HUSBAND + DATE + ULTA = BAD IDEA

Going to Ulta with your husband is never a good idea. 

They just don't understand. 

They just don't get it.

"$19.99 for hairspray? Can't you find something cheaper?"

"No. I need this one."

I'm typically the "buy it and don't tell," type. But we live far away from stores big city folk take for granted. So on this particular night the opportunity became available for me to pick up some much needed essentials. One problem, I was on a date with my love. 

Ulta is right next door to a bike store. I thought, perfect, he can keep himself occupied with lots of things with wheels and he won't be lurking behind me as I look at all the awesome new products I just might need! 

I was in the hairspray isle and I heard it. "Linsey." What?! How could he be done that quickly? I thought I at least had twenty minutes. My basket isn't even that full yet. "Hi, babe, what happened, I thought you were checking out the bike store?" 

"Yup, I pretty much saw what they had to offer." 

"Oh."

Great, now I found myself shopping for overpriced hair essentials with my bald (by choice) husband. 

I was still good though, he was looking around and wasn't paying attention to the prices below the products... yet. I was doing my best to just move it along and not really bring up conversation about the task that was at hand. "So what was your favorite bike over there? What were you thinking for dinner? You look really handsome tonight!" I would of rather been self-absorbed with all the glorious concoctions in front of me and daydream of how they are going to make me look gorgeous, but now my priority in my present situation had changed. Distract the husband was on the forefront of my mind. 

Then I felt something change. His patience started to get the best of him. I'm sure his growling stomach wasn't helping the situation. He started to notice his surroundings in greater detail. I was seeing him start to stare at price tags. Oh goodness! Then I heard him from the next isle over, "What!? $64.99 for a curling iron?"

I stayed quiet. I didn't point out that, in fact, it wasn't a curling iron, and it actually was top of the line.  I held back the need to correct him for the sake of keeping my secret, a secret.  I also made sure the rest of my treasures where covering up that same curling iron waver he had noticed, so it wasn't obvious that it was in my basket.

Now he was curious. Now he wanted to know what I was buying. And now I knew it was time to go. 

What was I going to do with him at checkout?

He's too involved, he's too curious, I made a big mistake in taking as long as I did and letting his patience get the best of him. Now the cat was out of the bag. 

He had huge smirk on his face and he wasn't going to leave my side without seeing exactly what I was buying and how much I was spending. When he heard the total, he just laughed. He quietly turned around all dramatic like and let out the biggest noiseless laugh I have ever seen. 

"What is in that stuff that you would pay $33 for jar of it, whale tusks?"

I then unveiled to him the reality of the situation. "I've been doing this for years honey, I've just never taken you along."

"You can never get mad at me again for buying books."

"Deal."

Week Three of Project 52: Inspiration

Week three of "Project 52," take a picture a week for one year! Each week there is a theme posted that you can use or you can just take a picture that represents your week and explain why. It's a way to grow, document the year, and collaborate with a wonderful group of photographers! If you would like to join us you can check out the information here. Sarah, at My Four Hens Photography, is heading it up. Here is the link to the flickr group if you would like to jump in on the fun! 

Here is the link to my flickr project! 

inspiration

week 3

I think this week was so hard for me because I am inspired by so many things, narrowing it down became difficult and trying to capture that in one frame was also challenging.

When I think of inspiration a phrase comes to mind, “success through adversity.”

There are so many things in this life that inspire us to keep going and make it through the challenges, to succeed even though times are tough. For me inspiration comes through being challenged, the big and the small trials. Inspiration is the breath that gives us strength to overcome.

A form of inspiration for me is music; it defines my day, my memories, and my seasons in life.

We are going through a challenging time right now in our family but this image embodies inspiration to me. My family, all together, full of joy, dancing around the living room while daddy plays music! 

