Mondays with Marin- The School Edition

For three weeks now, Miss Marin has been attending classes. Her new Sunday activity is obedience classes at Petsmart.

We talked with the trainers about a month ago, brought Marin in for a little parent/teacher conference, and all agreed our girl was eligilbe for the intermediate class! What a genius! We couldn't have been more proud. Evan and I were fairly smug that whole week leading up to the first class. We had been such awesome dog parents that we skipped the beginner class entirely. Marin is a champ at sitting, laying down, staying and she can even charm a stranger with her shake.

MD on her way to class.

At the first class, we shared how we wanted Marin to become a Canine Good Citizen at the end of her training. In our minds, we were winning Dog Owners of the Year.

And then it happened...

Marin lost her mind, forgot all her "rules, boundaries and limitations," and went barking bonkers.

Jesse the Weimaraner, Bentley the Llahso Apso, and Chloe the mutt were peacefully laying down as the trainer explained our first lesson,  but Marin was barking, no- howling. At everything.

Imagine Petsmart on a Sunday. Weekend errand runners. Dogs everywhere.

Marin's uncontrollable urge to "speak" set off an explosion of yapping, barking, meowing.... utter chaos.

I was beside myself with embarrassment. Evan was sweating profusely. We were both staring holes into the floor. We kept trying to get Marin to stop.... lost cause. The trainer finally ended our misery and called break time.

We slunk into one of the cat product aisles (aisle of shame) and debriefed. "What happened to our perfect little angel?" "Are we gonna get kicked out of class?" "Why is it so unbearably hot in here?!"

The patient tranier came over and comforted us. She assured us it was normal, the barking didn't bother her and that we needed to calm down. Marin was just overstimulated. Reward good, calm behavior and wait until the loud, bad behavior stopped.

Easy for her to say. She wasn't the owner of the barking pariah.

I'm not sure how that first class ended. And we definitely didn't learn anything. I was too busy thinking of ways to escape than to pay attention to how to "sit with distractions."

We came home totally defeated. I think we both lost sleep wondering if our perfect dog had just morphed into a Dog Whisperer case.

After some practice and lots of prayer, Marin and I braved the next class. I wasn't sure how I was going to handle the chaos and embarrassment solo, since Evan had to work, but I was at least prepared to handle it.

The trainer was prepared too.

She had chew sticks, the dog version of cheese whiz and lots of distractions for Marin. As soon as she started barking at something we just gave her something to eat to change her focus. Worked like a charm.

Now that the barking was under control, I could actually see the smart side of Marin again. She picked up on the skills faster than the other dogs and was very eager to please. She is learning a lot of useful things like going to her bed, leaving treats on the floor until she is allowed to have them, and spinning in a circle.

Evan and I learned our lesson too. Never before has "pride comes before the fall" been more real or more mortifying. We have a good dog. She's not perfect. And that is okay.

Tiring her out before class. One-eared wonder.

Maybe some day she'll be a Canine Good Citizen and show the world how awesome pit bulls can be, or maybe she'll just be our sweet, lovable girl with a penchant for barking.

Love in a Jar

My friend Hayley sent me this idea while Evan and I were engaged. If I can find the original blog it came from, I will link it here. The idea is simple, find a jar and throughout your first year of marriage write little notes about why you love your spouse and drop them in the jar. On your anniversary, you get to dump them all out and read them!

Evan and I really enjoyed our love jar. We kept a pen and note pad on our dresser throughout the year and we wrote down funny moments, inside jokes, sweet things the other one had done....things we wanted to remember or tell the other person. Last week we got to laugh a lot and cry a little as we read through our first year together.

I'll share a few...

"We don't get good night's sleep right now. Too much tossing and turning and considering the other. We're two weeks in or so."

"I love you for not staying mad at me when I made you put back the avocados because they were too expensive. $1.79 each."

"I like not having to text you that much. Living with you makes that unnecessary."

"I love when you sweet talk flight attendants on our way to California and manage to get everyone free drinks!"

"I love having real conversations with you about our struggles, what we want to work on as individuals and getting to do it together."

"Remember when I had the hiccups and you scared me so bad I cried?!"

We talk often about living a simple life- one that is focused on the things that really matter and not cluttered with the unnecessary. This little project/game/whatever you want to call it fit in well with our motto. This was just about us, our year, and what the Lord had done, plus this precious, personalized gift was totally free. We even borrowed the jar. (Thanks Phillip.)

I love extravagant things every once in a while... and I'm holding out for a great anniversary getaway one of these years... but this was perfect. Just the two of us, reading our notes, eating year-old cake and laughing.

And just in case you think I'm overly sappy, Evan liked it so much that he suggested we do it every year!

One Year Anniversary

Sunday will mark our one year anniversary.
One year.
Of being married.

Is that possible?

