Oh Holy Night

With Christmas drawing nearer, I cannot help but get the same feeling of anticipation and joy that I felt as a child, anxious to awake to stockings on the mantle and presents under the tree. Now, however, I feel most excited for other aspects of the lovely Christmas season. I can't wait to see the faces of my sweet family members, to sip hot cocoa or yummy lattes with the snow outside, to watch Christmas movies, bake cookies, and of course to celebrate God's wonderful gift of His son.

For the last several years, the Christmas Eve service at my "home" church has been one of the things I have come to love most about the holiday. I love gathering with my family and friends to remember why Christmas is so truly important. I love hearing the miraculous Christmas story over and over again. I love singing "Silent Night" by candlelight in a full sanctuary. But one of the most blessed parts of the Christmas Eve service to me is hearing the gorgeous melody and words of "Oh Holy Night." Someone sings this song at my church almost every Christmas, and it always brings tears to my eyes. I love the passion behind this song and how it reminds me that nothing is more divine than the night that Jesus came into this world. When I hear the lyrics echoing in my ears--"Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angel voices. Oh night divine! Oh night when Christ was born!-- I get chills thinking of the unfathomable gift I have in Jesus.

As the days to Christmas become less and as I enjoy the merriment and charm of this joyful season, I think about my favorite Christmas carol, "Oh Holy Night," and I am so thankful that I have the most wonderful reason to celebrate at this time of year. "Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His name forever. His power and glory evermore proclaim! His power and glory evermore proclaim!"

Thankful for Thanksgiving

This Thursday was the first Thanksgiving that Ryan and I were able to celebrate together, and coincidentally it was also our first real holiday as husband and wife! Although we didn't host a large gathering or dinner, we had fun making pies, jell-o salad, and flaky rolls together. We were blessed enough to receive a dinner invitation from another Coast Guard couple. It was nice to have a traditional turkey-stuffing-mashed potato dinner with two other people who are also far away from their families. We enjoyed a delicious meal at their home and had fun talking and playing games. God is so good to give us a day to remember just how blessed we are.

God is also particularly good for giving me a husband who not only tolerates my perfectionism, but also is there to help calm me down when I lose perspective. Even though I didn't have the huge responsibility of making an entire meal for guests, I was still nervous to make pies for this occasion. I have made Thanksgiving pies in the past, but my mom has always been there in the kitchen, giving me tips about how to pinch the edges of the crust so they look pretty in the plate or how to tell exactly when each pie is done. When I experienced problems with the first pie, I started to freak out of course and started crying about how terrible I was at baking... blah, blah blah. My very patient and loving husband simply gave me a tight hug, told me everything would work out, and went to the grocery store to get more ingredients to replace the ones I had messed up before. With his help, I calmed down, enjoyed the pie-making process, and we were able to make two very delicious and nice-looking desserts.

I hope all of you had a fantastic Thanksgiving and that you were able to reflect on all that God has done in each of your lives. He truly is so good. How often I forget it with all of the superficial distractions around me. That is why I am very thankful for Thanksgiving... a day to remind me of how much He deserves my praise.

Some pictures from Colorado!

As promised, here are some pictures from my visit to Colorado over Halloween. Though it was snowing heavily the day that I arrived, most of the snow had melted within the next two days and the sun was shining enough for me to take a scenic walk with my sweet mom and dad. Enjoy the view of the lovely mountains, even though it's not quite as pretty in pictures as it was in person.

Look at those mountains! I miss them!

Snow!!!

With Violet, my parents' little doggie :-)

Adorable parents

Happy to be "home"

With my cute daddy

Beautiful mama

I could not have enjoyed my trip more! It was just what I needed seeing my two wonderful parents and breathing the fresh Colorado air. Now Ryan and I just can't wait to go back together for Christmas!

"Pray Hard and Plan Big"

The pastor's sermon at church today was one of the most convicting and inspiring messages I have heard in a while. It's funny how I can often glance at the title of a message and think, "This probably won't really apply to me." I should know by now that God usually teaches me the most when I least expect to learn.

This morning, our pastor spoke about the passage from 2 Kings 4:1-7. These verses tell the story of a widow whose sons were to be taken as slaves in order to pay her family debt. In her desperation and fear, the woman cried out the God and went to Elisha to receive advice for her situation. After telling the prophet that she had nothing in her home but a bit of oil, Elisha told the widow, "Go around and ask all of your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few."

When the woman and her sons had gathered jars from the surrounding homes, God miraculously blessed them by allowing the small amount of oil to overflow, filling every one of the jars until there were none left to fill. At this very moment, the oil stopped flowing.

I loved hearing this story this morning because it revealed to me how I too need to pray hard and plan big in my own life. As the pastor said, I need to take my problems and desires to God, recognize the resources that he has given to me (even if it seems like my little bit of "oil" won't be enough), and then trust that God will provide blessings. So many times, I don't shoot for the dreams that God has placed in my heart, or I don't stretch myself into the areas that he calls me toward because I worry about failing. But I have to ask myself, what would I do for God if I knew I couldn't fail? Because failure isn't trying and coming short of my own expectations. Failure is when I never try to meet God's expectations and plans for my life.

Hearing the story of the widow also showed me that God's blessing to her directly correlated to the number of jars she gathered. He would have allowed the oil to fill even more jars if she and her sons had retrieved more to begin with. I need to learn from the message of this story and Elisha's advice to the woman: "Don't ask for just a few." I want to make big plans with the absolute faith and trust that God will provide for me and bless me while I am in his perfect will.

Colorado Weekend Recap

I got back Monday night (well, really Tuesday morning at 12:30 am) from Colorado, and it was so hard to come back to reality... especially since I had to work at 7:00 Tuesday morning. But I felt so happy to be able to fall asleep next to my adorable husband again. He even welcomed me with a beautiful bouquet of fall-colored flowers. He's amazing!

