20 Things I Love...

Here are just a few things that I have come to love about my husband.

1. I love that I can ask my husband to hand me something, anything, and without looking away from his game or thinking anything of it, he will stop and reach for it using those amazingly long arms that God gifted him with.

2. I love that when there are only 5 cookies left that my husband immediately agrees we MUST finish them off. He even suggest we split the 5th cookie...though I always convince him he should have that one.

3. I love that in the last two months Saturday night has become the one night that we stay up until nearly 2 in the morning playing games, running short trips for a midnight snack, and talking until we pass out from exhaustion that we hadn't recognized all evening.

4. I love that my husband is mindful of his video game playing without my ever having to say anything. (If I had ever thought it would be a concern, I would have taken it into account while we were still dating. As it is, we were nearly engaged by the time I even knew he still played.) He hardly ever plays, but when he does I can't help but smile and give him a quick kiss when he pauses to look at me and say "I'm only playing right now because they just updated the game."

5. I love that my "I only drink water" boyfriend has become my "I'm dying for some caffeine. You did this to me!" finger-pointing husband.

6. I love that my only-child husband actually came with the "sharer" gene, but he nevertheless attempts to snatch my cookies when I become side-tracked writing.

7. I love when my husband reaches over  and taps the computer screen to steal control (while my hand is still on the mouse). I also love he thinks I am kidding when I threaten to smack him for doing this. :)

8. I love when my computer locks up and I am just about to suppress an irritated scream my brilliant-tech husband takes it, clicks a few keys, and passes it back to me as if the problem had never occurred.

9. I love that when I come out of my natural position (sitting/curling up on my knees) and I unconsciously moan as my knees favor to remain locked that my husband asks the silly question "Wife, were you sitting on your knees again?" I always reply no, just as a child does when they refuse to admit they have done wrong. (Though with it being a natural, favored position of mine since I was a child, is it really wrong?) *Husband, you may not respond to that question.*

10. I love that my husband says "dadblamit". He got it from me!

11. I love that my husband feels the need to ask me every time he goes to fix us our drinks "Water or sweet tea?". I thought this was truly a laughable question... but I quickly noticed that when I literally laugh in response a glass of water will be set by my meal. It makes it worse that his response to my questioning look at this is an innocent "What?".

12.I love that when I smack my husband playfully on the arm, he looks at me with a face full of concern and ask "Did you hurt yourself, Love?". I can only narrow my eyes, which makes him laugh. :)

13. I love that my husband never questions my love of writing, and even takes it upon himself to occasionally correct the punctuation (without making me feel like a complete bone). I love that he also knows "the look"- the look that comes when I am so far gone in "quickly" typing a sentence or paragraph that I did not hear his last comment. Knowing this look makes for a laughable moment when I ask him what just happened. He just gives a knowing smile and replays the last minute or two to catch me up.

14. I love that my husband likes to eavesdrop on random conversations in public as much as I do. He is just so helpful in filling me in on what I may miss and it brings a couple together so much more when they are in the midst of laughing at the craziness of the strangers on the next aisle...and doing so without being noticed. (This last part is key.)

15. I love when my husband kisses my forehead. In that moment, I feel like I am the most cherished woman on earth.

16. I love that my husband is such an advocate for modest clothing. While walking around in the stores with me he will at least once say "That is too little to be a shirt, but too short to be skirt. Wife what is that?". I have to follow his line of vision because he won't pick up the item. I can't help but smile when I tell him, especially when he studies me for a minute, as if to see if I am telling the truth. *Our daughters will be so well-protected.*

17. I love how every story my husband tells of a time when he ran into a friend that they greeted each other with either "What's up!" or "Hey, Man!".

18. I love how easy it is to get my husband wrapped up in a rousing game of "Why?". It usually isn't until about the 4th time I respond with "why?" that he realizes what I am doing. Oh, the advantages of having grown up with siblings!

19. I love that my husband teases me about my favorite pajama pants. He seriously likes to point out all of the frayed seams and tears in my hot pink gingham pants. (My mother gave them to me in perfect condition years ago, but they have been worn a lot. They are just so happy.) He is also convinced that my white pajama pants are, in fact, gray. I have to point out they are white...just a little well-worn.

20. I love that he considers the canister of chocolate chips I keep in the kitchen, his own private secret stash.

Road Trip!

I grew up going on countless road trips with my family. I grew up in a small town, with only the memories my parents created for us to make it home. Thirty minutes away (or two hours sometimes) were our favorite destinations. Natchitoches, Jefferson, Marshall, Shreveport, Natchez, Vicksburg, Tyler...all exciting in their own special ways. When my husband and I began dating, traveling was mentioned. My husband could only recall a trip or two within his lifetime, which brought me to question where he would like to visit. The only answer he had was Disney World, but seeing as we were not married yet that was just a bit too far. He admitted he thought he would like to travel, but had not ever given it much thought. What better way to find out than a road trip!


Our first day trip- Jefferson, Texas!

