Time...

Yesterday I was hit with the anxious thought that there are not enough hours in the day. John, and his male thinking, suggested that perhaps I should try managing my time better. (He is right, as always.) But that still doesn't change the fact that I feel a bit panicked.

I went part-time in December, and for moi, that equates to working (flying and being away from home) about six days a month. Meaning that I have potentially 24/25 days a month full of 24 hours in which I am free to choose how I spend those hours. That is more time than any one I know. I don't have children. I don't have a second job. I don't even volunteer anywhere. HOW CAN I BE USING UP ALL OF THOSE HOURS AND STILL FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME?!

When I found out I was going to be awarded part-time back in November, my mind started reeling with all of the trips and new countries I would be seeing (I'm at 20 countries, I need to make it to 30 by 30. 2.5 years....). Then came the rather rude awakening that God was not granting me this blessing so that I could be idle and/or selfish with all of this time. I have lived a truly charmed life with very little responsibility thus far. Where much is given, much is required and apparently it is pay-back time. Turns out The-Big-Man-Upstairs has quite the sense of humor.

Fast forward to today. I have been called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher. The ONE AND ONLY Gospel Doctrine teacher. To say that I feel inadequate is a GROSS understatement. I taught my first lesson last Sunday and we will just say that there is room for improvement. On top of that John and I have been set apart as temple workers in the San Antonio Temple. We work the Saturday morning shift, every Saturday at 7:00 am. An added bonus to this upcoming weekend is our "Introduction" talk in Sacrament meeting. Our topic... "How the gospel changes lives..." How fitting.

I openly welcomed all of these new challenges, but at the moment I feel as though I am drowning in Mormonism. I have no doubt that I will come to love this new life where "time management" is so vital, but I am not quite there yet. In the mean time I will be spending a lot of time on my knees until I get my swimming strokes perfected.

In the wise words of a cartoon fish... "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

Long lost medium

Seen one of these recently?

About a month ago a good friend challenged me to start writing in a journal. And actual journal. Paper. Binding. Penmanship. Lines. A physical record.

Nothing digital. Nothing typed. Nothing that glows.

It. Is. Amazing.

It is astounding how different writing in a personal journal is to writing a blog. I love it. I am so grateful for the challenge and how it has improved my understanding and love for the commandment to "keep a record".

I now pass this challenge on to you.

On your mark. Get set. Go!

So we got married...

 The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has never resonated with me quite as it does in regards to my wedding day. It was such a special and meaningful day that words truly are not adequate. So while I am left speechless at the mere thought of the day John and I were married, I share with you the thousands of in-audible words in these pictures. Enjoy.

✵Wedding Photos✵

Happy Halloween Birthday

 John was born on Halloween.

I love it.

We dressed down instead of up this year, stayed inside, and partook of John's requested birthday feast. I made a HUGE pot of Momma Jeanne's Gumbo served over rice, an Apple Crumble Pie (I even made the crust & crumble), and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. 

We topped the night off with a scary movie.

Could not have been more perfect.

Gratitude

On the 19th of every month I am given my full schedule for the coming month, so basically I can see the future. :) This month is no different, but with next month holding TWO important holidays (Halloween, aka John's birthday, is also in the November bid) I have been particularly anxious.

The verdict...

Halloween = Off

Thanksgiving (the entire week of) = NOT Off

On the evening of the 24th we then get the opportunity to "drop" two trips that we have been assigned in the month to come. Our little FHE on Monday night ran a bit long (with good reason, it was a particularly great one) and I was certain that I had missed my opportunity to drop my trips over Thanksgiving due to the fact that everyone else would have already dropped their's, leaving "insufficient reserves" for me to drop mine.

This was true.

At the encouragement of my sweet husband (I have one of those now. Still getting used to the sound of that.) I tried to drop it a second time feeling that it would make no difference. This time he was right and I learned a valuable lesson in listening to him.

My last day of work in November is now the 20th, meaning that I get to spend Thanksgiving with John. Where and with which family we will be spending it is still undetermined, but together we shall be.

I am finding that in giving the Lord my best He has undoubtedly been giving me His best. I am amazed how on a daily basis I am bowled over by yet another realization of how good He is to me and how He truly knows me personally and the timing of my life. I am so blessed and, therefore, ultimately THANKFUL. 

What I am trying to get at, after that long introduction, is how grateful I am for this upcoming season. Isn't it wonderful that our corner of the world has dedicated a season to being thankful for the abundance that we are given? I love it. There is no other time of the year that can compare with the warm feelings of these next months.

Now, while my immediate focus shall go back to celebrating John's birth, Halloween, and our costumes for a few more days, I am overwhelmed with gratitude at my personal abundance and I am certainly grateful for the wonderful month of November and it's public encouragement to EVERYONE to be thankful.

Marriage

Mr. John Farrow and I were married this past Friday. Don't remember a thing from the ceremony, but the after party with our immediate families and closest friends certainly was excellent.
(Photos are coming.)

For the past year John has reminded me on rather frequent occasion that he is "the ultimate team player", and I have gained a very strong testimony of how much truth there is to that statement.

He has been on MY team. Always. Period.
Now that we are married, I get to repay the favor.
There is no more "my team", it is OUR TEAM from here on out.
Our sacrifices. Our gains. Our losses. Our wins.

Life is a whole lot less daunting when you have someone holding your hand.

Here's to marriage!

Onto the next, and ultimate adventure!

(RIP http://msjessicavera.blogspot.com/)