Winter Fitness Plan

Looking for a new workout?  Turbo Fire might be for you too!!  I've been thinking about how I'm gonna get my fitness in this winter.  I joined a gym but realistically I won't drive to the gym when It's 5 below.  So I've been searching for the perfect in home workout plan.  I finally found it and started it on Monday --- Turbo Fire!  I got the opportunity to try out this program before I purchased it and I fell in love within 10 minutes.  If you purchase Turbo Fire off Beachbody.com then its whopping $120 but I purchased it off Ebay for $50.  You get 14 workouts on 10 DVD's, plus a class schedule, nutrition guide and much more!   The classes range anywhere from 15-60 minutes just depending on the workout.  If you follow her workout schedule for the best results then you are working out 6 days a week!  I really enjoy Chalene Johnson - she's positive, up-beat and encouraging.  I love how she's choreographed the workout to the fun upbeat music!  It's a combination between kickboxing and plyometrics and just some high intensity cardio. "The Turbo Fire classes also include fire drills, also know as High Intensity Interval Training {HIIT}.  These drills push you to your max for up to 1-minute bursts, with quick recovery periods.  Studies show that HITT ignites your metabolism, enabling your body to burn more calories for up to 48 hours after your workout." So as you can see - I'm very excited about this.  All you need is a DVD player, TV and yourself --- Don't forget to press PLAY!!!!

What Will Turbo Fire Include?

Turbo Fire will consist of a ton of material:

• 14 Turbo Fire workouts on 10 DVD’s for 12 week’s worth of exercise
• Get Fired Instructional Workout Guide
• Fuel the Fire Nutrition Guide (sensible diet plan, over 100 pages)
• Turn Up the Burn Fat burning guide
• Turbo Fire Class Schedule for all 12 weeks
• 5 day Inferno Plan (lose 10lbs & 5 inches in 5 days)
• Lower Body Resistance Bands
• Measuring Tape

If you have any questions - Don't be afraid to ask me!  I'll do what I can to answer your questions!

Seasons of Marriage

Marriage--- My parents divorced when I was middle school age.  And that left a scar deep within me that I cannot explain except for the scar has turned into a passion for marriage that I believe God has given me.  It's the anguish that happened in my life that has turned into joy.  Marriage is not something that I expect to ever master or be an expert on, but something that I want to keep learning.  I long to have a lasting relationship with Dean and I believe it begins with God.  God being my #1 priority and Dean being my #2. 

Our church just finished up a series called - I Still Do - which impacted me greatly.  You can watch the entire series on the Indian Creek website.  I unfortunately had to miss the last sermon due to work, but was able to recently catch up. It talked about the different seasons of marriage and how each are very different - neither good nor bad - just different.  I encourage you to watch the sermon HERE.

 Seasons of Marriage
Marriage - 2 years: Young Love (where 2 become 1)
3-10 years of marriage: Realistic Love (Ideal becomes more real)
11-25 years of marriage: Comfortable Love (re-form individual identity)
26-35 years of marriage: Renewing Love (re-choose each other)
36 years and more of marriage: Transcendent Love (We really want to invest in each other)
*keep in mind some couples go thru these stages faster than others

One thing I'm going to steal from Pastor Gary is his prayer he prays for his wife, Belinda.  It's something Dr. Gary Chapman talked about in his marriage conference - praying for your spouse and with your spouse. 

The prayer that I'm going to start saying daily (Thanks to Pastor Gary):

Lord,

I want to see Dean like You see him.

I want to see him through Your eyes.

I want to love him like You love him.

I want to love him with Your love.

I want to feel the love You have for him.

Lord, I allow You, God, to use me as a vehicle of Your love.

Help me know when to speak, when to listen, when to coach, when to contend, when to help and when to receive. 

Amen

Such a powerful message.  I just had to share it.  I pray my marriage can stay strong through the roller-coaster ups and downs of life.  

I love you Dean Shackley.

My Hair

I'm headed back to Envy Salon for a little hair TLC with Nicole Davis!  I'm so excited, I have the best hair lady ever--- she's fabulous.  I have to be honest - getting my hair done is by far one of my most favorite things - besides going to the dentist.  I love getting my teeth cleaned!  So Thursday I get a bonus --- I have a dentist and hair appointment!

