Xapa to the World

Category: Making Home

Newly-married and getting settled in!

  • 7 Months Married- Things I’m Learning

    1. Married life is such a blessing. I’m glad I waited for it. I’m glad I went for it too!

    2. If you don’t do it, then it won’t get done. My hubby is tremendously helpful, but between the two of us, if we don’t do a chore, it doesn’t happen. Mom will not come to the house overnight and fill the sugar bowl for us. Those knives sitting in the sink will not clean themselves and go back in the holder.

    3. If I was prone to laziness before the wedding, it doesn’t change much after the wedding.

    4. Having someone else around shows you how many of your activities are exercises in futility.

    5. We are each other’s spiritual encourager – we’re still working out the whole “spiritual leader” bit, but right now, encouragement is what is called for.

    6.  Division of chores doesn’t have to be assigned by gender, but sometimes it’s for the best.

    7.  Status checks are great. It’s always a good idea to know where each other is standing in the relationship and make adjustments accordingly.

    8.  It’s ok not to tackle all projects at once. One, it costs too much money. Two, there aren’t enough hours in the day. Three, most projects can wait.

    9.  If you do something the other likes more then there’s a good chance they’ll reciprocate when it’s something you like more. Car shows for a pro tennis match is an even trade. 🙂

    10. Generosity is something that is not optional. It isn’t just about money; it is the unnamed fruit of the Spirit.

    11. Cooking can actually be fun! I’ve always been a baker, but I’m really enjoying the cooking-side of the kitchen. I’m very grateful for a husband who is willing to try anything I make…even if just once.

    12. Some TV shows are best shared. But be careful of introducing LOST to your husband’s repertoire…it will cause serial runs of the show for days. How my friends and I managed to wait for a week between episodes is beyond me!

    13. Remembering is important. Remembering successes, fun times, bad times, mistakes, etc…that’s a good thing. Dwelling on them and not moving forward is not.

    and 14. (because it’s 2014!) Cleanliness may not be next to godliness, but it sure is a good idea!

    Time to clean up all this Christmas stuff!!

    What all did you learn this last year? I know there is more to this list than just 14, but it’s all I could think of right now.

  • Freebie Printable: January Bible Verse Calendar

    Jan 07 ESV

    To continue in the Bible Verse calendar, here are downloads for the month of January in three versions, ESV, KJV, and NIV.

    I really enjoyed putting these together. The verses are such an encouragement (and a chastisement where necessary) for strong Christian living – in mercy, kindness, and love. I hope it blesses you as well.

    Jan 25 ESV

    Instructions:

    1. Download the .pdf file below.
    2. Print onto white 8.5 x 11 card-stock (other colors might be ok, but you’ll have to test that out yourself).
    3. Cut along the dotted lines then sort into numeric order.
    4. Prop up on a little stand, or keep in a drawer and swap out on the fridge. Or buy a recipe box with a ridge in the top for easy reading.
    5. Keep in a prominent place where the members of the household will easily see it. The kitchen table is good, if you have breakfast there.
    6. Discuss verse(s) with family and encourage reading the surrounding verses for context and meditation throughout the day.

    Download:

    January ESV (pdf)
    January KJV (pdf)
    January NIV (pdf)

    Bible in a Year Reading Plan January (doc)

    Enjoy! Oh, and subscribe to this blog to the right if you’d like notifications of new posts and the next of these printables. I promise not to overwhelm your inbox. 🙂

  • Merry Christmas!

    Christmas

    We had a very full day of this Christmas and a very full weekend of Christmas-y events with family. I wonder if I’ll know what to do with myself now that it’s over. I’m sure I’ll think of something. I pray that you and yours had a very blessed Christmas this year!

    Anyone else thinking about a New Year’s resolution yet?

    I really want to discipline myself to read through the Bible this year. I think I can do it first thing in the morning, but I’ll have to rearrange my morning routine. That will be hard, but I think that as long as I have my coffee, I’ll be able to make it. I got the wonderful ESV Global Study Bible from my mother-in-law and I’m so looking forward to reading through it as I go through my calendar.

    I also want to change my diet, slowly, but get rid of certain processed foods in exchange for healthier options. This might include making our own bread…so, that will be fun. If anyone has some good bread recipes to share, I would be open to testing them out! I have a loaf pan and a round stone pan, so the options are pretty varied. I’m excited. I love my bread!

    Merry Christmas to you! I am off to spend the evening with my husband and maybe put a puzzle together. So much fun!