This Saturday marks the 6th anniversary of the day Keith proposed. I'm not really sure how many people typically keep up with that kind of thing, but for me that day was a big deal. Keith and I had been dating for almost 4 years before he proposed, so I was more than ready for him to pop the question. We had been discussing marriage for probably a year prior to the big proposal, but didn't really have a timeline for when we would get engaged. I was in college and knew I wouldn't graduate until May of 2002, so we knew we couldn't get married before then. A couple of months before the question was popped we actually had started looking at engagement rings. One Sunday we thought we had found the one, but it just wasn't meant to be. Then we talked about designing a ring and having one specially made, but honestly that was going to cost more than either of us wanted to spend.
The big day finally came. It was a Saturday and we were out ring shopping, which obviously wasn't a new thing. We ended up at a little jeweler in Tyler. He had the perfect ring with the perfect price. So Keith bought it and we went back to his parents'. Once we got there he refused to let me have it until he personally cleaned it within an inch of its life. He's very meticulous like that. After drying it with a hair dryer (yes, you read that right), he called me into the kitchen and said, "So, do you want to marry me?". Of course I said yes, obviously. Then I immediately called my parents and sister. (A few months before this, Keith had asked my dad for my hand, old fashioned, but very sweet and appreciated by my parents, who were more than ready for him to propose.) We then told Keith's family (they weren't home at the time) and everyone was very excited for us. After a few weeks of discussing we agreed on getting married on June 1, 2002, which was 2 weeks after I graduated from college. So we weren't engaged for very long, but we dated long enough to make up for it.
Planning the wedding was a lot of fun. One of my younger sisters had already been married (and she was actually expecting her first baby when Keith and I got married), so we already had a few ideas for where to shop and things like that. Since I was still in college, most of the wedding plans were made on the weekends or on the internet. Wedding dress shopping was a lot of fun. I only tried on a couple of gowns before I found the one I wanted. Keith and I had decided we didn't want a reception so that eliminated a lot of the planning. (We didn't want a reception because of the hassles, the fact that my dad's church really didn't have a facility large enough to hold one at that time, and we just wanted to leave for our honeymoon!) We didn't really have any crazy things happen when we were planning this. Everything went pretty smoothly. I do remember that the day of our wedding we had 2 Jehovah's Witnesses show up at my parents' door and of course I was the lucky person who answered. But other than that, everything went off without a hitch. It was a great day!
I'm always a little surprised when I hear about people who knew each other less than a year before getting engaged or married, but I know everyone's story is different. While I would have loved to marry Keith sooner than we did, I know that my timing is not God's timing and it happened the way it did for a reason. Because Keith had been working for almost 3 years before we got married, we were able to buy our first house within 6 months of getting married, which was so nice. I'm not really an "apartment" person. I can barely manage to contain my frustrations with our neighbors here in our housing addition, I'm not sure what would have happened had we lived in an apartment for very long. But I probably would have been on national news for killing someone over the volume of their stereo or something like that.
In January, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first date, so I'll try to remember to post around that time to share about our first date and some of our dating experiences. Just FYI, I use the term "celebrate" very loosely. I am married to a great husband, but he isn't so romantic as to really acknowledge these "anniversaries" beyond saying something along the lines of "really? I can't believe it's been that long" whenever I mention it. So, don't start thinking we're going on a cruise for the anniversary of the first time we held hands or something. But we do celebrate the important wedding anniversaries so that's the main thing.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
What This World Needs
I am copying this blog from my sister's blog. Obviously if you've read this on her blog, then you don't need to read it here. This is for my friends who don't read her blog. I found it to be very inspiring. My favorite part is "Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus." It's so true! I could preach an entire sermon on this song and the truths that it presents. But I'll refrain.
