conversations with my husband

scene: in the car selecting music for the long drive

me: "I thought you would want to listen to the children's songbook (the songs we play in nursery) since you don't know any of them and you need to learn."
husband: "whenever I listen to those songs now, I'll only get stressed out. I only think, "hey [so and so], don't hit and push! [so and so], quit digging in the garbage!, [so and so], leave the lights on!"
*names have been removed to protect the innocent

scene: 2:30am, saying a prayer together after a very long (and fun) day in the citay (new york city)

husband: "we're grateful for the wonderful weather and food."
amen! Have I mentioned how amazing the food is in Little Italy?!

scene: the night before leaving for NYC for Thanksgiving
me: "Victor, this time we go to your mom's you need to help a little more. You always end up chilling while your mom cooks for you all day in the kitchen."
husband: "But I like being pampered by my mom. And I'm pretty sure she likes pampering me too."

And pamper him, she did.
It was a great Thanksgiving weekend.

victor's step-dad cuttin' the turkey

victor cuttin' his piece of the turkey

The month of gratitude: A Love Story

image from here

It was three years ago this week that I met the boy that would become my husband. And now as I contemplate this first Thanksgiving as a married woman, I can't help but think about that Thanksgiving week three years ago, and how much has changed since then.

I had just arrived in Romania as a missionary and had no clue what I was doing. I was tired and jet-lagged, and after being assigned a trainer and a city that I would go to after I took care of some visa stuff, I found myself at the home of a member in Bucharest for dinner . Tons of other missionaries were there, all of them were there for a good meal, as well as some socializing, before heading back to various parts of the country later that evening.

One elder sitting by me said, "hey! I'm your district leader and we're going to be in Cluj together!" I smiled and nodded, but quickly disregarded it because I was too much in a haze to register what he meant. Then the time came to eat: a traditional Romanian meal that I would later come to appreciate, but at the time, my queezy stomach could not handle it. I was so worried because I didn't want to offend my hostess--but there was no way I was going to eat that greasy sarmale.

Then that same elder came to my rescue. He willingly volunteered to eat ALL of my sarmale. I thought he was being so noble! So heroic to help me! I didn't realize at the time that this is just how he is ALL of the time. He eats like a horse. And he has been my personal garbage disposal ever since. Doesn't that sound so romantic.

My other first thoughts about him went something like this: "your name is Castro? Hmm, just like Fidel."

one of our first photos together. castro is the one on the left.

Yep, that was about it. Like I said, I was really out of it. But I came to know this Elder Castro over the next eight months, and it was a unique situation because I wasn't in Romania to have any love interests. Therefore, I simply was myself with my fellow missionaries. I wasn't trying to woo them and I wasn't self-conscious of whether I was showing only my "good" qualities. When Elder Castro did something that irritated me, he knew it!

The months went by, and we were friends, if you can call it that. It was kind of a love hate relationship. When I still had eight months left in Romania, he went home and began to live a normal, non-missionary life, and once in a while I would hear from him. One day he sent me a letter telling me that he kind of liked me, and he kind of wanted to see if there was something between us. He wanted to invite me to come to his fancy schmancy Naval Academy dance, and hey, while I was in the area, why don't we go see the Broadway revival of South Pacific? That sneaky guy. He knew I just couldn't resist two of my favorite things: NYC, and Rogers and Hammerstein!

I was hesitant. I had a few reservations about it, but I think deep down I knew I would end up going. And I knew that perhaps it really might go somewhere.

So I went, and from the get go, I knew that this relationship was going to be different from any of my others. He knew exactly what he was signing up for. He already knew me: the good, the bad, the ugly! And yet he was still interested. It was so nice starting in a relationship where I wasn't worrying if he would still like me after finding out just how spazzy and ridiculous I can be sometimes. It was oh so nice to just be myself and be loved. And it's still like that. Honestly, that's my favorite part of it all.

our first dates

It was also one year ago this week that this same "Elder Castro" was asking my parents for permission to marry me. So considering all that has happened, I can't help but be grateful at this time of year for the relationship that has changed my life and for what a great year it has been.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The month of gratitude: my materialistic side

It definitely merits to acknowledge our greater blessings on a daily basis. But then there are also those things in life that you don't really need, but they make your life so much easier and enjoyable. Let's acknowledge some of them.

It's nice to have a car. And money to put gas in it.

