Random...

Do you ever have a bunch of posts you want to write but really don't have the time to write them all? My blog is feeling a bit neglected so I thought I would write a bunch of random things happening in our world. Photos will come later since they are all still on my camera.


1. May is a busy month in the Young household. Birthday parties,(12 total) mother's day, end of the school year events makes May a very busy month
2. June looks like it will be more of the same...sigh
3. I have turned my office inside out this week reorganizing and decorating. I am exhausted from all the moving and shaking I have done but very happy with results (photos coming soon)
4. I decided to hang curtains in my living room Tuesday afternoon, drove to wal-mart at 7 then had them hung by 10 that night. Jeff did not know I was doing this so when I called him at work he said, "Seriously, you did that tonight?"
5. Thankfully he came home and said, "It looks very nice. Great job!"
6. Yesterday afternoon I decided to clean out my storage unit on our patio. I threw away 5 bags of junk between work and the past mementos. I did not throw away my Bald Girls Have More Fun t-shirt from when I was a baby. I still can't believe that I was bald until I was 2, my mom has pictures to back it up though.
7. I found a box of old love letters that Jeff wrote me when we were dating. I cried when I read them probably because the letters don't come as often as they used to, say like um, never :)
8. He does tell me he loves me every day so I can't complain
9. I also found an outfit my grandmother made with the tag "Made with love by Granny" sewed in. I will never throw this outfit out because of that little tag.
10. I took my grandfather to get a cataract removed. Afterwards we feasted on Sonic burgers and had a nice long chat about life in general. I pray that God uses these conversations to open doors for me to talk to him about God.
11. Work just called, got to go be a good, hardworking employee now.


Man that was a random post
Happy Friday!

Happy Birthday Faithers!

Today my niece Faith turns 10! She makes being an aunt so much fun. I love our friendship and the special bond that we have simply because she was the first to call me Aunt Sue Sue.

But I was reminded the other night how fast she is growing up....

This picture was taken after she made a very funny comment to me. Well funny to me but not so funny to her mom and dad. In the middle of telling me about how she will be next year's school Treasurer she let a little confession slip from her mouth.

"And the boy in my life is the President!"

Right at that moment, Missy (her mom) walks by to refill her drink.

"What?!?! The boy in your life! Who is this?!?!?"

And her Dad pipes in and says, "There will be no boys in your life just yet. I am the man in your life and Elijah (her little brother) is the boy in your life."

Faith just laughs.

It's funny to me but also very sad at the same time. These kids sure do grow up fast and it makes me want to cherish every moment with them.

Notice in the picture below her dad's protective hand.


God help him the day she has her first date or maybe I should say God help the boy who is brave enough to knock on the door. :)

I love you Faith Gwen! You are a precious young lady from the inside out and God has great plans for you!

P.S. Mom's birthday celebration was yesterday and I promise you Mom you will get a special post all of your own in the next few days

Menu Planning: Grocery Shopping

One of my favorite household chores is grocery shopping. I guess it is because it makes me feel like a big girl. :) Or as Jeff would tell you, I love any excuse to plan and make a list.

When I make my grocery list, I first start with my menu plan. I write down the ingredients that I will need to make dinner. I also write down any items on my "short list."

Short List- an ongoing list of any items that you may be running low and or out of . I keep my short list on the refrigerator for easy access.

When I make my grocery list, I divide it into different categories. You know meat, dairy, can goods and household items. Here is a bonus tip, if you have an ITouch or IPhone you must get The Shopper App It is fantastic! It will divide it into categories for you plus it makes life much more simpler.

Here is what I used prior to being blessed with the Shopper ap.

I try to keep my grocery shopping simple. I usually shop at one store instead of going to where the deal is. It is just what works for me. I will buy the items that I use often in bulk because that saves us money in the end. But I have found that making a menu, grocery list and sticking to the list has been a huge help in the money saving department.

If you coupon shop or have any tips for saving on the bottom line, I would love to hear your ideas.