This is the very first song on Casting Crowns' new cd "The Altar and the Door." I recommend everyone go and buy this cd (or download from iTunes). It's so great. This one is one of my favorites. These words are great but the music makes them all the more powerful. I encourage you to get ahold of this cd. I've highlighted the parts below that struck me, personally, the most. Hope y'all enjoy!What This World Needs
Galatians is the main basis for this song. False teachers were slipping in and adding to the Gospel. Jesus + being good = the believer's life. Paul builds in a foundation for the Galatian people that it is by faith in Jesus that we are saved. Even today, we, the church, are in danger of adding to the Gospel. Jesus plus my denomination. Jesus plus our style of worship. Jesus plus good behavior. We must be careful not to strap ourselves to the Gospel.~2 Corinthians 6:3-13 / Colossians 1:13-23 / John 17 / Romans 12:9-21 / Matthew 7:1-3 / John 7:24 / Romans 16:17-19 / Philippians 3:18-20Written by Mark Hall and Hector CervantesSpecial guests – Gunnar Miller, Madison Miller, Logan Miller, Tripp Weir© 2007 My Refuge Music/Club Zoo Music/SWECS Music (BMI) (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing)
What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
[spoken]People aren't confused by the Gospel, they're confused by us
Jesus is the only Way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus
This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel
'Cause we're slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do...
Is just get out of the way.
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
This is the very first song on Casting Crowns' new cd "The Altar and the Door." I recommend everyone go and buy this cd (or download from iTunes). It's so great. This one is one of my favorites. These words are great but the music makes them all the more powerful. I encourage you to get ahold of this cd. I've highlighted the parts below that struck me, personally, the most. Hope y'all enjoy!What This World Needs
Galatians is the main basis for this song. False teachers were slipping in and adding to the Gospel. Jesus + being good = the believer's life. Paul builds in a foundation for the Galatian people that it is by faith in Jesus that we are saved. Even today, we, the church, are in danger of adding to the Gospel. Jesus plus my denomination. Jesus plus our style of worship. Jesus plus good behavior. We must be careful not to strap ourselves to the Gospel.~2 Corinthians 6:3-13 / Colossians 1:13-23 / John 17 / Romans 12:9-21 / Matthew 7:1-3 / John 7:24 / Romans 16:17-19 / Philippians 3:18-20Written by Mark Hall and Hector CervantesSpecial guests – Gunnar Miller, Madison Miller, Logan Miller, Tripp Weir© 2007 My Refuge Music/Club Zoo Music/SWECS Music (BMI) (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing)
What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs
What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free
[spoken]People aren't confused by the Gospel, they're confused by us
Jesus is the only Way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus
This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel
'Cause we're slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do...
Is just get out of the way.
Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Update
This morning was Garrett's 2 year check up. First off, I just want to ask, why does stepping onto a scale result in a huge ordeal for a 2 year old? I mean, nothing bad is happening, they haven't given him a shot (yet), all of his clothing is still intact, nobody is even touching him (except for me trying to force him onto the scale). I do not understand his fear of stepping up onto this small little platform. I mean, if it's the one inch height that is scaring him, then why does he regularly climb on top of the kitchen table? That's something to be afraid of. I don't think I'll ever understand what's going on inside my child's head.
We finally managed to get him on to the scale long enough to see that he weighs 26 pounds (he's always been on the thin side) and by this point I'm sweating as if I've run a marathon. And this is just the beginning. He screams when they insert the thermometer into his ear for 1 second (hey kid, the ear is much better than the alternative...), he screams when they wrap the paper measuring tape around his head to see how big his brain is, he screams when we lay him down on tissue paper and they measure him (36"=3 feet tall!!). There was a lot of screaming going on and we hadn't even made it to the examining room. Of course we waited for about 25 minutes or so before the doctor came in, and let me tell you, that 25 minutes is really 2.5 hours with a 2 year old in a small room with nothing but the toys in his diaper bag (which he's played with approximately 1 billion times) and a few books that are way too long for his attention span. So, this results in Momma making a poor choice and digging out one of those super-bouncy balls. This is very good entertainment, but not really practical in a small doctor's exam room. I could just see us becoming the reason for a sign in all rooms that reads "no balls allowed". There's already a list a mile long of things that aren't allowed in those rooms and I'm sure there's a story behind all of them. So I finally managed to get the ball back and put it away before the window was broken or the doctor walked in right in the midst of a super bounce resulting in breaking his glasses or worse. Of course this resulted in the BIG ONE (tantrum wise) and I'm sure everyone within a mile radius thought he was getting his shots, but alas, he was just throwing a fit.
