Margin

I'm writing to you during a time that is listed on my calendar as "hobby time," which is something the cool kids these days would refer to as "margin."

This word, "margin," began showing up very prevalently in my life several weeks ago following a conversation my husband and I had about needing to make time during the week for us as individuals to do things we want to do.  We had kind-of made a plan to implement this, and then, "margin" started showing up everywhere.  The concept came up in sermons I heard and conversations I had.  It was discussed on almost every podcast I listen to, both new episodes and ones I was catching up on, and even mentioned by name on a couple.  Then, we started a worship team Bible study; the title?  "Margin."  I couldn't believe it.  I thanked God over and over for such clarity.  This message He was trying to convey was coming through more clearly than any of recent memory.

While it may be a sort of buzzword these days, and therefore, might seem fleeting like most trends, I think the concept of "margin" is very important.  Creating time for your own enjoyment, personal development, hobbies, whatever it may be, can allow your brain to be used in a different way, your heart to be opened, your mind to be cleared, and your body (and dare I say, your soul) to be refreshed.  Taking this time for yourself can allow you to reconnect with yourself, which in turn, can lead to better/stronger connections with those around you.

I realize this all might sound a little lofty or unrealistic.  Me saying, "Take time to find yourself!" "Find some quiet space in your life!" "Do what you love!" might conjure thoughts of a girl in a sunny field of wildflowers with her face to the sun, a yogi in child's pose, or a leather chair and warm beverage, and you're rolling your eyes.  You're thinking, "Yeah right.  Who has time for that?!"  There are certainly circumstances and seasons in life that seemingly make any downtime or spare moments impossible.  Whether it's a matter of time, money, lack of childcare, whatever - this idea of "margin" can feel unattainable for many.

However...

I've heard many times that you make time for the things you value most.  I've read articles about the fact that we spend so much of our time doing things we don't actually need to spend time doing.  Statistics show our screen time is off the charts.  People are often heard saying, "I'm so busy!" and "I'm too busy!" and having to start saying no's, because they've said too many yes's.

It wasn't necessarily easy for us to find this "margin" time in our what-we-thought-was-already-pretty-full weekly schedule; it took some thought, effort, and a little trial-and-error.  We've made it work, though, and are better for it!  We are able to spend time doing the things that somehow got pushed completely off the "to-do" list by the more pressing items (By the way, it's still really difficult for me to not use "necessary," rather than "pressing" in that context.  I'm still working on defining the things I want to do as necessary; to put "self care" in the "necessary" category; to prioritize myself right up there with everyone else.).  We each get to spend a little time each week doing something that will refresh and recharge us.

So far, my personal margin time has been spent differently each week: I've gone bargain shopping with coupons in hand (one of my favorite things to do).  I've watched shows (at home in the guest room with doors closed - haha).  I've spent time stamping and organizing my stamping supplies (both things I enjoy).  And, as may be obvious, I've written blog posts!

My husband's "margin" time has also looked different each week and always looks very different from my own, because we're different people with different personalities and interests.  This is not to say that we don't enjoy spending time together.  Nor has this "margin" time taken the place of our weekly date night or other quality time together.  Rather, it is separate from and in addition to these things.

It IS possible to do this for yourself...and it's important!  It doesn't have to cost money.  It doesn't have to be out of the house (though if you're at home most of the day, I'd encourage you to make this a priority).  It doesn't have to be super exciting, adventuresome, or new.  It just needs to be what you want it to be, and for some of you, that might mean you need to let yourself figure out what that is, first.

I know this level of mandate is a little uncharacteristic of my posts, but as you've just read, this really means a lot to me.  I feel so cliché saying it, but as I get older, I'm learning more and more about myself and what it takes for me to be at my healthiest.  This is not something I'm working on alone; my husband has played a major role in this part of my personal development.  Without his encouragement (sometimes it's had to be more strong than others), I wouldn't have ever considered allowing myself to prioritize myself (that's my Enneagram 2 showing...and that's a whole other blog post - haha).  He's on his own journey, too, and I'm so proud of him.  So thankful to get to do life together!

Anyway, please seriously consider this for yourself.  I'm no expert, but would love to talk through it with you, if you want!  Would love to hear anything you're willing to share.

Until next time, friends. ☺

With margin (because "margin-ly" is too close to "marginally"),
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my son - for so many reasons

cooler weather, open windows, prospect of fall, etc.

