The Love Dare

A while ago, I decided to buy the book "The Love Dare," from the Christian movie "Fireproof". I'm very bad at keeping secrets and planning out surprises. They usually don't end up being a surprise in the end. But, I bought the book secretly, then had Tyson watch "Fireproof" with me, so that at the end of the challenge he would know what I was talking about with the book. At the end he said, "that would be really neat if there was a real book where we could do this together." I bit my tounge and just nodded. So, here I am, continuing on with "The Love Dare", Tyson unknowing, and trying to strengthen our new foundation of a relationship.

There are truly some amazing principles and quotes in that book. I started it a few months ago, and did the first 10 days, but then unfortunately got lazy. But I started it again a few days ago and have felt a sense of strength in our marriage. He has also been extra helpful, loving, and uplifting to me. I come home and things are done that I never mentioned or asked him to do. We have had more loving passion. We have laughed more. I love him more deeply each day.

"Marriage is a beautiful mystery created by God, joining two lives together as one. This not only happens physically but spiritually and emotionally. You start off sharing the same house, the same bed, the same last name. Your identity as individuals has been joined into one. When your spousegoes through a tragedy, both of you feel it. When you find success at your job, both of you rejoice. When you look at your mate, you're looking at a part of you. So treat her well. Speak highly of him. Nourish and cherish the love of your life."

I dare each of you, whether you have the most ideal or most rough marriage, to try the Love Dare. It will strengthen your marriage regardless.

Forgive me, blog.

So, I've been a bad record-keeper and a bad blogger. This I know; forgive me. But I'm ready to start fresh in a new, (more) diligent light. So, give me another chance, please?

Work has been so slow lately. I've been holding my days over with reading and crossword puzzles. It's just not the same, though, when I'm not in warm, comfy clothes and sitting on my couch with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. Mmmm, well thanks for the image; now I just want to go home (even more so). I 've read through these surrounding wonderous books this past month at work...



All great books. We're...well...poor, at the moment. So I haven't been able to buy any new books. So, using my brain I created this amazingly brilliant plan: I decided to read the books I already own, that I haven't read yet! Yes, I know, genuis. But really. I think I still have one or two Jodi Picoult novels that I haven't read, so I'll read those next. I forget how much I love to read, until I start reading again. It's so refreshing. I 'm so glad that novels aren't something that technology has gotten rid of completely. I love to smell a new book, and to trace my hand over it's smooth, blemishless cover. It's almost like a bonding moment between myself and my book.

The most amazing things are created in books. Life changing quotes, experiences and situations that are unimaginable to me, until placing myself in the characters shoes and going through it in their words.

Ah, how I love all of you authors out there. :)

worst. day. ever!

So, yesterday, I took the day off work so that Tyson and I could have a fun, much-needed vacation/adventure together since, as we all know, this summer is quickly coming to a close. So, we borrowed a cataraft and everything needed and headed up to the South Fork in Boise. We got there at about 11:30 with big smiles and started to get everything ready. We unloaded all our gear and the raft and started to pump up the tubes, but the pump was broken! So, Tyson drove up stream to a nearby launch and borrowed one (thank the Lord for all the wonderful people who were so willing to help us all day). We filled up our tubes quickly and brought back the pump, then while we were hooking the frame up we could heard a leak....gah!

So we found the leak and it was right on a seam. We tried to duct tape it but that was a failure. A couple of guys were there putting in their raft so we asked if they had anything and they had a patch kit, which they lent us. It was too hot outside though so the adhesive wouldn't stick, it just stayed tacky and the air kept pushing out. We held it for a really long time and though it was "better", so we went and brought his car to drop it off for the shuttle car. When we got back (an hour and 1/2 later) the tube was flat.

So we just sat there, smiles long gone from our faces at this point, and racked our brains for some other options. Another fisherman and his wife were taking out there and tried to help as well. He fixed our pump, and his wife forced us to drink stuff and eat their fruit, even though we insisted we were fine. Lol. Bless her soul. But, by then it was about 4 or 4:30 and we knew the day was basically doomed. So, we drove all the way back to pick up Ty's car, get the raft, and go home. All in all, we spent over 100 dollars in gas, got really grumpy, dehydrated, and that's about it! Jeez, with the way the day went I'm surprised we even made it home alive. I was getting worried! But we did, and the day is over. There must have been some reason why nothing went well. I mean, seriously. There has to be a reason why we didn't get our raft in the water yesterday; a day like that is just unlikely otherwise. At least we got to see the beautiful river and a great view from the mountain! Oh well, it's a new day, and a much better one!

long time, no see

It's been far too long since I've posted anything on here, huh. Not too much has happened...except for us moving into a cute apartment! We were looking at this one bedroom, and it didn't work out, but it turned out to be the companies fault that we didn't get it. So, they gave us a two bedroom for a really good deal! Just a little bit more than what we would have been paying for the one bed. And it's really really neat. The two bedrooms are on the bottom floor along with a bathroom; all good sized. Then, you go upstairs and there's a big loft-type room. A big living room and kitchen with vaulted ceilings and and a big half bath. And there's these pretty french doors that go out to a balcony (which is gross cause there's all these birds that poop all over it and put mud nests all over. We'll clean that up soon so we can actually go out there.) But we both love it!

