Vegas!

For the last year we've been planning to get away for our 5th anniversary. We had originally wanted to go to San Francisco, but between gas, hotel, parking, etc. it was just too much money. As we thought about options, we decided to look into Las Vegas. We found some great deals and started planning!

We found a room for $24.95 a night at Hooters (yes, I know...it's the last place I ever thought we'd stay) and with the deal we got on the room we were able to buy tickets to see a show too! Our hotel was actually quite nice...the room was a great size, very clean, quiet, etc. I was actually quiet surprised! We even got coupons for free wings!! (which was AMAZING...I've been craving hot wings from Hooters since we got back...go figure)

We went Weds-Fri and were able to miss LOTS of traffic and the crowds by going mid-week! Our 1st night we had dinner at the MGM Grand buffet. The food was alright, but I enjoyed the dessert bar more than the food itself. After dessert I thought it'd be fun to visit Circus Circus as I had memories of there as a kid. On our way we stopped at the PBR Rock Bar to watch some play-off hockey. It was a great place...low key, great atmosphere, and TVs everywhere! Then we were back to our journey to the other end of the strip. After walking almost 4 miles to get down there I was extremely disappointed. Circus Circus was pretty dumpy and not worth the walk. Oh well. By the time we got to our room that night we had walked 5+ miles! Yikes!

Thursday we walked the strip some more. We had AMAZING crepes for breakfast at the Paris hotel. WOW, they were incredible! We found a few fun souveneirs and then decided after some shopping that we were tired. We found a great little place off the strip to get pedicures and enjoyed relaxing together. Thursday night we got to see The Lion King together. It was fun to get dressed up and see a show! Last time we saw a show together was over 5 years ago!

After our show we went back and changed. We grabbed dinner @ the hotel (the amazing wings previously mentioned) and then set off to explore some more! We hung out in the Luxor and had fun taking random pictures in the pyramid!

We grabbed one last meal at the Paris on Friday as Jaye found 2 for 1 coupons for their buffet. I ended up eating more crepes (they were SO good) and Jaye filled his plate with round after round after round of shrimp! Our bellies were quite full! We stopped at some outlets to shop on our way home and thoroughly enjoyed more time together! It was really fun to shop with Jaye as he helped me piece together outfits and encouraged me to try new looks and styles. All in all, it was a wonderful trip and we so enjoyed quality time together!

It's hard to believe 5 years have passed already! I am so blessed to be married to my best friend and to share my life with such an incredible man!!

Are you Speaking My Language?

I just finished going through a box of old letters and pictures. I started out looking for a specific picture and ended up spending 30 minutes reading through old letters from friends, grandparents, boyfriends, mentors, etc. As I read through the letters I got to wondering why in the world I still had all these pieces of paper, words on a page, and then I remembered the "5 Love Languages" and got to thinking about what my love language is. I had taken the quiz/assessment awhile back and was curious if my "love language" was still the same. Here's how I scored (there were 30 questions total):

12	Words of Affirmation
5	Quality Time
6	Receiving Gifts
6	Acts of Service
1	Physical Touch

I've known that "words of affirmation" are important to me, but as I was looking through old letters, I realized that I have always valued these "words". This is why I still have boxes of letters/cards that date back to elementary school...the words others say and write to me speak to my heart, to the core of who I am. These "words" that people have shared with me over the years have been sources of hope and encouragement, inspiration and accountability.

Thinking about these "love languages" have gotten me thinking about not only how I receive love, but how I give it. I have always been a letter writer and have always found it easier to write out my feelings in words on a page or screen. Its so easy for me to share "words" with others as that is what comes naturally to me. But unfortunately, those closest to me may not "speak" the same language as me and "words" may not be as fulfilling or meaningful as they are to me.

