The Gift of a Memory

This year for my birthday my hubby gave me not only gave me the gift of a wonderful evening out but a beautiful memory.  My day started with a phone call from my nieces wishing me a Happy Birthday and can I say that there is nothing quite like hearing little voices loudly shouting a special message through the phone.  My morning was also made complete by a visit from my wonderful neighbor and her son who brought me a delicious pie.  (We are so blessed to have the most wonderful neighbors along our road...it feels like a little family here sometimes.)  And then I got a free drink from Starbucks...a salted caramel hot chocolate truly can warm the soul.  I got to talk with my fabulous mom, got tons of Facebook love from many of my friends and got a few emails from some special people.  But the true icing on the cake came from my soulmate...

...in the form of a evening on the town!  About 2 weeks ago Jamie came to me with some money and said my mission was to find a dress, if I didn't like any in my closet, and purchase whatever accessories I desired to go with because he was going to be taking me out for a nice dinner for my birthday.  I had been looking forward to this evening ever since!  I had no idea where we were going and I didn't care to know.  Finding out that Jamie had to wear a coat and tie...well that was just a clue as to the lengths my husband had decided to go for me.  You have to understand, my husband wasn't always so enthused about the prospects of dress pants, let alone even wearing a tie.  To think that he willingly opted for this just explains how far he is willing to step out of his comfort zone.  (Secretly I think he enjoys dressing to the nines...but please don't let on that I know...I sure don't want this transformation to stop!)  As if he hadn't gone all out already, he presented me with a beautiful necklace he had picked out..."Just something to complete your look"...what a sweetheart.

After getting as dolled up as we possibly could we headed to Charleston Restaurant in Inner Harbor.  Valet parking was also "on the menu" and just added to the flavor of the evening.  Upon entering and giving our reservation, the maitre d' said they were given special instructions to make a big deal about my birthday, and make a big deal they did.  We were escorted to their back room to a table with a view of the harbor.  Not only was the ambiance picture perfect and the food amazing, but we also got to meet Chef, Cindy Wolf, as the menu this evening included bison tenderloin from Gunpowder Bison and Jamie mentioned that he happened to be the farm manager.  She has amazing talent and was so nice!  They made our evening so special with a few compliments from the kitchen throughout our meal.  We got calamari from the chef, wine with our last course from the owner, and a little dessert sampler from the  pastry chef.  It has been an evening I won't soon forget!  I left with a full stomach, a happy heart, and a renewed sense of gratitude for the blessings life provides at the moments I need them most.

To those who helped to make this day a memory I won't soon forget and who showered me with love and friendship, my deepest thanks!  And to Jamie, my handsome hubby, my soulmate and my better half...words cannot express how much I appreciate the planning and hard work you put into making this a truly special day for me.  You are a true gift from God and I'm so blessed to call you mine!  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you....from the deepest part of my soul, I love you!!

Thank goodness for friends who have been beneficial in not only allowing me to photograph their families and getting comfortable with my camera, but who also believe in my love of photography.  My friend, Amanda, has been one of those.  I should be paying her for her advertisement abilities because thanks to her, I've been given opportunities that otherwise wouldn't have presented themselves.  So Amanda, once again, thank you for letting me interrupt a Sunday afternoon, for your confidence in me, and for your friendship!  You have 3 beautiful girls who make my job easy.

A Weekend to Remember

Today ended a 3 day marriage conference Jamie and I attended and for a change I'm almost at a loss for words...I know, shocking!  Maybe it's more that I just don't know where to begin.  We were challenged, stretched, and encouraged through the words of couples who, like us, have a less than perfect marriage.  But through their struggles and mistakes and through God's grace they stood in front of us and encouraged and provided us with tools to, "make it work" (that's for all my Project Runway peeps).  We have been given a beautiful opportunity through this conference...the opportunity to connect once again, to remember the love our marriage began on, and to move forward toward a God-centered oneness that before this weekend was headed in the opposite direction.  Sometimes you don't know what you're lacking until you see what you could have.  When wanting and coveting what others have involves a move towards God, it's never a sin, but our Father above changing your heart and moving within your life.

