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| Find & Keep |

Memories from the past.. Jeremy's grandma took this picture the first time I met her, just a few weeks after we started dating.

SEE MORE OF THIS SERIES

{ t e n }

10 years.. Today we celebrate 10 years of marriage. That certainly ages us. As we have walked through those minutes and years I've never once doubted his ability to lead, and I am still as eager as ever to come alongside him. That may seem old fashion to some, perhaps, but because I am certain that his desire is to be obedient to the Lord I trust without hesitation. I am eager to see what unfolds before us, yet I savor the moments as we live them, knowing soon they too will be behind us as something to celebrate.

Some things to celebrate from the last 10 years:
- a wedding that was far from picture perfect. It was, however, the perfect picture of 2 young lives choosing the join together before having it all 'figured out' and completely willing to figure it out together!
- God's provision through the first 8 months of marriage when we were both students.
- While others say the first year of marriage is the most difficult, I believe it was one of our best.
- Trusting the Lord together for His direction as Jeremy finished bible college for his perfect placement. It was hard to wait on the Lord, but His faithfulness has proven true over and over again!
- The amazing opportunity to serve in the House of God alongside each other.
- a patient husband who put up with me asking for babies since the day we were married, and the day we finally agreed it was time!
- The sale of a home that paid off all student loans.
- Parents that let us live with them.. (on both sides!)
- Sienna Rae.. our fist born daughter.
- Surviving 5 moves and 3 house renovations.
- Coen Luc Jeremy.. our first born son.
- Learning to parent together. It creates a whole new dynamic for relationships.
- Making it through a season with 2 young children and me on bed rest for months. I still laugh when I remember the day they let me off strict bed rest and we went to Ikea. We barely made it a quarter of the way through and I thought I would have to be carted out!
- Houston Seth.. our 'appointed' one.
- Making time for each other in the midst of the busy-ness of life. Still loving, laughing, working together.
- A home that can house a crowd and doors that are open to doing life with others!

and best of all..
-The fact that we get to figure out the next however-many-years together!

{{{NINE}}}

I have been married for 9 years today to the most perfect man. Well, almost perfect. One thing he is horrible at is taking pictures with me.. We hardly ever take pictures with one another. We were just out at our church's Christmas banquet, and while everyone else took advantage of being dressed up with a beautiful backdrop at their disposal, my husband and I looked at each other after we had put our coats on to leave and realized we were leaving once again with no picture.. I've decided this needs to stop. Tonight he has made reservations. Where to which I have yet to find out, but one thing I do know is that I am going to make sure we get a picture together! I truly believe our best days are yet to come, and I want to remember them!

Spoiled..

I am not one for cheesy love stories. Sappy lines make me queasy. I always told my husband to never write me a poem because it would probably cause me to laugh in his face. Harsh? I'm not sure where my ditest for over-the-top romantic tactics came from.

My husband does not use this as an excuse to slack in the 'sweep her off her feet' duties of a husband though. He knows the perfect ways to cause me to feel love and appreciation without being oversweet. He plans dates, organizes babysitters, brings me flowers unexpectedly, lets me take long naps, cleans the house when I'm out. He does the little things which I think hold much more value than anything over the top. I really am a spoiled wife..

Wedding Photography..

We showed some friends of ours our wedding pictures last night. It made me kind of sad because our pictures are horrible! This is the only one that I like. Please excuse the awful quality, I took a picture of the picture with my iphone. Whenever I talk to any soon-to-be brides I always tell them not to skimp on their photographer. It is the one thing thing that will last beyond the wedding day. I am assisting at 2 weddings this summer, and I feel the pressure because I know what it is like to be unhappy with your wedding photos. I am up for the challenge though, and I am excited to see what it is like on the other side of the camera!!

Best.Husband.Ever

So about 5 minutes after I posted this post yesterday about this purse...

My husband commented with this..

Best husband ever.. I'd say so.

****

I moved some stuff yesterday looking like this. No lie. 

This picture doesn't really do justice to how crazy I looked by the end because not all of the hair dye was in at this point.

I had to work dying my hair into this crazy moving week somehow. I loaded up my van, drove to the new house, and unloaded the vehicle. All with this fine look going on, cape and all. I can't imagine what people must have thought. I am sure if any of the new neighbors caught a glimpse they are a little leery of what kind of crazy is moving in next door! It was all worth it though because I am now happily a red head!

Basil

My first official guest poster here people! I am so thrilled to be able to share a little of my space with Mckenzie. Have you met Mckenzie yet?

This girl has got it all.. She is a crafty one (in a good way of course). Her and her husband had an amazing DIY Christmas.. {see PART 1, PART 2, PART 3}, she has got great style and is already more domesticated than I am.. {see HERE}, and her faith in Christ is so evident in her life {see HERE} 

Even though she makes me feel old I really like her.. REALLY.. SO read this post then

GO HERE!

