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I know it's been three weeks since I last blogged...

Jesse and I have technically been married for one month this past Tuesday- the 8th- (though our actual four weeks was on Saturday the 5th) and Jesse brought me a bouquet of flowers he picked out and arranged himself! I gave him a card. He's so thoughful and I love him to bits! I'm so thankful for him.

We were in the kitchen the other day and had the following conversation:
Jesse: "Why are you so beautiful?"
Me: "Because Heavenly Father just made me that way." (Normally I'm not that pride-ful(?) about my appearance but I was trying to be semi-funny too)
Jesse: "I thank Him every night for you!"

We'll be going to Mississippi and staying in cabins for Thanksgiving this year for a family reunion (with Jesse's mothers family). It will be the first year that I won't be spending it with my family (other than my mission) and it will be different, but I'm also excited to meet Jesse's extended family. He already warned me (highlighted at the top) about a certain gravy not to eat...



I promise I haven't forgotten about honeymoon pictures! (Not sure anyone really cares about them but anyway...) We don't have internet access at our apartment so when I blog, it's from work and I don't have the pictures on the computer at work. Hopefully in the next few! days I will post them as well as some more wedding pictures.

19

Me: "Guess what?"*
Jesse: "What?"
Me: "We've been married for two weeks!"
Jesse: "Oh, no, it feels like a year!" :)

ha, that husband of mine. I sure love him!

This conversation took place on Saturday, so today we've been married for 19 days! This means I'm a marriage expert, right? Right? Not really- I have a far way to go, but during the past 19 days I've learned a few things and felt like I wanted to share:

1. Your wedding day is exuasting! If possible try to go to sleep early (or at least at a reasonable hour) the night before your wedding or take a nap in between your wedding and reception if you have time (we didn't because our reception was from 2-4pm). You will need the rest for your wedding day. Jesse and I went to bed late, up with last minute preparations and then had to be at the temple at 9:30am for pictures. We were tired by the time our reception was over. Thankfully our reception ended at 4pm, but my family was there cleaning up until much later- thank you to them!

2. Make sure to take a week for your honeymoon, if possible. It gives you time to spend just with each other before jumping back into real life.

3. From the start, make couple prayer and scripture study a habit. It will help you to grow closer together not only as a couple, but also with Hevenly Father. I love praying and reading scriptures with Jesse.

3.5. Pray for each other and for your marriage in companionship prayer- it brings unity.

4. Be patient with each other and yourselves in the first few weeks of marriage. It's a little bit of an adjustment to be married, but remember to put each other first and find ways to serve each other.

5. Be open with your feelings regarding intimacy. As LDS people I sometimes feel that the subject is taboo, but it needs to be discussed. (Is that TMI? Anyway...)

6. Focus your wedding day on the temple- really that is the most important part. Commit to return often together.

7. Create an album of your photos. We made one for our honeymoon photos (I don't have the wedding CD yet) and have looked through it multiple times already. It's wonderful to re-live the day(s).

8. I love being married. It is wonderful being married to your best friend, knowing that together you are in the process of building an eternal family and knowing that whatever comes you have each other and Heavenly Father to rely on. I believe it was President Snow that said: "Marriage is a wonderful institution. I highly recommend it." I wholeheartedly agree!

We have a cross stitch that we bought in Italy similar to the one below hanging in our living room. Yes, it might make it look like we're Catholic, but I love Jesse's comment about it. "I really like this because it represents not only Joseph and Mary and Christ, but it can represent our holy family as well."



*(we started playing the "guess what?" game on our honeymoon. We would ask each other "guess what?" and then answer with something like "we're on our way to Rome!" or "the Pope is right in front of us" or "we're almost to the beautiful Sistine Chapel!").

My wedding day...

I know I've been absent from the blogsphere for a little bit and my apologies if you've missed me. I was busy with last minute wedding preparations and then my honeymoon (we just got back on Tuesday) and I haven't been feeling too well since we got back.

I was sealed to my love, Jesse, in the Columbus, Ohio temple on Saturday October, 8th at 11:30 in the morning.

The wedding was absolutely wonderful...the beautiful spirit of the temple ceremony, the happiness of having our friends and family gathered around us, the smile and small chuckle that came when the sealer told us to look at him rather than each other, the joy and peace and happiness I felt when the sealer pronounced us as husband and wife for all eternity...the quiet time of reflection with Jesse after the sealing in the Celestial room. It was truly a wonderful day.

