{Slowing Down}

I actually cannot believe that I am saying this, but I really think its true! Life is slowing down! That's because yesterday was my first day of retirement. I have taken a temporary leave of absence from working to pursue my degree (education). I will be doing resume prep and going to job fairs, even doing some job shadowing, hopefully, so that Lord willing I will be a teacher next fall.  That aside I have LOTS of fun/not so fun projects to do in the meantime, I would say day one was particularly successful! Of course, laundry, some organizing and finishing a good book were a priority I also had a chance of this DIY craft! YAYY! I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!

Here is the big picture:

we are in need of a headboard, but that little project will come later. Although, thanks to Pinterest I have a great idea in mind! {more to come later}

Here is one letter up close if you're curious

BUT the BEST part of of being retired: All the work was done when the Mr. got home! That's like FOUR whole hours for activities. What do we do with all the free time???

We set up our new 8 person tent in our living room! (Note: according to this, we can sleep exactly 8 people in our living room...) 

WE LOVE IT!

Can't wait to take it outdoors! {P.S. Shaw family, we're SURE that this tent will fit a pack and play, so lets go camping!!!}

....In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have been so productive on day one, I have set the bar pretty high for myself :) 

Happy Graduation!

I'm so proud of Joshua with all of the hard work he has put in to graduate! The time has finally come, we have been talking about, "after Josh graduates" for the last six months, and NOW HE HAS!! Whoop Whoop! So to celebrate graduation, (and kind of our 6 month anniversary) but mostly graduation, we went to a hotel - stayed the night, went for dinner and went to an Eagles hockey game (Josh's favorite!) In case you were wondering, they won and there was even a hat trick that night!

ALSO big news, Josh's no-shave-November beard, which turned into his good luck finals beard...has finally disappeared. We took a farewell picture of the beard recognizing that, that too took hard work :) So here are some pictures ...

PRE-Beard shave

At the hotel, before dinner

At the Eagles game!

(after three tries Josh finally remembered to keep his eyes open....well sorta)

Christmas Together

Well Thanksgiving AND black Friday have both come and gone, it is now officially Christmas at this Thimgan house!

The tree is up!

The stockings are hung

and the village is lit!

AND I only have 2 more presents to buy!

(Josh also gave in to buying me some new Christmas music cd's that have been blessing our house since Friday!)

CHRISTMAS IS COMING! CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Now to make sure that I have my heart prepared for the joy of the season! What a blessing to experience the JOY of the Christmas miracle every year!

Christmas!

Only 73 Days or 10 weeks left until Christmas! I love Christmas shopping, I love shopping early, I love pondering what to buy or make you and the thrill of discovering what it is you will open from me. Its also a checklist that I find sick pleasure in accomplishing. (sad but true) Below is my list of gifts to be joyfully given, and the checks for what has been done. It is thrilling!!!!

Mom: CHECK
Dad: CHECK
Jaden Christmas: .....
Jaden Birthday: .... :(
Megan Birthday: CHECK
Megan Christmas: In Progress
Becca: ....
M-I-L: CHECK
F-I-L: ....
Bro/Sis I-L: .....
Grandparents (x4): CHECK (x4)
Shaws: In Progress
Sheltons: ....


Lots yet to do, but not bad for 73 days left right? WOO HOO

"Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, SOON the bells will toll" :)

Hot Cocoa

Joshua and I watch this show, its called "The Big Bang Theory." I know what you are thinking..."that must be some sinful, scientific show" because that's what I originally thought too. But actually the premise of the show is that 4 nerds (3 doctors and 1 engineer) all work at "the university" conducting research and spend the rest of their time in Sheldon's apartment. The catch is that the girl next door, Penny, is a community college dropout from Nebraska hoping to make it in the movie business and has more charm than wits. Anyhow, check it out, at least one episode, and if your even a little bit nerdy, I think it will make you chuckle. Here is a copy of some dialogue:

Sheldon: I don’t drink coffee.

Howard: All right, you can have a hot chocolate.

Sheldon: As I will not be engaging in this nonsense, my choice of beverage is moot. But for the record, I only drink hot chocolate in months with an R in them.

Howard: Why?

Sheldon: What’s life without whimsy?

And with that, it is officially time for some hot chocolate!

Lunch

Last Monday was Joshua's first day of school. His first day to his last semester, and if you ask him; "a week closer to freedom." This significant change in his schedule meant a significant change in mine. I hardly noticed it last week as hurricane, "board meeting" swept through our house. It left clothes on the floor, dishes in the sink, half eaten chips and salsa on the table and dirt in the bathtub. (don't you hate those natural disasters). Needless to say we spent the weekend cleaning up the aftermath. But today as life came back to "normal" I realized the most significant change that I hadn't realized before....my dear sweet hubby no longer packs my lunch. Thats right, he used to take the time while I was putting my face on and getting my hair presentable to gather food for us for our days. Now that we dont get ready at the same time in the morning, this is no longer a realistic routine. As I was rushing out the door this morning, just in time, (if you know me, you know I always push the "time" limit) it dawned on me that there was no cute little lunch box sitting on the edge of the table. TOTAL BUMMER. So I scrambled together a couple things and breathed a deep sigh that these four months can't go fast enough!

Disclaimer: Before married, I was perfectly capable to assemble my own lunch every morning without complaint.

its been SO long...

since i have written last. It is truly amazing how time flies. Today marks officially 3 months and 1 day of marriage! WOW! It is also the first day of classes for my darling husband :( (one more day closer to freedom as he calls it) it also marks my fist sick day in almost 4 months. I'll spare you the gory details and just tell you that "i don't feel well" but seriously glad you're there and not here. In between naps today I stumbled upon this website/blog: http://www.polkadotchair.com/2011/08/ruler-wreath.html. Where i found THE cutest back to school decor! I will admit that I have education fever these days! A dear friend of mine took a teaching job that began last week and I have been drooling over every word of hers as I think about a classroom of my own someday and the joys of being back into education. I am surprised that I miss it like I do...seriously I was never "ACTUALLY" in it. But I do miss it, I missed school supplies shopping and prepping and the buzz on the first day and pep assemblies OH how I miss pep assemblies! BUT this is where I stop myself! This season in Joshua and I's life is a gift from the Lord. He is teaching us and preparing us for what is to come. I will take great JOY in 1) this is only a season (to which I can see the end) and 2) there are great blessings here! Including 2 stable jobs, vehicles that run but most importantly family near who love us and of course that we are growing closer together everyday!

My prayer in this season is that God will grant me great patience and grace through Joshua's last semester at school and that I will maintain a level of peace at my current job where God is surely to be glorified everyday!


P.S. for our Facebook fans.....we are not currently going to adopt a puppy into our family, but someday we certainly will and for now it is fun to plan. The current favorite is a Standard Schnauzer....