Blog #1. Basically a summary and start to many more!

My thoughts about starting a blog have finally caught up with me! Maybe now I can inspire my sister to do the same! (hint hint, BROOKE) I have mentioned to several people about my thoughts to attempt one with the thought in mind that I may not actually keep up with it. Here’s to hoping!

I chose the name Triple-Braided Cord for the overall theme of our stories. Initially, it sounds a bit cliché, but we have really seen the truth to the saying deriving from the verses in Ecclesiastes, which reigned the theme of our wedding more than a year ago. I shall share this, “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get better return for their labor.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help, but people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.  And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

It’s been nearly a month since the fanfare of packing, parties and farewells began in our remaining days as Kansas residents. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the friends and family who made our days extremely special. Although the days seemed to disappear quickly, it seems as though months have passed instead of weeks.

A lot has happened since we moved to Gulfport, Florida. For those of you who aren’t aware of our move, our inspiration fell upon Steven’s decision to follow a law school interest and we received a scholarship, as well as many other “this is right” feelings that we couldn’t turn down. So here we are, living in a house rented to us by the school just across the street from the beautiful campus. Stetson University College of Law was once a resort that housed celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Babe Ruth (we recently learned that Babe Ruth’s old house is just a few houses down the street from our own!) They have hand painted tile fountains that are rumored to have once been flowing with champagne!

We love living in a house after an apartment! It’s been fun figuring out creative ways to personalize a space built in the 1950s. We didn’t come with much. We sold a lot of our large furniture to lighten our load to travel. Knowing we would eventually relocate, I chose not to make many purchases that would eventually have to be packed up anyway. As hard as it was at the time, feeling like we lived in a college dorm room in our apartment, it was worth the wait. We still had most of our wedding gift cards and the wonderful resource of Craigslist to start furnishing our home! We still have a ways to go finishing our search for furniture and home warming decorative items, but it definitely feels like “home” and we couldn’t ask for anything better.

The school was kind enough to allow us to move in two full weeks before Steven started orientation. I really appreciate this time with him, as it appears his schedule will keep him fairly busy for quite some time. We have enjoyed getting to know our area, meeting a few people here and there, and of course the beaches! The beaches are just beautiful and the water is absolutely perfect. I couldn’t ask for a better place to unwind or de-stress after (or in the middle of) a long day!

Steven started orientation on Monday, which spanned from 8 until 6 in the evening. Needless to say, he was tired both physically and mentally from all the information he received that day! After two days off, while the other sections sat through orientation day 1, he is at day 2 today and will start classes on Monday.

As for myself, I’m still looking for a job. The right one will come along, I remind myself, but that doesn’t always fight away the down-hearted moments. In the mean-time, I fight my unemployment days with baking and experimenting with other recipes (can you tell I’m Mennonite??) reading my thrift-store book purchases, minimal crafting experiments and making sure Bailey stays out of trouble : ). I do have to thank her at times for her inquisitive behavior as it does introduce me to people who may be friends someday?? I was very excited for Bailey’s introduction of our backyard neighbor’s English bulldog who was absolutely adorable! If I can’t have one, at least I can play with one!

I hope to update regularly to keep friends and family who are interested in staying informed about our happenings. I know everyone says that, but I’m hoping to use this as an outlet to keep me busy while Steven himself is. I do really appreciate his nature to focus so hard on goals and do his absolute best and not be happy with anything less. I know this will reward us both in the future and this keeps my heart and my head hopeful for upcoming days.