Strive...to be content

This thought has been resonating in me for a very long time. I have so much. As for the global economy and rest of the world I am rich! I have clean drinking water, pizza delivery, ice cream (that I can eat without the fear of bugs), a great little apartment and the list could literally go on, and on, and on. I am truly blessed. However, I find myself discontent frequently.

Alex just got a new car and phone and sometimes I get a little envious. However, I just got a new car, but his is new new with the new car smell and I have only had my phone for 6 months, but his is newer...the box is still out. Every time I open a magazine I see a dress that I must have, but yet I have dresses in my closet that still have tags.

I don't have a cute story or anecdote about my contentment, I just know that I need to be happy with what I have, when I have it. God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve and for me to not be grateful and thankful for what I have is very sad and almost embarrassing. The strive moment of the week...and forever is to be content with what God has blessed me with.


Hebrews 13:6 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Strive...to travel

I love to travel. I love to get in the car (train, plane, boat) and go...although getting in the car to go to class has lost it's appeal... I love to see new places, meet new people and learn about other cultures and societies. Growing up, it was important to my parents that I saw a foreign land and was "cultured." Many thanks go out the Girl Scouts of USA for allowing me many opportunities. I was fortunate to go backpacking in the Washington Cascades, rock climbing in Costa Rica and build some habitat houses in central Mexico. I loved every second and wish I could go back and do it again and again...

On the other hand, Alex has traveled very very little. Our honeymoon was his first experience on an air plane and out of the country. He has only been to a hand full of states and never further west of Missouri and east of Indiana. 

This leads me to our Strive moment of the week: We are striving to travel more. Before we were married, living in our "money is no object" bubble, we made a list of all the countries, cities and states we wanted to visit and experience. Our list is as follows:

1. Paris, France

2. Italy

3.South Africa

4. Carlsbad, California and So Cal

5. New Orleans

6. New York City

7. everywhere else.....

There is a lot of World and only two of us, but our hope is to see as much as possible and live life as adventurously as possible. Hopefully we can get ta goin'! But for now, Mt. Zion is our soonest destination...for my Birthday and the "BIG Move!" 

Psalm 121:8 - The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Hanging out on the "back porch" aka cliff in Costa Rick

Honeymoon adventure. We went zip lining! 

Happy Honeymoon!

Alex's Graduation Get Together

Alex graduated from SIU-Edwardsville with his Bachelor's of Science in Accounting, the day after we got home from our honeymoon, so he did not get to walk across the stage or have an official graduation partay! So, being the best wife he has ever had (and the only wife...) I thought we should have a celebration!! 

We called up the family and they headed over to Pinckneyville for some good ole' fashion fun and food!

Guest of Honor playing some washers

Greg 

The Spread! We had Italian Beef, Green Beans, Chips and Dip and veggies! All of which were quite fantastic, if I do say so myself.

Cupcakes from The Cup (formerly known as the Cupcakery) From Paul and Jenny

Even though he was the Guest of Honor, she was the star of the show!
Oh, and I made Ice Cream! It was great :)

Strive...to be creative

Last year, I discovered Hobby Lobby. I know it has been there forever, because Grandma would take us when we were little to get things for her crafts. So, I re-discovered it. I made several failed attempts at crafting. Hair bows and fabric flowers are not my calling. I did make a nice little wreath, but I didn't necessarily break new ground...

It's just yarn wrapped around a wreath mold with a ribbon and hair bow flower....earth scattering-ly creative right?

Dr. Seuss told me(...and thousands of other small children), "Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!" 

Well I'm thinking everywhere I can think to think and my thinking just leads me to Pinterest. I want so badly to be creative. I want to come up with an original craft, thought, theory or invention. Anything that I can claim as my creativity. If you have never ventured onto pinterest.com  you definitely need to, it is my inspiration for...

These are just blank canvases that I circle punched scrapbook paper (some glittery and some matte) and then just glued the random dots on.

And my Mom was my inspiration for....

Paint chip bunting- I am absolutely in love with bunting right now. So, she sent me an article that used big paint chips to make some quick, cheap (free) and easy bunting!. 

So my Strive moment for this week (and beyond) is to be more creative. I am going to strive to come up with my own craft or idea for a craft and attempt to execute it! Wish me luck! 

Exodus 35:31-33 -  He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.