Hi, my name is Squirtle.

Married life thus far has taught me a lot. I'm not only learning about the details of baseball but I'm learning more about myself than I expected. 

For instance: my new name, "Squirtle". 

You're probably wondering what it means just as much as I was. 

Here's how the story goes: We only have one car. This past summer I have been working at a location that requires transportation other than a train - providing for a lot of time together and fun for Jake and I. 

Although you might not believe it, my typical morning routine is not overly rushed. I tell myself that I wake up with "enough time" to get ready. But truthfully I know I should probably bump up my alarm clock if I really think I can fit in a quiet time, work out, breakfast, and actually complete getting ready. Most mornings the minimal make up gets done in the car while Jake drives down the highway. 

Due to many years of habit development, most morning routines happen at a typical pace. I never knew that this pace was so odd until marriage. "How do you get so distracted?" "Please, can't you just move a little faster?" "Ash, seriously. Stop finding things to do." 

ME?! Distracted? Slow? Finding things that need to get done? Never. 

Thanks to my lovely husband, I am now shrining the name "Squirtle" in the morning time around our home. Aka: someone who moves as slow as a turtle but gets as distracted as a squirrel. 

Now I can easily take offense and turn this around on him - I see how marriage conflicts can happen so easily.  Marriage has a way of showing your true colors. You've always known they're there but in marriage you can't deny them. 

So what am I going to do with a mirror-of-a-husband constantly reflecting my true self? I'm learning to embrace who I am, who I've been, who I'm becoming, and who God has created me to be. I have been reading a lot of books on Christian leadership that talk about coming to terms with who you really are. Learn how you are perceived, accept your quirks, don't only grow in your strengths but intimately know your weaknesses. 

So today I am a Squirtle. I may be a squirtle for a long time - but I am okay with that. I'm thankful to have a husband who accepts me as I am yet will never fail to lovingly point out my "squirtle" moments. Because lets face it, I've got quite a few!

Praise be to God for this truth: Learning who I am is a lifelong journey of getting to know the one who created me. 

In Him I find myself. I pray you do as well. 

Squirtle on. 

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