Sometimes we have days that are super important for us. Today was one of those days. It has been rough for Joe and I recently with work and car troubles, and I just needed a day to think spiritually. We are both working in inner-city schools. The students are rough, with little respect and desire to learn. I am being challenged everyday and it has been tough to teach them, most of the time I am just trying to control them. Joe is at his ropes end with teaching too. Plus, we have had car troubles...First it started with an accident when someone hit our old truck two days after moving to Charlotte. Thankfully we received money to fix the repairs, and Joe was able to do most of the repairs himself. We thought we had made a little money from it, but then someone decided to shatter the sun roof to our brand new Element. We had to have that repaired this week. Honestly, it just seems like we are full of bad luck lately.

So today I went to a church activity for the sisters and it was exactly what I needed. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Times are hard right now, but I have hope that things will be better. Life experiences teach us things. Someone reminded me that they look back on their hardest times and find that even when it was a struggle they realized there was so much happiness too. And when it gets hard that is when we need to lean on our Savior the most. What a blessing to know this in my life. So we will get through the rough times, we just have to endure!

5 Things Love

Just in time for Valentine's Day. I think I need some time to focus on all the wonderful things in my life. So I will quickly mention, 5 things that I love:

1. My husband. He always impresses me with the new skills that he can acquire. This last month after a car accident, he was able to do most of the repairs after he found parts at the local junk yard. I was truly amazed. Plus, he is a great chef and always helps me with the dishes. And I know that he loves me back.

2. The power of prayer. We have had it rough the last few months. I know we made the changes in our lives and I know it has not been easy, but I feel like Heavenly Father has truly watched over our lives, and we have been blessed to find teaching jobs in the middle of a school year.

3. Cooking. Playing the piano was a huge relaxer for me when I was younger, but now I have no piano and I really do not get to practice. So I cook. It has become a favorite hobby of mine and I love to try new recipes.

4. My cat. She may be a little crazy, but AP is my cat and I am so happy to have her back in my life. I really missed her while I was in Kosova.

5. Craigslist. I know that I have mentioned it before, but I am realizing all these new ways to find great furniture. I like brand new items, but I am also a fan of eclectic, or antique design. So being able to search a website, bargain for prices, and then score some good deals has become a new enjoyment. I am still not perfect at it, but I think it will be a new way of shopping for me in the future.

Addicted to Craigslist

Since we have moved into our new apartment, we have noticed to massive prices on furniture. With the chaos or the last two weeks, it just seemed right that we find furniture as cheap as possible. Thankfully we had a few good pieces to start with, like my antique bed and dresser (which will one day go into a guest room). We also had most things for our kitchen and a small dining room table. So I have been on the look out for a full sized mattress, to fit in the antique bed, living room furniture, a desk and chair, and a dresser for Joe. My budget is to not spend more than $1000 to get ourselves set up comfortably. This is what I have scored so far:

office chair: $30

leather loveseat and couch: $450

Bookshelves: $65

Mattress: $130

Desk: $60

Price to feel like we really have a home: Priceless