Want vs. Need

People love to share their stories of how when they were Newlyweds they were dirt broke and started out with nothing. And every story ends the same… “this was one of the most memorable and happy times of my life!” My parents have recounted stories to me about how they would recycle wrapping paper and sit on lawn chairs…in the house. Now it’s my turn to be at the blissfully wonderful stage of life where it’s ok not to have many material possessions because we’re in LOVE, and that’s all we need! I have learned that you don’t need a dishwasher, and that I am perfectly capable of doing dishes by hand. I have learned that you don’t need a microwave, which I always thought came with a house? I have learned that you don’t need kitchen cabinets. After two weeks of not having our kitchen fully unpacked I am a bit annoyed at this one! I have learned that you don’t need a couch, although after four months we finally have one!! I have learned that you don’t need a dresser. I have learned that you don’t even need a bed. I slept just fine on our lovely Aerobed for two weeks. This was all Glenn could take before he decided a real bed was a need. I have learned that you don’t need internet. Really how is a month away the earliest possible appointment? I have learned that you don’t need cable. The most difficult lesson for me is learning that you don’t need the convenience of having a washer and dryer in your house. I hate the Laundromat! Call me crazy but laundry used to be my favorite chore. I derive immense satisfaction from separating all my laundry just right, and then pulling that light, fluffy, fresh laundry out of the dryer. Glenn and I have gone to the Laundromat once and only once together, in fact Glenn has banned me from going to the Laundromat with him ever again. After tears that he doesn’t sort correctly and that Laundromats are germy I was banned! Now I’m perfectly content not going back and appreciate my sweet husband for doing all our laundry all the time, and he even brings it back folded! Like many before me I love this stage of my life. I love slowly but surely creating a home with my husband. I know that I will appreciate all these things more when we have worked for them together. Honestly the little things about marriage are my favorite! I love that Glenn is the last person I see at night and the first person I see in the morning. I love cooking dinner and sitting down to eat while sharing about our day. I love grocery shopping dates. I love going on walks with our dogs. I love picking out something new for our home that we choose together. I love cuddling! I love all the laughing! I love that we are still learning new things about one another. I love that I am blessed to share my life with my best friend! I am still learning to distinguish my wants and needs, and I will be thrilled when we get a washer and dryer, but I am content and happy with my life in the moment.

Next chapter, New York.

This California girl never imagined that she would ever wind up living in New York. I made a promise to Glenn while we were engaged that I would move with him anywhere, and upon finishing his Masters program he literally applied everywhere. Less than a week after we were married we gave a tear-filled goodbye to CA, packed up a tiny trailer with all our worldly possessions and our two small dogs and these Newlyweds moved to New Jersey. Upon arriving in NJ we knew it wasn’t for us. After a quick four month stint living in NJ we moved again. Glenn had been waiting on two job offers. One was in Peekskill, NY and the other in Columbia, MD. We missed being around friends and family and were really hoping that we would end up in MD. After a torturous waiting process and I am not exaggerating, we found out 36 hours before we moved that it would be New York. This was a major life lesson for me that the Lords plan and our plan don’t always match up. I honestly thought we would be living in MD and was heartbroken to learn it was NY.

I think anyone who has moved before knows that it’s never as easy as anticipated. I have never really had to experience this before, and let me say it is stressful! At 3:45 on Thursday we went to pick up our moving truck with confirmation in hand. Apparently our reservation didn’t matter because they had no trucks! Quick panic attack because we had to be out of our apartment the following morning. Well, after calling every rental truck place we had to drive 30 miles out of our way and wound up with a 26 Foot Trailer! Can you say a little excessive for a Newlywed couple that owns practically nothing? We arrived in New York the following morning like planned and the first thing I see when we walk in our new apartment is a giant hole in the kitchen wall. That was not there when we viewed the apartment. We spent a majority of the day just driving. From NJ to NY then back to NJ to return the truck and then back to New York. With all the stress leading up to the move and the actual move itself by the end of the day I was sick. Lucky for me I have the sweetest husband in the entire world. Glenn told me to go sleep and when I woke up he had all the furniture arranged and the entire kitchen unpacked. Happy wife! Through all the craziness I became even more and more grateful for my wonderful husband who handles stress much better than me. So here I am a New Yorker, and so far life is pretty good.

My First Blog!

Hello!! Welcome to my first blog post! Glenn has been encouraging me to do this for a while now, and I have been procrastinating majorly. I am a little worried because I am not very technically savvy and am still learning how all this works. Now that I live 3,000 miles away from most of my friends and family I thought this would be the perfect way to keep all my loved ones updated on our lives here on the East Coast. We are extremely exciting people so check back often as I write and post pictures about the adventures of the Fantastic Mr. & Mrs. Fox!