About 365 days of marriage

I started this blog in April of 2011. At the time, Bret and I were wedding photographers and it was a way to share how marriage is more about the day to day and so much more than the wedding day itself. For about 5 years, I blogged about the joys and sorrows of the Christian walk, marriage, work, family and friends. I’ve blogged every day since a few weeks after I started. In May of 2015, we photographed our last wedding. Now, I have become passionate about simplicity, particularly in marriage, Christianity, business, travel and life. For a number of reasons, we have become minimalists. I’ve found that having simplicity makes life so much deeper, refreshing and joyful. I hope that this blog will help others see the benefits of living simply.

Day 1990 – My Your Heart Be Light – My Thoughts On Lightheartedness

Posted on December 22, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

The other day, I heard the song “Have yourself a merry little Christmas,” and a line stuck out.

Let your heart be light.

I wonder how often we think about what that actually means. There is so much that can cause us to be heavy hearted. Just in the last hour I was bombarded with a lot to be so sorrowful about. Right before I started writing, the weight of a few things really tired to weigh me down. (For reals dudes, I almost lost it in CFA. The big ol’ fat tears, ugly cry kind of losing it).

At first I thought, well, that’s ironic. I had been planning on writing on this topic since last night or so. But I still felt strongly about writing this, because it’s almost like a secret.

Ok, so here we go. Merriam-Webster defines it as:

having or showing a cheerful and happy nature
not serious
free from care, anxiety, or seriousness
cheerfully optimistic and hopeful

I think a better definition is this:

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:25-27

I think of myself as a light hearted person. And it’s not because I’ve had an easy life. I’ve walked through some really hard circumstances. I have had extreme sorrow. Little known fact, one of my biggest struggles is depression.

But I have so much reason for having a light heart. One of my favorite parts about Christmas is that the radio, the malls, the stores, everywhere, are filled with Christmas songs….and a good portion of them have lyrics that point to or totally praise Jesus Christ. The world is singing His praise! I love it! The source of my lightheartedness comes because Christ was born with the sole purpose of dying. The sacrifice brings me peace. My eternal salvation and destination are secure. There is nothing this world can throw at me that will change that or take away that peace.

If I’m late to something because of traffic, it’s ok, eternal salvation secure.
If money is tight, it’s ok, as He tells us in Matthew, he clothes and feeds the birds of the air, how much more will he care for me, his child?
If I lose a vehicle, it’s ok, I have another, it’s more than I need anyways.
If I have a poor relationship with someone, if they treat me bad, my Father in heaven loves me.

The end of the matter is this, Christ is more. Christ is my source of joy. In a way, how can I NOT be lighthearted? How can I NOT skip around and shout and laugh for joy? How can you be held down?

Let your heart be light friends, let your heart be light.

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Day 1989 – My Selfie Face Is Always The Same…

Posted on December 21, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

I mean, come on…

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It all started with this one….

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Day 1988 – Today Looked A Lot Like This…

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Day 1987 – Everything In Life Is A Puzzle

Posted on December 19, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

One thing about me not everyone knows is that I LOVE puzzles. Give me a puzzle, and I’m happy. Kid’s puzzle, happy. 3D puzzle, happy. Computer puzzle, happy. My personal favorite puzzle brand is Springbok. They are sold online and through Hallmark stores. I have hundreds of them (not an exaggeration). What I love about them is that they have a thick, cardboard backing. This means that when the puzzle is complete, you can pick up the whole thing. They also have lots of different types of pieces. It’s not your typical two innies and two outties, etc. type. No, there are circles with innies, jagged pieces.

I have a mind that loves puzzles. I love tossing the whole box out, spreading out the pieces, flipping them over and starting to methodically put them together. Sometimes I start with the edges, sometimes it’s a color, sometimes it’s upside down.

This morning, I listened to several sermons while putting together puzzles on the computer. It hit me how there are a lot of life lessons to be found in the process of putting a puzzle together.