Aldi

Extreme Makeover: (Byers) Home Edition

Friends,

This post has been a loooong time coming.  As you may know, there were some unexpected issues with our house when we moved in almost two years ago.  We've worked since the very first day we lived here to rectify and remedy these issues, and we are so thankful to finally be able to say we're done!  Yes, there will always be home improvement projects, but these were more necessary than cosmetic and more pressing than most.

The most recent renovation occurred in our bathroom.  We'd picked out and purchased many of the new elements in the room around the time we moved into this house, but they were banished to the storage room till we were able to tackle this project.  I was able to snap some before, in between, and after shots.  We're so pleased with the end result!

There's no "before" picture, but the shower head is a few inches higher than it was. 
If you've met my hubby, you probably understand why this was a necessary update. ☺

Found this sign at Hobby Lobby (with coupon, of course), but it didn't match the vanity, so...

...I stained it!

Long before the bathroom project could be completed, we needed to insure our basement would be usable in both sunshine and rain.  So, over the course of a year and a half, we completed several related projects both inside and outside.  So much credit goes to my amazingly handy hubby - from planning to executing and brain power to man power - he orchestrated and managed everything so well.  We're also so thankful for all those who helped us (finally) reach the finished product.  Whether they were paid by check or by cookies, we had some really wonderful help, all around.

These pictures don't really do the projects justice.  So, so much time and work went into them all!

Front step, bushes, tree, and lots of dirt out...

...drain tile in.

One surprise lead to another!  haha...

We had the tile professionally removed, but then, Bryant worked many long hours to put on the epoxy finish.
Turned out so great!

The long table/chair/carpet wasn't meant to be a permanent fixture, but it sure comes in handy! 
Glad to have plenty of space and flexibility!

Inherited some leftover landscaping pavers, so now, we have a firepit!

(This was a fall project, so these pics are old...and they're making a s'more sound extra good, right now...)

Not pictured: seemingly daily "medium," "small," and "tiny" updates/fixes/renovations including, but not limited to: purchasing and installing a new microwave within about 4 hours time beginning at 7 p.m. (this was definitely one of those "out of necessity" projects...), replacing light switches, fixing toilets and faucets, figuring out how to better heat the basement, adding hooks to the inside of the bathroom closet door, etc., etc. 

This may not have been a total home makeover, but some of it did seem fairly extreme.  We're excited for the promise of warmer weather allowing us to tackle some less-necessary-more-fun projects outside (garden, landscaping, etc.)!

As usual, thanks for reading and for your interest!

With dust in my hair and paint on my clothes (not really, but those both occurred over the course of the aforementioned projects, so it counts, right?),
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

concrete dust (NOT - oh man...definitely not a favorite...)

spontaneous day dates with my boys

freeze-dried pears (the ones I've had are from Aldi!)

this "busy board" we made for Jacob with things we had around the house:

My younger man ♥

This is one of those posts I started several months ago. I've added a few things since, but it's mostly as I wrote it then. Glad to be able to share it now, though, because today is the subject(my husband)'s birthday! Please enjoy this post about how wonderful he is and join me in celebrating him! (Yes - he's younger than me, but not by much.)


I just need to brag on my husband for a bit. Not in a "my husband is better than yours" way, or anything like that. Just in a "he's amazing and I want to publicly thank him" way.

Here's the thing:

We often say, "We sure got a good baby!" Not only is he so precious and adorable, but he's also just been an easy baby. He's spoiling us, for sure.

That being said, there have been hard days. Some of those hard days may be the norm for other parents; some of them may be on par with what others experience; some may be worse. Regardless, they get to me, sometimes. I've been labeled a "high achiever," "goody-two-shoes," and a "perfectionist" at various points in my life. I can't help but get down on myself and feel as though I've failed when even the smallest thing doesn't go as it should. (And I can't function well if something is unresolved/out of place/lost/etc.) So, needless to say, when I don't know exactly what to do for my baby and/or nothing I try seems to work, I feel like I'm failing him. Because of my woman's "spaghetti" brain, this permeates into every other aspect of life, and I end up feeling like I'm not succeeding at anything - esp. at being a wife.

