Joys Of Nature And More

It's Day 4 in the 100 Reasons for Joy Challenge.


Joy #18 The girls holding hands to pray with their teacher before class begins.

Joy #19  The array of colors on the falling leaves.

Joy #20 The little buttons.

Joy #21 And the large blossom on my Chicago Peace rose bush.  The special reason I bought it almost six months ago to represent healing and peace in our lives.  When it opens a new set of buds I love seeing the layers of colors.  I'm reminded of the beauty that comes from pruning by God's hands in our lives.

Joy #22 That lovely rose bringing warmth to my windowsill in this cold month of December.

Joy #23  The clouds scattered across the sky like little pillows leading the way to heaven.

Joy #24 The hawk circling above.  I absolutely love watching them in full flight.

Joy #25  These amazing pictures taken by a professional of my son playing soccer.  Today marked the end of the season.  I'm so proud of him and how hard he worked to guard the goal.

Joy #26 These wacky girls being goofy in their make-shift fort while the soccer game carries on.

Joy #27  Ending the night on a date with my husband at a delicious vegan restaurant.  We forgot to bring a camera.  So no photos, but the food will be remembered and so will the company.  Tonight we celebrated our 14 years of marriage, ending it with a trip to Barnes and Noble.


As I sum up what brought me joy today, I truly did have my eyes open for those things.


But I would be remiss if I didn't give you the rest of the story.  You see there were many bumps along the way today.  Bumps that tried to steal the joy.  


Ten minutes into ballet, my three-year-old, for no rational reason decided she would not dance.  She'd scream and cry and run away any time the teacher tried to ease her back in with the group.  She was glued to me which then made the five-year-old want to be glued to me.  So I had two crying girls, not dancing, with only one more practice before they're supposed to be in a nutcracker show.   


Then ten minutes before we had to leave for soccer we realize my son's cleats are no where to be found.  We were almost late, but at the last second they were found in the bottom of a giant box of toys.  That made sense right?  We were all a little testy.


Then when we got home my husband and kids gathered wood to start a fire.  I was working on getting some prints made and started really smelling smoke.  Then started really seeing the smoke.  Turns out the flew was shut and it was all filling in the house.  My husband quickly reached up to open it, forgetting how hot it would be and landed himself a nice blister on his thumb.


All the windows were opened and then later closing one he knocked over and broke one of those cute little teapots you see on my windowsill in Joy #22.  Grrr.  I was frustrated.


Then in my attempt to fix it I super-glued part of it to my finger.  Seriously couldn't get it off.  As I went to tell him I have a teapot permanently adhered to me, I just started cracking up at the insanity of it all.   God just must have a sense of humor right.  


So our anniversary dinner didn't start out all that well.  But these are the things that make up life and it's not all roses and sunsets.  It's the nitty gritty and the annoying things too.  


Joy #28 is taking a step back to look at the bigger picture, to laugh at yourself and to love each other through it all.

Grateful

circa 1996!

Oh wow.  14 years ago today we became man and wife.  It was Thanksgiving weekend and on that Thanksgiving we had 25 people over to my fiance's apartment.  Those people included the family I stayed with in Japan as an exchange student at age 13. 

(Side note: lest you think I was overly privileged, it was a month in the summer with a group of teens from my junior high school.  My parents gave me the choice of Japan or braces because they couldn't afford both.  What right minded newly turned teenager is going to choose braces!).  

Back to the story,  my relatives from England and an assortment of friends and family all gathered in Santa Monica for the pre-wedding Thanksgiving celebration.

  No problem I thought.  Oh boy was I wrong.  I ordered a pre-made Thanksgiving dinner.  But when it was picked up we realized it wasn't cooked.  27 hungry people and the food wasn't 'pre-cooked' it was 'pre-made'.  I was 24 and the women in the apartment who were trying their best to help kept asking where this kind of utensil was and that.  And I just said, "We aren't married yet.  We don't have any of those things."

It was a Thanksgiving we won't forget.  The whole weekend we won't forget.  Oh how much our life has changed in those 14 years.  We've seen so many milestones and so many challenges.  But most strongly of all, I can see God's hand carrying us through it all.  I pray for both of us that the Lord continues to stay at the center of our lives and our marriage and that we are able to glorify Him in all we do.  

As for our anniversary, well he's working all night.  Boo.  But Saturday we have a babysitter and reservations at a 'new to me' vegetarian restaurant.  I'm so excited to try it out.

I'm thankful for how he cares for me and has an ability to make me laugh even in the hard times.  I'm thankful that he takes the time to kiss my cheek, give me a hug and a word of encouragement.  

I'm thankful for our children, for our dear friends and for new ones who've come into our lives.  I'm thankful for the three wonderful children we've been blessed with and who have forever changed me.

I'm thankful for an ever growing faith and for the journey that has yet to unfold.

Happy 14 years and here's to many, many more.

I'm joining Sarah Markley, starting tomorrow in taking a moment each day to count those things that bring us joy!  I know this 31 day journey will keep me focused on the gifts God has given me, especially His most precious gift of the baby He sent here for all of us.

Feeling The Love

I got you a "pur-prise" my husband calls to say.

