Happy Anniversary

May 8th was Jeremy and I's 6th anniversary. Its hard to believe its been six years already. But, we do have three kids so I guess we are getting old... We didn't celebrate that weekend because it was Mother's day and Jeremy had planned a big surprise for me the following weekend. (Yes, I put the two days of the year you get pampered on in the same weekend-Guess I wasn't thinking someday I'd be a mom when I choose my wedding date...)

Warning- If you get annoyed by someone gushing about how wonderful their husband is you might want to skip this post.

So, anyway Jeremy has been planning a surprise for me for weeks. I was very curious. He has figured out that I associate planning and forethought with pure love. So I have enjoyed every moment of anticipating this surprise. While I am a good guesser he really surprised me this time. On Saturday my mom, sister Josie, and cousin's wife Kara headed to a local salon for a "spa day." It was lovely!!! We had fun chatting while being pampered. I had a manicure, pedicure, & a facial.

Then the girls went to spend the night at Gramy & Papa's house. Jeremy and I enjoyed ice cream cones, a walk in the park, dinner out with only one child, and a chic flick with popcorn. It was the perfect day girlfriend time, me time, time with my hubbie, and no cooking or cleaning!

I was also going to get my haircut, but really needed to get home to feed Titus so I went back Wednesday night. I also LOVE my new haircut. It was such a "fancy" haircut. She gave me a scalp massage, washed my hair (while the chair gave me a massage), cut, dried, styled, and actually made my hair look like the picture. Oh, and I got a free drink. This isn't the greatest picture... But you can see my big smile.

I feel so blessed to call Jeremy my husband. The last year has been a very difficult one in the life of our family. There have been moments when we were simply surviving and getting by. But God's faithfulness and our commitment have carried us through to more joy filled days.

Jeremy, I love you more each day. God has shown me this past year the balance we bring to each others lives, how our strengths compliment each others weaknesses, and how to cling to God and each other when the storms rage. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us... Happy Anniversary!

Our Anniversary, Mother's Day, & This...

So one of my goals for this blog is to be real. I want the girls to be able to read it some day and learn from the challenges & joys that we have experienced as a family. This past weekend was a "big" weekend. Friday was Jeremy & I's five year anniversary. I wish I had pictures to post from the lovely date night we had planned to go on. But, it didn't happen. Earlier last week Jeremy told me that this weekend was when we would be trenching and installing drainage tile in our yard. He hinted around about machinery & big holes in the ground. I asked if he would rather I took the girls and went to visit my parents. We both decided this would be the best plan since the girls love to be with their daddy & grandpa when they are out in the yard. The next day Jeremy realized this weekend was our anniversary... I knew all along. But, we decided to go forward as planned. 

When the girls and I came back late Saturday night the yard was a big mess. Jeremy was very tired and we upset our neighbor because we messed up his flowers. The plan was that the yard would be finished and we would spend Mother's Day as a family. Jeremy would make dinner, we would take the kids to the park, and then watch a movie. Well, that didn't work out either. We ate Subway, spent the afternoon finishing the yard,  and I made dinner for & us and the family who came to help. And my children didn't exactly "rise up and call me blessed" either.  Grace made a lovely flower craft in her class (for Mother's Day) which she screamed and cried about when we tried to encourage her to actually give it to me. 

Have no doubt we live a real life, with real challenges. Challenges that make me want to throw a pity party, eat ice cream, and sometimes have a good cry! But, the good news is that God didn't leave me there. His work in my life is awesome. Here are some of the things He showed me.

- While I didn't have my anniversary date I went on an AMAZING trip to Mexico in December to celebrate early. We saved money, and missed the swine flu! And while we still wanted to at least have a date night on our anniversary it doesn't mean we have a stinky marriage. We actually have a awesome marriage, and I'd choose everyday bliss over once a year romance any day. I am more in love with my husband than the day I married him and part of the reason is all the challenges we have weathered together.

-When I got home there was a lovely Mother's Day card & surprise from Rick & Leeanne. A spa manicure gift certificate. They are so thoughtful.

-While my Mother's Day wasn't perfect it wasn't horrible either. While we were working on our yard my neighbor told me our family has inspired her to work on her faith & her family. God really touched my heart on that one!

-Grace may not have wanted to share the particular treasure she made in Sunday School but she has told me several times in the last month, "Your the best mommy ever."

- Yesterday I worked hard to fix our neighbor's flowers as best I could. They don't look like they did, but he did say he was thankful. I am praying my best efforts to go above and beyond what he asked will shine some light into his life.

This year I am reading through the Bible in chronological order. Currently I am reading through many of the Psalms. What perfect timing for the circumstances of our life. David is such an honest guy. He tells God when his life stinks, and then in the same breath says, "You rock God!" I can see God teaching me that is what deep faith looks like. It is realizing that even when life gets hard God hasn't changed. He is still awesome even if your life makes you want to eat ice cream.

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."

MEXICO!

So, technically our anniversary isn't until May. But we celebrated anyway!

Getting ready to go snorkeling. It was fun except that the water was very rough. And towards the end I was a little sea sick.

The sun was perfect. It wasn't hot- just warm. We actually had to make an effort to get tan.