Those hard days when I'm feeling like a failure and can't seem to figure out how to function normally are the days when my husband shines especially bright. He never fails to greet me with a hug and a kiss, regardless of how I look or feel. He asks how he can help and/or observes a need and meets it without being asked. He gives me what I need without me knowing I needed it. (Examples of this include: sending me to Target with instructions to get a Starbucks drink and look around a while, even though we only need one thing; clipping a mani/pedi coupon and making sure I go redeem it; finding a Groupon for a massage and sending me to redeem it only after I go get something I want for lunch; taking the load of laundry I just pulled from the dryer and telling me to stay downstairs to watch figure skating while he folds it upstairs.) My personality type does not do a good job of self-care. Self-initiated self-care makes me feel selfish/guilty/unproductive. I'm getting a little better at it, but only because my husband strongly encourages me in this department. I've fought him on it at times, but he stands his ground, and I always come out better for following his instruction. And though he totally deserves to do so, he doesn't even say, "Told ya."

I may have said it before, but he's just such a great dad...and a great husband to me as a mom. He works hard for our family and comes home excited to spend time with us and ready to help however he can. We've continued to do lots of work on our house (more on that later), and I'm continually amazed at all he knows how and learns to do!

We celebrated our third wedding anniversary in October, and in addition to taking me out for dinner (sans baby for the first time, thanks to some dear friends), he also got me these very thoughtful gifts:

Red roses, because that's what my bridal bouquet was comprised of.
The traditional gift for a third year anniversary is leather, so he arranged to have this special sentiment printed on a piece of leather! ♥ 

Though I wrote most of this post months ago, it still all rings true today - perhaps even more so! I simply can't imagine life without this amazing man by my side, and I'm so very thankful for him and the life we've built together.

Happy birthday, Bryant!☺ Love you so much! ♥

With-all-the-heart-eyes,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

consignment sales

podcasts (let me know if you'd like recommendations!)

This tiny cake, because #moderation, but also #birthdaycake. ☺ 

The month I gave up chocolate...and cheese...and bread...and all the things, actually...

I had plans for how I was going to start this post, but then I realized I haven't posted anything since SEPTEMBER!  Seriously?!  I do have a few drafts started, so maybe that's why I was under the impression I'd been more on top of this...but...guess not.

So, before I go on, I feel the need to reintroduce myself:

Name: Kensy
Age: 30 (yep - meant to post about that one...kinda crazy)
Relationship status: married (to the most wonderful man)
Kids: one 7-month-old son (also, a boy cat and a girl dog)
Degree: B.M.E. Instrumental Music Education
Job: primary job title is "Mom" (so thankful for this), private music instructor, Pampered Chef consultant
Hobbies: keyboardist on church praise team, member of the Parkville Symphonic Band trumpet section, stamping/making cards, crafting/DIY home improvement projects, catching up on shows online (PTL for this...no cable or DVR in this house), bargain shopping

Ok, I think that's good, for now.  If you've been a longtime reader, you know waaaay more than that about me, but for those of you who may be new to the "scoop," nice to meet ya.  ☺

So, about that title: it's true.  I actually did that, and I still can't really believe it.

My husband and I made the decision several months ago to do the Whole30 elimination diet in the month of January.  For those of you unfamiliar with the plan, you can read all you want by clicking here, but in short, it's 30 days of no sugar (or sweeteners), grains, dairy, legumes, or additives - no exceptions and no cheat days - followed by a 12-day reintroduction period.  The program also discourages snacking, mimicking "treats" with compliant ingredients, or treating yourself, even with compliant items (i.e. having some fruit instead of a candy bar just because you had a bad day and "need" something sweet).

This wasn't something we formally signed up for, we didn't pay for a plan, or anything, and it wasn't prescribed.  We'd heard and read about it in various spaces, and for several reasons, decided to give it a go.  This program is not meant to be a "diet" in the traditional sense - you're not limited as to how much you eat, but rather, what you eat.  It's meant to make you more aware of how you're fueling your body, to reset your body to use the right things for fuel, and to make you aware of any allergies/negative reactions you may have to certain food groups.

If you know me/us at all, you know this was not easy.  We both definitely have a sweet tooth (or five...).  I LOVE to bake!  We're foodies and love to try new restaurants (KC restaurant week happened in January!).  Food is one of my love languages.  As much as I like to cook, shopping for and preparing every single (compliant) meal in our own kitchen for 30+ days was challenging.  Saying "no" to treats, convenience foods, and a couple social engagements centered around food was not fun.

For me, personally, however, the "cold turkey" and "no exceptions" rules were helpful.  I have enough goody-two-shoes in me that I won't try to color outside the lines if I'm told I can't and enough persistence (or maybe it's stubbornness...or OCD) to see things through to the end - esp. when there's a clear end in sight.  Telling myself that everything is ok in "moderation" has not served me super well, lately, esp. coming out of pregnancy as well as finding that breastfeeding doesn't burn as many extra calories (for me, at least) as I'd hoped.