My New Summer Style

I have been on a hunt lately for some cute summer skirts. I am not usually in the mood for skirts or dresses but have found them to be quite comfortable lately. It also could because Clinton and Stacey (What Not To Wear) were telling someone the other day how practical a skirt can actually be and I wanted to be practical too. Although, let me go on record by saying I do not agree that you need to wear a skirt while walking the dog nor do I think there is anything wrong with wearing running shorts and a tee shirt while grocery shopping at Wal Mart. If you could see the people that shop at my Wal-Mart, you would realize I am many steps above the typical patron's attire of pajama pants and fuzzy slippers. Call me crazy but there is something not right with that.

I am happy to report that after a few weeks of trying on dresses and skirts, I found this dress **that I adore at my favorite store. I also scored a sweet deal on these shoes from my other favorite store. Tomorrow I plan on heading to the mall to see if I can find a good flowery skirt like the picture above. I am also looking forward to sporting the dress and shoes to church on Sunday because nothing says "Happy Sunday" like wearing a new dress. :)

**the link is not working for the dress, it's the blue trapanuto dress at the bottom of the page (you will understand when you click on the link)

Menu Planning-Phase One

I am working on stream lining my menu plan and grocery shopping. My goal is to be able to have a 6-week rotation established so that I can create a standard grocery list and buy what I need in bulk.

My post it notes have been a huge help in keeping track of what we eat. (Please note the lasagna listed twice in a four week period, it's hubs all time favorite food) I usually try to keep it simple during the week since hubs works nights and has to be out the door by 6:15. Because of his work schedule, I try to avoid recipes that take 30-45 minutes. Lasagna obviously takes longer but it is the perfect meal to prepare in advance so all you have to do is throw it in the oven an hour before you eat.

When I am planning my menu, I follow this simple list.

Monday- salad or soup, sometimes both
Tuesday- Mexican
Wednesday- Chicken
Thursday- Pasta (lasagna, manicotti, spaghetti)
Friday night- Pizza night (sometimes with the family but most times a pizza from sam's club)
Saturday & Sunday- usually the kitchen is closed but every once in awhile I will cook gourmet sandwiches or Jeff will grill out

As you can see, I like things quick and easy. Nothing too over the top and nothing that requires much time.

Come back next Wednesday for Phase Two: Establishing a Grocery List.

Feel free to share your menu planning tips as well.

Overhaulin the Living Room/Office

The biggest thorn in my flesh is my living room/office. I have not done anything with this little place because I kept thinking we were going to move. And as you already know that is not the case right now, at least for another 6 months. Now my living room/office is going to get a major overhaul because I am choosing to fully embrace this period of our life.

The plan is simple: throw away and redecorate.

Here is a few of the things I am going to do.

• I am keeping the desk because I really need the storage for catalog pictures.

• I am changing out the office chair to something with more pizazz. Maybe a zebra print dining chair
• I am adding a hutch to my makeshift desk to house my notebooks and other misc office stuff.
• I am adding curtains to the windows since Jeff refuses to paint.
• I am also giving the love seat that the in laws gave to us to my sister in law (she has the matching sofa)
• I am bringing in my favorite chair and ottoman from storage.
• I plan to add a few lamps since we do not have an overhead light in the living room.
  
• I have a rug that I am going to throw down on our worn, dull apartment carpet.

My goal is to have the office serve as an office by day and a living room by night. At the end of the day, I want to clean off my desk and sit in my comfy chair without having to look at all this junk.

I realize that this is going to be a huge challenge but I am looking forward to having this project to sink my teeth into. I will keep you posted as I progress.

P.S. The above picture is what my desk looks like during the middle of catalog update season. It can get to be pretty scary and messy at times.

Motherhood isn't for wimps

I am playing house with the nieces and nephew for a few days while the parents are in Israel.

I had a good chuckle to myself last night once the kids were all in their beds.  They were very thoughtful last night to let me know that it was officially time for bed.  We talked about this in advance.  I asked them to give me a signal when they were ready to head upstairs they said don't worry they will. And lo and behold right around bedtime they all melted down one after the other, just like a stack of dominoes. Aren't they nice to oblige their dear aunt?

Little E was so tired that he even told his sister "Don't you even think about praying for me tonight!"  Faith wasn't phased by this and prayed anyway.  Which may be the reason he slept all night, in his own bed.  Praise Yah Jesus

Anyway the chuckle came when I was dragging myself to bed completely and totally whipped from my day. I just had to laugh at my tired butt since most of my friends live this life 24-7. I mean motherhood is not for wimps.  Thankfully they start small, that's all I'm saying.