Stores like Costco and Trader Joe's make me really happy.

I'm grateful for Skype. And facebook, for that matter.

Broadway musicals make life much sweeter.

GPS helps me to get out and explore.

My ipod makes many a situation easier: exercising, driving, singing time in nursery, etc.

Speaking of working out, I'm grateful for a free membership to a really good gym: "Semper Fit."So clever--I love the name. It's the gym on base and despite being surrounded by incredibly fit people, it has a good, non-intimidating atmosphere, which is exactly what I need.

And thank heavens for comfortable mattresses. And couches. I've lived before without a couch in China and it sure does make you appreciate them.

Anyway, you get the idea. These are just things in the last week that have popped into my mind, but I think that as we stop and be grateful for seemingly small and silly things, we realize just how sweet life is.


Because it really is sweet.

The month of gratitude: Family

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."  

--Desmond Tutu

I have a wonderful family who has been nothing but supportive in every decision of my life. They are fun, they are loving, and most importantly, they are quick to forgive me for any stupid thing I have done or any harsh word I have said. That is love.


I have been blessed with amazing parents and I am proud to say that they raised me with a good head on my shoulders. The same goes for Victor's parents. They are wonderful. You always hear about having nightmare in-laws, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have amazing and supportive in-laws and I am so grateful for that. 


So for this Thanksgiving season, I am grateful now for not one, but TWO wonderful families. I am blessed!

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family." --Anthony Brandt

Autumn

Virginia in the fall is beautiful. The fact that it is mid-November and there are still colorful leaves on the trees makes me so happy. I'm used to freak snow storms coming as early as Halloween in Utah! 

I don't want it to end!!

Mission skirt resurrected

I had this skirt on my mission that I really liked because it was wool and houndstooth, which I love, but it was a bit on the frumpy side (see below). Naturally, I left it behind to make room in my luggage for all the new clothes that I bought!

I really wanted to recreate a cuter version of it (since refashioning wasn't an option)---maybe with some cooler or quirkier houndstooth. I found some cute corduroy houndstooth at Hobby Lobby, and then I just made up my own pattern, because I was too cheap to buy one. Because I did that, the skirt still needs some tweeking, but I wanted to wear it to church today anyway, and then I made my husband take pictures of me after. And it was then that I realized that I could never be a fashion blogger, because I felt way too awkward.

So, here is the finished product! (kind of)

Side note: I got the blouse and the shoes from this store in Phoenix called "Last Chance." It sells the stuff from Nordstrom Rack and everyone raves about how great of deals it has and people go to Phoenix just to shop there. I thought it was okay, but it wasn't as cheap as I was hoping, which made it a little disappointing. I guess I've been shopping at Goodwill too much!!

The month of gratitude: Happy Veterans Day

I like this little picture I found on the internet the other day. This photograph always gives me the chills because I can't imagine what those brave people were feeling as they stormed the beach.

Honestly, before I got married and became a "military wife," I never thought much about Veterans Day. I never got off of work or school for it, so it seemed to come and go. And I don't want you to think that only now am I thankful for veterans because I benefit from Outback's free bloomin' onion special this week, because that is not true at all. It's just that as I hear about the men and women who have fought and those who are now fighting for our country, it all has just become a lot more relative to me and my life now. It hits closer to home now, and it makes me appreciate these great veterans on a greater level than before.

I've been reading a wonderful book called "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad Callister (it's a wonderful book, by the way: everyone needs to read it). Anyway, it was talking about sacrifice and how it is one of the highest expressions of love. For me this also teaches us that our willingness to sacrifice is one of the many Christ-like attributes--- along with attributes like charity, patience, obedience, and diligence.

As I thought about this, I was reminded again of how those fighting for our country are demonstrating this Christ-like attribute when I had the chance to listen to the words of President Obama in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day this year:

"What bonds this chain together across the generations, this chain of honor and sacrifice, is not only a common cause--our country's cause--but also a spirit captured in the book of Isaiah, a familiar verse. 'When I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send me!"

"That's what we memorialize today. That spirit that says, send me, no matter the mission. Send me, no matter the risk. Send me, no matter how great the sacrifice I am called to make." (the whole speech found here)

I am grateful for all those who have fought for the ideals of America. And for those who continue to fight for them. I hope I can learn from their examples of sacrifice, along with their other admirable qualities. Happy Veterans Day!