Our first road trip took place April 2013. I remember being very impressed with his map skills and coolness in driving. In one day we traveled to Jefferson, Tx and Bossier City, La. To me, these places were home and at the end of the day it meant a great deal to me to share these places with him. I imagined more trips in our future, and I imagined showing him my home town one day. Well, nearly a year later, we did just that. For the first time since we have been married, my husband and I made plans to go to Shreveport. With my hometown just thirty minutes away, I asked if we could visit there first. I'll admit it is hardly anything to look at, but it mattered to me that he see where I grew up. No, it doesn't look like it did when my family and I were there, but my husband and I live in his hometown. I know the places he speaks of, and more than likely our family will call this home as well. For me, it was important that he at least see where my family came from.

Afterwards, we drove to Shreveport. We stopped at World Market, which we had never been to. The idea of shopping for our new home while we were there seemed exciting. I have to say, it was not our "favorite" store, but it did have a few interesting things. We found this lamp, and thankfully I had a lampshade for it at home.

Walking around for a bit, we found this coffee drink. We were too curious to leave it behind...and I loved the bottle!

My husband (a water connoisseur)found a bottle of Iceland water beside it and suggested if we bought the coffee, we buy the water. I had to laugh because as I read the back of the bottle I knew why he cared about Iceland suddenly. "Naturally purified by the volcanic lava" seemed likely to peak my husband's curiosity. :)

After a trip to Pier One and an early dinner at Panda Express, we were off to the boardwalk. I am sorry to say that by this point we were both warming up. We soon found ourselves in one of those dire situations where suddenly you can't find water, and none of the vending machines you come across would like to help you. My husband suggested we go to the Yankee Candle store while we were there, seeing as we just finished burning through my favorite candle at home. I love the Yankee Candle store. It looks pretty. It smells wonderful...but after 15 min. I have to get out. The sweet smell, I am sorry to say, starts to overwhelm and my head and stomach work in unison to get me out. Lucky for me, my husband and I agree coffee offers the most wonderful smell, so our trip was short. Coffee Hazelnut! I can not wait to light it, but we have decided to wait until we are in our new house.

We bought a tea kettle at the kitchen store. Strangely enough, our last one had begun to rust two months after we began using it, so we had to throw it out. I love the red!

We usually spend hours on the Boardwalk, but I'm sorry to say we were just too hot at this point and tiring out by the minute. Even after finding a bottle of cold water, we had finished it within minutes.

We stopped at our customary spot under the bridge to take a picture before leaving, then made one final stop- The Chocolate Crocodile. We love their apples! This one was Cookies n' Crème. Sorry, we had delayed the tasting for too long as it was, so I only have this picture. It was by far the best covered apple I have ever had. My husband even snacked on the center!

It was a great day. The Monday traffic made for a pleasant drive and our timing kept away the typical rush. Though a short visit, it meant a lot to me that my husband finally got to see where I grew up, and our visit to Shreveport was fun. I am just so glad my husband and I can make favorite memories of our own together- road trips being one of them.

My family...I just don't know where to begin. It amazes me everyday how I can hear my parents' advice so clearly in any given moment, or think of my sister's sassy comments during any day, or miss my brother's late night conversation as I wash the dinner dishes.

There are moments when I pause and wait silently to drown out the world around us. There are moments when I curl up against my husband on the couch late at night, or when I grasp his hand and suddenly remember the blessing I live every day now. Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear my parents telling me how special love is. I hear their reminder to be careful of the interference of others. I hear their words as if they were beside me, reminding me that what God brings together no man may take apart. Not only do I hear it, I understand now. What God brings together must stay together. If He blesses you with something, you must know that He trusts you to keep it safe, to protect it, to guard it well with all your heart.

There are mornings when I wake up and set right about our schedule. There are moments when I find my spot on the couch, or my seat in the car, or even at my desk across from him and think nothing of it. Everyday though, at some point, sometimes during the very things I mentioned above, I remember. My breath catches; almost as if I can hold that breath, I can hold that moment. I fall silent and pray that he not ask me anything because I can't find my voice. My thoughts are far too busy drowning out the world, bringing me closer to ours. Our life together thus far comes to mind and I revel in the many memories we have already enjoyed together. I think of the late nights when sleep eludes us both because one, or both of us, is walking down memory lane & the other is walking alongside. I think of the tears shed as past pains are shared- the darkness of our room shielding the tears maybe, and yet still our pain is so clear to the other. I think of the moments when my husband and I are in the middle of our laughter and playing, and suddenly I find his eyes growing tender. In those moments it as though he is remembering something very dear to him, that perhaps he had missed a moment before. His look encourages me to think the very same of him.

Married life is not what the world makes it...unless, of course, you allow it to have a say so. Marriage is so much more than what I thought I knew it would be. It is a blessing to be held and kept close and loved every second of every day. God's mercy and my husband's great heart reminds me of this every day.

