Keeping Up with the Capra's: Celebrations!

Happy Fourth!!!

This week was fun, but also a little... off. I don't know about you, but celebrating the Fourth on a Monday caused me to get a day (or more) behind on everything! I was not adequately prepared, and I've been trying to catch up all week.

But on to the updates!
These past two weeks have been full of things to celebrate, and I'm excited to let you in on a few!

First Giveaway and First Promo Code!

Lots of cool opportunities have been coming my way, and I've been so excited!! The promo code that I offered a couple weeks ago from Shop Sevan is still available, and they have been so fun to work with. They have also added new products since I posted, so go check them out.

And last Friday I let ya'll in on a sweet opportunity to win some cool stuff in a giveaway with a few other bloggers! It was really fun to check in every day or so and see who else entered. The giveaway has now closed, but I like the idea of giving away free stuff, so maybe you'll see more of that here? Whatcha think?

GF Vegan Muffin Success

What do you do when you have a vegan friend over? You learn how to bake according to her food preferences and your food intolerances! 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a disaster in the kitchen typically, but I am proud to announce that not only did this taste good, I made them without anything being spilled, burnt, inconsistent, or terribly late! 

And yes, it's a small accomplishment, but hey! small accomplishments should be celebrated! I really do love baking, and can't wait til we're back in VA and I can experiment with more gf vegan baking.

Our First Fourth!

(Wow, that sentence sounds incorrect!)

Jon and I were both at different Young Life camps last year for the Fourth, so we finally got to spend one of my favorite holidays together! Independence Day has always been one of my faves because there isn't the stress or the prep involved like Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter, which means everyone can feel a bit more relaxed. Not only that, but my parents have a party every year for my extended family (on both sides!) and it's a great time to be reminded of how blessed I am that all of my family lives within 40 minutes of each other.

Beautiful Commuting

Sometimes the 4-hour commute to work is a drag, but the past few trips have been full of gorgeous sunrises or sunsets! And I can't help but feel like God put them there just for me sometimes, just to remind me that He sees me and loves me and cares tell me that.

My Daddy's 50th

Yesterday my dad turned the big 5-0! 

My dad was my #1 growing up, and I was a Daddy's Girl through and through. Most of the time I would have preferred a hunting trip with him over anything, and I loved growing up watching him tinker in the barn or skinning deer at the farm in the winter. He's the wisest man I know and I tear up thinking about how blessed I am to be his girl.

(Also this manly-man wore hot pink socks and a tie just for me on my wedding day; if that ain't love I don't know what is;)

You're the best Dad I could ask for!

This week's (lack of) posts

I don't like making excuses for why I'm not posting, and I already struggle with feeling like I have to give a reason for why I did /didn't do something. So I won't give excuses, but I will say that this week has been tough, and that I needed to remind myself that it is okay to fall behind in order to get spiritually/mentally/emotional refreshed or to take care of myself.

I am not defined by my grades or the amount of posts I crank out in a week, and that has been comforting to talk to the Lord about this past week. I also needed to be reestablished in the fact that I could fail all my classes and never blog ever again and I still wouldn't be defined as a failure in His eyes.

This may sound like a downer way to end my "Celebrations," but it isn't, because I love being reminded of who I am to Jesus!

But I just wanted to let ya'll know that it wasn't the plan to go MIA all week;)
In case you missed anything the last two weeks, here ya go:

The Modest Budget: Striped Summer Blazer + a Promo Code
When a Blessing Doesn't Feel Like a Blessing
Currently July + A Giveaway

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Next week's agenda (if I ever get caught up on homework;) includes an awesome swimsuit company, discussion on insecurity, Alaska pictures, and maybe a discussion on what marriage is teaching me, or maybe living with food allergies/intolerances?

How did you celebrate this week?

Linking up at Momfessionals, Sept. Farm, Claire Justine, Bright on a Budget, More Pieces of Me, My Bows & Clothes, & Lizzie in Lace

Currently July + A Giveaway!

I know, I know, I just have tons of treats for ya'll this week, don't I?;)
Have any of ya'll bought anything with the Shop Sevan code I shared on Monday? 

Today I'm sharing with ya'll some things I'm doing currently. Jenna at Gold and Bloom blog had this fun list of questions, so I thought I'd "give it a go."

I am currently...


Toasting: marshmallows! Like I said a couple weeks ago, Jon's new hobby is grilling when we're home on the weekends (seriously, he's grilling everything!). And since I can't contribute to that portion of the dinner-making, I use the leftover coals to make us s'mores! Everyone knows they make for a great summertime desert.

Going: to the National Harbor. I've mentioned this place before as one of our favorite date night spots while we are living in Maryland, and I think one of those reasons is how much there is to do and try! We've been there 5 or 6 times now, and we still haven't tried everything.

Smelling: good! No, but seriously. I apparently smell GREAT. I was out yesterday on an errand after a 12-hour work day, and a woman told me that I smelled nice. After a 12-hour work day. What a compliment. Thanks, Bath & Body Works!

