1.5 yrs ALREADY?!?

[Erica]: Is it just me, do does anyone else find it weird that we have been happily married for almost a full 1 1/2 years now?

Times flies... always

I was sitting on our couch yesterday reminiscing about the first time Joe and I met. It felt like yesterday to me. Mostly because my husband who has the memory of an elephant described right down to the color detail of what I wore on that day almost 8 years ago when we met! My husband is a freaky genius (to quote Malcom in the Middle). He may not remember what he had for breakfast this morning, but he remembered the perfume I wore, and shorts I owned/wore 8 years ago, lol. So back to reminiscing...

A lot has happened since we got married in 2008. Most of which you already know, so I won't bore you with those details again. But thinking back, WOW!

I adore my husband, so much. I thank God every day that He created a man with enough patience to put up with my OCD acting self (though the OCD part has never been fully confirmed). Sure, we're like every other couple with our quarrels, ups and downs, etc... But at the end of the day, I am still amazed at God's goodness, grace, and mercy that he is constantly pouring into our lives.

I too love the fact that ever since we started courting we have always prayed together before going to bed. OK I admit it, sometimes I'll be on the verge of sleep and start praying in tongues, but that is Joe's cue. I love that he can be sound asleep and the moment I start praying in tongues, I hear him thanking God for our day and keeping me safe while he was at work, etc. It is the most peaceful and relaxing sound in the world to me, to hear my husband pray :).

I have also learned in the last 1.5 yrs of marriage that men and women are VERY different! Haha, well I knew that before, but it really hits home once you are living together with no parents around and you have to make up your own rules. Our rules... there are no rules... yet ;). Wait I lied. We have rules, I just can't remember what they are off the top of my head, sorry. Moving on...

When I say men and women are different I mean "I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO LIVE WITH A BOY NOW!"

I know everyone has their own "quirks" and I'm SURE I have some that really annoy Joe, really. What I have come to learn is that for a solid marriage to work, you either can be really upfront with one another and make the person face it, yeah it's REALLY annoying... OR you can choose to ignore it and learn to live with it. I tend to pick the wrong battles sometimes when it comes to things like this. We live and learn though, right?

I realize to some this post is hilarious because you have already lived through this and come out glorious on the other side. To the rest of you, like us, I hope you now know that you are NOT alone and can find some reassurance in this.

I hoped you have enjoyed our latest update. Sorry it took me forever. I have been working on a new project on the side: Dreaming Up Reality

Enjoy ;)

An Apple Gala - Regular vs. Organic

(Joe) This weekend on our usual grocery shopping, we found Gala apples at a good price. $0.79/lb for regular, and $0.99/lb for organic. Awesome!, I thought. The "premium" Organics were at the usual price of regular, and regular was at fire-sale prices.

We got batches of both...and tasted them. Check out the writeup here:
http://www.joelabs.com/readcopy.php?id=copydata/20090920

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One Year.... and We're Off And Running!

[E]: WE MADE IT!!!!

Yes we did folks ;), we made it through our FIRST year of marriage! Please pardon the back-dated posting, but I wanted it to recall the exact date of "I Do's" we shared. WOW, this has been one amazing and crazy year, let us look back on the year, shall we?

In June last year we said "I Do", and really meant it ;), then the beginning of July we flew to Hawaii for a week for our Honeymoon. Oh BTW -Mom and Dad, we happened to run into a couple there at the airport IN Hawaii that remember you from Beaches Chapel and asked me to pass along their "Hello's"... What WERE their names??? I'll have to look in an old church directory to tell you, sorry :(. A honeymoon in Hawaii people, is just about THE BEST experience ever! The HM pics are tagged bellow to see those, as are the Wedding photos.

