Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little
makes it grow. (Prov. 13:11)
A wise man should have money in his head,
but not in his heart. (J.Swift)
To me, these quotes teach lessons that are exactly what Kevin and I would like to exemplify in our marriage. Think about money but don't let it consume you. Don't become overwhelmed, obsessed, carried away, a worshipper of the almighty dollar. Don't let it brainwash you into thinking that it's the only thing that matters in life. Do what you can to save what you can. We are striving to be smart with our money, to be thinking about what we're spending before we spend and to save as much as possible (within reason). But, we don't want it to consume our waking hours with wonderings and questions about how to get more money in the quickest way possible and we really don't want to have to cut out all of our entertainment just to save every penny. If we want to go to breakfast, we will. If we want to go to the movies, we will. There has to be a good balance. Basically, we want to think of money as a need but not as THE need. There is so much more to life than what you have in your bank account. Plus, you can't take it with you when you go! :) Why work so hard unless you're going to enjoy spending it!?!
So...I have a plan. It's listed out for the rest of 2011 - what our expected bills will be, what our debts are (which isn't much thank goodness) and what we plan to put into our savings every month. It makes me feel good to have this concrete plan. I know, I know...life happens and things don't always go according to plan. If any couple knows that, it's us. There are lay-offs, flat tires, dentist appointments, last-minute trips, etc. So, instead, we are just planning to save X amount every month through the end of this year and we're going to try our hardest to follow the plan. If we need to stray from the plan one month because of this, that or the-other-thing, you ask? Well, then, I guess this will teach us so much more than just money smarts. It will teach us flexibility and rolling with the punches.
*ps. perfect timing because I, ladies and gentlemen, got a raise today! God's timing is perfect! :)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Little moments.
The little moments in life are what define you. These same moments are what keep you going and remind you that you are loved. And special. And blessed beyond measure.
Like when my husband mouthed "I love you" as he returned to work and I was on my way back home.
Like when my dad called to say "you're gone already?" and "you always stop in to say hi to your dad."
Like when I realized folding my husband's clean underwear and matching his socks was exactly what I wanted to be doing on my day off.
Like when I cleaned the kitchen just so my husband wouldn't have to on his day off.
Like when I heard mom say "I love you, bye" and I realized that she never says bye without saying "I love you" too. And that's exactly the kind of mom I want to be.
Like when I browsed the baby section at Kohl's and pictured what our future baby will look like and how proud I will be to have Kevin's child(ren) one day.
In all these little moments, I realized just how blessed I am. I may not have a house or a baby and I may not have a ton of money in my bank account or a well-paying job or that really fabulous pair of black sparkly TOMS shoes I want so badly. But I have health insurance and I have my own in-house laundry machines. I have parents that have accepted my husband as their own son. I have a mother-in-law that's more "mother" and less "in law" who loves me like a daughter. I had a beyond-spectacular wedding, that still remains the best day of my life. I have a husband that promised me the world and he tries his hardest to fulfill that promise every day. I have a dog that practices unconditional love and I have the best girlfriends a girl could ask for. See, I really have exactly what I need. It's all about those little moments that make you think "wow, I am blessed."
Like when my husband mouthed "I love you" as he returned to work and I was on my way back home.
Like when my dad called to say "you're gone already?" and "you always stop in to say hi to your dad."
Like when I realized folding my husband's clean underwear and matching his socks was exactly what I wanted to be doing on my day off.
Like when I cleaned the kitchen just so my husband wouldn't have to on his day off.
Like when I heard mom say "I love you, bye" and I realized that she never says bye without saying "I love you" too. And that's exactly the kind of mom I want to be.
Like when I browsed the baby section at Kohl's and pictured what our future baby will look like and how proud I will be to have Kevin's child(ren) one day.
