Gratitude Journal ~ Day 1 ~ Marco

Here we are with Marco's parents. We celebrated Hannah's 15th birthday at Benihana.

Today, I am so thankful for my husband. Besides my dad, he is the hardest working man I know. Four years ago, he stepped out in faith to start a church. I am glad to say that it is going stronger than ever today. He worked a separate full time job for the first three years as he worked day in and day out to build the church as well. Some days he would come to church in his work clothes and change in the restrooms and preach the service. He never complained and he always gave God the glory.
He is an awesome daddy - always taking time to give our children the best. He shares in the disciplining...of course, I think he's too soft...and he also takes time to play with the kids and make each of them feel special.
Marco is so patient and kind. He helps me so much with the housework and is very supportive of my interests and dreams.
He makes time for us. He knows that a marriage needs continual TLC. He makes sure that we can go out on a date once a week.
Today, he cleaned the entire kitchen for me, including the mopping, and didn't say one word about doing it. He didn't complain or rub it in or expect anything for it.
So, today I want to make a point of saying that I am thankful for Marco. He is the love of my life and he is my best friend.

This is how he dressed for the Harvest Party. A doggie bag. Such a fun pastor!

We celebrated the 4th of July with some friends from church.

Today, I am thankful for...

Michelle, Lena, Me, and Crystal at Santee Alleys

Well, today was a fun, but exhausting day. We got up early and picked up some friends and headed out for a day of shopping in Los Angeles. There is a place out there that is very well known called "the Alleys". There are tons of wholesale sellers out there that sell everything from children's toys to high end perfume to knock-off name brand items to the real thing to packs of toy water guns! You name it - you'll find it there.
My hubby who has an extremely busy schedule, put everything aside so that he could take me and my friends to L.A. That way, we wouldn't have to stress about directions, where to park, etc.
We had a blast. The girls were buying great shoes for like $4 a pair, scarves, purses, socks...it was great. I can't give away too much of the info because we all did a little bit of Christmas shopping too!
I enjoyed so much being with my friends, but I especially enjoyed knowing that I have a very unselfish husband who is patient on top of being kind. Today, I am thankful for this great day!
Marco and I checking out the packs of t-shirts...

Little "Converse" style key chains I bought for Taryn's birthday party. One dozen keychains for $6!

Today, I am thankful for my MARCO...

On this very first day of November, I just want to put it right out there - I am thankful for my wonderfully awesome husband. He is one of the hardest working men I know. He does so much and he never complains.

He is the pastor of our church. A church we started 3 years ago. He also works full-time driving a truck. I know that there are days and times when he must be so tired - but he keeps going. He puts us first and he is the best daddy and husband ever.

The school I work at held a Harvest party yesterday. I mentioned it to my hubby one time and he immediately started to let me know that he'd get the tables for me and gave me ideas on what we could do.
I am so very thankful that God brought us together 20 years ago! He is the love of my life and my best friend!

16 Years and Counting...

My husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage on the 21st. Since we've been married, he's always tried to plan a little getaway or activity for us to spend a special time together. There were years when we just spent a nice dinner out somewhere, but usually, it's some top secret thing that he'd been working on for weeks in advance.
I love that about him. He really does try to think of things that we'd both enjoy together. This year was no exception. He took me to beautiful Santa Barbara for a few days. It was lovely and so needed.

We wanted to spend the day on the beach together, but it was rather chilly the first day, so he rented beach cruisers and we rode up and down the beach front for an hour. It was the BEST!!! I had not ridden a bike in almost 20 years. I felt so free. I could've ridden all day. This was a great motivator for me to keep working on getting "in shape"...round is a shape, right? Anyway, I really felt good and it reminded me that running felt that way once for me...
We laughed so much as we rode along!

Everything around us was more beautiful than usual.

What a great guy. I am so thankful that he picked me! =]

We reminisced about the last 16 years. Talked about all that we went through and all that the Lord had in store for us in the future.

We talked about our children and all that we could do to help them.
Our life is not perfect, but it's pretty close, most of the time.
Song of Solomon 2:16a ~My beloved is mine, and I am his...

What a day...