Following our return to Cali, shortly after I had gotten all my life's possessions, aka - mostly junk and crap, moved into Joe's apartment, our Real Estate agent and church friend out here pulled a miracle and helped us locate and purchase the most wonderful condo I have ever seen (at the end of October). During the condo hunt, we had a slight bump in the marriage adventure, but it was overcome swiftly and life moved on and into our new home! To this day we are changing and tweaking things around the home to our taste, and it has been so much fun. I cannot wait for our families to be able to come out to our home to visit us now. If you would like to see those pics, they are also posted below (I recommend right-click and open in new tab or new window).

Looking back, I realize I've done more traveling in this past year than I have in my entire life thus far. I have moved twice in CA to two different cities. We have flown back to FL on several occasions (including a college graduation and a wedding in one visit). We have stopped at a DQ on route 66 in AZ to get ice cream, and driven to the Grand Canyon for our crazy Anniversary weekend trip ;). We drove to Las Vegas, NV for Labor day last September and had a ton of fun walking the strip and paid $30 for amazing massages. On our way home from Vegas we drove through/ past Hoover Dam (when it was over 100 degrees outside, so we never left the car). I'm sure this second year will include many more surprises and crazy travel plans as well. Here's to hoping anyway ;).

SO what have I personally learned in One year of marriage?

I have learned that loving does not have to include "liking". It is a daily choice to love the person you have committed the rest of your life to, even if you're upset and do not necessarily "like" them at the moment.

I have learned that forgiveness is key to one's marriage, and that no matter what, you NEVER EVER go to bed angry with one another.

I have learned that praying together before going to bed and occasionally reading together at night, can make for a much more pleasant morning.

I have learned that when you are (how to say this delicately?) ready for "a roll in the hay", it doesn't mean your partner is/ or was also thinking about it when you were (even though it is most helpful when they are). To add to that, it's not ONLY men who can think about it every 60 seconds throughout the day, I'll admit that for us women who know what I mean.

I have learned that as nice at it would be to live up to the Proverbs 31:10-31 Woman, I have learned to be content with me the way I am (besides, I AM the person my husband fell in love with, why should we change who we are?). Though all that cool stuff she does, maybe she could teach me a little more HOW she does it all so nicely?

I have learned that you NEED to live by 1Corinthians 13:4-8, and Ephesians 5:25-33 isn't such a bad one to follow either ;).

Most of all: I have learned that no matter what stupid things have happened in my past, that my husband knows full well what each and every one of those things are, has forgiven me, and loves me anyway. That ladies and gents is the most amazing thing in the world to me, and is MY visible expression of Christ's invisible and undying love for me.

I LOVE YOU Joe, with all I am and everything I have.
<3 you Forever and Always Sweetheart <3

Recent Musings

[E]: So I haven't blogged in a while, sorry, life happens :P.

Anyway, on top of being a volunteer, wife, and just plain ole me, I've had some interesting recent conversations. We, Joe and I, have some good friend who've been married a little longer than we have been who are contemplating expanding their family, which I think is awesome! Another couple planning their wedding and possible move out West by us (for job purposes), that too is super exciting... then there are all the best friends who like to randomly call and tell me about their first, second or third pregnancies. Not to mention some impromptu gifts/ nudges on our on our own end of the line. Which has started to make me wonder, either family, or God, or maybe both... are trying to drop us hints about expanding our own family? To be honest, I have no idea.

Some days it's fun to chat about and discuss all the fun "what if's" and ideas, and other days it's REALLY stressful and confusing. Those of you who really know me well, already know my long and complicated medical background. Those of you who do not, let me phrase it like this, I saw a specialist. I am classified as the type of person who would have a "high-risk pregnancy" because of my background. That doesn't mean that something horrible will or could happen, or that I should be treated like a porcelain doll. All it means is that I will need to take really good care of myself nutrition and otherwise while I am pregnant.

I know what you're probably thinking... Dude! Erica, seriously, Are you pregnant??? NO! I am not pregnant, unless you know something I do not? LOL!

I have just had a lot of conversations based around marriage, family, and babies the past few weeks. To top it off, I know a handful of friends who are currently pregnant and getting ready to pop. It makes me think about the future in a little more detail, you know?

