Introduction

Introduction

My name is Jennifer (Jenny) Montgomery. I am a twenty-something, newlywed who is a self proclaimed O.C.P. (Obsessive Compulsive Planner) just trying to understand God's plans for me and my life. I love good quotes, Pinterest, cuddling, music, genuine creativity, old movies, chap stick, chilly  breezes, traveling the world, and cozy afternoons. More importantly, I love my family, I love my husband, and I love my God. 

In my new series, Getting it Together Because...I'm a Wife,  I'm hoping to delve into what being a Christian means, what being a newlywed means, and what being a wife means. This blog will be wholeheartedly honest, filled with exploration and self discovery, but I'm not trying to discover who I want to be, I'm trying to discover who God wants me to be. Come along for the ride, and maybe God will show you who He wants you to be too!

I've been a newlywed for exactly 137 wonderfully challenging days. Immediately after the wedding, and I'm talking the day after, I moved to Springfield, IL where my husband had gotten a job and where I had gotten a job exactly 3 days before our wedding! (I started that job two days after the wedding) SO... to recap: I got a job, I got married, I relocated, and then I started the new job in under 6 days! Whew! It was a crazy 2013!!!

What have I learned in the past 137 days?

• Now I think in plural form - I don't just think what do I want for dinner or can I go shopping? Now it's what would we like for dinner and can we afford to go shopping? It's definitely a change you have to get used to.
• Syncing our Google Calendars has been a lifesaver! Now we can keep each other on track and know when to plan activities around each other's schedule.
• I have learned to love things he loves. This wasn't something we really had to do much of before we got married because we had a long distance relationship for a little over a year. I've gotten into basketball now that we're married and we're even coaching Jr. High girl's basketball together!
• Now that I'm married, people ask us when we're going to have kids. We have discussed this, but it's interesting how people feel that it's acceptable to ask you about that now. 
• We hate being away from each other. This could be because, like I said, we were in a long distance relationship for a little over a year, but we love seeing each other when ever we can. 
• Quiet time and alone time is rejuvenating. Don't get me wrong, we're not loud or clingy people by any means, but in the mornings Andrew leaves for work before me so he gets ready while I sleep and I get ready after he leaves. This is nice because we get our own space to do our own thing. 

Before the wedding I made a list of what I hoped I would act as a wife, how I hoped we would be act a married couple and how I hoped he would act as a husband, and he made lists too. It was definitely a great idea because it laid out our individual expectations for our marriage and each other before we even said I do. Reviewing it helps me refocus my thoughts, actions and my goals what I want out of our marriage. At times I feel like I've lost sight of being the wife I want to be and I get down on myself, but then I remember that we have the rest of our lives to get it right and I'm still new to this! This isn't an excuse to be terrible to my husband by any means, but it helps me to fathom that life isn't perfect, I'm not perfect and all I can control is my behavior and my responses to each situation as it comes. I need to work on myself and my behaviors in order to be better for my husband. 

We've been reading a couple's devotion called Night Light since we got married and it's a quick, 5-10 minute time for us to connect to each other and to our Lord. Finding a devotion or something specific that you can connect over on a daily basis is pivotal. Prayer, reflection, trust, forgiveness, flexibility and honesty are only some of the ingredients in a good marriage, but everyday is a journey, a day to forgive and a day to do better for yourself, your spouse and God. 

Photo Credit: Kate Kerr Photography


Happy Living & God's Blessings!
J.M.