Homebodies.

I think it's easy to forget that there are human beings behind blogs and it's also easy to hide behind "anonymous" or a screenname -- when I used to work at a newspaper, we allowed comments on our stories at our Web site, and people were just cruel sometimes, either about people being written about or about the reporters/editors. Would any of those people say those things to our faces? Doubtful.

Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot of tragedy -- a few weeks ago, a girl I graduated from high school with died after a bout with cancer. Earlier this week, the daughter of the worship leaders at our old church was killed in a car accident, only 18 years old. A couple of people I know have lost their parents within the last month. Life is so hard, and losing someone close to you is so tough, I know - I lost my sister almost 12 years ago. Even having experienced that loss, I don't know what to say to people going through losses of their own now -- all I know is God is enough and his grace is sufficient.

We brought in the New Year just me and my husband; we got pizza, I made a chocolate cake, we watched The Office (season 5, which I got at Target for $17, quite the deal)... kissed at midnight, then went to sleep to the sounds of people shooting fireworks. We're homebodies, but we fit together. Here's hoping 2010 brings good things.

Life.

I survived the month before law school finals, where my husband was constantly writing, reading, acting rather cranky, wanting to drink coffee all the time, and making late-night trips to the library.

He feels pretty confident that he did well on his finals, but they don't find out what they made until January 5. I guess at least no one's Christmas will be ruined if the results are bad! ;)

Since Dec. 11 he has had nothing to do, and I am not resentful --- why? Because during his weeks of studying, we made a deal. I asked him one night to help me do the dishes (it would have taken 5 minutes) and in his desperation to not take one minute away from studying, he promised that he would do the dishes during his entire break, as long as I didn't make him do any during finals. I agreed, and now I haven't had to do the dishes in two weeks! I love it!

We are at my in-laws' for Christmas and will be heading down to my parents' house on Dec. 26 for a late get-together with them. I have to work next week Monday-Thursday but I do have New Year's Day off. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, etc. etc.!

Wrong numbers.

I have had my phone number for six years now, but I still get wrong numbers pretty consistently. I usually don't answer and figure the caller will figure it out. If it really is for me, they'll leave a voicemail and tell me who they are.

Yesterday I got the following voicemail: "Hey George, call me back, I've been calling you!"

How this person missed the fact that in my voicemail message, I state my name (which is not George) and am clearly a girl, I don't know.

On top of that, I had an "Unknown" call me FOUR times in the space of an hour and a half. I didn't answer any of them, but when I finally decided I would answer the next time they called, they didn't call again. Who has the capability to get a cell phone to say "WITHHELD"???

It's been awhile, how have you been? Can I just say, WHO DAT??

Sad...

I am sad that my circumstances (moving, no Internet at home, public computer blocking blogger) have kept me from keeping up with my blog more and especially reading other blogs and commenting. That kept me sane during my job search for sure. Like I said, my husband will have so much more time on his hands after Dec. 11, and during his month off from school I'm sure he will finally have time to call the cable company and be there when they come to install the Internet. When we're back in business on the 'net at home, I will be back to my old self.

I can hardly believe that my job search ended almost 2 months ago. Guys, that was such a hard time and it felt like it lasted for an eternity. Looking for a job in this economy (is the recession over yet?) is not fun, at all! I am so thankful to be employed and have a great job on top of it.

Being a breadwinner wife

So far in my journey as a breadwinner wife, I've discovered the joys of coupons, I buy everything in its cheapest form (something I used to hate that my mom did when I was younger because I wanted the real Lucky Charms, not the off-brand kind), I have deemed that we can eat out only once a week, and it's been paying off! There is much satisfaction in going to the grocery store, buying many many things that we need, and having it ring up to only $35. And that was the only grocery shopping we did that whole week!

Granted, we haven't faced any emergencies yet (which would seriously deplete the little savings we do have), but I am hoping we can have more time to save up for those inevitable events that cost lots of money in a short time.

It also helps that I can go home for lunch, as I'm never tempted to pick up fast food (which adds up quick in money and calories). When I had a job 30 minutes from home, I ate out all the time which was just bad money management. Making your own lunch/eating at home will save you money every time.

I love that when I get off of work, I'm done, I don't have to do anything else. I don't envy my husband's frenzied studying, and I'm looking forward to December 11 when he takes his last final, he can settle down, and we can have some quality time together. Of course, considering the fact that his first two months of school we only saw each other on weekends, I'm definitely not taking the time we have together now for granted!

Thanksgiving

We are at my parents' house tonight, and we'll be having lunch with them tomorrow then driving an hour to my husband's aunt's house, where we will see his family who have traveled down and are staying there. I LOVE this time of year so much... we're so lucky to be near our families and to be able to see them on these holidays.

Last year we did see our families on Thanksgiving, but just two days afterward, we flew out of the country and were gone for 8 months. We spent Christmas in a foreign country and I definitely missed my family and being home. I'm thinking of all those people out there who can't be with their families tomorrow, and hoping that they still find some joy in the day.

Husband is in the midst of law school finals, so he is constantly studying, he's taken over our kitchen table with his papers and books and disappears to the library at random. I'm loving my job, just got a good evaluation from my boss, and I'm looking forward to getting better at it and finding new ways to improve.

My family is watching "Star Trek" right now and it is super weird. I am not a big Star Trek person. Chris Pine is super fine though. Don't tell my husband I said that!

Church search

We have started looking for a church to go to here, one that we can get involved in and make new relationships. Most of my friendships have been spawned from church or a Christian organization in my life. That's just always been the most important thing to me, and so it's easy when you find people who also have God as the most important thing in their lives - you have a lot in common.

We went to a church on Sunday that was really big and while I enjoyed it, I don't know if I want to go somewhere where I feel lost in a crowd. Of course we will try out Bible studies and go to events ouside of Sunday morning services, and that will allow us to meet more people and get to know people, but we're still going to try and check out some other churches. I am looking forward to becoming part of a church community/family and hopefully making some lasting friendships and getting some spiritual support there.

It is weird being the "new people" at a church... for my first 18 years I went to the same church with my family where I knew everyone, they had watched me grow up, and it still feels like home when I go back there. In college, I faced the same newness, trying to find a church there, but I met my now husband, and eventually started going to church with him, and that's been our church for the last five years. Now we are starting over again, but I'm excited.