five.

Today Hubs and I have hit the five year mark. We have been married for five years, know each other for seven. And it has been quite the ride [everyone say that kind of thing].

At five years, I have reached the point where I can't remember what it was like to not have him in my life. Five years ago I hardly loved Hubs at all, compared to how much I love him today.

Both of the wise men who led our wedding ceremony said over and over that the key to our marriage would be to put our own needs, wants and desires last. [Not really what you hear from modern therapists and counselors.] I remember distinctly the charge given to me: "First bind yourself to Christ, then bind yourself to Richard." And wow, does marriage work better when I remember [and practice] those words!

In five years, we've done a lot together. We've traveled all over - Hawaii [twice], Seattle, Colorado, Mexico, Israel, San Diego, Michigan, Atlanta. We've moved 2.3 times. We've made lots of great friends together. We've brought a house. We added Ransom to our family. We've grown. A lot. We've laughed together and we've gotten angry at each other. All of it has helped us love each other more.

So, what does a couple of 27-year-olds, one a non-paid resident and the other a receptionist, do on their 5th wedding anniversary that happens to fall on a weekend to celebrate?

Watch all 8 Harry Potter movies in a row? Perhaps.

But first we are going HERE to ignite the child-at-heart and then dinner out on the town.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Hearts

No matter what the angle.

Or the toppings.

I [heart] Hubs.

[Both tasted great, by the way.] Thanks to my mother for the heart shaped cookie pan.

Life with the black-hair-shedder

A friend recently asked me for pictures of our dog. Can you believe that Ransom is going to be on the wall of their nursery? I am so honored that our pooch made a [positive] impact on someone's life.

Ok, well it is more like their nursery is dog-themed and they knew we love our dog [too much] and would have a plethora of pictures handy. But, it was kinda fun clicking threw pictures over the last 18 months with Ransom.

So, for those of you who check-out when I post pictures of the pups, you may stop reading now.

This was our first meeting with Ransom. I wasn't immediately attached at this point. It was the second visit when I knew I would not walk out of that shelter without him.

The first month was a challenge [on our marriage]; and there were serious thoughts of taking him back. Which pretty much made me cry just thinking about it. But finding him at 4:30 in the morning like this, was more humorous than anything.

There was also the skunk incident at 4:30 in the morning.

But we kept going and he soon made himself at home [fyi - this is a big fat no-no]. We learned that he loves laying on anything soft and comfy.

The metal crate saved the day [and Ransom's life in our home]. With the right amount of conditioning, he now contentedly calls his crate home while we are away.

Our mission for each day became: wear Ransom out. As an energetic 1-year-old, this was a challenge. We took trips to the dog park, long walks each morning, and runs with Hubs. We filled a backpack with 10-pounds and even forced this "water dog" into the water.

Soon, we found ourselves doing anything for those sad eyes.

Frequently, he causes us to laugh, and I'm not sure what we talked about before he arrived.

But, I do know that he is worth every single piece of black hair that sheds from his body all over my clean house. And I can't wait to have another!

Walmart: A place to ruin joy

Rarely do I shop at Walmart. Not necessarily because I have a particular vendetta against the place, but because I don't feel like it is worth the trip. And after today's trip, I am once again drawn to the same conclusion.

It began as I drove into the parking lot. I took the first spot I came to. Of course there was a cart trapped between my car and another from the lazy, selfish person who had just pulled out of the spot. I grab the cart to take it inside so that cars are not needlessly banged up by other's lack of respect for mankind. To make it even worse, as I am walking towards the store a man takes his cart and doesn't just place it near someone's car; no, he gives it a small shove in the general direction and walks away, disregarding where the cart actually ends up. I work on grabbing his cart, too; mainly out of anger. Then I start walking with two carts towards the store. This same man nearly runs me over trying to get around me and his cart. This is all that was necessary to ruin the trip. Honestly, just take a short trip to Walmart to remind you how utterly depraved mankind is and how desperately we need a Savior. And I was reminded of this before I even stepped into the store.

(If you are one of these lazy people who can't seem to return your carts to the proper spot, please think on this. I cannot think of a valid excuse, besides an armed gunman chasing you, for not returning your cart. Nothing in your life can be so important that you can't take 2 extra minutes - if that - to be a responsible shopper and human.)

I drop the carts off, because I didn't actually need one, and start looking for my items. The store is packed with people buying things they don't need, which is another reason I don't like shopping there. I ALWAYS end up with items that aren't needed, but are so cheap that I buy them. And our Walmart seems to have a wider selection of food items, which means I end up buying "new" pre-packaged things that weren't on my list and aren't any good for me. Anyway, I gather the few items I need (including two fleece throws for only $5 - cheap toys for Ransom.)