On a side note, I would like to take a moment to thank the Lord for a little miracle that happened today. The 7-year old only said "I don't know what I want to wear" 30 times instead of 150.  She sure did get moving fast when I told her that if she wasn't dressed when the muffins were ready that she would have to get cereal.  This girl will do almost anything for a food that can be paired with butter.

Good times at our place.  

Good times.

P.S. the other miracle is happening as we speak, Eli is sound asleep on the couch after falling asleep in the car.  We are now going into the 45 minute stretch 

This TIme Last Year...

I wanted to post a blog specifically for a few readers who are feeling what I was feeling this time last year.  For those of us who want to be mothers yet struggle with infertility, this weekend will not be easy.  Last year was my hardest year to go through, all I wanted to do is crawl in a whole until Mother's day was done.  

I have a few people I am thinking about tonight and my heart aches for you.  I know that you are struggling and I know that you feel like God has forgotten you.  And yes, it's hard but I promise it gets easier.

You see this time last year, I was in the darkest part of my journey with infertility.  I was angry, bitter and self loathing.  I tried to cover up by pretending I was doing good, yet God brought a few friends in my life that could see right through my facade.  These friends have been godsends to me this past year.  They call and encourage me.  They cry with me and they pray with me.  I encourage those of you who are where I was this time last year to let go and reach out to those around you.  I encourage you to get on your knees and allow God to carry your load.

This year, I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't sad.  I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I never imagined another Mother's day without a baby on the way or one cuddled in my arms.  Yet, this is where I am today.  This is my reality.  For the past 2 years, I have been on an emotional roller coaster.  Month after month, I received the same news.  Yet month after month I have found that God's strength is enough to carry me through.  Month after month, the dark days have become shorter and the happy days longer.  I have grown in my faith and love for God.  I have cherished more of my journey this past year more than anytime in my life.  I have replaced my bitterness with joy and praise God for bringing me to where I am today.

So for those of you where I was this time last year, don't loose hope.  Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus and let Him heal you, let Him transform you from the inside out.  God is with you even in your darkest days, He is with you.

This year, Jeff is taking me on  a special outing on Saturday afternoon.  This year, Jeff and I are going to serve together in the children's church on Sunday.  Oh how we love these kids.  We are also going to celebrate our mom's who have been a huge source of strength to both of us this year.  I praise God for this man who has been a rock to me especially the past few months.

This year I choose joy.  

This year I choose peace.

This year I celebrate with many friends who have been blessed with children this year after many years of trying. (You know who you are...wink. wink)

This year I wait with hope.

This year I trust God and the plans He has for me.

My Living In The Moment Happy List

There is a peace in my heart that runs deep today. Praise God for whom all blessings flow! It would be easy for me to grow mad at the fact that we are in the middle of another waiting period but this time around everything feels different. I don't really feel like I am in a holding pattern but I feel I am right where God wants us.

The following is a list of things I enjoy right now in this season of my life. I call it my living in the moment list. It's very helpful to have a list like this handy for those days where the peace is not running so deep.

1. Walks & Talks with Jeff- every afternoon Jeff and I walk our neighborhood. We have one rule and that is we are supposed to talk. Jeff is a very quiet person by nature so this has been fun to hear his thoughts as we walk and talk.

2. Reading a Good Book- I love a good book, something I can sink my teeth into and turn off the day with.

3. Prayer Journal- going back and reading my heart and how God has transformed my prayers has been a real blessing. I can see we are right where we need to be and look forward to how God is using this time to grow and transform us.

4. Feeling Crafty- I went through a crafting hiatus when I thought we were about to move. I am starting to feel the creative juices flow again and can't wait to spend a good chunk of my evening one night getting crafty.

5. Hanging with friends (big & small) - I have some great friends and these friends have some fun kiddos. Jeff and I are not one of those couples who hates being around kids. In fact, we find much joy in sitting outside and talking to our little friends. The things that come out of our little friends mouths are HILARIOUS and keeping us laughing for days.