My visit with my parents was incredible. I had such a great time catching up with them, spending time next to the fireplace with the snow falling outside, passing out candy to cute trick-or-treaters, going on a walk with the beautiful countryside views once the snow melted, and making pumpkin pie. I loved getting to hug both my mom and my dad every day and be reminded of how much they mean to me.

The trip definitely made me more aware of just how much I miss Colorado and of course my family. Ryan and I are so excited for our visit together at Christmas time! When I first had to return to Florida, I felt so sad and discouraged about leaving my family and the home I loved for most of my life. Of course, I was ready to see Ryan again, but a huge part of me just wanted to fly him out to Colorado instead of going back to Florida myself. Thankfully, God really comforted me during my first couple of days back in the routine of work and chores and other responsibilities. As I completed my Bible study for the week, He reminded me that He has placed me here for a reason. Ryan and I may not love Florida or see it as our true home, but we are so blessed in our marriage and our life together, and we know that God has a plan for us wherever he chooses to take us. Being away from Colorado and our families isn't the easiest thing sometimes, but we can have faith and assurance in the fact that we are in His perfectly capable and loving hands.

Hope everyone has been doing well. I will post pictures from my trip soon!

Colorado, Here I Come!

Last weekend, while my mom and sister were visiting us in Florida, I got a phone call from my lonesome daddy, who was unable to get the time off work to join the rest of the family on the mini vacation. He said that he didn't know if he could wait until Christmas to see me and before I knew it, he was telling me that he wanted to fly me out to Colorado for a weekend! I could hardly believe it! Would I really get to see him before December? As it happened, Ryan was assigned a duty session over Halloween, so my dad decided to buy me a plane ticket home for that weekend. Therefore, I will be on my way to lovely but cold Colorado in three days! I can't wait to see my daddy and also my mommy again. It will be wonderful to be in my childhood home for the first time in a while. My parents keep warning me about the freezing weather I have to look forward to, but I am actually looking forward to breaking out a couple of my sweaters, sipping some hot cocoa, and enjoying chili and cornbread with my wonderful family. It's a shame that Ryan can't come along this time, but he's looking forward to the freedom of eating all the junk food he wants and having some guy time.

Another thing I'm excitedly anticipating for this coming weekend is being able to celebrate Halloween in my old house and neighborhood. It's always so fun to open the door and here the "Trick or Treats" of cute little ghosts, goblins, princesses, and power rangers. I will be thrilled to enjoy the evening at home by the fireplace, maybe watching a scary movie with my parents and passing out candy to the little kids of the neighborhood. Just thinking about it brings back fun memories of trick-or-treating with my little sister throughout the years of our childhood-- and well, our teenage years too. You're never to old to trick-or treat :-).

I will also get to spend some time with my grandpa when I'm in Colorado. It will be so nice to feel his tight hugs and talk with him about life. He's the sweetest man, and I can't wait to see him!

Now, all I have to do is make it through the next three days of work, and then it's off to home sweet Colorado! I'm only sad that I have to leave my sweet husband and cute puppy behind!

The Weekend Is Over, But Not the Excitement

It is now Monday, and the excitement of my amazing weekend with my mommy and sister has officially come to an end. I am so thankful for the time that I was able to spend with them. It gave me such joy to wake up to their faces every morning, as I looked forward to the fun day would share. Here's a little overview of my marvelous days with my family.

My mom arrived on Wednesday night, and we all went to dinner at a yummy sea food restaurant right by the water. It was the perfect night to sit out on the pretty waterside patio and eat fresh and flavorful fish (well, steak in Ryan's case :-)). We had a wonderful time getting to hug each other and catch up on the last few months apart.

My sister didn't get into town until late Thursday night, so my mom and I spent the day shopping. We found adorable fall decorations for the apartment, and I even got to use some of the Pottery Barn gift card from our wedding. My mom has such a good eye for home decor, and she thinks about where everything will fit in a space, so it was such a huge help to have her with me.

After picking my sister Jordan up from the airport, we proceeded to chatter the entire way home and late into the night. It was a blast to have girl talk over a bowl of buttery popcorn and to see each other's facial expressions for the first time in a while. We awoke the next day to get ready for another day of shopping. This time, we focused on clothes. I didn't find everything that I expected to find at Forever 21, but I was still able to use my gift cards to buy several adorable shirts and a couple of fun necklaces. My sister and I had fun advising each other about our outfits when we emerged from the dressing rooms and weighed our fashion options. At the end of the day, we were all very pleased with our new apparel :-).

Incredibly, it was a bit too cold to lay out at the beach, but we still drove along Indian Shores and Clearwater beach to show my mom and sister the beautiful ocean scenery. We also stopped to walk around the Clearwater beach area, and later we ate some good ol' fashioned barbecue ribs at Cody's Roadhouse. Our final night together ended with a scary movie at the Imax theater and some Starbucks coffee in downtown St. Pete.

I was so sad to see my mom and sister step past the ticket counters at the airport on Sunday. It was a blessing to see them again, but it also reminded me of why I miss them so much. The memories from their visit make me miss them even more now that they're gone again.

But the weekend unfolded with two more surprises to make me keep smiling. First, my dad broke the news that he wanted to buy me a plane ticket to Colorado for the weekend of Halloween! He just couldn't stand the fact that he was stuck at home while my mom and sister got to see me. Next, we got a new puppy! It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment occurrence. I had been whining about wanting a dog for some time, and Ryan suddenly decided that we should get one. So we went puppy shopping on Sunday after my family left. And we found an adorable miniature Australian Shepherd. He is chocolate brown with rust colored specks around his face, white paws and a white nose. Ryan named him Rusty because of the rusty hue to the fir around his face and legs.