Feeding the Fire With a Mixed Tape

A story doesn't just happen; a story unfolds. The choices we make along the way determine our path, and even then we only see what's right in front of us. The companions we choose to accompany us on our journey is what makes our story. They are there to keep us moving when we don't want to take one more step. They are there to encourage us when we fall and then offer a hand to help us up. They distract us with wonderful moments of happiness when our focus becomes tainted and gloomy. I would never want to walk this life alone and I am so blessed that I don't have to. I have been given a beautiful gift and I will always cherish it. Thank you God for my loving husband, my best friend, my companion in life.

Is it an easy journey? Heck no!

Mariage is tough. I can't tell you why two first-born, stubborn-headed, crazy-freaks work, but somehow we do. I don't have a magical answer, a big revelation, a go-to method of how marriage is supposed to be, but I do know our story and what works for us. We know how to laugh together and we know how to cry together. We know how to fight and we know how to make things right. We can be silly and we can be serious. We talk. We make-time for each other and we take-time away from each other. We are honest. We fail and we are okay with that...when it comes to realizing our humanity. We fail and we don't settle for it...we strive to be better. We take time to show our love in the small things. A kiss, an affirmation, a selfless act of kindess when you don't feel like it, an "I'm sorry."

It's always a good idea to make a mixed tape cd for your wife who is waiting in the car pissed at you. The CD goes in, the smile creeps up and before you know it she is allowing you to use your charm once again. You have taken her out of her mood long enough to say "I'm sorry."

It's the small moments, the day-to-day affirmations that keep us confident in love. For the fire to stay alive, you have to feed it.

I don't know what lies ahead for us, but I do know that hand-in-hand the journey will be great. The end of our story is a mystery and I think that's what makes it so beautiful!

I love you babe, here's to the next twelve years! I love you and thank you for my mixed tape cd!

Selfishness: A Lonely Place

I was confronted this week with a person I hadn't seen in awhile. I was confronted with a different side of myself that I didn't like. It scared me and made me stop and think...stop and cry. Sometimes life has a way of hitting me square between the eyes, giving me a much needed wake-up call.


I'm typically the person that likes to look at my glass as being half-full. A person that always "finds the penny in the pile of poo," as my mom would say. But I wasn't that person at all. A Negative Nellie, a Debbie Downer, a Moody Margaret (I just made that last one up in case you hadn't noticed) would better describe me.


All that negativity put me in a state of depression. Little things the kids would do instantly set me off. Erik would just look at me and I would loose it. I was finding myself angry all the time. At what? Nothing.


I have a God that cares about me. I have an incredible family that loves me. I am surrounded by the most amazing people in my life. I live in a gorgeous place and I am constantly confronted with blessing. But if I am not willing to recognize those blessings then my world becomes very dark.


I was blinded by circumstances; not willing to see the love around me and living in a state of complete selfishness. It's a nasty place...dark, scary, lonely.


I know that God takes us down into the valley so we can appreciate the mountain top and so for that I am thankful. I am also thankful for a husband who is so willing to stick by me through everything life brings; the good, the bad and the in-between.


It was Sunday morning and we were sitting at our computers. I was in my office and he was on the couch. We had already had a discussion at length about everything, but he knew I needed some space. So he sent me an email and then watched me cry at my desk.


Honey,

I love you very much. I know you are a wonderful mommy and you deserve to hear it. Not to mention, you're a wonderful spouse, friend, lover, buddy, sweetie-girl. I wish you could see how everyone else sees you. That's the main reason I want to write this to you. We tease each other a lot and I think the reality of who you are gets lost in the playing. I want to take a step back and thank God for everything you are to me.

You are a passionate love. You brighten up the room with your smile and when you come home to me I feel like the house becomes a home. You are the hardest worker I know and you inspire me to be a better person. You care for other people so much that sometimes it challenges me but caring is always the right thing to do. I love to relax with you in the cool breeze on the deck when we have coffee and laugh. I love to drive to town with you on a date and not feel like listening to music because I would rather listen to you. I like to look at you when you are not paying attention and daydream of your beauty. I like to watch you come out of the bedroom when you wake up late and stretch your eyes to wake up. I love to listen to you become excited about your photo-shoots and rave about your camera equipment. I like reading your blogs because I get to giggle at your quirky personality without embarrassing you. I love your quirkiness because it's like the dessert of my life. I like watching the tables turn in our lives because it shows me how similar we are. I think the best things about our kids are the ways they are most like you. There are so many ways I wish I could be more like you. Know that you are loved deeply and forever. Thanks for doing me the honor of being my wife and loving me back even when it is hard to do.