My sweet hubby's birthday gift to me:)

But since I am mostly unavailable, and you probably won't be smelling me anytime soon, you could also be smelling my favorite Yankee Candle right now;)

Wearing: working clothes. Which means jeans and a t-shirt, typically. My inner country girl doesn't mind, but the girly-girl inside of me is not very happy! But hey, that's what date nights and weekends are for, right?

(A few of my recent weekend/date night outfits)

Wishlisting: This kimono from Shop Sevan, and these yellow shorts from Target!

(Do you think it could work to wear them together?? Not sure, but I want to try!)

What are ya'll toasting/going/smelling/wearing/wishlisting currently?

On to the giveaway!!!

Today I have teamed up with some awesome ladies to bring you a giveaway meant for encouraging. Need a little pick me up? This giveaway is for you! There are 3 prizes and 3 winners! I think these businesses are so fun, and I'm so excited to team up with some fellow bloggers to bring it to you!

$25 eGift Card to christianbook.com

TEE from CrazyCoolThreads.com [ you choose ]

11oz mug from HelloAwesomeShop.com [ you choose ]

Here are the fabulous ladies I have teamed up with for this giveaway!

Whitney - Southern Hope Blog 

LeAnn - Love Unconditionally 

Sonya - The Paper Mouse Shop 

Stacy - Better Than Newlyweds 

Brittany - Everyday Thoughts 

Brittany - Grace Love Life 

Terryn - Just A Simple Home 

Casey - Cattails, Rabbit Trails, & Thistlefish 

Crazy Cool Threads 

Ashley - MamasBlessed

Also, you don't have to participate in all the entries... But the more you enter, the greater chance you will be one of the 3 winners!:)

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end July 7 in the evening and winners will be contacted on the 8th. You then have 24 hours to respond and claim your prize or another winner will be picked. This is US only;)

Have a great holiday weekend!!

When a Blessing Doesn't Feel like a Blessing

Have you ever been in a situation or a place in life that you know you'll be thankful for later, but in that place or situation you really, really don't want to be there?
I feel like that's how my life has been in Maryland.
Yes, this job is a blessing.
Yes, it's going to be a huge help for paying of student loans.
Yes, it's great that Jon and I can work in the same place.
Yes, I should be thankful.
But honestly, I'm not!

I've tried to stay thankful, and I've tried to keep things in perspective, but seriously, this is hard. I just don't want to be up here.
Jon and I have made it our goal to be faithful with the small things, especially now with a new family that is literally small. We feel like that means starting off by dealing with our student debt. That makes a job necessary. That makes this job a blessing. That means that this job is (dare I say it) from God.

But I thought things from God were supposed to be warm and fuzzy and comforting and secure and refreshing?
Psht. I've known God long enough to know that is false. He wants more for me than a life of ease and comfort!
At first this felt unfair, but then I wondered if people of God have ever felt like their blessings from God were actually curses?
And how did they respond when God's blessings lost their excitement and no longer felt like blessings?

This brought me to Mary.

Mary's Struggle

I tend to think of Mary as this angelic young lady that must have been perfectly patient and meek and beautiful and said "Yes, Lord, I am Your servant, do whatever You need to do" and then didn't complain.
I mean, who could complain after an angel showing up saying "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you"?
But look at her reaction:

"...she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." (Luke 1:29).

This doesn't sound like the trusting, angelic Mary I had in mind. In fact, it kind of sounds like my relationship with the Lord, constantly trying to figure out what He's doing!

The next clue comes from the angel's response to her silence:

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God," (1:30)

It's not uncommon for people of the Bible to be afraid in the presence of angels; they are huge and warrior-like and other-worldly! But somehow I've always picture her as standing there (still meek and angellic) simply waiting for the message to be delivered. She could have, contrarily, been freaking out (like I would be in the situation).

The angel goes on to tell this young girl that she is going to have the great privilege of bearing God's Son in this world.

"How will this be, since I am a virgin?" was her response.

Was her question asked in the innocent, wide-eyed wonderment like I had always imagined? Or did she have a thousand questions in her mind, and in her panic, that was the only question she could think to ask before this heavenly being disappeared?
The only answer that she was given, in a nutshell, is "Oh, the Holy Spirit will take care of that!" and "By the way, your cousin is going through something similar."

Her response to this was,

"Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Angelic Mary is back.

But in reality, imagine those few moments after the angel left, and the questions that would have been spinning through your head.
What will my family think?
How would I tell them?
Can I tell them?
What will Joseph do?
What will my friends think?
Will they treat me different?
Will they believe me?
Should I even tell anybody?
How do I even tell anyone about what just happened?

The Word of the Lord was not common in those days, and the time spanning between the Old and New Testiment are generations and generations. There were not many people in her time saying, "Hey, I saw another angel yesterday!" or, "Guess what the Lord said today."

