North Carolina

I'm headed to North Carolina on Sunday for a week of training for my new job. Everyone keeps asking if I'm excited. Should I be!? I'm more ready to get it over with so I can get into a routine with my regular work hours and start getting a paycheck!! Mike and I were going over our bills last night and we kept saying "ugh, it will be so nice when we're a two income family!"

Some of you have asked what to pray for - Please be praying for Mike while I'm gone. He tends to get a little lonely. Once we have a house, I'm sure he'll have plenty of projects to work on- but it's a little tough when we're just in an apartment. He has to work alot, and he's picked up some extra shifts, so hopefully that will help. Also, please pray that God would prepare both of us for the crazy schedule that we'll be on once I start working in the Merrillville studio. Of course, for safe travels to and from NC.

Have a great week!

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall from my family to yours!! :)

Family Pictures

Mike and I went home this weekend for the Mast family pictures! We picked quite the day to have these done. It was rainy and FREEZING!!! But we got them done and that's what counts! Jill sent me a little teaser of some of the pictures. I'm excited to see the rest. It was great to spend the day with everyone, despite the cold. It's not often that we're all in the same place together between my brother's busy schedule, us trying to split our time between two families and our friends, and my parents schedules. This weekend it worked out great though. Mike was able to have a guys night with some of his friends. He deserves that and doesn't get that time often enough. He values those friendships so much and I know that it's been hard for him to not see his guy friends as much as what he would like. I was lucky to have a mama/daughter night Friday night with my mom. We went shopping for new work clothes for me. My parents are so generous and I'm so thankful for everything they have given me (not just financially either). It was so nice to spend an evening with my mom. *Thanks Mom!!*

I leave for North Carolina a week from today. I'm looking forward to getting training over with and getting started in the Merrillville studio. It will be nice to get into a routine.

Have a great week!

Show us Your Life

Today at Kelly's Korner it's Show Us Your Life: What you Make!

This is a verrry FUN one!! I love looking online at unique, personal, gift ideas. Alot of them are made by stay at home moms or women working from home to make another income for their family. I love helping them while they are helping me with gift ideas!! So this week is perfect for me! On Kelly's blog there's a long list of links (tons of them!!) from the women that make these unique items. Have fun browsing. Mike is working late tonight so I'm happily watching "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC and browsing all the fun things getting Christmas ideas!! Enjoy and let me know what your favorite is!

God Is Good...

...All The Time!

Even when I forget it. We were definitely blessed this last week. I was offered a JOB!! I will be working at Portrait Innovations here in Merrillville. I'll be traveling to North Carolina for a week of training November 1-9th, and then I officially start work on the 11th of November. I'm excited to start, but pretty overwhelmed at all of the things to do before I start! I know that since the holidays are right around the corner that it will be a very busy few months at work. Thank you so much for your prayers through this time. Mike and I are very happy that this opportunity has come up, but we'll still need your prayers as the studio has told me that through the holidays I'll be working around 60 hours a week. Mike and I won't be seeing each other much and we'll have to try and stay positive. Please be praying for that. Also, I really hope that I'll still be able to go to small groups on Tuesdays. We have fallen in love with each couple in our small group and I would hate to miss out on anything. Especially now when we're all growing closer to one another.

If you're in the Merrillville area this winter bring in your kids and come visit me and I'll take your picture!! :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy 21st Birthday to my not so little brother!!!

10 Things...

10 THINGS I'VE LEARNED SINCE GETTING MARRIED...

1. I really like to cook.
2. I really hate cleaning up after cooking.

3. I keep our apartment much cleaner than I ever kept my room at my parents. (sorry mom).

4. Marriage is work. But so worth it.

5. I can do a load of laundry almost every day. For just the two of us. Yes, my hubby changes clothes too much.

6. I love clipping coupons.

7. Mike thinks my mom and I should start our own wedding planning business.

8. I've realized that I was born to be a mother. I've never had such a strong desire for anything else in my life.

9. My mom is my best friend.

10. I love grocery shopping. I find it very relaxing.

*more to come as our one year anniversary approaches.