What was even more helpful was doing all this alongside my husband.  We were accountable to each other, could empathize with each other, and obviously, ate the same things all month.  He was so helpful and supportive, and we're better for it.

Now that we're fresh out of the reintroduction phase and completely done with the program, I'd like to do a little self-reflecting.  Thought I'd do it here just in case any of you are interested. ☺

In no particular order:

• We couldn't have done this without a plan.  I started a Whole30 Pinterest board months ago (I'm curious as to whether or not that link works if you don't have Pinterest - let me know!), and in the weeks leading up to the new year, we planned out the entire month's worth of menus.  This involved a hand-written calendar, an Excel spreadsheet, and a notebook of printed-out recipes; all of which may have been a little more excessive than necessary, but we knew we wanted/needed variety and meals we'd be excited about, and if we didn't plan for it, we'd end up eating the same 3 meals a day all month...or falling off the wagon altogether.

• Though it wasn't the intended result, we did lose a fairly significant amount of weight, considering this was not paired with an exercise regimen (unless you count lifting/carrying an increasingly-heavier baby boy).  Though I've not been vocal/public about it, at all, I've struggled with my weight pretty much my whole life.  Losing/maintaining/feeling good in my own skin/etc./etc. - it's all just been a constant for many years.  People have asked if I liked being pregnant, and honestly, one of the reasons I did was because it was so acceptable and commendable to be "big."  This Whole30 month was a healthy (in all senses of the word) reminder that my body will self-regulate if only I give it what it truly needs.  Yes, there is something to be said for exercise/regular activity, as well as treating oneself, and we'll be working to rediscover that balance as we move forward.

• Sugar is everywhere.  This was the hardest ingredient to avoid...and where it wasn't there was honey or maple syrup or some other substitute.  The most surprising label I found sugar on: chicken broth!  Seriously.  I stood in that isle for many minutes reading labels and trying to find something compliant to put in my cart.  I'd made some of our own, but wanted to have something on stand-by, just in case, and I couldn't believe I almost had to go away empty-handed.

• Speaking of grocery shopping - this became an unexpectedly different experience for me.  You know I love to grocery shop.  And I knew it would be somewhat different, but didn't foresee some of the ways it was.  I made an ingredient list for each week's meals and stuck to that shopping list.  Whereas previously, I may have shopped the sales and cooked accordingly, I bought only what we needed for the week and sometimes (gasp) paid full price for items.  My "impulse buys" became fruit and Larabars that were unexpectedly on sale.  Haha.  Also had to pass up samples...who AM I?!

• We chose to do this plan in January not because it was a "resolution," but because we didn't have any celebrations/gatherings/travel plans for the month, so it was the easiest time to bunker down at home, if you will, and not be super tempted or inconvenienced when trying to eat compliantly.  An unexpected bonus to doing it at this time: Jacob started eating baby food, so I just made any extra fruits and veggies we had into food for him!  (He's doing great with it all, by the way - haven't found anything he doesn't like, yet!)  A downside to doing it when we did, though - the end of the reintroduction phase is dumping us straight into Valentine's Day and Bryant's birthday week.  Fingers crossed that we can maintain our newly-formed habits, despite all the treats.

I'm not going to get on a soap box about eating raw/organic/plant-based/etc., but this really was enlightening for us.  You don't have to eat "rabbit food" to eat healthfully.  Eating what's good for you doesn't mean you're doomed to "eat, drink, and be sad" forever and ever.  All it takes is a little awareness, a dose of discipline and self-control, and probably some extra time in the kitchen.  (Also, more money in the "groceries" line and less in the "eating out" line on the budget.)

A couple "funnies" from our month:

• On the "non-gluten grains" reintroduction day, when we could have rice and corn, we planned to have Chipotle.  We looked forward to this day basically the whole month and were even more excited when two things happened: 1. We discovered that we could have chips (!!!), and 2. We received a BOGO coupon in the mail!  This day also fell on Super Bowl Sunday, so it was nice to pretend we were having special treats while watching the game.  Haha.  ☺

• We took communion twice before realizing the grape juice and piece of pie crust were not compliant.  Woops...  Figured if that was the worst we were doing as far as "slipping up" goes, we were probably ok and took it, anyway, the rest of the month.

