City Lights

I firmly believe in being thankful for everything around us no matter what circumstances are going on. Of course, it's easy to say that but to really apply it to your life takes much more effort AND strength. I believe a thankful person is a joyful person; and generally other people like to be around joyful, thankful people. I may not always remember my own advice, but there are definitely moments in my life when I breathe in the air around me, and take in the sight before me that I can't help but be thankful for all I see.

I'm not much of a city girl, or a country girl for that matter, I enjoy the suburbs. It has a little bit of both city and country which gives you a taste for both when you have a craving. Well, my husband on the other hand, loves the city. He believes that when he sees tall, beautifully structured buildings that industry is booming. So we compromise, we live in the breath taking suburbs and we visit the bright city lights around us.

Over the weekend my husband and I explored together (which is one of my most favorite things to do with him) and we came upon a few illuminating sites...these photos allow me to see why the city is beautiful to so many people.

By the way, all these photos are taken with the amazing camera my husband got me!! I'm sooo thankful.

Birthday Wishes

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..." - I'm referencing that song because my birthday is on December 13th, which would be considered "the first day of the 12 days of Christmas" (which really makes no sense if you celebrate Christmas as a holiday..but I like it none-the-less)

This is ME.

My birthday was a couple days ago and I officially turned 23. I decided I'd like to stay 23 from here on out. It's a good ripe, young age yet still mature and at times, sophisticated (as you can see in the picture above). It just seems like birthdays are coming faster and faster each year. Eek! I would not mind if time slowed down a bit.

By the way, my mama makes THE best homemade birthday cake ever!! SO GOOD.

This year for my birthday I was so excited because the movie "The Hobbit" came out!...Produced by Peter Jackson, who also produced "The Lord of the Rings" movies. My family is sort of obsessed with these books and movies, so I couldn't wait! My family and good family friend, Deron, came to visit my husband and I to see "The Hobbit" the day after my birthday. It was amazing! We watched the movie in IMAX 3D which added even more amazingness to the movie. After that we relaxed at our apartment and played the new Halo 4! I really enjoy family time and being able to geek out with them, so this birthday rocked. (not to mention my husband spoiled me with a brand new camera with a bunch of goodies to go with it, two birthday dinners, and breakfast) He is amazing!

Here are a few pictures of our Hobbit adventures...

 This is my sister and although we look like twins, she is 2 1/2 years younger :)

 Hahaha...Oh the life of being a sanguine couple. <3

NEVER enough kisses from my love.

 My two beautiful younger sisters! They are amazingly talented, funny, athletic, and gorgeous!

 Look at that smoulder...sorry ladies, he's married to me!! <3

 This is my other younger sister who also looks like my twin if I had red hair. :D

 Don't mind my husband's hand getting in the way of this cute picture! These are my lovely parentals...still in love after 22 years of marriage

 This is my cute little bro, who is also a sanguine...only he is VERY sanguine. He makes my sanguine look Melancholy. Hehe I <3 him.

And this guy is pretty much my uncle. I've known him all my life and he has been friends with my pops since they were toddlers. Such an amazing man to have a part of our family!

Okay before you look at the next couple of pictures...a little back story...since my husband got me an awesome, new camera we had to take TONS of pictures with it. So my two younger sisters were pretending to model as I took bunches of photos really quickly....well it was my turn to try and....

 Suffice to say...I am NOT a model. Ha!!

Happy Birthday to me! (and Taylor Swift) <3

Color

When my husband bought me a new camera for my birthday, I was ecstatic! By no means am I a photographer, but I thoroughly enjoy getting to know the different features on my new camera, as well as taking in the beauty of the world all around me.

Well I haven't really had a chance to go out and take pictures of randomness until the other night.  Where I live they have the "Great Park" and it is HUGE. I mean they named it after the literal fact that the park is ginormous. Anyways, they are currently developing the rest of the park to have different athletic facilities and other various places to hang out. I am so excited! It's only 5 minutes from my house and I love to go there just to breathe fresh air.

All that being said, I was able to get out of the house and take a few photos of the various colors around me. :)

This tree wasn't at the park but I LOVE the colors!

Happy Hump Day! Enjoy the colors around you. <3

Thankful!!

I am so incredibly thankful for where I am, the people around me, my life, and so much more.

Lately there has been so much chaos, sadness, and confusion in our world...well I guess it's been going on for thousands of years, but it seems as though it's broadcasted so much more now days. It's pretty depressing how you can turn on the news every morning and hear of all the craziness going on in our giant world. 

Here are a few of the things that have gone on in just the last couple of months.

Hurricane Sandy

U.S. Embassy Attacked

U.S. Egyptian Christians fear for faith under Morsi's Islam agenda

Israel confronts rocket attacks from Gaza

Not to mention all of the little tragedies along the way...murder, theft, rape, etc going on all around our beautiful world every day and night. It's amazing how we are just one planet among so many in an enormous universe, yet we have so much tragedy within ourselves.