Love,

Beebs

Reel Big Fish and Vanilla Ice All in One Night

We love our date night in's...we really do. Especially when that is all we have the time, money, and energy for. But, when we get the chance to escape, you couldn't see two people more thrilled to leave...together...kidless!

A little history — Reel Big Fish has been the background music accompanying many of our memories. Ska was introduced to me by Erik and I have been smitten ever since. It might have a little to with the fact that I was falling in love while the heart-pumping music was playing from the cd player as we rode around in the 85' gray Honda hatchback. It was probably his tactic all along. Play music that's going to get her heart racing and get the girl to instantly fall in love with you. 

Hmmm...oh well, if it worked, it worked! I love the guy and I love the music!

Skank- a steady-paced dance performed to reggae music, characterized by rhythmically bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands palms-downward.  

If you think you can't dance, then just start listening to ska and pick-up skanking. Anyone can dance... well, skank at least. 

So, we heard Reel Big Fish was coming to Denver and it was a no-brainer. We had to go. We booked a babysitter a few months in advance and purchased our tickets. 

It is so great to go on a date that doesn't consist of dinner and a movie. Don't get me wrong, I love dinner and a movie, but it's so nice to mix it up once an awhile. 

So, here we are in a topless Jeep on a beautiful night. The wind is in our hair, well mine, and the music is blasting. What are we listening to? You would think ska by the nature of this post. Nope. I am all of a sudden being serenaded by my guy who is singing to every word of Vanilla Ice's song, "Ice, Ice Baby". Sounds sexy doesn't it? 

Listening to ska on the way to a ska concert is not a requirement. Apparently. I will have to agree with you though, I can't say many other people attending the Reel Big Fish concert would have Vanilla Ice playing from their speakers on the way there. But, it's all good!

Here's to concert date nights and keeping the memory alive! Yo Vanilla! Kick it one time Boyee!!

Hand Modeling, Date Night & Mega Mind

Date night is a state of mind.

Sure, it's fantastic to hire a babysitter, leave the house and explore the world out there without four needy children in tow. Actually, I think it's a must for all parents! But, if you are like us and have been taking advantage of this wonderful concept of leaving your children with a responsible teenager a little to often, then you know it adds up quick. After the monthly tally of nights out starts to get high and we realize how much we have spent, we don't give up on our time alone, we get creative! We are selfish. Date night out isn't enough. We also like to have a few date night in's.

Like I said, date night is a state of mind!

We are blessed to have a wonderful downstairs area in our house that allows us to say phrases like, "You're driving me crazy, everyone downstairs. Now!" Phrases like that tend to leave my mouth between the hairy hours of 4 and 6. All you parents know of the "hairy hours." Why the heck is everyone in such a horrible mood between the hours of 4 and 6?

"You had a nap, I gave you a snack, you have more toys to play with than you should, and the darn t.v. is on. What is your problem? Snap out of it!"

So after a loud (okay screaming level), "Enough. Get downstairs. I can't take it anymore!" I quickly follow it with a quiet, sweet, soft sing-song voice saying something like, "you will have fun using your imagination! I'll call you up as soon as dinner is ready, love you! " I'm hoping that the later phrase will be the one that sticks in their mind years down the road and not the former freaked out mom yelling in her high-octave voice. The odds are they are bound to remember a few, but best to limit them as much as possible!

Saturday was going great. Beautiful weather, relaxing, enjoyable. We got a late start, which we love. Slept in, had a nice big breakfast and then headed to Denver. We had some errands to run, but more than anything it was nice to get out. It was nice for about three hours. Then the kids were getting antsy, tired, hungry. They began fighting, yelling, hitting, and protesting about being in their seats any longer. After they got over their frustration caused by being shut up in the car for hours on end, they decided it would be a good idea to unite together in song. On the third round of jingle bells, Erik and I looked at each other and said, "date night!"