My life, as always, is so full of blessings. Let's just hope that Rusty continues to get more comfortable with his new home and that we can potty train him QUICKLY :-).

I Couldn't Be Happier That It's Tuesday!

It's Tuesday, and I'm so excited! Usually, I'm not too thrilled about Tuesdays. They aren't as bad as Mondays, but their not as good as Wednesdays, which signal the halfway mark of the workweek. And of course they can't measure up to Thursdays, the day before blessed Fridays. But this week, I couldn't be happier that it is Tuesday. This is because my mommy will be coming to visit me tomorrow for the next four days. Then on Thursday, my lovely little sister will get here too! I wrote about their upcoming visit a while back, and the days leading up to their arrival have not come soon enough.

Besides getting to see their beautiful faces, hugging them until I run out of energy, and getting to talk with them face-t0-face, I am thrilled about having the next several days off of work. And of course I'm ready to get my shop on with my two very stylish family members. Since my birthday, I've had two Forever 21 gift cards burning holes in my pockets. I can't wait for my fashion advisors to come shopping with me! Unable to contain my excitement for a shopping trip with the girls, I've already been peeking at adorable finds on the Forever 21 website. I love this store, because everything is adorable but reasonably priced! Here are some of the things I've found so far.

I LOVE this belt! It would look really cute with a simple blouse or a sweater.

I think this skirt is really pretty and classic looking. It would be good for dressing up to go to church, my Bible study, or a date night.

I love this sweater because it's simple and cozy looking, but it wouldn't be too warm for the Florida climate. Yay!

This shirt would look so cute with a casual pair of jeans or a skirt. I love how feminine it is. I'm definitely a flowers and ruffles kind of girl :-).

It's going to be so great having my precious mommy and sissy here with me! I'll fill you in on all the fun we have together :-).

Birthday Blessings and Banana Pancakes

Lucky for me and lucky for all of you who had to read my last depressing post, I got more than 3 hours of sleep last night. Thank the Lord! So now that I am not so sleep-deprived and moody, I will share the wonderful events of my weekend with Ryan and of my fun birthday.

Since we've moved to Florida, the weather has either been insanely hot and humid, or insanely rainy and, yep you guessed it.... humid. So we haven't had many opportunities or desires to spend time at the many beaches in this area. That's why we were so happy last weekend when the weather was in the 80's and the humidity level was bearable. We decided to put our gigantic beach towels and new umbrella to use by spending Saturday at Fort Desoto Beach. It was so nice to lay in the sun (well, I laid in the sun while Ryan laid under the umbrella :-)) and to read a good book with the waves rushing in the background. We played frisbee and just enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing day together. We also did some sightseeing at the old military fort there. I even got a tan!

Inside one of the eerie and echoey rooms at Fort Desoto

He's plotting something inside of the "Plotting Room" :-)

On Sunday, we celebrated my birthday since we were both working on Monday (my real birthday). After going to our young married group at church, which we continue to LOVE, I was eager to get home and try my new recipe for banana pancakes with blueberry syrup. As soon as the batter hit the skillet, the delicious aroma told me that these pancakes were going to be exceptional. They were so fluffy, and the recipe called for the perfect amount of banana. Then, when mixed with the blueberry syrup, the already tasty banana pancakes became taste explosions! Ryan and I were both in heaven. Because this recipe was so remarkable, I have decided to share it with all of you. Make sure to check it out at the end of this post.

Later that night, we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and of course dessert! I absolutely love that restaurant. Their menu is like a book, and yet everything I've ever tried is mouthwatering. I had a new dish, baked chicken on top of basil pasta with creamy parmesan sauce. Can you say YUMMY! Then we of course had to order cheesecake. We took our pieces of peanut butter cup and dulce de leche cheesecake with us to a beautiful spot overlooking the water. What an incredible day! I was such a spoiled birthday girl.

On my actual birthday, Ryan still treated me like a princess. He's too good to me. After we both were off of work, he wouldn't let me do a single chore or help cook any of our dinner. As my special request, he made me an artichoke with melted butter (weird request, you may be thinking, but it sounded so good to me!). Then he surprised me with the main course by making chicken parmesan. I loved having two days in a row of heavenly food! Even more, I loved spending my birthday with my extraordinary husband. I am so blessed!

Banana Pancakes (makes 8 servings):

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups buttermilk

4 large eggs

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted and cooled

cooking spray or vegetable oil to coat pan

1/4 cup mashed ripe bananas

1. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

2. Blend buttermilk, eggs and butter in separate bowl. Add to flour mixture and stir by hand until batter is evenly moistened. It is ready to use or may be stored covered and refrigerated for up to 12 hours.

3. Just before making pancakes, fold bananas into batter.

4. Cook on first side until small bubbles appear on the upper surface and edges are set (about 2 minutes). Cook second side another 2-3 minutes.

Blueberry Maple Syrup (makes 2 cups):

4 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 cup maple syrup (I just used Log Cabin syrup and it was still delicious)

1. Combine blueberries and lemon zest in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of juice has been released and mixture develops a saucelike consistency, about 10 minutes.

2. (Optional: Don't strain if you want the blueberries to remain in your topping.) Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan, making sure to press all of the juice out of the blueberry mixture. Return juice to simmer and add the mapel syrup. Simmer over low heat until syrup is slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.

4. Syrup is ready to serve, or it can be cooled and stored in a container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Reheat over low heat or in microwave.

Must Have Sleep!

I just got home from work, and I have a million chores I should be doing, but instead I am going to take a few minutes to write and vent some of my many emotions stirring inside my head. It seems strange to be writing a post like this, because I usually try to write about positive and fun topics. But today, I just can't be that upbeat.

