Praying For Your Husband

Today's Making Him Challenge is to ask your husband how you can pray for him on a daily basis--this is a daunting task if I do say so myself--everyday? I think we would both be worn out after one week of me asking that question. However, I do think it is important to ask and it lets your man know that you care about him and will be supporting him in prayer. Plus, prayer changes hearts. As we pray for someone our heart, thoughts and actions change toward them in a positive direction. I always ask the Lord to endear my heart toward the little and big people in this home because in the day to day life sometimes our sweet ones are not so dear. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. You know they are not so dear to your heart when they are stressed and don't know it, they make a water mess all over the kitchen floor for the little one to slip on and knock his head, when they are covered in Nutella or when they ask you the same thing for the who knows what number time. I pray that my heart would be softened and moved to serve with a heart guided by the Lord's spirit.



So I haven't yet asked Jay how I can pray for him today but I will. Back in January I came across this very useful tool in praying for Jay. It is a 31 day challenge to pray for your guy. I have prayed the verses several times in the past 6 months and it has helped me cover many overlooked areas in his life and mine. Give it a try. Don't be legalistic about it but use it as a jumping off point for prayers. I printed the list out and it is in my basket but I have carried it on walks and packed it for trips.

Now I am off to investigate a few more treasures on that same sight.

Happy Day!

Our wedding story

I am taking part in the Completing Him Summer Challenge. Today's challenge is to tell about our wedding day as I remember the importance of the vows we took.

Jay and I were married on August 6th, 1999, it was a Friday afternoon. On the morning of our wedding I was awakened by booming thunder and pouring rain--unbelievable. We typically get thunder showers in the afternoons but not early in the morning, it was 6A.M. We had planned an outdoor wedding at a private residence surrounded by towering pines and a peekaboo view of Lake Tahoe but it was not to be. We had to turn on the beautiful fireplace and move the ceremony indoors--it was more cozy and intimate than I could have imagined, a true blessing from the Lord. And oh goodness, the smell from all the flowers was amazing. Had we of had the wedding outdoors, amongst the pines and lake views, we would have missed the beautiful fragrance of the flowers. Jay still buys me Stargazer Lillies because the fragrance reminds us of the day we committed our lives to one another and I always think of him during summer thunder storms.

Our Wedding had 90 guests and we personally knew everyone in attendance. Jay sang, or shall I say attempted to sing, " I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman but he could hardly choke it out through his tearful emotion. I forgot my self and as I hugged him,I kissed him through my vail which got quite a laugh from our friends and family. As I stood at the front I was sure to look around and savor the flowers and moments of this special day, as they were so quickly passing by. It was a beautiful ceremony and we could not have been happier.

At our reception we had an open mic for everyone to share bits or advice or memories of us and we treasure that in our hearts. My dad made the favors, chocolate chip cookies, with his "secret ingredient," my mom made the ivy topiary center pieces and we cut our cake with the same knife my parents used to cut their wedding cake. After a time of worship we were off to our honey moon in Grand Cayman.




It has been almost 11 years since we said I Do--4 children later, 1 lost baby, family discord, a year of fighting and not understanding, dishes in the sink, struggles to communicate, financial hardship, an unknown future I'd still pick you. I'd still pick you until death do us part because I love you, God purposed it in my heart, I said I would, 4 children later, trips to Grand Cayman, tea with honey, games, Food Network, the Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser, working out, hiking, walks, bike rides, thunderstorms, your protection and your loyal heart. Thanks sweetie, it will always be worth it "until death do us part."

Sunday Afternoon--Crystal Falls

We had a wonderful Sunday Afternoon hiking at crystal Falls. The Crystal Falls trailhead is located in the back of the Bay View campground just past Emerald Bay. I am not sure of the hike mileage but it is short enough for our 3 year old Kensley to hike both directions with very little complaining of "I'm tired." Beware that the trail is not a smooth meandering path but rather rockie with lots of up and down stepping.





E on top of the world.




K in a mini crawl threw/cave.


It is hard to see them but E and A did a little rock climbing, they are at the top of the photo.


E and A thinking of testing the waters so more--they both had fallen in already.



B cozy in the backpack.





B loves grapes.


J and B with Crystal Lake in the background.


The children in front of views of Crystal Lake and Tahoe in the back. Don't they look like hikers, backpacks, dirt and all.




E and A do a bit more rock climbing.


And to top it all off, Papa and Nana were along for the ride.

Completing Him Summer Challenge #1

I am going to participate in the Completing Him Summer Challenge hosted by the blog Women Living Well. It is a challenge anyone can participate in whether you have a blog or not. I would love to see all of your thoughts, photos or stories on Facebook as well. So join in and invest in your marriage this summer.

This is my first post and it is our "how it all began" story.

Jay and I met in the Summer of 1998 at Calvary Chapel of Truckee. One June evening a friend and I went to the movies and on the way home I asked her about Jay. I had seen him at church many times and he seemed to be the only eligible bachelor around. He seemed stable, good job, he had a house, was handsome and loved the Lord. The following Sunday I was introduced to him 2 times by 2 different people. After that Jay started coming to the young adult bible study I was having at my house. We could talk about anything and he often brought a cake or blonde brownies to share with the group. The summer went by and we did group activities and went mountain biking a few times. On one of the rides no one else came so it was just he and I. We got lost and got stuck in a horrible rain storm. When we got back to my apartment we were soak and full of mud. I lent him some dry clothes and we had dinner. The next week I am was sitting in church and in walks Jay wearing my clothes again--STRANGE. He still says he wore them because they weren't dirty yet. A few week later over Chi tea He asked so "what do you say when people ask what is going on with us?" I said I don't know what do you say?" I think " I like you a lot" was the response.



One of our first dates was to Safeway to buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. He saw they were on sale and picked me up to go buy me some in exchange for the full bottle of ketchup in my cupboard. I know such romance.

Another date was to Dairy Queen 2 minutes before they closed.

After 2 weeks I knew we were going to get married so 3 months later, in December we got engaged--now that is a story, but maybe next week.



It is strange to look at old pictures--Jay had what I friendly call "helmet" hair and I just had a lot more of it than I do after babies

From My Reader--projects for dads and children to enjoy

I have been wanting a set of tree blocks for the children since last fall and today I found this fun blog that tells you how to do it yourself plus more. Check it out.

Tree Blocks

Tree Tea Set


Tree Snake

Sunday Afternoon

We went bike riding on the Legacy Trail yesterday afternoon. As we rode along the path and played in the park it was amazing to see the amount of people who have been itching to get out into the great outdoors, ourselves included.


The Truckee River


Garbarino Gang--B is in the picture, he is in the pink bike helmet right behind E. Yes, we know B is a boy and in a pink helmet, the good news is he has grown out of the pink protector and a friend has offered me a new helmet that is not pink. (Thanks Miss. Peggy)



B is 20 months old.



K is 3 1/2 years old.



A is 6 years old.



J and K--so good looking.



E is 7 1/2 years old.



J taking this picture while riding a bike with a tot strapped to the back.



Bike riding is one of A's favorite things to do and this trip was his request.



B in his tot seat.



E happy to be on the bike path and always riding as fast as she can.