we...

for our anniversary this year, we went out to eat at a fancy place high up in the sky.

we had free babysitters.

we got massages.

we had a yummy souffle for dessert.

 we rotated.
i played with dry ice.
--what? that's not what you ask for for your anniversary?

it was wonderful.

and all with my hunka-hunka-burnin'-love.

blessed.

8

the hubs and i celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss yesterday.

so to commemorate this auspicious occasion, i thought i'd list 8 things i've learned during our marriage:

1. men and women are different. ("um, yeah!" you say to yourself. --but you and i both know that all the pre-marital classes in the world could not prepare a couple for the differences they'll incur while married.)

2. submission is not a four-letter word and when done biblically... is beautiful.

3. you can never overestimate the value of a more-experienced couple's mentorship.

4. sometimes men just take longer in the bathroom, and there ain't nothin' you can do about it.

-classy.

5. make it how his mama made it. our first year of marriage i tried to make chocolate mousse, his favorite, and he did not like it. that's because he didn't actually like chocolate mousse... he liked the kind his nannie used to make. it's basically cool whip, milk, and chocolate pudding. now i know. and knowing is half the battle....

6. nagging never works. and pretty much does irrevocable damage. avoid at ALL costs.

7. he doesn't clean like i do and that's ok. i will be thankful for the help.

8. a marriage centered on Christ, His provision, and His goodness is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

9. and a bonus: a marriage is made up of two sinners. we are called to be the spouse God calls us to be regardless of how our spouse is acting. so, pretty much, no excuses.

as wives, may we appreciate the leader God has given us and encourage our man to become more like Him everyday. 

i am so thankful for you, justy-poo. you are the best husba-friend a gal could ask for.

we're gonna make it after all...

a year ago today we received two precious children into our family, not knowing how temporary or permanent it would be. and today we are on our way to having them forever. before writing this post, i read the post from a year ago today entitled "welcome home" and truth be told, i remember that day to be a bit more horrific and terrifying than i let on. --so much so that i have called several people today and thanked them for helping us through such a rough time. on the post from a year ago, all the names are different (i was still playing around with their blog names), but the memory is very fresh. and now, 365 days after that post, we are doing ok. we have rough days. there is fighting, yelling, crying, and stomping of feet. --and then there's the kids' behaviors too! ;) other days are so serene i have to pinch myself to believe it can actually go this smoothly.

i am so glad we've lived to see the end of this year pass. we made it. by the grace of God, and i DO mean that, we have made it through. now all we have to do is adopt them, get through puberty with them, high school, college, marriage, and grandkids and we'll be in the clear. :) yes...i can see the light at the end of the tunnel.


so thank you guys for all your support this past year. thank you for giving me a thumbs up when i needed it. thanks for helping me to keep going. we really CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

below is a picture i had gabe draw me today. "our family." gabe is at the top because he said he's coming down a slide. an invisible slide. watch out for those. and elijah has a circle around his head because it's a hoodie. and the little antennae thingies? those are his ears. our radiant glow? our hair. and colalicious' tiny head? --because he's a baby, of course. and apparently babies look like lollipops. this is our family. soon to be our forever family. thank You, God, for these precious gifts. and help me to remember they are precious when they stink and scream and whine. You and i both know i do that, too. ;)