Mug Swap 2012

Comparison is the thief  of joy.

Yes, it really is.

I share in this post about my reluctance to participate in a mug swap.

I was comparing myself to these wonderful women, 

when in all honestly I had no reason to do so.

Why?

My life isn't like theirs.

Most of them have kids.

I don't.

Most of them have been married for several years.

I haven't.

Most of them have years of experience.

I only have 24 {almost}.

Why compare lives when I'm not in the same boat they're in?

The important thing is that most of them have Jesus in their lives.

I do too.

I can learn from them.  And I will.

So I put my fears and insecurities behind me.

And I signed up for this year's mug swap through the lovely, Kim's blog.

She was so gracious to host this.

Oh, and she travels a lot...

enough to make me a little jealous.

Anyway, so after I signed up, Kim sent me an email with my partner's name and information.

My partner was Sarah, who blogs here.

I looked at her blog and instagram to gather any information I could about what she might like.

Then I set out to go shopping.

I was so excited to put together this little gift of happiness for Sarah.

I looked high and low for a mug.

I finally found one, and then I started to actually think about what I was going to put with it.

See, I had an idea of how I wanted it to look, but that was before I had actually found the mug.

So, of course I hit up my absolute favorite store, Hobby Lobby.

This is a little glimpse of her "happy mail."

I made sure to wrap it in bubble wrap.

And I wrapped the entire package, too.

I've had bad luck with sending breakables in the mail.

I just wanted her to get it safely.  :]

The anticipation of waiting for a package in the mail is half the fun.

I love getting mail, so if you want to send me some let me know and I'll give you my address. LOL!

Anyway, my package finally came.

My husband was even excited about it because I had been talking about it so much.

He even took lots of pictures of me opening it.

As if you couldn't tell...I was really excited!

This was my, "How many more pictures are you going to take?" face.

My partner was the lovely, Laura, who blogs over at Bits of Splendor.

She has an amazing testimony.

Please go read her blog and get to know her if you have time.

She has a wonderful ministry called Project Hope, which you can read about here.

Anyway, I was super-duper excited to get my package.

I was excited even more about what was in the box.

A gorgeous mug, with a sweet little pair of earrings {that I've already worn}, along with some coffee {her favorite kind}.

It definitely smells good. :]

I had a wonderful time doing this swap.

I'm so glad I didn't give in to my insecurities.

I'm glad to have met some wonderful people along the way!

Click here to see what some of the others received!!

Choose Joy

Yes, my last post was very depressing.

But that's how I was feeling at the time.

I am feeling better though!

I've really been learning through this move that 

I choose my attitude.

Whoa!

Who woulda thunk it?

I've had such a struggle with it all...

...being unemployed for 6 months, still haven't met any "friends," and have been busy to boot!

Can life slow down just a little bit?

Please?

Yes, you read that right.

The girl who counts down to everything wants life to slow down.

Now, that's an oxymoron!

I'm having a better attitude this week.

I've made it to Wednesday and the week has gone by fairly quickly.

I posted this picture on Instagram today.

Time to pay some bills!  This week, my theme has been, "Choose Joy."  My job is not ideal and definitely not glamorous, but my God has been faithful.  He brought me this job when we needed it most.  I will choose joy in life instead of letting life steal my joy!

Isn't it true, though?
When you choose your attitude, things are much better!

So in choosing joy this week,
I'd like to share some of the things that have made me happy.

I got to wear my *new* earrings made by Hannah.
Check out her {shop}.  She's SO talented.
Oh, and she has a heart of gold!

An at home date with my husband.

Slumber party!!!

SOOO much fun!!!

 














I got to go thrifting on Saturday and found this beauty!

I wore my new dress to church on Sunday! 

I actually felt up to being a wife!

After being extremely exhausted I actually felt like cooking supper.

Oh! AND I packed our lunches the night before!! :]

Lastly, but definitely not least:
I finally shipped my packaged to my mugswap partner!
I have been SO excited about this opportunity. 
*I will write about the experience at a later date.*

So while sometimes life can get you down,
you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off
and get a new attitude.

Mug Swap

So I was actually working on another post when I got really excited.  That post will have to wait for another day...besides, it was a deeper, more intense post which requires a lot more thinking/editing/re-reading before posting.  I thought I at least could share some excitement first.

So since about the end of December, Tyler and I haven't hung out with any friends.  We've seen family lots...sometimes too much.  Haha!  However, we still have yet to make any friends.  It's been difficult, especially for me because I'm such a people-person.  I'm extroverted which means I get my energy from people.  So, I've turned to my blog and my Instagram.  I've made tons of friends through Instagram and am so grateful for them.  They give advice, support, and encouragement.  Tyler says I'm addicted to my phone, but honestly, I'm just "hanging out" with my friends. :]

Through Instagram, I've been able to find people's blogs.  Have I told you how much I love reading people's blogs?  I LOVE it!!  It's neat to get to know people from all over the world just by reading their blog.  Well, I've been following a couple people fairly regularly.  Just recently, I've found other women's blogs through their blogs.  

I happened to stumble upon this blog last week and I started reading.  Come to find out, she has been blogging for two years!  Wow...I just finished my first year, but I don't  blog every day.  Two years is pretty impressive...because when I first started, I didn't know how long I would last at this.  Anyway, so to celebrate her 2 year blogiversary, she's hosting a "Mug Swap."

I thought about doing it, but then I shied away from it.  Why?  Because I was a little intimidated.  All these wonderful women have been promoting it on their site, and I read almost all of their blogs on a daily basis.  They are the "Ultimate Thrifters" and full of grace, compassion, mercy, and hospitality.  I wasn't sure that I could keep up.

Well, fast-forward to Monday (today).  I read again, on these ladies' blogs about this mug swap.  They had just finished up a Thrift Swap and everyone was posting about what they had received.  I thought to myself, "How awesome to be involved in something like that."  So I immediately went back to Kim's blog and signed up.

I got an email reply from her within an hour and she was so excited that I was joining in on the fun and sharing in my excitement that it was my first time for a "blog swap."  So, all this to say that I'm so blessed to be encouraged by all these women who are followers of Jesus Christ!  They have no idea how just by living out their lives for Jesus and blogging about it, how it's made an impact on me.

Would you like to join in on the fun?  I'm so excited to be gaining another friend from this swap!  Don't let Satan turn you away from it like He almost did me. 

If you'd like more details about the swap, click here.  You have until Wednesday to sign up.  Next Sunday will be the day when she gives you your "assignment" (person you buy a mug for).  Then you have until August 23rd to send it to your new friend!! :]

Hope you will join in with me!! :]