So then, how do we learn to "speak" each other's "language" if it is not one that comes naturally to us? And, how do we help those around us learn to speak our "language" if it is not one that comes naturally to them? Here we are trying to "speak" our love to those we love and we may be coming up short and completely miscommunicating with them. How do we learn to speak this new language that may seem quite foreign to us in order to cause our loved ones to feel valued and cherished? It seems like quite the vicious cycle to me...if I'm not feeling loved b/c no-one is speaking a language to me that is life giving/fulfilling which in return leaves me feeling quite empty, what do I have to offer to those around me?!

It seems like something so simple, learning to "speak" love to those we care for in a way that actually matters to them and resonates deep in their heart, and yet I wonder, have we taken the time to ask? Have we taken the time to genuinely ask those we care for, how we can better love them and "speak" to them in a way that speaks to their heart? I know I've fallen short...

	What's your love language? Take the assessment here: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/

Proud to be an American

This evening I had the incredible opportunity to support my little (well, he's not really very "little" any more, he's 18) brother as he performed with New America Singers at Camp Pendleton Marine Base...

We arrived about an hour early as we had to follow the team on base in order to get on post. As we sat out by the car waiting, several platoons of men marched past in formation. The platoons marched by, chanting their steps and responding to their Drill Instructor. I couldn't help but be in awe as I watched them march, thinking of the commitment they had made to serve their country in this way. Hope was enthralled with the "toy soldiers" marching by and even once we went inside the chapel to wait, she kept watching out the window for them.

When it was time, the men marched in and took their seats. (Nothing like a room filled with 150 sweaty men in uniform) As the performance began, the men were welcomed and made aware that this was to be a Christian performance. They were given the option to wait in another room if they did not want to be there and I don't think a single one of them left. I really wasn't sure what to expect from either group, the singers or the recruits.

Aaron's team sang a variety of songs and various team members participated in puppetry and dramatic readings. At one point, as Aaron's group sang "I'm proud to be an American", the men stood one by one, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, truly representing what that song is all about. As I looked out over the sea of desert camouflage, it hit me that it is these men who will go to war to fight for our freedom and to keep our country free. It is these young men who have committed to spend 90 days in boot-camp and maybe even their lives, leaving their families and all that is comfortable and safe in order to begin their careers in the United States Marine Corps.

At one point Aaron's group (Aaron is my brother) presented the gospel. The team shared the message of salvation boldly and simply and I was a bit curious as to how these recruits would perceive them and receive their message. When the time came to give these men an opportunity to receive Christ, at least half of the room raised a hand. WOW. Here are these young men, stripped of all that they have for 90 days, hungry for the One who knows them as individuals, as a beautiful creation, a masterpiece. Hungry for this God who will guide them through whatever endeavor or danger they may face, a God who promises never to leave them or forsake them.

The chaplain told us about 70 men raised their hands and had accepted Christ. The chaplain announced to the men that there would be a baptism @ 6:30am tomorrow and any who received Christ were invited to come and profess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord. There was a bit of extra time at the end where Aaron's leader asked the men if any of them had prayer requests that they'd like prayer for. One after the other they stood and asked prayer for their baby who had born since they'd been at bootcamp, for their Grandma who was ill, for family who had lost a loved one, for a Dad who had been diagnosed with cancer since the recruit had been at boot camp, for their platoons to make it to graduation day in June, etc. Here was a room full of recruits, training for the fight of their lives...while the world continued on around them outside of that base.

For maybe the 1st time tonight, I truly felt proud to be an American. Not that I am not thankful or grateful to live where I live, but I'm not sure I've ever felt pride in my country like that. It's really hard to put into words the overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude I felt towards these men tonight and towards the many men who have given their lives to serve our country and fight for our freedom. As the men asked and sang "Proud to Be An American" for a second time, I couldn't help but look around the room and feel truly proud to live where I live, in the country I am in.

Thank you to the men and women, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, who have chosen to serve in the Armed Forces and to fight for our freedom. Thank you to those who have chosen to hold them loosely and have let them go, many times for months and years at a time, in order to pursue their calling to serve. Thank you to those who have lost their lives in many battles, near and far, in order to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

To the recruits we shared the chapel with tonight, I commit to praying for you and for your platoons and the families you represent as you continue on this journey of service and dedication to our country. I commit to raising my daughter to honor this country and deeply respect each of the men and women who have chosen the Armed Forces and to teach her the value of her freedom.