The fellow customers aren't necessariliy happy either. I mean, don't get in their way. Because you may just cramp their style. And its all about them, you know.

By the checkout lines I am hot (temperature-wise), which makes my crabbyness sky-rocket to new levels. Walmart was partially redeemed by a very friendly cashier, but my mood was already set. And then, she put my 5 items in 3 different plastic bags, when I would have preferred everything to be smushed into 1. I hastily re-sacked them and threw the wasted bags into the recycle bin, you know, to prove a point.

I got in my car and rolled down the windows to cool off. Then, I got a grip on my attitude and realized I act no different than the people that I let irritate me. Keeping it inside didn't hide it from God. Sickened, I confessed my lack of love for others.

All that said, it might be a while before I go back.

Friends, Corn, Etc.

Friends.

Time. 

       

Homemade.

Scary.

Short.

Corn.

Love.

Home Alone

Life changes when I am home alone. I'm not scared or anything; but it is quiet and I get a little lonely now. I remember the time when I loved having an evening to myself; but anymore I would prefer to have Hubs around.

But, when he is gone, I find myself doing things a little differently...

There is a light on from the kitchen to the living room to the entryway to the hallway to the bedroom to the bathroom. I do not turn them off until I go to bed. It's all those mystery shows like Criminal Minds that get in my head. I would rather light up the house than give myself even the option of having a panic attack.

I stay up later. When Hubs is home, I am ready for bed at 10pm. When he is gone, I stay up later for some reason. But, I don't seem to have any trouble sleeping once I am in bed. I have heard of wives that can't sleep alone. That is not an issue for me.

I don't un-make the whole bed. This is the only positive part of him being away because it means I only have to re-make half of the bed in the morning.

I make tacos. Every. Single. Time. I love homemade tacos, but they aren't Hubs's fave. So, I have reserved that meal only for the times that he is out of town. Usually my brother comes over to eat with him - not this time.

I eat pizza from my favorite local place. Hubs also isn't a fan, but I like it. Along with that, I also usually rent a girl-movie to pass the evening.

I go to the dog park everyday. It's nice to get out and talk to people, to be outside, and to play with Ransom. 

The television is on constantly. I must have noise. Not just noise, but human voices. Actually, even when Hubs is home I don't really like silence. I just can't stand the sound of nothing.

And, I realize how much I am head-over-heels in love with my husband. I realize how I have come to depend on him and how much I need him. I anxiously wait for him to come home to me.

A Date at the Zoo

Hubs and I spend a lot of time together. Almost every evening in fact. But, we don't hardly go on dates. You know, the kind of date that you actually plan something to do and it is out of the ordinary?

Hubs and I also seem to have a thing for zoos. We have been to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha twice and early this year went to the San Diego Zoo. Both of these zoos are top-notch. So, to continue a trend, we tried out the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Both Hubs and I set our expectations low, but it ended up being a really nice zoo and it will rank as one of the best trips for me because we were able to see one of my favorite animals at feeding time!

Usually when it is 90+ degrees out, all the animals are snoozing. We got to see some action, though, because they were feeding the Grizzly bears!

Above us, keepers were tossing down vegetables - heads of lettuce, stalks of celery, apples, carrots, etc. The bear in the water was hysterical. He would catch food in his mouth and put his whole face in the water looking for food he may have dropped.

There was a thick piece of glass between us and this bear. I have never been this close!

I, of course went on and on about how cute they look - their ears look just as soft as Ransom's - but Hubs continues to insist that they are not nice.

We also were able to see the lions, tigers, and gorillas - all were quite active, or at least close enough to get great views. Actually, while watching a peeved gorilla, some little kids taunted it (instructed to do so by their mother). Made this gorilla even more made. He punched the glass once; then kicked it. Wow - that was some major force against some really strong glass!

The hot air wore Hubs and I out (that, and the fact that we both worked out before we drove to the zoo). I watched in amazement as these parents seemed to still have plenty of energy despite the heat - I suppose you learn that when you have kids.

We had a nice date and I am determined to plan them more often. I'm thinking once a month. How often do you go on a real date with your spouse?

Clickin' through some pictures

Just clickin' through some old pics today, picking some out for a new decorating theme I have in my head. Yes, I said decorating theme as opposed to my hap-hazardly thrown together pieces of decor that is currently in our home. It is challenging when all one's furniture doesn't match and you can't paint your walls to make everything meld together, but I am starting to really try to put items together that actually match. Someday, we will have furniture and walls that can be customized to my tastes.

