our 1 year anniversary was perfect.

It was a great one year...man, I love marriage! I promise I'm not that controlling of a person, but in this picture I do look like I'm telling Scott how to hold his "one." Anyways, that was actually on our one year anniversary. We had too many other things going on that day, so we celebrated a few days later. Back in February I bought a deal for a one night stay at the winery in Aviston, IL. It was awesome! A perfect one night getaway. They had small, individual cabins to stay in. Basically it was one big room. It had a huge jacuzzi in the middle of the room with a fireplace (yes we used it even though it was 90 degrees out). We ate dinner there first. It was super num. We got all-you-can-eat crab legs. At first we were kind of annoyed because we were both soooo hungry and it takes forever to crack it and get a good sized piece of crab. By the end of our first batch of crab, we were pros at cracking it perfectly to pull out a huge chunk of crab. We were too full to get more:( Dern! We totally didn't take advantage of the all-you-can-eat crab legs. Oh well. It also came with delicious green beans and mashed potatoes. We ate while overlooking a beautiful lake. That night we watched our wedding DVD my brother made us and both cried AGAIN! Yep, we cried when we watched it after our wedding and still a year later. Scott was really cute and buried his face in my arm because he didn't want me to know he was crying. I was happy he was crying happy tears, probably because he is so in lub with me! I mean, he better not have been crying sad tears...kidding, I know he wasn't. We both relived that amazing day of our lives and felt so blessed to be married to one another. Well, the next day we hung out ALL day in St. Louis. It was ree fun. We ate at our favorite restaurant, Olive Garden (thanks to Trina and Alan Schneider's anniversary gift card), we went to the zoo, Scott watched me get my hair did (what a patient man), we ate dinner in the loop and of course got ice cream, and we hung out with Zach and Marsha Friedrich...who just had gotten married a week ago:) It was a perfect celebration. I love that man, Scott Schneider.

the first time we hung out.

Today I was looking at some old pictures of Scotty and I. Our one year anniversary is on Sunday!! Oh my goodness, can you believe that!?!? Life just flies by when you are with your bestest friend EVA! I came across a picture from my junior year of college, his sophomore year of college. I was rooming with two of my amazing friends, Leann and Cindi. Supposedly, Scott started crushing on me his freshman year. I mean, what can I say? Joke. Well Cindi had hung out with a few people while Scott was around and mentioned one night while we were trying to fall asleep in our bunk beds, "you know who I think is really cute and that you would go well with?"
Oh great, here it goes again, another suggested guy for me to date. "Who?" I asked, completely uninterested.
"Scott Schneider."
"Hmmm...he's cute. Yeah, maybe."
Well, he somewhat began pursuing me, so one night I asked him to come to a Death Medicine concert (a friend's band) in St. Louis. I wasn't sure if he would come since he was a tad shy and probably felt uncomfortable going to a concert wtih 3 crazy "punk rock" girls he didn't really know. Well, he said yes. Adda boy Scotty! That was the first time we "hung out." I thought he was a lot of fun and we were super silly and weird with each other from day one. And now it's almost been one year of marriage!! Thank you Cindi and Leann, thank you Kate, Cristi and Jordan, thank you bunk bed talks, thank you Death Medicine concert, thank you Scott for crushing on me and pursuing me, thank you everyone else who affirmed us, thank you Jesus for THE perfect husband! There was one major thing that bugged me...call me shallow, but I hated his haircut. I thought it looked like a mushroom top...at least that was the first think that came to my mind. So our first official date, the summer going into my senior year, I told him he would look so good with a buzz! I'm a terrible person. He knows now I manipulated him, but he didn't divorce me. Whew. Man, he's one good looking man! How lucky I am.

Our first picture together proves how awkward we were...well, we still are. His hair wasn't as "mushroomy" in this pic. I have a Tinkerbell shirt on, crimped hair, a huge poof, and look ridiculous. He just looks young and cute. 3 1/2 years ago. Wuv him.

patience and trust.