Here are a few of the yummy things we made/ate!

Thanks for sticking with me and for reading!  Happy to answer any questions you have, as always.

If you've done Whole30 or a similar plan, we'd love it if you shared any tried-and-true recipes!

Healthfully,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

"The Greatest Showman" soundtrack

having CFA on gluten reintroduction day!!

baby-initiated peek-a-boo

A NEW coop!

You guys.

I've been so, so, so excited to share this with you!

As many of you know, we put our house on the market about a month and a half ago.  We loved our home (which was Bryant's bachelor pad for a couple years before we met) - it's so cozy and cute and a perfect starter home.  That said, though, we've always known we'd need more space if we were ever to expand our family, so decided to start looking for that "space."  (I know some of you are reading into that...this is not a pregnancy announcement.  Don't worry - it will be very clear if/when that announcement comes!)

Since about a month before we listed our home, we'd been working with an agent to find a new home, looking both online and in person.  We found a couple that were "maybe's," but we predominately saw ones that weren't an option for us, for one reason or another.  Any that we liked enough to consider putting an offer on were under contract before we had a chance to do so.  It was getting discouraging - we thought we wouldn't be able to find something by the time our house sold.

We had showings for our "exit" home almost every day for a couple weeks starting the day it went on the market.  There were multiple second showings and one "almost" offer, and then, an offer came through!  Wohoo!

The SAME day we got the offer on our house, we saw THE house for the first time.   (By "THE," I mean THE one we decided to put an offer on...THE one God was saving just for us...THE one we loved the most...THE one that had nearly everything we were looking for, and more!)

We stood in awe of God's timing that evening we saw the house for the first time.  It had been on the market for over a week with no activity, which was seemingly unheard of during the time (and in the area) we were looking.  We continued to be in awe as all the pieces with the sale of our "exit" home and the purchase of our "target" home fell into place.  He knew it all before we did, and we didn't need to worry about a thing.

And now, it's official!  We've got the keys, started on some improvements (hooray for home ownership...of any home...in any condition - there's always something to work on), started moving our things in, and can't wait to continue on our marriage journey in our new-to-us home.

I won't bore you with all the specs here, but we might do so in person if/when you get to come see it!  ☺

Old home...

...new home!

God is GOOD!

Home ownerly,
Kensy

P.S. I've been refraining from posting these pet packing pictures till now.  Please enjoy.  ☺

It's exhausting...

Favorites of the day:

Habitat for Humanity ReStores!!!
(This one is a favorite for the month, really - we've been back sooo many times after discovering one of several in the area.  The best place for DIY-ers, for sure.)
all of our helpers - past, present, and future - We seriously couldn't have done this without you all!  From helping find properties, to gathering boxes, to heavy lifting and cleaning...and all the projects to come - we are so thankful for you giving of your time and talents!
being done packing (PTL!)

Reason(s) to celebrate in February

Can't believe we're already halfway through month #2 of 2016 - wow.  As my husband says, "Time's fun when you're having flies."  ; )

You may have guesses about what the subject of this post might be - we'll see if you guessed correctly.  Here's what your train of logic might have looked like:

This post is about February.

February is host month to Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is about love.

Therefore, this post is about love.

If so, you'd be partially correct.

What you may not have known, however, is that February is also Bryant's birth month (which means even more chocolate and goodies and celebration at our house).

So, with your blessing, I'd like to tell you about the wonderful man I married and some of the reasons why I love him so much.

(If you've blessed this post, read on; if not, this is where you can stop reading.)

As we draw closer to the halfway mark in our second year of marriage, we'll be the first to tell you that marriage is an adventure, a learning process, a growing process, and a beautiful mess.  Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it is unbelievable, sometimes it heals, and sometimes it is so, so joyful.  It isn't always easy, but gosh, it sure can be fun and amazing and wonderful.

It's really difficult to explain how marriage can be all those things at once, so I'm not going to try.  What I would like to try to explain, however, is how my husband makes our marriage and life together better with each passing moment.  

(Which means I'm going to write a list, because that's how I get through life: lists.  haha.  But seriously - can I get an "Amen!" for Post-its?)