So many couples throw in the towel because they lose sight of the love and commitment that brought them together.  I've harbored so much bitterness, anger, and frustration towards my husband, selfishly forgetting that he is NOT the enemy...yet he is a gift from God!  After God, Jamie is to be #1 in my life.  He is a gift to be respected, cherished, and loved...he deserves my love whether or not he takes out the trash or does the dishes.  Respect is a CHOICE to receive your husband in spite of his weaknesses.  And communicating this respect involves my attitude, my words, and my actions.  Most importantly I am called to pursue a relationship with God; to trust Him and follow His plan, even though a positive response from my husband is not guaranteed.  I'm called to be his helper out of love, not because it's something I have to do.

"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate but through being the right mate." ~ Barnett R. Brickner

"What we do for ourselves dies with us.  What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." ~ Albert Pine

Before starting our very last session today, Jamie stole my book and I was ready to stop him from "marking up" the pages in my book and he looked at me and said, "I just wanted to write you a note."  And this is what I got.  My heart soared!  God truly blessed me with the gift of my husband 7 years ago and sadly I'll admit that lately I've felt marriage has been more of a burden than a blessing.  I felt isolated, frustrated, and bored with my marriage.  But my husband wasn't the one who brought about these feelings, I was.  I created the wedge between us by denying God the opportunity to work in and through my life.  I selfishly pushed God and Jamie aside, thinking that I could handle life and it's troubles on my own.  But I can't!  Life is too big to do without God...without Him, the darkness and pain only make you bitter and angry!  If we allow ourselves to believe in His plan, to have the faith and courage to follow His direction and leading, He promises that no matter what He will always be there and He will ALWAYS provide.  And 7 years ago he provided me with the greatest gift...Jamie...my earthly example of God's heavenly love.

Our last session ended today around noon and we had already planned to stay an extra day  and we are both thankful for the mini vacation.  We decided since we don't travel to Connecticut that often we'd check out the local sights.  We aren't far from the city of Hartford, so we thought we'd check it out.  Not much was open for business, but it was a beautiful fall day and we both just enjoyed walking around the city, taking in the beautiful old buildings and sights.

With no real direction in mind, we found ourselves walking around a huge park, past fountains, unique trees, and full of history.  I'm not sure what this fountain represented, but it was a neat fountain regardless.  There were several Native American statues situated around the fountain and at the top.

This is NOT a statue...but he sure was the best looking thing in the park today!

The colors of the leaves changing against the blue, slightly overcast sky is one of my favorite parts of fall.  The architecture of many of the buildings around Hartford is simply amazing.  Jamie put it well when he said it's quite amazing to think of what was built so many years ago with the limited resources they had at that time.  The picture below isn't anything special but I was really excited to stand in the middle of the street to take that picture...it wasn't nearly as exciting as it could be if it was a busy street in NYC.

The picture below is by far my favorite...it reminds me of the beauty of creation and the change in seasons.  And that like this leaf dancing in the wind, my marriage is also a dance, my partner a gift, and I am only called to one task, trust the Choreographer.  In completely giving our lives to the Him we are given the incredible opportunity to share in the oneness and joy of the dance, designed specifically for Me and Him and created to provide a lasting legacy for His glory. 

"There is an appointed time for everything.  

And there is a time for every event under heaven - 

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; 

A time to mourn, and a time to dance."

~Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4~

Trust in God...and dance your heart out!

Tomatoes, Sunsets, and Tiny Escape Artists

Wow, the weather lately has been absolutely fabulous!  I love the colors, smells, and dropping temperatures of fall.  Last week found us once again soaking up the gorgeous weather as a family.  Our 4-legged kids seem to be really enjoying the grand weather too...along with the leftover tomatoes from our garden.  Apparently all 3 of our dogs enjoy tomatoes...crazy mutts!  And like with all things, if one has a tomato and you offer one to another, they immediately loose interest in the tomato they've currently got and NEED to have the "new" tomato...they spend quite a bit of time rotating from one tomato to the next.  I love the eyes Bruiser is giving in the above photo...he's always on the alert for any tomato snatchers.