I can't complain too much, because my 22nd birthday (which was yesterday) was fantastic all due to the incredibly sweet gestures of my loving husband. I adore him more every day for being the man he is and for treating me so well. However, I can complain a little because I have had two sleepless nights in a row, and as a person who NEEDS her sleep, I'm suffering a little bit. The last two nights, I have woken up at 3:00 in the morning or earliers, only to lie awake in bed until my alarm goes off at 6:00. It's such a frustrating feeling to be physically tired, yet be unable to sleep because of my rambling thoughts. These past couple nights, I have been entirely incapable of turning off my mind and drifting back to sleep. I pray, I think of Bible verses, I try to focus on anything soothing... but it all fails. All I want is a good night of sleep!

My sleeplessness (as you can probably tell) only intensifies my emotional side, so I feel like the tiniest things upset me. I start feeling more homesick for Colorado, I get teary-eyed at any little mistake I make, and the list goes on.

Sorry to dish out my grumpy, sleep-deprived mood on all of you readers, but thanks for allowing me to vent a little bit. Sometime this week, I will have much more joyful accounts of my weekend and birthday with my wonderful husband. For now, I am just praying for at least a good 7 hours of sleep tonight!

Something to Think About

I recently started a weekly Bible study over the book of John. The study is a very detailed look at a specific book of the Bible over the course of a year. My mom was my primary motivation for joining this Bible study, as she was part of one in Colorado for nine years. Her experience with Bible Study Fellowship International (which is the official name of the study) blessed her with a tremendous amount of spiritual growth and allowed her to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus.

After my first two weeks in BSF, I can understand why my mom loved this study so much and how she experienced such growth. This week, the study focused on the first chapter of John. I've read this portion of the Bible I don't know how many times. But my daily studies from BSF helped direct my focus to details that I had never fully contemplated.

One thing I love about this study is that it draws connections between verses in John and lines from other parts of the Bible. This week, one question directed me to identify what information was in Colossians 1:16 that was not in John 1:3. These verses are very similar, but Colossians 1:16 talks about how all of creation was not only made through Jesus Christ, but also for Him. Focusing on this part of the verse really made me think about my true purpose in life. I was created for God... to enjoy Him, glorify Him, and connect with Him in a deep relationship.

Another part of the study this week got me thinking more about my life's aim and purpose. John 1:6-9 gives a glimpse of John the Baptist and discusses his work in life. These verses state that John the Baptist came as "a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe." His primary purpose for living was to proclaim Christ's coming and to reveal his saving grace to everyone he encountered. I am sad to say that this is not typically my main goal in my day-to-day life. I need to be more bold in my faith so that I also can be a witness of Jesus' love. Definitely something to think about...

18 Days and Counting!

It's official. In 18 days I will be picking my mommy up from the airport and bringing her to stay in our Florida apartment for the first time. And in 19 days, my little sister will be coming to visit me too! I cannot express how thrilled I am at the thought of seeing my family again. I only wish that my daddy could come too. Let's hope that he feels so left out that he caves in a buys a plane ticket to Florida!

There are so many things that I am looking forward too about having my mom and sister here. I can't wait to show them our little apartment, decorated with a variety of my grammie's old furniture. I can't wait to wake up in the morning to their pretty faces, knowing that I don't have to go to work, but instead that I get to spend the whole day with them. I can't wait to go shopping with the girls, get dressed up for a movie night or a dinner out, or cuddle up on the couch with popcorn and a chick flick. As you can tell, I just can't wait for them to get here in general!

I'm also going to use their visit as an excuse to make an array of delicious foods. I'm already planning on making lasagne, and of course I have to make decadent desserts for my special guests :-). I saw a recipe for tiramisu in a magazine, and I may finally have a reason to make it since there will be more than one coffee lover in our home. I am also planning on making some homemade ice cream for them too, so they can get a taste of what Ryan and I have developed an addiction for.

I feel so blessed that I will be seeing two people that I love the most in less than a month! As you could probably guess, I'm definitely counting down the days to their arrival!

My First Blogging Award!

Thanks to Tatiana at "Living life and loving it," I have received my very first blogging award! She was sweet enough to name me a "Kreativ Blogger." If you have not seen her blog, please check it out. Tatiana has such wonderful personality and wit in her writing, and she is a great witness of her faith in Jesus. The rules are below:

1-Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2-Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3-Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4-Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5-Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6-Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7-Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated.

Here are 7 things about me:

1. I would love to go on a mission trip with my husband.

2. If I could choose to have a specific talent, I would sing like Whitney Houston.

3. I want to publish my "Unexpected Love Story" piece as a series for teenage girls (maybe in a Christian magazine like Brio).

4. As a little girl, my favorite outfit consisted of my pink tutu, pink tights, and pink high heels.

5. My favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

6. I am such a typical girl because I am constantly thinking of good names for my future children (even though I probably won't have children for some time:-)).

7. I've read Great Expectations 4 times and enjoyed it every time (you can tell I'm an English nerd).

Now for the nominations for other "Kreativ Bloggers." Unfortunately, I haven't explored other blogs enough to nominate 7, but here are a few blogs that I love. Coincidentally, they are all girls that I love too!

