Clarification

My sister pointed that I AM a homemaker, but it just doesn't always look like someone else's experience of being a wife. I think Caleb just meant, I am not a full-time-stay-at-home-homemaker :)

1 year later

Caleb and I will celebrate our 1st Wedding anniversary in a few weeks - crazy! We have had a full year of growing, changing, work, vacation, etc.

Things we did this year include:
- Cancun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- charleston
- Williamsburg
- time at the lakehome with Caleb's family
- bought a road bike for me
- caleb held his youngest baby yet (baby Joe in the Hospital)
- We visited Ben and Ama in Texas and Caleb changed his first diaper ever (he was supervised!)
- Went to Wicked
- Worked A LOT, learning to deal with our work schedules
- learned a little about plumbing and electricity
- argued about, built together, and maintained a garden
- Caleb put a small retaining wall in
- painted the kitchen
- finally bought new living room furniture
- hosted many social events
- small group
- involved with a small group re-building committee
- watched Caleb's fantasy football team score the most points but also have the most points scored against him (did I mention he told me that about 100 times)
- First Valentine's, thanksgiving, Christmas and New years together - oh those holidays and the juggling of time and expectations!!!!!
- celebrated by 30th with friends and family at Buca's and Caleb's 29th at the Gopher basketball game
- played on a broomball team
- spin class on Tuesdays together
- went from the Young adults to a Young Married group as of last week
- learned/learning/floundering at times with how to deal with conflict
- attended Holy Spirit conference in August
- went on lots of dates to restaurants caleb likes
- taught Caleb to sleep in a little
- set our budget, working on budget, updating on Quicken

So, it's been A LOT. We are very blessed. I think for me it has been a year of "doing" as a wife. On top of working/commuting 50 hours a week, I was working on cooking, cleaning, shopping, grocery shopping, meal planning, laundry, errand running, social calendar juggling, supporting caleb in his endevours, decorating, etc. I sort of hit a tired wall this Christmas season, at least by the end of it. I really love being at home and doing the "homemaker" thing. I really really do. But there is just not enough time to do work and home to the degree I would like to. Caleb always says, "Kristie, I know you want to do all these things like cook, crafty things, etc, but you work. You're not a homemaker." That has been really hard to accept and allow him to release me from things. I feel this compelling urge to get things done (Hello, Martha), but my heart's desire is to slow down. To rest a little, to be wiser with my time and energy. I need and desire to put more time into my relationship with Jesus, instead of the moments I throw at Him. You may have heard the quote, "too busy NOT to pray". It's one I believe in theory, but have a hard time living out. But, in all the doing of being a wife and a PA, a sister/daugher/auntie, a small group member, a church volunteer, and try to stay fit, I think the being part of me needs some more attention.

This year I would like to work on things like being more trusting in Jesus and less anxious. More patient and less worrisome. More joyful and less complaining. More prayerful for Caleb and less critical. I would like to be a better communicator with him also. I would like to work on building the walls of my spiritual house. I would like for us to work on becoming the "one" that God has in mind for us, and trust that although I can't always understand the means of that, I can trust His sovereignty get us to the perfect end by the perfect means.

So many choices, so little time!!!

After searching a LONG time on the web for christmas photo cards I have decided that Shutterfly really does have the most fantastic selection over all. They also are giving away 50 FIFTY free photo cards to anyone that registers to blog about them and their products. I won't show the final choice but it was a tough decision between a lot of them:

Here is the link overall, but these are my choices: www.shutterly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards.

Trying to keep it simple with Joy!

And because it is actually CHRISTMAS, it is okay to say "Merry Christmas" on the card, in lieu of "happy holidays", which obviously is okay too :)

And, although I really don't believe in santa, this one was just plain FUN!!!

And, because we wanted to send out a wedding picture or 2 we really liked the multiple photo picture card - lots of classy options

As for gifts I am STRONGLY considering a desk calendar for Caleb, love it! There are a LOT of options for home calendars with really great motifs, and I think it is a great way to document the previous year. It might make a good "grandparent" gift to put these up of the kiddos. Of course, nobody wants a year long calendar of just Caleb and I.

www.shutterfly.com/calenders/desks-calendars

In light of our 1 year anniversary we did finally get all those Thank You's out the door, but sure wish I would have done something simple and stylish like these on the website:

www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/announcements/wedding-announcements.

