We have baby news!!!!! We are pregnant! yes, I know, I haven't blogged in a long, long, long while, but that's only because for one I have been very, very sick with my first trimester having morning sickness. It has been a long, long, long three months of having been sick and then a very long, long, long, extended summer of nothing but horrid heat. So, you can imagine I have not been in the mood to do much blogging, but, here I am, blogging in the somewhat heat, basically trying to beat the heat by not moving around if I can help it.
The summer is almost over and thank God for October! Just one more weekend of heat, hopefully. We have enjoyed most of our summer hitting the beach every single opportunity we could get, not that it helped much, we would just end up back home still sitting in the heat with the fans running but the majority of the day was solved by spending our time in the ocean water. We love being at the ocean as often as we can but then there are some days we could just skip it because it really is that hot outside. It may seem great to head out to the beach on hot day when the sun is glaring, but in all reality the white sand just gets even hotter and acts as a reflector causing the heat to hit your feet and your face from both the bottom and the top with the sun just beating down from above. If your looking to get the perfect tan these days would not be the most perfect days to head out for a long day stay at the beach.
Throughout the start of fall and the end of winter, Garret and I have made it our little habit to head to the beach even while it is getting cooler for long nights walks on the beach or date nights in Coronado. If we are lucky we might find a date night when the whole world is not at Hotel Del. When there are big events on the beach, that too can be an exciting night to see all the big wedding events on the beach or the fancy proposals on the beach. It can be an elegant date night on the beach admiring all the many people who have come to visit this Historical site in California. It is fun to watch and admire. I'm sure we will back in Coronado for several visits as Fall begins to settle in preparing it's self for winter, after all I am beginning to miss my chunk of Homemade Chocolate fudge block when we visit for date nights. It has been since last fall that we have had this kind of a date night. Our last date night there was fairly rushed because I was still in my first trimester and unable to really enjoy a full night out for date night.
Date nights became relaxing nights in. We would just have a cozy time here at the house with a good movie, something that would help me to laugh through the seasons of continually being sick. It was a joy just to have some us time with more frequently sleep time for myself. Sleep time has become my number one best friend. I have really enjoyed my sleep when I can get it. If I am not sleeping, I am up thinking about food, what my next meal will be and making sure to accomplish something productive. For the most part, I am trying to stay balanced between the heat and the amount of movement I can do in the heat without getting a nice little headache. We have been so busy running around and getting stuff done while also making to every doctors appointment with my midwife. We have had the chance to meet several very wonderful midwives but have yet to actually make a choice on who it will be that help me deliver this baby. Between the heat and long laundry list of things we have had to do and accomplish together we have been pretty beat. We are all looking forward to the joy of having the ocean breeze back, the way we are used to it being! Southern Cali is officially done with the heat. We cannot cope with the heat and have a ton of things to do. We need our joy and ocean breeze back.
Looks like by next week we can start to wave good-bye to this heat, at least, I am hoping. Did I tell you, we have a name for our baby! yup, and it's a BOY!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! I will be having me a little man! He will be mommy's little protector! We are really looking forward to meeting him! Garret is really excited to have a little guy joining the team in the family of men! Today's little update is that we got to see Hunter Issac Roberts move inside my tummy!!! That was the coolest thing in the whole wide world! it almost made me want to cry because it just became that much more real to me. I just couldn't believe it, it was almost so surreal to me! I just could not believe being able to see my tummy move! it was so cool and so amazing and so special to me! I mean wow! it was a wow! moment for me. Every day Garret and I discover something new.
This last week we learned that Hunter will move if I sit in a rocking chair or if I move a lot or I say something, he responds to the sound of my voice. It really is the neatest thing in the world to have the chance to experience. I am really glad I get to experience this blessing of experiencing Baby Roberts. I can tell you that after feeling him move within me, I am beginning to have a strong feeling of great connection with him. We are becoming closer now every day that I feel him move. It is a very special gift to be given. I don't think I could ask for anything more. This is a comforting and satisfying feeling. Something you could only experience within yourself. When you feel this love moving inside you it's totally unlike anything else in the world you could ever think or image but it's all together beautiful and an amazing feeling.
I am really looking forward to falling head over heels in love with Hunter throughout the Fall as I continue to experience him within myself throughout the Fall and Winter days to come. Can I tell you, the first trimester for me was just not at all fun. Almost everything I loved went right out the window for a long while there. Before we knew I was pregnant though, I was eating greens like they were the most yummy treat in the whole wide world and eating fish because that was what I loved. As soon as we discovered that I was indeed pregnant oh man! nothing was appealing at all!
I am just now catching up! At last I am craving all the old usual things I liked before. Accept, the one major craving that I do have! is.....WATER!!! I love it like I cannot explain! I just love it so very much! I am always drinking water and am so glad because I have not always been a fan of it. God is good! He has helped me to stay on top of it and drink plenty of water. I did after all pray that God would just really help me to crave most what I needed to feed the baby. Everything here has been going great in the baby corner! Baby has had all his health check ups all his bones are where they need to be and are now fully formed! He moves and can hear mommy and daddy's voice through my tummy! He is for sure a very happy baby! because his parents are happy and excited to meet him when God brings him into the world to meet us.
We know Baby Hunter will only be with us for several long seasons of his life and into his young adult life and we know that he is ultimately going to follow in the steps of his Heavenly Father but we will love him until the day the Lord God says it is time for him to leave home and go wherever God should lead him. We are glad to give him a home full of love and forever our unchanging, unconditional love for him, no matter what we will love him for a life time and forever that will never change. Even though God is giving us a son we are giving God the joy and the blessing of bringing this child up to desire after God's heart with joy. We know that we are not the most perfect parents in the world to be and that we are fully flawed in everyway possible but we trust that God's love will out do anything we cannot give him in what he needs most. We hope to guide him back to the path of who really created his little life we were just blessed to love this little life to it's first breath. It's an exciting adventure we know that we have a life long adventure of making mistakes and totally messing things up but that's okay we will be learning that it's okay to say, "Sorry," every once in a while and admit that even we have short comings too. We don't want little Hunter growing up with a performance based relationship with us. We want him to know that parents need God too and that is why if Mommy and Daddy are wrong you can always tell us that we were wrong or talk to God and tell him we missed something that we might not have noticed because we're human we can't help but make mistakes along the way. Parenting is done perfectly it's done with God and with his grace constantly extended in the chance that when we do end up making the perfect mistakes and blunders God is there to catch us when we fall short of grace.
Parenting will be a life long adventure, a learning journey that will last us the rest of our lives but no matter what we are faced with we are looking forward to each surprise that crosses our path as we follow it along the way.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Summer Day's
Summer Day's here in Southern California are breath taking. I absolutely love these afternoons, they take my breath away and leave behind memories that last a life time. Garret and I have been enjoying the beach. Sometimes we are walking the sea shore together other times we are visiting the ocean for an afternoon on the beach other times we are just there to jump right into the water for a fun time in the sun and the waves. It gets wet and wild! There is a lot of splashing around out there.
Thankfully the lifeguard could assure us that there are no major predators swimming around out there ready to jump out of the water and grab a hold of us. Oh! good I thought, I have always been afraid of a random shark coming up out of no where to make a meal out of me. There are sand sharks :P they love the ocean but they are just little guys. The first time I saw one I ran like my life depended on it. I had no idea those things couldn't eat you, let alone they aren't concerned about consuming human meat, that's what the lifeguard told us any way. Glad to know I ran for my life for no reason.
These summer day's are unforgettable! that is for sure! You can go anywhere along the coast of California and find that the view of the vast ocean will time and again take your breath away. I could sit on the sea shore and just keep my gaze focused on the beauty of it all. This afternoon I really enjoyed getting the chance to see all the different colors of blue of water throughout the shore line.
My husband makes these beach days oh so wonderful. Being at the beach with him is so much fun he really encourages me to have a blast and to relax and not to over stress about anyone thing. If anything he has taught me to live a faith filled life that is not consist of worrying myself to the end of the world and that has made for an even happier me. I can just relax and trust my life to God and worry about what is necessary or if needed think about those things that are really important once you have to cross that bridge rather than thinking years ahead of myself, let alone things I may or may not have to face. He makes time count and makes everyone around him including myself feel at ease. It's a good feeling to have. He knows beach days always makes my day every time. When we are the beach I am 100% stress free and at ease. I call this my second Heaven, almost nothing can go wrong.
Sometimes we will take an adventure on the rocks that stretch out into the shore line and it is really enjoyable for me. When we make it out to the end of the rocks we will sit there and enjoy the view with the waves crashing up all around us from in front of us and from the left and the right. I could nap out on those rocks they are so soothing. Just closing your eyes as you listen to the waves crashing in all around it's sensational. Garret will often take picture perfect up close pictures of the waves. He has a pretty good camera which I happen to like but I am sure I will want a professional one sometime in my life time, at some point in time, hopefully before I start aging :P
We haven't done this as of yet together but there are times when in California you can go on the pier and walk all the way to the end of it and have breakfast, lunch or dinner and that is an experience all it's own. I have previously enjoyed something like this before Garret moved to Southern California. It has also made for a fantastic place for writers, especially if you have an imagination that needs a view to stir your creative juices, I know I always do. As a writer I always need a beautiful view to help get those creative thoughts going.
My favorite summer days were visits to the beach as a child and then coming home and laying out on the warm cement in front of the back door on my towel enjoying the warm yet cool ocean breeze brushing all over me. Those sunny day's were memorable and will be forever in my memory. There were other times that Momma would create an unforgettable cookout. She is the queen of cookouts. She has an array of ideas that she brings to her art of doing cookouts. It's always all so very yummy! from grilling fruit to lettuce, deep green asparagus stems, to garlic, not exactly one of my favorites but it's still very savory when she makes it. Lot's of corn on the cob, she buys so much there is enough to go around. Just spread the butter on and the mayo and then sprinkle on the flavoring for the corn and there you have one of the most buttery, tasteful bites of golden grilled corn on the cob you ever had. Mommy knows how to do it best. A cookout for kings and queens.
Of course my mom has almost met her match because my Husband is a chief so they love compete for the kitchen and the grill. My mom loves to cookout just as much as my mother does. He loves his meat! as well as seafood. They both love food just as much as I do, however I think I love it just a little bit more. :p Together they make a good team to throwing one of the best family cookouts there is around in all of Southern California. It's a family summer to love. I just love summer, I almost lust over it. I love everything there is to summer, the beach, the cookouts, the sandy feet, the warm showers the cozy clothes that follow after the wet hair to remind you of what a fantastic fun day you just had that continues to keep you cool throughout the rest of the day. The fun food and family, it all comes together to make the perfect summer days.
Today was one of those perfect day's. Garret and I walked quiet a distance along the sea shore until we could find a place on the beach that was all our own without a crowd of people near by to infringe upon our space. It's like taking a personal getaway. As soon as we find that perfect place along the seashore we plunk down on the sand and admire the view or take a mini nap but today we loved the water so much we enjoyed an afternoon of catching the waves. Time fly's when your having fun! Before we knew it we were discovering the crows coming in on our, "free no people space" so we decided it was time to get going there was also a lot more seaweed coming in so at that point it isn't as adventurous with all that gunk floating around, wrapping around feet, and ankles. We got to shore and headed home. This was our day. Time to slather on the after sun lotion :P
Thankfully the lifeguard could assure us that there are no major predators swimming around out there ready to jump out of the water and grab a hold of us. Oh! good I thought, I have always been afraid of a random shark coming up out of no where to make a meal out of me. There are sand sharks :P they love the ocean but they are just little guys. The first time I saw one I ran like my life depended on it. I had no idea those things couldn't eat you, let alone they aren't concerned about consuming human meat, that's what the lifeguard told us any way. Glad to know I ran for my life for no reason.
These summer day's are unforgettable! that is for sure! You can go anywhere along the coast of California and find that the view of the vast ocean will time and again take your breath away. I could sit on the sea shore and just keep my gaze focused on the beauty of it all. This afternoon I really enjoyed getting the chance to see all the different colors of blue of water throughout the shore line.
My husband makes these beach days oh so wonderful. Being at the beach with him is so much fun he really encourages me to have a blast and to relax and not to over stress about anyone thing. If anything he has taught me to live a faith filled life that is not consist of worrying myself to the end of the world and that has made for an even happier me. I can just relax and trust my life to God and worry about what is necessary or if needed think about those things that are really important once you have to cross that bridge rather than thinking years ahead of myself, let alone things I may or may not have to face. He makes time count and makes everyone around him including myself feel at ease. It's a good feeling to have. He knows beach days always makes my day every time. When we are the beach I am 100% stress free and at ease. I call this my second Heaven, almost nothing can go wrong.
Sometimes we will take an adventure on the rocks that stretch out into the shore line and it is really enjoyable for me. When we make it out to the end of the rocks we will sit there and enjoy the view with the waves crashing up all around us from in front of us and from the left and the right. I could nap out on those rocks they are so soothing. Just closing your eyes as you listen to the waves crashing in all around it's sensational. Garret will often take picture perfect up close pictures of the waves. He has a pretty good camera which I happen to like but I am sure I will want a professional one sometime in my life time, at some point in time, hopefully before I start aging :P
We haven't done this as of yet together but there are times when in California you can go on the pier and walk all the way to the end of it and have breakfast, lunch or dinner and that is an experience all it's own. I have previously enjoyed something like this before Garret moved to Southern California. It has also made for a fantastic place for writers, especially if you have an imagination that needs a view to stir your creative juices, I know I always do. As a writer I always need a beautiful view to help get those creative thoughts going.
My favorite summer days were visits to the beach as a child and then coming home and laying out on the warm cement in front of the back door on my towel enjoying the warm yet cool ocean breeze brushing all over me. Those sunny day's were memorable and will be forever in my memory. There were other times that Momma would create an unforgettable cookout. She is the queen of cookouts. She has an array of ideas that she brings to her art of doing cookouts. It's always all so very yummy! from grilling fruit to lettuce, deep green asparagus stems, to garlic, not exactly one of my favorites but it's still very savory when she makes it. Lot's of corn on the cob, she buys so much there is enough to go around. Just spread the butter on and the mayo and then sprinkle on the flavoring for the corn and there you have one of the most buttery, tasteful bites of golden grilled corn on the cob you ever had. Mommy knows how to do it best. A cookout for kings and queens.