But, back to clickin' through pictures. As I was looking through them, I was also thinking about my blogging; and how it is so sparce. Those of you that have read for years remember there was never a day that I didn't post. My life was somewhat revolving around my blog and I NEVER was without my camera. In an attempt to get back to that stage, I am going to start by sharing old pictures.

Hubs discovered on our honeymoon that I am not one of those people that can just stay in bed for hours after I wake up. When I am awake, I want to be out of bed. (There are, of course, exceptions to this rule.) Each morning, Hubs and I thought it would be cool to get up early and see a sunrise. Each morning, the alarm would go off and someone would stumble out of bed, put on their glasses and see if 1) the sun was rising and 2) it was cloudy.

On my morning, I got up and did a double-take at what I saw.

"Hubs! There is a tornado on the ocean!"

"Hmmm..." Hubs says sleepily.

I looked again, just to make sure I wasn't still asleep, and this is what I saw:

A water spout, which looks pretty much like a tornado to me.

Later on that week, we did get to see a sunrise.

Four.

Today, Hubs and I celebrate four years of marriage. Whoa baby. I have definitely reached the point in life where life before Hubs is fuzzy. The memories are still there, but the memories with Hubs are much more clearly.

As they should be. We've know each other for 6 years and shared life together for over half of that. I can't imagine life without him.

Happy four years to us! We're out celebrating, so I'll post more later!

On My Wedding Day - Part 2

Some of you have already heard of the unfortunate tales behind the scenes of our wedding just under 4 years ago. But alas, there are a few more. And since it is wedding week in our family, it seems like a god time to share.

The unfortunate marriage license ordeal
I picked up our marriage license in plenty of time - Tuesday before the wedding. That was an important detail that I wanted to get out of the way.

So, I was shocked on Friday when Hubs (still in Nebraska) called to inform me that the Johnson County Courthouse called to inform him that our marriage license was invalid. Furthermore, I had until noon to pick up a valid one. It was 9am. It is the day before the wedding, so obviously it is pretty planned out. Yet, Beth and I leave my mom to get her nails done alone as we drive completely out of our way to pick up our true and valid license. Sigh.

The unfortunate outdoor pictures

I'm an outdoors person, all the way. However, I hate it when it reaches 90 degrees and above. Unfortunately, the entire week of our wedding (duh, it was in July) was in the hundreds. (Yet another reason I question why we live in Kansas). Smoldering is the only word that I can use to describe that week. 

But, I still believed outdoor pictures would be worth the heat.

Thankfully, the day of our wedding a cold front came through. It was in the mid-90s. We spent hours taking pictures - most of them outdoors. Hubs and I were the only people who actually had to be out there the entire time. I get grumpy when I'm hot, but I seemed to endure the heat pretty well that day.

When we came home from our honeymoon, we noticed Richard's mother's legs were covered in red spots. We asked what had happened, and she was kind of quiet. Come to find out, she had gotten chigger bites up and down both of her legs. How? From taking pictures outside.

Talk about feeling horrible. We felt worse. They were so bad that she could not sleep and so bad that a week later they still were there. How the rest of us did not end up with them, I have no idea. I'm still very sorry about that Joan!

The unfortunate flower petals

My mom ordered beautiful red flower petals that got placed all over the reception area, the cake, and were thrown at us as we walked out to the limo. The church was brand new. It has only been completed a week or so ahead of our wedding. 

After we left, we found that red flower petals bleed onto the floor. My family spent hours cleaning them up off of the brand new tile. 

The limo ride

We got into our limo to see all the groomsmen in there. We laughed and they got out. Five seconds later I was bawling. It could have been the fact that I got about 4 hours of sleep. It could have been that I needed a hot shower. It could have been that I hadn't eaten, that I got a ticket, that I ran into a glass door, or that I did not get to pack my suitcase. It was probably just because every single emotion was on overload in my body and the only way to get it out was to cry. Either way, I'm sure Hubs was wondering what he had just gotten in to. 

At any rate, we got married despite the obstacles. Oh, how glad I am that it is not my wedding on Saturday!

Bragging

Every once in a while I just have to have one of these posts. Every once in a while, or maybe even everyday, I just need to brag about my Hubs.

Lately, I've scheduled Hubs and I solid. We've had little time to stay at home and relax. We've had an even smaller amount of time hanging out with each other. And, as I look at our calendar for the next month...I see that it does get better, but not exactly free.

