We made it...

...a whole week!

After denying the urge to flip on the tv to surf the channels or relax to a movie, we managed to make it through with somewhat flying colors. Josh did turn on the radio when we took some friends snowboarding yesterday. We put in a movie for the Kautz's kids when we watched them on Saturday. And I had to get online for bills and some other things, but I blame Josh, he told me to. Oh yea, and we took the Cheek's invitation to come over to the Kautz's while they watched Kris and Josiah, and there was a volleyball game on (but come on, the Huskers w0n the national championship).

But what did we learn from our media fast? Well, to find about Josh, you'll have to ask him or check his blog, in which he doesn't blog (but I promise, he will have blogs sometime soon). As for me. I found that I had so much extra time on my hands. It was kind of nice. Some of you know about my enlightenment while rearranging my kitchen. But it didn't stop there. I rearranged the whole house!!! You won't believe it until you see it. Our bedroom is now where Asher's room was and I turned our bedroom into Asher's room/guest room with twin, and Josh's office. The room is huge, so it's even a play room. I just found that I had a hard time sleeping with the computer and book cases in my bedroom, not to mention the clutter. This new plan is definitely simplified!!! Plus Josh can have his office, we can shut the door and it will help.

But not only house stuff. Josh and I found we had so much more time for each other. We started praying every night together. And instead of going to sleep to the tv, we would talk and play games, it was fun. Let's hope we can keep some of those things. I loved not watching television so much. From now on I am going to check the listing before just aimlessly turning on the television and surfing for hours. I will tape record shows I really want to watch and watch them possibly later when Asher goes to sleep.

The radio? Well, I guess I don't miss all the stupid radio commercials. But I have totally needed to hear the Christmas Carols to help get me motivated and reminding me that Christmas is coming and I need to get some gifts organized. So I think I will turn some on today.

Well, I recommend a media fast to all who read this, kind of ironic to say though, hence the fact that I'm on-line and you are too if your reading.

My next fast.....soda, till after the holidays!! I'm already craving it!

media fast

I've decided to go on media fast. Actually it wasn't my idea. It was Josh's. But after thinking about it, I really wanted to do it for myself. So starting tommorrow, (wednesday), it will begin. I don't even want to give it a time limit. Although Josh and I have given ourselves a certain amount of time, I don't even want to say it, because, perhaps, I will want to continue some aspect of it for the future. The fast includes, television, internet (still checking important e-mail), and radio. I am sure that I will have something to blog about from it, so check back to find out. Plus I am so behind on blogging, I have pictures and from everything that has been happening lately, but I am going to have to save that until after the fast. I was reading an article just minutes ago (trying to get my media fix, before I take the plunge) and found an interesting article, here's an excerpt...

"Research has shown that both news and television programming can have an intense effect on mood, even causing sadness and anxiety. Without the "noise" of the media running through your head, you are freer to focus your attention inward. Ideas will present themselves to you more readily, and you will find yourself available to revel in the small joys of your own life. You also will be freer to live in the present moment, rather than focusing on what's going on in the news or your favorite soap opera. A media break can also help you develop a more conscious relationship with news and fictional entertainment. When you aren't continuously subjected to the media, you are able to look at what you are seeing or reading more objectively. Taking a break from the media may also give you a greater sense of calm, balance, well-being, and a new perspective on life."
http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2005/639.html

So anyway. Just thought I would let you all know. Hope you have a great week and I'll keep ya posted.

He still brings me flowers :)

Josh brought me my favorite flowers the other day. I really needed that because I wasn't feeling that great and it was a total day brightener. Plus, he still remembers that the blue lily are my favorite (they actually are purple, but the name is blue). Sometimes in marriage, you can forget about doing stuff like this. We always spoil it with practicalities. For instance, my first instinct was to ask how much they cost and wonder where in our budget the money came from, but you know what? I didn't ask. I smelled them instead and forgot all about the price. I always think in my head too, that flowers are so silly because they just die. But you know what else? I sat those flowers on my table and every time I walked into the living room/dining room, part of me felt refreshed by their beauty. Guys--us women may say that we don't want stuff like this, but we are only trying to be practical, we really do want our men to treat us as "fine china" (as Nat puts it). I didn't need the flowers, I didn't even really want flowers. But seeing them, made me feel more beautiful and made me think that my husband must think I'm beautiful. And thoughts like that are hard to come by. So yeah, I would say it's worth it. You may end up with less in your wallet, and dead flowers in your trash can in about a week. But what was created in her and between him and her is priceless!!

What a weekend!

The first weekend of November, Josh, Asher and I went to a couples conference in Estes Park. So much happened, I just had to blog about it. First, we show up and walk into the back of the ballroom and ask the usher guy if we could sit near the back insinuating our little one, and he says that they will not allow Asher in the ballroom. Oh great! He says we can sit on one of the chairs or couches outside the ballroom and listen. Well, we lucked out b/c we found a couch right in front of one of the open doors where you could hear and see the speaker. We got lots of attention from people during the breaks, complimenting us on our comfortable seat choice, but also we were making them all miss their children by having Asher there. The next morning we show up to find all the chairs and couches outside the ballroom are filled with people. Hmmm, they like our idea, only they didn't know we were forced to sit outside. Oh well. It was a great weekend, very rewarding. Asher was the best baby ever. And the thing I love best about Estes Park is the ELK!!!! They are everywhere. They were in the park just lounging, I found three bucks sitting in someone's front lawn, they were grazing around the men on the golfcourse. I couldn't believe how close I was able to get. Josh thought I was nuts getting that close, but I had to take the opportunity.

And to top the weekend off, we took a couple drives through Rocky Mountain National Park, it was beautiful. I decided that I love the mountains in the winter. I had really only experienced them in the summer or for ski trips. But there is something so majestic, so spectacular about the snow caps, hiding in the back. Something about them makes me feel special when I see them, it's as if God made them for that reason and much more. The beauty of them draws me closer to HIM!

When we got home on Sunday from the conference, Josh wasn't feeling well. It was our turn to teach the children for church. So we are in the middle of the story of the good samaritan when Josh turns around and throws up all over the Kautz's basement. The kids didn't realize what was going on, I think they thought it was part of the story at first. We ended up leaving early that night but it has provided for a lot of laughs since. We found out it was food poisoning. Estes Park health authority called us a few days later because they were doing an investigation on a food borne illness at one the restaurants we ate at. Pretty crazy, huh?

It's Official!

It's official, we are citizens of Colorado.

Asher and Dad had a good time putting on our new plates!