Of course my mom has almost met her match because my Husband is a chief so they love compete for the kitchen and the grill. My mom loves to cookout just as much as my mother does. He loves his meat! as well as seafood. They both love food just as much as I do, however I think I love it just a little bit more. :p Together they make a good team to throwing one of the best family cookouts there is around in all of Southern California. It's a family summer to love. I just love summer, I almost lust over it. I love everything there is to summer, the beach, the cookouts, the sandy feet, the warm showers the cozy clothes that follow after the wet hair to remind you of what a fantastic fun day you just had that continues to keep you cool throughout the rest of the day. The fun food and family, it all comes together to make the perfect summer days.
Today was one of those perfect day's. Garret and I walked quiet a distance along the sea shore until we could find a place on the beach that was all our own without a crowd of people near by to infringe upon our space. It's like taking a personal getaway. As soon as we find that perfect place along the seashore we plunk down on the sand and admire the view or take a mini nap but today we loved the water so much we enjoyed an afternoon of catching the waves. Time fly's when your having fun! Before we knew it we were discovering the crows coming in on our, "free no people space" so we decided it was time to get going there was also a lot more seaweed coming in so at that point it isn't as adventurous with all that gunk floating around, wrapping around feet, and ankles. We got to shore and headed home. This was our day. Time to slather on the after sun lotion :P
Monday, May 25, 2015
Memorial Day weekend with my Veteran
My Memorial Day weekend consisted of sleep and more sleep. A God blessing, a Birthday Party for my Tia Amelia and to finish off the weekend a peaceful walk on the beach with my Husband who is a Veteran of the Iraq war. I am thankful to have him home with me. Everyday that I get to wake up next to him is a wonderful thing for me because I know that he could very well have not made it home, but God spared his life. We live near by in good driving time to Point Loma where there is a memorial we would like to visit some time. We were not able to visit the memorial this time but we have driven past it. It certainly is a picture. It helps to see the number of those who have lost their lives in helping to give us the freedom we have the privilege of having. Seeing the rows of white solider headstone is quiet captivating.
I don't have some of the same stories that many military wives have but I certainly commend the wives who have remained faithful, steadfast, and faith filled in the face of both those who have lost their husbands to war and for those who continue to remain standing in the face of war. Memorial Day is certainly a day we remember to take time to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of God first, freedom of putting God first in this Country and lastly who left their families behind to help with the efforts of keeping this beautiful country a Nation they could be proud to defend.
Memorial Day weekend bought in the celebration of my Tia Amelia's Birthday she turned 43 and looking pretty sexy if you ask me! She has down syndrome, I had to say that, because she does look very beautiful both in spirit and in the physical body that God has given her. She lives here in Southern California in her own home with a few others that are very similar to her. They are one big happy family and of course we feel the love. We had a very yummy cake and ice-cream, but before we knew it she was ready for the fun and games of opening gifts. I liked her gifts myself, Hello Kitty never gets old. It was a day of fun and celebration. Before we knew it we had arrived and then we were heading on our way out to wait for Monday to arrive.
Monday did arrive with a relaxing day, me sleeping some more and then just hanging out with my Husband. We just enjoyed spending our day basically doing nothing and then by 4:00 we decided to take a walk on the beach. A nice long relaxing day at the beach. We took the path along the rocks and then sat on the edge of the world where the water rushes up and crashes against the rocks. It certainly is a view to behold. Garret loves to take pictures, he is excellent at it. It's a side gift of his. He got a lot of good shots of the ocean waves crashing against the waves. It is one of the mot perfect ways to have God time and appreciate His majesty. I would also say it is a good way to remember those who have given so much to give us the chance to enjoy looking at such a view. We are pretty lucky. often it is all too easy to forget what freedoms we have and even take them for granted. I am glad that we could take this day to remember.
I don't have some of the same stories that many military wives have but I certainly commend the wives who have remained faithful, steadfast, and faith filled in the face of both those who have lost their husbands to war and for those who continue to remain standing in the face of war. Memorial Day is certainly a day we remember to take time to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of God first, freedom of putting God first in this Country and lastly who left their families behind to help with the efforts of keeping this beautiful country a Nation they could be proud to defend.
Memorial Day weekend bought in the celebration of my Tia Amelia's Birthday she turned 43 and looking pretty sexy if you ask me! She has down syndrome, I had to say that, because she does look very beautiful both in spirit and in the physical body that God has given her. She lives here in Southern California in her own home with a few others that are very similar to her. They are one big happy family and of course we feel the love. We had a very yummy cake and ice-cream, but before we knew it she was ready for the fun and games of opening gifts. I liked her gifts myself, Hello Kitty never gets old. It was a day of fun and celebration. Before we knew it we had arrived and then we were heading on our way out to wait for Monday to arrive.
Monday did arrive with a relaxing day, me sleeping some more and then just hanging out with my Husband. We just enjoyed spending our day basically doing nothing and then by 4:00 we decided to take a walk on the beach. A nice long relaxing day at the beach. We took the path along the rocks and then sat on the edge of the world where the water rushes up and crashes against the rocks. It certainly is a view to behold. Garret loves to take pictures, he is excellent at it. It's a side gift of his. He got a lot of good shots of the ocean waves crashing against the waves. It is one of the mot perfect ways to have God time and appreciate His majesty. I would also say it is a good way to remember those who have given so much to give us the chance to enjoy looking at such a view. We are pretty lucky. often it is all too easy to forget what freedoms we have and even take them for granted. I am glad that we could take this day to remember.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Love more powerful
Love more powerful than hate. Love more powerful. Love is more powerful because God created it. God is the essence of love because that is who He is. There is so much of that going on now days. Seems like everyone is trying to be (right) these days. You can turn on the news and it is everywhere like a disease. No matter how we might try we can't seem to irradiate black and white or white or black or for that matter other ethnicities. No matter where you turn there is a wrong to be written off and be made right, or forced hands creating criminal, unjust acts of hate. That is not love. It is pure "flesh" being allowed to be unbridled. Everyone wants equal rights while on the other hand being corrupt if they are not given special privileges for doing wrong before God. No matter how you toss the dice there is no such thing as giving equal rights for wrongs. There is no way to be 100% politically correct. We are a people who let's face it have fallen short of the Glory of God since sin entered the Garden. We are beautifully flawed. There is no way to correct our incorrectness. We will always find fault with someone. Naturally, it's just easier to call into judgment what we see fair. Of course who wouldn't want life to be fair? If we feel we have been wronged in some way naturally we feel the right to go after that corporation or people or friend that someone we know. Naturally we want to see the hand dealt to them the way we see fit.
Half the battle of loving our enemy's is learning to forgive. Learning to forgive has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. Why can't we forgive? Why can't we move on from those things which have greatly offended us, simply take it, stuff it and let it go? No one really knows the person they are greatly offending. Every person, has a life, a story a background that we know nothing about, even when we think we do, simply because we have based our judgment on whatever we have passed judgment on because to us it seems fair and just. Do we really think we are always right?
It is so often easy for us to believe that this world owes us something.That is for the weak minded. We are not weak minded are we? I would like to believe we are trying to get to know the life's stories of those around us. Not shy away from getting to know our closest neighbors, and I don't mean that as your next door neighbor, I mean that as let's think about the people we are passing judgment on. We are not just and we are not fair by any means.
When we know Jesus, our perspective changes. It changes totally! I would like to tell you that I am an expert at loving my enemy's but it is continually a battle, but Jesus teaches us to love, unconditionally. Meaning not with an added condition. Jesus convicted me of His word to me written in (Luke 6:32) "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." We have to learn how to forgive first within our hearts. Learning to forgive those who have greatly offended us teaches us how to have a peace that surpasses all understanding because it is Jesus who is doing the loving through us.
There are times when I have held people in contempt in my heart. I honestly had a huge dislike for my enemy. There is just something that I had not at all thought of. Who was I to judge them? What were their stories, I did not know. Were their lives as fortunate as mine, I had a great family and childhood. I had parents who were always there for me and always present. Not that you can't have all that and still have a way ward life but I did not know the history of these my enemy's people who had offended me. All I knew was that they stole from me my joy and it was up to me to give myself permission to forgive and set myself free of what all I had been holding onto.
Praying for them was the last thing I wanted to do. Believe me the last thing I wanted to do was pray for my enemy's and for God to be good to them. All I wanted was for everyone who had turned my joy into troubled waters to understand that their wrongs caused me too feel offended, sad and frustrated. I wanted to keep my world safe from the unkindness of this world and the people who would turn out to be an unreliable person or an untrue friend. But I learned a very important lesson. It wasn't the friends, it wasn't. It wasn't the many entangling things that I could feel a sense of irritation or frustration with that could come into my life to take my joy captive. It occurred to me one day while driving home one day, but that I could pray for their spiritual release, that they have an encounter with the Holy Spirit for those who had not been true to who they were in my life.
When the captives who are being held captive by the result of sin within their lives find freedom in Christ forgiveness that is a victory. It's so easy to want to open our months and defend our positions in life. Why? For what so we can exercise our assertiveness. I totally get that. I do. I mean who wants to be a second seat to someone who is continually offending you and frustrating you and upsetting you. You know what, sometimes we must absolutely be the light that is shining brighter than the person who maybe trying to, "Lord," it over you. It may seem totally unfair. Sometimes I have wanted over and over to open my mouth where God is more than capable of handling a situation that I am in no way shape or form able to fight a battle that really only belongs to God.
Is it pride that keeps us in the place that we are standing in? Sometimes, I think it is. For example there have been times, occasion when I would have like to share a piece of my mind. However, I have done my very best to hold my reply. There have been many times, occasions when I have felt that I would have like to defend my case to make a point. Making a point in the case that I just maybe right with the correct view making other views wrong. Based on my up bringing, I felt that other people are not in the right, that they are the misguided for the reasons I would have like to point out. What is the point of defending myself? Really, because I want some kind of reward for being in the right, for being correct, simply because I am? Should get a reward or the sorry for trespassing on what greatness I suppose I own? Maybe.
Anyway, defending one's honor is not something we must achieve in life. There is no power in that. Jesus Himself the King of Kings was Himself wrongfully hung on a cross but never once did He make a case for Himself. Not once ever defending Himself. He didn't have to. His Spirit spoke for Himself. He did not need to defend His own case. His case was to bring Salvation to those who would believe.
Yes admittedly, I wish, I could say that I could step back and watch God go to work, sometimes I can and sometimes I wish I could help Him out. Maybe defend myself, my case once in a while. Maybe it would feel good to say what is really on my mind to bring people to justice for all the people who have wronged me, like the women who fired me without warning as I was on my way to my Nanny Job after I had just asked to have the week off a month in advance only to discover indirectly that someone else was hired in my place with an even better looking car than the one I had. I would have liked to see that women lose a few jobs maybe she would understand what it is to be unjustly dismissed from a job that was bring me income.
Trust me when I say I would have liked to blow up her phone with a whole lot of reasons as to why she was being unjust. Maybe even plead for my case but she wasn't someone you could plead a case to. I wasn't the Nanny she was looking for and so that was that. Instead after long time talks with God I decided to forgive her. I did, believe it or not I sure did! I sent her a text a few long weeks later saying, "I forgive you." I didn't think it would help me not one bit but later on down the road I could see it did.
Forgiveness isn't about us getting healing for us as it learning about the Heart of God loving those who we would rather dismiss for no good for nothing well, you know. Learning to see those we would like to see fall off the face of the earth like Jesus sees them is a beautiful story in the making. I have had to forgive many times over and over and love like Jesus loves. When I have learn to love like Jesus I let go of them and instead give them to God to worry over and love on. This way I am free of them from my thought life and I can sleep comfortably at night while on the other hand I can see just how much Jesus loves them and they just can't see it for themselves. So I pray for their encounter with God.
God knows how to paint the picture best. I like to think I would like to help out but I am not much of a help. I think I am but sometimes I need to let God do the painting while I watch!!! Actually it just like meeting a painter who is painting in the park and he is just a stranger you hardly know but he is kind when he paints you want to be able to see what all he is painting but you can't see it all yet but some how you just know when the painter is done the painting will come out looking beautiful. He does this with our lives and with those who when we look at them we don't think their lives could be become anything but God always can see what magnificent creation that they are even when we can't. We need to pray for our enemy's and do good to those who do not.
Right now I am also learning to love someone that is very challenging to love, someone who is very much not an easy person to love but when I think of my rights of what I might say to win my case. I also realize that their is a time and place to open ones mouth and speak and a time to remain silent and let God work things out. He knows what is best after all. But that is why God is so good. I think if we thought we had that kind of power to win over every battle or to begin or end one we would be prideful because we believed we solved what really only God is able to do. Would we really feel we need God if we didn't need to rely on Him?
I think so often the power to love and forgive also gives us the power and ability to make the choice and decide to rely on God for the need of that forgiveness not only for ourselves but for us to be able to give it as God gives it to us. Only God loving through us is more powerful than anything else we ourselves believe we are capable of on our own. And even if we could defend our case all the time and start and end wars on our own terms with our words and without care, in the end does it make us feel any better? did we get a resolve or are we still left empty and striving for more. Only forgiveness can fill an empty place. Love is more powerful. It fills even the deepest of voids. And leaves a bitter heart starved and a hungry heart filled. Love washes away a multitude of sins and begins again a new.
We all have a story one that each face and each person has, get to know the faces in the crowd, know their stories and pass the love you have on. Not forgiving and needing to defend ones self or jump into the arena of life where one needs to create the strife or the war that wars within us to gain the affirmations of settling within ones self the finite definition of having achieved the end result of having revenge on those who have done us wrong is nothing but a self gratification that we have won something. Instead let God have the final word and you be God's love. God's love far more satisfying then the end result of gaining what only you think for a moment would be a rewarding emotion.
