Today was a GOOD day!

Today was a good day! For myself and for my husband! When it’s a good day for the both of you, that’s a REALLY good day, and I think Jesus knew we needed a really GOOD day!

First off, let me state that this is NOT about to be a “whoa-is-me” sob fest. This is just the facts of what life has looked like for us for the last bit of life…it’s almost comical really. So laugh with us! OR, feel free to jump down a paragraph and spare yourself the lame details if you would like to just get to the good part! I won’t be offended! I’d skip it too had I been given a choice!

Okay, now let’s journey back a few months and lay a little foundation for this post:

• We were trying NOT to spend any money because, to be honest, it was the end of the month and we had none to spend. We were starving and wanted something quick and easy. We had a gift card for Mimi’s Cafe, for no other reason would we ever go there, but we had a gift card and that meant free food! So we went and dined with the senior citizens of Roseville and tried to enjoy our meal with happy hearts because, it was free. Happy hearts–that is until we went to pay and were told that our “gift cards” were not actually gift cards but promotional cards that had expired months ago -___- . So, we got to spend $40 on a dinner that we couldn’t afford and didn’t really even enjoy all that much. Not a good day.
• Jordan went to lunch with someone and had every intention of using his free birthday coupon he knew he still had. He enjoyed his burger, went to pay, and…his birthday coupon had expired! Spending another $15 that we were trying not to spend. Just, lame.
• My husband purchased a new custom built guitar amp in May of 2014 and was told that it would be ready within 2-3 months time. Six, seven, eight months went by and he patiently waited…not just for his amp, but waited for even just an e-mail response from this “reputable” company letting him know what was going on with his amp. He finally heard back and was told his amp would be shipping to him ASAP. It’s now been a year and he’s still waiting for that baby to show up. Just, stupid.
• Jordan went to try and sell his acoustic guitar yesterday so that he could turn around and purchase another guitar that is more suited for his current needs as he is pursuing a new music venture. The dude was ready was to purchase the guitar when Jordan suggested he plug it in to make sure it worked. Much to his dismay, the guitar would not work. No sound. Nothin. And no clue as to what might be wrong with it. Needless to say, the guitar did not sell, and it was not a great night for my poor husband.

This is honestly just a snippet but I will save the rest of the stories for your own sakes, less you fall into depression. Just laugh with us, cause it seriously starts to get comical when you know you couldn’t be doing anything differently and yet everything just seems to not be going right, like, at all!

 

Fast forward to TODAY!
I told my husband that I was going to run to Starbucks because I had a reward for a free breakfast sandwich and you can’t pass that up! He was going to come with me but he was having a personal debacle. He had put an offer on a guitar that he had been watching for a while. He reeeeeeally wanted this guitar but there was another offer on it as well so he was feeling extremely nervous at the thought of losing out on this guitar, especially at the price that it was. We had a short conversation of him not knowing what to do–not wanting to lose out on this guitar, but not positive he would get all the money from his “currently not working-acoustic guitar” to pay for it. I then told him to just go buy the guitar. I didn’t want him to lose out on another thing that he had his heart set on. I didn’t want him to be sad again if one more thing went wrong! He then became emotionally ecstatic and was super thankful to have a wife who not only understands him and his hearts desires/needs, but one that is supportive, even in the big decisions. How could I not be when he’s been every bit of supportive of me and my sometimes, “on-a-whim”, photography purchases?!

Marriage = learning how to be your spouses biggest encourager, number one fan, and the ultimate support of their dreams and passions! I tell you what, it’s a lot easier to be that for your spouse when you trust that God has your back. He is faithful and that He will meet you there as you step out in faith, pursuing the things He’s put in your heart.

My husbands soon to be new guitar. Looking very “Batman”, in my professional opinion.
But, super COOL Batman, babe! It looks amazing!  

So, off to Starbucks I went, leaving a very very happy husband.

Earlier this morning as I was scrolling through my daily newspaper, formally known as, Instagram. I had seen that one of the Photographers I follow had posted something I had never seen done before. She posted the picture of a Starbucks gift card and she said for any of her followers who needed a pick-me-up or just needed a blessing today to have a coffee on her. As I was driving to Starbucks I felt nudged to use that blessing that was put out there. I literally sat with no one else in line, conflicted on whether I was really going to use this freebie and walk out with a free breakfast sandwich AND a free drink? It felt weird. I didn’t even know what I wanted or if coffee even sounded good. The Starbucks barista looked confused by my conflicted look and a line was starting to form, so I was pushed to make a quick decision. I ordered my sandwich and then ordered a Tall, (I ain’t greedy! And also, I can’t handle more than a baby coffee in my system), white mocha with caramel drizzle and whip. Unfortunately, he didn’t ask and I didn’t specify that I wanted an iced coffee, thus, thanks to the super nice coffee makers of America, I walked out with two free drinks and my sandwich!

I, of course, took a minute (or ten) to do a mini photo shoot of the goodness that had just occurred, all the while, having a little heart to heart with God.

Look at that caramel though…

As I went back to work, excited to share with Jordan what had happened and what I was feeling, he jumped in telling me how good HE was feeling about his guitar and this day overall.

I then began to share with him that I was declaring today to be the END of all the crap that had been going on in our life! All of the disappointments, frustrations, injustice…done! Jordan had experienced personal forward movement in purchasing his guitar today, and I was choosing to accept the blessing that God had put in front of me. These blessings that we were experiencing were going to be the mark of a new norm in our life! Not because we deserve it or because we’re just looking to be blessed for our own sake, but because I was done with trying to move forward in the things that we feel God has called us to and letting fear and disappointment hold us back, and keeping us living in a place of despair! It’s SO EASY to hit a wall or two, or a hundred, and be quick to give up–thinking maybe you were going in the wrong direction or maybe you were off and this isn’t what God had for you. It’s a lot harder to choose to accept and hold tight to the blessings that come your way. Push forward, hit that wall, get back up and remind yourself of who He’s called you to be and keep moving forward. Full stop. No doubting and no pausing. 

Well today, with guitar and coffee in hand, we are choosing to run forward, no matter what other walls we may hit or things that may trip us up! With eyes focused on Him and each one of us here to encourage the other, we’re gonna do this thing…whatever this “thing” may be. 🙂 

Today was a good day.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!