6. Learning new things- I love to try new things. Right now I am learning to bake new things like bread and fancy snacks. Lots of fun but not very good for the diet. Praise God for freezers to store them in. :)

7. Redecorating- for so long I have been waiting for us to move and have missed opportunities to nest in my place. This past week I went to World Market and had one of those moments where my decorating surges went into overdrive. I decided to take the money that I had set aside to decorate up our home and use a little of it for the apartment. As my friend Andrea says, "Surround yourself with the things you love." (I will share a blog post when I finish, promise)

8. Serving God in the moment- It would be easy for me to grow bitter and nasty for the waiting period but instead I am open to wherever God leads. I believe that because my heart is open, God has opened up many opportunities for me to serve Him in the waiting. I praise God for these opportunities to look beyond myself and bless others. This to me is one of the greatest joys I have found over the past few years.


There you have it- a little glimpse into the things that make me happy.

God is blessing our journey!

Enjoying the Journey

When the house fell through Jeff and I's first question was "Lord, what are you up to?" Jeff even said it was like manna from heaven. It just fell into our laps and just seemed perfect for us.

And well you know the rest of the story.

For the past few weeks, Jeff and I have been looking at houses but nothing has felt like home. I would like one but he wouldn't and vice versa. Needless to say, I knew something big was about to happen.

About this time last week, Jeff and I were having our daily walk & talks around the neighborhood when he started telling me what was on his heart. At first I wanted to kick and scream and cry out no. In fact, I did for about 20 steps then I stopped, asked him to start over and turned my listening ears on.

When Jeff and I first got married, my brother encouraged us to take Crown Financial Bible Study. (Does this mean I can blame my big brother for the latest turn of events? Just kidding) This bible study changed our lives. We made a goal for ourselves to be 100% debt free. Slowly but surely we are getting there, unfortunately we still have one big fat student loan left to pay off. In our checking account sits a down payment for a house, which happens to be the exact amount to pay off our student loan. I guess you guys know what I am about to tell you don't you?

We have decided to take a huge leap of faith, pay off this last student loan and put the house on hold. Why are we doing this? Because a man named Dave Ramsey once told us that we should have 15-20% saved up, as well as 6 months of an emergency fund before we move into a house.

I need to tell you before I tell you more, I am very excited about this new adventure.

1) we will be debt free

2) I have prayed for Jeff to lead our family and through this adventure he is doing just that.

If you would have told me a year ago or even 6 months ago this is where we would be going, I would have not believed you and probably kicked and screamed all the way home. But today, I feel confident that we are right where we need to be and I can't help but feel like this may have been God's plan all along.

We are confident that we have made the best decision for us and look forward to where this new path leads us.

More posts coming soon of how we are transforming our small one bedroom apartment to a place of peace and serenity. Which basically means this chick has bought a real desk so I can close up the office at the end of the day. ;)

Jeff rewarded me with a bowl of ice cream and Reese's magic shell for getting through my testimony without crying. Actually, I teared up a few times but I never went to the ugly cry. Apparently I have some very good friends at church who told him that I deserved my bowl of ice cream, so we stopped on the way home from small group to get the goods. Isn't he a great man?!? Thanks friends for helping a chick out!

This week's goals are simple. One word says it all. RELAX!

Already I am off to a good start with the rain and a massage from a friend. Life is going at a much slower pace and for this I am very, very grateful.

I will be back in a few to tell you guys of the latest happenings in the Young household.

One Day I'll Be Caught Up

here are a few things keeping me from the blog world.

1) Planning a women's retreat for church (4 days to go)

2) celebrating April birthday's with family and friends

3) Facebook

4) shopping for women's retreat decor, my favorite part of the whole process

5) Easter Egg hunting, hide and seek with the kiddos and a little jumping rope too

(this is Cousin Gracen. She is a bundle of energy and Cousin Jennifer was her mom. Gracen told me the other day that I was her newest friend...so cute that one! Keep praying for the family Jenn's birthday was this past Friday, a bittersweet day really)

6) losing 6 lbs in two weeks (it's amazing what watching your calories and walking 2 miles can do)

7) reading books

8) praying for the women's retreat (7 more people needed to reach our goal-wanna come?)

