Fear

This week in Texas has been filled with 80% chance of rain. This has led to my husband and I spending almost every night in the garage, listening to the Rangers, and waiting for the storm to roll in. It looks something like this.

Not a bad view, huh? I realize storms might be something that typically instills fear in a lot of people. I actually blogged about it not too long ago. However, I love that this is something that Duck Dude and I both really enjoy. It was a perfect week for our 2 month anniversary to fall in! Two whole months of marriage! Heck yeah!

This week’s #morethanaframe is “fear”. It’s taken me all week to write this, because I didn’t know how I wanted to approach it. Super serious. Super not serious. How honest is too honest? And then, I just decided to go for it.

I made the connection between our 2 month anniversary and this week’s concept of fear. There’s a lot of fear that I have about marriage. Marriage is hard and a lot of people fail. Whether they wanted their marriage to fail or not. Whether they thought they would fail or not. So, I have a pretty big fear about failing.

I have a fear about being by myself. I did pretty well living by myself for five years. I know I can be successful doing that… but it’s really fun living with someone. Especially someone you’re married to! And I love it… and as much as I loved living by myself, I do not want to go back to it.

I think we were technically turn this fear into bravery, but that doesn’t exactly fit. I don’t consider it a “brave” choice to get married. I also don’t think these are uncommon feelings when entering a marriage. I see it as the rewards outweigh the fear. The commitment outweighs the fear. The trust outweighs the fear. Our God outweighs the fear.

2 months of marriage. And while there are sure to be more storms, we’ll just sit in the garage and watch them roll on by. 

My Girls

My girls. 

 

The ones who stood beside me on our big day. I didn't do anything super exquisite to ask them to be in my bridal party. Just a simple card in the mail. 

Matron of Honor - Hannah

Although she hates the title because it makes her sound "old", I am so happy that my red head was beside me on my special day. I can always count on her to eat my chocolate, and no matter how white I am, I can always count on being tanner than her. 

Maid of Honor - Caroline
My all time favorite blonde. She will celebrate the fact that's it's a Wednesday with me, or the fact that we've been married for 58 days! She's always down for a random road trip or a sleepover involving cuddle time. 

Bridesmaid Melanie
A childhood friend who has been through everything with me. You can typically find us eating Mexican food and reminiscing about middle school camp days. 

Bridesmaid Julie

A childhood friend who will stomp in rain puddles with our rain boots, watch baseball games with me, and support my Alzheimer's charity.  

Sister Laura Pocket

My newest sister who has welcomed me from the very beginning. She brings so much joy to my life and is the best nurse I have ever known. Secret talent - sports trivia. 

Bridesmaid Kristen 

A childhood friend who I can always count on to sing Broadway, Disney, or old movies with me; and my go to fashion consultant.  

And the pictures my photographer captured of us is pure genius. I will treasure them forever.

It's a shame I don't have prettier friends. :) I cannot even type that without laughing. And then I look at them and think they're so pretty I want to cry! Whew! I love my girls.

Summer Plannin'

I can literally almost taste summer. Texas is on the tip of those blistering hot days, where you want to do nothing but be in the pool water. And there's a couple of things I want to do before, during, and all the time during those blissful months of June and July.

Table Centerpieces. These need to be made before summer so I can have them on our table. 

Outside furniture. We got an incredibly beautiful table from Duck Dude's mom. It makes our backyard... but it's time to replace the chair cushions. Do you know how many options there are out there?! Do I want them all the same? All different?

Summer drank. How fantastic are mangoes? And how fantastic does mango lemonade sound?! 

And more lemonade.. because after I finish the mango lemonade, I'll be ready for some raspberry and peach lemonade. 

You've got to look fabulous. Once I get my summer or honeymoon tan back.. this black jumpsuit would be the perfect night out outfit!! 

 And with that fabulous outfit, I'm gonna need some flash tats. They're temporary, gold, metallic, and scream summer to me! 

And, of course, some good books to read!! I had to spend some time looking for a new link, because most of the links I found I had already read 1/2 of the books on there! This list looks awesome. There are 15 books and I've only read two! 

What would I do without pinterest to plan my summer? Summertime lovin' will definitely be sweet if all the things on this list happen!

Garage Sale Success

How to have a successful garage sale: 

1. Eat a really good dinner the night before. We chose stuffed bell peppers with a side of deer sausage, steamed asparagus, and grilled corn. I'm not saying you have to eat that, but if you did, I am sure you would be successful. 

2. Make really pretty signs... and then ride around in the Ranger to hammer them into the ground. Country music blaring is optional. (please note the little tiny peak of my Rusty Greer shirt... it's there)

 
3. I'm not sure if peeing in the woods/7 trees by the major road is a necessity or an option. Don't worry, I didn't take a picture of that. Here's a picture of the boys discussing where the arrow should be drawn. Pinnacle to success.

 4. At least two cups of coffee when you wake up early on a Saturday morning. 

5. Set everything up all nice and organized. Fill the hole when something is bought. 

5b. When a lady offers $40 for all of your jewelry to take with her to Nigeria, accept it. 

6. Wheel and deal, but don't let them walk away. The purpose is to get rid of things. Be proud of that one dollar sell. You got a dollar and they are helping you de-clutter!

7. When in doubt, say "It's the neighbors. I don't know anything about it."

8. Pop bottles that are actually screw tops on Sunday to celebrate a good Saturday. 

9. When Jose comes at noon on Sunday and you're ready to be done, give him everything. He has a lot of family in Mexico and you do not have to haul it all back in to stay in your garage for another year. 
 
10. Take all your earnings and plan an outlet mall shopping day with your sister!! 

Laura pocket, when can you go?!

Rusty Loves Me

Five for Friday! You might see a theme.

1. I knew yesterday was going to be a good day. Because I started with my  new Baylor shorts and my friendship socks. Friendship socks are kind of like friendship bracelets.... but socks. 

 
2.  Rusty Greer came to school to hang out with me yesterday. If you were around for my embarrassing story last year, this year is not much better. It started with him saying, "So, I hear you're married now..... can I still put my hands on you?" .... OF COURSE RUSTY! That's not even a real question. And now we have this glorious picture which is much better than last year's picture when I was super unprepared and had no make up on.

3. While Rusty was the only one that mattered, there were some other former Rangers there. Bobby Witt is next to me, John Burkett is in the light blue, Kenny Hill is next to him, and on the end is a former Dallas Cowboy - Ryan Young. If you're wondering how all this is possible, I have the privilege of working in an awesome district where all of these guys live. So, they are friends of coworkers who all have children the same age! 

4. Then, when I thought my day was stellar.... Rusty proved he loved me even more. He brought me a tshirt.... with his signature on the back!!!!! I had to remind him I was married and couldn't run away with him. Just kidding Duck Dude. But I'm never taking the shirt off. I'm wearing it today and I will probably wear it tomorrow and I'll pair it with a skirt for school on Monday. 

5. I'll probably tell 24 people tomorrow at our garage sale we're having. They are all going to want to hear about Rusty Greer and then I'll probably be best friends with them and say "here, just have this random plate for free instead of a dollar"........ still just kidding Duck Dude. 

God bless weekends.