In no particular order (except for the first one):

• He is a God-fearing man who regularly shows me a picture of Christ's love for His church.  He encourages me to seek the Lord first and dig deep into His Word.  He prays with me and for me and leads our family to follow Jesus in all we do.
• He loves me unconditionally and makes sure I know it.
• He is so smart!
• He isn't afraid to kiss me in public.
• He is funny.
• He asks about and is genuinely interested in the happenings of my days - no matter how big or small.
• He is kind and thoughtful.
• He plays with Charlie (the cat).
• He leave me notes.
• He remembers things I don't and doesn't blame me for forgetting.
• He makes me surprise breakfasts (and other meals).
• He can fix anything!
• He is always willing and wanting to help, not only me, but also those around us - strangers included.
• He encourages and supports me in all I do.

I could go on and on.  I am so thankful for the man I married and get to spend my life with.  Praise the Lord for bringing us together!

Please join me in celebrating him today/this week/this month - he deserves it so much!

Continuously falling for Bryant,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my husband!

birthday coupons/deals/etc.

quality time

Our Favorite Things: 2015

“Our Favorite Things: 2015”

Lyrics by: Bryant & Kensy Byers

To the tune of: “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music

New jobs and good jobs and trips to the mountains,

BSF, small groups, and praise team rehearsals,

A season to celebrate Jesus’ birth…these are a few of our favorite things.

Family time, good friend time, and new adventures,

Seared steak and cookies and sweet surprise flowers,

Ballroom dance lessons and grand piano strings…these are a few of our favorite things.

DIY projects and seeing new movies,

Our dog and friends’ dogs and even our kitty,

Concerts and cooking and dates at the range…these are a few of our favorite things.

When it’s trash day, and a raccoon, opens up our bag…

We simply remember our favorite things, and then we don’t feel so bad.

Toddlers and students and funny coworkers,

Netflix, vacations, and chats with the neighbors.

Warm, cozy nights that do not have to end…these are a few of our favorite things.

Fresh air and trimmed hair and time at the pool,

Long walks and Zumba and good bargain hunting,

Weddings and parties and Amazon Prime…these are a few of our favorite things.

New tools and Craigslist and clearance at Target,

Pen pals and board games and notes in the mail,

Road trips and cooking and trying new things…these are a few of our favorite things.

And when we’re asked, more than one time, when we’re having kids?

We’ll simply say, “We plan to wait just a bit,” and in the meantime, we’ll live… 

(full-and-fullfilling-lives-while-enjoying-being-married-and-doing-what-we-want-when-we-want-

yet-all-the-while-looking-forward-to-expanding-our-family)!

Thank you for reading/singing! Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season! May you find time to enjoy some of your favorite things now and in the New Year to come.

Love,

Kensy & Bryant

Favorites of the day:

our Christmas tree

Masterchef Jr.
these two:

When we finished their puzzles, they said "Keke, let's take a picture!!"

Life Lessons: Marriage Edition - Part 1

Hello, dear readers!

In honor of our first wedding anniversary (can you believe it?!), we'd like to share with you some of the (many) lessons we've learned during our first year as a married couple.

So, without further ado, here are 12 lessons we've learned (one for each month, of course) about love, marriage, and life in general:

• It's ok to sleep with both the ceiling fan and the electric blanket on....at the same time.
• Patience is a virtue. Not only the waiting kind, but also the "I've already told you this how many times?" kind.
• A kitchen does not need 5 sets of measuring spoons...or a perfectly alphabetized spice cabinet.
• Make friends with the people at the local home improvement store - there may be days when you see them on 6 separate occasions.
• Sometimes, words can get in the way of good communication.
• True love is knowing what a person is saying when they speak while brushing their teeth.
• Owning a pet who requires the toilet to be inaccessible lest he/she take a sip from the porcelain bowl creates good habits for married life.  Lid always down = seat always down = win/win
• There is indeed more than one way to skin a cat...and more than one way to load the dishwasher. (We know only one of these from experience.)
• Adventure can be found in your own backyard...so long as the power lines are loose and a squirrel needs to practice his high-wire routine.
• Car time = talk time. How often do we take time to sit next to each other and just talk without distractions in our daily lives? We've found that taking advantage of this opportunity while driving/riding in the car together (esp. on long road trips) can lead to some really quality and necessary conversations that may not have happened, otherwise.
• Being willing to "go halvsies" can drastically cut down on decision-making time. 
• There is a married version of yourself that you (and your spouse) don't know exists till after you've said "I do."

Perhaps you can relate...perhaps you disagree...perhaps something provoked a new thought for you.   Either way, let us know!  We love learning more...and we love hearing from you!

Like I said, we've learned many more than 12 lessons, but will leave it at that, for now.  Thank you to all who have helped us learn these and many other things during this marriage journey of ours.  We sure have been shown lots of love and support along the way!

