Best Day with My Best Friend

Today was so much fun! It snowed a lot here! We got almost two inches!!! I had to go in to work, but we got off at 11:30 because of the snow! Here's a pic from one of the windows at my office:



I had to drive home in the snow, which was coming down pretty heavily at that point.



Here are a few pics we took from our bedroom window and stairway balcony:




After we ate lunch, we went out and played in the snow! It was absolutely wonderful! We built a snowman:




We also had a snowball fight...so much fun! I felt like a kid again! And we made snow angels:






That's me in the green jacket! I had on two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, two t-shirts, a sweater, the green puffer jacket, gloves, and a toboggan! I've been sick, so I got extra bundled up!

I had so much fun just playing in the snow with Alan! He is my absolute best friend in this world! I know a lot of people say that about their spouse, but I really mean it! After playing in the snow, we sat on the couch and he fell asleep leaning against me, so we went to bed and took a nap. After we woke up, we decided to go on our Valentine's date tonight and we went to Cheesecake Factory. It was expensive, but SO delicious! Luckily, we both have half our cheesecake left and I also have half my dinner left! When we got there, they told us it would be a 40-minute wait, so we walked around outside, but NONE of the other stores were open, so we sat in the car and talked! It was so wonderful to know that we could just sit in the car for half an hour and just talk. I love that man so much! When we finally got seated, we were in a booth (our favorite--we like to sit next to each other). Dinner was great and very romantic, even though neither of us was dressed up...we were just ourselves. The best part is that, after our date, we got to go home together and I get to spend every day with him! I can't wait for the marriage retreat either! We have worked so hard to pay off all our debt so that we don't feel guilty about going on this trip and, aside from student loans, we will have our debt paid off as of Tuesday!!!

I am so blessed that my best friend is also my husband! I love him so much and can't imagine any day without him! He holds the key to my heart! I love you baby! <3

Changes

It's weird when you start taking a look back at things and changes. I can't believe how different our lives are now compared to a year ago. We were doing okay financially, Alan had a job, I had recently graduated. There was a tiny possibility that he might start law school in the fall of 2009.

For anyone who doesn't know, this was also the time that Alan got ExTrEmElY sick! He had pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, AND sinusitis. Needless to say, he didn't feel very well. My dad died from pneumonia, so that's something that I didn't take lightly. Speaking of my dad, I really miss him a lot. He died on January 28, 1998. I was only 12. I went to see his grave this past weekend when I was back home. I can't believe I've almost spent more of my life without him than I have with him. I miss him so badly and sometimes I feel like there is no one else who could ever understand what I feel. I guess I've been thinking a lot about him lately since the anniversary date of his death was recently. Maybe I'll write a blog about this another day. I don't think I can handle it right now.

Well, a lot has happened since Alan got the quadruple illnesses. He got "let go" from Jacksonville, for reasons that I don't agree with, but then again, a lot happened/is still happening there that I don't agree with...but that's another blog too. Well, we had a little in savings because I had been doing housework for someone, but May and June were especially difficult for us. We relied heavily on the credit card because neither of our families were in situations to help us greatly. Alan got the job selling cars and we found a place that gave us the first month rent free, so we made the move. After we moved, we found out Alan's vehicle needed a brake job...a $1400-1500 brake job. Luckily (Thankfully!), he had the job at the dealership and got a great employee discount! At the beginning of August, Alan was offered the job working security (i.e. steady paycheck!) and I got the job at the fabric store. Things were going really well. Even though we weren't making enough to pay our bills, somehow we managed (did I mention that the credit card was maxed at this point?) In October, my brakes went out and had to be fixed...not as expensive as Alan's, but still, money that we didn't have. On October 6, while we were getting ready for work, I checked extension's website and saw the job that I currently have, posted! I squealed and applied! December and January have been pretty difficult because not only have I not been getting the bi-weekly paychecks from the fabric store, but I didn't get paid from extension until the day before Christmas eve. That check was just enough to catch us up. I finally got paid this Monday and I also received my travel reimbursement for December. We filed our taxes earlier this week and, between my salary and our refund, we will be paying off our credit card in full later this month/early next month!

I'm writing this to let anyone who is struggling financially know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! It feels so wonderful to know that we might finally catch up! We still don't have anything in savings, but at least our debt will be paid off and we can start focusing on saving!

I am so thankful to God, because His providence lead us to where we are! If Alan hadn't accepted the job with the car dealership, he wouldn't have been offered the security job and I wouldn't have been offered the job with extension. We are so blessed to have been lead by His merciful hand through this challenging year.

As a celebration for Valentine's Day (and this newfound freedom from debt), we are going on the marriage retreat to the Smokies in two weeks. This is something we have been to every year that we've been married. I couldn't imagine missing it for anything, but it is something that we didn't think would happen this year...we just weren't going to be able to go, but we have been so blessed! AND, we get to see some of our very good friends there who we haven't seen in TOO long!

Anyone reading this can tell that we have been through a lot this year. I am so thankful that I had Alan by my side through it all. He has been so supportive and encouraging. I love him so much and can't believe I get to grow old with him!

My God is Strong!

Prayer is powerful. This is a quote I have heard preachers, teachers, and leaders at lectures and seminars say so many times. While it is said with the best of intentions, I believe this to be so incorrect. Prayer is not powerful. I will expound upon why I have come to this realization.

Is prayer to Mary powerful? No. She is still in a tomb. Is prayer to Allah powerful? No. Allah is a fictional god. Is prayer to anyone/anything powerful? NO!

The power is not in the prayer. The power lies in whom the prayer is DIRECTED to! God in Heaven is all-knowing and all-powerful. If we pray to Him, He has the power to grant us anything we ask of Him! This is not to say that He will give us anything we ask, just that He has the power to.

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately and this realization has helped me to understand that the power does not lie in my prayers, but in the Almighty God whom I pray to. I am so thankful to have One to whom I can cast all my cares and burdens upon and know that He cares for me!