In all these little moments, I realized just how blessed I am. I may not have a house or a baby and I may not have a ton of money in my bank account or a well-paying job or that really fabulous pair of black sparkly TOMS shoes I want so badly. But I have health insurance and I have my own in-house laundry machines. I have parents that have accepted my husband as their own son. I have a mother-in-law that's more "mother" and less "in law" who loves me like a daughter. I had a beyond-spectacular wedding, that still remains the best day of my life. I have a husband that promised me the world and he tries his hardest to fulfill that promise every day. I have a dog that practices unconditional love and I have the best girlfriends a girl could ask for. See, I really have exactly what I need. It's all about those little moments that make you think "wow, I am blessed."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Update on the Garv's
We've been busy lately, it seems, but I am not sure with what in particular. House stuff has kinda fizzled - we are just waiting to find something perfect and nothing bright and shiny has popped up yet. Still continuing to save money and live frugally. I have never eaten so many flipping egg sandwiches in my life! Haha. Little changes have been good for us like after we cook our meals together, we actually make it a point to sit at our kitchen table together and talk about our day (instead of planting our butts on the couch hovering around the coffee table and tv). We have been going on daily walks together, either in the morning before work or after we eat dinner. It's been nice to have those moments together to catch up and make sure we're on the same track. Finally got our tax return - that was a nice surprise in the bank account yesterday. We also received our $75 incentive check from the State of Oregon - Energy Trust for the purchase of our laundry machines. That was a nice surprise as well considering we both forgot about it and we purchased them so long ago. Basically, the wheels are still turning around our household and we can feel the energy starting to shift upward. Easter in a couple weeks, Sacramento in May, our 2nd anniversary in July, Lincoln City in August...and maybe a few more trips we're trying to work out. Overall, things are looking good!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Plan B.
Dear husband,
"The most successful people are those who are good at plan B."
I think we've had our fair share of plan B.
The tides are about to turn. I can feel it.
Don't forget to hold my hand all the way through, ok?
Love,
Your wifey
Monday, April 11, 2011
5 things that make our relationship work:
1. Enjoy each others company.
We truly love to be together. Before we dated, we were best friends, quick friends. The kind of friend that will stick by your side through even the worst-of-the-worst arguments. He's the one I can't wait to tell my funny joke to or to see when I get home from work. For him, it's the same. On the rare occasion that we spend time apart, saying "I miss you" is second nature once we do get the chance to talk or be together again. We both just feel really lucky in knowing that we have a strong friendship intertwined into a thriving, loving marriage.
2. Have patience.
Just like my mom said in her speech at our wedding, "Kevin has the patience of Job" and he really does. Me? Not so much. I fly off the handle, I am a bit of a last-minute-gal and thrive on spontaneity. But he teaches me patience every day. His personality makes him think through all possibilities (and sometimes it takes longer than I'd like) whereas I just make rash decisions and sometimes stick my foot in my mouth. I find myself often tapping my foot in his direction, waiting for his response or decision on a certain situation. Thankfully, in our relationship, there is a little push-n-pull and, in the end, we learn alot from each other.
3. Have fun together.
This might seem obvious but this is the glue that holds us together. Neither of us laugh the same way with anyone else. He shows me his true, goofy self and we have dance parties together in the family room all the time. On the outside, Kevin seems like the serious one but when the doors are closed, he definitely has a freak flag (even if he doesn't fly it in public). We are just meant to be, two goofy peas-in-a-pod.
4. Love.
We say it and we show it when we feel it. Multiple times every day (and Kevin would repeat everyday I ask him "Boog, do you love me?" and, although he's probably irritated about answering the same question over and over, he always responds "Love you Boog". He has little ways of showing his love and I do of showing mine to him. He cooks for me and will bring me coffee at work and a warm towel after a shower and he never yells at me for using the last of the toilet paper without replacing the roll. I wash his unmentionables and try to cook him inventive meals and I turn on his side of the electric blanket to heat up his side before bed and never yell at him for leaving his basketball shorts on the floor of the bathroom. We love. In big ways, in little ways and in ways neither one of us notice.
5. Sometimes it isn't worth it.
This has been the biggest hurdle for me so far...learning to pick my battles. He doesn't really get upset about much - very calm all the time. So, in this category, I am the one that is still learning. And his patience and sensitive attitude teaches me in some way almost every day that the little things in life don't matter. They just don't. If he left socks on the floor or dripped some water on my clean counter or if I shattered a dish in the sink or left the back door propped open, it's not the end of the world. What matters is that we're together, we're happy and we're in love. All the rest of is just stuff that won't matter at the end of the day.
We truly love to be together. Before we dated, we were best friends, quick friends. The kind of friend that will stick by your side through even the worst-of-the-worst arguments. He's the one I can't wait to tell my funny joke to or to see when I get home from work. For him, it's the same. On the rare occasion that we spend time apart, saying "I miss you" is second nature once we do get the chance to talk or be together again. We both just feel really lucky in knowing that we have a strong friendship intertwined into a thriving, loving marriage.
