Marooooooon White! Fight Fight Fight!

Update Time! We experienced our first "southern" holiday. For the most part it wasn't to different from home. On Tuesday of the holiday week a new friend Katie planned a Thanksgiving for the College of Forestry graduate students. It was nice to meet some of the wildlife and forestry students that we generally don't interact with on a daily basis. The food was AMAZING! We tried lots of new food, I'm not sure if it was all "southern food" but it was all good.


Thursday night we decided to get together with our "Mississippi Family." We watched football and ate some chili and appetizers, basically just relaxed and kept our minds off home. It was really nice to be with friends that are missing home just as much as us.

The highlight of the weekend for me...was the Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss football game. We went to the game with no expectation of winning and were very disappointed when some fraternity boys sat behind us. (Down south nearly all the rich college boys are in a fraternity. You can always point out fratastic (as Tyler affectionately calls them) they always have a thick comb over and normally a pink polo. At football games they wear dress pants and button down shirts and are super obnoxious!

A few minutes into the game we realized the only thing worse then MSU fratastics is Ole Miss fratastics! It was so frustrating to hear the cocky boys talking non-stop. About half time MSU started catching up and the best part of scoring was having those Ole Miss boys shut up for 30 seconds!

We ended up winning which left us super excited for next season!