Letter To Me

I think this is something everyone should do. Once a year, I try to write to my future self. I want to lay out expectations, hopes, dreams, and so on. In a few years when I look back on it, I can see the differences.

Source 

Hey Kylee, 
Once we get past the initial awkward portion of the letter where I feel like a crazy person, we can begin. K, now that that's over! 

This year has been pretty crazy for you. You graduated from college, started a job -- then started an even better one after that. You and Jacob bought a house, and then found yourself pregnant. Haha, surprise!! 

As usual, you are trying to be better. You really your job and you also want to be a SAHM, so there's conflicting viewpoints there. You want to update and change the house. Really, you just want to feel comfortable and "finished" with the house. That's not going to happen until you settle on a style that you like! You're so indecisive. 

Your marriage is doing really well today. Of course there are rough patches for you both, like the whole tag ticket debacle that happened today. (Remind Jacob of that... he'll probably wish you would just forget about it). But you two are in love and going stronger than ever. 

He's so excited about becoming a dad. I know deep down that it's what is meant for you both. The baby is growing very well. I am about 19 weeks pregnant now. We don't know the sex yet. 

At the moment, I'm so worried about being a good mom. It's already hard for me because I love this baby so so much that I'm worried about doing a good job. I already don't want to leave the baby with someone else. I already just want to hold that sweet little thing in my arms and never ever let go. Something inside of me knows that I will love this baby more than anything I've ever loved. 

This year your dad was diagnosed with Cancer. That was rough. For the whole family. It was hard to see the strongest man you know become weaker. Please go give your future dad a kiss from the past kylee for me. I can say that you have seen the power of true prayer and pure determination. Our God is truly amazing. 

I guess I expect that by this time next year, you'll be listening to Christmas music watching your son or daughter crawl around and your hubs chase them around. You'll be wondering where the time went. I'm pretty sure that here in the past, you just felt the baby move. Apparently, it likes (or dislikes for all I know) Michael Buble's Christmas music. 

I hope that you have done a few things with your life. I hope that you are okay with the daycare you chose, and you and Jacob have jobs that you love. I hope that you aren't stressed. I hope that you are pouring yourself into your marriage and into your child. I hope you remember how happy you are right now (very). 

I really hope that everyone is doing well, and life has delighted you in this year(s). 

Sincerely, 
Kylee 

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have a happy thanksgiving. Enjoy your families and be truly thankful for how blessed we all really are. 

Wedding Anniversary: Advice From a 3-year Wife

Today is our anniversary. November 20, 2009. We were married when I was young. Like 19 young. So yes, do the math. You will conclude that I am a 22 year old wife, with a baby on the way. Pass your judgements quickly and get over some of the shock. Despite what my generation has led you to believe we are not all idiots. Yes, I was young and I did have to grow up during our marriage, but let me tell you -- I wouldn't have it any other way. I see it as we got a headstart on our life.

I will share what little wisdom I have learned in 3 years of marriage. I could be wrong with what I say, you could choose to let my age or my inexperience with life affect how you take what the rest of this post is about, but I will tell you that you could be making a mistake. I think we are called to share this sort of wisdom with each other so we can grow -- and grow closer to our spouse in return.  Here are my tidbits.

1) God First, Spouse Second. 
This is biblical. We have found that whenever we have our priorities straight, marriage seems easy and fun. When we put something ahead of God in the priority list, such as money or work, we tend to lose sight of what we are going for in this life and that's to serve God and then serve each other. 

2) Submit to your husband. 
I think this is where some will go "Whoa! Whoa! We are equals!". Yea, that's true in society, men and women are equals. And I'm not saying that men or husbands are better than women, I'm saying we as wives should allow our husbands to lead the household. I don't think this is a free pass for men to sit on the couch while we fix dinner and raise the children, I'm saying that in our culture we are taught to take control. In our society, women are considered weak if they don't control a situation, lay down the law with their men, or be the final word in all decisions. It's wrong. Our culture has taught us that husbands are the dumb guys that order the wrong cell phone package or get the wrong cheese. They couldn't possibly be trusted with getting the right cheese! Submit to your husband. Trust that every idea and leadership decision he makes is in the best interest of your family and you will see that when you allow your man to lead, he does just that. He leads. 

3) Talk About Your Expectations You Have For Him

We all have this image of the "ideal husband" in our heads. It's been crammed in there from when we were little girls. (My man will rub my feet every night and then gives me roses for everything). We all have these expectations. Ask your husband, I'm sure he has a few of his own. What I've learned from marriage is that if you never talk about your expectations with your spouse and just expect him to "understand your needs", you're going to be let down. Not that it's by any fault of your husband, it's because he literally doesn't know what you want from him. Talk. About. It. 

4) You should "come onto" Him Too

Wait a sec, did I just talk about sexy time? Oh, yes I did. It's scandalous, I know. But really, we women have been making men look bad for a long time with this. We just don't have the sex drive like men do. WRONG. We just don't have the same type of sex drive men do. Ours is definitely not a switch to be turned on and off in a moments notice, but it does go to the "on" mode. My advice is make the first move and see what happens. Stop making your man beg for it all the time and surprise him by "coming onto" him first. WOWZA! 