Sometimes love and quiet spirit a steadfast heart and a warm and loving way is the best way rather than to fight a losing case. God is always watching over His children to see that we are humble in spirit and not that we have to let people walk all over us but love does pave the way to better roads ahead rather then one paved with a spirit that is always striving. God's love does not leave us empty. It always leaves us filled and in his timing he does bring the ultimate justice that we could never administer.
Half the battle of loving our enemy's is learning to forgive. Learning to forgive has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. Why can't we forgive? Why can't we move on from those things which have greatly offended us, simply take it, stuff it and let it go? No one really knows the person they are greatly offending. Every person, has a life, a story a background that we know nothing about, even when we think we do, simply because we have based our judgment on whatever we have passed judgment on because to us it seems fair and just. Do we really think we are always right?
It is so often easy for us to believe that this world owes us something.That is for the weak minded. We are not weak minded are we? I would like to believe we are trying to get to know the life's stories of those around us. Not shy away from getting to know our closest neighbors, and I don't mean that as your next door neighbor, I mean that as let's think about the people we are passing judgment on. We are not just and we are not fair by any means.
When we know Jesus, our perspective changes. It changes totally! I would like to tell you that I am an expert at loving my enemy's but it is continually a battle, but Jesus teaches us to love, unconditionally. Meaning not with an added condition. Jesus convicted me of His word to me written in (Luke 6:32) "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." We have to learn how to forgive first within our hearts. Learning to forgive those who have greatly offended us teaches us how to have a peace that surpasses all understanding because it is Jesus who is doing the loving through us.
There are times when I have held people in contempt in my heart. I honestly had a huge dislike for my enemy. There is just something that I had not at all thought of. Who was I to judge them? What were their stories, I did not know. Were their lives as fortunate as mine, I had a great family and childhood. I had parents who were always there for me and always present. Not that you can't have all that and still have a way ward life but I did not know the history of these my enemy's people who had offended me. All I knew was that they stole from me my joy and it was up to me to give myself permission to forgive and set myself free of what all I had been holding onto.
Praying for them was the last thing I wanted to do. Believe me the last thing I wanted to do was pray for my enemy's and for God to be good to them. All I wanted was for everyone who had turned my joy into troubled waters to understand that their wrongs caused me too feel offended, sad and frustrated. I wanted to keep my world safe from the unkindness of this world and the people who would turn out to be an unreliable person or an untrue friend. But I learned a very important lesson. It wasn't the friends, it wasn't. It wasn't the many entangling things that I could feel a sense of irritation or frustration with that could come into my life to take my joy captive. It occurred to me one day while driving home one day, but that I could pray for their spiritual release, that they have an encounter with the Holy Spirit for those who had not been true to who they were in my life.
When the captives who are being held captive by the result of sin within their lives find freedom in Christ forgiveness that is a victory. It's so easy to want to open our months and defend our positions in life. Why? For what so we can exercise our assertiveness. I totally get that. I do. I mean who wants to be a second seat to someone who is continually offending you and frustrating you and upsetting you. You know what, sometimes we must absolutely be the light that is shining brighter than the person who maybe trying to, "Lord," it over you. It may seem totally unfair. Sometimes I have wanted over and over to open my mouth where God is more than capable of handling a situation that I am in no way shape or form able to fight a battle that really only belongs to God.
Is it pride that keeps us in the place that we are standing in? Sometimes, I think it is. For example there have been times, occasion when I would have like to share a piece of my mind. However, I have done my very best to hold my reply. There have been many times, occasions when I have felt that I would have like to defend my case to make a point. Making a point in the case that I just maybe right with the correct view making other views wrong. Based on my up bringing, I felt that other people are not in the right, that they are the misguided for the reasons I would have like to point out. What is the point of defending myself? Really, because I want some kind of reward for being in the right, for being correct, simply because I am? Should get a reward or the sorry for trespassing on what greatness I suppose I own? Maybe.
Anyway, defending one's honor is not something we must achieve in life. There is no power in that. Jesus Himself the King of Kings was Himself wrongfully hung on a cross but never once did He make a case for Himself. Not once ever defending Himself. He didn't have to. His Spirit spoke for Himself. He did not need to defend His own case. His case was to bring Salvation to those who would believe.
Yes admittedly, I wish, I could say that I could step back and watch God go to work, sometimes I can and sometimes I wish I could help Him out. Maybe defend myself, my case once in a while. Maybe it would feel good to say what is really on my mind to bring people to justice for all the people who have wronged me, like the women who fired me without warning as I was on my way to my Nanny Job after I had just asked to have the week off a month in advance only to discover indirectly that someone else was hired in my place with an even better looking car than the one I had. I would have liked to see that women lose a few jobs maybe she would understand what it is to be unjustly dismissed from a job that was bring me income.
Trust me when I say I would have liked to blow up her phone with a whole lot of reasons as to why she was being unjust. Maybe even plead for my case but she wasn't someone you could plead a case to. I wasn't the Nanny she was looking for and so that was that. Instead after long time talks with God I decided to forgive her. I did, believe it or not I sure did! I sent her a text a few long weeks later saying, "I forgive you." I didn't think it would help me not one bit but later on down the road I could see it did.
Forgiveness isn't about us getting healing for us as it learning about the Heart of God loving those who we would rather dismiss for no good for nothing well, you know. Learning to see those we would like to see fall off the face of the earth like Jesus sees them is a beautiful story in the making. I have had to forgive many times over and over and love like Jesus loves. When I have learn to love like Jesus I let go of them and instead give them to God to worry over and love on. This way I am free of them from my thought life and I can sleep comfortably at night while on the other hand I can see just how much Jesus loves them and they just can't see it for themselves. So I pray for their encounter with God.
God knows how to paint the picture best. I like to think I would like to help out but I am not much of a help. I think I am but sometimes I need to let God do the painting while I watch!!! Actually it just like meeting a painter who is painting in the park and he is just a stranger you hardly know but he is kind when he paints you want to be able to see what all he is painting but you can't see it all yet but some how you just know when the painter is done the painting will come out looking beautiful. He does this with our lives and with those who when we look at them we don't think their lives could be become anything but God always can see what magnificent creation that they are even when we can't. We need to pray for our enemy's and do good to those who do not.
Right now I am also learning to love someone that is very challenging to love, someone who is very much not an easy person to love but when I think of my rights of what I might say to win my case. I also realize that their is a time and place to open ones mouth and speak and a time to remain silent and let God work things out. He knows what is best after all. But that is why God is so good. I think if we thought we had that kind of power to win over every battle or to begin or end one we would be prideful because we believed we solved what really only God is able to do. Would we really feel we need God if we didn't need to rely on Him?
I think so often the power to love and forgive also gives us the power and ability to make the choice and decide to rely on God for the need of that forgiveness not only for ourselves but for us to be able to give it as God gives it to us. Only God loving through us is more powerful than anything else we ourselves believe we are capable of on our own. And even if we could defend our case all the time and start and end wars on our own terms with our words and without care, in the end does it make us feel any better? did we get a resolve or are we still left empty and striving for more. Only forgiveness can fill an empty place. Love is more powerful. It fills even the deepest of voids. And leaves a bitter heart starved and a hungry heart filled. Love washes away a multitude of sins and begins again a new.
We all have a story one that each face and each person has, get to know the faces in the crowd, know their stories and pass the love you have on. Not forgiving and needing to defend ones self or jump into the arena of life where one needs to create the strife or the war that wars within us to gain the affirmations of settling within ones self the finite definition of having achieved the end result of having revenge on those who have done us wrong is nothing but a self gratification that we have won something. Instead let God have the final word and you be God's love. God's love far more satisfying then the end result of gaining what only you think for a moment would be a rewarding emotion.
Sometimes love and quiet spirit a steadfast heart and a warm and loving way is the best way rather than to fight a losing case. God is always watching over His children to see that we are humble in spirit and not that we have to let people walk all over us but love does pave the way to better roads ahead rather then one paved with a spirit that is always striving. God's love does not leave us empty. It always leaves us filled and in his timing he does bring the ultimate justice that we could never administer.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Marvel's of Marriage
I marvel at being married. I often wonder how my husband feels about it. I used to have my own bathroom now I'm sharing a bathroom. I marvel at all my things mixing in with my husbands things. My shampoo and body wash are now sitting in the same shower as my husbands shower body wash and shampoo. My things touch his things, accept my things invade his space entirely. My hair brush sits out where he can see it from time to time. The medicine cabinet is filled with some medicine and some beauty product. His world is colored with me. We share a closet, where his clothes meet mine half way. Marriage is a lot of your stuff and his stuff coming together but a lot more of your stuff invading his world, a daily reminder that you are there and presently living in his world for good!
Marriage is marrying two different temperatures into one successful comforting feeling of love. I marvel at how well God made both Garret and I to fit so well together. I am mostly cold, all the time. He is mostly warm and comfortable all the time. I love cozy socks almost all year round, never matching of course. When I am cold he is warm. We fit together perfectly in each other's arms. I marvel at how well we melt into each other's embrace. We fit like two people becoming one, I marvel.
Being married I notice the bed continually needing to be made. I make it only to have to sleep in it at the end of the day. At the end of the day we are tired, ready for bed but still we make time to get on our knees before God, it is the place to be at the end of the day. When we wake up I feel too tired, lazy even to make the bed right as I get up out of it. So I find that now! that I am married, I leave the bed unmade for most the day before I actually attempt to make it. In my unmarried life, I made the bed right away and it was made right away before I headed down stairs for the day. Some how I seem to have become lax on continuing this best habit in life. I hope to pass this good habit to others, wake up and make your bed first thing in the morning before you do anything else. Yet, I can't even say I hardly do that myself. I really need to get back to that good habit. I do after all love a bed that is made or is it that I just don't have a nice bed spread to use as of yet. I suppose my desire to make the bed has decreased because of this reason. That really shouldn't be a reason to not make the bed by any means but it sure doesn't encourage me. I make it none the less with that we do have and I am thankful for it.
My life has not been so busy that I can't get to doing dishes. So dishes don't get done on the dime asap! Lately there has been more time spent with Garret and Garret spending time with me that we seem to hurry up and eat and then run to go do things together that dishes become secondary to our love relationship that we have been cultivating. Seems like the dishes get done but not as fast as they I used to when I was unmarried. Garret and I both marvel at how such dishes can pile up while it's just the two of us but it happens, dishes pile up from time to time.
In my former life as a single women and living for the Lord, I was super busy taking care of my Grandparents and now I am busy taking care of my man and he is busy taking care of me. Before me, Garret was taking care of his mom and family and now we are melting into each other and becoming one with each other as we learn to love each other through serving the Lord and each other. He takes great care of me and I take care of him this is how we love each other. He has slowed me way down from me always being on the go. Garret loves the life of watching movies and going out for a fun evening. Life is not always about working too hard with him. He has taught me a beautiful way to marry work and pleasure. There is such a thing as taking a break and enjoying the family you love, Garret has taught me this. He is a firm believer in working efficiently and effectively not so much working over time and overwhelming ones heart and mind into what you can do faster with less time and yet the job gets done with excellence.
I think I may have relaxed too much because all we have done so far is celebrate, eat lots of food and celebrate some more! Now I am wondering if it just may be time to get my game together and start working out again. After all we have had no game since the wedding day. Is that normal? We have been celebrating non stop it seems and having countless dates and yummy treats and in home dates with long cuddles and kisses, movies and yummy treats. All my baking does not help the cause. Perhaps I should volunteer my time towards a mission trip that would take me out of all my cozy and comforts and all my eats. For now that is life anyway. It is about time for me to begin a workout once again. I am feeling like a terrible example to start with. I have not been nearly as helpful in the way that I can encourage you to keep your life organized because I have been so relaxed. I know and it is about time I did something about this.
Soon, soon, I will be getting myself back on the game and ready to kick this life into organized fashion in some way. I would like to get this going. I am one day at a time, one step at a time. Married life is a marvel of many wonderful changes and melting into one another becoming one. The one other change that I have clearly noticed is Garret's willingness to watch movies, like Hallmark movies that I just love to watch. In fact Garret will even make us my favorite, "Raquel pop-corn" so yummy, goody. We take turns enjoying movies that we both like. Our world is a like a beautiful mixture of scribbles of colors all coming together to make one big beautiful picture. We are meshing our likes and dislikes together.
Maybe, that's why we have gone into our own personal shell. We just love to be into each other. We really don't reach out to anyone else around us outside of my family anyway. We just kind of do our own thing and keep to ourselves. I suppose that is all also a part of Newlywed life. We shut everyone else out to become one more and more. Yes we do come out of hiding more often then not but mostly we are enjoying our secret time together but that is how it is. Eventually life will get busy and we might not have this time of intimacy the way we do now. We do love everyone but we are in love and loving being in love at the moment. I didn't even go away for a women's retreat, next year maybe. I am still enjoying going everywhere with my Husband. The store is still one of our little day dates that we do enjoy doing together.
If you want to enjoy reliving your Honeymoon years, marvel at your current surroundings. Do your stuff still touch his? or are you living in luxury where you have forgotten what it is not to have the space to have your things and his things touching. Live like you have a little and make that little stretch like you don't have a lot. Determine to need each other again. Share the space you have and make the space yours and his together, something you share.
Be willing to pick up the slack. Sometimes you will be picking up his boxers, that's okay. It's not going to be 50/50 at all. Nope, no way. It's you and it's him, sometimes he will and sometimes you will. Love, does. Love is willing to do and to give and to do whatever it takes to make the world go round within your love for each other. If you are disgusted at the sight of unfinished work that does not get completed you are officially up tight. Relax, things will get done. One way or another. Sometimes you will be the one picking up the slack. Do it with a loving and kind heart. Don't begrudge the gift of being able to love by your actions too.
Watch movies together and do things that you both like doing. It's not just about doing what you like to do. "Balance" everything is balance. Together you work together to do things you both like doing together besides intimacy there are things to do outside of the bedroom. For example learn to play a card game together. Focus on having full on conversation that lasts for a few hours. Learn something about each other. Sit! in the same room together. Just be. learn to enjoy being in each others space.
