Friday, January 14, 2011

In the last two weeks, my belOved had his birthday. The day of his birthday, we prepared for our first hosting party, and what a day to celebrate...the birth of my sweet husband. We cleaned up the apartment, took some clothes to Goodwill, went to the grocery to buy items for the lasagna,then we came home in perfect timing to make the lasagna and garlic bread. Family and friends began to show up around 7p.m. It was so fun having our living and dining room packed with people we love. It was so fun and encouraging to feel the love they have for him. Friends and family came throughout the night, and some stayed until midnight. It was so much fun, and I am so thankful for my sweet and amazing husband.

The next day, we had a date day. While Derick was sleeping, I had to run some errands :). Once I was finished with my errands, Derick and I began our adventure. I wanted to surprise him, but if you do not know he is the hardest person to surprise, and I am the world's worst liar...so I cannot get away with much. So, I made him put his hat over his eyes, and I drove for about an hour to prevent Derick from knowing where we were going...but he even knew what street we were on when I was driving! haha He even knew that I drove over cobblestone by his old work. But we went to Champs to rollerblade.

It was so cute seeing all of the little kiddies, then two adults (us). It was so much fun. Derick had never rollerbladed before, so it was really fun. I took a video of him (which I'll post). We did really well rollerblading...well we determine that by not falling, so we were proud. After rollerblading, we rushed off to the movie theaters to watch the Tourist. It was a really cute movie. Following the movie, we went to my parents to open one of Derick's gifts, and watch a movie with them and my brother. It was a really fun day!

On Sunday, we (along with the other members in the members' classes) were presented before our congregation and became a member at our church! We met some new people, and were encouraged by where the Lord has us. It is such a wonderful church, and I am so thankful it is our church family. It is definitely the church I have prayed for years to be apart of. I am so excited to see what the Lord will do through our church this year!

And some other random tid-bits from the week,
We took our car to the shop, and dad let us borrow their super-cool extremely huge truck! So we have been driving that all week. haha Even though I am really little, I feel like the biggest person driving the truck! It is awesome! haha I wonder if they'll let us keep it (joking!) But seriously..it's cool!

Then, Derick and I started our first class as a couple last night. I am so encouraged to see what the Lord will do in us and through us as we learn and grow in this area of our life. So many things to learn...and a lot of discipline to do it.

We'll write you later!

In His jOy

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011: A New Year

Well it has been a while since I have written, and oh many things have happened.
*Derick was surprised on his birthday by our friends at our new apartment




*February 27th we became husband and wife



*Kari, Susie, Jill, and Danielle had a women's weekend (canoeing, ugly boat, tent underwater, and we fell more in lOve with the Lord)

*"The FIVE" were established
*Andrew moved back to the ville
*Danielle graduated nursing school
*Derick went back to school
*Danielle got her dream job, and may I mention 1st shift!
*I had the best rocking birthday ever (Bible study with Jill & Susie, Bible study with Kari, Jill gave me a bunch of clothes/flowers/sweet cards, Susie bought me my first mini-marathon
*Sweet Jillian, a "crazy Christians" (as Jillian calls it)was baptized
*Suz was promoted
*Baby Jett was born
*Women's weekend (K,S,D): Susie and I complete my First Mini-Marathon with the Monster Dash. It was a good time for me to reflect on my life, and see where I want to go with the rest of it.

*The Sims found out they are having a boy, Asa! (haha we are eating at Wild Eggs, they didn't know I was taking a picture)

*We put up our first Christmas tree



*Our 1st Christmas as husband and wife

*Our 1st New Year's Kiss


*Our New Year Resolutions

It has been a beautiful, encouraging, and challenging year. The Lord has continued to provide and bless us more and more. Many times I wonder, "who am I that He is mindful of me," but at the end of the day I am His daughter/creation/ambassador and He just lOves me.

After Christmas, Derick and I went to visit Momma Pullen & the family. It was a good relaxing weekend, especially watching Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer), when we all ended up getting sick. We came back to the ville, and ended up just having a fun/relaxing day. Derick was excited to get rid of old clothes that he doesn't wear. So we went through our closets and dressers to find clothes we never wear, or will put towards a quilt Mommy and I are going to make. It was pretty funny because if Derick didn't help me pick out clothes to give away, then I probably would continue to have worn-out clothes from high school. I think I cleaned out 25% of my closet and maybe 30% of clothes in my dresser. Why have clothes we won't wear, when we can bless those in need? Then, we cleaned up our living room (which was a mess from putting all of our Christmas gifts out and seeing what fun stuff we received, and trying to figure where we will put everything) Derick was ready to go shopping and conquer the malls, but I was too sleepy so we took a perfectly needed nap. Then we drove around trying to go to some stores, but everything closed early due to the holiday. So, we ended up going to WalMart and getting some new weights to pump us up. It was fun looking around for different items we want, and making sure we only would get fun gifts (not things we want for the house/need...like light bulbs).

After that, we had a very romantic dinner at olive Garden. It was pretty funny trying to pick a meal that we both wanted to share, but we found a delicious meal with the yummy salad and bread sticks! While we were there, we worked on our 2011 New Year Resolutions. Individually, we had to pick 3 goals (one easy, medium, and hard) to accomplish by the end of the year. If we accomplished each goal, then we would get a reward.

For example, my hard goal is: 1 treat/dessert a week.
That doesn't sound that complicated, but we had to define loop holes. We defined a treat/dessert as: ice cream, cake, one piece of small candy, one ridiculously large whatever I want (like a big yummy blizzard with every candy), coffee with additives (like starbucks drinks); and sweet cereals. I can eat cereal with milk for any meal of the day, but I cannot eat it without milk unless it is breakfast (hehe I used to pick out the marshmallows and only eat those hehehe; ask my siblings, they'll confess to it too). Even though that sounds kind of tight, there are exceptions (rare). If a friend/patient buys/makes me a snack, and they do not know this resolution, then I can have it. BUUUT I have to tell them, so friends can just buy me desserts and I can have as many as I want (hehehe). Also I also get 3 weeks of "fail;" meaning if I eat more than 1, I don't achieve the goal for the week. But say I honestly forget, well I have 7 exceptions. Meaning if I stick to one treat a week, that is 52 treats/year, I will also have the 7 exceptions (meaning I can only "fail"7 times; which is 59 treats/year). Pretty detailed goal, right.

Well....if I reach the goal, then I can get a puppy!!!!! It has to be the breed we want as a couple, we pick it out together, and if we cannot choose between 2 dogs, then I have the upper hand to finalize the pup. SOO this puppy better be amazing! haha! And we are in negotiation about when I can get the puppy. Derick says that I would only be able to get him/her starting 1/1/2012, but we are negotiating if I have not used X amount of my exceptions, then I can get the puppy before. This is going to be hard, yet really fun.

I think it is hilarious too that I want a dog. I have never really liked animals, but for some reason the Lord/myself has made me really want one. I think part of it is because I know Derick eventually wants a dog, and we both would prefer to have a dog before we have a baby. (Now, that is ideal. That doesn't mean it will happen that pattern, but we can make our plans and the Lord can change it.) All I know is that we are really excited about our individual goals.

Today, we are going to shop some more, finalize our individual goals, and also work on our goals as a couple. We don't think we will have the same rewards system for our couple goals, but either way it is exciting to have a purpose for 2011. We already have purposes, it is nice to have them a little focused. I also love that we have daily accountability with each other. I could not have asked for a better best friend and partner to share this life with. It is amazing that this is the first New Year of many years together.

Well I think I have been on here a while. I am excited to have more updates, and Lord willing I can figure out how to put pictures on here too. God bless you!