I miss people.
Mainly Sarah E at the moment. I would love a good long breakfast.
Ah well. I had a great dinner and alone time tonight…white beans with garlic, then cooked again with sausage and tomatoes. SO good with a chilled Pinot Grigio.

I can’t believe its already Monday. It was one of those weekends where I got nothing done. I’ve been so tired…I didn’t do anything this weekend! We went grocery shopping and organized the office Saturday, and last night we hung out with Zach and Rachael. We went to Depot Town last night…walked a long time, which was nice. We found a cafe that Zach and Rachael really like…and they have the best ice cream! I was really impressed. Other than that…pretty boring weekend.

This week starts October…when I’m officially working with a full caseload as the main social worker. I’m a little nervous- there is still so much I don’t know. They say its takes at least a year to feel comfortable there…so questions are completely normal. It’s weird to have so much “power” over/with an individual’s life. I’m not sure how comfortable I am with that. I suppose that means I tread lightly and listen well. So, here goes. Monday morning….and off to a new week of work. Financial Peace tonight- I’m working late, so it’ll be a run from my consumer’s home to financial peace. I think it’ll be a good class though.

Here we are, 2 weeks into marriage and 1 week into our jobs.  I think all is going well!  Bryan is at work now…I think this might become my Sunday ritual!  The apartment is still great- it still sounds like its storming outside 90% of the time.  I think the sounds come from a neighbor’s surround sound.  But who knows which neighbor it is???

Work is going well for both of us.  I think Bryan is well adjusted, and I’m getting there.  He doesn’t have a set schedule yet, which would be really awesome.  Mine should be pretty regularly 8-4:30.  That sounds really incredible to me!  There will be times in the future where I will have to work later…but oh well.  I really enjoyed the week of training.  I feel pretty comfortable, and I’ve gotten to know quite a few people.  One girl in particular is interesting to talk to.  And I really do think I’ve been blessed with a good supervisor and team to work with.  I went on a few home visits, which were very informative.  Hopefully I’ll have many more this week.  It’s nice to finally put my social work education into practice!

We went to Life Church in Canton today.  We both enjoyed it- tremendously more than last week’s choice.  The positives outweighed the negatives, at least.  I think we’re going to start doing the financial peace classes there- they start tomorrow.  Perfect timing.  I’ve been wanting to do them together for quite a while now.  I did enjoy the service, though.

So there you go.  Honestly…I’m really excited to get paid and become stable again!  I know it’ll happen…sometimes its just hard to wait!  God is good, though, and his provision is ever-present.

I thought it would be helpful to take my old blog and make it “our” blog.  So many people have asked me to keep them updated…to start a blog, to share pictures…so, this is probably the easiest way.

We’re married…a week yesterday.  It still feels odd, like we’re not actually married…I just don’t think its really sunken in yet.  It feels too normal.  The much-too-short honeymoon was great…1 night in GR and 2 nights in Bellaire/touring the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas.  It was very nice, and we came home with a lot of wine!

We’ve settled in…if you’re following facebook, you’ve seen all the pictures.  It is nice here- we have a great view.  The apartment is really quiet, and I’m thoroughly enjoying air conditioning.  My plants have a place to call home (on the balcony) and our home is a lot more…put together…than I expected.  We realized once we moved in that there aren’t any lights…other than a few necessary ones.  After a few trips to Ikea, we can see now   We have our wall hangings up,the rooms organized.  The only thing left are our many book shelves that need reorganizing.  Bryan and I are both really particular about the order our shelved books are in;-)  We have 7 bookshelves right now, I think, so…the process can get a little interesting.

It is really nice to have time…I’ve been able to cook!  I made meatloaf and baked potatoes and corn last night…Bryan made dinner last night (Spaghetti)..and I made lemon bars…it’s really nice.  I’m looking forward to having weekends off.  I might have to work then, but I’m not sure.  I don’t think I’m supposed to work more than 40 hours a week, but we’ll see how it works out.  Tonight we had bean soup…pretty normal food.  Someday we’ll have time/money to get more adventurous!

Speaking of work, Bryan is working too now.  We both started today…his is just under full time, mine is full time.  You can pray that he gets really good hours and that mine goes well!  We enjoyed our first days.  Mine will be a LOT of training, a LOT to learn.  I can’t believe how many trainings I have to go through!  I think it’ll be a lot of fun, though.  My team secretary is awesome- my desk was the only “new hire’s” desk with balloons and a banner and then a TON of stuff- like highlighters and office supplies and two calendars and filing folders, etc.  My drawers are so nice!  She also copied off helpful info for me.  She’s so sweet!  I think my manager is going to be really neat too.  I am so quiet initially…I’m sure I’ll settle in sometime.  Bryan’s transition is a lot easier- just switching stores, and his new store is a lot less stressful and better organized than the one in Grand Rapids.  I think our schedules should be okay together…I’m working approximately 8-4:30 everyday, and he’ll have 2 day shifts and 3 night shifts, probably.  A little sad…with him working 3 nights…but I guess that means I’ll just keep busy around the house!