Yesterday Scott had another interview in Centralia for the school where he really wants to be a teacher. We haven't heard anything back from his last interview yet. I have been kind of, ok, a huge nervous wreck. I try to fool myself and say that I'm not nervous and that "God knows best", but deep down I haven't been truly believing that like I know I need to. What if Scott doesn't get a teaching job again this year? I kept thinking that last night and it did me no good. I prayed last night and this morning that the Lord would help me to completely trust Him and truly believe that He already has a plan. I know all of the answers, but it's a lot harder when I'm put to the test. Thankfully my husband is a man of God and told me about five times last night, "Jane, if I don't get a job, it's alright! I don't want it if God closes both doors. For some reason he may still want me to work at R.P. Lumber and I am thankful I have a job right now." Wow. I should be the one saying those encouraging words to HIM, considering he's the one that has to interview! Wife fail. I so badly want Scott to get a job because I know how bad he wants it and I know how amazing of a teacher he will be. He will be such a light to whatever school the Lord places him in.

I woke up this morning having more of a peace than I had last night. I feel awful for not trusting our CREATOR. He DOES know what's best! I have an issue because I need to think on the things that are true as Philippians 4:8 tells me to. He hasn't even been denied anything yet. Chill out Jane!!! God has blessed us so much already and I need to be thankful for what we have. I need not to be greedy. We will be just fine! I know that, I just need to put it into practice.

I praise God for his grace on my unbelief and his faithfulness in our lives.

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:34

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:27

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

husband and his motorcycle.

Scott finally got a motorcycle.  He's been wanting one for a really long time now.  He diligently searched on craigslist for 2 weeks until he found "the one."  At first he was looking for one that didn't run. He knew it would be cheap and he enjoys fixing things. I like the cheap idea too and I am good at watching him fix things. It's a 1989 Yamaha Radian 600...sure, sounds great to me!  He got a pretty amazing deal...it was cheap AND it runs! The corroborator needs to be fixed (do I sound smart?)....I think that's the main problem. Thankfully his dad is a mechanic and can help him fix it.  One more thing he needs to do that is slightly important is get his motorcycle license. I asked him if he could teach me to drive it and he hesitantly said "uh...maybe!"  I guess I'll have to teach myself. Joke. I would die. The first thing everyone asks me when I tell them Scott bought a motorcycle is, "Are you scared!?!?!"  I just tell them there is a lot of things in life that are dangerous and I'm not really scared. That may change when I am actually riding on the back of it and only have Scott to hold onto.  I trust him though.  I'm pretty pumped to become a motorcycle wife. My mom gave me a 15 minute lecture on how dangerous they are and how safe Scott needs to be. Thanks mom for caring...I do appreciate your worries and your reservations.

Another bonus: Scott got a FREE helmet!! It's a nice one too. We are now on the lookout for a helmet for me. I'm thinking about bedazzling it when I get one. Scott may be embarrassed to ride with me if I do that...I guess it's not worth me not being able to ride with him. The bike had these hideous, bright green, tribal stickers on it when he first got it. Thankfully they peeled off. My friend, Jen Manning, suggested we get a tattoo to match it. Do you have an awesome picture of us on the bike with matching bright green, tribal tattoos on our arms and my bedazzled helmet?  Man, that sounds pretty.  Before Scott had his interview this past Wednesday, I made sure to take one last pic of his awesome/nasty mustache IN his new helmet.

He's such a charmer!  I already miss his nasty mustache. When we get that baby running, don't be surprised if you read in the newspaper about the new "Schneid Dog Gang" in town. Pictures to come...

home sweet home

I'm home from Peoria and the happiest woman alive. Even though I was away from my husband for just a few days, I missed him tons. The longer we are married, the more I miss him when we are away from each other. I am so thankful for a sweet husband to come home to.