Oh, we have floors???

It's been a long time coming, but our apartment is actually CLEAN! ALL of it! I mean, it could always use improvement... I haven't been scrubbing floors or anything... but the fact that you can SEE our floors, makes my heart so happy. For a long while it's just been easier to move the mess from one room to another. We've been pretty good about keeping the living room area clean for our small group bible study on Wednesday nights, but that, of course, meant that our bedroom was hideous.

We were recently given a bed... a real bed... and we bought a mattress and box springs (that weren't a floppy uncomfortable mess that was just sitting on the floor) that were practically brand new on Craigslist for $60. I LOVE my mother and father in law. I am truly truly blessed to have them in my life. They constantly surprise us with things that perhaps not most people would get excited about, but Ryan and I are truly grateful for everything they do for us and for all of the love they have bestowed upon us and our relationship over the past 5 and a half years. So there we were, with this gorgeous bed... in a room full of dirty laundry, shoes scattered about, and stuff we really just didn't need.

When we got our sweet little puppy, Penny, we wouldn't allow her in our bedroom because there was just entirely too much for her to get into in there. Welllllllll, I knew my mother in law, Rissa, and my sister in law, Callie were coming in for one day this past week... and it was Spring Break, so I was only working one of my jobs for the week. I cleaned. I hate cleaning... but I cleaned. I turned on my Glee Pandora Radio station and I organized, folded, trashed, washed, and vacuumed everything in that bedroom. But, because the bedroom was finally clean... the living room and dining room had been neglected. I was slightly overwhelmed one day, but totally willing to do it... and my sweet and wonderful mother came over and helped me clean a little. We folded some more laundry, scrubbed the kitchen table, put some groceries away... and slightly reorganized the pantry. I love her so much. I know she hates cleaning as much as I do, but this was a way for her to bless me and spend some valuable time together. I'm so thankful she did. :)

After every room was clean (not spotless, mind you... but far better than it was before), we let Penny explore the place. She didn't know what to think about the bedroom... she hadn't been allowed in there before! She's been running around and sniffing everything... it's hilarious to watch!

Now, Rissa and Callie (and our Mimi) were only at the apartment for an hour or so... but I'm so glad that it was clean when they were! And it was wonderful to see them.

I also purchased some more furniture from Craigslist this weekend... and boy am I glad I did! Ryan and I have been using an end table from my parent's living room as our nightstand and it's so much lower to the ground than our bed it was getting kind of ridiculous. On Craigslist, I found 2 (MATCHING!!!!) nightstands for only 15 dollars. The wood isn't the same color as our bed, but I honestly don't care. I love that we both have our own little space to store books, cell phones, whatever... and they're at a good height for our tall bed!

I'm starting to love our little apartment... and I'm not so anxious to move out as soon as possibly any more. Ryan and I have decided that it is best for us to stay here for another 6 months at least after our lease is up in June. And, I really am cool with this... because now that I know it CAN be clean... it's not so bad! It's even kind of... dare I say it? Homey. :)

Where is home?

I'm having a hard time right now... we really like our apartment complex (for the most part) but we're having to hide our puppy dog because they won't allow a dog under 8 months old to be on the property, let alone live there. And I want her to have a yard to run around in! I also want to have a guest bedroom so my inlaws (and whoever else wants to!) can come stay with us! I'm also tired of stacking stuff in our 1 bedroom apartment. The only good thing about it is the close proximity to Ryan's work! We're surviving on our one car right now, and it's so convenient that he can take it to school in the morning then walk to work so I can drive to my job that night. I'm in the process of looking for rent houses in the same area, but haven't had much luck lately. Our lease is up at the apartment this June/July... and I really want to have somewhere to go. I just don't want to renew our lease... but I guess if we have to, we could always do a 6 month one, and not a full year. I'm just praying that something will come up (in a good neighborhood, that is AFFORDABLE) and preferably where either Ryan or myself could walk to work if we needed to. We'll see what happens I suppose... and we'll keep praying!

Where can I find the time to breathe?!

I'm working 7 days a week! Okay, I know to some people what I do doesn't sound like hard work, but still! Monday nights I only work 2 hours at Ram TV/Ram Radio, and I'm okay with that. Sundays are my usual day off, but I'm covering someone's shift tomorrow (technically today) from 11-4 at Studio Stream (Sonic Live Radio). I'm not really complaining, because I enjoy what I do and I can always use the extra money on my paycheck.. but no Sunday afternoon nap for me! AND, when I'm done at Studio Stream, I'm going down town to take some engagement pictures for a friend! I'm pretty excited about that. I love photographing beautiful people... especially when they're as sweet as this couple.

My photography services have really taken off this year! I love it! I'm keeping record of how much money I'm making per shoot, because this time next year I'll have made so much I will have to report the income for taxes. It kind of stinks that I can't just keep the cash in my pocket, but way cool that I'm getting so much business I have to report it. :) I've done 2 weddings in the last 4 months, a lot of baby pictures and some engagements and graduation portraits too! I have a facebook page by the way! You should check it out. :)

https://www.facebook.com/amanda.marlar.photography

Life is busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Prayer requests:

Our small group is getting smaller and smaller and I'm a little discouraged! The past few weeks we've only had 3 or 4 show up out of our usual 11 or 12!

Ryan and I would love to move into a rent house this summer somewhere in San Angelo... I think we've just about grown out of our 1 bedroom apartment. We've been extremely blessed to live where we do though... just too much stuff for that little space... and I want our sweet puppy Penny to have a yard to run around in!

My sister, Tamra, and her 3 youngest boys have moved to San Antonio (I think, I'm not really sure...) and I know she has a warrant out for her arrest here in Angelo... so I'm not even sure what's going on with that! I pray that she will quit running from her problems and face them... and that they will all quit the drugs and other shenanigans and take responsibility for their actions. I love them so much and wish they could understand that life doesn't have to be this difficult!