Marriage is an adventure, for sure, and I'm so glad to be on it with my sweet husband.  We are loving every minute/experience/new memory and are excited for more to come!

Paperly,

Kensy (and Bryant)

;-)

Favorites of the day:

my husband

our anniversary trip!!!!  (more to come on that one ☺)

frosted animal crackers

FULL life

My dear, faithful readers,

You're probably wondering if I've forgotten the password to my Blogger account...or if I've lost the ability to type...or if the heat has melted my laptop and rendered any updates unpostable...or if I've given up for good on this journey of the written type.

Not one of those scenarios is true (though losing my laptop to the heat has sure seemed plausible lately!).  Rather, I've just been working to further find my niche here in KC, and I'm ready to play the "open book" card and tell you about it.

I'll be completely honest in sharing the fact that this transition hasn't been all roses and butterflies...or ponies and rainbows, for that matter.  It's been tricky (a word I use more than I realized - one of the boys I nanny for has started using it...in conjunction with scrunching up his face in the most adorable way).

Yes, I love being a wife and supporting/caring for/enjoying time with my husband.  Yes, I like being able to help a wonderful family out by caring for their precious boys whenever they need me to do so.  Yes, I enjoy meeting new people and making connections in order to not only build my clientele, but also to build relationships here.  Yes, I appreciate and take advantage of this season in life when I have ample time to myself and can do what I want when I want.

All that said, however, I found myself having a hard time being content (speaking of...you might remember the post I once wrote about contentment).  I felt like I didn't have a lot to show for this new life I'd entered into; like I wasn't truly accomplishing anything, contributing to society, or using my God-given skill set to the fullest.  And I'm realizing this might also be why I haven't written a blog post in the recent past...I haven't really felt like I have anything to write about, I guess.

My life in Lincoln (and Topeka, for that matter) was FULL - I knew a lot of people, I did a lot of things, and I had a lot of friends.  I know those seem like fairly broad statements, but that doesn't make them less true.  I was used to completing myriad tasks in short time frames, having many musical outlets for practice/performance/collaboration, finishing large projects after months of problem-solving and much effort, seeing and furthering the progress of many students in a week's time, being very involved in church and church-related activities, and never being at a loss for things to do or people to see.   

After leaving those things behind, I found myself realizing how much weight those aspects of life carried and contributed to my feelings of accomplishment and self-worth.  I won't go so far as to say I was feeling worthless, but like I said, I wasn't feeling like I had much to say when asked, "So, what are you doing in KC?"

By the grace of God, and with a little help from my husband and those closest to me, though, I recently had a little epiphany: my KC life is equally FULL - just in different ways and with different "things!"  I told you about some of those things in a previous post, and am excited to tell you more, but what I want to make clear as I wrap up this little-glimpse-into-my-heart post is that I am becoming more and more content with my "new life."  I'm recognizing the ways I am and can be using my gifts.  I'm meeting new people and forming new relationships.  I'm continuing to enjoy the time I spend making our house a home and serving my husband.  I'm finding new "things" to do and ways to help out and contribute to the greater good.  I'm embracing the new place and new life to which God has called me...and truly loving married life.

I'd like to thank you all for reading.  I hesitated to write all this out, much less post it, but I'd also like to be honest and share my life - good and bad, ups and downs - in hopes that you might be able to relate in some way.  I also know a lot of you really do care, and I appreciate that very much!

In other news...the front flower bed has continued to take off!

One last thing: I'd like to give a quick shout out to my awesome brother and the amazing woman he has asked to be part of our family!  Please join me in congratulating them on their upcoming wedding and praying for blessings on their marriage.  ☺

Thanks again!

Love,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Andy Stanley's "Brand: New" series

Netflix

WEDDING WEEKEND!!

KC Life

Howdy ho, neighbors!

Hope this finds you well and staying warm/cool/safe/wet/dry, as applicable, in this unpredictable spring weather.  ☺

As promised, I'd like to tell you about some of the things I've found to do here in the big KC, so far:

First and foremost, I'm learning what it means to be a wife.  I love that I have the time/energy/resources to be able to put my husband first and make the most of our time together.  We realize this time in our lives is precious - we can pretty much do whatever we want whenever we want without worrying about anyone but ourselves (and the 4-legged children, of course), and we're doing our best to not take it for granted.  There's so much I could share about this aspect of life, right now, but I won't bore you with the seemingly mundane details of our day-to-day.  Just know that I'm loving making use of my previously untapped Pinterest boards and helping make our house a home.