Also, I was looking over the website for the clinic where I volunteer. They have an awesome link that you are able to post on your own site if interested. So, to all my wonderful family and friends out there, this is for you.

If you yourself are pondering the possibilities of pregnancy and would like to find out more, here is a free online test my clinic offers.




Enjoy!

Today's Truth: Everything's Amazing... And Nobody's Happy

I watched this and I must agree. This generation is pretty spoiled.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

New Topic- Blogspot issues

I know I'm doing my "Health blog" you all, but here's some info on a recent scare I just heard about with Blogspot:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-site-may-harm-your-computer-on.html

This is the "official" apology directly from Google's blogspot team and why people are so worried over nothing now. So please, stop worrying everyone. Blogspot is SAFE! I have a wonderful hubby has a degree in compy-related issues, and HE is the one who chose to use blogspot for our blog. So PLEASE! Calm down everyone and return to posting blogs. I love writing my own, almost as much as I love reading my friend's blogs :).

Blessings all! ~E

Planning 2009

[Erica]: I received this great e-mail from a relative recently, and that got me thinking:

"What REALLY does our calendar look like for 2009?"
So the following is what I came up with, hehe.

2009
- Joe turned 26 on Jan 6th
- Sister #2 turned 17 on Jan 10th
- Taxes were submitted on Feb something
- Sister #1 turned 22 on Feb 26th
- Brother turns 14 on March 6th
- April 29 to May 11th, I'm FL for several events (including but not limited to Sister #1 college graduation).
- Joe & I celebrate our 1 year Wedding Anniversary on June 28th.
- In July we drive from CA to WA for Joe's Family Reunion/ Grandma's 81st Birthday bash
- My Grandma (dad's side) turns 90 on July 17th
- In Aug is Mom's B-day, and I "try" to get FL for a friend's wedding
- I turn 27 on Oct 9th
- Dad turns 61 on Oct 13th
- Joe and I both go to FL for Christmas/New Years, to spend time with our families

So, in just a few short lines, I have been able to sum up (at least to today's date), our major activities of 2009. How crazy is that? So much stuff, in just 12 short months, lol. I almost feel bad for leaving out some of those other months, but I'm sure we'll find things to fill them with. On top of those few things, Joe still works full time, and I'm trying to volunteer part time (ask me if you want more info on that).

God Bless All and thank you for being our faithful blog readers!
E

"True Love Waits"

For many of you out there, you know our story. Well, today I was re watching the February taping of Jacksonville, FL 's Youth Quake Live: www.youthquakelive.tv

On their site, they give you an opportunity to contact them and share any comments you many have. I took the next step and decided to briefly share my story of what "True Love Waits" means to me. I did this in hopes of encouraging them and their pursuit of reaching out the the teens of Jacksonville, FL.

Now, I would also like to share my story with you, my faithful blog readers .



To Sean Yost, the YQL Cast and Team Members-

I want to thank all of you for putting on such an amazing experience via www.synclive.com for those of us who wish they could be at Youth Quake Live, but cannot because we no longer live in town. Many kudos to you all! The February "True Love Waits" has touched my heart each and every year.

This is my first year not being in Jacksonville, FL to see it in person. Please, let me share part of my story with you:


I remember back to the days of my own youth (which really wasn't that long ago), when I was very naive about what "true love" really meant. I had two loving parents, they decided the only way to settle their differences was through divorce. That was the Summer I was 13 years old. That most critical juncture in a young woman's life when she needs the love and support of her father most. After the divorce, I died to true love. I knew God loved me, I obeyed the commandments of the Bible, but each minute of each day I layered one more brick of protection around my heart. I swore to myself and before God I would stay abstinent until the day I married, but I did it out of selfish reasoning, I didn't ever want to be hurt like I did when my father left me and my family. I am the oldest child in my family, I have several younger siblings. For years I plastered on a happy face. I pretended nothing was ever wrong, I made myself believe I was invincible. What I became was impenetrable, by love that is.