For all those who helped in every way and showered your love on us, thank you, thank you, thank you. Especially to my mom for tailoring my dress, and all her hard, hard work with the reception.

Pictures will be forthcoming, but here are a few:

"The family is a creation of the Almighty. It represents the most sacred of all relationships. It represents the most serious of all undertakings, It is the fundamental organization of society. Through the revelation of God to His prophet came the doctrine and authority which families are sealed together not only for this life but for all eternity." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Great Things Which God Has Revealed"

Photographs courtesy of Frozen in Time Photography. (If you click on the link you can view some more wedding photos as well.)

Someone is having a birthday...

Today is Jesse's (my soon-to-be-husband) 29th birthday!

Thank you for loving me and being my best friend. I'm so excited to marry you and have you be mine for eternity.
Happy Birthday, love!

Birthday weekend: Part 1

Wow, what a weekend! I have so much to say and not enough words to express it all...this weekend has been wonderful, sad, reflective, and bittersweet all at the same time.

Friday the 9th-my birthday:
As Friday evening rolled around we were undecided whether to celebrate my birthday out or go for a night hike in Berea as planned (which was the Friday night activity). We decided to go on the hike, and as Jesse came to pick us up, his arms were full of a bouquet of flowers and an ice cream cake from DQ! What a wonderful present!

When we arrived at the Pinnacles, there was an ampitheater which we went to look at...a guy in the group told me to go down the steps to look at it better. When I turned around the group started singing "Happy Birthday" to me. Sneaky Jesse, who told me he didn't say anything about my birthday! It was a nice surprise.

The hike, about 2-3 miles, was a little steep (and muddy) at times, but once we got to the top the view of the city was beautiful and peaceful! Jesse and I had a little bit of time to sit and reflect and it was wonderful. I'm so glad we all went. Once we got back it was about 11:30 and we all decided to save cake for Saturday since we were tired.

Saturday:
Jesse and I decided to head out to the Arboretum (even though it was officially closed due to the football game, he got in because he's the horticulturist there!) to look at the bird house exhibit... we painted a birdhouse together and Jesse wood burned one so we entered them both (it's a fundraiser for them). I have pictures, but I can't find my camera cord! Arrrr. Jesse told me as we were leaving that he hopefully would have my birthday present finished by the evening. I told him I thought the flowers and ice cream cake was my present!


As Jesse was under a tree retrieving a heart nut to show me, he must have bothered a wasp nest since he got stung twice- once each on two of his fingers. As he came back out he told me to hurry away from the tree since a few of them started chasing us. Hurting Jesse- the nerve of that wasp!

After the Arboretum we headed out to Raven Run for a 4 mile hike.
As we were driving there, I mentioned to Jesse that I sometimes miss being a kid and doing kid things like running around sprinklers, bike rides, and playing outside with no cares in the world.

When we got to Raven Run the weather was perfect and it was lovely spending time in nature with Jesse. It took us about 3 hours to go four miles which is pretty slow considering some people run a 15 minute mile... but, in our defense we stopped to play in the streams, look at plants and trees, take photographs, play Three Billy Goats Gruff on some bridges we found ("who's walking on my bridge?"), and pick up buckeyes (which I eventually had to put back. Sad). Jesse took some wonderful nature photographs and also one of me as I was playing in a stream. It was fun how the hike made me feel like a kid again.

After the hike we went to Olive Garden for a birthday dinner. When I got home Brenna, my sister, had presents waiting for me. Such lovely birthday gifts- a pair of fuzzy socks, Twix bars, little notepads, and two wall phrases to hang up in our new apartment once Jesse and I are married.

Later that evening after resting for a little bit, Jesse came back over for ice cream cake and chocolate cake which Brenna made. As he was walking up the steps he was carrying something in his arms....

Post 2 coming soon...hopefully with pictures.

Expressions of love

How grateful I am for Jesse's expressions of love-
A kind word when I've had a bad day
A hug and a kiss
A joke he tells to make me laugh
His wonderful drawings with love letters included
The words: "I love you"

He is smart, funny, thoughtful, selfless, and ever willing to serve. He always sees the best in me, even when I don't, and helps me to feel the love of my Heavenly Father.

I'm so grateful that he will be mine for time and all eternity. And that knowledge is oh, so good.

I've been a bad blogger this month

Only 3 posts for the month of May?

What?!

I know, so bad.

In my defense, I have been busy with other things. Good things- very good things, so don't judge too harshly.