Thankfully our doctor's office has seen fit to lock all of the drawers and cabinets in these rooms because Garrett checked them all multiple times just to be sure they hadn't miraculously unlocked to reveal a hidden stash of awesome toys. At one point Garrett was screaming bloody murder (because I wouldn't let him color on the walls) and I'm trying to shut him up, but my husband (oh wise man that he is) says, "No, just let him cry, maybe that will get them in here faster so they can get us out of here." Wonderful thinking. Of course that didn't work, but eventually the doctor came in. Now, let me just say, I do like my son's pediatrician. He seems very knowledgeable about a lot of kid stuff and he's always talked to Garrett and been nice, but every once in a while he says stuff that makes me feel like a total moron. After he came in he started talking to Garrett, he was asking him if he had a birthday party and what all he got, so I, being a mom, started prompting Garrett to respond. Of course the doctor gets on to me, telling me to stop it and let Garrett answer for himself. I was a little mortified, but of course Garrett didn't answer one question, except when he asked how old he was, he tried to hold up 2 fingers. But I didn't want the doctor to think that we didn't have a birthday party for him so I was trying to help and encourage Garrett to answer. This is just one of many times that he's done this. Don't ask me why we still go there, it's just too much of a pain to try to find another pediatrician, and like I said, he does know what he's talking about, he just doesn't have a very good bedside manner.
So, after this pleasant exchange we move on to discussing various issues (Garrett has excema and also holds his breath sometimes when he cries and then passes out). Then the lovely physical exam comes. The doctor looks in Garrett's mouth, throat, ears, diaper, etc, and the entire time Garrett is screaming as if he's being tortured for information (Where did you hide the remote! If you don't give up this information we will look in your ears until you crack!) Finally the moment comes (dum, dum, dum) shots time! But, thankfully, we lucked out. Garrett was supposed to get the Hepatitis A shot and a blood draw to check his lead levels. Well, there's apparently a national shortage of Hepatitis A vaccines so he didn't get one, but he still got the blood draw. That went pretty well. Though I feel sorry for the ladies who have to do it. I'm sure it isn't fun drawing blood from someone who is screaming in your ear. You definitely need a steady hand for that job.
So, we are now done with check-ups for an entire year! For those of you who have had kids somewhat recently, you know that the first 2 years consist of quite a few check ups so you get to know your pediatrician on a first name basis. But now we can go back to being nameless people in the crowded waiting room. Barring multiple illnesses over the next year, we won't be seeing him much. Though we will have to go back whenever his office gets a hold of some Hepatitis A vaccines, so that should be a fun day. With his breath holding problem, any time he gets a shot, he always holds his breath, which kind of makes the nurse panic a little and she repeats over and over "breathe, baby, breathe". I'm used to it now, so it isn't a big deal. I think he will be an Olympic swimmer some day because he can hold his breath for an eternity before he does eventually pass out. He'll have to figure that out exactly, we wouldn't want him to pass out while underwater.
So, just a lesson for those of you out there who may be exposed to my child over the course of the next few months (he's supposedly going to outgrow this by the time he hits 3, so less than 12 months to go!). Yes, he holds his breath and passes out (occasionally), but this is not uncommon and, according to our doctor, happens in approximately 20% of all children. So please don't look at me as if my child is a freak whenever you hear about his breath holding spells, or if you're one of the lucky ones who gets to actually witness one of these blessed events. He's perfectly normal, just needs a little closer watching whenever he gets worked up. Just put out an arm to catch him whenever he passes out, and then everything is back to normal (until the next episode). ;)
We finally managed to get him on to the scale long enough to see that he weighs 26 pounds (he's always been on the thin side) and by this point I'm sweating as if I've run a marathon. And this is just the beginning. He screams when they insert the thermometer into his ear for 1 second (hey kid, the ear is much better than the alternative...), he screams when they wrap the paper measuring tape around his head to see how big his brain is, he screams when we lay him down on tissue paper and they measure him (36"=3 feet tall!!). There was a lot of screaming going on and we hadn't even made it to the examining room. Of course we waited for about 25 minutes or so before the doctor came in, and let me tell you, that 25 minutes is really 2.5 hours with a 2 year old in a small room with nothing but the toys in his diaper bag (which he's played with approximately 1 billion times) and a few books that are way too long for his attention span. So, this results in Momma making a poor choice and digging out one of those super-bouncy balls. This is very good entertainment, but not really practical in a small doctor's exam room. I could just see us becoming the reason for a sign in all rooms that reads "no balls allowed". There's already a list a mile long of things that aren't allowed in those rooms and I'm sure there's a story behind all of them. So I finally managed to get the ball back and put it away before the window was broken or the doctor walked in right in the midst of a super bounce resulting in breaking his glasses or worse. Of course this resulted in the BIG ONE (tantrum wise) and I'm sure everyone within a mile radius thought he was getting his shots, but alas, he was just throwing a fit.
