What We Love Best

There is no way to say how much I needed our anniversary trip. I mean, I think it's been a full year since the two of us have been away together. And let me just say, that's too long. Last year I needed red roosters and antique shopping. This year I needed salty sea air and sand between my toes. It was perfect.

We actually had adult conversations without being interrupted. We got to hang out on the beach with no one needing anything. We swam really far out to a sand bar and rode lots of waves. We had a romantic ocean front dinner and had a delicious dessert (on the house since it was our 10th). We tried to remember things from our honeymoon (day by day), and I was very impressed with how much my hubs remembered...even what we ordered at the different restaurants! We took a late night walk on the beach. We laughed a lot. We watched a great movie. We slept in. We talked about our future. We drank coffee.

But more than anything, we just enjoyed being together. What we love best.

No Shadow of Turning

Well, we've made it. Past the wonderfully exciting, yet emotionally draining, first years. Past the hard five-seven year hump. Past the endless diapers and sleepless nights. And here we are. 10 years later.

The things that speak of our love for each other now are not found in big bouquets or "perfect" moments. Instead, they are found in the simple things...

our morning coffee mugs ready and waiting for us to start another day together

our hands overlapping for a few minutes here and there throughout the day

early morning snuggle sessions with each other

I know I mentioned this hymn the other day, but lately I've found myself singing it more often. One reason why we asked to have this hymn at our wedding was because of how true the words would be in our lives together. As we stood 10 years ago, holding hands in the front of a church, we didn't know exactly how we would see God's faithfulness, but we knew we would have no other hope but to trust in Him.

We have struggled before and will again. We have laughed until we cried many times. We have fought. I have yelled (not him so much). We have barely made it financially more than once or twice. We have loved and we have failed to love. We have journeyed through many days, and will continue on as long as we're alive.

Our marriage is standing strong, admist the storms that life would throw at us. But it's all because He is faithful to uphold our union. He is able to carry us through it all. And we will see how Great His Faithfulness is forever and ever. We will have "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!"

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

You Like Tomaetos and I Like Tomatos

This past weekend, we had fun celebrating Randy being the awesome Dad he is to our two kids. But along with everyone, we're pinching pennies these days, and so we didn't really have an actual gift picked out for him. I tried to think about what things we might like to do together...that don't cost money. And things that I could make...hmmm...

One thing that's funny about my Randy and I is that we are total opposites. Most people after they've been around us a little will ask, "How in the world did you two end up together!?" He's a thinker, I'm a talker. I love being around people, and it kind of stresses him out. He's quiet, and I'm ...we'll you know the answer to that. And even though we do like many of the same things, most of our favorite foods are very different. I like cream sauces, he like's red sauces. I like comfort food, he likes raw veggies...all the time. I love steak, and he can do without. I like chocolate pie, he'd prefer apple. He's big into beans and veggies and I'm more of the bread and butter kind a girl. And the list goes on. So, taking my Mom's advice (AGAIN) that "homemade presents are the best presents" and I decided that my gift to him would be making his favorites for the weekend.

I started out with a black bean dip. Then made some hummus. Then, his all time favorite, that I could care less about...vegetable soup. He's had like five bowls already. We had a big Sunday brunch after we got home from church. And then we finished with presenting the cake that as Asher said...."It's GEEEN!!" River had to decorate the top with a "family" of strawberries. The big one in the middle is Daddy.

Even though my sweetie and I are completely different, there's no one I'd rather be raising a family with, and spending my life with. I'm so thankful for how God made him...even though I still would rather have made a chocolate Ganache cake than a Watergate cake. But I have to say, it turned out pretty yummy. Now go check out all those other make-you-laugh-make-you-cry stories over at Chatting At the Sky!

More After Shots...

We really had a great time at the beach. When we finally got home and all unpacked, we decided to take a couple after shots.

Red Roosters and Antique Stores...Just the Thing I Needed

As I come to know myself more, I learn that there are somethings that I just can't get away from. Take for instance my love affair with the color red. The other day, I was in my room (which for many months has been the catch all room for some reason) and I noticed that I had not one, not two, not three, BUT FOUR lamps with red lampshades. They weren't supposed to all be in there, and weren't even all plugged in. But just to give you the picture, of how much I love the color red. Which is pretty funny because for the longest time I didn't. But then, the week before I graduated college, my friend, Blair and I went dress shopping, and I couldn't take my eyes off the red dresses. But, I tried to ignore it, because, you know, I didn't like red...especially not ON me. After holding it up and being told how great it would look, I eventually got talked into trying the red dresses on, and one thing lead to another, and well, here we are. With four red lamps in my room. I took two out, mind you, and tidied up a bit. Much better with only two, and with my window mistreatments finished after two years of only having half of it done.

After Randy and I had a wonderful night at The Baird House, which is a beautifully restored 1790 Farm House, we ate a delicious country breakfast (she must have known French Toast was my favorite), roamed around by the Watauga River for a bit, and then had a blast going shopping together without our two kids. We always like going to the Mast General Store because it's just such a fun place with lots of different things from shoes, to candy by the barrel, to vintage toys, home decor, to regular food on the shelves. So, I immediately fell in love with this huge red rooster, and it's now making quite a scene in my kitchen. Thus, the other thing that I'm coming to realize more and more. I definitely have some of my country roots left in me. I've never described my style as country. I think my Mom's farm animal trinkets left a bad taste in my mouth. But as I grow more into what my style is, I definitely see how much I love the cottage feel. And I don't mind saying "French Cottage" one bit. But, come on, who are we kidding. French Cottage IS country. So even though I won't ever hang ceramic white and blue cows in my windows, I do have a big red rooster waking me up every morning. I'm just glad it's not this one.