After that, it was very easy to drown out the noise in the backseat. We were focused on the night that was ahead. We started planning! Elaborate steak dinner that we would prepare together in peace and quiet. Dessert. Movie. Wine. The perfect night in!

We break the news to the kids. We go about it in a very manipulative enthusiastic way. "Guess what kids, you get to have a movie night! We are going to buy you a new movie, you get to have pizza and popcorn and your very own bottle of juice!"

We understand that the years of excitement over this kind of party are soon coming to an end. A bottle of juice will get us the "are you kidding me," look. And we will no longer be able to get off that cheap.

Making water the only drinking option in our house is not only for health purposes. It's so we have a bribe in our pockets at all times. We are very aware of sugar's highly addictive properties and in certain situations it lends itself to some amazing benefits. "Juice, juice, who wants juice? Okay then, but you have to stay in the basement the whole night!"

The popcorn was popped, the movie went on, the rules of the night were implemented and the gate went up!

For those of you that want to judge us right now, you might be in need of a date night!

They have food, shelter, bathroom facilities, entertainment and a fierce guard dog. We have no guilt.

Okay, so we were interrupted a few times during our date, but again it's a state of mind. We quickly tended to the need and then pretended like it never happened.

Just because I don't love to cook doesn't mean I can't. Cooking all a sudden becomes a fun, exciting, joyous adventure instead of daunting task.

Yes, we cooked enough food to feed an army. We were excited. We went a little overboard.

The stuffing for the mushrooms

My favorite way to eat broccoli, roasted!

Extra garlicky

Ceaser salad

Juicy, fatty, amazing steak

One of the things I really dislike is cutting onions. It's just painful. But, I came up with a solution. I keep these babies in my knife drawer.

I know it's geeky

But, it totally works. See, no tears!

Date night is always an option if you get creative!

Love Story Part II

Our story continued....

After lunch we headed to the park across the street.   At this point much flirting was going on and the butterflies were swarming.  I remember this scene like something out of a movie. Mushy. Romantic. Giddy love.

We went to the swings first and then made our away around the playground equipment,  being silly and shy at the same time.   A picnic table that sat under a tree, was our last stop.  We sat across from each other.  He asked if he could hold my hand.  So there we sat talking, while we held hands for the first time.

We talked for awhile and then he said the famous words that will always play in my head, "do you want me to keep talking, or can I shut up and kiss you?"

I had never kissed a boy before and this request came out of nowhere.  I recoiled my hands from his and then laid my head on the picnic table.  I started saying, "nervous, nervous," like some idiot.  I didn't know what to do.  He asked me why I was so nervous and so I told him that I had never kissed a boy before.  He said, "it's easy."

Then, just like in the movies, we kissed for the first time.  It was all fireworks, and I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was time to get me back before school ended because my mom was picking me up that day.  I had to be at our meeting spot on time.   We held hands as we walked back to the car, and the whole way as we drove back to school.

We didn't have any official, "will you go out with me" discussion, it just all started with that kiss. From that moment on, we were together.  The date was October 30th, 1997 and we married on October 30th, 1999, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I was in such a fog, I sort of didn't know what had happened that day.  That morning I was just excited because I was finally going to lunch with him, after waiting so long for him to ask me.  Now, talk about fast forward mode! He might of played it cool and waited two weeks to ask me to lunch, but he sure made up for that time in a matter of minutes.  That night I was able to sort it all out.  I had a boyfriend.  Now how to tell my mom! We did have this sort of rule that I wasn't to date until I was 16.  I had just turned 15 that month.   I waited a few weeks and for the right moment.  I invited Erik over and she to was instantly smitten.  She loved him!

Now, talk about making up for any time lost, a few weeks into going out Erik tells me about his dream.  We are driving in the Honda one night, after a birthday gig his band had played at, he tells me that I am the girl he is going to marry.  It's a good thing that I don't really get shocked with those kind of statements.  I just said, "oh, okay." It didn't take long for me to also feel the same way.  A few weeks later, I knew we would be together forever!