If I could give any gift to you at all towards the marveling of your marriage it would be to absolutely rededicate yourself to the Lord. Reignite the candle. Light the love with the Word of God. Start reading it together. If you have or have not already read the whole Bible all the way through, reread it again. It could never hurt to read it over again. Start praying on your knees together. It's time to be humble again together. After all we don't approach God with a prideful spirit. Being on your knees again is the place to be.
Start all over again. Tune the world out again for awhile and turn into each other rediscover intimacy. Do things together like two best friends who are inseparable. "Becoming one again." is a journey all it's own. Learn to fall into each other once more. When you learn to become one again you will learn to scribble together and enjoy all the intimate facets of who you are with each other once again that made you love what you saw in each other to begin with. Make your first love your number one fan. The one you turn to for every thing. The one you enjoy spending time with. The one you fight with but mostly fight for. Your marriage is worth fighting for unto the end. Never stop Marveling your marriage. It is never too late to fall in love again with the love you fell in love with. Never stop falling in love with loving the spouse God gave you. Marriage is a gift from God.
Marriage is marrying two different temperatures into one successful comforting feeling of love. I marvel at how well God made both Garret and I to fit so well together. I am mostly cold, all the time. He is mostly warm and comfortable all the time. I love cozy socks almost all year round, never matching of course. When I am cold he is warm. We fit together perfectly in each other's arms. I marvel at how well we melt into each other's embrace. We fit like two people becoming one, I marvel.
Being married I notice the bed continually needing to be made. I make it only to have to sleep in it at the end of the day. At the end of the day we are tired, ready for bed but still we make time to get on our knees before God, it is the place to be at the end of the day. When we wake up I feel too tired, lazy even to make the bed right as I get up out of it. So I find that now! that I am married, I leave the bed unmade for most the day before I actually attempt to make it. In my unmarried life, I made the bed right away and it was made right away before I headed down stairs for the day. Some how I seem to have become lax on continuing this best habit in life. I hope to pass this good habit to others, wake up and make your bed first thing in the morning before you do anything else. Yet, I can't even say I hardly do that myself. I really need to get back to that good habit. I do after all love a bed that is made or is it that I just don't have a nice bed spread to use as of yet. I suppose my desire to make the bed has decreased because of this reason. That really shouldn't be a reason to not make the bed by any means but it sure doesn't encourage me. I make it none the less with that we do have and I am thankful for it.
My life has not been so busy that I can't get to doing dishes. So dishes don't get done on the dime asap! Lately there has been more time spent with Garret and Garret spending time with me that we seem to hurry up and eat and then run to go do things together that dishes become secondary to our love relationship that we have been cultivating. Seems like the dishes get done but not as fast as they I used to when I was unmarried. Garret and I both marvel at how such dishes can pile up while it's just the two of us but it happens, dishes pile up from time to time.
In my former life as a single women and living for the Lord, I was super busy taking care of my Grandparents and now I am busy taking care of my man and he is busy taking care of me. Before me, Garret was taking care of his mom and family and now we are melting into each other and becoming one with each other as we learn to love each other through serving the Lord and each other. He takes great care of me and I take care of him this is how we love each other. He has slowed me way down from me always being on the go. Garret loves the life of watching movies and going out for a fun evening. Life is not always about working too hard with him. He has taught me a beautiful way to marry work and pleasure. There is such a thing as taking a break and enjoying the family you love, Garret has taught me this. He is a firm believer in working efficiently and effectively not so much working over time and overwhelming ones heart and mind into what you can do faster with less time and yet the job gets done with excellence.
I think I may have relaxed too much because all we have done so far is celebrate, eat lots of food and celebrate some more! Now I am wondering if it just may be time to get my game together and start working out again. After all we have had no game since the wedding day. Is that normal? We have been celebrating non stop it seems and having countless dates and yummy treats and in home dates with long cuddles and kisses, movies and yummy treats. All my baking does not help the cause. Perhaps I should volunteer my time towards a mission trip that would take me out of all my cozy and comforts and all my eats. For now that is life anyway. It is about time for me to begin a workout once again. I am feeling like a terrible example to start with. I have not been nearly as helpful in the way that I can encourage you to keep your life organized because I have been so relaxed. I know and it is about time I did something about this.
Soon, soon, I will be getting myself back on the game and ready to kick this life into organized fashion in some way. I would like to get this going. I am one day at a time, one step at a time. Married life is a marvel of many wonderful changes and melting into one another becoming one. The one other change that I have clearly noticed is Garret's willingness to watch movies, like Hallmark movies that I just love to watch. In fact Garret will even make us my favorite, "Raquel pop-corn" so yummy, goody. We take turns enjoying movies that we both like. Our world is a like a beautiful mixture of scribbles of colors all coming together to make one big beautiful picture. We are meshing our likes and dislikes together.
Maybe, that's why we have gone into our own personal shell. We just love to be into each other. We really don't reach out to anyone else around us outside of my family anyway. We just kind of do our own thing and keep to ourselves. I suppose that is all also a part of Newlywed life. We shut everyone else out to become one more and more. Yes we do come out of hiding more often then not but mostly we are enjoying our secret time together but that is how it is. Eventually life will get busy and we might not have this time of intimacy the way we do now. We do love everyone but we are in love and loving being in love at the moment. I didn't even go away for a women's retreat, next year maybe. I am still enjoying going everywhere with my Husband. The store is still one of our little day dates that we do enjoy doing together.
If you want to enjoy reliving your Honeymoon years, marvel at your current surroundings. Do your stuff still touch his? or are you living in luxury where you have forgotten what it is not to have the space to have your things and his things touching. Live like you have a little and make that little stretch like you don't have a lot. Determine to need each other again. Share the space you have and make the space yours and his together, something you share.
Be willing to pick up the slack. Sometimes you will be picking up his boxers, that's okay. It's not going to be 50/50 at all. Nope, no way. It's you and it's him, sometimes he will and sometimes you will. Love, does. Love is willing to do and to give and to do whatever it takes to make the world go round within your love for each other. If you are disgusted at the sight of unfinished work that does not get completed you are officially up tight. Relax, things will get done. One way or another. Sometimes you will be the one picking up the slack. Do it with a loving and kind heart. Don't begrudge the gift of being able to love by your actions too.
Watch movies together and do things that you both like doing. It's not just about doing what you like to do. "Balance" everything is balance. Together you work together to do things you both like doing together besides intimacy there are things to do outside of the bedroom. For example learn to play a card game together. Focus on having full on conversation that lasts for a few hours. Learn something about each other. Sit! in the same room together. Just be. learn to enjoy being in each others space.
If I could give any gift to you at all towards the marveling of your marriage it would be to absolutely rededicate yourself to the Lord. Reignite the candle. Light the love with the Word of God. Start reading it together. If you have or have not already read the whole Bible all the way through, reread it again. It could never hurt to read it over again. Start praying on your knees together. It's time to be humble again together. After all we don't approach God with a prideful spirit. Being on your knees again is the place to be.
Start all over again. Tune the world out again for awhile and turn into each other rediscover intimacy. Do things together like two best friends who are inseparable. "Becoming one again." is a journey all it's own. Learn to fall into each other once more. When you learn to become one again you will learn to scribble together and enjoy all the intimate facets of who you are with each other once again that made you love what you saw in each other to begin with. Make your first love your number one fan. The one you turn to for every thing. The one you enjoy spending time with. The one you fight with but mostly fight for. Your marriage is worth fighting for unto the end. Never stop Marveling your marriage. It is never too late to fall in love again with the love you fell in love with. Never stop falling in love with loving the spouse God gave you. Marriage is a gift from God.
Monday, May 18, 2015
May Birthday's
I am finally trying to catch up on all the celebrating that has taken place in May. First of all I have been sick, with this random! cold! I think my Husband may have brought it home from School. I am hardly around a ton a people every day so that can only be my guess. Anyway! I have had the worst congestion, I've been so tired yet miserable that sleep really didn't come to be in a nice way. Oh sleep how I have missed it. I even contemplated staying up all night to write if I couldn't sleep without sneezing or coughing or waking up in (ALL) hours of the night without feeling like I couldn't breath. Oh it certainly has been a long! long! week! and one long! weekend. One very (LONG) Saturday! one very, very long Saturday. I thought this being sick would never have an end! I was miserable. But thanks to God I have had my husband home with me to take care of me and help me feel better.
Thanks to him and my momma, I am feeling much! much better today. I am up and about and ready to start my day but I still plan to get plenty of sleep. Of course drinking more and more water is my new goal. Sometimes I wonder how much water I really need to be drinking and wondering if there will ever be an end to that goal. Just like doing the dishes, every time you finish doing dishes it seems that when you turn around, BAM! there they are again stacking up! oh wow! I just did the dishes and NOW there they are again, it's never ending. I feel the same way about drinking water. Didn't I just have water and now I am refilling again and on top of that I am thirsty all over again! It's a never ending cycle of love, affection and determination. I love the dishes, I am determined to stick with it because I am passionate about having a clean kitchen oh the affection I have for it all.
On the other hand rather than my complaints, I should be adding on here. I love that God has blessed me with Dishes at all. Clean water to clean my dishes, I am so entirely blessed. I am thankful that I am not trying to have a meal on unsanitary dishes simply because there is no water, I am thankful that I have water at all to clean my dishes that is clean. I have such an affection for what God has given me. Although I find myself continually having to go back for refills in water. I find that God is a God who continually pours out His blessings. Clean drinking water. I can't forget that God has been my ever lasting provider. He has continually poured out more than enough and multiplied to make it last more than enough. I have nothing to complain about. My complaints are my greatest blessings.
This month of May has been a series of celebrating many great blessings that God has poured down upon us all. First we had Mother's Day and what a blessing that we can celebrate that day with such joy! Mother's are an infinite blessing. Even if you haven't had the best mom in the world, the idea that you were brought into this world because of her is the greatest blessing of all! You are here and alive and that is a blessing in and of it's self. Mom's are a representation of (Life) they carry life and bring life into this world. That is who Jesus is, "life" May is the month of "life eternal" always living and bring forth "Life" forever and into the Heavens. Mother's Day was filled with blessings.
After Mother's Day we celebrated my Brother's Birthday on May 6th and it certainly was a celebration to remember! God has been involved in every aspect of my Brother's life and so it was an amazing gift to celebrate his life that day with close friends and family and those who could make it. We had peach cobbler and ice-cream and a cookout. Celebrating someone's life is a gift. Something we have the freedom to do here in America. What a wonderful gift that God has given to us. From day to day life is a "treasure" we should hold on close to it because without it we would not be here. We are God's treasure. Celebrating a life is a way to check off one more year of living life to the fullest. Every year counts a new mile stone in life.
This Sunday the 17th was my yearly Day Date with my Mom. We have a special something that we like to do each Spring in the Month of May. We have a luncheon at the Country Club! I have always really enjoyed such an occasion with her. We join the ladies from the Lutheran Church and we go have a fresh salad and always cake and coffee are severed. We hear lovely singing and a guest speaker who inspires us. It was a lovely afternoon, despite trying to get over a cold, I did enjoy myself.
May 17th also brought along with it another celebration, my Husbands Birthday! He has now caught up to my age, he is 27. He will be trying to make his way over the Hill from here. We had a fantastic celebration that my parents threw for him at their house. My mom makes some of the best tacos in the whole world. She made tacos and more tacos and a lot more tacos so we had three plates full of food. We had grape juice and apple juice and for dessert some of the best brownies in the whole world thanks to Marie Calendars you just mix and bake and then you are ready to serve. They were some great brownie mix! Something my mom had on hand. Later there was a lot of gifts to open up and since we forgot the Birthday Balloons for Garret, William gave Garret His one that he got on his Birthday on May 6th, it had lasted ALL this time!
We also played a really! fun game! it had me laughing so hard I wanted to cry and cough at the same time! Ever had that happen to you? Yup, that happen to me while I was laughing and crying so hard I couldn't contain myself. It is an unforgettable game. First someone draws a simple picture a very basic picture on a piece of paper. A line, a circle, a square box with a dot inside something simple like that. Then while everyone has there face only on their paper and looking at only their paper while sitting in a circle so that everyone's back is facing each others, the person who drew the picture will give someone in the circle the chance to see the picture that is drawn. Than that person will attempt to describe and give exact instructions at to how to draw what he or she is looking at. This way once everyone has had a chance to ask questions as to clarify what it is that he or she is looking at they can turn around to see if what they have drawn matches the picture of what he or she was describing. It is an excellent way to teach the art of what is communicated and if what is communicated was said correctly and precisely. You can use words such as one inch from the margin on the paper if you want to be exact in describing what you are looking at but for those of us who do not speak in exacting terms, this is quiet the challenge and lots of fun. Of course my Military Husband who is now a Veteran! loves the game because he knows how to give orders correctly and me I might not be so good at listening to every detail especially if I am tired so the game is one that will have you have you laughing until you cry.
Our night ended with some God time here at our house we watch the movie the Bible A.D here at our house with my entire family! It is a wonderful watch! we have enjoyed it thoroughly. It is a 12 week series but within that 12 weeks we are praying for a full revival of the Holy Spirit within our lives and within the lives of our family members. We are excited to be yet again celebrating another full few months here of other things to come such as Father's Day! I still do not yet know what all I will do for Father's Day but! I will be thinking about it.
Thanks to him and my momma, I am feeling much! much better today. I am up and about and ready to start my day but I still plan to get plenty of sleep. Of course drinking more and more water is my new goal. Sometimes I wonder how much water I really need to be drinking and wondering if there will ever be an end to that goal. Just like doing the dishes, every time you finish doing dishes it seems that when you turn around, BAM! there they are again stacking up! oh wow! I just did the dishes and NOW there they are again, it's never ending. I feel the same way about drinking water. Didn't I just have water and now I am refilling again and on top of that I am thirsty all over again! It's a never ending cycle of love, affection and determination. I love the dishes, I am determined to stick with it because I am passionate about having a clean kitchen oh the affection I have for it all.