We also went to a few antique stores and boutiques in the Boone / Blowing Rock area. I love going to antique stores - not the ones that are totally overpriced and leave you feeling deflated. But the ones that you can find things for a deal and enjoy giving this old item a new life in your home. I feel like they have a story of their own, and could tell me many secrets of old, if only they could speak. There's something so fun and nostalgic about finding history in pieces of furniture or accessories. Probably why I can't walk away from vintage hats and shoes when I find them at Salvation Army. So, anyway, I found some great deals on some vintage trays and fabric, which later inspired me to make these cute aprons...

I haven't taken the time to make things for a while, so being inspired by all the beauty of Valley Crucis and the creativity of Blowing Rock was a nice boost. I definitely couldn't afford all the fancies of the boutiques, but I did come home and make a few things to add to our shop. Any little girls in need of a tutu?

I think these are the cutest ever, and I've been wanting to make some for a while. All it takes is just a little time and inspiration...and staying up WAYYY past my bedtime. ;)

We ended our time eating a fabulous dinner at The Bistro in Boone and headed back home to our babies. We loved having time for just the two of us. It is so needed in the rush of life and two children, to just take time to dream a little and to truly celebrate this life that the Lord has given us to share. I can't imagine a more perfect get away....well...maybe for our 10th next year, I could. France or Italy, maybe? Yeah, baby!!!

We've Come A Long Way, Baby

Today's our anniversary. NINE YEARS! I can't wait, because we're going away for a night together this weekend, but that's not till tomorrow. My man knows me well, and knows how I love to celebrate. So, it started at 12:01am this morning. He came over to me where I was on the couch and kissed me and said, "Happy Anniversary, Baby. It's 12:01." And then this morning when I first woke up and went into the bathroom, he said it again, and gave me a big hug. Then I walked into the kitchen and found these fun surprises.

He said, in his sweet sexy morning voice, "I wanted to make sure we celebrated a little on our actual day." And I'm left all weak in the knees with a big 'ol smile across my face.

Now, nine years ago, this would have been the scenario. I would have woke up wanting to hear those sweet words or see the flowers that he had secretly gotten and placed in a vase on the table, but would not have said anything about it. Then, I would have been kind of sad and disappointed that he hadn't done that. But, of course I wouldn't want to make him feel bad for NOT doing that, and so, again, would have not said anything. Then by the end of the day, if there were no plans to eat out or do anything special (mind you, we would have done that when we "celebrated over the weekend") I would have acted mad about something and gotten kind of quiet and irritated. And that would hopefully lead to him finally asking, "Baby, are you doing okay?" And then I would have burst into tears saying something like, "I know we're celebrating our anniversary this weekend, but it doesn't even feel like it's today!" I would look up and find a blank look of utter confusion.

We've come a long way in nine years. I can't believe it's been 9 years since I first knew how wonderful marriage to my husband would be. Nine years since I wore my long flowing white silk dress, nine years since I saw a tear in my dad's eye when he first laid eyes on me, nine years since I walked that long aisle, nine years from when I saw my sweet mama sitting on the front row like a little girl ready to open Christmas presents. Nine years since I said the words "I do." Nine years filled with tremendous joy and tremendous sorrow. Nine years filled with changes and challenges. Nine years of figuring out how to lay down our own pride and to love with Christ's love. Nine years of life....abundant life.

I remember one of our pastors said to Randy just before we got married, "If I had known how wonderful marriage would be, I wouldn't have been so scared!"

And it has been wonderful. But there have also been valleys that we have walked through, and valleys that I know the Lord carried us through to bring us this far. Without His grace and love, we would not be in the place where we are now. We both feel more in love now than ever. We both still can't wait to get to see each other at the end of the day. We love sitting and catching up after the kids go down. We love being able to care for our children together. We love living this life together. I'm so thankful to have been blessed with nine years. And even though I love seeing wedding gowns and cakes, and beautiful wedding pictures, and sometimes I even say, "I want to get married again!" But, really, I'm so glad to be where we are now.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love Him?

Have I told you lately how much I love my husband? He's wonderful. He comes home from a hard days work, and what he wants to do more than anything is to be with me and the two little ones. He loves finding out what it is that I like, and then helping me to have that - whether it's making something, or rearranging furniture until 1am (which we did not do tonight), or making me a cup of hot tea to help me wind down at the end of the day. He loves to love me. And he loves me well. And I could not be more grateful.

I remember telling my dad about him when we were seriously dating. I said to my dad, "He really loves me a lot." And it was like this newfound understanding of being loved by someone the way God intends us to be loved by our husbands. The way that he continually lays down his life day after day to show me selfless and sacrificial love, is something that is truly a gift from God. I know that he's not perfect, and he does track mud through the house sometimes (haha). But he has always shown me what it means for "Husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." I never really understood what that kind of love would look like from a husband until I knew him.

He's the reason you get to hear all these fun songs now. He knew that I would never spend the time to figure out how to get a "play list" on my blog, but he also knows how much I love music. So, he spent some minutes sitting down at the computer, fiddling around until he figured it out. Then he showed me how to do it (because you know, I'm an imbecile when it comes to these things), and now you know why I'm still up. But there's a lot of music. I've only picked out 66 of my 100 songs, but I figure I better hit the hay.