Jenna

Stephanie

Courtney

Our Weekend...Not According to Plan

For the second weekend in a row, Ryan and I made plans to go to Seaworld. Last Saturday, we didn't get an early enough start to go all the way to Orlando. But this time, we made sure to pack food the night before, set our alarm for the next morning, and print off driving directions... our plan was set and nothing could get in our way! It turns out, we were wrong. After driving the hour and a half to Orlando, we paid for parking, approached the ticket counter, and presented our military identifications with smiling and excited faces. Active duty members and their dependents are allowed free entrance into parks like Seaworld, Busch Gardens, and other places. What we didn't know is that they are only allowed one free entrance per year, and Ryan had already gone with his friends in February. Making matters worse, I couldn't get a free ticket either, even though I hadn't yet used my one-time free entrance. As the woman at the ticket counter explained all of this to us, Ryan and I looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering what to do. We finally decided we would buy the tickets, as we had driven so far to get there. Our stomachs dropped when we heard the dreaded words of the ticket woman, "That will be $143 dollars." My hand flew to my mouth, and Ryan timidly handed her his credit card. After we received our tickets and had entered through the front gates, we talked and decided to turn right back and get a refund. While we had both been excited for a day of fun with the whales and dolphins, we weren't willing to spend our entire month's entertainment funds in one day. So we were in Orlando and at a complete loss of what to do. I must admit, I shed a few silly tears at the frustrating disappointment. Like a little kid, I had been looking forward to our Seaworld outing the whole week leading up to it, and now all of our plans were falling apart. We finally decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch, remembering that there was a Hard Rock casino and hotel on the way back home. But of course, this plan didn't work either. Incredibly, the Hard Rock casino and hotel does not have a Hard Rock Cafe, only a large number of senior citizens staring at slot machines.

After all of our failed plans, we decided to give up and go home. Thankfully, our day was not a complete waste. We were able to enjoy some time at the pool, on one of the first days of bearable humidity level and temperature. Later we went to a fun area of Tampa called Channelside. In search of a good restaurant, we wandered down the street of shops, observing all of the entertaining things to do there. After eating outside at a casual southern restaurant, listening to the live music in the square, we were excited to finally know of a place to go on the weekends. There was the Imax theater, unconventional bowling alley with live music and food, and talented street artists. I guess we have date night opportunities for the next few weeks!

To top off our weekend, we attended a young married group at church this morning. Every person there was so welcoming and friendly. Ryan and I felt at ease immediately and became excited to not only study God's Word, but also to make new friends. We are so thankful that God has directed us to a church where we can grow in Him and form relationships with people who share our beliefs. Even though our weekend may not have gone exactly according to plan, we're happy with how it all turned out in the end!

A Fun Questionnaire

Hi everyone! I was given this list of questions to complete by Tatiana. If you haven't seen her blog, take a minute to check it out... It's too cute! Hope you're all having a good week! The rules and questions are below:

1. Respond and rework: Answer the questions on your blog,

Replace one question that you dislike with a question

of your own invention, and add one more question of your own.

2. Tag other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession?

I don't know if I would call it an obsession because I don't necessarily enjoy having to deal with it, but getting prepared to go back to school in the Spring is definitely a major focus right now. I've been thinking about it (and of course stressing) quite a bit lately. Transfering schools is not very much fun! Another obsession that my husband and I have recently developed is our love of homemade ice cream from our new ice cream maker. Delicious!!!!

Who was the last person you hugged?

My husband. He gives the best hugs ever :-).

What's your favorite dinner?

Hmmm... That's difficult because I just love food in general. It's probably a three-way tie between breakfast for dinner (pancakes, waffles, french toast), chicken pesto pasta, and steak with artichokes. Ugh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about all this amazing food!

What is the most encouraging thing God has shown you about His character lately?

He works wonders through His Word and in His answers to prayer. I just started a Bible study today called Bible Study Fellowship. The speaker shared an incredible story of spiritual transformation. She knew a woman who was raised in a very anti-Christian world religion. As this woman continued through life, she struggled to find the true purpose of life in her childhood beliefs. God tugged at her heart to open a dusty Bible she had stored in the back of her closet. Absent-mindedly, she flipped to the Gospel of John and read the entire book in one sitting. After reading God's inspiring word and the good news of Jesus, she cried out to the Lord and proclaimed her belief in the truth of His Word. How awesome is that!

What are you listening to right now?

I'm sitting in silence right now. It's nice to enjoy some peace and quiet after a day at work, with the constant noise of cash registers, blenders, and food timers going off.

What is your favorite weather?

I like when the weather is in the 80's with LOW HUMIDITY. The humidity part is very important to me after living in Florida heat for the past two months. I also love Autumn in Colorado, when the weather gets just cool enough to wear a sweater, but the sun still shines and the leaves are crisp and brightly colored.

What is your least favorite season?

Right now in Florida. Haha! I don't like walking outside and feeling like I'm in a sauna!

What's in your purse?

Chapstick (always), wallet, pen, snacks, old receipts that I never get around to throwing away, cell phone.

Say something to the person who tagged you:

Tatiana is such a sweet, spunky, and beautiful girl with great style and taste. She has a special talent for drawing you into every one of her stories, and she clearly tries to live her life in Christ-centered faith.

What is your favorite dessert or cool treat?

(Besides our homemade ice cream) Ben & Jerry's "Imagine Whirled Peace" ice cream and dulce de leche cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory

What did you want to become as a child?

A singer/actress, a teacher, a photographer, a marine biologist (due to Free Willy, haha), and a writer.

What do you want to be now?

I still would like to be a writer of some sort, and eventually get work in editing or publishing. As a person, I want to be someone who exudes love for my Savior, my husband, my family, my friends, and everyone else I meet. I want to be a clear reflection of 1 Corinthians 13:4.

What do you miss?

I miss my mom, dad, and sister terribly! I've always been so close to my family, and it's hard being far away from them. I miss my two grandmas who both passed away last year. I miss the beautiful Colorado mountains and wonderfully fresh air. I miss our family's little crazy dog, who is also back in Colorado. But one thing I don't miss is being away from the man I love. It's so awesome getting to see his face every day!

Which is you favorite country/state, and why?

Even though I adored Spain when I traveled there with my family, I still feel so blessed to live in the U.S. And while there are many lovely things about Florida, I still love Colorado. The ocean is gorgeous, but the towering Rocky Mountains always stopped me in my tracks and made me feel awed at God's incredible creation.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

I would go to Chicago and wander the city with my little sissy. (I was going to say Colorado, but I haven't been to Chicago before, and I miss my sister like crazy!)