On the other hand rather than my complaints, I should be adding on here. I love that God has blessed me with Dishes at all. Clean water to clean my dishes, I am so entirely blessed. I am thankful that I am not trying to have a meal on unsanitary dishes simply because there is no water, I am thankful that I have water at all to clean my dishes that is clean. I have such an affection for what God has given me. Although I find myself continually having to go back for refills in water. I find that God is a God who continually pours out His blessings. Clean drinking water. I can't forget that God has been my ever lasting provider. He has continually poured out more than enough and multiplied to make it last more than enough. I have nothing to complain about. My complaints are my greatest blessings.
This month of May has been a series of celebrating many great blessings that God has poured down upon us all. First we had Mother's Day and what a blessing that we can celebrate that day with such joy! Mother's are an infinite blessing. Even if you haven't had the best mom in the world, the idea that you were brought into this world because of her is the greatest blessing of all! You are here and alive and that is a blessing in and of it's self. Mom's are a representation of (Life) they carry life and bring life into this world. That is who Jesus is, "life" May is the month of "life eternal" always living and bring forth "Life" forever and into the Heavens. Mother's Day was filled with blessings.
After Mother's Day we celebrated my Brother's Birthday on May 6th and it certainly was a celebration to remember! God has been involved in every aspect of my Brother's life and so it was an amazing gift to celebrate his life that day with close friends and family and those who could make it. We had peach cobbler and ice-cream and a cookout. Celebrating someone's life is a gift. Something we have the freedom to do here in America. What a wonderful gift that God has given to us. From day to day life is a "treasure" we should hold on close to it because without it we would not be here. We are God's treasure. Celebrating a life is a way to check off one more year of living life to the fullest. Every year counts a new mile stone in life.
This Sunday the 17th was my yearly Day Date with my Mom. We have a special something that we like to do each Spring in the Month of May. We have a luncheon at the Country Club! I have always really enjoyed such an occasion with her. We join the ladies from the Lutheran Church and we go have a fresh salad and always cake and coffee are severed. We hear lovely singing and a guest speaker who inspires us. It was a lovely afternoon, despite trying to get over a cold, I did enjoy myself.
May 17th also brought along with it another celebration, my Husbands Birthday! He has now caught up to my age, he is 27. He will be trying to make his way over the Hill from here. We had a fantastic celebration that my parents threw for him at their house. My mom makes some of the best tacos in the whole world. She made tacos and more tacos and a lot more tacos so we had three plates full of food. We had grape juice and apple juice and for dessert some of the best brownies in the whole world thanks to Marie Calendars you just mix and bake and then you are ready to serve. They were some great brownie mix! Something my mom had on hand. Later there was a lot of gifts to open up and since we forgot the Birthday Balloons for Garret, William gave Garret His one that he got on his Birthday on May 6th, it had lasted ALL this time!
We also played a really! fun game! it had me laughing so hard I wanted to cry and cough at the same time! Ever had that happen to you? Yup, that happen to me while I was laughing and crying so hard I couldn't contain myself. It is an unforgettable game. First someone draws a simple picture a very basic picture on a piece of paper. A line, a circle, a square box with a dot inside something simple like that. Then while everyone has there face only on their paper and looking at only their paper while sitting in a circle so that everyone's back is facing each others, the person who drew the picture will give someone in the circle the chance to see the picture that is drawn. Than that person will attempt to describe and give exact instructions at to how to draw what he or she is looking at. This way once everyone has had a chance to ask questions as to clarify what it is that he or she is looking at they can turn around to see if what they have drawn matches the picture of what he or she was describing. It is an excellent way to teach the art of what is communicated and if what is communicated was said correctly and precisely. You can use words such as one inch from the margin on the paper if you want to be exact in describing what you are looking at but for those of us who do not speak in exacting terms, this is quiet the challenge and lots of fun. Of course my Military Husband who is now a Veteran! loves the game because he knows how to give orders correctly and me I might not be so good at listening to every detail especially if I am tired so the game is one that will have you have you laughing until you cry.
Our night ended with some God time here at our house we watch the movie the Bible A.D here at our house with my entire family! It is a wonderful watch! we have enjoyed it thoroughly. It is a 12 week series but within that 12 weeks we are praying for a full revival of the Holy Spirit within our lives and within the lives of our family members. We are excited to be yet again celebrating another full few months here of other things to come such as Father's Day! I still do not yet know what all I will do for Father's Day but! I will be thinking about it.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Mother's Day
Mother's Day came in like a beautiful breeze of love through our home. I am so glad to tell you that although we didn't go out on an extensive weekend get away, we did have a lovely tea here at the house. I have to tell you we did this for literally close to 60.00 we got a few things we needed for a full tea here at the house and some Ribs for the guys and dessert for later on in the evening.
Every Mother's Day is special BUT! we went all out to make this particular Mother's Day Special. It is our first year being married so we wanted to celebrate it by having my Mom over to our house which is literally across the street from my parents house. It is so nice. We bought a fun exciting white apron and then my Brother, my Husband and I picked out colors that we liked and put out hand prints on the new apron. We decided to start a new tradition! it's a fun one. We decided rather than hand prints in the ground that you can't see, or hand prints on the wall incased under glass that we would give my mom hand prints that she could wear.
I placed my hand prints in pink of course because you know how it is my favorite color. Garret placed his hands in Navy Blue and my Brother dark green. We printed the date on the apron and it is machine washable. The new tradition is that when my Brother get's married than my Sister in law will place her hands on the apron and when we have kids their kids and so forth. Every new hand print will dated so we can see how long we have been placing hands all over her artful apron.
We also gave her an encouragement jar. This jar was painted and then we took pieced of color paper, Navy Blue, Dark green and Pink with pieces of taffy and placed them inside the jar. So when she opens up the encouragement jar which is for only (MOM) no one else she can grab a piece of color taffy and a paper with a written word of encouragement and love.
I threw together a fancy tea filled with cup cakes, an assortment of fancy sandwiches and muffins along with little fruit candies and Turkish Delight, clotted cream which I whipped up from what I had on hand, cranberry scones and jam, raisin and nut bars so yummy, it was certainly a yummy feast to remember forever. Along with some fancy feast English Tea. We feasted all day long, rested in the late afternoon after all our feasting and celebrating and then played a fun family round of Phase 10. We really loved the game of Phase 10. In-fact we could play that game all day and all night long it catches you where you want to play until you finish all 10 phases. Once we had played a few phases it was 6:00 and time for Dinner as a family.
Garret made Ribs that had been in the crock pot all morning and all afternoon. The ribs were treat. We don't do ribs all the time so you can imagine it was a meal worth celebrating on Mother's Day. It certainly was a gift to the men in the room who had to sit at the tea with us ladies. We also had some really good beans with our meal. It was very! very! filling! After that we had some Dessert Angel Food cake with my homemade whip cream and frozen strawberries. While we were in the process of finishing up our Dessert we had Mother open up her gifts. She really liked her gifts a lot! I always try to go all out for her because I love her so much.
After that we played a few more rounds of Phase 10 and then we had to stop because the Bible A.D was coming on and we did not want to miss what we had already been recording for an hour. It was great! We had God time to finish up our lovely evening. It was a blessed day. The spirit of the Lord was all around and we could feel His love near.
We also wanted to celebrate this year and make it special because we didn't want to take this year for granted. After all each year is always different as my mother always told me and so you never know in which direction your road will take you so if you have the chance to celebrate, celebrate because time is ticking and it's never stopping. You don't get a do over and there is no second chances. You can never go back so celebrate everything while you can! Make every celebration count! After all parents aren't getting younger. I say let's cherish them while we can.
You never know how the road will twist and turn from one direction to the next. I celebrated countless Mother and Father's Day's with my Grandparents and now they are with the Lord. We can't take that time back but we sure can do everything we can to recapture the moment by looking back on what wonderful celebrations we did have. I have to think now that is why I don't want to lose the moment's I could be having while I could be having it. Once it's gone. You can't reach back and grab it again. Never take for Granted the joy of celebrating Mom and Dad while you still can no matter where you are in your journey with them.
Make memories. Create something you can look back on with a spirit of fondness.
Every Mother's Day is special BUT! we went all out to make this particular Mother's Day Special. It is our first year being married so we wanted to celebrate it by having my Mom over to our house which is literally across the street from my parents house. It is so nice. We bought a fun exciting white apron and then my Brother, my Husband and I picked out colors that we liked and put out hand prints on the new apron. We decided to start a new tradition! it's a fun one. We decided rather than hand prints in the ground that you can't see, or hand prints on the wall incased under glass that we would give my mom hand prints that she could wear.
I placed my hand prints in pink of course because you know how it is my favorite color. Garret placed his hands in Navy Blue and my Brother dark green. We printed the date on the apron and it is machine washable. The new tradition is that when my Brother get's married than my Sister in law will place her hands on the apron and when we have kids their kids and so forth. Every new hand print will dated so we can see how long we have been placing hands all over her artful apron.
We also gave her an encouragement jar. This jar was painted and then we took pieced of color paper, Navy Blue, Dark green and Pink with pieces of taffy and placed them inside the jar. So when she opens up the encouragement jar which is for only (MOM) no one else she can grab a piece of color taffy and a paper with a written word of encouragement and love.
I threw together a fancy tea filled with cup cakes, an assortment of fancy sandwiches and muffins along with little fruit candies and Turkish Delight, clotted cream which I whipped up from what I had on hand, cranberry scones and jam, raisin and nut bars so yummy, it was certainly a yummy feast to remember forever. Along with some fancy feast English Tea. We feasted all day long, rested in the late afternoon after all our feasting and celebrating and then played a fun family round of Phase 10. We really loved the game of Phase 10. In-fact we could play that game all day and all night long it catches you where you want to play until you finish all 10 phases. Once we had played a few phases it was 6:00 and time for Dinner as a family.
Garret made Ribs that had been in the crock pot all morning and all afternoon. The ribs were treat. We don't do ribs all the time so you can imagine it was a meal worth celebrating on Mother's Day. It certainly was a gift to the men in the room who had to sit at the tea with us ladies. We also had some really good beans with our meal. It was very! very! filling! After that we had some Dessert Angel Food cake with my homemade whip cream and frozen strawberries. While we were in the process of finishing up our Dessert we had Mother open up her gifts. She really liked her gifts a lot! I always try to go all out for her because I love her so much.
After that we played a few more rounds of Phase 10 and then we had to stop because the Bible A.D was coming on and we did not want to miss what we had already been recording for an hour. It was great! We had God time to finish up our lovely evening. It was a blessed day. The spirit of the Lord was all around and we could feel His love near.
We also wanted to celebrate this year and make it special because we didn't want to take this year for granted. After all each year is always different as my mother always told me and so you never know in which direction your road will take you so if you have the chance to celebrate, celebrate because time is ticking and it's never stopping. You don't get a do over and there is no second chances. You can never go back so celebrate everything while you can! Make every celebration count! After all parents aren't getting younger. I say let's cherish them while we can.
You never know how the road will twist and turn from one direction to the next. I celebrated countless Mother and Father's Day's with my Grandparents and now they are with the Lord. We can't take that time back but we sure can do everything we can to recapture the moment by looking back on what wonderful celebrations we did have. I have to think now that is why I don't want to lose the moment's I could be having while I could be having it. Once it's gone. You can't reach back and grab it again. Never take for Granted the joy of celebrating Mom and Dad while you still can no matter where you are in your journey with them.
Make memories. Create something you can look back on with a spirit of fondness.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
No Honeymoon?
No Honeymoon? That's right, Garret and I have decided on no Honeymoon. We have decided instead to take advantage of something more adventurous. We live in San Diego, so of course! the more we talked about it, the more realize how much we have in our own backyard. Why go anywhere we thought. Sure we could travel to see another part of the world but we already see more of what is going on around the world as it is through the News and Documentaries as well as Discovery Channel. We are quiet satisfied to stay put.
Well, not exactly stay put within the boundaries of the four walls of our home. We intend to enjoy all of the best that California has to offer, starting with a "Get away." That is what we are calling it, a get away. Instead of Honeymooning, we will be getting away from time to time to enjoy all of San Diego and California. There is so much to see why not start here? We have the luxuries of the beautiful coast of California and every Bed and Breakfast on the coast. As much as I love to blog you can be sure I will be blogging about our get away experiences.
I am a lover of the ocean, I absolutely love it. I wish I were spending more of my time there. I am spending less time now at the beach then when I was single and unmarried. Garret and I love to go to the beach together it is so much fun and filled with romance. One of our favorite get away spots that we have both discovered together is the Hotel Del. We live close enough to it that we don't need a place to sleep when we visit so we go there for the food, fun, entertainment, bon-fires on the beach and long walks. We especially enjoy the fudge that is served there. It is so yummy that I wish I could eat it all up in one sitting. Garret likes to buy a soda there which happens to be made from real cane sugar. The taste of the soda is very fresh and yummy.
When we visit from time to time we have had the chance to see a lot of fun elegant weddings and receptions both up in the crown room and on the beach. That is all apart of the fun and entertainment to see all the luxurious weddings that are happening. It is so romantic. We have had the fun of having had a date night thanks to my parents who gave us some fun date night spending money. When we went out to eat at Coronado for dinner, we were blessed to me a couple who was well, a little tipsy they had crazy stories to tells us that hardly made any sense at all. They were made of money, lots and lots of it. I am not sure how many drinks they had but they seem to throw away money like it would grow back in seconds.
