I'm learning....

Something pretty amazing that I haven't done a post on yet is the Couples Group we joined in January.  We meet once a week and have had a few "events".  We are doing a study on Proverbs and let me tell you.... each week we feel like we are learning some awesome life lessons to better us as a couple and as individuals. 

I basically feel as if each week the lesson goes perfectly with what I need at the moment.  I want to be the best wife and friend I can be and that takes a lot of self reflection and willingness to grow.  Thank goodness the girls in my group are so honest and insightful.  I have connected with each of them and found we are all "in the same boat".  Most of us have furbabies (that we are a little obsessed with), none of us have little babies (yet!), we all love to "pin", book talk happens often, maybe some reality t.v. talk goes on as well, we are all crazy about our hubby's, most of us have shed a few tears (uh um...maybe I have let several hundred loose), we all have struggles, we all have strengths, and we all love our Lord.  And that my friends, is the recipe for The Perfect Group of lovely ladies.  Here's the gals at the Super Bowl Shin-dig. (We are missing 2 girls in this picture...  note to self: take a picture next week: with ALL of us!)

Our loves.

I wanted to document the Proverbs we have covered so far and write what life lessons I have tried to use each day.  I am not exactly successful but these are the goals.  
Week 1: Wisdom 
How can I know God's will for my life?  I found these words that sum up what I read- Listen, pray, apply, guard, understand, search, look, and ask.
Week 2: God and Man
Fear and Trust can come from the same place.  Compassion and forgiveness is something I need to consciously remind myself to work on.  What better example than Jesus. 
Week 3: The Family
My favorite words from Proverbs 31:10-31 Traits of a noble wife:  not spiteful, frugal, eager to get the day started, keeps everything running smooth, and gentle.  There are plenty other amazing words...but these are the ones I am working on right this very moment.   I also liked the verses that said not to over indulge your children, stay firm in consequences, and correct them when they are young.  Lots of info here people!!!!
Week 4: Sexual Purity
Watch our actions to other people's relationships have distinct boundaries set up so no fuzzy lines can break down our fortress. 
Week 5: Humility vs. Pride
Um....  I had a few "gulps" during this lesson.  The bigger the ego- the greater the fall.  I prayed for security within myself and selflessness in my daily life. 
Week 6: Proper Speech
Kind words feed our soul like sweet honey.  I also have tried to use a soft voice when I'm frustrated.  Be still and listen.  (sounds easy enough, right?!?!)  Maybe I'll type that again...   be still and listen. 
This Week: Emotions
Oh geez...it already sounds intense!!!!

The Mr. and I are far from perfect but I am perfectly in love and so grateful for where our foundation of marriage has come from and where it is going.  I love hearing my hubby's thoughts each week, sharing stories, and talking about how we will tackle issues if/when they ever arise. 

So basically,  I'm learning.  Each week I grow as I sit in church on Sunday, meet with our group on Mondays, and study with my hubby on Thursday.  Although..I just typed all of the things I've learned...and yet the hard part is the application of it all.  Any suggestions on how you "remind" yourself each day what you want to work on.  I started out using sticky notes...well, I need lots of reminders and that many sticky notes can be tacky.  So, then I wrote out a morning prayer...    It's getting pretty long :)  How do you juggle this?

"14 day" finish up and looove recap

Can you say success?!?!  The 14 days of Valentine's was a hit!   I loved showing my honey how special he was every single day for two weeks.  Too be honest,  he might have gotten a little spoiled,  I'm pretty sure I caught him taking a peek in the red box on the 15th day.  Just in case.   Sorry buddy,  your 14 days are o.v.e.r.  :) 
If you missed Day 1-9..travel back a few post and check them out.   

Day 10-
I had our favorite little cheesecakes and strawberries sent to the house.

 Day 11-
The Mr. opened his red box and found a red cookie cutter.  So...heart shaped pancakes were on the menu for breakfast.

 Day 12-
I found the sweetest old fashioned box and filled it with bite-sized twizzlers.

 Day 13-
We got home late and fell asleep fast...so the hubs decided to leave his treat in the box until the next day.  It was his favorite bottle to make a "cheers" with...

Day 14-
We love big fuzzy blankets in our home....   I just counted four on our couch at this very moment.  So,  I got him a super soft red blankie. No more sharing...we each have our own little favorite now!!!
I also stuffed a card in the box as well as a homemade calendar with a mystery vacation/staycation that I have secretly been planning.  No more hints. 

 But I am the lucky one.  I woke up to the sweetest framed poem and a card.  We've been studying Proverbs in our Couples Bible Study and his gift reminded me of our lesson a few weeks ago.

 And in true Mr. form.....he's never missed a holiday party in my classroom.  He showed up with a huge heart of chocolates and this poster.  Oh my,  isn't he the sweetest?!?!  While we're on the subject.... I over heard some little honeys in my class say to each other "This has been my most favorite day of school all year.  I love getting Valentines."  We spent the first several minutes of the party looking at a slide show of baby pictures and guessed which classmate we thought each picture matched.  We giggled so hard.  There are some days that I wake up so excited to get to school and to see their smiling faces.  These kiddos definitely fill the "no kiddos at home" hole in my heart.  They give me so much love and pride....   the Lord knew exactly what He was doing when He led me into teaching. 

 Then I came home and found flowers and a picture of The Mister from high school in one of our frames.  He was such a skinny little guy. 

 This was the real picture he put in the frame.  Such a thoughtful gift.

