Cup of Love

I'm pretty sure that most people know that I have a love for coffee.....but just in case you didn't I thought I would name my post this since I'm drinking a joyous cup right now!

A good amount has happened since Christmas, but here I am finally updating :)  Blog writing is kinda like dirty dishes for me.....You probably have no idea where I'm going with this.  When there are just a few dirty dishes it doesn't seem that overwhelming to me to clean them, but as they start piling up I get anxious and don't know where to start.  Blog writing is similar in that as the days go by and more happens I get overwhelmed in how I can update our life on here.  So here I am taking the plunge and starting to update......

Type in Chateau Chantal under Google images, you won't be disappointed!

We had a wonderful anniversary trip up north to Traverse City where we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast/Winery that we've stayed at before.  Let me just say that it is truly one of my favorite places!  I always feel so relaxed as I drink wine and coffee by the fire as the snow falls as David and I play games and talk.  There is nothing more fun and relaxing to me.  The rooms are beautiful and you can see both the Lake and peninsula from pretty much anywhere in the mansion like house.   Not the mention the breakfast is amazing and you can try all the wines after hours in the tasting room.....so fun :)  Let's just say that I would highly recommend this place.  Its located on the Old Mission Peninsula and is called Chateau Chantal....check out the link!

After the fun break, it was back to normal life for us.  David took off a couple days for our trip so he's been working hard ever since at Auto Owners.  He seems to enjoy his job in that it challenges him to think outside the box and problem solve.....both things that he loves.  He also misses teaching a lot though and has recently been trying to get tutoring jobs after work.  None have worked out so far, but we are still hoping it will.  It would be really nice to have some extra money since we are saving to buy a home. 

I've been fairly busy with my class.  Its my last class as an undergrad at State....can't even believe it!  Since its my last class....it is quite difficult.  I purposely kept this class to be last since I knew it would be hard.  It is structured a lot like grad classes in that its a lot of writing and discussion.  Its called the Psycho-biology of Development and takes all my previous knowledge of biology, psychology and child development to understand the material.  Needless to say I'm working hard.

Besides this we are saving at the moment to buy a house.  Budgeting has been hard, but we are making it work.  We are using the popular envelope system that Dave Ramsey recommends and it is going really well.  At the beginning of the pay period we take out cash for food in and out and then only use cash when we go to the grocery store.  It helps us to stay on budget and not go over....leading us to save what we can in the end.  Quite wonderful I must say......quite difficult at times too though. 

I'm excited that so many fun things are going on as well.  I feel like we have had the opportunity to be with friends a lot this month.  One of my favorites was a wine and cheese party we went to.  It was so fun to drink wine and eat cheese and chat with some great friends.  We are also involved in a growth group through church and its so fun to see them every other week.  They have been such an encouragement to our marriage, I really treasure their friendships.  One of the couples is expecting their first little one this April so the girls are throwing her a shower here at our apartment.  I can't wait to celebrate baby Ady and Mommy-to-be!  Besides a fun baby shower, I am helping host a wedding shower for my friend Zandria!  I love celebrating upcoming marriages...so much joy! 

There is actually a lot more I could write about, but I feel like I will save it for another day....perhaps tomorrow :)  Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying life!  Sing to the Lord, for he is GOOD!

Ps..  Here is a video of a song that David and I love.  Since we never had dancing at our wedding, we never had a song!  We decided this is it......the lyrics are kinda perfect :)  Enjoy!