In short, I have really enjoyed going through the website and have been pleased with the results. You will be too! Shutterfly always has ongoing deals also that make these options not so unrealistic. Try it and have fun!

A little update of photos :)

We painted our kitchen YELLOW :)

It was a lot of work to tape around everything....

...and then touch up all those mistakes!!!

Forrest and Julie come for a visit!

Forrest is in the FBI now :)

Joseph Robert Nash born 7/7/2010

At a Twins game with mom and dad in July!

Sara, Ama (sister-in-law) and I at Ama's baby shower (headed to the hospital as we speak!!!)

Caleb & I at a winery in Williamsburg, VI with some friends

Caleb & I with friends in Williamsburg, Virginia

Outside "Seabisquit" in Charleston, SC in May 2010

Sibley State Park camping and hiking with young adults from Trinity Lutheran - it was hot!

What are we up to?

It has been a fast 3 months or so since we got married! We are walking through transitions of marriage, and trying to work as a team as we work on projects. Needless to say, the Lord is frequently bringing to mind my friend Bethany's words of wisdom regarding "differences" between Caleb and I: they are there to compliment one another and bring a more full and beautiful picture. But, we are having fun figuring this all out!


Here are a few highlights from the homefront:

Caleb is, let's say, THRILLED to open his cordless DeWalt Drill and some sort of saw thing - thanks Hewitt co-workers. Caleb pleaded "the 5th" when asked to comment on his like of this gift versus the curtains, dishtowels, bedding, silverware, and dishes....ha!

Valentine's Day 2010 - #1 for us since we skipped that one last year ;) We went to Birchwood Cafe before church for breakfast. Here, Caleb is inhaling a strawberry cream-filled euclair thing. I didn't get much of that one :) We weren't sure how to celebrate since we had a wedding, christmas, 2 birthdays, etc....and we hadn't finished opening our wedding gifts yet - oops! But, Caleb came through bigtime and it was a lovely day, flowers included!

Although we all know Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday, Caleb jokingly reports he is "screwed" because my dad always does something nice for my mom on Valentine's Day, and they have been married almost 35 years! Dad has set the bar high :) He delivered, however, and phoned loved ones near and far to remember a perfume I once had that I really loved. Ralph Lauren ROMANCE. Delicious. I gave Caleb the truffles.

Aww, our life would not be complete without the third member of our family, Pete. We love Pete! He is a good friend to Caleb, and has graciously welcomed, even invited, me into guy time. We had a "hang out" time where I cooked dinner - woot woot - and they proceeded to watch a movie a bit too guyish for me. So i went upstairs and cleaned up the house - oh well. All the single ladies - Pete is a great guy, owns a house, loves the Lord, knows how to fix everything, has a fabulous family, bakes brownies, and rides a motorcycle!

Oh dear, this picture brings back some funny memories already. Plumbing problems! Literally 5 minutes before the Eikum's came over for dinner our kitchen sink busted through the "U" part and drained all over the kitchen floor. Even better, our dining room light over our dinner table broke :) Thankfully it was the Eikums, no further explanation needed, and they graciously humored our adventures. We ate by candlelight instead! I managed to knock my new wine glass over and 3 days later we found mashed potatoes sticking to the wall in the corner...as my dad says, "good thing we didn't name you Grace!"

Unfortunatley, the main dish I made was not that great, but the mashed potatoes were rockin'. It was a new recipe, and I new it would be risky, but oh well. Thanks Bert and Beki for humoring my cooking and hopefully you will come again. After they left Caleb and I adventured to Home Depot and with the help of a trusty employee were able to find all the parts Caleb needed. He even got to buy a hacksaw in the process (oh darn, says caleb!). Caleb grunted and groaned the rest of the evening while I hid safely away in the office shredding documents (i love shredding things!). I learned from my dad to just give the guy some space during plumbing. Caleb did GREAT, and after a few adjustments later in the week he fixed the plumbing!

Later that week I made stuffed shells later that week (see picture down the post), and they were AMAZING...so Eikums, give me one more try :)

Caleb puts up faux wood blinds for me...unfortunately we later discovered that we won't be able to fit the other set in the window above the kitchen sink - oh darn you small mpls homes! So, for now we have a faux wood blind and a beige mini blind in the kitchen.

