Grateful

I have been fairly absent from the blog these past few months. I think that happens as "free time" ebbs and flows, but also because sometimes I like to include photographic evidence of things we have done. And don't get me wrong, we have done things, but nothing we felt deserved grabbing the camera out of the office and taking a picture of it. We are not the most photogenic people to begin with!

Manhattan has been a trial for us. And I guess I should be slightly more specific by saying that it is not the town. But several things that tend to be vital to happiness overall have caused some emotional aches and pains in our household, and we have been working through those things.

Everyday I am grateful for my husband. We were talking today about how when you are dating, it is human tendency to ignore misgivings or "red flags" and just go with it because you are blinded by love.  I spoke about how lucky I was, because regardless of that blindness, I turned out to snag a pretty awesome guy. I have been so blessed these past 6.5 years. Whatever twists and turns life takes, I know I have a partner along for the ride. Sometimes he is the one doing the supporting, and sometimes it is my turn to support him. But I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us in this support system of ours. It has made these difficult times so much sweeter.

Instead of a pulling apart, as happens to some people faced with difficult circumstances, these trials have brought us together. We've been blessed with an extra 20 minute ride to and from church, that some may see as a burden, but we have had some of our best talks on these drives to Wamego. We've been blessed to be able to attend the temple, and feel the peace only the temple can bring. We've poured out our hearts in prayer, and have recognized Heavenly Father's hand in things that may once have seemed small, but are now hugely important.

We've been sheltered from the wants and expectations of the world. It may sound silly, but very rarely do we feel that urge to have to "keep up with the Joneses." (Okay, MAYBE except for an occasional conversation about crappy cell phones or cute boots). We feel very little pressure to have the latest "this" or do the latest "that" because we've had to stick to the barest needs. It's not always easy, but it has been VERY good for our marriage. So I don't have a giant, organized craft room. So we don't have a huge TV. So our cars are each over 10 year old. So we have to rent our apartment. So what?? What is really important? What should our priorities really be? We are currently being humbled, and what a stretch it is, it's hard!

I've been a given a new calling that will push me to serve others. I wanted that opportunity, and Heavenly Father is giving it to me. He is helping me recognize that my desire to serve starts in my own community and ward. Someday, Todd and I hope to be able to return to Central and South America to learn from the humble people there again, and hopefully serve a senior mission. But step by step, we will get there!

If we got to plan our lives, I HIGHLY doubt we would have put ourselves here. And I am learning that is probably for the better. Heavenly Father has a plan for us that exceeds what we would choose for ourselves. What we THINK is the best for us is obviously not what he would have us do. Deciding to quit dragging our feet and feeling a sense of loss for what we wanted to happen is helping us see our blessings.  So above, when I talked about things vital to happiness, well, maybe there are things more important to happiness that what we thought originally.

So, I didn't mean to get so heavy! That's just the way the words came out. But I am excited to see where this new path we are on takes us, even if it's not where we wanted to go.

And we are doing fun things, just not taking pictures of them :) Trips to Salina, Kansas City, eating out, playing tennis, watching movies, checking out the Discovery Center, watching football games, etc. We have a good life!

Cool Manhattan Things

*our 2nd counselor in our stake presidency is a cowboy. With a ranch. and cattle. And a cowboy accent. AWESOME!

*the only back roads to get home from work involve bumpy, dirt roads. my car needs a bath.

*Lots of girls wear cowboy boots to work and you can always find a cowboy hat in a truck driving down the road.

*the smell of cows drifts over our apartments sometimes (I know this seems gross, but it reminds me of home a little bit!)

*the radio DJ's get real excited about hunting season.

I like my country-fied town :)