In my early high school career I established myself among my peers as a "goody-two-shoes" church girl, or "go see Erica if you need prayer", or the worst one, "if you're having relationship problems with your boyfriend or girlfriend, go talk to Erica, she gives the best relationship advice". How did I become the "date doctor"? I never dated, I never even allowed anyone to ask. When meeting new male friends, the first few words out of my mouth were, "please never ask me out, because I do not date". Most of the time that settled things. I gave out advice for that which I could not experience and did not know. I prayed with my peers on the topic, took a pro stance on the issues of abstinence, gave out advice on a daily basis, and when love came knocking on my heart's door, I looked the other way.

Fast forward to college. By this point I had been able to start forgiving my father for all the pain he had caused my troubled heart since that final summer, but the wall was still there (just as in the skit in the YQL show). I wanted out, I would cry myself to sleep on almost a daily basis because of it. I didn't like who I had become. I felt that for the last 4 years of high school, every time someone wrote in my year book, "you're a wonderful young godly woman, and stay sweet!" , I knew in my heart that must be a lie, or they must be talking about someone else. It was written right before my eyes, in black and white. I couldn't believe those words, even though I desperately wanted to. As college graduation came to a close, I felt I had fulfilled my "non-dating" duty, the promise I made to myself of not dating until I had completed my schooling. Sure, during college I hung out with friends and I had my handful of "safety guy friends". You know, those friends that you know NOTHING will ever happen with. There are just some times when a girl wants to go somewhere and not look like she's a tramp or a hooker, so I took a friend along, more like begged them to hang out with me. I was pathetic. But that could never count as a date, could it?

Shortly after college I thought I met the man I was going to marry. He seemed very polite, solid faith and beliefs, and he was charming, a gentleman, and very good looking. I thought God had dropped the boy in my lap. Well, I was swept away by his charm and smooth style, and right off my rug of morals as well. The only good that came from that relationship was a bleeding, torn, hurting, unprotected heart. Yes I said it, unprotected heart. He was the only person who had ever tried breaking though my wall of protection, and he did a great job. For that I am thankful. Once I was broken, I confessed my sinful nature to both God and my parents. I felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt free. There was joy and peace in my spirit and my life again. I had a renewed walk with my Savior, Jesus Christ, and focused all my love and affections solely upon Him. But this time, it was for the right reasons.

Several months passed as I walked in blissful union with the lover of my soul and I found a renewed joy in my job, my daily errands, and my family bonds were restored with my own father. Life was grand. In July of that same year a very old friend of mine from college was home visiting. Back in our college days we had briefly discussed our intentions on how much we might like the other and what that might become post-college. But then he was recruited by a great company and moved out of state two weeks after graduation. Now, he was back in town, visiting family. We had lunch together one afternoon and fell into a very deep and thoughtful conversation. That evening I received an e-mail off-handily asking permission to court me. He said he didn't want to rush me, but he clearly knew now the way he felt and wanted to see where this would lead. I agreed to think about it. The next day he returned to his new home state, and I received a very surprising e-mail from him. In his e-mail he explained to me that he had been seated between a religious man and church administrator. The church admin took the liberty of striking up a conversation with my friend and by the end of the 6 hour flight, my friend step off the plane knowing his eternity would be in Heaven with Christ.

When he told me this, I was floored. I could do nothing else but except his proposal to court. God had done it again to me. He had fulfilled a child's prayer I had asked for way back in the day. I had randomly prayed one evening asking Christ that whomever He wanted me to marry, please do not let it be anyone I had prayed with for salvation. Being very active in my church's evangelism training, I was afraid if I married someone with whom I prayed to receive salvation, that I would become the so-called "head" in our relationship, and I didn't want that. What I wanted was a man I could respect as the head of our household, with Godly wisdom for all our relationship and friendship areas.

