Notice the MANY blessings

"Love is of God." 1 John 4:7 
Chris and I started a devotional for couples, what a neat idea-- we've really enjoyed it.  It's given us the opportunity to read and talk about things we wouldn't necessarily talk about...or ask eachother.  It's really made us think at times.  The first reading was from 1 John.  It talked about how many people believe in "love at first sight" but yet marriage is much more than an emotional attachment or sexual attraction.  True love is reflected only when couples begin to develop appreciation and admiration for one another-- an awareness of the other's needs, strengths and character.  From there it's suppose to grow over a lifetime...I can't even begin to imagine or comprehend a lifetime...that's a LONG time.  Makes me excited and anxious at times.

With that said, I've really been praying and working on appreciating today.  I tend to get so excited about tomorrow and our future and very often forget to stop, listen and take a look at the incredible things happening in and around our lives right now. 

So allow me to update you on the <MANY> blessing showering our lives within the past few days...

Sunday we relaxed with Sharon & John at Music in the Park with live clogging music and dancers...and a BEAUTIFUL sunset!  Ahhhh what a great way to relax and get ready for another week.

 

We couldn't quite get it right, but always seem to have a good time :o)

Chris and I are so excited and honored to be Mason's God Parents!  The reality of it is something to really think about but the fun of it is we now have more reason to spoil our new baby nephew :o) 

Chris took his ENTIRE day off and continued to fixed his car this week.  Let him help me tell you everything he did yesterday-- he fixed the shocks, tie rod ends, ball joints, brakes, sway bar mounting bolts and bushings.  Let's just say he has saved us A LOT of $$ by taking his multiple days off and fixing his car.  Today during work he had a break and was able to get his wheels aligned.  We rode it around tonight and it rides just like new!  We hope the repairs will save us some money in the long run by allowing us to drive his car for a little bit longer...we really don't want toi get a newer car anytime soon!

So after keeping busy every evening of this week Chris and I slowed down tonight and enjoyed a yummy dinner on our porch as it rained...I LOVE sitting on our porch listening to it rain.

MMmMmmm!  Breakfast for dinner.  We had an omlet with mushrooms, green peppers, onion, a little feta and salsa, an English muffin wih homemade (I made it!) strawberry jam and OJ.

Finally, I can't help but SMILE big when I see sunflowers!  Someone brought in a huge bucket of flowers at work today for everyone, how nice!  There's something about fresh flowers I love.

I hope your week is going well.  Remember to see the good and notice the <MANY> little blessings along the way!

Nothing quite like my Jersey girls.

Roadtrip!  On Friday afternoon I fueled up (in more ways than 1) and was on my way to Charlottesville, VA. 

Dunkin has $0.99 for ANY size iced tea so I picked up a unsweet tea with peach MMmMMmmMM!

God knows I didn't need a LARGE but it was the same price and lasted the ENTIRE 5 hr drive! It was beautiful and I was SUPER excited to get away and enjoy the wind in my hair and HUGE fluffy clouds and open roads...

The ride started out making very good time.  I had 4 hours between me and Charlottesville, VA

until I-95 was a parking-lot for about an hour...

ohhhh well, tried to make the most of it.  It was beautiful outside!  The least I could do was sing along and enjoy the ride.  A little over 5 hours later I made it to Krista & Brandon's new place.  Friday night we made chicken fajitas, chatted, chatted and chatted some more :o)  Then Krista and I made a late night trip to Sweet Frog a local yogurt place in Charlottesville, VA.  Let me just add I LOVE that city! For real.  Research it.  It's an AWESOME

place and my best friend lives there which is always nice!

Next morning we woke up early to head on our way to Baltimore to meet KATIE!!!! YAHOOOO I hadn't seen her in at least 2 years.  We stopped at this really neat place called Bodo Bagel (I think..?)  It was yummy.  Usually I can't eat bagels b/c they are too tough for my TMJ but Bodo's bagels are so frech they are HOT and SOFT...MMmMMMmm I had a sesame bagel with peanut butter, it was amazzzzing!

Now we were ready to go...

Our driver and his side-kick :o)

Me in the back! 

We were SO excited we couldn't hardly stand ourselves.  We got to Baltimore and waited for Katie's arrival...YAHOOOOOO!!!!!

It was so good to see Katie.  We got to catch up and travel around the Inner Baltimore Harbor.  It was fun during the day...and creepy when it got dark.  We ate Rita's before dinner, sure wish Greenville had a Rita's Italian Ice.

I can't remember the name of the place we ate at for dinner at the Inner Harbor.  I had a crab cake sandwich MMMMMMmmmmM!!!

That night we chatted and chatted and chatted some more and enjoyed some sleep after a long day.

I already miss you girls so much. There's no frienship quite like a 10+ year friendship. Like Katie said it was so fun to be able to just chat and know that we already know most about eachother and "just get" eachother.  I can't wait to see you girls again. Wish we could fly to Singapore to visit Katie & Tom but I think a trip to Charlottesville is much more likely :o)



Good Sunday Morning!

Ohhhhh what a glorious day!  4 months and 2 days ago I married my best friend.  It's been an amazing journey to live and learn, and as we say, "do life" together.  This morning my husband left me the sweetest note...

I also thank God for being able to live and learn with Christopher each and every day.  He always has a way of smiling (no matter what) and as they said at Chris & Anna Smith's wedding yesterday..."it's contageous!"  I am in complete awe of how incredibly BLESSED we are...and am still in awe I got to marry my BEST friend.  He always tells me he's a lucky man-- but I think I got the better deal--

My husband loves Jesus...is the BEST message therapist...is ALWAYS smiling...a talented Yoga Instructor...Bass jammer...adventorous cook AND baker...car fixer...laundry doer...and helps me to see the glass overflowing with awesome opportunites to make the most of our life together :o) 

I am still learning and continue to learn but can most definately say, I love him.  Like we said yesterday in Chris & Anna Smith's Advice Book, "Hey, you gotta start somewhere!"  We may have not been married long but most definately give God all the Glory and Honor for our existance and find our JOY in knowing there is a gracious God who ALREADY has our entire story planned.