What are your most challenging goals right now?

Staying motivated and faithful as I prepare for school in the Spring and trusting God to resolve my hectic work schedule so that I can be a loving and attentive wife.

What is your 5 year plan?

Finishing school and starting a career in writing/editing/publishing. Drawing closer to my God and to my husband. Building new friendships in Florida and wherever the Coast Guard sends us next. Possibly thinking about adding to our family down the road (a while down the road :-)).

What is your favorite sport to watch?

I don't love watching sports, but because my huband definitely does, I am starting to like watching football and basketball more than I used to. And when there is a good tournament, like the recent US Open, I really like watching tennis.

What show would you want to be a cast member on (reality included)?

I guess I would be on House, just because I love that show and I can't think of anything else. Actually, I've recently become a big fan of "Reba," which is pretty cheesy but hilarious at the same time, so it might be fun to be a cast member on that!

What is your most prized possession?

I'm going to copy Tatiana and say my husband. I am so blessed to have him in my life, along with my incredible set of loving family members.

Name one favorite childhood memory.

Playing with my little sister, Jordan, in our make-shift fort/playhouse under the stairs of our Grammie's house. We always looked forward to visiting her and using our imaginations to create a wonderful world of our own!

Try it out if you have the time!

Jenna at "Jenna's Journeys"

Stephanie at "Life Together"

Courtney at "Starting Out"

"My Unexpected Love Story" continued

I thought it was time to post more of my work-in-progress story since it's been a while since I shared the introduction. This portion of the story gives a little more insight into female protagonist. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions.

Kassidy

It’s funny the way life works; not at all according to the plans that we make for ourselves. I knew exactly what I wanted out of life, or at least I thought I did. I’ve always had high hopes for achievement in every phase of my life. During kindergarten, I had to make sure that every apple on my tree was colored to perfection before I went to enjoy recess with the other kids. During elementary school, I would not settle for anything less than spectacular when it came to book reports or class projects. During middle school, I simply had to be the valedictorian of my class. During high school, my goal was to achieve straight A’s throughout the entire four years. I accomplished every one of my endeavors to my great satisfaction. So I moved onto the next plans for my bright future.

I would earn a degree at a prestigious university, then proceed to earn my Master’s degree at an even more prestigious university, then live the rest of my life out in success and happiness. Perhaps I’d find Mr. Right out there somewhere, and we would have two adorable children. But if that didn’t happen, oh well, because I would always have my career. Besides, I had more-or-less relinquished my vision of prince charming years ago. I used to have an entire list of traits that were essential to my ideal guy. As time went by, however, my list dwindled as I began to wonder whether I would simply have to settle for Mr. Almost Right. I understood that nobody can be perfect and that love is not always like a fairytale or “happily ever after.” But I also believed, whether I truly realized it or not, that there had to be something more than good enough.

The Simple Things

Tonight, I got home from a very long day at work, walked through the door to our apartment, and saw the smiling face of my husband. Immediately, I felt satisfied. My contentment was only enhanced when he welcomed me with a sweet hug and kiss and then asked "Are you ready for some pancakes?" I don't know why, but pancakes are one of the best kinds of comfort food. And after working all day, I was definitely willing to welcome such comfort. Ryan and I made pancakes and bacon together in our little kitchen, happy to be in each other's company. Our breakfast-for-dinner meal was a complete success. The fluffy pancakes topped with warm, sweet, sticky syrup melted away the day's busyness, and I was able to slip into an aura of ease in the company of my wonderful husband. After I had finished eating, I sat sipping my deliciously foamy Irish sweet cream latte and let out a long sigh of contentment, realizing that the simple things in life really are the best. I absolutely could not be happier with my life while I am enjoying some good old fashioned comfort food and quality time with the man I love. These little moments help me to remember on a daily basis how blessed I am. God has given me so much, and I do not show Him often enough how thankful and awed I feel for every one of His gifts. How funny that pancakes inspired such gratitude in me! But there it is. Thank you Jesus for the simple things and everything in between.

My Favorite Poem

For some unexplained reason, I was thinking about my favorite poem today. I went to the bookshelf and retrieved my volume of poetry by Billy Collins, opened to the page where my place is kept permanently by the folded corner, and started reading the lovely poem. I don't know why I am so enamored by these words. Like many poems, this one doesn't even make total sense. I guess I just love how the words flow in a way that an image is created for you. Because I'm such a romantic, I also love the theme behind the poem. It talks about a deep desire to be ever-near to the one you love, because being with that person is the only timeless thing. When other experiences and objects fade away, the love people feel toward one other goes on. The first few lines are the most beautiful poetic lines I've ever read. I hope you like it!

Dancing Toward Bethlehem

If there is only enough time in the final

minutes of the twentieth century for one last dance

I would like to be dancing it slowly with you,

say, in the ballrooom of a seaside hotel.

My palm would press into the small of your back

as the past hundred years collapsed into a pile

of mirrors or buttons or frivolous shoes,

just as the floor of the nineteenth century gave way

and disappeared in a red cloud of brick dust.

There will be no time to order another drink

or worry about what was never said,

not with the orchestra sliding into the sea

and all our attention devoted to humming

whatever it was they were playing.

How Did I Get So Lucky?

I really don't know how I managed to marry such an incredible man! Even on days when I am feeling overwhelmed, grumpy, or stressed, Ryan treats me like a princess and finds special ways to show me how much he loves me. Last night, I came home from work to find a beautiful bouquet of colorful daisies on our kitchen table, along with an adorable note from my husband. Throughout our entire relationship, he has always been so thoughtful, and he continues to romance me in our marriage. He has never needed a special occasion to send me flowers.