This past year has been wonderful.  I woke up this morning and just laid in bed thinking through all the perfect moments, vulnerable conversations, funny memories, and overall sanctification that Evan and I have shared over the year.

There have been brief, fleeting moments this year when I felt like an awesome wife... I have managed to cook a decent meal, make the bed, "spot clean," throw in a load of laundry, feed the dog, and be a good listener all in one day.

Those are the days that I think, "Yes, of course, he loves me. Who wouldn't? I am amazing."

More often though, I am what I don't prefer anyone to see. Stressed out. Cranky. Emotional (blame the meds). Not a neat freak... not even a clean person really. Forgetful. Lazy. The list goes on, but I think you get the picture. The point is, Evan sees all of this.

These are the days that I think, "Why would he love me? I am a mess...just like our house. I'm not even particularly fond of myself."

It is in those moments that I realize what a treasure I have been given.
I have a man who loves me for me, yes. But it's more than that. He loves me despite me.

He loves me because he's been loved, saved, redeemed and transformed by Christ into a guy who can look beyond the crying, stressed out wife in front of him and see her heart and just hug her. Snot and all.

As I sit here and think about this milestone in our marriage, I am most grateful for a Gospel that affects real life, real people. I'm thankful for a God who loves reconciliation, who saw fit to save us while we were still messy, and longs for a deep, intimate relationship with us. He paved the way for beautiful marriages by showing us how to love. How to sacrifice. How to forgive. I would seriously botch this thing up if it weren't for Him.

And I know I am beyond blessed to have a man who loves the Lord enough to pursue his wife when things are perfect and even more so when things are not perfect.

Evan, I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for marrying me, for loving me and for making me laugh. Thank you for loving the not-so-put-together version of me. You are my best friend and I wouldn't want to eat a year-old cake topper with anyone else!

Mondays with Marin 3.0

Well, Marin lives in a new house on this lovely Monday.

She is also a new breed of dog.

Meet the Terrier Mix.

She got in on the moving action... literally.

Our sweet girl needed a new identification on her paperwork to be able to live in the apartment complex. Praise the Lord all the details worked out.

This first week in our house, Marin and I got to bond all over again since Evan was at work and I'm on summer break! We ran errands together, ran around the new neighborhood, and even made curtains for Evan's new office.

How am I supposed to work with this cutie in the way all the time?

Marin is adjusting well to her new place and "broke in" our new rug right away. Good thing we love our Terrier Mix!!

"Daylor" Wedding

Our good friends Darrell and Taylor were married last week. I often have issues speaking and for some reason couples names run together in my head...therefore they are lovingly known as Daylor. My sweet friends Gabe and Megan are Gaben.... you get the picture.

They're married now, so its okay to combine their names. They are one.

Way back when, Taylor had asked me to help with the flowers at the happy event. I eagerly said yes, because I love any excuse to decorate, arrange and have fun with flowers. Plus I knew Taylor would be a great bride to work with. The first project was her bridal bouquet for pictures. This was the test run. I think it turned out gorgeous. So did her pics by Matt McElligott.

For the wedding, she decided on a very eclectic, laid back look. I loved her take on "colors." She chose a palette of colors and just let everything fall into place. For the table decor nothing really matched per se, but we had a general theme. Glass bottles and burlap. Twine and baby's breath. Herbs and rustic colors.

The baby's breath hanging out in the fridge. 

We started by collecting tons of glass bottles. Beer bottles, wine bottles, mason jars, anything really. This meant the boys got to play a part in emptying the bottles, so they were on board instantly. I soaked so many labels off of bottles my hands were pruny and I know Taylor did even more. But it was worth it.

Lots of bottles all over our porch. One man's junk....

Can be used beautifully! 

This was the lay out for the tables... just to make sure I had enough to go around.

I really enjoyed the whole process of planning, set up, arranging and being involved behind the scene. Evan was a huge help and our home group really came together to throw a great party. It was a super fun weekend!

My sink full of FLOWERS. Best its ever looked. 

Bridesmaids putting together their bouquets. 

The finished bouquets... so much happiness! 

The next day, Evan and I packed up to get to the venue bright and early.

This is where the husband and the truck came in handy. 

The work station. I took this kitchen over! 

This was a true family and friends affair. As soon as I had a few table setting arranged in kitchen, there were about five girls ready to run them out to the tables. So fun to work with all those friends.

A few pics of how it looked: The cake and desert table. 

A few weeks before we made the moss balls. The hard work paid off, they add a fun touch. To make: get styrofoam balls, moss and lots of hot glue. Make huge mess. Done. 

Very laid back and natural... like Taylor!

Bride and her maids with their personalized bouquets. 

Luis and Anna (our good friends) and my wonderfully helpful husband. 

Happy wedding and marriage to Darrell and Taylor! Thanks for letting us be a part of your big day! I think the best part of the wedding may be their video by CandleLight Films. Here's a sneak peak of all the action. Watching this makes me wish I had one of these!