I have not been feeling too well, lately. I feel like I've had a tension headache/neck ache since before Christmas. It's just made me feel icky - you know? Not comfortable in my own skin. I spent the whole day in pajamas. Now, don't get me wrong. I am still the same 'ole obsessive Sherry. I did shower and put on a fresh set of pj's. I did do several loads of laundry, cooked a great meal for my family, but that's about it. You know I couldn't just lay around. LOL Now, I am asking myself - why not? I need to just relax for once. Duh. Maybe that is why I have had all that tension lately. *sigh*
Anyway, I have been thinking about the new blog challenge and wondered where I would find beauty. I thought about things in my house, my children, some blogs that I read today...but I ended up choosing my best friend - Marco. =] Shhh...don't tell him he's beautiful...LOL He'd have a macho fit. =]
He knows how bad I've been feeling and in turn, feels really bad for me. He had work to do during the day, but when he got home - all attention was on me. He did everything he could to make me feel better. I love this man. He worked hard all day and then came home and rubbed my feet, took care of the kids... I am so thankful for him. He even made me laugh several times and that always makes me feel better. I am glad that we have each other to lift up in hard times.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Choosing Joy: Family and Fun

This is a banner I made for someone special...Shhhh...I can't tell who it's for yet.

I have been very crazy busy the last few days, because I have been planning a sweet surprise. Along with the help of a few friends, we through a great surprise party for my hubby (Pastor) Marco. We had a cake (Kung Fu Panda - LOL), pot luck meal, and lots of great fellowship. He received some nice gifts, but the one I was most excited about was that a few of us were painting and fixing up his office. It was really bad, believe me, but now - it looks great! Best of all, he knows that we love him and want the best for him. =]

I have also been planning a few other surprises for different people and that brings me lots of JOY. Sometimes, I wish that money was no object so that I could really spoil my friends and loved ones, but then maybe, I wouldn't be as creative about finding other ways to make them feel special. I guess it all balances out, right? Choose JOY - do for others.

Choosing Joy...Proverbs 3

I spent most of my day, morning, and evening at the hospital with my husband. He had to have surgery to fix a hernia. We knew he would need surgery, but we had no idea that it would be so soon. He will now be off work for at least 3 weeks – not ideal right before Christmas, right? Lord, help me to Choose Joy was my prayer – especially today.

I like to read a chapter a day from Proverbs. Today is the 3rd of December, so I was reading Proverbs 3. I have always loved verses 5 and 6…(don’t worry, I won’t get too “preachy”! LOL)
It says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Wow! That right there settles our plans. He tells us to just trust Him. When someone you love tells you to trust them, it’s a great feeling. They are taking on your responsibility. He is saying He will take our burden and deal with it. Okay, we can do that. We have to do that!

Then, I went on to read verse 8 where it says, “It shall be health to thy navel…” I almost laughed out loud in the waiting room! Wow. Wait until I tell Marco about THIS verse. He was in there getting an Umbilical Hernia taken care of. I really felt like this was for me. I really felt like the Lord was showing me that I could choose joy instead of worrying over my husband, his surgery, his job or Christmas plans. I could be thankful that we were able to get him taken care of – even though we don’t have insurance, he was in good hands, and trust God to take care of the rest of our needs.

Before Marco went into surgery, he was really a bit worried about getting put to sleep. I tried to keep the mood light and we enjoyed laughing about anything and everything before he had to go in.

Today, I CHOOSE JOY and today I am thankful for Proverbs and the joys I could find there.

Today, I'm thankful for...

...DATES with my husband. We don't get to go out as often as we'd like to, but we always find a way to make time for each other. I have been dating my husband since January 1990. Our very first date was a trip to Sears Tower, the next one was a Valentine's Banquet. We've had many dates since then, and we're still going strong. These days we like to catch a movie, go to dinner or our favorite thing to do is browse a bookstore together with a yummy coffee or latte in hand! It doesn't matter what we do, I just know that I wouldn't want to be with anyone else!

Today, I am thankful for...

...my best friend and husband - Marco! I have known and loved this man for almost 20 years. We met in college. He was the somewhat quiet guy and I was the loud, out going girl and we started out as just friends. We both had been dating others, but during the beginning of our 2nd semester of our freshman year, we started dating each other. We both graduated three and a half years later and got married that summer.

My husband and I have been working in full-time ministry since we got married. At times, things got tough economically and we'd struggle financially. He never once made me feel like we were in dispair or insecure. He'd go out and work extra jobs. He's worked in carpentry, roofing, pipe-lines, for the county - whatever it was that we needed.

A little over two years ago, we left the church we were both working for and eventually started a church. Our church is independent and we get no outside help from a "head church or organization". Being a "baby" church, my husband knew that we could not depend on just the offerings to pay his salary and at the same time cover the lease of the church and its bills - so he started working the first job he could get his hands on. It happened to be driving a truck. He didn't want a job that would add more stress or that would have crazy hours because he was still needing to run the church work. I do not work outside of the home anymore. He wouldn't mind if I did, but he said that he likes that I can stay home with the children, teach my oldest two and just be "at home" for the first time in forever. I love that. He is so unselfish. He works so hard and he never.ever.complains. Besides my own father, I can't think of a single man that works as hard as he does and without a grumble.

