Brook and I have been married six months.  It feels like six years!! In such a good way though.  I absolutely love being married.  There is nothing better in the entire world.  I love having a person I’m completely comfortable being myself with, no matter how weird I may be.  He loves me unconditionally and would do anything to make me happy.  You can’t beat that.  

However, I had no warning about the hard stuff.  When I said “i do”, I not only became his wife but I became a pastor’s wife.  AH! Why was there no warning about how difficult that would be at times? I’ve worked in ministry myself for years, but this side is quite different.  It’s a joy and an honor to be his partner in ministry.  I love that he values my opinion so highly and always wants my help.  But ministry is not as easy as it looks.  You are held to such a higher standard and much more is expected of you.  How do you deal with the people that aren’t always “nice” to the person that you love more than anything in the world? It’s difficult to draw the line between a Godly woman and a crazy woman.  Sometimes I just need to be crazy and tell people how I feel about them!!  

I’m learning.  Every single day I’m learning how to deal with different situations and how to support my husband.  I’m thankful for the amazing women God has placed in my life who have already done this for many years.  I would be lost without that guidance and knowledge. (Thanks Wendy!)

Marriage is the most amazing thing! I can’t wait for the next 6 months and the MANY more after that.  How blessed I am!!

Today is my husband’s 28th birthday!! Wow we’re getting old.  I guess we better start having kids soon, huh babe??  

In honor of his birthday I’d like to share 28 of my favorite things about him: 

1.  His heart 

2. His sense of humor

3. His lips (sorry…had to throw that in there!)

4. His love for water (i’m starting to understand…)

5. He’s a really sexy cowboy

6. He’s a really hard worker

7.  How he never gives up

8.  He loves our dog

9. He shoots rubber bands really well

10. He married ME!

11. He sacrifices to make me happy

12. He’s really bad at scrabble! ha!

13. That hat he always wears.  Oh wait…

14. He taught me how to wakeboard & play poker

15. He’s super cute when he sleeps

16. He’ll never give up on me

17. He’s pretty funny

18.  He claims he doesn’t like my movies, but will watch them with me if I ask

19.  He wont let me give up on my dreams because he knows its what I love 

20. Umm…we’re going to have the cutest kids ever.  Are you kidding me? How cute is that!?!

21. He never lets it be about him, but I always want it to be!

22. He takes out the trash…I don’t even ask!

23. He actually wins money playing poker

24. He loves 24. 

25. Don’t even get me started on that voice…

26. He drives a hot jeep 

27. Umm…he’s pretty much the cutest thing ever

28.  He’s OLD  
I love my husband! WAY more than these 28 reasons.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

It all started out with sleeping until about 5pm like he loves.  Then we went to Petco.  He actually likes Petco.  Petsmart, not so much.  At Petsmart is where his doctor is and Petco is where he gets toys and treats.  Amazing how he knows the difference.  

So we got him a new pig (his favorite toy in the world), a very cool preppy boy polo shirt, and some bacon treats.  Then off to the dog park.  Where he refused to play with other dogs and begged us to take him home so he could play with his new pig.  

He had a great day and thanks everyone who told him Happy Birthday! 

 And contrary to popular belief, or pastors who think other wise (uhhh Craig…), Jack will be in Heaven.  He believes in Jesus and even prays with us.  Better believe it  

Today is Jack Bauer’s Birthday.  

No…not this Jack Bauer:                       This Jack Bauer: 

Jack Bauer James to be exact.  Now you tell me which one looks tougher.  That rubber chicken never stood a chance.  If you don’t know us, we’re the crazy people that treat our dog like our child.  I know a lot of people don’t understand that, but 5 minutes around this kid and you would understand why.  He’s basically the coolest dog of all time.  Not that I’m biased or anything:) 

We are taking Jack to Petco today to pick out a new toy.  He can’t wait.  We might even take him to the dog park… except he’s a huge snob and doesn’t like to socialize there so we’ll do whatever he wants to do.

And yes he knows it’s his birthday.

So as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge wuss. Ok maybe I haven’t mentioned that, but I am.  I have had a lot of illnesses in the past year, so therefore I feel like a huge wuss.  Started out with me getting bad stomach aches which turned into me getting my gallbladder removed in January.  Then I had a lot of issues with a certain medication that is supposed to prolong child bearing (hmm wonder what that could be).  Enter the insane migraines and various other issues.  So basically I feel like there is always something wrong with me. 

Let me just say, Brook has waited on me hand and foot and is so paitent with all of my “issues”.  He’s unbelievable.   

Finally, I’m getting my chance.  

Brook has a really bad ear infection.  He’s shared more about it here.  He’s determined that I punched him in the ear in the middle of the night, but it’s most likely caused by the week we spent on the lake and him slamming his head against the water constantly.  All that to say, I know how he feels.  I finally talked him into letting me take him to a doctor yesterday. I hate seeing him hurt and want nothing more than to make the pain go away! I’m so thankful now for all the times he’s taken care of me.  I have a pretty great man! He may not be able to hear me when I sit on his right side, but he’s still great. 