Mondays with Marin 3.0

Marin has several tricks up her sleeve paw that keep us entertained for hours (don't judge...she really is amazing). But on Saturday night, Marin learned a new trick and she had a little help from her crazy owner (if you're wondering, it's not me).

It all started when Evan found these at the church.

If it was me, I'd take one look at them and the only thought to enter my head would be, "I was so awkward on those in junior high...stupid rollerblading fad. Thank goodness it went out of style and I could save my dignity." And I would keep walking....

But my wonderful husband is not like me and never passes up an opportunity to do something random/funny/dangerous... so for him the logical thought was to stop, pick them up, and try them on.   In a stroke of luck (in his mind), they fit.

Way cooler than the plastic buckles my old skates had....

This leads to him getting his rollerblading groove back on in the church youth room. He came home with tales of 180s and skating backwards without falling... his confidence was soaring. With a Caesar Milan twinkle in his eye, Evan tells me of his next plan.

Rollerblading with Marin.

She wasn't into it at first, but she warmed up eventually. The skates themselves freaked her out but, I honestly think she was scared for Evan. Or maybe nervous he would fall on her. Either way, she was forced to tag along.

Notice the dress socks...

I walked with them for a while and then turned them loose, fully expecting to bust out the neosporin and bandaids upon their return, but just not wanting to see it happen in person.

Happily, my very sweaty husband and still very confused Marin came back with no scratches. It was a success!

So, to add to her repertoire of sit, stay, and shake, Marin can now say that she's fully capable of safely running beside an insane guy on wheels.

Way to go, MD. He's a lot to keep up with.

Done with the craziness. 

An Ode to Carroll Blvd.

We are moving at the end of May.

Evan has a fab new job down the road a bit in Keller. We are crazy blessed to have an amazing deal at the Watervue apartments down there... so we're packing up our lives, just short of one year of marriage, downsizing a bit, and making the change.

Of course, I'm nervous-slash-excited. All my emotions have slashes... I'm never just one thing.

I am sad to leave the first house of our married lives, but I'm excited to see Evan thrive in his new job. It has been such a gift to get to live in this little square home for the past year.

I miss Carroll-house and her quirks.

I will miss the roar of the traffic as people speed down Carroll. (It's 40 mph, people, not 60!)

 I will miss people parking in our front yard and in our backyard during home group and getting to see the ruts from their tires the rest of the week... it has kept me mindful of our good friends.

I will miss all the great moments, tough conversations, laughter, and tears Evan and I shared in this house. This house was like a third member of our marriage...when she had issues, we had issues. (Naturally the house was bumped to fourth with the addition of Marin.)

The quirks it brought to our relationship will be treasured. The falling toilet seat. The backwards light/fan switches. The almost-frozen pipe fiasco. Running across six lanes of traffic to go on a "peaceful" evening walk. The slightly creepy "Happy 21st Birthday Love Ya, Patty" message that appears after you shower and WILL NOT come off the bathroom mirror, try as I may.

We've seen some crazy things in this house!

And you may think I'm being sarcastic. I'm not. I genuinely love this stuff about where we live. It seems so "us" at this point. I'm wondering how our new home will match up. Granted, the complex has a dog park, pool, sidewalks, and a (apartment-sized) fenced in backyard... but will it be "us" like good old Carroll?

Not the best first impression.

Looking back, this was not the house I initially wanted to live in. Isn't that funny? I thought I knew better.... silly me.

We looked at several other places around Denton and the Lord continued to be very clear that the Carroll house was it. I must say, after our intense work day and overhaul by Habern Landscape, it became a much more welcoming idea.

Scroll back to the picture above  if you need a reminder of the jungle! 

Here are a few before and afters because I've been wanting to do this for a while....

Kitchen... so much potential. Once that curtain was gone. 

Evan graciously agreed to let me paint the kitchen what I call "Menton, France shutter-green." It makes me happy everyday. Add in the curtains Blanche helped me sew and our garage sale bargain table... and it's the perfect place.

Very dark maroon in the office. My red raider wouldn't let that stay. And the 2%er in me hated it too.

This angle doesn't do the office justice, but the yellow is much happier and Marin is a camera hog.

Cute little empty living room. I had no idea when I took this "scouting" pic just how much time I'd be spending here.

This is the current state of the living room. No promises that it will look like this next week.

Very tiny master bedroom....

that amazingly fit all our stuff just right.

A year can go by so fast.
Life can collect so many objects.
I can let go of "stuff" but I desperately want to hang onto all of the memories.

Carroll-house, this is what I want to say to you:

You've been great. We will miss you and your wonderful cabinets. Thanks for everything (except the ants).
From now on, we will honk at you when we drive by. Please try to keep the neighbors from growing anything illegal and I'm sorry I never planted flowers. Please be good to your next residents.

Yours Truly,
Sarah