Nevertheless I live: Our Iowa Adventure

   I wrote this post a couple weeks ago explaining why we would drive 12 hours from West Virginia to Iowa the land of corn, whisky and slipknot. We spent a whole month there! Yes, I lived in a hotel room with my husband and our puppy for a whole month. 

It was surprisingly easier than expected. Mike went to work each morning Monday - Saturday while me and Gharrah slept in. When we woke up she spent days lounging and just slightly getting in my way while I got to work and continued to build my empire. Empire may be a exaggeration...but hey I am claiming it. 

I continued to work on the blog and research ways to grow and strengthen it. I made tons more jewelry, hosted two Instagram giveaways (are you following me over there to catch future giveaways?!) and finished my first completed line of bracelets called The Tessa Bracelet! (There actually is a giveaway happening on this post for two of the Tessa Bracelets until 6/30! Have you entered?!) I even filmed several videos on our youtube channel!  So all in all I'd say Iowa was a success as far as productivity goes!

After work we mostly did the same things we would have done at home...only with more corn. We of course found Gharrah a walking route where she met several squirrels and her first rabbit family! She also saw cows and a family of wild turkeys for the first time. She of course thinks all animals are her friends...luckily she can never catch anything. 

We also quickly found a local Target...but not just any Target. They have a Super Target! It's like our Target back home only...well super! You have to understand my love of Target to understand why this was a big deal... Anyways we bought Miss Gharrah several new toys and bones and spoiled her rotten...er to make up for her being cooped up a bit more than usual.

My favorite part was the long drives down country roads that Mike would find. Just miles and miles of flat land, gorgeous horizons and skies and corn...beautiful corn! I love just riding around with that beautiful man of mine.

On our last night out there he drove us way out to nowhere, where we were surrounded by farm land and no street lights just so we could see the stars without city lights. Yes, it was just as romantic as it sounds. The poor quality picture does not do it justice. 

Most of all, I am just so thankful to be able to be with this man. I am loving the adventure that our life has become. I am so thankful, that I am only a tiny bit self-conscious about that makeupless mess of a beautiful picture above. He looks handsome and Gharrah is adorable and I am so happy. 

Now we are in Wisconsin! Lol. My life has become pretty random. I like it. More to come on Wisconsin soon!

Thank y'all for reading! For reading all the way through here is Mike and I's Been Boozeled Challenge where we had to eat discustingly flavored jelly beans all for the memories and enjoyment of you! 

As always, love y'all!

Hello Iowa!! |Nevertheless I Live

I am in Iowa!! Land of corn and Slipknot!! Now I am a West Virginia girl. I love my state and its glorious mountains. I have only crossed it's borders for yearly summer beach trips and a handful of other occasions. I NEVER plan to reside anywhere outside of Almost Heaven West by God Virginia...except for my dreams of someday owning a winter beach home somewhere sunny.

So you may ask why in the world I am in Iowa. My answer: Victoria's Secret. Now before you go assuming, yes we mountain lovin' hillbillies have plenty of Victoria's Secrets. So let me clarity. My husband is a contractor. He and his company build retail stores all over the country. 

He has traveled as long as I have known him. When we were dating, his being gone often during the warm months was not a huge deal. Now that we're married it's a bit more difficult. We were blessed the first couple months because construction is slow during the winter months. I think I got REEEEALLY spoiled because as soon as it got warm and he headed out I was not happy. I just missed him so much.

It has taken multiple jobs and several weeks apart to realize another potential blessing in my recent career changes. I quit my job in rescue missions a few months ago after dedicating five long years to it. I decided. with the support of my husband. to pursue a long time dream. I have wanted to create things for as long as I can remember. I want to design and create jewelry and photo albums and who knows what else. I want to create content on a blog and darn it I want a youtube channel! So that's what I am doing. I started this blog and I opened a new etsy shop that I know will someday outgrow etsy and maybe be a physical store. I created a youtube channel and I am creating a brand. Oh, and the best part?! It's portable!

That's right! We packed up my craft room and office and loaded up our puppy and drove twelve hours to Iowa where we have been for two weeks now and will be for a couple more. And after this, who knows? Maybe Wisconsin? 

All I know is I am loving this life I now live! Most of all I am loving being with my handsome hubs more!! More about our Iowa adventures coming soon! 

For now check out my latest video! Lots of changes coming to the channel. Make sure you subscribe so I can bring you along for the ride. 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 KJV

How's Married Life? | Nevertheless I live

Today I have been married for 151 days. Exactly five months ago I got the amazing privilege to marry my best friend in the entire world. People always ask us, “How is married life,” and I always give the quick general answer “It’s wonderful,” because I think that is all people really want and expect. Today, however, I would love to really answer the question. 

How is married life?

Sometimes it’s a little hard.
As the merging of two independent lives is bound to be. It is amazing and wonderful ALL the time. It can be challenging from time to time, but every challenge is worth it because we are closer and stronger after. 

It is overwhelming.
I did’t think I could love someone so much. My love for this man grows more and more with each and every passing day. And it’s such a healthy love. My love for him feels good and pure. I am not sure if that makes sense. In a world with so many people struggling with codependency and unhealthy relationships, I am glad that we are both dependent on Christ and from that flows our ever increasing love for each other. It is hard to comprehend how blessed I am to have a man like Mike. 

