We're moving to Indiana!

Well, the Crowes are preparing to move yet again! But hopefully this time it will be more permanent! I've taken a job with Indiana State University as an academic advisor with the exploratory studies program. I'll be working in the Student Academic Services Center.

Andy is currently working on a transfer to the Terre Haute Sofa Mart and we're praying that works out! What a joy and testament it would be to both be able to move to Terre Haute with jobs lined up.

Our biggest burden at the moment is finding someone to lease our Cedar Rapids apartment. If you happen to know of anyone in the area, please pass their name along to me! Or have them email me at ashleighweddle@gmail.com. You can also guide them to our June 23rd post, which has pictures of the apartment!

In the meantime, we're busy! The semester ends in 12 days and we move in less than 20 days!

Buried

Haven't updated in a while. Very busy. Lots going on. Will update soon.

The Crowes have a financial revolution

So, we've been taking the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class now for about 4 weeks and we just love it. Not only is DR hilarious, but the class is giving us hope in what was formerly a hopeLESS situation, regarding money. Last week, we did our first budget, and we didn't even yell at each other (DR says it takes around 90 days to get a budget going that works smoothly...he also warns that budgets stir up emotions, so you and your partner have to be on the same page). Since it's still the first of October, we haven't had too much time to damage the first budget, but it has given us something to consider every time we make plans. Last night, we even turned down plans because we didn't want to spend all or even half our entertainment money for the month on October 2. That, my friends, is a sure sign of our financial revolution! Now we just have to continue sticking to the plan, commit to some discipline, and, God willing, we'll be debt free sooner than we could have ever imagined! The toughest lesson by far is going to be learning to live within our means; we aren't extravagant spenders, but we haven't been disciplined spenders, either.

In the spirit of saving money, here are two things I just absolutely L-O-V-E (at the moment, anyway).

1. Aldi - if you have an Aldi in your town, shop there. This week, I saved 30% of my grocery budget. And having cash left over after leaving the store, now THAT's a good feeling! And, though I haven't actually done the math, the savings will be more than 30%...since I got outta there with MORE than a week's worth of food, yet we have a grocery budget for every week. Yippy!

2. Homemade laundry detergent. I found a recipe on The Duggar's Website and just made my second batch this morning. After realizing that the first batch I made should have yielded 10 gallons (I thought it was only supposed to yield 5 gallons...whoops), I'm excited to report that this time, I'll do approximately 100 loads of laundry for about $1.33. Yes, total. The five gallon bucket of detergent did just about 50 loads of laundry and the cost was around $2.66. And, it takes less than 15 minutes to make the detergent. Talk about another huge way to save money!

Here at Your feet, I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
And I am free

Here at Your feet, I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in Yours I’ve found
All I need, You’re all I need

Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me

Here at Your feet, I lay my future down
All of my dreams, I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
For You my King, You’re all I want now
And my soul sings…

‘Cause I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet

And I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet

Here at Your feet

I lay my life down

10K Complete!

Well, despite not keeping with my training program, we successfully finished the 10K this past Saturday! I owe nearly all of my success to my great friends, Lisa and Jenny, who kept me going when I wanted to walk a few paces. But...I managed to not only finish the entire race, but ran the entire way. 1 hour and 20 minutes, to complete. It gave me a huge boost of confidence and inspires me to continue running. Next year, we'll planning to run the half marathon as a relay team! Wish us luck!

I am not skilled to understand

What God has willed, what God has planned

I only know at His right hand

Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed

Christ died to save me; this I read

And in my heart I find a need

Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high

And come for sinful man to die

You count it strange, so once did I

Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives

My Savior's always there for me

My God: He was, my God; He is

My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring

My strength, my solace from this spring;

That He who lives to be my King

Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high

And come for sinful man to die

You count it strange, so once did I

Before I knew my Savior

Home Sweet Home

Oh how good it is to be back...

We never realized how much we were going to miss Cedar Falls until we returned. On Monday morning, we were literally giddy with delight as we drove to the DOR to take care of some business. We kept saying to one another "I don't wanna leeeeeeave!!!". Cedar Falls is a wonderful place to live!

I'm adjusting well to the new building. The students and staff have been so welcoming...it's an encouraging way to begin a new(ish) position.

I'm currently typing on our new MacBook Pro, which I'm totally in love with...oh....Mac. You're so amazing :-).

September is here and the weather is hinting at fall. I can't wait until the temperatures cool down a bit. I know, I know, I'll be regretting those words in a couple of months, what, with the barren cold winters of NE Iowa, but I have a deep affinity for the entire season of fall. There's nothing better, in terms of weather. Jeans, hoodies, beautiful colors, I wish it could be fall year around...(although spring is a close second).

Andy and I are desperate for a vacation. We've been reminiscing about Florida and our honeymoon...maybe we'll get to go back soon.

I've literally been smiling to myself every time I pray, because I"m so full of thankfulness and happiness for the blessings God has given us.

Spike is looking desperate for bed...better retreat for the evening!

Dear Lord, THANK YOU. You are amazing and I am truly humbled.