Show us Your Life

Happy Friday!!
Today at Kelly's Korner it's show us your life day: TAILGATES AND FAVORITE TEAMS!
I've been excited for this one because it seems that on Kelly's blog most of the blogs are fans of the SEC and southern teams. I'm reppin' the midwest this week!! The Mast's and Marshall's have always been NOTRE DAME fans. I've grown up cheering for the Irish and have since enjoyed a few games in South Bend.

Trina and I at the Purdue/Notre Dame game a couple years ago

Notre Dame has so many neat traditions. From the band, to mass before the games, to singing the alma mater after each game going to the games to cheer on the Irish is always exciting!

Notre Dame is off this week with a bye. BUT next Saturay is a BIG game vs. USC. It's a big rivalry so you can bet that Mike and I will be decked out in our ND stuff cheering on ND!!
HERE COME THE IRISH!!

Check this Out...

I saw this trailer and was shocked to see NorthWood grad RYAN WOODLE in it!! Congrats Ryan!

Peaks and Valleys

This has been a rollercoaster of a week. Little things seem to really be getting to me. I have two interviews - one tomorrow afternoon and one Sunday morning. I'm anxious about those and I've been praying very fervently about each one. Especially the one I think would fit me and our family better. But then the valleys of life always hit hard. I finally got my car back tonight after three weeks without it as it was getting fixed. One thing would get fixed and then another thing would go wrong. Isn't how it always seems to go? Now tonight I get it back and there's a crack in the windshield. Boo!! Anyone know how much that's going to cost me? Not something I'm looking forward to. I always seem to see dollar signs when things like this happen. A second income would REALLY be a blessing right now. If you remember, please pray for this opportunity for me. Thanks so much.

The weekend is almost here though and we're excited to have family in Merrillville. It always feels a little more like home when we have people come and visit.

Have a great weekend.

I've been playing around with my blog a little bit. I added a signature and will continue to add some buttons on the side. I have two job interviews this week, so prayers would be greatly appreciated! I'm nervous about them, but I've really been praying for God to open up the right doors, so I'm hoping that the interviewer will see me as God sees me.

Show us Your Life

It's Show us Your Life Friday! This week over at Kelly's Korner it's BABY GEAR week. Since we don't have a child and don't plan on having one anytime soon I don't have any favorite baby gear. However, I wanted to join in on the fun, so I'm going to list a few things that I think are just so cute or things that I might want whenever that time does come!

Booties: Aren't these booties just precious!?! I know that alot of new moms just opt out of the baby shoes because most of the time they end up kicking them off, but come on! How can you say no to these!!

Bibs: I always thought that you can go waaaay overboard with monogramming, but these are so cute! I love the patterns.

Bedding: This is my DREAM crib bedding! I think it would be so cute for a boy or a girl. I'm always on the look out for neutral stuff too, because Mike and I already know that when we do decide to start having kids we won't want to know what the baby is before he/she is born. I just love damask and in these colors is perfect. :) It would be easy to throw in some pink accents if the baby was a girl or leave as is if a boy.Udder Cover: I keep going back and forth about breast feeding, but I know that when I have a child I'll definitely try it out and if it works out wouldn't this just be perfect!? I'm all for modesty and what a help this would be. I think it kind of looks like an apron. But I'm sure it's nice that you can be completely covered and still be able to see your baby and what's going on. Without getting too hot too since I'm sure the alternative is being all covered up with a blanket.

All of these things weren't very practical, just more fun but I'm allowed to have some fun with it now before I actually have to consider all the options :) By the time I'm pregnant I'm sure I'll have completely different opinions and new stuff will be on the market and doctors will be saying something new too about what's best for your children. Head over to Kelly's blog to check out all of the other baby gear that people like.