Tonight, Ryan gained even more brownie points with me :-). Once again, I came home from work to be greeted by a special surprise. The house was tidied up, and several other chores that I hadn't completed earlier in the day were done. My husband's generosity, selflessness, and thoughfulness are qualities that make me feel ever-more blessed to have him in my life. I cannot thank him enough for the joy and love he gives to me. God led me toward one extraordinary man for me to share my life with! How did I get so lucky?

Grammie

Perhaps it's because of her furniture filling up my apartment, the photos hanging on my walls, or just her unforgettable nature, but I have not been able to stop thinking about my Grammie lately. She's been gone for almost a year. So hard to believe. And sometimes I still feel like her fight with cancer was just a bad

dream-- that I can just call her up, hear her voice, and it will all be okay. I wish that was the case. I wish that she could have been here to see my wedding, to hear about how much I love the bedspread she bought for us, to listen to me telling her about everyday life. I wish that I could look forward to her sweet voice singing me happy birthday over the phone.

Even though her absence fills me with sadness and a longing to see her again, Grammie's legacy also gives me an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude that she was part of my life. She was a woman of great faith, kindness, generosity, and spunk. I would like to share some of the things that I loved and continue to cherish about my precious Grammie.

The way she had a song for every situation

The way she called me Sugar Plum

The way I had to bend down to hug her tiny body

Her sense of fashion

Her collections of roosters, sunflowers, and angels

Her dramatic side

Her crazy stories about her life

Her faith in Jesus

Her adorable and contagious laughter

How she made fish and chips

How she introduced me to The Sound of Music

How she always gave people the benefit of the doubt

How she never sat down to eat until everyone else had food on their plates

How she loved her family with all of her heart...

And how people could not help but love her.

Our Wedding

Ryan and I recently received the final copies of our wedding photos, and looking through them made me want to revisit my memories of that day.

The gorgeous photos by Laura Loomis reminded me of how incredible our wedding day was. I am so thankful that we were able to enjoy such a stunning and sacred event with our closest family and friends. God blessed every moment of that day, and we were happy that our wedding could be a testimony of how good He is.

I absolutely loved every detail of our wedding. When I started planning the ceremony and reception, I knew that I wanted it to be outdoors to reveal the beauty of Colorado, the place where we had grown up together. The Tapestry House was the perfect location, with the ornate Victorian style of the house and the beautiful garden-like atmosphere of the grounds. The twinkle lights throughout the trees, on the gazebo, and overhead in the reception pavilion gave a romantic feel and made our wedding even more charming.

The colors I chose (champagne-gold, ivory, and some green in the flowers) helped to achieve the overall look that I wanted: simple, timeless, and elegant. The shimmery champagne-gold bridesmaids' dresses contributed to an antique style that flowed well with the Victorian look of the setting. Cream and green hydrangea bouquets with crystals scattered throughout also went with the romantic yet clean theme.

My strapless dress (which I REALLY want to wear again) made me feel like a princess without being too frilly or flowery. Once again going with the Victorian element, it laced like a corset up the back and fit closely down around the hips, with the perfect amount of crystal beading and a sweat-heart neckline. I loved the elegant flow of the organza skirt and the crystal detail on the train as well. The ivory color looked beautiful next the the golden bridesmaids' dresses and full flowers. I also adored my hair, thanks to Cheryl Bueler at Changes Salon in Loveland. It was also fairly simple, full on top with soft curls that peaked out perfectly over my fingertip veil.

Talking about all of the details of our wedding makes me want to go back and relive the whole day! I will forever remember the way that God blessed our wedding, clearing the rain to let the sun shine down on our ceremony, using the words of Carl Sutter to join us together as husband and wife, and allowing us to celebrate our love with all of the people we care for most. We could not have asked for more!

I Am Whole

I've been going through Jennifer Kennedy Dean's "He Restores My Soul." This morning, the lesson was about choosing the way of the cross and leading a "crucifixion life." As followers of Christ, we can choose to react from His perspective even in difficult situations. As we respond to God's power and love, our old habits of pride and selfishness are crucified, and a new soul is resurrected within us. I love how God used Christ as a model for this. He resurrects my soul just as Christ was resurrected after doing the Father's will.

All of this is so much easier said than done, but sometimes I wonder how much more peaceful my life would be if I simply surrendered my own pride and worries to someone who has the power to heal and solve all things. My guess is that my peace would pass understanding :-).

I Am Whole

Let this my crucifixion be,

as I lift my gaze toward the cross.

That Christ is my sufficiency;

I count all else as deepest loss.

Broken as Jesus on the tree,

and like the Savior's risen soul,

I sense the power of Him in me.

my life is renewed, I am whole.

A New Job for My New Life

After being in Florida for about two weeks, I decided that it was time to look around for a part-time job. Until I start school, I need something to keep me busy and productive while Ryan is at work, especially as he is working evenings. So I picked up applications for several places: Starbucks, Panera, and a local smoothie cafe. If not for my husband, Mr. smoothie fanatic, I probably wouldn't have even thought to apply at the third place. I had never really noticed it before, and I hadn't heard of the name. But after Ryan told me how thrilled he would be if his wife worked at a delicious smoothie store, I thought I'd give it a try. Low and behold, I got the job!

My stylin' uniform

I am now past my first few days of training, and I am having a lot of fun. The people I work with are very friendly and willing to help, and the smoothie samples I get to taste throughout the day are definite pluses as well! It's interesting how even a part-time job can make you feel better about yourself. I feel like this is another step toward getting settled into my new environment and living a productive life. It's nice to have a job where you can show people generosity and kindness every day, simply by offering a warm smile and a yummy smoothie :-). It may sound silly and trite, but it's true. I guess a little job can go a long way.