That's Audrey speak for surprise.

Ooohh surprises are fun.

I love surprises.

I love knowing he was thinking of me in the middle of his work day.

But this, truly was a surprise to me when he came walking in the house with it.

He was on a job in Santa Barbara waiting for their shoot to start.

It was delayed as they often are so they were told to go get lunch.

He found a little market and when he walked in said he knew I'd love it.

Everything was local, organic and just plain yummy and fun.

He decided to get me some tea.  There we go with tea again.  I'm not complaining at all.

Anyone who comes over sees I have quite a collection and truly love trying new kinds.

It makes me happy.

But then he said he couldn't stop there.

And then he saw that they made gift baskets.
So I got a gift basket just because.

I love that.

And I love my man.

For thinking of me and doing something like this just because.

Going through it, hidden in there are blue cheese stuffed olives, stress relief tea, chai tea, garlic pistachios, a fun vegetarian cookbook for entertaining and a pretty dish towel.

He picked it all out himself.  

There are a few things he wanted to try too. 

But my favorite, absolute favorite was this 'Mother's Little Helper.'

 
Before reading closely I was thinking it was some kind of gadget.

Nope.. just pure dark chocolate. 

Scrumptious. 

Cute marketing right?

I loved it.

I mentioned a little earlier that I had been feeling stressed.

I know he's trying in every way he knows how to lessen the load.

Last night was back to school night at the preschool which coincided with soccer practice.

I gave him the choice of going to back to school night or taking all three kids to soccer, then coming home at 7 p.m. and feeding them, bathing them and putting them to bed.

Do you know what he picked?  

Choice B.  

I said, "Are you sure you know you're signing up for the harder deal?"

  

He did.  

But did it gladly and man I tell you when he does the routine he has it down like a well oiled machine. 

Sometimes I think he should be the mom.

And as the back to school night was winding down I got a text.

Kids are asleep.

Dishes are done.

Beautiful!

I'm feeling the love. ;)

A New Beginning

Yesterday our babysitter got married.  She isn't just any babysitter.  She's the person we entrusted our kids to while we went on our first ever five-day-trip without them.  It's saying a lot that we trust her that much.  

I knew my girls especially would love seeing her get married.  My son on the other hand was slightly grossed out about the part where they have to kiss.  But he played cool and didn't show that the whole thing weirds him out.  He says, "I can't believe that one day I'll do that".  Oh soon enough his feelings will change.  But right now I'm happy that he's not into all that stuff.

The girls however, love to play pretend 'marry' all the time.  What is it that makes little girls begin at such a young age dreaming of the day they'll say, "I do."  I don't remember playing this way myself.  But I probably did.  Or at least I believed that one day I'd dress up and my prince would carry me away.

I recently found a scrapbook I made for my husband shortly after we were married.  In it I actually called him my prince charming.  So I did think that way.  I guess every girl does.

When I was younger I don't think I really understood that only Jesus can be our true prince.  He is the one who should come first and foremost in our lives.  I definitely know there were times when I placed my husband in too high a position in my mind and expectations.

That's not fair to him and it's not fair to Jesus. 

When we put Jesus front and center, we can love those in our lives better.  

It's comforting knowing there really is a fairytale where the one true Prince will ride in on a white horse with a happy ending.  A glorious ending.  He is our hero, the final victor over all that is evil.  I praise God for that and get chills every time I think of how Jesus has conquered it all. 

I saw heaven standing open 
and there before me was a white horse, 

whose rider is called Faithful and True. 

Revelation 19:11

It is almost 14 years since we said I do.

  There are many things I would do differently with the dedication of our lives united with God in the covenant of marriage.  I considered myself a faith filled person back then.  But my faith has grown so much more.  And honestly I was a bit too stressed out about too many silly details.  For example.. the flowers.  Oh don't get me started.  I think my perspective was a little off.

 

I was young and hadn't learned a lot.  We hadn't experienced so much of life that we have now.  We hadn't shared so many adventures, so many firsts, so many moments of joy.  We also hadn't weathered the storms that would come our way.  We hadn't even seen the challenges that were ahead.  

There's something special about seeing the new beginning of a new life together.  That blissful feeling that all is perfect and well.  It's a clean slate.  It's the way it should be when two become one.

But I also have come to love the story of a life lived together, through the good times and bad.  There's something about learning to put God first in your marriage and walking hand in hand through life's trials and tests and seeing your love grow to an even deeper level.  

When you get married you think you're so in love and you are.  But amazingly through the years I've realized that my love is so much deeper and stronger now.  It's stronger for seeing my husband care for us and work hard for us and step up and do the right thing, when the right thing is hard.  Seeing him as the spiritual leader and companion and confidant God meant him to be in my life.  Seeing the Jesus in him as the years have gone by has made me love him even more than the day I said I do.

The best part is that in some ways this feels like it's just the beginning too.  We have so many years ahead of us and life to live together.

I wish Broc and Nicole the very best.  Blessings for years of growing stronger in their love for each other and for God in the center of their marriage and their lives.

 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, 

like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
  "Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
  Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
  For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
  Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear."

Revelation 19:6-8