Needless to say, we have been busy. So, we thought is was time to head down to the farm and just "get away". We went to Victoria's in Rochester with Sara and Galen, a tradition they have of bringing each new couple out there to. We had a great time watching Galen haggle the waiter about the wine and enjoying the fine cuisine. We spent Saturday night and Sunday afternoon with them, which was very relaxing. Thank you Sara and Galen for entertaining us.

I don't have any pictures from Easter up yet because I haven't downloaded them from my mom's camera. Caleb's dad, Galen, dropped off Sara at the airport (to go visit her sick father) and he went to Easter service with us and out to brunch at Birchwood cafe. We again enjoyed watching him hassel the waitress about the "organic" food. We just enjoyed listening to Galen talk about everything going on, he is a very well thought out guy (which is where Caleb gets his lawyer-like thought process from I think). LATER, we had a super fun time at mom and dad's. We were joined by the Kilpatricks and the Nash clan too. We ate a lot, had the egg hunt, played outside, and just chatted.

All in all, that is a brief look at our life. We anticipate getting to the lakehome soon, and also taking a short trip to Charleston in early May.

I can't remember the last time...

....I blogged! Let me tell you, it's not because there was nothing to say, no new changes, a worry free life, a lost computer or time of self-reflection...it was CRAZY. The reality is I didn't know where on earth to even begin blogging, and because the task seemed daunting, I decided it wasn't worth it. Now I look over the past few months and I wonder where did the time go? It went to wedding planning. That's all I can say people. That, and a new job.

But, we made it, and 3 months to the day I am back in the blogging world. To be honest again, I have so many non-media things to catch up on I really don't know how to catch you all up on the months...for half the things I don't even have pictures. That reminds me: if anyone has wedding, shower, rehersal dinner pictures would you let me know and I will somehow get them from you, borrow your memory card, or hijak your camers :) End tangent.

Here is a VERY small taste of our lives, and hopefully I will get some more pics up later. The wedding was beautiful, I LOVED walking up the aisle. The honeymoon was lovely, the food great, and the company was pretty sweet too :)

We are back in our routines, and unfortunately, Caleb is busier than ever at work so feel free to drop a line or email during the day to keep me company! When I get more wedding pics I will post 'em as they come :)

Last weekend or so at the Lake home

State Fair in Late August 2009

Caleb finishes his FSA Fall 2009 - He's officially a "Fellow"

Johnson Christmas in Texas December 2009

Putting away Bridal Shower gifts somewhere in the winter 2009

Dad's birthday

Then....

My birthday

Then....

Kir and Trav get married!!!

Caleb is an usher in their wedding!

Then....

Caleb's Birthday!

FINALLY!!!

The girls finally arrive from all over the USA - hair is done! Almost married :)

Make-up Goddess Lindsay Allison - thanks girl!

Putting that dress on :) Getting nervous now!

Finished Product! Picture time :)

We're officially married!

eating cake!

Dancing!!

At the airport about to go to CANCUN!!! Tired?

One of our nights going out - fun fun fun! Yes, Caleb is wearing white pants = so cute :)

Basically all we did on the honeymoon - RELAX!

We're home! Last broomball game the weekend after we get back - we were SO out of shape for that game - all worth it for a little R&R

Misery loves company :)

I just talked to a good friend of mine, a person in my PA program. She just had her first day of Urgent Care work; she started a little late because she had a baby our last year. She was freakin' out - understandably. I got to listen to her talk about her day, we laughed together, she "vented", and I shared some of my learning curve thus far. It was really nice :) It's really nice to connect with someone that just KNOWS what you are going through, isn't it?

I love that God puts people in our lives, our friends, with whom we can talk...and they "get it". I love walking people through things that I have been through or am still going through myself. It is a joy to be a comfort to someone, and to encourage them, and to love them. THAT is life giving. I pray that God would continually mold my life so that I can befriend or be-a-friend to others around me. I pray he would help each of us to see that we can truly count it all joy knowing that our present sufferings/life situations/circumstances are being used for things far greater than ourselves....and that we are earning that eternal weight of glory, and that we get to share in the JOY of loving others as they walk too. To the many dear and special friends I have: Thank You for walking with me...may your Joy be complete...

...may our cups overflow :)

Love, Kristie