9) Art Fest 2009-unfortunately we didn't dance in the streets this year-the littlest nephew is not a fan of crowds or loud noises right now

10) babysitting the littlest nephew so that his mother doesn't loose her mind.

Jacob wanted to make sure Uncle Jeff's ears were clean, he must not have liked what he saw because thirty seconds after this picture he started to cry. I'm sorry, Jacob, Aunt Sue Sue should have warned you that you would uncover something scary in there.

11) did I mention a women's retreat that I am heading up, happening in 4 days!

I will be back in a few days.

Nothing Says Happy Easter like a Basket Filled with Sweet Goodness

I have nothing funny, profound or whitty to say these days but I have enjoyed a few little nuggets from others blog that I thought would be fun to pass on to you.

Consider this your blogging easter basket from me to you and each little link is an egg inside your basket. The egg of course if filled with sweet goodness (only the best for my blogging peeps)


1. Beth's recent post

2. a post for every parent who had to help with the child's school project

3. a great idea for old t-shirts that you can't wear anymore

4. and this post is just plain good for my prideful spirit

5. And last but not least-a sweet thought from FLYLADY


I hope you enjoy your basket of sweet goodness.

Happy Easter!

True Confession #275

In the past few weeks, I have found myself more mad than glad. My mom used to tell me "You can be happy in the pants that you were just mad in." Or something like that... I've tried, Mom, promise.

The point is I have been completely and totally ticked off with circumstances completely out of my control. I realize I am being totally ridiculous, especially in light of others who are suffering far greater than me today. Last night the stress of last week got to Jeff and I and our last conversation of the day ended with me giving him a detailed list of all the things that were making me mad. I hate that I said the things I did, most were totally self-centered and absolutely stupid.

You see I have been more mad than I realized about the situation with the house. I realize that God has something better for us but it still hasn't helped me not be mad. I have been pathetic in my prayer time because of this. Rereading my words written in my prayer journal I sound like a spoiled brat and that just makes my skin crawl. Truth is, my little apartment with the office in the living room is far better than the shacks that many people in other countries are living in. This post reminded me of that. And I have never suffered the loss of a child like this woman writes about today. These posts put my life into perspective and remind me yet again I am a blessed woman.



I am blessed.

Blessed with a husband who loves me despite my selfish mantras.

Blessed with a job that I enjoy doing so much that it hardly seems fair that I get paid to do this.

Blessed with a sturdy roof over my head, a comfy pair of pants to sleep in and a nice, soft pillow to lay my head.

Blessed with friends who span the globe and who have stood by me through thick and thin.

Blessed with a family who loves me warts and all.

Blessed with a church family that seems like an extension to my family.

Blessed with God's saving grace.

Blessed with a God whose plans for me are bigger than I could ever hope or imagine.

I am blessed.

Kari Jobe-Pure

I will be back in a couple days with a real post but I have been listening to this song lately and just had to share it with you. Have a great Monday!

A Wow Moment

I realize that our family is not the only ones hurting right now. Many of us our facing trials that just leave us scratching our heads, wondering what in the world is going on. When the trials come, when we have more bad days than good, it's easy for us to question if God is with us. I am hear to say that He is with us-good days and bad. If you don't believe me, watch this video. Man, was I floored by what Louie had to say---so good!

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you."

2 Corinthians 4: 7-12

No more sorrow, No more pain

"She has fought the good fight. She has finished the course and won the race."

2 Timothy 4:7

I have mixed emotions as I type this. I am glad that Jennifer is no longer in pain yet my heart aches for Brent and the kids as they enter into a world without their wife and mother.

As soon as we heard, I started to belt the praise and worship music through the house-sometimes you need a bit of praise music to sooth you. One of my favorite songs on my playlist is I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin. I tried to find a video so I could post on the blog and instead I found this video talking about the story behind I Will Rise.

And here is Chris singing the song live. I think the person who was filming this had a moment where they needed to stand up with praise. :)



If you think about the Hickman family please stop and say a prayer!

"There is an anchor for our soul, I can say it is well"
Chris Tomlin-I Will Rise

Loosening My Grasp

In the song that I will be singing at the Women's Renewal there is a line that I love.