We filled up the next two years with church, graduation for Erik, band practice, gigs, movies, dinners, morning worship, coffee, a trip to San Francisco, school of ministry, ski trips, tcby, counselors at camp, trips to the coast, birthdays, family gatherings, Christmas in the mountains with his family, fishing, camping, Starbucks, Barnes N Nobles, Applebees, prom, Santa Cruz boardwalk, fights, mexico, long talks in the Honda, key lime pie at Red Lobster, dates in Ashland, concerts, mini golf, planning a wedding and of course kissing!

Sorry for the glue gunk all over these, they were in a scrapbook!

I was in the third quarter of my junior year of high school,  Erik was in Mexico with his school of ministry, and I felt the need to be done.  I went to my parents with the idea of finishing school early by getting my GED.  They thought about it and decided that if that is what I wanted, they would support me in it.  They knew me and knew that I wouldn't make a hasty decision.  It was heavy on my heart to be done, I can't explain it.  It took some effort to get me out of school.  I was a straight A student and so we had to persuade a few teachers, including my student counselor, that I was making the right decision.

It was a Thursday, my last day of school.  I turned in my assignments, that were due, along with my textbook for that class.  I said something along the lines of, "this will be my last day of school, here is my assignment for the week and here is my book."  Many of my teachers just looked at me and didn't quite understand.  Over the next two weeks, I studied for the GED test.  That next week I passed it, I was done with high school at 16, so weird!

A few months later,  Erik and I were having coffee and talking about our future.  It hit us both at the same time, why are we waiting?  He was still living at the church, finishing out his year at the school of ministry.  God had already been preparing his heart and mine for this conversation we were having.  He had a whole journal entry dedicated to it.  So he went to talk with my parents that next weekend.  He shared with them what God had been showing him and read them his journal entry. They really were left thinking, there doesn't seem to be a reason to say no!  He left my house that night with their blessing.

Because we both are not big secret keepers or big gift givers, the proposal was somewhat staged. What I mean is, I knew it was coming.  He asked me one afternoon, "so should I propose to you today?" I said, "sure!"  So we reenacted our first date.  He got down on one knee at the picnic table we first kissed at.  I thought it was perfect!

So we started to announce it to everyone and reserved the church. October 30th happened to fall on a Saturday and the church was available, again, perfect!  A few weeks after my 17th birthday I would be Mrs. Wilt.  We went with my parents a few days before the wedding so they could officially sign me away and allow me to get married.

We were married by a young pastor and friend. He was 19 at the time and he got ordained for our wedding. We still talk about how thankful we are that he was the one to marry us. A perfect fit. Thank you Tyler and Haley for being there for us and helping us start our life together!

So lots of people were talking, so fun to make people talk!  Some thought I was pregnant, lots thought I was making a huge mistake. Some probably even thought I belonged to some cult, oh, too funny. But the thing is, it didn't matter what others were saying or what others thought, we knew we were making the right decision. God was leading us. Everything was coming together in His perfect timing. We might of looked foolish to the world around us, but we don't live for this world!

We traveled moved across the country for our honeymoon.  At that time gas was .99 a gallon, can you believe it?  We took showers at the truck stops, slept in our Honda, and made it to N.Y. in four and a half days. Those are memories I will cherish forever. It doesn't matter where you are, just who you are with! But, we are still waiting to go on our honeymoon redo vacation. It will happen someday!

I can't believe it has been 11 years!
And against all odds. Two firstborns, that got married way too young.

Thank you to my friend Heather for taking all my munchkins for the night so we could get away and celebrate.  We stayed at a beautiful hotel downtown, we went to Dave and Busters and we strolled the streets of Denver.  Downtown Denver is a very interesting place to be on Halloween weekend, good times!

The only pictures I have of the weekend are from Dave and Busters photo booths!

I won big, like three jackpots!  I have been telling Erik that he needs to take me to vegas, winning is in my blood!