It is exciting.
I love thinking about our future. I love planning and dreaming about the directions our careers will go in. I love making lists of things that I want our dream home to have and the land that will surround it.  I LOVE thinking about the children we will someday raise together. I love thinking about the children we will someday adopt and foster. I can not wait to watch my husband be a father. 

It is fulfilling.
He is my best friend in the entire world. He is my support. He is my fan club. God has given me this person to weather life with. He’s my team mate. Anything that comes against one of us has both of us to face.

It is sweet.
He is sweet. He leaves me adorable notes and makes us breakfast on the weekends. He knows I am touchy because I am a physical touch love language so he always reaches for my hand whether we’re shopping and he has to try and steer the cart with the other hand or we’re in the car or just sitting on porch. I feel loved. That is an awesome thing. As someone who spent a lot of life thinking they were unloved, knowing that my husband loves me is something that I am very grateful for.

It is comfortable.
​Not in a negative boring routine kind of way. By comfortable I mean I am so comfortable just being myself. I have very few insecurities. I feel safe with him. I feel secure. I feel unashamed. 

So how is married life? Married life is wonderful. Thank you for asking.

Nevertheless I Live - Cards!!!

Hello all! Happy Sunday!

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

     Let's talk birthdays! I find Birthdays to be very exciting! However, I have a terrible habit of forgetting them.  After getting married and getting the new craft room up and operating I have made it my mission to start send out birthday cards to friends and family on their birthdays!

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

     I started thinking about it while planning the wedding and sending out well over a hundred hand addressed (and by hand addressed I mean fancy hand lettered) invitations. We don't send cards anymore! Not people under the age of...well lets just say grandmothers. I have never known anyone in my age range (twenty somethings) to send a card. At least none that I have met or seen. We are all about Facebook and texts. Those are awesome but how cool is it to go the mailbox the on your birthday or a day or so before and pull out a card addressed to you and you open it and inside is an awesome (handmade) card?!

     That doesn't happen. At least not to me. I want that for those I love though. A wonderful card to say, "Hey. I am thinking about you. I am willing to invest some time and card making resources to show you that you matter to me. I want you to know that the day in which you began to exist is a big deal to me and I am thankful to have you in my life."

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

So I set out to find a cute planner and address book so that I can make this a priority. It is exciting to me that over the years my little address book (which I had to make out of a cute blank journal using some post it tabs for the letter markers! see what I mean?! address books aren't even that easy to find...) will grow and grow and I hope I never get too busy to stop and send some love.

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

I also want to do Christmas cards! Oh and maybe Easter! I also want to send encouragement cards from time to time as well as get well cards and sympathy cards when I know those around are struggling.

In other news...

Lets talk about what I am currently into.

I am currently reading:

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken which is the second book in the Darkest Minds trilogy. I am loving this trilogy! I know I am behind but I am hooked. Expect reviews soon!

I am currently listening to:

The Dixie Chicks...I don't know why... Also Makin' Plans by Miranda Lambert because 1. I love everything she does and 2. It makes me think of my handsome husband and our future. I love that line where she says, "I'm not easy to understand, but you know me like the back of your hand." I feel you Miranda.

I am currently watching:

Grimm! I am all about Grimm right now! Living week to week to catch that new episode.

Here's a cute photo of Gharrah from this past week. (:

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

Hope you guys have an awesome week! Make sure to check back this week for more great posts.

What are you guys currently into? How do you feel about getting cards? What about sending them? Let me know below!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Nevertheless I Live - Cards! Why I make Birthday Cards for all of my friends and family. Why sending cards is important to me.

Never The Less I Live - Valentine's Day

The Life I Now Live: Valentine's Day - Why everyone should get behnid this holiday and celebrate it!

Yesterday, as we all know was Valentine’s Day. I find people have very strong emotions and opinions in regards to how they feel about the holiday. I for one love Valentine’s Day. I have loved it for the last few years many of which I was single. Don’t get me wrong I would have rather had my husband to spoil me like he did yesterday, but we were very on and off and usually we were conveniently off on this particular holiday.

Anyways, Valentine’s Day! I love love. I heard the whole “It’s a commercial holiday invented by greeting card companies and chocolate salesmen!” and I have heard the “You don’t need a special day to love someone. You should express your love every day.” I agree that the day has been commercialized, but what holiday hasn’t. I also agree that we should let those we love know every day but I think a special day a year where we can step back and reevaluate how we’re loving is great! IT’s like thanksgiving. Yes we should be thankful year around but that day comes around to remind us to check our focus in this busy and distracting world.

My day was awesome! My husband spoiled me. My love tank is very full. I hope you had a great weekend. But if you didn’t, I hope you will shift you focus to the ultimate Love.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

So matter your stance on the day, if you know that you are loved by a God who literally is love that's something worth celebrating!

Hope you all have a great week. Lots of great post coming up this week so check back!!

I have been

crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and

the

life

which I now live

in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

A Love Worth Living For