Garret and I were only there to eat outside enjoy the fresh ocean air and eat our dinner by the fire. We didn't expect another couple to come sit down around the fire with us at all. We really liked our little fire space to ourselves what ended up happening was that this couple gave us a lot! of food that they had ordered and so we shared a meal with them. We didn't have to pay a dime, it was just given to us. For some reason they were fond of us yet, they couldn't understand what made us so different then anyone they had met. Maybe it was our humble spirits, but I believe they had never met a couple who loved God more then money. So it was a humbling experience for them I am sure yet the same was for us as we saw what having a lot of something could look like. It wasn't appealing but we did find ourselves amused by it all. What a great way to kick off the year right, especially before we got married. I suppose we were celebrating our victories even then.
like I've said, we aren't going on a Honeymoon, we are going on several escapes. At first I really wanted a Honeymoon. But then the more we thought it through we began to realize why would we want to spend big on a huge going out somewhere to find some kind of adventure for a few days or a week and then it's over? Why spend all that money to go some where way across the world when you could go exploring to several places and enjoy all the escaping you want until you, ooops! get Pregnant and then what? Life suddenly takes a change.
I am not ready for that change, I am ready to go out and explore my own backyard. After all, I did just get finished taking care of a generation of loving Grandparents. It's time for me to take that child safety lock off the door and go! I am ready to go. Who says you can't have a nice romantic evening on the beach with pillows and blankets and food! Or go hiking, have a nice weekend in the woods, camping! There is so much to see here, Disney land, Sea World, the Zoo, the tallest trees in the world! Deserts! There is so much exploring here to do that there is no reason to leave it.
Once we have kids I am sure we will travel, but it's nice just having Garret and I together. It is a wonderful thing to have it be just us. Your whole world changes when you have kids, so I understand. The world of Newlywed escapes is unlimited! finding a drive to go see the stars somewhere dark is romantic too. Sounds like a bunch of super dates but if you are enjoying these escapes throughout your first year of marriage it keeps the fun of dating each other while you are Newly Married alive.
There is a lot of nice restaurants that we would like to explore, that we might not explore other wise. We are thinking of enjoying some fancy feastings. You know those really expensive meals you would never just go out of your way to enjoy on a regular basis, that is our agenda. Go out and try our fancy restaurants see how they are doing, and then tell the world about it on our blog. We love us some good food! The last fancy place that Garret took me out on a date for was, Guy's restaurant in Northern California. It was a really! nice place to visit, I absolutely loved it! I loved the atmosphere and I liked the lay out of the place. It was an experience. I felt, famous just walking in the doors to eat. The food even felt like an experience. I felt like I was being served like a queen and the food was a picture of perfection. It was delightful.
While we are out exploring within our own backyard the one thing that Garret and I have to admit we love! is our coffee houses. We just love anything that comes with coffee that is cold has Caramel dripping down the sides of the cup. We just love it. We love anything that comes with cake-pops, chocolate, a cookie, or a Danish. We can't help our love of good food, candy, treats and sweets. I sure do make us sound fat, really don't go out there and gobble up as much as I make us sound like we do. These are moments of sweets, treats and pleasures, rewards for a long week or savings being excellent. No matter how hard we try it seems like there is a need to go out and buy something. So we celebrate the little victories in life.
One way to escape if you are like me and are looking for one, hint, your own backyard. Yup the one right in back of your house. That is one I am referring to. Who said fort building was for kids? It's for grown up's too! You can always build yourself a romantic fort get away, bring in some nice tent like quality stuff make yourself a little hideaway. Some rugs or some pillows, some S'mores, watch a movie on the iPad. Make life happen! Have a romantic get away. There is no such thing as having no money to go on a Honeymoon, if you don't have the cash flow now wait awhile, don't rush into things. Enjoy the exploration of things you have wanted to do and do those things first.
For example I have wanted to get a personal massage at Coronado Del for some time now or visit a Hotel that has a hot tub it won't break your bank to explore saving up for one of those two options and call it good! After all who has time to go get a personal massage at a fancy Hotel every day or go out and have a fancy pampering session for just yourself. I have personally wanted to go to a Hotel to get away get a facial and while I am at it a massage, that doesn't mean I have to go clear across the county to feel like I have gotten away. I can go a few hours away and get the same for less then the price of a round trip adventure around the world.
If we could have our dream plan destination of course it would be a fancy cruise, the best money can buy, a personal pampering session for me of course and a gym for my man. A fancy feast of feasting all day long as long as the buffet line is open for Breakfast, lunch and Dinner and Dessert on the side, a dozen roses and a dozen chocolate coated strawberries. A trip to Scotland and all the exploration of dinning and food and travels and hiking to see great castles that is what we wish for. We can't have that kind of Honeymoon at the moment and that is okay too. We will be escaping to other places that are like castles, accept they are today's modern day fancy feasting restaurants and a romantic get away in our own backyard. What could be better than dreaming of a place you want to go yet creating the fun right where you are at, all while finding creative ways to enjoy the escaping that saves money. That is what we will be doing for the rest of our Newlywed year this year.
Well, not exactly stay put within the boundaries of the four walls of our home. We intend to enjoy all of the best that California has to offer, starting with a "Get away." That is what we are calling it, a get away. Instead of Honeymooning, we will be getting away from time to time to enjoy all of San Diego and California. There is so much to see why not start here? We have the luxuries of the beautiful coast of California and every Bed and Breakfast on the coast. As much as I love to blog you can be sure I will be blogging about our get away experiences.
I am a lover of the ocean, I absolutely love it. I wish I were spending more of my time there. I am spending less time now at the beach then when I was single and unmarried. Garret and I love to go to the beach together it is so much fun and filled with romance. One of our favorite get away spots that we have both discovered together is the Hotel Del. We live close enough to it that we don't need a place to sleep when we visit so we go there for the food, fun, entertainment, bon-fires on the beach and long walks. We especially enjoy the fudge that is served there. It is so yummy that I wish I could eat it all up in one sitting. Garret likes to buy a soda there which happens to be made from real cane sugar. The taste of the soda is very fresh and yummy.
When we visit from time to time we have had the chance to see a lot of fun elegant weddings and receptions both up in the crown room and on the beach. That is all apart of the fun and entertainment to see all the luxurious weddings that are happening. It is so romantic. We have had the fun of having had a date night thanks to my parents who gave us some fun date night spending money. When we went out to eat at Coronado for dinner, we were blessed to me a couple who was well, a little tipsy they had crazy stories to tells us that hardly made any sense at all. They were made of money, lots and lots of it. I am not sure how many drinks they had but they seem to throw away money like it would grow back in seconds.
Garret and I were only there to eat outside enjoy the fresh ocean air and eat our dinner by the fire. We didn't expect another couple to come sit down around the fire with us at all. We really liked our little fire space to ourselves what ended up happening was that this couple gave us a lot! of food that they had ordered and so we shared a meal with them. We didn't have to pay a dime, it was just given to us. For some reason they were fond of us yet, they couldn't understand what made us so different then anyone they had met. Maybe it was our humble spirits, but I believe they had never met a couple who loved God more then money. So it was a humbling experience for them I am sure yet the same was for us as we saw what having a lot of something could look like. It wasn't appealing but we did find ourselves amused by it all. What a great way to kick off the year right, especially before we got married. I suppose we were celebrating our victories even then.
like I've said, we aren't going on a Honeymoon, we are going on several escapes. At first I really wanted a Honeymoon. But then the more we thought it through we began to realize why would we want to spend big on a huge going out somewhere to find some kind of adventure for a few days or a week and then it's over? Why spend all that money to go some where way across the world when you could go exploring to several places and enjoy all the escaping you want until you, ooops! get Pregnant and then what? Life suddenly takes a change.
I am not ready for that change, I am ready to go out and explore my own backyard. After all, I did just get finished taking care of a generation of loving Grandparents. It's time for me to take that child safety lock off the door and go! I am ready to go. Who says you can't have a nice romantic evening on the beach with pillows and blankets and food! Or go hiking, have a nice weekend in the woods, camping! There is so much to see here, Disney land, Sea World, the Zoo, the tallest trees in the world! Deserts! There is so much exploring here to do that there is no reason to leave it.
Once we have kids I am sure we will travel, but it's nice just having Garret and I together. It is a wonderful thing to have it be just us. Your whole world changes when you have kids, so I understand. The world of Newlywed escapes is unlimited! finding a drive to go see the stars somewhere dark is romantic too. Sounds like a bunch of super dates but if you are enjoying these escapes throughout your first year of marriage it keeps the fun of dating each other while you are Newly Married alive.
There is a lot of nice restaurants that we would like to explore, that we might not explore other wise. We are thinking of enjoying some fancy feastings. You know those really expensive meals you would never just go out of your way to enjoy on a regular basis, that is our agenda. Go out and try our fancy restaurants see how they are doing, and then tell the world about it on our blog. We love us some good food! The last fancy place that Garret took me out on a date for was, Guy's restaurant in Northern California. It was a really! nice place to visit, I absolutely loved it! I loved the atmosphere and I liked the lay out of the place. It was an experience. I felt, famous just walking in the doors to eat. The food even felt like an experience. I felt like I was being served like a queen and the food was a picture of perfection. It was delightful.
While we are out exploring within our own backyard the one thing that Garret and I have to admit we love! is our coffee houses. We just love anything that comes with coffee that is cold has Caramel dripping down the sides of the cup. We just love it. We love anything that comes with cake-pops, chocolate, a cookie, or a Danish. We can't help our love of good food, candy, treats and sweets. I sure do make us sound fat, really don't go out there and gobble up as much as I make us sound like we do. These are moments of sweets, treats and pleasures, rewards for a long week or savings being excellent. No matter how hard we try it seems like there is a need to go out and buy something. So we celebrate the little victories in life.
One way to escape if you are like me and are looking for one, hint, your own backyard. Yup the one right in back of your house. That is one I am referring to. Who said fort building was for kids? It's for grown up's too! You can always build yourself a romantic fort get away, bring in some nice tent like quality stuff make yourself a little hideaway. Some rugs or some pillows, some S'mores, watch a movie on the iPad. Make life happen! Have a romantic get away. There is no such thing as having no money to go on a Honeymoon, if you don't have the cash flow now wait awhile, don't rush into things. Enjoy the exploration of things you have wanted to do and do those things first.
For example I have wanted to get a personal massage at Coronado Del for some time now or visit a Hotel that has a hot tub it won't break your bank to explore saving up for one of those two options and call it good! After all who has time to go get a personal massage at a fancy Hotel every day or go out and have a fancy pampering session for just yourself. I have personally wanted to go to a Hotel to get away get a facial and while I am at it a massage, that doesn't mean I have to go clear across the county to feel like I have gotten away. I can go a few hours away and get the same for less then the price of a round trip adventure around the world.
If we could have our dream plan destination of course it would be a fancy cruise, the best money can buy, a personal pampering session for me of course and a gym for my man. A fancy feast of feasting all day long as long as the buffet line is open for Breakfast, lunch and Dinner and Dessert on the side, a dozen roses and a dozen chocolate coated strawberries. A trip to Scotland and all the exploration of dinning and food and travels and hiking to see great castles that is what we wish for. We can't have that kind of Honeymoon at the moment and that is okay too. We will be escaping to other places that are like castles, accept they are today's modern day fancy feasting restaurants and a romantic get away in our own backyard. What could be better than dreaming of a place you want to go yet creating the fun right where you are at, all while finding creative ways to enjoy the escaping that saves money. That is what we will be doing for the rest of our Newlywed year this year.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Year of celebration!
This is the year of Celebration! I declare it. We were married, twice. Once at the Court House and that was great, had photos taken on that first initial day, and then up to Rio Vista for a Grand Wedding we would never forget with more photos, family and friends. It was an assortment of blessings. Who say's you can't have two important days? Well, we only plan on celebrating our March Wedding, because that is the day that really made it set in stone for us.
As soon as we got back from the wedding up North, it seem that we were right back in the throws of celebrating. We continued our celebration with a fun family and friends backyard party. We had everyone over for an Open House event. Everyone was welcome into our home for a cook out and then everyone was so gracious to bring their own food to share with us for a Newlywed Potluck. We had so! much left over food that there was enough to last us well, a long, long time. I would highly recommend a Newlywed Open House Potluck to all couples just starting out in life.
Soon after that we began to prepare for Easter for the first time together in our new home. We had the family over for again more food and more eating. It was the first time we were a new family. We had never had us together as a family until Grandfather and Grandmother went to be with the Lord. They were our family and then during special occasions like, Easter we would have family come visit and they would bring food. This year we became a new family because we had never had Garret before. Now it had become Garret, Momma, Daddy, William and I. It was just us, and for once, that was also a pleasant change. Sometimes it's okay not to have the rest of the leg of the family around. Sometimes being your own little family is nice too, though I do love having the entirety of my family together! all in one room for special occasions.
"Every year is different," my mom would say, after complaining about needing to be home in time for Easter Bunny to find me, when I was a kid. From that time on, I knew life would never be the same. After all what's a year without the Easter Bunny right? We were on the road I think we must have been on our way to visit all the Missions along the coast of California and from that point on life never was the same. Life it's self continued to take us along it's own winding path and that path continued to lead to other avenues in life. Life just takes us along it's own little way and we just keep following it were ever it may lead us, well that little life's path has lead me to a year of celebration. As I said earlier it seems that we have not stop this year of celebrating what so ever.
I had a chance to see my beautiful Tia Amelia for Easter. She has Down Syndrome but she will out smart you if your not careful. You might not think that she has much to do in her little life, but she is extremely fit and very successful. The last thing anyone would want to do is up-root her from the life she is living now. She has everything going for her. I love visits with her as often as I get the chance. On one of my most exciting visits with her my cousin Michael went with me and my mom and William. We love her so much. She lives in a really beautiful house. Her life here is comfortable. The sun is always shining, there is never any snow so there is always a day for walking in the sun shine which she also loves to do. When I have visited her, I get a chance to visit with the family that she lives with, they have a lot of similarities with her. Because of this, they communicate well within their abilities to know each other in ways, perhaps you or I might not be able to relate. It is so nice to be able spend the time that I am able to have with her. I consider it a gift from God. I couldn't imagine not having her near by to spend time with. She is so full of love and life, laughter and when you need a hug she has a hug ready just for you. She makes all celebrations worth celebrating because she is apart of our life and family in such a close nit way. The life she has here is worth a celebration in it's self. She is happy here and we are happy having her with us. Life couldn't be better.
