Wednesday, December 30, 2009

New Year...New Things

Christmas was really peaceful and relaxing this year in the Cross household. We hosted Christmas this year. It was so nice to have people over, eat, laugh and play a bunch of games. My husband and I didn't really exchange gifts this year to save money. However I did get some pretty snazy buffet lamps from him, because someone had given him grief for not getting me anything.Ha ha! I didn't mind the gift at all, but was totally content on not recieving anything. I felt kind of bad all I got him were a few books. I love my lamps though, he is so sweet to me!

2009 is swiftly approaching an end. We are merely hours away from 2010! I can't believe it's already 2010! That whole saying time flies the older you get, yikes! Well, it's true! This year has completely passed me by! I look back and see the things that happened that were great and I also see things that I want to improve, things I want to reach higher for and things to let go of.

I was thinking what happened this past year? There was good like Joey and I buying our very first house as husband and wife! We love our little house and know that it will hold many memories for us, just like it already has! Then there were the many blessings like Joey's job, creating new friends, becoming more of the woman God has called me to be. (This is a never ending process by the way-still becoming.)

There were some scary moments too. Like when my mom had to have a biopsy done on one of her breasts. This scared the patooey out of me. The thought of both of my parents not being here, was awful. God gave me piece during that time, like he always does, and it came back benign. Thank you Jesus.

For this year I have many hopes! I don't want to accomplish anything great per say. I just want to become more of a "fuller me". I don't know if that makes sense. I want to know God more. I want to pray more. I want to love my husband better. I want to see God all around me, not just in church. I want to experience Him fully. I don't want to miss out on anything He is doing. I want to hear Him more. Feel Him more. I want to know that exactly what I am doing is exactly where and what He wants me to be doing! I want to be completely and utterly filled with Him and nothing more! I have this desire that is screaming out at me! Life is so much more than resolutions and goals! I feel like God wants me to live life "Simply." We don't need to accomplish anything great. He wants to take our everyday lives, use them to Glorify Him, and in return we are made complete. Full of joy, contentment...happiness. I want more of this. I desire with all of me, this.

This past year I also turned 25. In less than a month I will be 26! Twenty five was really hard for me! Just that realization that I'm not the "young" one anymore. I know some can relate! My husband and I have been married for almost 4 years. Children have been on my mind and my husbands mind lately. No I'm not pregnant. The thought about knocks me off my feet, quite frankly! I want to have kids one day. I know that I am not getting any younger! Ha! Seriously though. Of course I ooh and goo over sweet little babies and want to kiss their little wittle cheeks! But, having a kid is huuuggee! It's not something I just go "ok, lets go honey!" I am completely aware of all that it entails! It frieghtens me to no end, to know that I would be responsible for a little person, and no I can't give it back to it's mother! Oh, me! Oh my! I have talked to many people about my fears, mainly my husband. Maybe it's fears, maybe it's selfishness. I am still trying to work through all of these feelings. I know God wants to bring us out of our comfort zones, this would be way out! So we will see! Maybe this time next year I will look back on this post and laugh about how naive I was. I know that god will give me peace about all of it, when it's time. Until then I wait patiently...hoping that I get that dose of peace soon! =)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Whole Bunch of Random!

I have a whole bunch of random things to blog about today! These past few weeks things have been really slow in the Substitute teacher world, so needless to say I have had a lot of free time. With that, I have been able to do a lot of THRIFTING!! I adore with all of me going to antique shops, resale shops and garage sales! I am not a fan of paying full price for anything and you can get some really awesome stuff for cheap! Like this....


I found this set of canisters that are actually Williams Sonoma, for 6 bucks!! Not bad eh? I have found a couple of other little things here and there, perfect little candy dishes, some stocking holders and such. I have also had a chance to do some crafty/decor things around the house. I got the idea from another blogger, to get an old silver platter and paint the inside of it with chalk board paint to display festive sayings or to keep notes on. Silver can be pretty exspensive and I happen to be in a dollar store and came across one that looks and feels just like one!



I was pretty pleased with the way that it turned out. I placed it in our kitchen's window seal. I love chalk board paint, you can use that stuff anywhere and on anything! Thanks to my BFF for letting me you use some of hers, I might have to see what else I can use it on! Love you Christina!


This is some of the Christmas decor that I have in my kitchen. This is the most annoying part of our house! There is the little, actually big corner right behind the kitchen sink. I never know what to put here. It is such an awkward space. Luckily this year I was able to get some apocathery jars that I have been wanting forever at the Nutcracker Festival! I am thinking that once Christmas is over I will put fruit or something in them.



The above picture is of our dining room. I also have been working on our room, it still has more work to be done. The other day I came home with a gallon of Oops paint from Home Depot, and Joey just sighed, like "Oh, great!" Ha ha! He is so good, he lets me have my creative outlet when it comes to our house! Oops paint is paint that someone decides isn't the right color. It's only $5, and if it doesn't turn out like you hoped, it's not that big a deal because you got it so cheap! Here is how the paint turned out in our room:




I love how cozy it makes it feel now. Please excuse the cords hanging under the night table! Eventually new window treatments are definitely needed! I also found another gallon of oops paint and tackled our bathroom cabinets. When we bought our house the bathroom cabinetry had the pickled white wash finish. Yuck! The house was built in the 90's so that was expected! I was just thankful that there wasn't any wall paper anywhere! Here is what I have done with the master bath thus far...



I love the way black cabinets look! I also made some curtains with cute fabric that I got from Hobby Lobby on discount. A lot of bathrooms have the "hole" in between the sinks for laundry or a vanity chair. Now I can put my laundry basket underneath and you don't have to see how high all of the dirty laundry gets! Score!

We are hosting Christmas this year in our house, so of course I am running around seeing what else I can change before we have family over! Thank goodness I have such an awesome husband who lets me! I think that I am doing good, after all I find him such great deals on it all!



Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Biggest Loser Finale

I have watched Biggest Loser since they came out with the show forever ago. I think they said something like 8 years! Wow, it doesn't seem that long! Anywho, last night was the finale, which I ALWAYS get super excited about! All of the contestants looked awesome and it goes to show that hard work pays off!

Last night Danny C. won! I so wanted him to. The new healthy Danny looks just like my dad did in his younger years...eerily alike! That probably had something to do with why I wanted him to win! As they weighed him and the confetti fell over him, I was screaming, balling and hitting Joey (I tend to hit whoever or whatever is around me when I get excited! He he) I was just so excited!! I am so happy for him and he looked great!!




On a completely other note. I am excited for the weekend! I get to help lead in worship with some other really great women at Unified. This is just one of the many great women's ministries that we have at our church. I am so honored to be a part of it! I am also so thankful for the Godly women in my life and most of them are a part of my church family which is awesome!