Love Treats

This was delivered to my work and waiting for me when I arrived. I always tell my hubby that I'm not a flowers person and he doesn't have to...but he is VERY much a flowers person, and he ALWAYS does it. One of his ways of showing love is through gifts and I've come to really, really appreciate it. It was definately a suprirse that made me smile and get butterflies again!

When I got home, Caleb had made me this:

And instead of going out and waiting in a long line at a hecticly-busy romantic restraunt, we ordered take-out: YUMM

My parents brought over a treat:

And this was my gift to him

(hard to capture the whole look, but it had extra touches of a clean room, rose peddles on the bed, lit candles, etc.):

30 Things I Love About Him

Angel has hit a big birthday milestone today! While I won't give away his age, I will share 30 things I love about him!

1. I love seeing Christ in him.
2. I love seeing him strive to be the best dad.
3. I love how he makes me smile.
4. I love trying something new with him.
5. I love hearing what God is teaching him.
6. I love hearing him pour his heart out to God in prayer.
7. I love that he me made an extra set of keys because he knows how our mornings go sometimes.
8. I love that he calls me just to say "I love you."
9. I love that he’s a morning person goes to the panaderia for fresh bread on the weekends and makes coffee before I wake up.
10. I love that he tries to fix things around the house before calling the landlord!
11. I love his love for worship.
12. I love watching him play the bongos every Sunday in church.
13. I love his laugh and smile.
14. I love that he can never win a bet with me.
15. I love that he takes care of my car.
16. I love that even though we're so different, we are so much alike.
17. I love that he takes his turn doing dinner and cleaning up.
18. I love watching action movies with him, but I love that he'll watch a "girly" movie with me.
19. I love snuggling on the couch. I love when we have to make room to fit all four of us on the couch like there's no place better in the whole world to sit.
20. I love that he's warms me up when I'm cold.
21. I love that he surprises me with a date and already has a babysitter lined up
22. I love that he might not always know what to say, but he’s always there.
23. I love that I know where he's ticklish.
24. I love when he tells me I'm beautiful even at my worst.
25. I love that even though he doesn't like shopping, he'll do it just to be with me.
26. I love that he rubs my back any time I ask.
27. I love that he's patient and forgiving.
28. I can be myself with him.
29. I love talking about growing old together. I love finding his gray one grey hair.
30. I love that he inspires me to be a better person.

I love YOU mi Amorito soo much! Feliz Cumpliaños!! God has blessed me through you. May we continue serving the Lord together all the days of our lives.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6

When You Get Married

When we got back from our anniversary, Caleb asked what we did. I told him we had fun and spent time together. Then he asked with this half-way grossed-out look on his face "Did you kiss?"

Thanks Grammy and Grampa for watching the kids! They enjoyed their weekend and so did we! Grandparents are wonderful!

A Growing Love

Celebrating our Anniversary has become a special time for us to look forward to each year. Mostly because we never imagined that God would bring us to where we are today. We always enjoy looking back over where God has brought us and where He might be leading us. I am thankful for what God can do with two people who are very much sinners, but rely on God in the center of their relationship. In times of trail, God has used that to point us right back to where we should be, at the foot of the cross.

I've been amazed at how God can grow our imperfect selfish love into something so much more than that for His glory. I knew that I loved my husband the day we got married, but I never knew how much God would grow and multiply that love. Today, I love him so much more than the day we got married. I've heard people say "I love him/her just as much as the day we got married." And I think "That's sad!" Because I feel like that should grow and does grow when God is in the center. Over the past few years, we've learned a lot about what love looks like and what love is. Here are just a few. Please add to our list and leave your own "love is" in comments!

Love is God-centered
Love is always growing and learning
Love is truthful and trusting
Love is beautiful
Love is dependable
Love is being able to quickly say "I'm sorry"
Love is forgiving
Love is that last moment of sleep to cuddle before getting out of bed
Love is letting the other person have the last bite
Love is sunshine on a rainy day
Love is inspiration to be a better person
Love is strong
Love is real

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. " I Cor 13: 4-7

Date Night

Me and my hubby. A nice meal. No kids. And best of all, I don't have to make supper!
The Credit Union is having their annual meal for members tonight. Ok, so maybe not technically a date...my parents will be there, my brother, my grandparents, and hundreds of other people we might recognize. But hey, sometimes this is as close as you get for two full time working parents! The kids will be off having pizza and games while we enjoy a nice meal and sit through some business stuff.

A Cord of Three Strands

So when Angel told me that he asked someone from church if we could borrow they're cabin for the weekend, I was thrilled. I said "the kids will love it!"

"The kids? They'll be with Grammy" he said skeemishly.

I have to admit, my heart sank. They have become the joy of my life. "What are we going to do by ourselves the whole weekend? No Kids. No TV. No cell phone service. Friday. Saturday. Sunday."

He just smiled.

It was a good time away together. Just us two. Something that I'm not used to. I really thought we might actually be board without our kids and wouldn't have much to talk about. I was wrong. We needed to reconnect, enjoy being married, and strengthen our cord. At the end of the weekend I was really proud of him for making me feel so special! Gracias mi Amor! Thankyou Bakers for letting us retreat for the weekend at your place. Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids. Thankyou Lord for a cord of three strands.
Ecc 4:12
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."


After church on Sunday, we met up with my mom who had the kids and she brought them out for the rest of the afternoon.

"Scoot over, I was sitting there first, give it back" shortly reminded me to be even more thankful for the time alone with my husband...as much as we missed the kids.



On our way home squeezed in more fun and drove up to the top of Massanutten Peak to see some beautiful views.



Then we checked out their new Water Park and stopped by the Arcade. This is a new birthday party idea that Alisia's thinking about and planning for July.

Back to life! Recharged and Ready.

Matthew 19:4-6
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Marriage Blessing

Our prayer for you two as you begin a family together is this

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
Philippians 1:9

Congrats Jarrod and Stephanie! We can't wait to Celebrate with you this weekend!