The Princess and the Pea;-)

A better title for this post would be "The Newlyweds and the Mattress", but I think "The Princess and the Pea" sounds a little more romantic. ;-) The first night that Nick and I spent in our new house was in an empty room, on a mattress on the floor, with nothing to cover the window. Ahh the memories! We actually closed on our house the day before we got married. Then of course after the wedding we were off on our honeymoon. When we came back in town, our house was pretty empty other than lots of Tupperware, dishes, silverware, ice cream scoopers, pizza cutters, and many other wedding and shower gifts. We were so excited to be in our new house together as a married couple that we didn't care about sleeping on a mattress...on the floor...with nothing to cover the window. Ahh...newlywed bliss! Just being together regardless of the circumstances! *NEW LOVE*

P.S. Bright and early the next morning we were on our way to look for and purchase a bed, a mattress, and yes something to cover the windows! (A bed was delivered that afternoon!)

When Nick and I started dating he was living and working in Georgia...2 hours away from me. This meant that we spent a lot of time talking on the phone. Every night around 7 he would call me and we would talk for hours! Then when Friday came, he left work at 5 and made the 2 hour trek to see me. We would spend the weekend together and then say our good-byes on Sunday. Because love is cute when it's new, here are some of our cute new love memories...

*Going to the movies...The first time I drove us to the movies I ran a red light! I don't mean it was about to turn red...I mean it was red for quite some time before I bravely took us through that intersection. By the grace of God nobody else was coming through at that time! OOPS!

*Going bowling...He had to see my mad bowling skills so he would know I was a 'keeper'.)

*Going dancing...Our first dance was shared at "The Blind Horse". Oh how he had to be so smitten by me to slow dance to a sappy country song with me!!

*Watching T.V...so much of our time was just spent watching TV and talking. I never knew The Masters could be so much fun to watch!

*Dinner dates...I remember going to P.F Changs for the first time and he ordered lettuce wraps as an appetizer. I had NO idea what lettuce wraps were. When the waiter brought them to our table we both just kind of sat there...I think he was waiting on me to make one first and I was waiting on him to do it so I would know what to do. Finally I guess his appetite got the best of him and he went in first. I watched him closely and then made my own. :)

When we first got married, Nick was still working in Georgia half of the week. He would wake up Monday morning at 5 A.M. and drive to work. Then, he would stay at his mom's house Monday and Tuesday night and drive home to me on Wednesday after work. We spent Monday and Tuesday nights talking on the phone just like when we were dating. I can tell you that it wasn't easy, but oh do I remember the overwhelming feeling of excitement when he would get home on Wednesday night! Nothing made me happier than seeing him! This continued for the first 2 years in our marriage. Finally, he got a new position which enabled him to work from home every day of the week unless he was traveling. Sometimes he has to stay out of town a few times a week, but most weeks I am lucky enough to have him home with me every night!

That sweet little face instantly stole our hearts! A month after we were married, Nick and I adopted a little boy...Jonah! :) We had no idea how much we would love this dog baby of ours! Since it was summer when we got him I was out of school on summer break so he and I spent a lot of time together. He would follow me everywhere! His story is so sweet...he and his sister, Laina, were found on the side of the road as newborn puppies. The animal shelter in Georgia had to bottle feed them until they were old enough to eat puppy food. Laina and Jonah both ended up going to live with a  foster family until we found him online and adopted him immediately. As first time parents we were a little naïve...we attempted to adopt both siblings because out of the goodness of our hearts. we did not want to separate them. In order to adopt a pet in Georgia, you have to fill out paperwork and then complete a 30 minute phone interview. At this time the lady I spoke with told me that just one puppy might be the best for us right now. (She couldn't have been more right!) I waited 2 days before I got a call letting me know that Jonah was ours and we could pick him up! Nick and I couldn't get there fast enough! We had each bought a book on how to have the "perfect puppy" and we couldn't wait to get him home with us! By the way neither of us finished our book, but what we did read in each book we applied and either he was really smart already or we just did that great of a job because he picked up on things so quickly! Jonah turned 4 in April right before we celebrated our 4 year anniversary in June! We love this little guy and could not imagine our lives without him!