We have a cute little stream thing that runs right behind our place and little duckies float through it. It's fun! And fyi, they love bread. Not popcorn, or crackers, or cereal, or waffles. Just bread. We're starting to get it all decorated cute and stuff. It finally feels like home, especially after we were able to get out all of our wedding gifts and put them to good use. I'll put some pictures up as soon as I find my camera charger. But yeah, just thought I should probably tell you, like, the most exciting thing ever!

New Beginnings.

Well, we're well on our way to getting a new apartment! And I'm ready. Not that the Nana and Papa weren't wonderful for letting us live in their house and help us save money. And not that the Clarks haven't been wonderful for allowing us to stay in their basement and help us out even more (though unfortunately this time we didn't do quite as well at saving. Dang). But I'm ready to finally get to a place to call our own. To finally open up all of our wedding presents. Use our new dishes and silverwear; use our iron and vacuum; try out our skillet and blender. It's exciting! I love my kitchen stuff, and it will be fun to use it! I think this change will occur in the next week or two, and we have a great 2 bedroom apartment for only 450! That's a steal these days. (That made me sound old.)

Now, I guess this will be our real test to see if we can quit emptying our pockets on crap and junk. I know we made plenty of money to pay for this, it's just our spending habbits that we don't have enough money for. So I say lets KICK those habbits now!!

Come home, Abbey.

Abbey Sunderland.

A brave, 16 year-old girl who wanted to become the youngest to circumnavigate around the world in a sailboat. She lost contact with satellites this morning after rough water and a raging storm. Her emergency beacons have been activated. Officials are searching for her, but have lost all communication with her.

Please, remember her in your prayers.

Beat up...from the inside out.

Lately I've really been getting down on myself.

And I wish I could just stop thinking negative things about myself, but we all know it's just not as easy as that. And I've been thinking, why do we do that to ourselves? Where did all of this negative thinking come from?? Did cave-wives do the same? I can't really imagine a cave-wife sitting in her cave-bathroom and looking at herself in the mirror thinking "Does this fur make my butt look big?" Or, "Wow, I have too much cellulite on my legs." Or, "My hair is a disaster today!"

It had to have started somewhere. Of course, I think most of us can justly say that we hold the media responsible for a large portion of our distorted body images. When they begin to say that being a size 2 is ideal and sexy, the rest of us normal 6's (or 8's or 10's) start looking down at our bodies and questioning our healthy "imperfect" bodies. I think a body is ideal and sexy and you're confident in it, and you're healthy.

Negative thinking is not healthy.

It is a plague. It is a disease that spreads and harms, and even kills.

Now, just because I'm writing this, I don't want you to think that I'm like...depressed or that I hate my body or something. It's just that, the little things that we pick at about ourselves is really frustrating. I look at the size 4, beautiful woman that works in my office, as she diets consistently and always talks about how she can't eat that cookie or that half bagel ever because she can't have carbs since she's trying to get her pooch off...! I mean, she literally eats the meat and cheese off the top of her pizza cause she can't eat the bread as well. Why?? Now, that's just ridiculous. Or when my incredibly fit husband looks at his legs and says he has chicken legs, or down at his tummy and says he has a "gut."

We all need to stop being unrealistic and so judgemental about ourselves and just live our lives a little fuller. I want to wake up every morning and look in the morning and think to myself, "I'm a beautiful woman."

Because, I am.

Lonely, lonely, sad.

Prologue.

Tyson and I, our first date was on September 11, 2009. We literally went out every single night after that. We were engaged three weeks later. Married three and a half months later. And have not been apart for a single day since our first date that September 11th.

Present Day

Tyson left on Tuesday morning to go to Moab. Uh...how do I function?? It has been almost 2 and 1/2 days since he's been gone, and man-oh-man. It's the worse. I hate having him gone. I was thinking I was going to sleep so well with him gone; no more waking up every time he turns over or snorts! But, alas; I lay alone in bed for a couple hours before exhaustion finally wins and I am able to fade out. I need him back! He will be back on Saturday; so let's pray that I'm still human by then. That I haven't turned into some depressed, mushy "thing" that just lays in bed and stares blankly at the TV or something.

Is that pathetic?? Some might think so. But, I think not. And I don't blame you for thinking it is! But I like things the way they are. (Not with him being gone, but with us being attached at the hip and slightly inseparable.)