 Oh, you must know my Love Language.  I went into our bedroom and saw a totally clean armour.  Let me just tell you,  I...under all circumstances.... can't stand....cringe.... detest....  putting my clean laundry on hangers and putting them in the closet.  It is my most dreaded "chore".  So,  I basically just stopped doing it for several weeks.  The piles of folded clean clothes were getting out of hand.  (and it didn't really bother me.)  Why couldn't I just put them on hangers....who knows...  maybe pure laziness or ...yep, just laziness.    My hubs spend his afternoon hanging up and putting away ALL of my clothes.  This my friends....was the greatest gift of all time because it shows that....he GETS ME. 

Over the weekend we went to a V-day get together with our friends.  Someone had the brilliant idea to play The Newlyweds Game.  Oh,  wet your pants kinda funny.      

 I made these small bites of goodness.  Yes, Pinterest. 
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
-Wash and trim the tops
-Scoop out the inside of washed strawberries (we used a teaspoon as our scooping tool)
-Drop a few chocolate chips in the bottom of the strawberry pocket
-2 options   buy cream cheese icing or a slice of real cheesecake
-We put bought a cheesecake and spooned out the good stuff (the middle) and put it in a Ziploc baggie
-Squeeze cheesecake filling into the strawberries. 
-Crumble up graham crackers
-Drip the tops into the graham cracker
-Try to eat only one...not happening!!!!

 I could go on for days saying how thankful I am for my Valentine.  He is truly the greatest man I've ever met.   Making someone feel special each day is something that I think of as a "task"...nope... he makes it part of his day.  It's unreal.  Now, we're human and we have speed bumps we deal with all of the time but I feel like he is always rooting for me and looking for ways to make us stronger.    Another blessing.  Thank you for knowing what's best for me Lord. 

Ahh umm I would like to thank the little people...

for this AWARD!  

Oh wait,  I am one of the little people!
My lovely friend and fellow blogger recently honored me with the Liebster Blog Award, and I want to give her a HUGE thank you.  Check her out at From House to Home ....   she has amazingly creative home decor ideas.  (and she's pretty much a genius at Catch Phrase!)

Here's a flashback of our Valentine's last year!
I sprinkled the floor with Reason's I Love You....

 We had a pizza cook off....

 Mister Creative obviously won....

 We indulged in some tasty sweets...

 We had a delicious lunch with my MIL and SIL... Check out her website: The Mommy Stylist

 I even got a few special treats.....

 I cuddled with my Valentine..........

The 14 days of Valentine's is still going strong over here!!!! I will post Days 10-14 later this week.  Have a wonderful week of LOVE........

I gave my hubby the warm fuzzies!!!

Can I just tell you how much I've enjoyed surprising my hubby with little sussies.  One of my friends is actually making a basket with all of the items instead of doing one gift each day.  I thought that was a pretty cute idea too! 

On the last day of January I put a red box on the counter and waited for The Mr. to come home.  He was curious and took a peek inside....but nothing was there.  I told him that February 1st would be his lucky day...instead of one day of looove...I was going to give him 14 days of Valentine surprises.  Let's just say,  I might of made him pause for a minute.  He told me he didn't know we were celebrating all 14 days and that he was not prepared.   I assured him that this was not a "trick" to get him to buy me things for 14 days and he was NOT allowed or expected to go out and start his gift shopping.  I wanted this to be all about him. 

Okay, now on to the fun!!  Feel free to use these ideas...  I found some on Pinterest, random blogs, and my own little brain!!

The mysterious red box....

This is what the box looks like tonight...  aren't the little notes from the week so cute?!?!?!

1. Chapstick    Did I tell you that these sussies were CHEAP THOUGHTFUL gifts?!    

 2. Pistachios  "I'm nuts about you"

 3. Honey Sticks   I found these at Sprouts.  The note said "You are my honey bunny"

 4. Jalapenos        "Because you're HOT HOT HOT"

 5. Glass bottle Coca Cola        "I think you are SODA amazing"       This is one of his favorite gifts so far!!!!

 6. Stainless Steel Water Bottle

 7. Chocolate Mints        "We were MINT to be together"

8. GUM              "I wouldn't CHEWS anyone but you"

 9.   Little Strawberry Cakes

We only have a few more days left.      Do you decorate for Heart Day?  These are a few of my favorite decorations. 

Let's move on to some other "sweeties"...     A good girlfriend is like gold, don'tcha think?

 This little munchie is the most entertaining well behaved lovie we know....

 The Mr. is straight up in loooove......

 Do you have friends you could chat for hours with....   I'm the lucky girl that gets to work with them!!!   We have all shared so many smiles, goals, stresses, maybe a few tears, but mostly laughs.  

 Since our last bible study I have tried to find several positive things for the next day that I can look forward to and be thankful for....   I can tend to be a worrier, pessimist, anxious person.  Breathe in     Breathe out.    Count to 10.   Shrug it off.   Yeah,  that doesn't usually work for me :)   Thinking about the next day and all of the good things to look forward to has seemed to bring me back to why my Lord is ALL Good ALL the time.
One thing I am looking forward to this weekend?   Being in the middle of a kitty sandwich.    This picture is what the warm fuzzies of my heart are made out of  :)   

Super Bowl Sweets

Yep.....      my shopping list will include lots of sugar and chocolate. 
I'm planning to make:
(I found all of these on pinterest.)

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

 2. Cream Cheese Chocolate Chunk Dip                     My friend, Taryn, made this one night and mmmmmmm it was perfection.

 3. Smores Croissants                       These are just too easy not to make.  :)

 4. Cheese cake and Chocolate filled Strawberries     I always stuff the tip with pieces of chocolate.  This is my "go- to" treat.

What are you making this weekend?  I can't wait to Food Stalk all the Super Bowl posts........