Neither Nick or I grew up really fleshing out God in our everyday lives. We both went to church and had families who believe in God, but we both took similar routes during our teenage and college years. We lived for this world and our decisions were based on that instead of our belief in God and living for Him every day. When he would come up on the weekends we went to church where his dad, stepmom, and brothers went. We stuck to just Sunday morning worship service while we were dating and engaged. During our nightly phone calls we would read a devotional that I bought from Christian Supply called "Before You Say I Do". This was a really neat devotional because it opened up so many conversations for us to have with each other. Nick was also very dedicated to reading the bible every day. I know that once again God was keeping me close to Him and He was definitely at work planting seeds. A month before we got married I became a member of FBNS. I knew that as soon as we were married I wanted us to get more involved. Once we were back from our honeymoon, we started going to a Newlywed Bible Fellowship class. It was so neat meeting so many people and fellowshipping with them. I had never been surrounded by so many people who had a love and desire for the Lord. We began to grow in our walk with Him and building relationships with others in our class. We participated in food drives and other activities that our class and church were involved in. We even took a class together called The Truth Project. Nick got A LOT more out of the class than I did...most of it was a little over my head. He had to "translate" a lot of what he learned in a way that I could understand. It was very factual and I guess as a woman I am more about feeling instead of preparing myself for a debate with an atheist. (Not that I shouldn't be ready to do that, but you know what I mean.) It felt like we were at such a good place to be in as newlyweds. I couldn't imagine life getting any better. I never had anyone in my life to talk with about God and just be filled with who He is.

Just last month, we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. Where does the time go?!? It seriously seems like just yesterday I was getting butterflies about his weekend visits or planning our wedding. Life is busy. Every day seems to come and go even faster than the one before. We have grown so much in our marriage. Learning each others quirks and buttons not to push...or push just for the fun of it. ;-) Marriage really has been fun! Now I am not saying that I could say the same EVERY day, but most days it truly is. Nick is my best friend and I am his. He is the one I laugh with, cry with, scream with (or to), make memories with. He knows me better than anyone else. (Scary!) I can't imagine my life without him. He truly completes me!

I wish I could say at this point that we are even more involved in our church, but we aren't. Changes in our church meant making decisions about which Bible Fellowship class to join and which church service to attend...contemporary or traditional. Friends that we met have come and gone as have our consistency in going every Sunday to Bible Fellowship and staying involved with what's going on. I think this is just one of those 'seasons' of change...a transition period. We have visited several other churches, but still find our way back to ours and honestly we both see so much potential in raising a family in our church because of all of the activities that are available for children and families. We still read our bible, "The Love Dare" devotional, and pray together, but our involvement in church is not nearly what either of us want it to be.

Vacations, vacations, vacations...his family LOVES to travel. We've been to soo many different places and I've gotten to see so many new things! From tropical paradise resorts in Cancun, Turks and Caicos and even Australia...to snowy bitter cold Colorado and Utah ski resorts. Nick and I are also "expert cruisers". Our honeymoon was spent on a cruise and since then we have cruised every summer until this one...we went to Aruba. :) Funny stories accompany each of these trips as well. My lack of experience with traveling prior to meeting Nick seems to show up when we go anywhere. Over the years it has gotten better, but some funny memories include...
...not knowing how to ski, but somehow managing to strap on some skis then being unable to even 'walk' in them to get to the ski lift...needless to say I ended up enrolling in ski school (every time we travel to ski resorts I do this!...I'm convinced it's safer for all involved to do this!! ;-))
...Being exposed to different strange foods and not wanting to seem like I didn't know what it was or what it tasted like or even how to eat it...so once again playing the "you go first" game and watching closely before I even attempted it. :)

Marriage is a lot of work. It's definitely different than the 'dating stage'. It is a constant process of thinking of another person before you think of yourself. (Example...Nick 'forgets' to eat sometimes which is not something I have ever had an issue with...so when it comes to meals I am always the one to bring it his attention..."Hey it's 2:00....lunch anyone?!?:))  It is learning and knowing what are 'important' issues and what are not even worth discussing. (Example...clean clothes left in a pile on the dresser for days at a time...just learn to ignore them being there..as with his side of the bed where some stuff goes but may never return...just stay on your side of the bed and on cleaning day cautiously venture to that side.) It is always a conversation about money spent...money saved...where does the money go? I remember when we first got married we started a joint checking account. I have always been responsible with my money...pay my bills, gas in my car, and shop till I drop. Well that is all good and well when it was just me, but I had to come to terms with understanding that someone else was making transactions on the same account I was, therefore I had to be a little more mindful of what was spent...how...when...and where. :) We now have a system that we do each month. It is modeled by Dave Ramsey's Envelope System. This has proven to be very helpful in monitoring our my spending, however like anything in life, it is not completely 'argument proof'. :) Two people are always going to have different 'viewpoints' on things. (Especially when it comes to things like pillows and drapes and the fact that yes when you buy a new comforter that requires you to also buy other necessary things such as pictures, rugs, lamps and other important things to complete the new look.:))

    

I thank God every day for Nick being my forever. Sometimes I get sad thinking about our life together on this Earth being limited to "till death do you part"...but Nick always comforts me and says maybe in Heaven we will still be together. So to make myself feel better I imagine having my mansion right beside his. :):)