"I'm loosening my grasp, there's no need to mask my frailty but you see the real me."

I love the phrase "loosening my grasp" because how many times have I held on tightly to one thing or the other.

The past few weeks have been very surreal for me. By nature, I am a planner. I like to have all my days lined out and plans in place a few weeks in advance. Since the beginning of our relationship Jeff has tried to get me to loosen up a bit. On our honeymoon Jeff had this wonderful adventure planned out for us in California and every time we were some where new I would say "What's next on our list?" He would answer back with "You taking medicine or something? Relax! Enjoy yourself." So for the past six years I have been working very hard at sitting back, relaxing a bit and enjoying each day as they come. Yet I often find myself wandering what God is doing with us. Last night as I was straightening the house, I had a moment where it all clicked.

Why not enjoy the path God has chosen for you instead of struggle against it?

I treat God the same way that I treated Jeff on our honeymoon. Jeff had this wonderful adventure planned out for me yet I couldn't enjoy the present moment because I was consumed with what would be happening next. I find myself doing the same thing to God today. When we moving? When are we going to have a baby? Why are we waiting? Why can't we have it all right now? What are you up to Lord?

But you see God has this wonderful adventure planned out for me as well and I believe that He wants me to enjoy this moment fully. I need to trust God's plan for our life. I need to sit back, relax and enjoy the road ahead. And so that is just what I am going to do.

Today in my journal I wrote, "Lord, forget the plan. Forget trying to figure it all out. Help us Lord to trust your guiding hand. Lead us Lord-show us your ways."


"In his heart a man plans his course, bu the Lord determines His steps." Proverbs 16:9

Song In My Head: Bring the Rain

Jeff and I find it a bit funny that God has taken a few things off our plates in recent days. We feel that one of the reasons for this is so that we can focus on our family. Jennifer entered hospice care today at her house, in order for her to spend her final days surrounded by her family. My heart breaks for Brent and the kids and I have found myself praying all morning for God to bless their time. Someone asked me last night how I was doing with all the house stuff and I can honestly say that I am doing very well. Jennifer's cancer has really helped me put into perspective our life situation. Yes, I look forward to moving day and I also look forward to positive plus sign day but neither one is happening right now. Instead of kicking and screaming and asking "Why Lord" I find myself trusting God's timing with peace and joy. I never want to look back on this season on our lives and realize that we missed opportunities to serve in the waiting. I want to serve God fully whatever road He chooses for Jeff and I.

Please continue to pray for the family. The road ahead is not going to be easy but we trust God has a plan bigger than this present moment.

Lord, You Are In Control

You know everyone has had those days that left us wondering what the Lord was doing behind the scenes. Yesterday was Jeff and my day. We had an inspection done on the house that did not go the way we thought. In fact I echo Jeff's sentiments when he described our day as just plain crappy.

All along our prayer was that if God didn't want us in that house that He would make it crystal clear. Let me just spare you the details and cut to the chase-we backed out of the house today because yesterday it was made crystal clear to us.

Can I just be 100% honest by saying I am still in a state of shock?

I know God is fully in control. I know that there is a better house waiting for us.
I know that we are blessed to find the damage before we move. I am sad that we will not be living next door to our dear friends. I also know that our friendship is better than us just being neighbors and will continue and grow even if we are not living on the same street. I struggle because Jeff and I just knew that this was the house God was leading us to. I struggle with the fact that we are at square one. I struggle because I am sooooo tired of my apartment. I rest in the fact that soon we will see God's plan unfold. I praise God for the fact that He showed us these things before we closed on the house. I praise God because Jeff and I are fully on the same page and walking this journey together.

So what is the next step?

We are having our realtor friend find a few houses for us to look at in the next week. We are going to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

I guarantee you that there may be moments where I just have to sit and pray it out but I refuse to let Satan get a foothold by stealing my joy.

On another note, Jennifer (Jeff's cousin's wife) was admitted to the hospital today. It doesn't look good. So for now, Jeff and I are dropping everything and just loving on the family.

Please pray for God's guidance as we search for house.
Please pray for God's comfort to feel each of us as we walk this journey with Brent and Jennifer.
Please pray for the kids too-my heart breaks when I think about what this means for them.