My problem is this:  Do I keep my hair dark?  Put a light highlight in or go back to being my blonde self?  Oh the problems I face. ha!  So I guess I'm taking a poll - to get an idea of what my friends and family think!  What do y'all like best?

The BLONDE me

 

The HIGHLIGHTED me

 

The BRUNETTE me

 

So - what do you guys think?

You Can't Get No Satisfaction

I recently listened to one of Beth Moore's devotions and felt hugely convicted.  I thought I'd share with you some things that were brought to my attention and in what way it has impacted my life.

Isaiah 47 addresses Babylon--- Ancient Babylonia: The Bible reveals that all false systems of religion began in the land of Babylon.  The name Babel in the Bible means "confused" (Gen 11:9) and throughout the Bible, Babylon was a symbol of the confusion caused by godlessness.

"You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me,' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, "I am, and there is none besides me.'"  Isaiah 47:10

Wow- this hit me like a ton of bricks.  The Babylonian mentality is this:  I will live for myself, that nothing is as important as me, I've got to find myself, its SELF ABSORPTION.  The Babylonian mentality shows up in us whether or not we say it - our actions show it (our selfish ways).  We are supposed to make a mark here for the kingdom of God and live unselfishly.  We are supposed to become people to live onto others and live onto our God.  We are supposed to become people that glorify his name. But we live in a culture that teaches us to be self absorbed and we are miserable with it.  If we aren't 100% intentional about being unselfish - we are.  We get sucked into it and I'm just as guilty as anyone else. 

Daniel chapter 1 portrays our culture perfectly.
"Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king's service some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace."  Daniel 1:3-4 

Do you notice what he's saying?  Bring me your smart, young and beautiful. We are living in that culture today - how young can we look and how long can we look that way?  How together can we appear and how beautiful can we possibly be?  We've got to do everything that we can to think a certain way and to look a certain way.  And we are all caught up in this, myself included.

The Babylonian mentality is shown in our culture with our overwhelming amount of choices.  I can get my coffee any way I want it.  I can buy any vehicle the way I want it with the features I want it to have.  But the increase in choices isn't making us as Americans happier.  Gregg Easterbrook explored this gap in perceptions about money and happiness in his book Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse. "Envy and dissatisfaction come from lacking what others possess, but coming into possession of those things does not confer happiness.  Seeing the BMW may make you feel unhappy, but psychological studies show obtaining the BMW would not make you happy."  It's not where our satisfaction comes from.  I was hugely convicted here.  Dean and I want a house so badly.  We are saving every extra dime we have because we "think" that will make us happier just to have something to call our own, somewhere we don't hear our neighbors talking and a safe place to call home.  The bottom line is - we are already happy.  Granted I still want a home big enough to raise our children in one day - but the overwhelming feeling of wanting a house and wanting one now needs to subside.  God will bring us the perfect home in his timing - I just know it.

2011 Recap

So my computer has spend sometime in the hospital!  So I finally got a chance to steal borrow Dean's computer to catch up on some blogging!  :)

2011 has been a wonderful year.  I started the year by moving out of my cute little 1 bedroom apartment and into my soon-to-be in laws (current in laws) to save money for the big day.  While this made many people nervous, it was a great experience.  That 6 months living there flew by.  It allowed me to really get to know the Shackley clan.  As you know my Dean was/is working in Iowa and big Dean was out of town most of the time working in Manhattan, Ks on a job so it left the girls and dogs to hang out.  We watched the Bachelor together (I was an Emily fan… to bad that relationship didn’t work out), I learned how to make a bow with 2” ribbon (thanks to Makenzi for making bows for the entire softball team to wear in their hair during games) and they got to help with wedding planning.  And before we knew it July was here --- wedding month--- and I officially became a Shackley!  See some of our wedding pictures HERE. We had a wonderful wedding and spent the next week in Cancun soaking up the sun, ha!  Yeah right, it rained every day but one.  It was still a much needed relaxing week with the husband.  Then our life started in our 1^st home.  For the last 6 months of 2011, Dean floating back in forth between work here in Kansas City and in Iowa.  During that time we have had some amazing experiences, attending Gary Chapman's marriage conference and becoming DEBT FREE being two of the many experiences.  Dean and I have an amazing support system with our families but also with our small group through our church.  We have grown with them, but also our relationship with Jesus has grown so much more.  And because of my relationship with him I've been free'd of so much pain and anger that I'd carried with me the last 10 years of my life.  