"Mother's" day!

So, tomorrow is Mother's Day... a day we celebrate our Moms and all that they are to us. I had the opportunity this past week to listen to a great talk about mothering...looking at "mother" as a verb or an action, rather than just a single person. We all gather things and learn from our own Moms, whether it be positive or negative, and we then carry that on to our own children. It's caused me to think this week about not only my own Mom, but also those who have "mothered" me over the years.

My own Mom worked hard to help provide for our family, she always dressed me well and assured that I was matching and looked cute. My Mom cared for our home and kept it clean and was always quick to welcome others inside. My Mom is the queen of inviting people over for coffee and hosting late night conversations that often last into the morning. My Mom is a night-owl and has kept me company on many a drive home from work over the years. My Mom is a bit of a perfectionist and if she asked to do something or create something, there is no doubt that she will do it well and will stay up until all hours assuring that it is just right.

It seems I am quite the opposite of my Mom in many ways and yet I am so thankful for the lessons she taught me and the example she led for me. I am grateful for how she loved me no matter what and put up with me all these years! I love that not only is she my Mom now, but she is also my friend. I love watching her with Hope now and seeing another side of her now that she is in the role of "Grandma" to my sweet girl!

I have been blessed with a few other women who have "mothered" me as I have grown and I am so grateful for these women as well...Some walked with me for many years, while others walked with me for a season. Either way, I am grateful for these Godly women who helped shape me.

When we moved back to California when I was in 4th grade, I somehow became quite taken by my music teacher. I don't know what it was about Cheryl, but I just thought the world of her. Over the years, she was my teacher in various subjects and took the time to teach me well. Thanks to Cheryl I have always LOVED English and writing. I think part of the reason I ended up at APU, was thanks to Cheryl and a trip we took in 7th grade to visit the campus. In high school I got to be a babysitter to Cheryl's girls and even got to help her teach summer school...Cheryl continually made time for me and invited me to share life with her and her family over the years. It is hard to believe that her "little girls" are now not so little at all.

The summer after 6th grade I met Julie at Jr. High camp. Julie was on staff at camp and somehow, I was drawn to her. Sweet Julie put up with numerous letters being sent and was so kind in responding to my many letters over the years. Although I mostly "knew" Julie through letters, I was privilege to witness her incredible faith as her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Still to this day, I am reminded of her unswerving faith and trust in God to heal Greg. Julie taught me what it meant to trust in the Lord with all my heart.

My freshman year of college I got the opportunity to go to Guatemala (again) with a new group...a group of police officers. Not sure how I got to be a part of that group, but I am thankful for the trip and the meeting of Tami. Tami walked with me over the next year, offering advice and guidance and helped me seek out God's will in various instances and situations. She heard me out, listened, and helped me to seek truth.

A few years out of college God led me to work at a church...the last place I ever thought I'd work. He allowed me to connect with Debbie early on in my time there and I am so thankful. Debbie met with me weekly for several years and I really feel as though I learned a TON from our time together. Debbie helped me walk through some pretty tough stuff and helped me learn to deal with my past in order to move forward. She asked me the hard questions and really challenged me grow in my relationship with Christ, my friendships with others, and even in my role @ the church. Each time we met, I knew she was going to ask me what I was learning and reading. Because of her unconditional love and acceptance, I was able to confess where I'd fallen short and rather than chastise me or make me feel bad, she'd encourage me to choose differently and do it different next time. There was awhile when I desperately needed those times together. I am grateful that now I can call her "friend".

I am so thankful for my Mom and these other amazing women who God placed in my life to "mother" me over the years. Happy Mother's Day Mom, Cheryl, Julie, Tami, and Debbie! I am so grateful for each of you and the way that God has used you to shape me and mold me into the woman/mom I am today.