I’m learning to be a housewife.  While I’m in between jobs at the moment and trying to figure out exactly how to move forward with my career, I’m at home.  Learning to cook, clean and take care of my husband and our home.  I don’t know how women do it.  I get SOOO bored!!! I can only clean for so long!! But luckily Brook has a flexible schedule and can come work from home and entertain me for a while.  

Also, you’ll never catch me in a dress and high heels while cleaning my kitchen.  Call me crazy.

Things I’ve done as a housewife: 
1) Cooked my first brisket
2) Organized my kitchen 
3) Sold a whole lot of our stuff on craigslist
4) Finished the guest room and office (finally!)
5) Gained a whole new respect for women who do this full time! 

It’ll be a totally different story when we have kids and I stay home with them, but right now I feel completely worthless! Brook keeps telling me that’s silly and I’m not worthless, but give me a break.  Today I cleaned the kitchen and looked at wedding magazines all afternoon.  Tough life.  And I just thought I wanted to be a trophy wife. Hmmm… I guess I’ll get on that career thing tomorrow.  

I have had the best worst year of my life.  

Hmm…not really sure if that’s possible but somehow it worked out that way. A little over a year ago (August 4th to be exact), the man of my dreams gave me a beautiful diamond ring and asked me to be his bride.  By far the best thing that anyone has ever asked me  

Then reality hit and I had to step down from my position at Lifechurch, by far one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.

I also got very sick and ended up having to have my gallbladder taken out.  

Birth control did a number on my body, emotions and hormones.  WOW we won’t even go there…

LOTS of job issues.

So basically it’s been a rough year.   

Finding the “perfect job” isn’t an easy task.  Especially when you are a wedding coordinator! I was recently doing events for a place and decided to leave there so I could pursue weddings fully.  So right now I am unemployed and searching for the right place for me.  It’s very difficult to feel like I’m not contributing to our little family (someone has to buy the dog food!).   

But as I look at all these “terrible” things I’ve gone through, I’m blown away by the blessings.  Each thing has brought Brook and I closer.  I trust him and know I can count on him for everything.  He sees me through it all, and loves me unconditionally through it all. Everyday God shows me how much He loves me and cares for me through my husband.  I never knew love could be like this! We are definitely stronger because of it all, and believe me I know how to deal with a bad day when it comes my way! 

So bring on the hard times, we can handle it and by the grace of God…this too shall pass.   

I started doing Yoga.  I’m not the biggest fan of working out, so I’ve pretty much tried everything to find an exercise I enjoy.  Well I have a goal of losing 25 pounds this year and getting my body in “baby boarding” shape.  So therefore I’m trying yoga.  

This made me realize how impatient I am.  Good grief! It’s difficult for me to hold poses, and s-l-o-w-l-y move into the next pose.  This got me to thinking how hard it is for me to hold still and wait on God for what He has for me.  I’m in such a “waiting and trusting” period in my life, and pretty much have been for the past year.  I’m in between jobs, trying to find the best place for me to use the skills God has given me.  I have been blessed with such an interesting gift, but not always the easiest when it comes to work.  I need to stop worrying, and focus on my current pose and hold it until He’s ready to move me into my next.  

What pose are you in? Is it hard for you to wait on God’s best for you? 

p.s. Yoga is much more difficult than it looks. 

We are back from vacation!! We had a wonderful week with Brook’s family and even got to spend a couple of days with my family on our way back home.  

In case you don’t read my husband’s blog, let me catch you up to speed.  I am TERRIFIED of water.  Like freak out when my head even gets wet because I think I’m going to drown.  (Don’t make fun…you know you have some crazy stupid fear.  I found out someone I know is scared of Dinosaurs so I think my fear is no longer the worst fear!!) Well, I happened to have married a fish.  Brook LOVES the water and would rather be at the lake than anywhere.  So where did we go on vacation? THE LAKE! Now dont get me wrong, I enjoy being in the boat so I can have fun too

I got to thinking how I don’t want our kids to have the same crazy fear as me, so I wanted to attempt facing my biggest fear: lake water.  Lake water is different than regular water because there are living things and it’s dirty so you can’t see the living things.  Talk about scary!!

Brook is an incredible wakeboarder, so I wanted to attempt to learn one of his favorite things.  The first time in the water was very scary for me but Brook was so patient and stayed in the water with me and taught me everything while holding on to me while I was “drowning” (apparently it’s hard to drown with a life jacket and a wakeboard on you). 

Well, to surprise us both….I HAD A BLAST! After I got comfortable in the water, I was actually decent and could get up on the wakeboard.  I was shocked! I had a few really awesome falls, and got me used to being immersed in the water.  I couldn’t believe I lived to tell about it, but I did and my biggest fear now is escalators (that will be for another day ) 

So wakeboarding was the huge highlight of the week, but we had a blast getting to hang out with the family.  We are so incredibly blessed with an amazing family.  I am so excited to know how loved and cared for our children will be.  Brook and I will have an easy time raising our kiddos!! 

I’ll leave you with a few of my professional wakeboarding pics. 

You know you’re jealous of that fall.  Good times…I still hurt from that

Brook and I are off to the lake for a week with his family! We are so looking forward to this vacation and time with our family and best friends. 

We will be back in a week and will most likely have limited to no internet access. Have a wonderful week and don’t give up on me…I promise I’ll be back!! Hopefully with a better tan