So as Dean and I start 2012 we've each made a list of goals we hope to achieve and we are going to hold each other accountable!  I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this year!

Proverbs 31 Woman

You probably know that Proverbs 31 is the "ideal wife" chapter.  It envolves wifely dudies as well as her character.  We all need to work on our character, right?!  Women were created to help their husbands and we need to bring good to our husbands.  So how can we do this? We can start by setting aside the poor behaviors that always get in the way of a healthy marriage and put on the character of Christ.  I decided to have a personal study with this chapter in January.  It will be like a new years resolution - but fun!  I'm always up for some personal growth and a challenge.

The Seven Principles of the Proverbs 31 Woman

The Proverbs 31 Woman...

• Pursues an ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Loves, honors, and greatly enriches the life of her husband, encouraging and supporting his leadership within his family and his church.

• Shaping and molding the children who will one day define who we are as a community and as a nation.

• Creates a warm and loving environment for family and friends.

• Is a faithful steward (steward = manager --> thanks Dave Ramsey for explaining that one) of the time and money God has entrusted to her.

• Speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction as she encourages others and develops godly friendships.

• Shares the love of Christ by extending her hands to help the poor and opening her arms to the needy.

I'm excited to get this journey a rollin'

Happy Wednesday!

Super Woman vs. Abiding Woman

I found this little reminder HERE!  And it was just what I needed today!  Hope you enjoy it!  :)

Roomag

I'm super excited about this new website created by Candace Cameron Bure {I've loved her since her Full House days as "DJ"!}  And you may remember her brother, Kirk Cameron, who played on Growing Pains.  Candace is both outspoken and passionate about her family and faith.  "Her desire is to minister to the hearts of women so they might pursue wholesome values that nurture and reinforce the family unit; that modern women would be bold enough to stand against the negative message our culture tends to reflect, and embrace the women we were created to be." - Roomag. 

On the site, you'll find all kinds of encouraging articles about life, fitness, marriage, parenting (for all you Mama's out there), how to build your husband up, money, decorating, DIY projects and much more.

I'm thankful for...

A relationship with God

A Husband that loves me unconditionally and makes me feel special

A Family and in-laws that love me

A group of friends who accept my bubbly, fun, quirky personality

A church that really feels more like family

A job that allows me take care of kiddos - I adore the child-like faith

A dog that keeps me company and makes me laugh

A life that I love living!

Marriage Conference

Last Saturday we spend the day in Liberty Missouri for a marriage conference.  We went with another amazing couple, Dave and Amber.  It was Dr. Gary Chapman's conference titled "The Marriage You've Always Wanted."  It was a day of learning and laughing hysterically.  Dr. Chapman is the author of The Five Love Languages and many other popular books.   The day was filled with lots of humor and practical insight on a sound biblical marriage. A Growing Marriage is designed to stimulate strong, healthy marriages—the foundations of strong, growing churches, and reaching others for Christ.

Topics we learned about:
· Communication 101
· Rekindling Love / The Five Love Languages
· Initiating Positive Change in a Marriage
· Making Sex a Mutual Joy
· How to Share the Things that Bug You

Dr. Gary Chapman left us with 3 things he encourages married couples to do yearly.
1. Read the book, The Marriage You've Always Wanted
2. Read a book on marriage with your spouse.  Read a chapter a week and at the end of each week discuss the chapter and ONE thing you could work on - NOT pointing out things your spouse should work on.
3. Attend a marriage conference a year.  (He states, marriages either improve or get worse.  They don't stay the same.)

LOVE: is not a feeling but a behavior.  

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. 

                                                                                                                      - Ephesians 5:25

Notice how God Commands the husband to love his wife.  He doesn't give the husband a choice.