We had enough tickets to get four Dave and Busters glasses.  That's a lot of tickets.  These four beautiful glasses, in the end, only cost us around $40.00. Now that's a rip-off steal!  But, really you can't put a price on fun and that night was lots of fun! Especially winning 603 tickets on one play!

Yeah, I know, you're jealous!

I know this post is super long, but I will leave you with a funny story.  When we moved to New York we only had one car, so we both got jobs at the mall to make it work.  The N.Y. state law, at the time, didn't allow anyone under the age of 18 to drive past 9 p.m., without parental consent.  The DMV made me drive with a parental permission slip, signed by Erik.  It didn't matter that I was married, he was my legal guardian until I turned 18!

Link to Part 1

Love Story Part I

You know those old fashion stories you hear about two people falling in love when they were way too young and living happily ever after. Well as cheesy as it sounds, that is our story. We are those two people. Of course we are living the real story and not the fairy tale. Hardships, fights, struggles, they are there. On the flip side, our love is immeasurable and somehow grows even stronger as the years go by. I wouldn't go back and change one thing. I feel so blessed to have grown up with the love of my life. I love our story.

It begins in the halls of North Medford high school. It was 1997. I was a sophomore and he a senior. Homecoming was a few weeks away and my dress was purchased. I was not going with Erik, we had not met yet. Well, he tells the story a bit differently. He says we had talked twice before this. I don't remember that. So my story begins in the office of our high school.

The last period of the school day for me was working as an office aid. I went around collecting attendance and delivering notes. The school day was almost over and I received a note from my homecoming date. He no longer wanted to go with me. Of course, I am very thankful now for this low ball dumping episode, but at the time not so much. So having the authority to pull kids out of class, I wrote a note dismissing him from his class and I was waiting outside in the hall. I was more angry than anything that he wasn't boy man enough to break it off in person. After I said my peace, he went back to class and I went back to the office not really feeling any better than before. My duties for that day were done and so I sat waiting for the bell to ring. I started to rant, "I hate boys, they are so stupid, I can't believe them!" On and on I went. Sitting right next to me at that moment was Erik. He started to talk with me and agree with me, consoling me in the way I needed.

Now, I guess I do need to back up a bit. Erik wasn't in the office that day just because. His story is a bit different. According to his story we had met before this day, twice. He had tried to talk to me after the gym period we shared. I was busy fixing the blisters on my feet from new shoes and so I only remember a male voice talking to a mutual friend of ours, Jen, who was sitting next to me. He also says he tried to talk to me in the hall, again through Jen, our mutual friend, I don't remember this.

To back up a little bit more, a few weeks early, Erik was praying that God would show him his wife. He was struggling with the concept of dating with no purpose and wanted God to show him the girl he would spend the rest of his life with. A few nights later he had a dream, it was my face, in a wedding gown. A few weeks after that, he saw me for the first time at school and there was no doubt in his mind, I was the girl. He has only had one other vivid dream like that and it was about his first born baby girl, Abby, a year into dating. See I told you it was cheesy, but cheesy works for us.

So, back to the office. Like I said his visit to the office was not an accident. He was trying to meet me. As I was ranting on and on, upset, somewhat flipping out, we started to discuss the reason why. I told this complete stranger, but cute stranger, all about my problems. I had a dress for homecoming and no date. He already had a date and so being the gentlemen he was, wasn't going to break it off. So, instead he set me up on a blind date with the drummer in his band and told me we would all go together. Um, okay, great!

I can still remember the butterflies that night. Not only was I going on a blind date, but I would also be with Erik. Britton, my date, was about 6'1'', so that was interesting. After that night, he had a bit of a crush, but Britton became a great friend and the crush became a lasting joke! He later was a groomsman in our wedding. Erik did manage to cut in once that night, and we danced for one song. I think it was at that moment that I realized I liked him.

We went back to his house to watch a movie after the dance. His date had forgotten a change of clothes, so I told her that she was welcome to borrow some of his clothes, that he wouldn't mind. He looked very confused when he saw her in his clothes, but I told him I had said it was okay. Too funny how I felt comfortable telling him it was fine that someone else had gone in his room with my permission and put on some of his clothing. Also funny that he was cool with me explaining this to him.