Not only that, but a pregnancy is not easy to hide. She only had a month or two to keep this knowledge to herself.

Not only that, but then she would have a baby. Son of God or not, you can't hide a baby either. Would she always be shamed? Would those who didn't believe her see him as a child of shame?

Mary's Comfort

Thankfully, the story doesn't end there. 

The greatest comfort Mary found was in reminding herself of who God was/is. Her song in Luke 1:46-55 continually focuses on who God is and what He has done (for herself and others): 

"...my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...

He who is mighty has done great things for me...

holy is His name...

His mercy...

He has helped His servant Israel..."

Mary exemplified Psalm 91:4

"He will cover you with His pinions,

and under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and buckler"

She used reminders of His faithfulness as a shield against the lies and the feelings of doubt and isolation.

I also think it is significant that she had a song for these characteristics that were comforting to her. I imagine in times when she felt isolated and misunderstood and her blessing felt like a curse she would start humming the melody and singing in her head, or go somewhere she could be alone and sing it at the top of her lungs to build her courage.

What I Learn

I have a choice in times like this.

I can be offended that God would put me in an uncomfortable situation

or I can respond like Mary constantly remind myself of the goodness of the Lord. I can literally use His faithfulness - which I have seen an abundance of over the years - to shield my heart and my mind from the flaming lies that attack me like arrows.

While I may feel isolated or discouraged, away from home and community, I can take refuge in testimonies of His faithfulness and know that He will never leave me, and has good plans for me. In fact, He always does far more than I could ever ask or imagine! It's in His character (Eph. 3:20).

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What are some testimonies of God's faithfulness in your life recently? Testimonies build faith! (And mine could obviously use a boost!) Please share:)

Keeping up with the Capra's: Summer School and Hubby's Rescue

It's the weekend! While weekends are not very long for Jon and I, they still mean that we are back in Home Sweet Chesapeake for two nights (and I get to sleep in past 5am!). So weekends are still worth looking forward to after we get through our 4-6 our drive home.

I have enjoyed writing these updates every other week. And since Facebook and phone calls are not my preferred way of keeping up with people, this is my way of letting people into my life I guess.
So here are my five updates for this Friday!

1. Summer School

This is my first summer of school since probably ninth grade, but I am determined to graduate August 2017!

Unfortunately Regent academic advisors don't like to inform you that you are on track to graduate a year late until after you have been going to school for three years, and they leave you to cram as many classes as possible while you work full-time... But that's ok! I'll take it.

And while most people curl their lip at summer classes, I am still really enjoying my psychology major. Maybe I'm still in the "honeymoon phase" of a degree change, but I do not mind the reading.

2. Cuter...ish

Jon and I have returned to our northern home to finish out this job. (Hopefully we will be back home for good by the end of the month, but there have still been no promises.) But one of my biggest complaints about this job is that it is that I basically wear jeans and a t-shirt every day. Not only that, but we are out in the heat #notcute.

However, Jon helps me out with that by sneaking around behind my back and buying me earrings and taking me on dates;) (These are earrings Jon bought me from a gift shop in Alaska!)

3. Graduates!

Jon was a Young Life leader at Grassfield High School for 4 years and I was a leader at Deep Creek High School for 3 years (and at Grassfield for 8 months). Because of that, we have developed strong relationships with several high school students. These kids each have a special place in our hearts, so it was really cool that Jon was able to watch two of his closest high school friends graduate the day after we got from Alaska!

Unfortunately we had to go back to work before I could watch those precious kids from Deep Creek graduate... I was so sad! But both Jon and I are excited to continue these relationships as they enter young adulthood.

4. Hubby to the rescue!

This morning as I was sitting in my car I spilled my entire coffee on top of a Thirty-One canvas bag from a few years ago that was packed with my planner, notepads, ipad, and other things. The ruined bag would not have made me upset particularly, it was mostly just the feeling of failing at trying to take care of my things so that we can be saving. 

Thankfully, Jon was there to witness it, and (after laughing for a quick second at my clumsiness) instantly jumped up to empty the bag and pour three bottles of water on top to scrub the coffee out before it stained. 

Tears were (mostly) averted, and I was again reminded, in a small, unplanned act of love, how lucky I am to be married to this man.

5. Falling behind.... and latest links

Like I talked about on Wednesday, this week has been a hot mess... starting out with both of us trying to online school and blogging done on one laptop! It doesn't really work...
On top of that, it took us a couple of days to "recover" and catch up on sleep from our trip to Alaska.
For that reason, I'm feeling a little behind, but I know what it feels like to let blogging and homework control my schedule and stress me out, and I don't want to get to that point.

If you missed this weeks links, let me catch you up!

Last week:

The Modest Budget: Top 3 Fave Thrift Skirts
4 Things I Would Change About My Wedding

This week:

The Modest Budget: God is Bigger than... 

Have a fabulous, restful weekend!