So how do we express love? by compliments, kind words, humble words (love makes requests not demands) and use unselfish behavior.  All of that in which has been told in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5  Love is patient, love is kind, it is humble, it is courteous.  It is unselfish, not quick to take offense, does not keep a score of wrongs.  So once again, love is being described as a behavior, not a feeling.

I've been attending small groups since going to Indian Creek Community Church but I've never held a group of my own.  My goal in the next year is to lead a small group of newly married couples and together work through the book above.  Now- hold me accountable!  :)

We're Newlywed and DEBT FREE

It's Debt Free Friday so I'm proud to announce as of October 26th The Shackley's are officially DEBT FREE! I'm not telling ya'll this to get a pat on the back.  I really hope to be an inspiration to others.  The goal of being debt free is obtainable.  It's not impossible.  Our culture has told us over and over again that being in debt is normal.  We don't want to be normal.

Dean and I have talked and if there were only 3 things that we could pass on to others and someday leave behind as our legacy it would be the following.  The first, living a Godly lifestyle that shows others we LOVE JESUS!!!  We want to use our feet to follow in Gods footsteps and use our mouth to speak the words of God.  He made us all so differently and I tell you one thing: God made NO mistakes in making you!  The second thing is, having a debt free standard of living.  I want to pay cash for all my wants and needs.  Now, I understand buying a house might be slightly difficult to do only paying cash, but our goal is to put down a large percentage.  And thirdly, we want our life to be as healthy as possible.  We've been working out together - getting up at 3:30am to start our workout by 4am so Dean can get to work by 7am.  Dedicated - I know! ;)

Dave Ramsey was by far our inspiration for this debt free way of life.  He is a man of God and one of the world's greatest biblical financial teachers.  He was introduced to us a little over year ago at our church.  From that point Dean and I decided that how we wanted to live.  So one by one we worked at getting out of debt.

Here is the order in which it happened for us:
1. Paid my school loans off in 1 year of graduating college
2. Dean paid his off in 6 months - overachiever! haha
3. Paid my DELL laptop computer off
4. Paid my bedroom furniture off
5. Dean paid his Truck off
6. Paid for our wedding in CASH
WE GOT HITCHED!!!!
7. Paid my car off in the first few months of being married! - our last and final debt!

Yes, we will continue to live in our apartment and save for a down payment on our first home together!


Check out Dave's 7 Baby Steps in getting out of debt HERE.  To watch a video - to see how Dave works check out it out HERE.  We are discussing Life. Money. Hope. this month at our church.

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."  - Matthew 6:24

11.11.11 {My Mama's Birthday}

November 11, 2011 was my Mother's Birthday!  She has been looking forward to since she was a little girl.  So this year we wanted to make it EXTRA special for her - we showered her with 11 gifts.  She received one each day starting 11-1 and ending 11-11.  We called it the 11 days of birthday! 

The 3 of us kids think the world of our Mother.  She is the kind of woman that brightens a room with her cheerful smile and warm laugh.  She has a positive, bubbly and outgoing personality that everyone loves being around.  Her attitude towards life just rubs off on people - she very rarely has a "bad" day.  I'd like to think of my Mom as a super-woman: going to Janessa's volleyball games, Garrett's middle school football games, and to varsity football games to see me cheer all in the same day.  Plus we'd still get a yummy warm meal afterwards.  I can't wait to be a Mom one day - so I can pass on all the great traits my Mom taught me by example. 

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
It is not proud. It does not dishonor others,
It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails."
- Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

This is a very popular bible verse.  One of my favorites.  This is something I strife to be more like and one of the bible verses I can replace Love with My Mother.

My Mother is patient, my Mother is kind.

She does not envy, she does not boast,

She is not proud.  She does not dishonor others,

She is not self-seeking, she is not eaily angered,

She keeps no record of wrongs.

My Mother does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.

She always protects, always trusts,

always hopes, always preseveres.

My Mother never fails.

Here are some pictures that bring me down memory lane!