Here's a little recap (sorry...no pictures because I'm at work):

1. This past Saturday I moved into a new apartment.
2. Jesse and I did some important shopping.
3. Said new apartment doesn't have internet. Thusly also related to the lack of posting (and pictures).
4. Jesse and I will be going home to see my parents this weekend for Memorial Day. I'm so excited!!
5. I've almost unpacked all my boxes.
6. Jesse is so good at Clue. He beat me 7 times, but he let me beat him twice in a row last night (and then I let him win once!)
7. He's so kind.
8. I sure love him!
9. I'm so grateful to call him mine.
10. I miss him when I'm at work.

Sorry for the overflow of emotion in this post.

Have a happy Wednesday!

Month of love

Via

Thank you so much to everybody who commented on my last post. I'm hoping I can figure out what's going on soon.

************
About two months ago I came across a website called Love Bomb. Every Thursday they send out an email about a person who is really struggling or experiencing rough times in their life. Love bomb includes a link to their website/blog and your job is to head over to that person's site and leave them an encouraging comment. By the end of the day they will have received many, many nice comments just when they are needed most.

Does it sound good? If so, please head over to Love Bomb and sign up. It only takes a few minutes of your time, but the results are truly timeless for those you help.

Think of the impact this could have on these people! As you know it starts with us.

Also, if you know of someone who needs a love bomb dropped on them you can email Lauren (the girl in charge) at dropalovebomb@gmail.com and let her know.

Yay for love!

Post edit: These past two weeks Lauren has been struggling and because of that, Lauren is being love bombed this week. Go here to send her a comment!

Birthday wish!

(My mom as a child with a doctor's kit)

Today is my mom's birthday.

She is a wonderful mom.
I know, I know what you're thinking...
that is what daughters are supposed to say.

But it's true.
She really is the best mom in the world.

Because she's mine!

Happy Birthday, Mama! I love you!

P.S. You can go here and wish her a happy birthday comment on her blog if you want. But, shh, don't tell her I sent you. It'll be our little secret. :)

Chocolate + Music = Love?

If chocolate be the food of love, eat on.

Oh, wait. Wrong quote.

If music be the food of love, play on. Is that better?

I love many things, it's true. So, in honor of Valentine's Day and for your reading pleasure, I will now list some of them. Warning: I will probably update this list periodically.

I love...

Nutella.

Dry Humor.

Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper.

Fridays.

Christmas eve.

Christmas morning.

The Sound of Music.

The Phantom of the Opera.

The Beatles.

Josh Groban's voice.

Michael Buble's voice.

The smell of coffee beans.

My sister.

Sunshine.

Silence.

Red.

People playing with my hair.

The Olympics.

Sleeping in.

My down comforter.

Pickles.

Lost in Yonkers.

Prank phone calls.

Sheets (or clothes) warm out of the dryer.

Blogging.

World War II movies.

World War II in general.

Gene Kelly Dancing.

Hugh Jackman singing and dancing.

Selfless people.

As Time Goes By. The TV show.

Men in Wrangler jeans with cowboy boots.

Cultural events.

Kind people.

Cookie dough.

Blizzards.

The Ensign.

Rain.

Doughnuts.

Babies.

Baby cheeks.

Spinach.

Baby animals.

Fiddler on the Roof.

Nuts.

The Book of Mormon.

Homecooked meals.

Tumbleweed. The real thing, not the restaurant.

Popcorn.

Cows.

My mom.

My dad.

Hannah.

Staying home.

Thrift stores.

Art galleries.

Real Simple magazine.

Heavenly Father.

Cheese.

Bagels with cream cheese and lox.

Tuesdays with Morrie.

Watching the sun rise.

Pineapple.

Libraries.

Anne of Green Gables.

Chocolate with nuts.

Thunderstorms.

Comfortable jeans.

Nature.

Rain on a summer day.

Fresh baked bread with real butter.

Listening to music as I wash the dishes.

Faith.

The smell of freshly cut grass.

The smell of my dog's toe pads. Don't judge me. You just have to experience it to know what I mean...it goes along with the smell of freshly cut grass.

Now, for your eating pleasure I will share two chocolate recipes with you. In case you want to make them over the weekend, for Valentine's day and all.

Molten Chocolate Lave Cake

Delicious Baked Fudge

Enjoy!

Oh, one more thing. The Olympics started yesterday and I love the Olympics. This means that I might not be blogging while they are being shown. I will try, but I can't guarantee anything.

Copyright © 2010 by Natasha M.