That’s about all..I’m not sure what you all wanted to hear about, but that’s all I can think of.  It’s nice to see the sunset every night out our balcony. I have an hour or so to do scrapbooking or whatever else I want to do…Bryan took his bike to the library for the evening.

I have been so emotional lately- so emotional, yet so lacking in emotion.

I’ve been feeling better- after getting off the first dose of prednisone, it all came back…so I was given more.  All drugged up and ready to be married now, that I am…  Tea tree oil, coconut oil…both some of my good friends these days.  Oatmeal baths too… :-0

Besides that…I got a job, praise the Lord!  We’re moving to Belleville, Michigan 3 weeks from today, Lord willing.  We’re waiting on everything to come through with the apartment…as long as that goes through, we’re there.  Although I suppose my job starts the 14th, so we’ll be there regardless!  I’m working for a nonprofit agency doing person-centered-planning with developmentally disabled individuals.  It’s a really neat job- I’m very excited.  So, no military…but…God has provided a job.

Speaking of the military…my heart is so burdened.  There’s a procession from the airport to my old church today…a friend’s brother was killed in Afghanistan this past weekend.  It’s times like these my heart cries, “Oh Jesus…come quickly.”  He was just a kid..always saw him like Jeremy.  So, pray for Nicky’s family.  Bobby, Mary Elaine, Kyle, and his parents.  I can’t imagine the heartbreak.    I hate war so deeply.  Although pacifist…I am incredibly grateful for those in the military.  So thank you, Nicky….and thank you Faith, and Andrew, for what you’re doing now.

And come home quickly, Andrew…there’s only 2 weeks until my wedding!

Yes…two weeks.  It’s exciting, but I think I’m more nervous about details than I should be! So, I’m off to run errands on this rainy Friday.  Please keep the Roush family in your prayers, today, and especially over the next few weeks.  Pray that the Lord’s name would be honored and people who come to know him through Nicky’s life.

She said she didn’t know what was wrong with me, and gave me a high dosage of prednisone for a week that “might work, hopefully.” She also gave me Zyrtec, drops for artificial tears, and a nasal spray.

So, I now can’t sleep at night, but am exhausted, nauseated, but hungry…irritable, all my joints ache…I’m an emotional wreck…My muscles feel like they don’t work, everything takes longer than normal and I’m easily confused, my vision is all blurry at random times, and I’m super thirsty.

And, we pray this works. Although it never fixes a problem, just symptoms, so who KNOWS what’s going on. She wants me to go to my regular Doctor and an opthalmologist.

My original symptoms? Painful itching and hive-type things all over my legs, spreading to my chest, arms, hips, and back. Watery, red eyes with nasty sleepers continually, sore throat, minor body aches, and stuffy allergy filled nasal passages.

My legs aren’t as itchy…my eyes aren’t as sleeper filled..and my throat doesn’t hurt anymore. But who knows what caused all this:-/

So, pray we resolve this nasty stuff before the wedding! Yikes!

I’m feeling so discouraged.  I’m really trying to stay positive, but I don’t think I know how.  I’m praying, I’m in the Word…I’m spending time with Bryan, I’m spending time with other people.
I have no idea how we are going to make all the ends meet…if we weren’t getting married, I have no idea how I would make ends meet.  I can’t find a job anywhere…bills are piling up.  I bought some more groceries again today- strawberries, milk, butter, nylons…I’m being really conservative.  It’s so hard not to be discouraged.  It’s hard to get up in the mornings, I don’t want to talk to my family because they get me even more discouraged…I don’t want to eat healthy or exercise…it’s almost that “depressed” feeling I get in winter.  I know its situational, and “this too shall pass,” but it is so disheartening.  I wish I got information back/phone call from DHS so it could help with food stamps…at least that would help us with some things.  I’ve got to stay positive.  It’s so hard, though.

If you think about it, I would truly appreciate prayers.  It’s hard to keep trusting when I can’t see more than an hour ahead.

I’m drinking a mixed greens, parsley, honey, and strawberry smoothie at the moment..pretty good!   Speaking of trying to eat healthy…

I can’t believe I’m really counting it down.

My dress is done- my seamstress is taking it to be steamed and spot checked today.  My veil is beginning…sadly, I have expensive tastes…but, I have a wonderful seamstress who is doing so much for me!  I’m so excited about the “end product.”  Our centerpieces are coming together…I think, instead of vases, I want to use wine bottles.  However, I think I need to get real vases…pray that we will find the right thing!  We finally found a ring for me yesterday…it should come in tomorrow…and Bryan’s should be coming in another week or two.  We went with a simple white gold 3 mm band with milgrain on the sides.  It’s pretty and very simple…much more appropriate for me.  Everyone’s bands are so large…anything over 3 mm makes my hand look fairly unattractive.  We couldn’t find jewels we actually REALLY liked that would be durable (We like opals and aquamarines, NO diamonds!), so a simple band works well.  I got him a tungsten carbide beveled edge 6 mm band…I think they’ll go well together.