I remember, that night I kept looking over at him and that is when the real butterflies started to come! Yes, I did like him. A lot. So, even though Britton was my date, Erik drove me home and walked me to my door. It was very hard to sleep that night!

What I ended up doing with the pictures from that night!

The next few weeks at school, were interesting. We saw each other in the halls, talked, flirted, but that was it. I was trying to be patient, but it wasn't easy and I was not going to make the first move. That was his job. He tells me that he was playing it cool.

Then one afternoon he asked me if I wanted to go to lunch with him the next day. Butterflies. Of course I did, I had been waiting for this invitation, but I casually said, "sure." The rest of that day and the morning of the next dragged by so slowly, I thought I would burst.

Finally the bell rang for lunch and as quickly as I could, with still acting cool about the whole thing, made my way to the parking lot. Honestly, I had never felt that relaxed and calm around a boy before. On our way out of the parking lot, he invites a friend of his to go along with us. My heart sank. What was this? Again, I think he was trying to mess with me.

We went to lunch downtown at a nice deli. He ordered a Rueben sandwich and I told the waiter he would like soup with that. I was ordering a salad and I would eat his soup, again so funny that I had no problem telling him how it would be. I can still see the cute smile he had on his face that day, it's the same one I get from him now when he thinks I'm being cute. So his friend left early and finally it was just us.

Erik didn't have a class after lunch and so I decided that this was a good day for me to skip my class. We headed to the park that was across the street, the same park that he would propose in exactly two years to the day later!

Stay tuned for part II!

Sunday Morning Date

Sometimes, it's okay to take a break from the everyday routine and listen to a different direction God is leading you! He knows what you have need of, and He knows how to fill you up!  That's why, yesterday morning, I didn't even think twice about having coffee with my sweat heart, instead of going into service!

We dropped the kids off at Sunday school and then made our way to the church coffee area, right outside of the sanctuary.  We still had our coffees in hand, from our routine Starbucks stop, that morning.  We couldn't take them into the the service, so we sat down to finish them, while we watched worship happening, on the lobby t.v.  

We sipped our coffee, talked, and enjoyed each others company.  We discussed the path of life God has brought us down and glorified Him for the amazing journey He's given us.  We shared how we were struggling and found ways we could help and encourage each other.  We laughed, told story's from our week, and of course, our offspring came up a few times.  Before we knew it, service was letting out and it was time to pick up the kids.

We didn't even know how much we needed that time together, until God gave it to us.  He knew what we were lacking that morning, and I am so thankful for a God who cares about our every need!


I told Erik, in the car after, how important that time was for me.  Time to remember, all the reasons I fell in love with him.  It is so easy to get busy, let everyday life creep in and rob me of the joy, our relationship can be.  Just talking and seeing inside his heart, reminded me how much I love him!

Our overnight adventure

Thanks to my wonderful parents and sis, Erik and I got the chance to get away for the night. We drove a gorgeous three hour drive to Glenwood hotsprings, stayed the night and then the next day went on a 1/2 day rafting trip down the Colorado River.  It was a much needed time away together and we had a great time!!!

At the springs

Erik checking it out

A picture of the natural hot springs pool at night, so warm!

Our drive

The colorado River, very high right now from all the snow melt

We spent a lot of time driving in the jeep, so fun rockin out with the top off.  Also amazing to look at all the gorgeous mountains surrounding us with nothing blocking our view!!

I had to get one of me driving in the jeep too!!!

So fun and so cold, the water was around 40 degrees

The guys in the front were so cold, they were shaking the whole time

I don't remember grabbing onto Erik but apparently I wanted to save him from going over, or maybe save myself!

The guy in the front on the left was so cold and wanted to avoid the larger rapids so he wouldn't get wet, I don't blame him it was very cold.  But his plan didn't work, he ended of falling out of the raft when we hit our last set of rapids, poor guy!!

I knew the camera guy was above, hence the pose!

Can't wait to go back and do it again, but this next time I would opt for August when the water is 70 degrees!!!

I had so much fun babe, love you!!!