So, I want to tell Hubs that I love him, and here is why:

1. I love you because you take care of me and you work hard to do so. You love what you do and you strive to do it as best you can.

2. I love you because you deal with me. You come and fix it when I cry for some crazy absolutely no reason and you grin-and-bear it when I have neglected the laundry, or cleaning the shower, or fill-in-the-blank.

3. I love you because you strive to learn about God and you want me to do the same. You go to the Bible for the authority on life and I. Love. That. Not only do you want to learn about God, but you love God. What else could I really ask for?

4. I love you because you don't see your future without me. Seriously, you can't imagine living life without me and that one thing makes me feel completely cherished.

5. I love you when you are goofy - seriously, he is. When we are having fun together, I can hardly think of anything else but you. My favorite times together are when we are doing stuff together - whether going to Lowe's or working out.

6. I love that you push me. Coming around that final corner of that race on Saturday and seeing you there to cheer me on was EXACTLY what I needed. Knowing that you are proud of me and having you by my side cheering me on is amazing.

So, when you are in Orlando or I am in Kansas City; when you are at work and I am at home, remember these things. Because they are just itty bitty snippets of how much I love you.

Wuv and Mawwaige

Mawwaige is the weason we are gathuwed today....

... and wuv, twue wuv...

Hubs and I celebrated V-Day all weekend long! We started off by going to a marriage conference in Wichita from Friday to Saturday. It was a nice get-away. We heard some great reminders about God's design for marriage and how to practically work together. Plus, we got to hang out and meet other couples - which was also a blast.

After the conference, Hubs offered to take me shopping! But get this - I turned him down! I was exhausted and really just wanted a nap. So, we headed back home where my brother was watching our house the dog. We relaxed for the rest of the day and let friends come over to play xbox on our TV.

We decided to keep V-Day low-key. We rented a movie and got a pizza and hung out. Is anyone else addicted to the Olympics? We had those on all day. So awesome.

V-Day just really doesn't matter to me a whole lot. It is fun to do something different some years, or get each other something other years, but what really matters is that I love Hubs everyday of the year and I want to show him that every day of the year.

Weddings

We are going to a wedding this weekend. I haven't been to a wedding in a while, but don't they always make you think about your own wedding?


I think about the things that went wrong not as planned. (That reminds me that I still have more stories to tell.) The things I would have done differently and the things I really liked. Mainly, I think about how much I never want to plan another one again.


This past week, I decided to call my photographer and see if I could buy a disc of my pictures. I received all the proofs in printed form, plus I got a beautiful book of our wedding; but I thought it might be nice to have the pictures on our computer as well. Photographers should keep photos for 3.5 years, right? I wouldn't know. They went out of business.


So, at least my Pop-pop took a few photos of that day that I can still share:

The decorating of the church was quite an ordeal. I have no talent when it comes to coming up with a vision and making it happen. I think after a morning of endless questions such as, "We could do this or this..." and "What do you think?" my family realized that I was lost. Thankfully, my aunt came a few days early and make everything look wonderful.



I really dislike cake. But, I was starved at this point and gulped the entire piece down - frosting and all.



I don't remember there being a toast, but we did the whole cross your arms and drink thing. I forgot to buy some sparkling stuff, so someone filled it with punch and it worked.



This picture always cracks me up. Why nobody took the water bottle away from me, I will never know. I look so happy here, but the minute I got into the limo I bawled the entire way to the hotel. Why? Read this post.

The thought that comes into my head most when I look at these pictures is, "I wish I was still that tan!"

50 years and great examples

Thanksgiving was extra special this year. We had family come from Texas and West Virginia; some family members I had not seen in 10 years.

The occasion? My grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

Their anniversary was actually in October, but Thanksgiving provided an easier time to gather. We went to downtown Kansas City to Jack's Stack in the old Freight House. It seemed right since Pop-pop used to build locomotives.

Mom and Dad rented a room for the event. It was great food and even more fun to hear stories from Grandma and Pop-pop's 50 years together.

For their gift, I took some of their old photo slides and put them on a cd. Then, I created iPhoto books for them. One was of Pop-pop's years in the Navy; the other just of family photos.

Here they are on their wedding day, October 16, 1959.

And 50 years later...

What a great example they have set for us, especially today when marriage is not a lifelong committment. Pop-pop and Gram travel all over still today and continue to have adventures together. They have modeled what love, committment, dedication, and caring truly mean. Thank you for being an example to Hubs and I; I love you both so much.