Anyway.  I’m thinking about dropping classes this fall already.  I can’t find anything for a job…and it might be better for our marriage if I try to stay home more, at least this first semester.  We’ll see.  I know God will provide, and he does provide, but right now it is pretty overwhelming.  It’s hard to stay strong and not give in to depression.

Bryan and I had a nice date last night…a full meal with wine at Mangiamos.  I actually thoroughly enjoyed it.  Usually I don’t like Mangiamos very much, but last night was great.  The food was excellent, the waitress was great…it was jazz night and the music was wonderful as well.  We split everything, it was $1.99 drinks…so we had a full meal for a value price…and used some of our gift card!  Such a blessing.  It was nice to linger over dinner for a few hours and just talk.

The more we get into planning…the more excited I am to be married.  I’m thrilled to spend the rest of my life with Bryan…to have a marriage where we work together to accomplish what the Lord has in store.  That friendship and accountability is so exciting…knowing that I have someone with the same goals and foundation I have to walk alongside me!  The spiritual implications of marriage are so deep…sometimes its overwhelming to see what the Lord has created.  I’ve never thought about it this deeply before, since I’ve never planned on a marriage so concretely.  It’s so beautiful, so holy.  I am…excited…to say the least!

It’s been incredibly busy at work.  It’s nice- I’m making good money.  So much alcohol…it’s like all I’m serving is alcohol.  It’s funny, really…my sales are hugely increased, but my tips are severely decreased.  People don’t tip well with alcohol, although its a lot more work.  Oh well.  So, the bartender gets bigger tipouts, and I earn less and work harder.  Cool.  At least the bartender’s working harder too;-)\
After work last night (we were so busy they pulled Bryan in to do dishes- we got a sweet gift certificate for the work) Bryan and I went to Martha’s Vineyard and got dinner…Tabouli, Hummus, 4 year aged Gouda, Canadian crackers, Spanish wine, and Chocolate Strawberry cake…It fed me all day today too.  I also made a salad- napa cabbage, red lettuce, raddichio, pineapple, radishes, soy nuts, coconut, and a spicy ginger soy vinaigrette.  So delicious.  I know, odd combination…but you use what you have, right?

I still have kale, swiss chard, lettuce, chinese cabbage, and radishes left from last Tuesday’s CSA.  It’s almost Tuesday again!  I made some Kale chips this past week, and some kale with potatoes and rice.  It was really good…maybe I need to make more?  Or, maybe I should just sautee the greens with oil and garlic.  I haven’t bought groceries in 3 weeks…I’m out of almost EVERYTHING.  But, trying to save money, so pressing on…we’ll see what I can make this week with what I have in the cupboards!  Oh, I have bok choy too.  I don’t have anything else to stir-fry, though…maybe a bok choy with canned tomatoes recipe?  That seems to defeat the purpose.  My spinach and the majority of my greens and fresh fruit have been used for smoothies this week- 4+cups of mixed greens with 1/2 cup or so of fruit, maybe some honey….Not too bad tasting, and every so good for you.  I’m trying to resist adding sugar….
I’m working 40+ hours at the restaurant this week.  I’m excited about the hours…but, probably won’t see Bryan at all, and I’ll be so exhausted.  Waitressing takes so much energy out of you- especially since I’m outside most of the time, with this heat.  It just sucks all the energy away.

Wedding plans are going great…69 days.  I can’t believe it.  There’s still so much to do.  I’m sure we can do it.  We have a LOT done already.  We need to get the groomsmen on it, though.  And, I need to purchase gifts for the party/those involved.  Yikes.  Shopping. I hate shopping.

Nothing has really changed, though.

It’s summer- the plants are up, my peas, beans, and strawberries are alive (although no fruit yet….)

I still don’t have a job, but am still looking.

I’m planning on going to Grand Valley…need to figure out how to pay for it!

Bryan and I are getting married September 5th- that’s exciting!

Besides that…nothing new.  I’m eating a spinach, parsley, blueberry, banana smoothie for breakfast.  We have a share in a CSA for the summer, so I’m trying new ways to use all these green things!

Oh, Faith…I know I’ll find something.  Probably not the military…I’m 99.999999999% sure it’ll be something else:-)
Exciting news- Yesterday all 5-6 of the neighbor kids helped me water my plants with bowls and a water gun….then one of them came to VBS with me yesterday!  So exciting!  Definitely a wonderful praise- she loved it, and is coming again tonight!