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

His Needs, Her Needs

I just finished the book below and finding it very interesting.  I started reading this book, not because my marriage is heading south but because I not only want to prevent divorce in the future but I also want to stay happily married.  This book describes how men and women generally need different things from a relationship.  Not realizing it, women give their husband needs that in reality she really needs and visa versa.  Overtime, there becomes frustration towards each other and you grow further apart each day, sometimes causing affairs. 

Here are some of my thoughts/notes on the book itself highlighting some of my favorite chapters.

Your Love Bank
He discusses a love bank that each individual person has.  It contains many different accounts that make deposits and withdrawals whenever we interact with one another.  Pleasurable interactions cause deposits, while painful interactions cause withdrawals.  As life happens, the accounts in our love bank fluctuate.  Some acquaintances keep adding deposits, while some take out so many withdrawals that they are in the “red” – meaning they cause more pain than pleasure.  While others stay at more of a balance or neutral– sometimes painful and sometimes pleasant so deposits almost equal withdrawals.   This is how we pick friends, best friends, and future spouses.

Her Needs: He describes the average woman’s needs but this can fluctuate woman to woman

1.      Affection: expression of care.  (Hugs, flowers, holding hands, a back rub, ect.) When one spouse is affectionate to the other it sends the following messages:          

·        You are important to me

·        I will care for and protect you

·        I will be there for you if you need me

2.      Intimate Conversation: Women like to talk!  Set aside time each day to talk about events, children, feelings, or plans.  She enjoys conversation especially if he isn’t too busy “just to talk”

3.      Honesty and Openness: being transparent with your spouse. 

4.      Financial Support: He assumes the responsibly to house, feed, and clothe the family by working 40-50 hours a week and not jeopardizing the family time.  While he encourages his wife to pursue a career if it is her desire, they don’t depend on it for living expenses. 

5.      Family Commitment: Spending time with the children by reading to them, playing sports, being a teacher of the Bible and the life of Jesus. 

His Needs: Again, describing the average man’s needs but fluctuate depending on the man

1.      Sexual Fulfillment: The wife meets this need by becoming a terrific sexual partner.

2.      Recreational Companionship: Enjoying activities together.  (hunting, fishing, playing sports, working out, going to car shows, amusement parks and bible studies are just some examples)

3.      Physical Attractiveness: She keeps herself physically fit (diet and exercise), wears hair, make-up, and clothes in a way that he finds attractive.  He is attracted to her in private and proud of her in public.

4.      Domestic Support: She manages household responsibilities in a way that encourages him to spend time at home enjoying his family. (cooking meals, washing dishes, cleaning house, ect)

5.      Admiration: He likes compliments!  Be careful not to criticize him = can hurt him deeply.  Remind him of his value and achievements to maintain his self confidence.  Be proud of him!

Again, these aren't necessarily the NEEDS you or your spouse may have but the point is men and women have different needs.  If those needs are being met – everyone stays happily married!  At lease Willard F. Harley, Jr. says so!  J

A Pleasant Surprise

It’s more than a new iPod – it’s a new friend!  I lost my old school iPod while working out for our wedding.  I’ve been without it for around 6 months and if you know me very well at all – you know that music is my life.  I live to feel the beat of music.  I’m the kind of girl to sing in the shower, car or just break out in song at any given time.  So I’ve just been making due with what I have (the radio, overhead music at the gym, buying CD’s – my latest: Francesca Battistelli).  Well, I was pleasantly surprised when Dean took me to buy a new iPod on Monday night.  I think Dean just might get the husband of the year award ladies!  WOW he is good.

This was my very first iPod – gone.  It’s amazing how they change.  I got this guy about 5-6 years ago.  His screen was in black and white, just showed the title and artist of the song, he could shuffle music and that’s about it.  Miss Green is new and improved with her touch screen.  She has a clip on the back so you can just clip and run!  There is a pedometer feature; she’s in color with a picture of the artist while the song plays, plus has the Nike application.  Have I mentioned that I love the iPod?

Thanks again, Dean!  You made my year!

Reflection

God has created us for a specific purpose in life.  I strive to be more like that image daily: learning and working on myself to being more like Jesus.  I want to experience life in extraordinary ways by having a relationship with God.  I just finished the book below that I read with my small group from Church. 