On Sunday morning we got up early (5 a.m.) to watch the sun come up. It was gorgeous. Jeremy and I both thought it was a great way to worship.

One of our favorite things was getting dressed up and going out to dinner each evening. It was absolutely lovely to not have to cook, or cut up food, or encourage good manners, or wrestle a little person who needs their face washed, or shout over little people noise in order to talk!

I have to admit I am still adjusting back to cold weather & being in the middle of the Christmas season. Our trip was amazing! And other than missing our girls it was absolutely perfect. We didn't have any travel issues. We had fun going snorkeling at a coral reef, shopping in Playa del Carmen, eating yummy food, laying on the beach, reading, walking (our resort was HUGE), listening to the ocean, and just having time with each other when we didn't have to share. Our biggest adventure was going to explore a cave. It was part of an underground river system so we had to wear wetsuits. Part of the time we were swimming. It was really cool. I don't have any pictures I can upload because they wouldn't let you have a camera (at all). The flashes can damage the cave (a.ka. they take pictures and charge big bucks!). So we hated to do it but spent $25 so we would have one picture to remember our adventure.

I think one of my favorite things about the trip was enjoying the fulfillment of a dream. Jeremy and I from the very beginning had set a goal of getting away every five years. It was so fun to reflect on the past five years and see the blessing of it actually coming to be. On our way to our resort the van we rode in dropped off some people at the resort we stayed at on our honeymoon! It was also great to realize I enjoyed this trip even more than our honeymoon. I am still crazy about my husband and he is still my favorite person to spend time with. The world tells us that all the "excitement" is before you get married and then everything is down hill from there. What a lie! The past five years has been full of challenges, but it is such a blessing to think about how my love for Jeremy has grown! I was very worried about being away from the girls. We both missed them, but they seemed to have a great time while we were gone. And they are enjoying the maracas we brought back for them.

Jeremy,

I love you more now than the day I married you. And I am already dreaming about 10 years! You are my best friend, an amazing husband, and my favorite person to experience life with. You have gotten me to do stuff I never would have (Caves were not my thing!) and I wonder what that will include in the future. Thank you for challenging me, loving me, and helping me to grow.

Jennifer

Mexico here we come!!

You might have noticed the latest addition to my blog is a countdown to Mexico. I am super excited!!!!! Jeremy and I have been saving for a five year anniversary trip since our honeymoon. I was always nervous everything wouldn't fall into place but it did. On December 4th we leave for four glorious nights in the Riveria Maya (south of Cancun), Mexico. Some of you might know our anniversary isn't actually until May. But after talking with our travel agent we decided to go in December for a couple reasons. First, we are saving lots of money. Also it is a good time of the year for Jeremy to be gone since we don't do any youth events between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus May is really hard with all the graduations we have to go to.

One month after our one year anniversary we found out I was pregnant with Grace. Then around her one year birthday we found out we were pregnant with Faith. So basically I have been pregnant or nursing 4 of the five years we have been married. So we are very excited to get-a-way just the two of us. Even though I am excited I dread leaving the girls. I am not always great about leaving them. But I know God has helped the pieces fall into place so that Jeremy and I can have the needed time to charge our marriage batteries. So I am praying God will help me keep from falling into mommy guilt as I seek to enjoy time with my first love, Jeremy. I hope someday when the girls read this they will be glad they had a mom who loved their dad like crazy!! (and not sad they didn't get to come along)

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go......because on December 4th I'm leaving on a jet plane!

I LOVE my Husband

On Thursday, Jeremy and I will celebrate our 4 year anniversary. It doesn't seem possible. In some ways it sees like we've always been married I really can barely remember life without him. And in others it seems like I could still slip in that white dress and walk down the aisle like it was yesterday. Recently several families in our church have been walking through chalenges in their marriages and it has reminded us how precious our relationship is and that it must be humbly gaurded and looked after so that Satan cannot gain a foothold.

I feel like we have already lived so much life together. The first year of our marriage was a tough one. Not because we were adjusting to each other but because we were facing some super challenging ministry and life experiences. I am so glad God doesn't ask our opinion when he orchestrates his plan for our life. Becaue even if he had told me all the blessings we would gain from what we went through I'm not sure I could have chosen it for myself. And yet I am so thankful for the way it cemented us together. We survived isolation and uncertainty and came out still liking each other. We have naviagted pregnancy, becoming parents, and becoming a family of four. We have moved five times! God has been so faithful to us.

My husband is wonderful. I have been reminded often lately how much I appreciate him. Some of my favorite things about him are:
-His love for our kids and all his "big" kids
-The way he never complains about how unclean our house is, and even notices when I've managed to get it somewhat under control!
-The way he brings me flowers for no reason at all (yes-he actually does this)
-That he takes walks with me (when we first got married he told me he hated walking and he didn't ever think he would enjoy it)
-the way he constantly reminds me he thinks i'm beautiful

And there are lots more... I want my kids do read this some day and realize how deeply in love with their dad I am. I pray they will always be blessed by the security of our relationship built around Christ.

Jeremy- Happy Anniversary- I love you more today then the day I married you.