My Unexpected Love Story

This is part of a creative non-fiction story that I've compiled over time. I'm sure you can guess where I gathered my inspiration for this story :-). Hope you enjoy!

There was once a girl who wandered the imaginary woods of her neighborhood, climbing the trees and envisioning her prince charming off in the distance of her future. He would be tall and handsome, with green eyes and a soothing voice. He would take her in his arms and awaken her with his kiss. He would be her Prince Phillip and she his Sleeping Beauty. Like many little girls, this is the dream she had in mind, though she often doubted the likelihood of its fulfillment. The girl grew older and soon began to forfeit her childhood hopes of prince charming. In her heart, she believed that God had someone special in store for her, but the world sometimes made this faith frail.

There was once a boy who found adventure in everything he saw. Fireflies were fading sparks from the fiery breath of a dragon; a tree branch became his sword, while his bicycle served as his chariot. When he went crawdad fishing, he was heroically slaying the monstrous beasts of the earth. And fourth-of-July fireworks were bombs sent to conquer the evil rulers of the land. He was what any girl would want in a prince charming. He was brave and strong; he was heroic and honorable; he was tall and handsome, with green eyes and a soothing voice. The boy grew older and soon began to forfeit his childhood fantasies and heroic ideals. In his heart, he believed that God had something special in store for him, but the world sometimes made this faith frail.

The year was 1998 when they met, in an encounter that could scarcely be deemed groundbreaking or magical. After all, the girl and the boy were young, not yet teenagers. Members of the opposite sex were not exactly desirable. The years would go by, and the girl and the boy would become friends, spending time together at church and school. They would even become boyfriend and girlfriend, but only for a short hour during middle school, when boy-girl relationships consist of little more than momentary and uncertain flirtation. More years would go by; the girl and boy would begin high school; they would find new friends, join new clubs, become the girlfriend or boyfriend to someone else, and drift apart.

How little they knew about what the future held…

Blessed

It's hard to believe that with all of the blessings in my life, I could ever find a reason to be discontent. But it happens, I am ashamed to admit. This world consistently sends us messages of materialism, self-indulgence, and of course the idea that other people have things better than we do. Unfortunately, I often pay more attention to these messages than to the true Message. I forget that my life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4: 14). It is a speck of dust in the grand scheme of eternity. And not only that, but this incredibly small life that I possess on this earth is abudant with blessings.

The last couple of days, my attitude has not been where it should be. Yes, I miss my family, and yes, I am facing many changes in my life. But it is time to stop making excuses and start looking at things God's way, instead of my own. I decided that the best way to do this is to make a list of the clear blessings God has bestowed on me. When you focus on what you have, it's a little harder to complain :-).

I have...

The most loving and handsome husband

a beautiful and sweet little sister

two unbelievable parents

the most perfect in-laws

a beautiful home

a warm bed

plenty of good food

great health

a new job (at the first place to which I applied...God is good!)

the opportunity to attend college

supportive and compassionate friends

the promise of my salvation.

And that's just the beginning of how God has blessed my life! If you're feeling down today, make a list of your own.

Domestic Attempts

Now that I'm a married woman, I have been putting forth my best efforts toward domestic success :-). I've always liked interior decorating (HGTV is definitely a personal favorite), but the whole cooking/baking thing... not my area of expertise.

I've really enjoyed putting our apartment together! We are very blessed to have such nice new and hand-me-down furniture to make this space more like home. Much of the furniture belonged to my late grandma and to my parents, so I feel like I have pieces of my family with me. I almost cried when we finished arranging the living room. I almost felt like I was back in my grandma's house.

Now for my endeavors in the kitchen... not always as successful. I think Ryan is as good a cook as I am at this point. But a few meals have turned out pretty well. About a week ago, I made cheese blintzes with fruit topping. Ryan and I both like having breakfast food for dinner, so I decided to try a new recipe from a breakfast cookbook we received as a wedding gift. The process was a little bit longer than I expected. The crepe batter alone has to sit in the refrigerator for an hour before using. Then there's the cheese filling to mix and the syrupy fruit topping to make. And to top it all off, you have to cook the crepes, build the blintzes, and everything still has to bake for fifteen minutes before you finally get to eat. After all the work, the blintzes were good, but I have a few alterations I would make to the recipe... if I get the energy to do it again :-). At least they looked pretty!

And It Begins

I have now been officially married for one month and two days. It doesn't seem quite real. Early in my life, I would never have guessed that God would have led me this direction. Not once did I dream that I would budge from Colorado, home not only to the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, but also to my family for the past twenty-one years of my life. When you fall in love with a member of the Coast Guard, however, living on the coast is a bit of a requirement.

Now I am in St. Petersburg, Florida, in a cute little apartment that I share with my wonderful husband (it's still a bit strange to use that word). I know a grand total of six people in this area, one of them being the man I live with, and four of them being extended family members. Let the adventure begin!

Even though you're slightly prepared for the load of changes the military will throw your way, I'm beginning to understand that the surprises will always keep coming. When we arrived in Florida, Ryan (my husband) learned that he would no longer be working daytime hours as he expected, but he would instead be working from the early afternoon into the late hours of the night. Right away, our sleep schedule, dinner schedule, and any other kind of schedule turned upside down. It's not the ideal situation we had in mind for our first months of marriage, but we're gradually figuring it out. Thus, my first lesson as a Coastie wife: don't make any rock solid plans unless you can handle them changing :-). I suspect that this is one of the first in a long line of works God will do in me as I follow this life with Ryan. I've never been one for change, but I think the point is to rely on His plans rather than my own.

Before I start to sound too high and mighty or deeply in touch with God's will for my life, I have to admit that I've had a few meltdowns since leaving Colorado. It's not easy to face so many changes, but I'm immensely thankful that I can look at my new husband and remember why I chose this life as a Coastie wife.