Midnight Runs and Kitchen Creations

Two weekends ago, my husband and I decided to make a midnight run to Taco Bell. For the record, it is a mere five minutes from our apartment. It was freezing outside, and I've still not figured out whether or not it was the chilly night air or the excitement that had me giggling all the way out to his truck. We decided on the 99cent grillers. I decided on the Ranch Chipotle Chicken Griller. It was delicious!
The next morning I woke up in one of those moods. You know the one. You have a menu planned for the day, but you are feeling adventurous and want to try a new recipe. Crazy to me that I can feel this way when every recipe is new to me these days. Still, I began to wonder if I could make the griller. Without a way to grill it, I knew the answer was no. I did a mental recap of the ingredients in the kitchen and this is what I came up with. *Please bear with me. I don't use exact measurements unless I am following someone else's recipe.*

Spicy Ranch Chicken

 

Ingredients-

2 chicken breasts

butter

Pillsbury biscuits

Shredded Cheese

Tony Chachere's Original Seasoning

garlic salt

onion salt

chili powder

Seasonings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 





Casserole Ingredients

1. First, I bake our chicken breasts. I cook ours in a small baking dish with butter, a little water (to help prevent dryness), and seasoning. I sprinkle with garlic salt, onion salt, chili powder, and Tony Chachere's seasoning. I bake the chicken at 400 degrees for about 45 min.

 

Before Baking

2. When our chicken has baked, I remove it from the oven. I turn our oven down to 350 degrees at this point (following the biscuit cooking directions).

 

3. I spray our casserole dish with a non-stick spray first. I then lay the biscuit circles along the bottom of the dish, and press the circles firmly together to form one base.

4. I lightly cover the base in ranch dressing. (Too much softens the biscuits even after baking.)

5. I shred our chicken and then lay the pieces over the ranch dressing.

6. I cover the chicken in ranch dressing (again, just enough to cover).

7. I add a layer of shredded cheese, seasoning with Tony Chachere's seasoning & chili powder.

8. I bake the dish in the oven for 15 min. or until the biscuits begin to turn golden.   

 

My husband loves it. *I promise never to makes this for my family though if they come to dinner. They don't like ranch dressing.* :)
It's amazing what you can come up with after one midnight ride for a snack.

Our First Home

It has been a cold, drizzly morning. I started a pot of coffee, but have become so lost in its scent and fighting with the computer that I have forgotten to fix a cup. *I know. I know. I feel the shocked expressions on everyone's faces.* In fact, let me grab a cup now.

I'm back now- coffee in hand. Isn't coffee one of the most wonderful scents in the world? It just puts a smile on my face to hear the word. I think coffee...oops! Husband is calling! Must be lunchtime. :)

Okay, let's try this a third time. This is something that happens on a regular basis. My husband calls at lunch to say he's on his way home. I always keep a glass of water in the fridge (too cold for me, but he loves it). We eat lunch together and talk while Family Feud is on tv. I had never watched the show before we started having lunch together. I've told him if it weren't for all of the clapping and dancing on the show, we could definitely win. :) As it is, I'll keep enjoying the lunch dates.

Just after our engagement, my husband moved into an apartment. It's nice and I was excited by the thought of moving in after the wedding. I could not wait to begin decorating our new home. Let's just say I had outgrown my hope chest by more than a couple of items.

 

We are in the middle of buying a house now- our first house. It is incredibly exciting, and just a little nerve-racking. It is nice being able to learn together though. That is something I love about being married. We are both learning and teaching each other every day. We are both excited about the house and can not seem to stop talking about all that may happen in the time that we live there. It is a life that we are both grateful for, but that each of us had at times been doubtful we would have one day.

I have enjoyed our apartment. In many ways, it seems like I just got here though. There are certain things we won't miss. For instance, my husband is convinced that Hulk lives above us. I disagree. I think it's Big Foot. We won't miss our tv cutting out every time someone vacuums above us- especially as the ball drops on New Years Eve. Oh, and we won't miss the icy air that slips through our windows on the coldest days of winter. (We may not have many such days in the south, but when we do...brrrr!) Still, we have so many memories here already. Coming home for the first time!!! (My mother's touch on the mantle was a nice Welcome Home!)

Our first Christmas!!!

 (Our 1st Christmas Eve- also my husband's birthday!)



Our 1st Valentine's Day!

 I made these shirts for us for Valentines. On the front, I printed our wedding date. On the back, I copied every major date within the last year (since we've met). Thank goodness for calendars!

This is where we have entertained our friends from time to time. It's where we had our first overnight guests (my sister and brother). It's where we've stayed up late and watched movies. It's been my first kitchen. It's been where we've laid awake all night talking, and where my husband has built his first fires. It's where we've met after hard days at work, and it's where we've said goodbye every morning and welcomed each other home every night. There have been so many firsts.

Oh, and my husband would be very upset if I forgot to mention Billy. Billy is our first pet. We actually had several in the beginning- four if I remember correctly. Wait! I should probably clarify here. Our first pets have been Sea Monkeys (in the little kit you buy at ToysRUs). After three weeks, I was convinced we had bought a bad batch, but I guess the threat of me pouring them down the drain was too much. They sprouted up over night. After noting that the lone survivor has made a habit of watching me wash dishes every day now, I insisted my husband name him. "Tech Monkey" was the first suggestion, but I pointed out he needed a name & not a title. Billy it is. Now the question is how he will survive the move in a couple of months. :)