He's also an amazing father. Our 3 oldest are girls. He treats all 3 of them like princesses. He's very gentle and loving with them. We love to laugh and be together in our family and he makes sure that there is plenty of that going on at all times. My youngest is a boy, as many of you know, and he is his pride and joy. Little Marco is all boy and I can just imagine the two of them as he gets older and can play sports and hang out and be dad's helper.

Lastly, I have to mention the way he spoils me. Besides what I previously mentioned, he is also my pastor. That's weird, right? But, I love it. I can appreciate it, because he doesn't live differently at home than what he preaches. We have a motto in our house and we live by it. Keep it real! Yup, that's our motto. Doesn't sound that spiritual, right? If you only knew how it helps to really keep us spiritual, you'd appreciate it more. =]

He goes all out for any special occasion like birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's...he always has. He indulges my love for books, scrapbooking, crafting...no complaints.
Today, I am thankful for him. My best friend...we don't always see eye to eye, but that's what makes us balanced. I love you, Marco!

On the edge of your seats?

Is that where you were since my last post? I am sure you were! Well, I don't want to disappoint you...my faithful blog readers (all 3 of you) that have been wondering where my dear husband whisked me off to this year. I honestly thought that it was going to be a nice dinner at Olive Garden or some great sushi and seafood buffet or something! As usual, my sweet Marco has something else up his sleeve.

He called me from work and said that he already arranged for a sitter to come and stay with the kids. He wanted me to be ready by 5 p.m. and dressed in casual dressy. What? Is that an oxymoron? So, I picked up the girls from their Thursday electives class (which has been great, thankyouverymuch), and hurried home to get ready. I decided to go for my nice, but faded clam digger type capris (can you tell I don't know what they're called?) and my colorful hippy shirt with my black wedge slides.

He gets home and gives me the once over.

"Hmmm....you look nice, but maybe your black knee pants or something (can you tell he doesn't know what these are either?).

So, I change into my black capris.

"Oh, you meant dressy casual? Not casual dressy?" I say.

Anyway, we hustle out of the house and head out. This is when he tells me that we are on our way to Los Angeles (easily an hour away with no traffic). Okaaaaaaaaaaayyyy...what does that mean???, I wonder.

He hands me a gift bag and a card while. I read the card first (Isn't that the polite thing to do - rather than dive right into the gift?)...of course it makes me cry. He filled up the whole left side of the card with sentiment, recollections and promises for our future. He's the best...*sigh*

OH! You're still waiting! I'm sorry... I got caught up in the moment. He told me to look in the bag - so I did.

It was this:

What? What does this mean? Are we...? Could it be?... We haven't been to a "show" since I was pregnant with my first (she will be 13 soon...)

I look over at him and he has a big grin on his face.

We were going to go see Wicked the Musical.

Oh.my.word.

So, we did. It was awesome. I loved all of it. The music, the drama, the humor - oh, my goodness the humor. You all know I like a good laugh and I did laugh. Many times. Out LOUD.

The best part of the evening? Being with my best friend. Leaning in to him during the show, laughing hard together, looking at each other with knowing looks when some of the lines in the show reminded us of recent events (other people) in our lives.

Once again, he really surprised me. That's 15 years straight. I didn't expect anything big, I never do, but he also knows that I love the fact that he has thought ahead to plan something special for me.

I love you Oso!...no that's not my dog...I mean that's his name, but oh, nevermind!

15 Years Ago...

I said, "I do" to my best friend. Now, here we are with 4 beautiful children and more in love than ever. I am the luckiest girl on this planet to have found the perfect man! I wouldn't trade him for anything.
We usually go away for our anniversary. He has always "whisked" me away to some place that he secretly planned. Sometimes, we went all out and others, when things were kind of "tight", we stayed local. We've gone on trips to La Jolla, San Clemente, New York/D.C., Long Beach, Ventura, Big Bear...
This year, because of different circumstances, we won't be going out of town...well, we will - but not for this... ANYWAY, what I wanted to say is - I am okay with staying here. I am happy with him no matter where we are. Seriously. We've gotten to the point where we are just glad to be in each others company.
I will be sure to update you with a photo, because I am sure that we will be going out to dinner. I just wanted to take this time to tell him that I love him and I am thankful that he is in my life. I could not ask for more. Love you!