The woman I am growing towards requires being radically obedient to God.  As Lysa Terkeurst says it, "Obedience is more than just 'not sinning.'  It is having the overwhelming desire to walk in the center of God's will at every moment.  Don't stumble over fearing you won't be perfect or that you are sure to mess up.  Saying yes to God isn't about perfect performance, but rather perfect surrender to the Lord day by day.  Your obedience becomes radical the minute this desire turns into real action.  Radical obedience is hearing from God, feeling his nudges, participating in His activity, and experiencing His blessing is ways few people ever do."  So I'm not saying I'm perfect - I'm human - we all are.  I just want to listen to God because he simply knows what is best.  How do you listen to God when you don't hear an audible voice?

I've learned to ask my self 5 simple questions when I'm questioning if God is talking to me.

1. Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?
2. Is it consistent with God's character?
3. Is it being confirmed through messages I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?
4. Is it beyond me?
5. Would it please God?

If the answers to these questions are YES - chances are God is speaking.

I challenge you ladies - take the time to read this book.  It gave me a different perspective on how I should view my life.

Pumpkin Protein Bars

I found this recipe on bodybuilding.com and it's from Jamie Eason (a fitness model).  She has a few other protein bar recipes on the website as well.  I made these a couple days ago and they are already gone.  Yep - amazing.  

Most people go to the gym and workout wanting to see results.  You'll get minimul to no results working out alone.  Exercise is usually not the problem.  The problem is people fail to invest in the other important areas, that in combination with exercise, give you the most results.  They're buying the lemonade stand without the lemonade, the new vehicle without the key to start it,  they're spending their time focusing on their exercise program that they fail to see the importance in a sound nutritional program.

Protein is so important in an active persons diet because it helps you repair muscle tissue after you break it down with training.  Protein will help you build muscle = makes you stronger!  Other areas that it helps is with digestion, maintenance of the body's water balance, protection against disease, carrying of oxygen and regulation of blood clotting.  So you can see that protein is very important in our diet.

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Ingredients:

½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)

1- 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 ½ tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground clove

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1- 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin

2 C oat flour

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

½ cup almond milk

½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.

Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.

Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated.

Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and back for 30 min.

Makes 24 squares.

Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein

Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein

* For more protein in each bar - put 4 scoops of whey protein instead of the 2 scoops mentioned above.

Working Out Again

About one month after the wedding, Dean and I decided it's time to hit the gym again.  I decided to set a workout goal of 3 days a week and for him - more like 5!  I had been taking cardio/resistance training classes and he was lifting weights.  I recently came across a workout program on bodybuilding.com that made both of us excited to try.  It is a 12 week program with 3 different phases designed to keep your body from reaching a plateau.  It also came with nutritional goals, which manly consist of taking all processed foods out of your diet and eating 5-6 small meals a day.  We started at the beginning of this week and are feeling sore but great!  So week ONE down and ELEVEN to go!  Bottom line is staying active and being healthy is our overall goal.

Long Distance

I feel so blessed to have Dean back in Lenexa with me.  Our relationship has mostly been long distance.  I graduated college a year sooner; so for one year he was still in Pittsburg America (as he would call it) while I started my job at Children's Mercy in Kansas City.  After Dean graduated we lived in the same community for a year and then he was sent to Creston, Iowa with this job.  There were mixed emotions running through both of us, what are we going to do now, does he search for another job? - But with the economy that may not be such a good idea, do I move and try and get a nursing job in Iowa, but I love my job at Mercy.  There were so many unanswered questions.  We both decided we had to put trust in the Lord.  God is the only one who knows the details of what's to come.  September rolled around and we got engaged!  So, the wedding planning began with 9 months until the big day!  We originally thought that we would continue to be long distance for the next several months after being married but God had a different plan for us.  Dean found out a week after being back to work that he was moving back to work in KC!  We get to be a "normal" newlywed couple (whatever normal is... ha) He has now been back for a little over a week and I feel like I'm on cloud 9!  Through this entire process our spiritual strength has grown with the Lord and we have grown closer together believing and trusting that his plan is 10 times better than our own. 

So yes - this man is officially back in Lenexa!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5