Thankfully our doctor's office has seen fit to lock all of the drawers and cabinets in these rooms because Garrett checked them all multiple times just to be sure they hadn't miraculously unlocked to reveal a hidden stash of awesome toys. At one point Garrett was screaming bloody murder (because I wouldn't let him color on the walls) and I'm trying to shut him up, but my husband (oh wise man that he is) says, "No, just let him cry, maybe that will get them in here faster so they can get us out of here." Wonderful thinking. Of course that didn't work, but eventually the doctor came in. Now, let me just say, I do like my son's pediatrician. He seems very knowledgeable about a lot of kid stuff and he's always talked to Garrett and been nice, but every once in a while he says stuff that makes me feel like a total moron. After he came in he started talking to Garrett, he was asking him if he had a birthday party and what all he got, so I, being a mom, started prompting Garrett to respond. Of course the doctor gets on to me, telling me to stop it and let Garrett answer for himself. I was a little mortified, but of course Garrett didn't answer one question, except when he asked how old he was, he tried to hold up 2 fingers. But I didn't want the doctor to think that we didn't have a birthday party for him so I was trying to help and encourage Garrett to answer. This is just one of many times that he's done this. Don't ask me why we still go there, it's just too much of a pain to try to find another pediatrician, and like I said, he does know what he's talking about, he just doesn't have a very good bedside manner.
So, after this pleasant exchange we move on to discussing various issues (Garrett has excema and also holds his breath sometimes when he cries and then passes out). Then the lovely physical exam comes. The doctor looks in Garrett's mouth, throat, ears, diaper, etc, and the entire time Garrett is screaming as if he's being tortured for information (Where did you hide the remote! If you don't give up this information we will look in your ears until you crack!) Finally the moment comes (dum, dum, dum) shots time! But, thankfully, we lucked out. Garrett was supposed to get the Hepatitis A shot and a blood draw to check his lead levels. Well, there's apparently a national shortage of Hepatitis A vaccines so he didn't get one, but he still got the blood draw. That went pretty well. Though I feel sorry for the ladies who have to do it. I'm sure it isn't fun drawing blood from someone who is screaming in your ear. You definitely need a steady hand for that job.
So, we are now done with check-ups for an entire year! For those of you who have had kids somewhat recently, you know that the first 2 years consist of quite a few check ups so you get to know your pediatrician on a first name basis. But now we can go back to being nameless people in the crowded waiting room. Barring multiple illnesses over the next year, we won't be seeing him much. Though we will have to go back whenever his office gets a hold of some Hepatitis A vaccines, so that should be a fun day. With his breath holding problem, any time he gets a shot, he always holds his breath, which kind of makes the nurse panic a little and she repeats over and over "breathe, baby, breathe". I'm used to it now, so it isn't a big deal. I think he will be an Olympic swimmer some day because he can hold his breath for an eternity before he does eventually pass out. He'll have to figure that out exactly, we wouldn't want him to pass out while underwater.
So, just a lesson for those of you out there who may be exposed to my child over the course of the next few months (he's supposedly going to outgrow this by the time he hits 3, so less than 12 months to go!). Yes, he holds his breath and passes out (occasionally), but this is not uncommon and, according to our doctor, happens in approximately 20% of all children. So please don't look at me as if my child is a freak whenever you hear about his breath holding spells, or if you're one of the lucky ones who gets to actually witness one of these blessed events. He's perfectly normal, just needs a little closer watching whenever he gets worked up. Just put out an arm to catch him whenever he passes out, and then everything is back to normal (until the next episode). ;)
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