Along the lines of Celebrating we also celebrated my Brother's Birthday today, May 6th. He is now 24. Today I said to him, "William, you are 24, half way through your 20's." He looked at me and said well, 5, 25 would be half way through my 20's, any thing 5 is half way," we both laughed. "Your right," I said "Well, your less then half way done with your 20's then," We both had another great laugh. Today we celebrated with friends who are more like, family. They are family. We have known them for so long that well, we have just decided to adopt them in for life as family. Tasha, Alison and Dale were here to celebrate along with my Mom and Dad and Joyce who couldn't make it but had been so sweet to make him a cake, accept the cake didn't make it either because it's carrying case didn't latch close and so the cake fell out the bottom so we had William's Homemade Peach Cobbler which was sooooo yummy with the ice-cream that Garret had just bought, so it all worked out.
I had a great! day with my mom we went shopping together for the things we would need for the Party, like food mostly and she split most of what she bought with me, which I thought was really sweet of her as a mom to be caring and share most of what she bought and a few extra things. Plus we still did end up with again more left overs which again for me is nice because I love food and I'll eat all day. My mom is awesome! whoever said she wasn't was so wrong. She is a pretty awesome mom to have. I am glad to have her close by and then she bought Garret and I tacos for lunch, our favorite! Loving my mom! Well it is William's Birthday so I have to add, the celebration did come to a wonderful close with a slide show of some of William's pictures that I arranged and put together, that was awesome! and some gifts a few from Aunt Inez and a few from Mommy and Daddy. This night was complete! With of course, Dishes as usual to do, lots of them. yay!
The Celebrating isn't over yet, it is only just beginning, next we have Mother's Day! it's coming up! We are on the verge of counting down the days until Mother's Day! I am super excited about that too! I am not entirely sure what all we will be doing for that, but I am sure whatever I think up to do I will share it here with you soon. Looks like we will have a lot to celebrate our first year of Marriage.
We are also celebrating all that the Lord has done to provide for us in every way shape and form. He has been our provider and we have been thankful for all that he has done. He has given us a roof over our head, pillows to rest on at the end of a long day and jobs to keep us supplied with more than enough and more to spare. God has been entirely faithful and it wouldn't be a year of Celebration without Him to celebrate and celebrate with. It is because of Him that I, we can celebrate. God is doing a new thing and we have seen Him bring us to where we are now. God is always good, always faithful, and always, always, been the best Father and provider for both Garret and I. He has never failed us not once, He has always been there, even through the night. He is a Just God, a Great God and a God and Father worth celebrating as we think about June Heading into Father's Day, think about the Heavenly Father you and I both have.
As soon as we got back from the wedding up North, it seem that we were right back in the throws of celebrating. We continued our celebration with a fun family and friends backyard party. We had everyone over for an Open House event. Everyone was welcome into our home for a cook out and then everyone was so gracious to bring their own food to share with us for a Newlywed Potluck. We had so! much left over food that there was enough to last us well, a long, long time. I would highly recommend a Newlywed Open House Potluck to all couples just starting out in life.
Soon after that we began to prepare for Easter for the first time together in our new home. We had the family over for again more food and more eating. It was the first time we were a new family. We had never had us together as a family until Grandfather and Grandmother went to be with the Lord. They were our family and then during special occasions like, Easter we would have family come visit and they would bring food. This year we became a new family because we had never had Garret before. Now it had become Garret, Momma, Daddy, William and I. It was just us, and for once, that was also a pleasant change. Sometimes it's okay not to have the rest of the leg of the family around. Sometimes being your own little family is nice too, though I do love having the entirety of my family together! all in one room for special occasions.
"Every year is different," my mom would say, after complaining about needing to be home in time for Easter Bunny to find me, when I was a kid. From that time on, I knew life would never be the same. After all what's a year without the Easter Bunny right? We were on the road I think we must have been on our way to visit all the Missions along the coast of California and from that point on life never was the same. Life it's self continued to take us along it's own winding path and that path continued to lead to other avenues in life. Life just takes us along it's own little way and we just keep following it were ever it may lead us, well that little life's path has lead me to a year of celebration. As I said earlier it seems that we have not stop this year of celebrating what so ever.
I had a chance to see my beautiful Tia Amelia for Easter. She has Down Syndrome but she will out smart you if your not careful. You might not think that she has much to do in her little life, but she is extremely fit and very successful. The last thing anyone would want to do is up-root her from the life she is living now. She has everything going for her. I love visits with her as often as I get the chance. On one of my most exciting visits with her my cousin Michael went with me and my mom and William. We love her so much. She lives in a really beautiful house. Her life here is comfortable. The sun is always shining, there is never any snow so there is always a day for walking in the sun shine which she also loves to do. When I have visited her, I get a chance to visit with the family that she lives with, they have a lot of similarities with her. Because of this, they communicate well within their abilities to know each other in ways, perhaps you or I might not be able to relate. It is so nice to be able spend the time that I am able to have with her. I consider it a gift from God. I couldn't imagine not having her near by to spend time with. She is so full of love and life, laughter and when you need a hug she has a hug ready just for you. She makes all celebrations worth celebrating because she is apart of our life and family in such a close nit way. The life she has here is worth a celebration in it's self. She is happy here and we are happy having her with us. Life couldn't be better.
Along the lines of Celebrating we also celebrated my Brother's Birthday today, May 6th. He is now 24. Today I said to him, "William, you are 24, half way through your 20's." He looked at me and said well, 5, 25 would be half way through my 20's, any thing 5 is half way," we both laughed. "Your right," I said "Well, your less then half way done with your 20's then," We both had another great laugh. Today we celebrated with friends who are more like, family. They are family. We have known them for so long that well, we have just decided to adopt them in for life as family. Tasha, Alison and Dale were here to celebrate along with my Mom and Dad and Joyce who couldn't make it but had been so sweet to make him a cake, accept the cake didn't make it either because it's carrying case didn't latch close and so the cake fell out the bottom so we had William's Homemade Peach Cobbler which was sooooo yummy with the ice-cream that Garret had just bought, so it all worked out.
I had a great! day with my mom we went shopping together for the things we would need for the Party, like food mostly and she split most of what she bought with me, which I thought was really sweet of her as a mom to be caring and share most of what she bought and a few extra things. Plus we still did end up with again more left overs which again for me is nice because I love food and I'll eat all day. My mom is awesome! whoever said she wasn't was so wrong. She is a pretty awesome mom to have. I am glad to have her close by and then she bought Garret and I tacos for lunch, our favorite! Loving my mom! Well it is William's Birthday so I have to add, the celebration did come to a wonderful close with a slide show of some of William's pictures that I arranged and put together, that was awesome! and some gifts a few from Aunt Inez and a few from Mommy and Daddy. This night was complete! With of course, Dishes as usual to do, lots of them. yay!
The Celebrating isn't over yet, it is only just beginning, next we have Mother's Day! it's coming up! We are on the verge of counting down the days until Mother's Day! I am super excited about that too! I am not entirely sure what all we will be doing for that, but I am sure whatever I think up to do I will share it here with you soon. Looks like we will have a lot to celebrate our first year of Marriage.
We are also celebrating all that the Lord has done to provide for us in every way shape and form. He has been our provider and we have been thankful for all that he has done. He has given us a roof over our head, pillows to rest on at the end of a long day and jobs to keep us supplied with more than enough and more to spare. God has been entirely faithful and it wouldn't be a year of Celebration without Him to celebrate and celebrate with. It is because of Him that I, we can celebrate. God is doing a new thing and we have seen Him bring us to where we are now. God is always good, always faithful, and always, always, been the best Father and provider for both Garret and I. He has never failed us not once, He has always been there, even through the night. He is a Just God, a Great God and a God and Father worth celebrating as we think about June Heading into Father's Day, think about the Heavenly Father you and I both have.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Newlywed Life
So, how is Newlywed life treating us? Wonderful! we are really happy now that we are married. No more major spiritual battles at this very moment. We are finally settling down and enjoying every day life together. Although, we don't have the bed we want as of yet, we are using two twin size beds pushed together. We are looking forward to a bed that will suite us a lot better. For now we are pretty much putting up with two different size comforters and odd old fashion sheets from back when your grandma lived.
We are thankful however to have a bed to sleep on at all and blankets to wrap up in at the end of the night. It's not exactly cozy but we make due. I will be glad for a bed all our own though with matching everything and a comforter to fit the bed. Newlywed life is like anything, "NEW" your new at just about everything! but yet, that is just half the fun of adventure. I can hardly believe at times that I am married. Married life for me feels so cozy and so comfortable. I really do like it and enjoy every part of it. I love our little cottage home here in the big city of San Diego. We get good weather here and the breeze through the window feels wonderful and relaxing while I am writing.
I love everything about Newlywed life. Of course we were friends, Garret and I for 4 and half years before we got married. We are like two peas in a pod we fit just perfectly together. Excuse me for a moment while I romance you with our perfect life's picture. We aren't rich or anything like that but when you have the Lord, well, your happy and content because of who God is. Garret goes to school full time and me, well, I've never to be honest worked a day in my life. You see, I took care of my Grandparents all my life and even though I had the freedom to work, I could not see leaving my mom to shoulder all the work on her own, day in and day out. So you see, I worked a nanny job throughout that time. Which I was very thankful for because it allowed me some time away from caregiving, which is what I needed from time to time and it gave me some income to have for myself.
It was God who gave us this house we have now. We are so thankful for this as well, we could not be more thankful. I really do enjoy it every day that we are living here. It does feel like a castle in the sky from time to time. Of course Garret and I live across the street from my parents house so we have the added blessing of having my brother visit most often as well as my parents to watch the new T.V series A.D the Bible. We are really experiencing the Lord every day that we are here and watching His hand do a mighty work in each of our lives. Sometimes God places us where He is moving or where He is stretching us in that place.
So here I am blogging this afternoon while my Husband is off to college doing his best work and I am keeping the household running. I have such a huge passion for being creative and also for baking. I have to admit to enjoying looking at all those wonderful ideas on Pinterest, I can't help myself but get lost in the whirl wind of all those fascinating ideas that I am just waiting to try out. I am really excited about all the many ways it encourages me to get in the kitchen and try my hand at so many of the yummy foods posted all over Pinterest. I have been pinning left and right.
I have to thank Pinterest for saving the day time and again, when I need ideas for a party. With Mother's Day coming up, I am already in the throws of putting together a really nice day for my mom, she totally deserves this day. After all celebrating a mother only comes once a year! Never take the year you have to celebrate mom for granted, right? Well, we are getting all geared up for that, and who knows, maybe we will even take a tiny road trip and have a lunch out near the mountains. Anyway, I am counting on an adventure. Before that, we have my Brother's Birthday coming up on the 6th of May. We are really excited about that, me especially, because you know wherever there is a party there will be cake! Speaking of cake maybe I will make my mom a cake for Mother's Day, after all what is another reason to enjoy the sweetness of life? So you see so far we have not stop celebrating since we got back from our wedding! And we still have yet to go on our Honeymoon! I am still! waiting for that.
Married life for us is a lot of fun, especially when you don't have a lot of money to run on all the time. This has taught me to have an appreciation for things that I had once taken for granted. I have learn the truest! gift of being thankful. Garret is especially great with finances, he knows all the inn's and outs of it all. Which is a great strength of his. So I have been more than thankful when a stick of real butter enters these doors. We have taken steps to becoming healthier and healthier along our married life path. We have made changes to eat whole wheat and Sour Dough breads. It took a lot of adjustments for me to accept eating anything other than white rice, I have just a love for the white rice, I really do. Of course, eating brown rice is much healthier and so we have determined ourselves not eat the white rice in our home.
Trying to cook brown rice to begin with was a challenge. You can imagine, since we had both never tried to make it before, it was new to us both. Cooking brown rice, over a stove top was not exactly an award winning flavor. So! we got a nice! New! Rice Cooker! for a wedding gift from Bed Bath and Beyond! Best gift ever!!!! We have really been enjoying it. It made all the difference. Now I can truthfully say, I love! brown rice! Just some adjustments we have made in our married life. We couldn't afford an extra bottle of milk until here just recently so we were surviving on just one to two jugs of milk which is one of our favorite loves! We both love! milk and we love cereal! Before you go on your rant about how milk is not good for you, my Grandma drank it her whole life. It was her bone insurance. She never broke a bone in her life! It gave her long life and longevity. I am a witness to it! Now that I have gotten on this side rant! what I meant to share with you was that this milk has been a life savor for both of us. We are now drinking Keifer, it is added to our diets now and we are seeing amazing results! I am feeling ten times healthier. I have found that I do not! at all crave sugar and when I do, it is not as much as when I was not drinking it. When I am feeling that I am craving sugar I eat, a tomato! yep, yes, I do! I eat a tomato! The taste in the tomato tastes sweet and salty enough that it really satisfies my craving for something sweet and salty, side note, I sprinkle a little salt on my slices of tomato to give it that extra something that I am craving.
I will sometimes drink my Keifer with some toast with garlic salt sprinkled on top. Toast and Keifer are my one weakness. I truly enjoy it. For Dessert, Garret and I thoroughly enjoy Keifer, drizzled over frozen fruit and honey blended! It is a yummy treat! We just love every second of drinking it after dinner. Married life has been a journey of trying new things and switching old habits for new ones. learning how to eat healthier while living a well balanced life of also enjoying something's such as our cereals we aren't sure if we will stick to plain oats, for now we are slowly one at a time switching out not so great items for better ones in our married life. Every day is a new day and every day we make at least one good improvement made in our lives.
Sometimes we will even chose to eat Raquel Pop-corn, which is your basic pop-corn kernel popped in a pot over the stove, then sprinkled with salt, sugar, cinnamon, or garlic salt. Garlic salt is another staple in our lives because we love it so much. It seems to get sprinkled on almost everything from meat to grill cheese to toast, you name it we have probably sprinkled it on one of those items, so far. I had never had so much garlic salt in my life before getting married. Now that I am married, it's something that Garret has introduced me to.