I'm also nannying for a precious family with two-year-old twin boys.  They've stolen my heart, and I've loved spending time with them and watching the boys grow.  We found each other via Care.com (sort-of like online dating for families looking for childcare), and I'm so thankful to have met and started to become part of their family.  They've welcomed both Bryant and I with open arms, and we're so grateful.

You're probably wondering about music students, yes?  I miss teaching at the studio very much (and miss my students and coworkers even more!).  I have found one student here, though, so I have a small outlet for this part of my life through her.  I travel to their house once a week to teach her lesson on their baby grand...I know - it's rough.  ;-)  Anyway, I'm constantly meeting new people and making new connections, so I'm sure I'll find more students, eventually.  I'm just not being super aggressive about it, at this point.  If you know anyone looking for a music teachers in the KC area, though, feel free to send them my way!

In addition to the aforementioned tasks and activities, I'm helping/planning/getting ready to be in two weddings this summer - my former coopmate's and my brother's.  Both include showers, helping with invitations, dress shopping, etc., etc...and I'm loving every minute of it!  After having just done it all ourselves, it's nice to be able to help others in more, new ways...and to reminisce about our own festivities. ☺

I'll leave it at that, for now.  Bring on the questions, and as usual, thanks for reading!

Loving life,
K

P.S. You'll be happy to know I found Tinsel Tom's long lost cousins!

Favorites of the day:

garden-fresh asparagus (thanks, Mom!)

time and opportunity to lend a helping hand

couples' activities

Our Walls

I know, I know - I said we'd be going in order...which means this post should be about our honeymoon.  I'm just really excited to share all this, though...so, reminiscing about a beautiful, warm, wonderful tropical vacation will have to wait for a bit.

I am writing today to (proudly) say I've (finally) gone through/unpacked/found homes for every box/wedding gift/etc. etc.!  I alluded to this project in a previous post, and am just so glad to have it done.

For me, the last piece of the project was hanging pictures on the wall, and I thought I'd give you a glimpse of the finished product(s):

Here's the "entryway."  We really love the from-the-balcony shot of our wedding ceremony!

Our living room grouping - the tri-frame was a Christmas gift from Bryant's parents, and the gallery wrap was a "thank you for playing piano for our wedding" gift from our photographer.

The guest room!  This bed was at my grandparents' previous house in the room I always slept in - the "pink room."  The quilt was made/given to me by my great aunt for my college graduation.  The sheet music wreath was a gift from a student, and the frame was a wedding gift!

This project started at the coop years ago, and it has found a home in our guest room!  Be sure to make your addition when you come stay with us! ☺

Bryant had some beautiful pictures up before I moved in, and they found new homes on the walls of the office.

Yes, this one got to stay, too. ☺

The "New York Nook" in our bedroom.  So many great memories!

I'd gotten these large "floating" frames for free, and definitely wanted to put them to good use.  We couldn't choose just two favorite pics to put in them, though, so we used the "floating" space in other ways.  The "Love Lives Here" was a garage sale find, and we finished the grouping with a cross we found cheap on Amazon.
P.S. A special thanks to my husband for the "throw pillow shopping spree" Christmas gift!  I'd always dreamed of having a grown-up bed set, complete with throw pillows, and he helped make my dream come true. ☺

This might be my favorite wall.  The painted frames and B&W pics came from the shower Bryant's family threw us in OK - his sister painted and put them together...and she even took the pics!  I'd found the "Love" at a thrift store a while ago, and was glad to find a home for it on our bedroom wall.

Many of you had been asking how things were going, etc., and my answer was usually, "Well, I've got mostly everything unpacked and homes found for most of it, but we don't have things on the wall, yet."  I don't really know, much less can I explain, why "having things on the walls" was the final piece of my "settling in" puzzle.  I realize that's a pretty common "last item on the to-do list" after moving in somewhere, but for me, it was more than making sure the furniture was in its place before decorating.  Having pictures of us and our families and friends on the walls in our home just makes it all feel even more real, more like home, and more like the place where we are going to start our future together.  Not that it didn't before...but this helps...like I said - not sure I can adequately explain it, but maybe you can relate.  ☺

Thanks for reading.  Come see it in person sometime!

Settled-ly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

new friends and relationships

Sprouts grocery store/farmers market

our "getaway" date last weekend