As months passed, I was surprised at how quickly my friend, now courtship partner, was growing in his knowledge of Christ's love and all Christ held for his life plans. By that same year's Christmas time we were engaged to be married, and less than a year later, we were. There are many more details I could share, but this is my conclusion. After seven (7) years of friendship and praying for my friend to come to the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is in his life, we are now happily married and doing all we can to live in union with each other, as Christ at the head and center of our marriage and friendship. I wish I could say that I had completely waited for my husband, and I regret the one stain left in my past. But, I know that I have been forgiven, made whole and new again in God's sight, and I can love my husband unconditionally in every way with no regrets. From the littlest chore I do around the home, to loving him as a bride, that is my new definition of what "True Love Waits" means to me.

We've recently been discussing future family (i.e. children) and letting God decide that time frame. In the mean time my wonderful husband is working hard to support our little family, and I am a new volunteer at a local Birth Choice clinic (it's the same thing as the Crisis Pregnancy Centers in FL). Day by day, I can only stare at my husband and let Christ's love sink deeply into my spirit, because my husband truly is a physical representation of the love Christ holds for each and every one of us, His children. I feel blessed beyond women for Christ teaching me such an important lesson, and now I can see it clearly.


Thank you for taking time to read my story, and I pray that it will encourage you and others in the days ahead :).

--
God Bless,
Erica Winn

For info about us please visit our blog: http://joeerica13.blogspot.com

What is Love???

[Erica]: No, I'm not going to quote cheesy lyrics from the song "What is Love", I'm going to express my feelings and ideas on this subject. Which by coincidence happens to be Valentines weekend as well!

What is love? I think the best description of love is found here in 1 Corinthians 13. I'll let you do your own home work here and look it up for your own interpretation. But I will comment on verse 13- "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

If all these happen to be great, why IS Love pointed out as being the "greatest of these"?

Well, looking at it from a strictly Biblical/ married point of view, I would have to say these next few verses clearly define why love is the greatest of these.

John 3:16 - Because of Love, the ultimate sacrifice! Do you love someone this much?

Deut 6:5 - But really read verses 1-9. If you love someone, you will teach others about that love, and you will memorize every little detail about them.

Prov 10:12 - Love is eternally forgiving!

John 15: 9-17 - True love is friendship, is serving one another, with nothing expected in return!

Mark 10:6-9 - Love = Marriage, is leaving one's family and becoming "one" with your husband or wife.

(Parental discretion advised for the following scripture. For married/ engaged eyes only!)

Song of Solomon 1-8 - This sounds more like a Shakespearean play than something you'd find in the Bible. I LOVE God's sense of humor. I think He threw this in as a curve ball for all those who deny the Bible has nothing to say about love or romance... This is so much more open, straight to the point, and visually stimulating than any play boy or maxum... Yet, God calls it wonderful, lovely, and perfect within the union of marriage! =D

For all those looking (or wondering) what the perfect wife looks like try this next verse.
Prov 31:10-31 - Please note- NO HUMAN female can ever fulfill every single one of these verses and still be completely sane afterward. But it is a godly standard which all should work toward and with the love and support of a godly husband, it can be easier to obtain even a few of these attributes.

Ecc 4:9-12 - Love is friendship in working together :).

Eph 5 - Yes, the WHOLE chapter! Love is marriage, love is walking naked and unashamed in the light of Christ, walking in wisdom. Love is, Christ and the Church (body of Christ, the Bride).

For the kiddies.
Eph 6:1-4 - Love is children. Obedience to parents, mirroring the obedience of us to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ.

I'm sure there are many many more scriptures to be found that may bring about a deeper meaning of Love than even I have found in my short time writing this post. But these are just a few to wet your whistle and keep you searching ;).

Bendiciones and Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Beginning 2009!

Welcome 2009!

(Erica): Thanks to Aunt Patty, we we're able to welcome in 2009 in style ;). This above pic was the bottle of champagne she gifted us with as one of many wonderful wedding presents we received.

So in the spirit of 2009, we want to wish ALL our family and friends a safe and HAPPY New Year!!!

We love you ALL!!!

<3
Joe & Erica