Important Conversations

As a kid, I was told, "God knows what is going to happen - He planned it all! He just knows. God knows what you're thinking."

So, naturally, as a kid, I thought to myself, "Ok, then why pray? If He already knows..."

I still fail to pray as regularly as I should. I fall short of giving God all of my time. I am constantly reminding myself that my time is ultimately His time. And a relationship does not flourish with the absence of words. Therefore, I need to speak with God more often than I do and it is a daily challenge, when it really shouldn't be a challenge - it should come naturally to me. I'm working on that!

Daniel is great about keeping me accountable to praying before we eat, or praying when there is something weighing on my mind. I am forever grateful to have Daniel there to keep my head on straight and for keeping my eyes fixed upon God! Daniel provides me with things far greater than any materialistic things can provide to me!! In the moments that he brings me coffee or picks me flowers from our yard, I am grateful for the romance he provides in my life. But I appreciate the spiritual gifts he gives me far more!! A relationship without would be a voluntary death...

I am forever grateful for this man of God that provides for me more than any riches or things ever could! I do not deserve this great gift. This husband of mine! <3

And, of course, I just have to include my all time favorite picture of prayer!! It just so happens to be Daniel and I... ;)

It's about time...

Daniel and I started dating late July last year...Nope, I don't remember the exact date. Never-the-less, it was a Thursday. The following Saturday, I went over to his parent's house to hang out with him and friends. It was only the second time I had met his parents. In the initial "introductions", we were standing in his parent's foyer, talking about their dog, Skippy.

He's so cute and cuddly!!

This is where I tell you about the word "ornery"...

The word was introduced to me at a very young age, because, let's be honest, it is how my parents describe me quite often! ;)

I had used the word in previous conversations with various individuals, most of whom were not familiar with the word! How that happens, I don't even know...

Back to Skippy and standing in the Potter's foyer...Mrs. Potter mentioned that they taught Skippy how to ring the bell when he wanted to go outside. Adorable right?!?!

So I continued the conversation with an inquiry regarding Daniel and what I knew of him yet. I asked, "So was Daniel ever ornery and ring the bell to make you think it was Skippy?!" Daniel's expression was blank, so I looked at him and asked "Do you know what that word means?" He was speechless and I believe he was laughing on the inside. The kind of laugh that includes the thoughts, "PSH! 'Do I know what that word means?' HAH!" "Does she even know who I am?" "Who does she think she is?"

He couldn't believe I asked him that! As a man of his intellect, he was not insulted, thank goodness, because we probably wouldn't be here right now (hah!), but he was surprised! His vocabulary is larger than most and that is something he is aware of, so for me to wonder if he knew of that word, "ornery", was a personal joke for him!

And that is why we will use the word and then follow it with "Oh, I'm sorry! Do you know what that word means??"

I have a few pet peeves!

A few? Ok, maybe a lot!! And Daniel finds so much enjoyment out of annoying every. single. one. of them. It is one of the many joys of living with your best friend! :) Seriously! It keeps me laughing every day! It is truly a joy!!

So.

I cannot stand slobber. I know, I can hear all the mother's now - "Oh honey! Just wait until you have kids!!" Yes, I know. Kids are gross and slobbery and messy. Well, so is my husband, so there's no need to have a kid right now when I already have one! ;) Just kidding...but really, Daniel slobbers on me all the time. Just to be ornery. Here, he was kissing my cheek for the picture. I thought it was sweet...then he licked me. Not so sweet after all, Daniel! >_<

Walking around the house, I see little things that irk my OCD ticks...these are a few of my least favorite things! (Sound Of Music reference for my Mommy ;) S/O) Yes, that is both closet doors not fully shut, a drawer not fully shut, and the dishwashing soap container left open...there are other things, these are just the ones I have pictures of ;P

This was yet another ornery incident from him...he put bbq sauce on his lips and then attacked my face when I thought he was leaning in for a kiss! Gross...

Now, it may appear that I'm picking on my husband for annoying me, but let me assure you, these are all things that I do not mind "fixing" (haha) and they are things that I smile at every time I see them! He annoys my ticks but it makes me laugh every time. Who knows, many years from now, I'll probably roll my eyes when I have to fix these little things around the house, but for now, I laugh, smile, and remember how blessed I am that I love and live with my best friend!! It makes my heart smile and it is such a great feeling!