2. Have patience.
Just like my mom said in her speech at our wedding, "Kevin has the patience of Job" and he really does. Me? Not so much. I fly off the handle, I am a bit of a last-minute-gal and thrive on spontaneity. But he teaches me patience every day. His personality makes him think through all possibilities (and sometimes it takes longer than I'd like) whereas I just make rash decisions and sometimes stick my foot in my mouth. I find myself often tapping my foot in his direction, waiting for his response or decision on a certain situation. Thankfully, in our relationship, there is a little push-n-pull and, in the end, we learn alot from each other.
3. Have fun together.
This might seem obvious but this is the glue that holds us together. Neither of us laugh the same way with anyone else. He shows me his true, goofy self and we have dance parties together in the family room all the time. On the outside, Kevin seems like the serious one but when the doors are closed, he definitely has a freak flag (even if he doesn't fly it in public). We are just meant to be, two goofy peas-in-a-pod.
4. Love.
We say it and we show it when we feel it. Multiple times every day (and Kevin would repeat everyday I ask him "Boog, do you love me?" and, although he's probably irritated about answering the same question over and over, he always responds "Love you Boog". He has little ways of showing his love and I do of showing mine to him. He cooks for me and will bring me coffee at work and a warm towel after a shower and he never yells at me for using the last of the toilet paper without replacing the roll. I wash his unmentionables and try to cook him inventive meals and I turn on his side of the electric blanket to heat up his side before bed and never yell at him for leaving his basketball shorts on the floor of the bathroom. We love. In big ways, in little ways and in ways neither one of us notice.
5. Sometimes it isn't worth it.
This has been the biggest hurdle for me so far...learning to pick my battles. He doesn't really get upset about much - very calm all the time. So, in this category, I am the one that is still learning. And his patience and sensitive attitude teaches me in some way almost every day that the little things in life don't matter. They just don't. If he left socks on the floor or dripped some water on my clean counter or if I shattered a dish in the sink or left the back door propped open, it's not the end of the world. What matters is that we're together, we're happy and we're in love. All the rest of is just stuff that won't matter at the end of the day.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Yearning for yarn.
I have to have these or else I might will just die. Literally. Are these not the (freaking) cutest things you've ever seen? Ran across them on a friend's blog and my.heart.skipped.a.beat. 
The pink ones with the precious little cream bows? Yes, please! Any little girl of mine wouldn't be caught in anything else :)
And those irresistible magenta t-strap booties? Forgetaboutit! Talk about teaching 'em about lookin' good when they're young!
And let's not even forget about the "Baby Isaac" blue and grey stripes or the chocolate brown beauties. They make my heart melt (every.single.pair) and make me wish I could pop out a baby right this second to adorn with such fabulous knit baby shoes.
Why-oh-why must we be on a budget when I find precious gems such as these? Pleasantly Plump [knits], you are such a tease to this budgeting fashionista. PUH-lease still be around when I am in need of baby-foot bundling! :)
The pink ones with the precious little cream bows? Yes, please! Any little girl of mine wouldn't be caught in anything else :)
And those irresistible magenta t-strap booties? Forgetaboutit! Talk about teaching 'em about lookin' good when they're young!
And let's not even forget about the "Baby Isaac" blue and grey stripes or the chocolate brown beauties. They make my heart melt (every.single.pair) and make me wish I could pop out a baby right this second to adorn with such fabulous knit baby shoes.
Why-oh-why must we be on a budget when I find precious gems such as these? Pleasantly Plump [knits], you are such a tease to this budgeting fashionista. PUH-lease still be around when I am in need of baby-foot bundling! :)
What a pain!
There's nothing like a little kink-in-your-neck to make you appreciate a day at work without a kink-in-your-neck. Let me tell you, sitting at my computer desk ALL DAY trying to answer phones and type at the same time proved nearly impossible. It's necessary to document that today has definitely been a challenge. Almost got into multiple car accidents due to the fact that I have to basically blindly turn since my kinked neck won't let me turn to check for on-coming cars.
Attention all Oregonians on the road - look out for me. I'll be the girl in the dark grey Jetta with her head tilted at a 45-degree angle to the left, wincing in pain every time she hits a bump. Please take pity and smile as you pass me. I'm trying my hardest!
Hopefully this is just temporary and will be all better by morning.
*Note to husband - better brush up on your neck massage skills because you're all mine all night!!*
Attention all Oregonians on the road - look out for me. I'll be the girl in the dark grey Jetta with her head tilted at a 45-degree angle to the left, wincing in pain every time she hits a bump. Please take pity and smile as you pass me. I'm trying my hardest!
Hopefully this is just temporary and will be all better by morning.
*Note to husband - better brush up on your neck massage skills because you're all mine all night!!*
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