Well, that's all I have for you. I hope you enjoy. And I would love to hear what advice you have for me! I'm a really good listener, I swear. 

  

Coffee Date

Today, I'm linking up with Casey over at The Wiegand's. This is my first time on linking up with this post of hers so I don't know if you're supposed to write a different type of post or like what she has, so I'm going with like what she has. 

Coffee Date...

If you came to my house right now for a coffee date I would invite you in and you would instantly be greeted by my two dogs, Optimus and Janie. 

I would tell you that we have been working on their greeting methods lately, but they still get VERY excited while meeting new people. 

I would ask if you wanted coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or caffeine free pepsi. I would drink water. I have been trying to eat and drink healthier lately because of the baby. 

I would ask you how things are going with you. How is your walk with Jesus going? 

I would tell you that Jacob and I have seen so little of each other that we've been having mini bible study sessions through notes. He's always so sweet in the note and then he gives us a passage and talks about it. 

I would tell you that the baby is growing and how weird I've felt lately. I was so sick for a while and now that the sickness has passed, I almost don't feel pregnant. 

I would tell you that I have been thinking about the moment that I get to meet my child for the first time brings me to tears every time I think about it. 

I would ask you if you were comfortable. Our house is old and it tends to get really warm and really cold. Need a blanket? 

I would tell you that I'm going to start decorating for Christmas on Saturday. When are you decorating? Have you gotten all of your shopping done? 

I haven't finished my shopping. And as per usual money is a little tight around here this year, and I want to bless everyone with an amazing gift. I will most likely save money by making a few creative gifts. 

I would tell you my fears. I don't know how good of a mother I will be. I don't know what we're doing about daycare. We can barely take care of ourselves, how are we supposed to take care of a baby? 

I would finish with a prayer for faith. What can I pray for you about? 

I enjoyed our time. See you soon. 

Life In Cell Phone Pics

This week has been such an awakening for me. With a very inspiring blogger meetup and new-found energy to boot, I'm feeling great and ready to conquer the world! Can we say "second trimester attitude". 

Jake sent me this picture with the caption, "I'm too sexy to be out in public" or something to that extent. He's right, he's just too sexy to be on the streets. ;)

This is a VERY quickly made business card I did for the #OKBlogger Meet up on Friday. I made about 25 of them for about a $1.50. Not bad, eh?

I look tired and rough, but I had so much fun. I'm sure you recognize these two Allison from Feeding My Temple and Melissa from Pineapple Lily.

Jake was off on Saturday so we got to hang out. I have long weeks when he works night shifts. I was just too happy to see my baby daddy. 

On Saturday evening we visited Jake's folk's house. I saw this picture of the hubs as a brand new baby. He was only around 5 lbs! 

Seeing Jake's baby pic made me want to see mine and his side-by-side. So I dug this out today. Let's just say I was NOT a 5 lb. baby. lol, I was chubby. I'm thinking that our baby might have a little hair, who knows though. 

Well, that's the gist of my week. How was yours? Did you do anything fun? 


Be on the lookout for a few changes around my blog. I'm thinking about bringing back swap sponsoring! And of course, I think I need a new "look". :)

Talk to you soon. 

When Nothing Is Happening, Is Something Brewing?

Sometimes nothing is really going on in life. I mean yea, I have a baby growing at an alarming rate inside of me... but really no major events have taken place. 

This makes me wonder, if something is "coming". 

Do you ever feel that way? Like, wait a second... there should be something happening. Suspicious. 

This leads me to believe that something big is fixing to happen. Or is it? I mean, we have been going through major life changes pretty much since we got married (btw our anniversary is coming up). Where's the other shoe? 

All I can say is pleeeeeeaaaase don't let it be something horrible. lol. I don't know if this is a pregnancy thing or not, but I have found myself preparing for the worst. I have had weird anxiety dreams about horrible awful bad things happening in our family. Can a girl just get in on some unicorn dreams? 

I think it's the Walking Dead. We have been watching season 2 on Netflix, are you caught up? No spoilers please! But let me know how you are liking it. 

Well, I guess this was one of those filler posts. One of those posts that don't and won't move mountains. But maybe I can look back on this post and be like, "See, here is where I predicted that big thing that happened." 

Also, would anyone be interested in reading what I have to say on couponing or marriage?

What I Would Give to Be a SAHM

I've been thinking a lot about daycare lately. Or where my baby will be spending the days while I'm at work. I'm realizing now, even before the baby is born, that I would give anything to be a stay-at-home-mom. Unfortunately, we can't seem to work the finances where that would be an option.

Maybe there is someone out there that can offer me some advice. Are you a working mother? What does your baby do while you're at work? Are you a SAHM? How did you decide that was the best for your family? Is it a big financial hardship?

I genuinely feel guilty already. The baby is growing so much, inside me, and I can't imagine how much they will grow when they're out! I just want to be the one that gets to love on them, teach them, be with them.

I'm praying... But maybe you have advice? Will you share your story with me?