Popular inquiries pt. 2

We get asked a lot of questions. Being in a new place, having moved away... -they just come from all sides! It's awesome - I love question-and-answer conversations :)

Along with all the great questions we get, we also get the question, "So where are you living now?" Answer, Fort Hood, Texas. It's about an hour North of Austin. (If I'm driving... but add forty-five minutes to that if Daniel is driving! ;P)

That answer then leads into the following conversation:

"OH! Fort Hood!!

That's where that shooting happened!!

Have you heard anything?

What's happening with the trial?

What jail is he in?

Where is he from?
Have you ever seen him?

What does he look like?"

That is what Fort Hood is known for, I guess! I can honestly say, I know nothing about it. But I just found this article yesterday. Pretty interesting and yet so heartbreaking for the families that lost loved ones due to this mad man's actions! I cannot imagine how frustrated the families must be that the defense attorneys have continued to delay the trial!

So, there you have it. We live in Fort Hood. Where a crazy man killed 13 innocent people.

I had never even heard of this trial until Daniel got stationed here. But it is what a lot of people think of when they hear "Fort Hood."

Caught ya!

I understand that I sleep heavily. However, Daniel finds it necessary to show me through pictures! O.o

The other morning, Daniel walked in and found me sleeping like this. I had woken up earlier, went to reset my alarm but fell back asleep in the process. So this is what that looked like... and Daniel caught a picture of it! >_<

Then, the next morning, before Daniel left for PT, he chose to use my phone and take this picture. He said I was sleeping funny and he had to get a picture to show me! He didn't have the chance to show me because I found the picture before he could. I look...well you know.

...

this is my husband's love for me
<3

Popular inquiries pt. 1

"What is the best part about being married?"

We get asked a lot of questions. Being in a new place, having moved away... - they just come from all sides! It's awesome - I love question-and-answer conversations :)

I can't put one aspect of marriage into the category of "best". There are too many "best parts" about being married to Daniel!

To name a few, just off the top of my head:

-It is a great day, every day! Even if there is a disagreement, it is still a day spent waking up next to my best friend and falling asleep holding his hand.

-There is a future. It is there and it is seen. It is not definite and it is not completely planned out. But it consists of him and me, together. And that future is something that can be scary but so exciting, at the same time! In middle school, they would say, "You have a future!" In a middle school girl's mind, that 'future' is high school and being out of the awkward stage. In high school, they would say, "You have a future to work toward!" In this high school girl's mind, that 'future' was college and being on my own, with no one around, being completely independent and loving it! In college, they said, "You only have a future if you pass this test and walk at graduation!" In this college girl's mind, that 'future' was limitless. It was full of open doors and fear of the unknown was absent. It was full of opportunities from all over! It included, but was never limited to, marriage. So, for marriage to fall privy to first place is surprising. It was not what I saw for my future, but it was what I saw when I was in middle school, what I wanted in high school, and what I lost sight of, but yet daydreamed of, in college. And in college, I was unsure of what I was going to be set on, but I was sure it was going to be something great! I wasn't afraid of running out of options and I wasn't afraid of being alone. I had the future, in my hands, and I was independent. But the future I have now is even greater!! I will never be alone. I am a dependent. And my hands are now in Daniel's hands. I've never seen better than what I have now. The future we see for us now has everything I ever really wanted, but didn't know.

-I love the feeling of being wanted! Daniel wants me and he wants to be with me as much as possible. That shows so much love towards me and it makes me feel more than just another body in the house, or just a woman to call "wife". And I want him just as much!

-Everything is "we", "us", "our"... that took some getting used to, but it is a great feeling! :) We vowed away our "mine" and "me" rights on our wedding day!...actually, October 4th, the day we got engaged!! ;)

-I have a consistent accoutability partner. On any given day, whether it be busy or lazy, we remember to keep each other accountable to picking up our bibles and saying our prayers before bed. We fail to remember every single day, but we have eachother to get back on track. We give each other the accountability to read on our own and to read together! We have discussions on what we've read and those times are so beneficial because it allows us to learn about scripture and about eachother! <3

Texas rodeo

This weekend is a four day weekend thanks to Memorial Day! :) So Thursday night, we went to the local rodeo.

Lots of horses, cattle, and cowboy hats.

Fun time to just get out of the house together, get a snow cone, and feel like young kids in love :)

Then the sky let loose as we were on our way home, and the storm lasted until the next day. The weather was "nasty", but the sky looked cool!