Jamie gave Bella a little work for hers...AND because it was a "new" tomato, the other 2 felt a need to leave their "old" tomatoes and jump in the running for the "new" tomato.

While they enjoyed their tomatoes, I enjoyed the sunset once again.

My beautiful family...I just love 'em!  Of course, Bryn decided to be antisocial..."I'm just not having a good hair day!"

Sometimes Bruiser forgets that he isn't a little puppy any more.  He's always soaking up the lovin'.

They never all hold still at one time, especially Bella...but she's actually the one in focus on these last two.  Speaking of being on the move, that little turkey of ours is quite the escape artist we've found out.  For the past month she has randomly been getting out of the dog pen and we could not figure out how she was doing it.  All of the holes they had dug were covered, the gate was closed and we didn't think she was able to climb out...so how in the sam hill was she getting out?!?  One Saturday as we were finally getting around to building a larger pen for them, we found her bee-bopping down the drive towards us...that little stinker did it again!!  So we put her back in her pen and went about our business...pretending we weren't watching...and to our amazement found her crawling thru the "hog paneling" around their pen.  We couldn't believe she actually fit thru the holes!  She had somehow figured out that if she put her head and one leg thru the panel and wiggled a little she could eventually fit her other leg thru and from there it didn't take much to fit the rest of herself thru.  What made her attempt it in the first place, who knows, but I think she soon learned that getting out earned her a few nights in the house since we had no idea how she was doing it.  Smart, crazy, little puppy!!  Despite her bad side, you just gotta love her.

Thankful Sunsets

Last week brought about some absolutely beautiful fall weather and with it some evening sunsets that were breathtaking.  I still find that I have to pinch myself sometimes when I look out my kitchen window, living room window, bedroom window...ok well just about any window in our home...and see buffalo roaming the pastures.  I would have never imagined that our journey would ever bring us here but almost a year since we've last moved to the farm, I find myself appreciating it even more.  I'm so grateful God has blessed us with sunsets like this to enjoy.  2 years ago both Jamie and I were struggling with where God had us and had no idea the many ways in which our faithful Father would provide.  So in my true form my fingers were itching to capture my backyard friends against the spectacular show of color God painted across the sky this evening...I was once again reminded of the creativity God has used throughout my life and thankful that each brushstroke He has painted has added color and richness to my life...even when at the time I can't always see His big picture.

These last 2 I took one early morning when I had returned home from work.  It was a crisp, very clear morning and the moon was almost full.  I just had to run in to grab my camera and tripod to attempt to capture what I saw.  Unfortunately I'm still working on that and I didn't have much time as the moon was quickly disappearing behind the hill.  But a few of my backyard friends were either still up or early risers and they offered a great subject against that brilliant moon.

Last but not least I have to say...while I'm on the grateful trail...how grateful I am that fall has finally arrived!  I don't so much enjoy the hot, sticky weather that comes around every summer.  I much prefer the colors, smells, and temperature of fall.  My wonderful Mom provided me with 2 beautiful mums and we were able to go out one afternoon and collect a few pumpkins to create the perfect little fall feeling to our homes.  To continue with the fall theme, this past weekend we had the fabulous Tate's over again and we found an orchard near our home where we could pick our own apples and what a grand time we had.  I should have taken some pictures but I was too busy enjoying the Tates company.  We picked about 60 lbs of apples between the 4 1/2 of us and then headed to the store to get some pie dough so we could make our own homemade apple dumplings.  What a delicious feast we had that evening!!  The Tate's are another grand reason I'm thankful that God has brought us here.  As we head into fall 2011, I've found that my list of blessings well outweighs the struggles this year and I can only credit that to the One who makes all things possible.