Some how this whole Newlywed chapter of writing ended up being all about food, I wonder if that is because I naturally just gravitate towards my love for food? Or if it could just be because food seems to be one of the number one changes that have happen within our Newlywed life? Before Garret, I am not for one, a cook, that is all Garret, Garret is a chef so! It is he who has introduced me to the art and love of a variety of foods. It is like a dance, eating is like a romance. I am however a baker! I love to bake! I have such a love for baking, even though, my mother has always tried to get me in the kitchen, I have always been married to my writing.
Newlywed life has been a marinade of cooking and enjoying the adventures of new foods and my passion for baking while my husband is cooking in the kitchen. You could not! drag me away from my writing before Marriage, and now I am in front of the TV more often then not! watching everything food network! What a life! I am spending my days enjoying cooking shows while my husband becomes inspired. I feel like I am getting no where with this topic. I am sure your wondering where the drama is, especially since, Newlyweds seem to get the rap for some of the largest leg of journey being pure love, *bliss* if you will. While the other 50% of Newlyweds end up discovering the newly surprised issues that arise shortly after getting married that cause major conflicts! I know you going to really hate me for saying this but Garret and I have not had major world war 3 arguments that make the lights fall out of the ceiling, really. We might not agree on something from time to time but really we work all things out through, well, talking and talking some more. We are really used to talking and to be honest all he does makes me happy. Yup clothes get left on the ground but to be honest I leave my dirty clothes laying in the bathroom floor until I am ready to pick them up too, it's the case for doing something my Momma would have called me on. Now I can leave them there if I want to lol. I don't have any pet peeves of him, he doesn't snore, so that's not an issue.
If there has been anything that we have faced together and that we have learned it is that we would learn how to not just say we have faith, but to learn how to have faith within our hearts and believe for what we could not see. We have learn to stand on the Word of God like it is our bread and butter. It has been a life savor in our lives. We have learn the importance of not just reading the Bible but slowly working our way through a meal slowly, soaking up the material we are reading through. We have learn to be whole heartedly depended on the Lord rather than each other alone. That would be too much pressure to put on each other. Having God as our main man, our Father and the one we go to in our time of need serves as a such a blessing, because He is the strength shouldering the weight of the world and our life raft when we need one.
If there has been anything that we have faced that has caused conflict it would be simply like most of you family issues, but we have been working our way successfully through that area as well. Thanks to God who has helped us all mesh so well. Yes, it may seem like I am writing this oh so wonderful love story of lives. But really it has all been the Lord that has helped us win many of the challenges that we have faced and when all else fails there is always love, cuddles, kisses and a great movie and pop-corn. That's how we face the mountains we are climbing. As for our differences, I like crunchy Peanut Butter and Garret likes both smooth Peanut Butter and crunchy kind so there is not much difference there. He loves to cook, I love to bake. He likes playing video games, I can sympathize. Garret will usually shut down his night at around 9:00 I used to stay up late to write. Now I am up until 9:00 and up between 8:30-9:30. I used to be great at going to bed at 9:00 and waking up super early with him but what I discovered was that, I am not the happiest person getting up that early all the time, my body does not run on that clock as well as Garret's does. The one change I can say is I am no longer sleeping until 10:30 and heading down stairs at 11:00. Then again I was waiting to Skype with Garret at that time while we were apart. Now that is all changed.
Garret likes bacon, I love cake, but then again I love both and so does he. I could add that I love a good long bubble bath lol so relaxing while Garret mostly enjoys short fast in and out showers but there is not much of a difference there. Garret also has tattoos, he's a Veteran! So you can imagine they are both Patriotic and God fearing. He has a cross on one arm and wings on the other representing the two buddies that lost their lives while he was deployed. Something he forever carries within his heart. The fact that he has been deployed and is a solider sets us apart. I'm a women, he's a man, lol boy this is a challenge, honestly everything he is I love so I can't tell you that our differences really stand out as something is a big challenge for us. I have long hair he has sexy military hair! He is strong and compared to him, I couldn't pull him from a fire, I actually celebrate a small mound on my arm, that shows there is hidden strength within me. I'm in love what can I say? Even the things that make us different draw me to him.
We are thankful however to have a bed to sleep on at all and blankets to wrap up in at the end of the night. It's not exactly cozy but we make due. I will be glad for a bed all our own though with matching everything and a comforter to fit the bed. Newlywed life is like anything, "NEW" your new at just about everything! but yet, that is just half the fun of adventure. I can hardly believe at times that I am married. Married life for me feels so cozy and so comfortable. I really do like it and enjoy every part of it. I love our little cottage home here in the big city of San Diego. We get good weather here and the breeze through the window feels wonderful and relaxing while I am writing.
I love everything about Newlywed life. Of course we were friends, Garret and I for 4 and half years before we got married. We are like two peas in a pod we fit just perfectly together. Excuse me for a moment while I romance you with our perfect life's picture. We aren't rich or anything like that but when you have the Lord, well, your happy and content because of who God is. Garret goes to school full time and me, well, I've never to be honest worked a day in my life. You see, I took care of my Grandparents all my life and even though I had the freedom to work, I could not see leaving my mom to shoulder all the work on her own, day in and day out. So you see, I worked a nanny job throughout that time. Which I was very thankful for because it allowed me some time away from caregiving, which is what I needed from time to time and it gave me some income to have for myself.
It was God who gave us this house we have now. We are so thankful for this as well, we could not be more thankful. I really do enjoy it every day that we are living here. It does feel like a castle in the sky from time to time. Of course Garret and I live across the street from my parents house so we have the added blessing of having my brother visit most often as well as my parents to watch the new T.V series A.D the Bible. We are really experiencing the Lord every day that we are here and watching His hand do a mighty work in each of our lives. Sometimes God places us where He is moving or where He is stretching us in that place.
So here I am blogging this afternoon while my Husband is off to college doing his best work and I am keeping the household running. I have such a huge passion for being creative and also for baking. I have to admit to enjoying looking at all those wonderful ideas on Pinterest, I can't help myself but get lost in the whirl wind of all those fascinating ideas that I am just waiting to try out. I am really excited about all the many ways it encourages me to get in the kitchen and try my hand at so many of the yummy foods posted all over Pinterest. I have been pinning left and right.
I have to thank Pinterest for saving the day time and again, when I need ideas for a party. With Mother's Day coming up, I am already in the throws of putting together a really nice day for my mom, she totally deserves this day. After all celebrating a mother only comes once a year! Never take the year you have to celebrate mom for granted, right? Well, we are getting all geared up for that, and who knows, maybe we will even take a tiny road trip and have a lunch out near the mountains. Anyway, I am counting on an adventure. Before that, we have my Brother's Birthday coming up on the 6th of May. We are really excited about that, me especially, because you know wherever there is a party there will be cake! Speaking of cake maybe I will make my mom a cake for Mother's Day, after all what is another reason to enjoy the sweetness of life? So you see so far we have not stop celebrating since we got back from our wedding! And we still have yet to go on our Honeymoon! I am still! waiting for that.
Married life for us is a lot of fun, especially when you don't have a lot of money to run on all the time. This has taught me to have an appreciation for things that I had once taken for granted. I have learn the truest! gift of being thankful. Garret is especially great with finances, he knows all the inn's and outs of it all. Which is a great strength of his. So I have been more than thankful when a stick of real butter enters these doors. We have taken steps to becoming healthier and healthier along our married life path. We have made changes to eat whole wheat and Sour Dough breads. It took a lot of adjustments for me to accept eating anything other than white rice, I have just a love for the white rice, I really do. Of course, eating brown rice is much healthier and so we have determined ourselves not eat the white rice in our home.
Trying to cook brown rice to begin with was a challenge. You can imagine, since we had both never tried to make it before, it was new to us both. Cooking brown rice, over a stove top was not exactly an award winning flavor. So! we got a nice! New! Rice Cooker! for a wedding gift from Bed Bath and Beyond! Best gift ever!!!! We have really been enjoying it. It made all the difference. Now I can truthfully say, I love! brown rice! Just some adjustments we have made in our married life. We couldn't afford an extra bottle of milk until here just recently so we were surviving on just one to two jugs of milk which is one of our favorite loves! We both love! milk and we love cereal! Before you go on your rant about how milk is not good for you, my Grandma drank it her whole life. It was her bone insurance. She never broke a bone in her life! It gave her long life and longevity. I am a witness to it! Now that I have gotten on this side rant! what I meant to share with you was that this milk has been a life savor for both of us. We are now drinking Keifer, it is added to our diets now and we are seeing amazing results! I am feeling ten times healthier. I have found that I do not! at all crave sugar and when I do, it is not as much as when I was not drinking it. When I am feeling that I am craving sugar I eat, a tomato! yep, yes, I do! I eat a tomato! The taste in the tomato tastes sweet and salty enough that it really satisfies my craving for something sweet and salty, side note, I sprinkle a little salt on my slices of tomato to give it that extra something that I am craving.
I will sometimes drink my Keifer with some toast with garlic salt sprinkled on top. Toast and Keifer are my one weakness. I truly enjoy it. For Dessert, Garret and I thoroughly enjoy Keifer, drizzled over frozen fruit and honey blended! It is a yummy treat! We just love every second of drinking it after dinner. Married life has been a journey of trying new things and switching old habits for new ones. learning how to eat healthier while living a well balanced life of also enjoying something's such as our cereals we aren't sure if we will stick to plain oats, for now we are slowly one at a time switching out not so great items for better ones in our married life. Every day is a new day and every day we make at least one good improvement made in our lives.
Sometimes we will even chose to eat Raquel Pop-corn, which is your basic pop-corn kernel popped in a pot over the stove, then sprinkled with salt, sugar, cinnamon, or garlic salt. Garlic salt is another staple in our lives because we love it so much. It seems to get sprinkled on almost everything from meat to grill cheese to toast, you name it we have probably sprinkled it on one of those items, so far. I had never had so much garlic salt in my life before getting married. Now that I am married, it's something that Garret has introduced me to.
Some how this whole Newlywed chapter of writing ended up being all about food, I wonder if that is because I naturally just gravitate towards my love for food? Or if it could just be because food seems to be one of the number one changes that have happen within our Newlywed life? Before Garret, I am not for one, a cook, that is all Garret, Garret is a chef so! It is he who has introduced me to the art and love of a variety of foods. It is like a dance, eating is like a romance. I am however a baker! I love to bake! I have such a love for baking, even though, my mother has always tried to get me in the kitchen, I have always been married to my writing.
Newlywed life has been a marinade of cooking and enjoying the adventures of new foods and my passion for baking while my husband is cooking in the kitchen. You could not! drag me away from my writing before Marriage, and now I am in front of the TV more often then not! watching everything food network! What a life! I am spending my days enjoying cooking shows while my husband becomes inspired. I feel like I am getting no where with this topic. I am sure your wondering where the drama is, especially since, Newlyweds seem to get the rap for some of the largest leg of journey being pure love, *bliss* if you will. While the other 50% of Newlyweds end up discovering the newly surprised issues that arise shortly after getting married that cause major conflicts! I know you going to really hate me for saying this but Garret and I have not had major world war 3 arguments that make the lights fall out of the ceiling, really. We might not agree on something from time to time but really we work all things out through, well, talking and talking some more. We are really used to talking and to be honest all he does makes me happy. Yup clothes get left on the ground but to be honest I leave my dirty clothes laying in the bathroom floor until I am ready to pick them up too, it's the case for doing something my Momma would have called me on. Now I can leave them there if I want to lol. I don't have any pet peeves of him, he doesn't snore, so that's not an issue.
If there has been anything that we have faced together and that we have learned it is that we would learn how to not just say we have faith, but to learn how to have faith within our hearts and believe for what we could not see. We have learn to stand on the Word of God like it is our bread and butter. It has been a life savor in our lives. We have learn the importance of not just reading the Bible but slowly working our way through a meal slowly, soaking up the material we are reading through. We have learn to be whole heartedly depended on the Lord rather than each other alone. That would be too much pressure to put on each other. Having God as our main man, our Father and the one we go to in our time of need serves as a such a blessing, because He is the strength shouldering the weight of the world and our life raft when we need one.
If there has been anything that we have faced that has caused conflict it would be simply like most of you family issues, but we have been working our way successfully through that area as well. Thanks to God who has helped us all mesh so well. Yes, it may seem like I am writing this oh so wonderful love story of lives. But really it has all been the Lord that has helped us win many of the challenges that we have faced and when all else fails there is always love, cuddles, kisses and a great movie and pop-corn. That's how we face the mountains we are climbing. As for our differences, I like crunchy Peanut Butter and Garret likes both smooth Peanut Butter and crunchy kind so there is not much difference there. He loves to cook, I love to bake. He likes playing video games, I can sympathize. Garret will usually shut down his night at around 9:00 I used to stay up late to write. Now I am up until 9:00 and up between 8:30-9:30. I used to be great at going to bed at 9:00 and waking up super early with him but what I discovered was that, I am not the happiest person getting up that early all the time, my body does not run on that clock as well as Garret's does. The one change I can say is I am no longer sleeping until 10:30 and heading down stairs at 11:00. Then again I was waiting to Skype with Garret at that time while we were apart. Now that is all changed.
Garret likes bacon, I love cake, but then again I love both and so does he. I could add that I love a good long bubble bath lol so relaxing while Garret mostly enjoys short fast in and out showers but there is not much of a difference there. Garret also has tattoos, he's a Veteran! So you can imagine they are both Patriotic and God fearing. He has a cross on one arm and wings on the other representing the two buddies that lost their lives while he was deployed. Something he forever carries within his heart. The fact that he has been deployed and is a solider sets us apart. I'm a women, he's a man, lol boy this is a challenge, honestly everything he is I love so I can't tell you that our differences really stand out as something is a big challenge for us. I have long hair he has sexy military hair! He is strong and compared to him, I couldn't pull him from a fire, I actually celebrate a small mound on my arm, that shows there is hidden strength within me. I'm in love what can I say? Even the things that make us different draw me to him.
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