what's in a name?

Ever since my name change, November has become my NATO last name. I have changed to Alpha November from Alpha Papa, which was almost a cute Big Daddy nickname, but totally doesn't suite me. Everyone loves November {mostly because it's so close to December}, so now I feel more loved.

Speaking of loved, that's what Amanda means. Loved, Lovely, Worthy of Love. If you can name your kid something that doesn't mean "bitter" {my middle name, Marie}, I think you should. Names should be happy, shouldn't they? I agree with Anne of Green Gables who said, "I don't believe a rose would be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage."

Yes, I'd choose Anne over Mr. Shakespeare almost any day.

in this storm

Lack of pictures = My biggest issue as a blogger. I enjoy writing about what we've experienced recently, but documenting it in words seems to be the only format I capture.

Thanksgiving just passed, and with it my last break of my last fall semester. We spent the weekend with Matt's family (13 people in one house), and enjoyed an exuberant amount of home cooked food. One of my brother-in-laws is/ used to be a chef, and Thanksgiving was amazing. We also caught a movie, thrifted, hit up the mall, played board games, went for a walk, played soccer, hugged friends, and endured the "are you pregnant?" question more than once. Still, no. All in all, a great trip home. Yes, Virginia Beach is still home. 

In an unfortunate turn of events, the trip back to Powell involved an at fault collision (none of the eight people in the three cars were injured), putting us home after midnight on the day we had school/work. It's funny how you can spend a whole weekend being fat and thankful, and then get in a car accident and start to slide into ungratefulness. 

That being said, here's what I am thankful for about the car accident we were in:

• No one was hurt.
• Our deductible is pretty low and everything else was covered.
• The ticket Matt received can be paid without having to show up in court five hours away.
• We were driving the car that we have collision insurance on.

See? Still things to be thankful about. You know what else I'm thankful about? The kitten who has loved me WAY more since we got back from our trip. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'm praising the Lord, even in the little storms we face.

thankful for life

This past weekend my husband and one of my brothers were in a car accident. They're both fine and not at fault. Today, more than normal, I am thanking the Lord for life. That same day, they completed a twenty-six mile rafting experience on a homemade raft. I am not only thankful for life, but for a life full of adventure and opportunity.

wrapping it up

The year is almost over, and more than ever, I feel ready. Ready for 2013. Ready to step across the finish line on graduation day and start a new, less mentally strenuous chapter of our lives. But before I rush 2012 away, there are several more moments to enjoy. Slowly, Amanda. Slowly. Don't rush out of the Matthew, Amanda, and kitten stage. Watch the moments carefully and cherish the times you'll never have again. Cherish family Thanksgiving and Christmas with no babies to chase around, and a house that doesn't have to be heated yet because there are no baby piggy toes to keep warm. My whole life I've always reached ahead, but lately I've been trying to drag my feet. Trying to enjoy the privilege of a whole night's sleep. Looking forward to babies, but enjoying this quiet house full of breakable things.

thankful for

1. A husband who works hard and long

2. A kitten who jumps on my lap whenever it's available

3. Oatmeal

4. Flannel pajama pants

5. Answered prayers

6. Gas that keeps dropping ($3.00!)

7. Sunlight streaming through the windows

8. Winter jackets

9. Slippers 

10. Hot showers

11. Consistant work

12. Family who loves me

13. A Bible to read

14. Polish sausage

15. Baby names

16. Bubble gum

17. A car that runs well

18. Paint

19. Good grades

20. A vacuum 

21. Toe nail clippers

22. Hot chocolate

23. Internet resources

24. Selfless love

25. Library books

femininity

Lately, Matt and I have been thinking about what separates women from men, girls from boys, aside from the obvious biological differences. Mostly, we have been thinking about our future family and the example that we want to set {me for our daughters and him for our sons}.

Growing up, I wasn't feminine. I mean, I wore skirts all the time, and liked to look nice as often as possible, but I've never been graceful, gentle, or quiet. Maybe you don't think you have to be gentle, graceful, or quiet to be feminine, and maybe you're right, but when I picture a kind, compassionate woman, she possesses those attributes. Maybe she doesn't even wear skirts all the time. Maybe she's just kind, quiet, graceful, and caring.

I'm putting this out into the blogging world because it's something we've been thinking and talking about. The girls who I grew up with {who I want my daughters to model after} are good at baking, sewing, helping, cleaning, and loving. Maybe they aren't as good at schoolwork or athletics, but maybe those aren't as important.

Mostly, we want to major on important things. Having a disciplined life {school included}, being kind to others, and learning helpful skills are some of the important qualities we want our daughters to grow up to posses. Last night I dreamt that we had a baby girl, so baby has been on the brain more today than usual. I want to be a Godly example of a woman, wife, and mother to my daughters. I'm working on myself.

Here are some of the goals I have for myself:

1. Get into a regular habit of personal devotions.
Matt and I have a regular habit of devotions together, but I want to get into a routine for myself instead of the scattered situation I'm currently in. I think I'll start doing them at lunch, because I'm normally alone for that period.

2. Curb my selfish attitude.
I guess this is just human nature, but I'm pretty sure I have a worse case of selfishness than normal. In any case, with God as my help, and Matt as my accountability, I want to start doing more for others. Starting right here, in this little apartment.

3. Work at things until I get good at them.
Like everyone else in the world, I don't like to do things that I am not good at. Unlike everyone else in the world, if it doesn't come easily, I tend to let it slide. School? School comes easy. I like to do school. For a lot of my classes, I work up to a month ahead. Painting? Eh. Some things look good, other things get tossed. Sewing? Same. Cleaning? Not my favorite. But if I worked hard to get good at things, I know I would do them more because I would enjoy them. Instead of being "ok" at everything, I'd like to be really good at a couple of things. It all comes back to being disciplined and setting that example for our children. Especially since the two things I've spent the most time getting good at {soccer and school} are things I probably won't be actively involved in after next semester.


What do you think about femininity? Am I the only one who can only think of a handful of young ladies {not women} who are kind, graceful, and quiet? In the end, I think it mostly comes from your relationship with the Lord. What do you think?

switzerland

Fall break is coming to a chilly close, and I'm recapping what we've accomplished over this long weekend. The bedroom is 3/4 painted, and the furniture is rearranged to cover the air conditioner and uncover the heater. Matt has made a couple of things with his scrollsaw {secret Christmas gifts}, and I have finished sewing my first teddy bear. {insert applause here} Anyone who knows me well, knows that I get easily frustrated with sewing projects and tend not to finish them out of anger toward the machine. In this case, I opted to not tell anyone I was working on it, which allowed me to have a slow and steady pace ending in a finished product. We named him Switzerland because his marshmallow nose floating in a sea of chocolate only makes us think of one thing this time of year: Swiss Miss, and thus Switzerland. Yep, if we pretend the fresh coat of white is snow instead of paint, it's basically a winter wonderland up in here.