Over the last few weeks, listening to everything that has been going on has truly made me more thankful than I've ever been. I live in a nation that still believes in freedom. I live in a state that rarely has natural disasters and so many people love to tour. I live in a city full of rich land and beautiful scenery. I live in a season full of joy and wonder, and I'm gearing up to celebrate a holiday that is the most important holiday of all. I am truly blessed.

While we have the luxury of waking up in the morning without fear, and watching our favorite shows on T.V., and enjoying the Christmas season, I can't say it enough...We live a blessed and freeing life. We should definitely try to remember how truly blessed we are every day of our wonderful, amazing, exciting lives.

I love this life, I love this land, I love this season, I love the Lord, and we are all so much more blessed than we could ever fathom to be thankful for.

Have an amazing start to your week!

<3

A very MERRY Disneyland Christmas

Usually on a Tuesday, I realize how much I have to get accomplished by Friday, but this last Tuesday was a special day. My family ditched school and work just to spend a day with me and my husband at Disneyland! 

It's a small world....BEAUTIFUL from the outside!! - Will not venture on the inside, that song is way too easy to play in your head over and over and over again.

Of course, everyone knows that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, but during the Christmas season, it's the merriest place on earth. And YES, there is a difference between being merry and being happy. 

My favorite part about family time is watching my husband, dad, and little brother get along so well.

I absolutely LOVE this holiday season. My favorite time of year is from October through January. I love the color changes in the leaves and flowers, and the wonderful, warm fragrances with the crisp, cold weather. It's a whole new atmosphere followed by 4 holidays that bring joy and laughter back into so many lives.

I love my family, I love this season, and I love Disneyland. No matter how old you are, Disneyland can turn your bad day into a good day. It's full of life, expression, adventure, fun, and laughter. My family and I had so much fun and I'm super thankful to being able to live so close to Disneyland.

The Gift of Marriage

My husband and I went to a marriage conference this past weekend and it was AMAZING. I wanted to blog about it because it's definitely an amazing rekindle of the romance in a marriage.

I have been blessed to be married to my best friend and a man full of integrity. He is humble and kind, and more than I ever thought I'd be able to be blessed with. I am amazed everyday at just how much better my life is with him in it. -- That being said, we are still just like every married couple out there. We have our disagreements and arguments and even fights.  You never really understand what it means to be married until you've actually been married. -- And we all say,"DUH.". -- Well I still wouldn't trade being married to my husband for anything, but there are things that we just don't understand about each other.

It's funny how often you can argue and fight about the same thing, explain it to each other over and over again, yet still continue to fight about what you just fought about. I think it has a lot to do with listening but then allowing your pride to get in the way. There are so many times my husband has told me one thing, and in my mind I'm thinking, "really? no...he will get over it one day, until then I will just keep trying to show him that I know better." - We all know how that goes....ladies and gentleman, you will never have a good marriage until you break your pride down quite a few notches and allow someone else to be right. And TRUST me, that is hard to admit.

Before I met Jeff, I was very good at living and controlling my life the way that I saw fit, but when you get married, you truly become "one flesh". You can still make decisions but 99% of the time they are made with your spouse. That gets hard because you don't have full control anymore, you only have half. That was the hardest thing for me. I still struggle with it to this day, but I realize, now, that both my husband and I want what is best for BOTH of us, not just one or the other. You know that saying, Two Hearts become One? That may be a cliche saying, but it's got a lot of truth to it. You cannot function peacefully in a marriage until your heart and his heart become one and vise versa. As soon as you both get on the same page and start working together, you will feel the weight of control, pride, frustration, confusion and so much more be lifted off your shoulders. You'll finally be able to function with peace and joy, realizing that even though things may not go your way, you and your spouse have set out to accomplish the same thing together.


...You know, it's funny because there are times in a marriage where you think you've got it down. You haven't fought for a couple weeks, you are understanding each other and everyone is happy. Then all of a sudden you get into another disagreement about the very thing that you thought you understood.  I've come to the conclusion that we will never Not Disagree, but we will always Learn. That being said, sometimes I think it's healthy to hear from another married couple talk about exactly what they go through and what they have learned from each other. I mean, think about it, YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY MARRIED COUPLE GOING THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES OF MARRIAGE. They are everywhere! -- That is why this past weekend was such a great breath of fresh air for my husband and I. Everything that he has been telling me and everything I have been telling him was told to US at our marriage conference.

Every woman needs affection (words of affirmation, hugs, kisses, cuddles, etc.).
Every man needs physical affection (touch, sex).

And those are not bad things! Those are our love languages and those are the things we crave in order to feel loved and be loved. There is so much more that my husband and I learned at the marriage conference, but I'd have to be talking to you for two days....So I want to encourage you to seek counsel from other married couples. Go to marriage conferences, TALK to your spouse.

**Dr. James Merritt is the man and pastor who spoke at our marriage conference. You should look him up online and find out when he is speaking in your area. He is an awesome teacher. He catches you attention, you don't want to fall asleep, he is funny, and even though you know most of what he is teaching, sometimes it makes more sense coming from someone else.

Enjoy your marriage ladies and gentlemen! You only have approx 80 years on this earth, why not make the most of it by enjoying your spouse? You will have more joy and your spouse will feel more loved by you.