*******

Hello, folks!

I'm Mckenzie Jean, from over at Basil. 

If you follow my blog, you'll know that its typically a far cry from anything serious. I like trying to create a space where people can come and smile, and if I'm lucky, laugh. 

But this post will be somewhere in the middle. 

I'd love to share my testimony with you all!

The ultra condensed version, that is. 

Lets just jump right in.

I'm the youngest of four. 

I've grown up going to church.

And I loved it…mainly for the friends I'd met. 

I loved going. Met so many incredible people, that I was sure I'd be friends with for the rest of my life. Friendships that began as early as elementary school, and continued well into high school. 

I loved going to church and seeing these wonderful people.

But I also had a large group of friends from school. 

I hate admitting that I was slightly different with each group.

I always stuck to my guns when it came to the "important stuff" morally, but I always loosened the reigns a bit more when it came to everything else. 

Something (some would argue "God" ; ) ) inside of me always kept me from getting too close to that line, though. And I'm so thankful there was. 

Because then in High School I met this boy. 

and he needed me, in a way I couldn't imagine. 

God was about to use me in a way I never saw coming. 

We started dating. 

He was the typical "bad boy"

(come on girls, you know exactly what I'm talking about)

the one with Robert Plant hair,

the one that spent his days at the skate park

the one that was in a band and played shows around town.

The one that got a tattoo for his 16th birthday.

The one most parents are not completely thrilled that their teenage daughter is bringing home…

But God had everything right where he wanted it. 

We dated, I fell head over heels, and it was two months before we knew this would be a forever kind of love. 

but then it happened, God swept in and wanted to get Davids attention. He loved David and wanted David to love him back. We were at the age where we both could have been easily influenced. I could have just as easily adapted the lifestyle of my boyfriend and friends, but God took care of me, and he took care of David. 

So, he used what David loved most to grab his attention, me. 

Like a light switch one day, God turned my feelings for David off. 

I broke up with him, confused as can be as to why I feel so suddenly out of love. 

I explained to David that I needed someone who loved Jesus, it was the most important thing to me, even if I wasn't good at living my life consistently like that. 

Eventually I couldn't help it anymore, and we got back together. 

But God wasn't ready for that.

So two more times I broke up with him.

Right before we got back together the last time, David told me he had fallen in love with Jesus again. He said unlike the other times, that this time, it wasn't for me. It was because it was what he had chosen. 

From that point on we have been able to grow together with God. We stumble upon the way, quite frequently. But God is so good. So forgiving, and we're so undeserving. 

We have a long way to go, but I'm glad we get to learn together. 

*****

I do have to tell you all I laughed to myself as soon as I read Mckenzie's post because I sing a song to the youth in my youth group that goes "don't date til you graduate".. Well, Mckenzie may not have followed my rules, but God worked it all out for His good, and I truly believe that these 2 are going to do some amazing things for the Lord as they keep Him in the center of their lives!

Thanks so much Mckenzie!!

Embrace the Camera..

I was given a tripod and a wireless remote for Christmas..

a w e s o m e

I am going to have so much fun with these new toys.

Jeremy, on the other hand, will probably regret ever buying them for me.

(he's not a fan of having his picture taken)

But he loves me, so he endures...

Glad to be his wife..

8 years ago today, I married this man.

We've been on adventures, walked though trials.

We have been broke and been blessed.

We have grown, we have fought.

Most importantly, we have forgiven.

All while falling more in love.

I'm so thankful he picked me.

I am so thankful God picked US, together.

Marriage is beautiful.

{unlocked} grace..

CONFESSION

I have a really bad habit of leaving my vehicle unlocked. 

The other day my husband said to me that he had locked my van door for me. I was totally snarly and replied, "actually, I leave it unlocked on purpose because I am always the one who has to put all 3 kids in the van by myself, and the last thing I need to be doing is digging in my pocket for keys.."

Yesterday, I had left my wallet in my van, and yes, left the doors unlocked. Well, when I went to use something out of my wallet later, guess what? ALL of my cards were missing. ALL. Credit card, debit card, driver's license, birth certificate, health cards. Everything. Am I at risk for identity theft or what!

The amazing part of this story though is this.. My husband had every right to say "I told you so." Every right. But did he? No.. He didn't get upset. Not at all. As soon as I told him he just made the phone calls to the bank that needed to be made, and he found out exactly what I needed to do to cover all my bases. He left work to go and look around where the van had been to see if anything was left behind. He came with me to the police station and registry even though he had a lot that he needed to get done. He did not spout one word about it all being my fault {which it totally was!} He was so full of grace for my neglectfulness. How amazing is that?

So, I have learnt my lesson(s).. I will not leave my vehicle unlocked anymore.. I will not be snarly to my husband when he is just trying to remind me to do something I should be doing... I will show grace to others when they make mistakes even if they had been warned prior... GRACE... Awesome...

*images original to Jane Mabel