Following in their footsteps are my parents, who just celebrated 28 years of marriage. They have been a true example of what it means to follow God wherever He leads. I can learn a lot from watching their life together. Thank you for being an example for Hubs and I; I love you so much.

And here's the couple who is just starting out on the journey. They'll marry on May 15th and move off away from all their family to live the college life learning to cling to Christ first, and then one another for a solid foundation. We are looking forward to watching your life; I love you.

And then there's us. Silly as ever and knowing that laughter gets us through most anything. We have 3 years under our belts - I like to think we got the hardest years out of the way, but I know we have just begun. We are leaning on God's direction each day and striving to be more like Him. I've learned that love is so much more than an emotion, feeling, or desire. We have lots of years ahead of us; but we have some great examples to gain wisdom from.

I Love Him.

After having a headache for one two three days, I was hit with a full-fledged migraine this afternoon. It came from out of nowhere while I was laying on the floor watching tv. The world was spinning, I was radiating heat, I felt like my stomach was a bowl of jello, and my head ached like crazy.

Hubs picked me up, carried me to the bed, got me a glass of water and 2 miracle pills, and covered me up with my favorite blanket.

That's not the end of the story, though.

Hours later, I woke up to find the house smelling wonderful, and the disaster of a kitchen transformed into a beautifully clean kitchen. One where you don't even want to cook in it because it is so beautiful. The floor was clean, the sinks were clean, the stove was clean! My major project for the day was completed, probably even better than I would have done.

Sorry ladies, he's mine!

Leaving the Neb

I have - count them - 16 more days in Nebraska. After living in a place for almost 5 years (3 years longer than I ever planned on staying), here are things I will remember about the Neb.

1. My first of many Husker games. The cheers that were once completely foreign to me, are now engrained in my mind. Standing in the student section, hot and sweating, losing my voice while cheering, and then going out to eat with my roommates afterwards.

2. Going to the university. One of my favorite times in life was going to class, being busy with studying and homework, watching all 10 seasons of friends at least 2 times, starbucks walks with my roomie, and the spontaneity of life at that point.

3. My first time at Bible study. I got lost, big-time. I was so frustrated by the time I got there that I was to the point of tears, so when someone told me to move my car I lost it. But loving it when I was finally there.

4. Flock - our small-group of young married friends that meets on Mondays. Monday night will feel empty for a while as we adjust to our new schedule.

5. Pioneers Park. I'll always remember this spot because it was where Hubs proposed. Nebraska will always be the place I meet and fell in love with Hubs. Whenever I think of those memories, they only take place here.

Blogging will be sporadic (but not absent) for the next month. We will arrive in Kansas on May 30. Stay with me, I will be back with full force and plenty of new stories.

Looking Back

Last week we cleared our pictures from Hubs's about-to-crash computer and put them on mine. It was a great time of looking back on our life together. I was surprised to see how much we've changed and decided to take you on a short journey of our years together.

Nov 2004: Our first visit to Kansas to meet the Taylor family.

Dec 2004: Our first Christmas in Kansas. We did some skeet shooting. Hubs loves the picture of me with all those shells around.

Dec. 2004: Ice skating at Crown Center in Kansas City

March 2005: A trip to the Omaha Zoo is a must for all dating couples.

July 2005: Clabaugh vacation to Colorado - we had just gotten engaged!

August 2005: Hubs gets his whitecoat!

July 2006: We honeymooned in Riveria Maya, Mexico. It was wonderful.

August 2007: Clabaugh vacation to Colorado - we walked to Starbucks almost every morning.


Nov 2007: Thanksgiving Day 5K race. Hubs got his wisdom teeth pulled 2 days before and it was 20 degrees out!

July 2008: Vacation in Hawaii!

I've known Hubs for 4 1/2 years now, and my life prior to him seems sorta surreal. It seems like so much longer - in a good way. When I catch up with friends on facebook or look back through pictures, I hardly recognize myself. Do you ever feel like that?

I hope I have matured in all areas of life. And, looking back, I see how friends and experiences molded me into who I am now, but man do I see how far I still have to go!

I am really good at looking back and missing the past; and looking way ahead waiting for the future. But, purposeful life lived right now is what causes me to grow and become that woman I want to be. The last week has been lived without purpose, just going with the flow, and I realized how lazy, depressed, and self-absorbed I get.

This morning began a new day. A day of action. A day to reach out to others. A day to live for the Lord. A day lived on purpose, with a purpose. And, I feel better today.