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Category: marriage

quotes to ponder: the highlights of chapter nine

quotes to ponder: the highlights of chapter nine

Christian love is an aggressive movement and an active commitment. In reality we choose where to place our affections.
… the opposite of Biblical love isn’t hate, it’s apathy. To stop moving toward our spouse is to stop loving him or her. It’s holding back from the very purpose of marriage.

When God calls me to continually move toward my [spouse], he is calling me to shape myself into his very image.

Even in the moments of anger, betrayal, exasperation, and hurt, we are called to pursue this person, to embrace them, and to grow toward them, to let our love redefine our feelings of disinterest, frustration, and even hate.

Getting married is agreeing to grow together, into each other, to virtually commingle our souls so that we share a unique and rare bond. When we stop doing that, we have committed fraud against our partner; we made a commitment that we are not willing to live up to.

Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas
chp. IX

my husband’s day off

my husband’s day off

As of 2:00 pm yesterday, I am officially Elizabeth Ruth Smillie. Mhmm. Not only am I married to John (which I have been for just over a month now!), I also legally share his name (!).
All because we downloaded a form from the Social Security website, found their office, took a number, and waited for close to two hours (and were treated to Access Hollywood and Days of Our Lives). The people watching aspect was quite entertaining. So were the commercials in between the agonizing instalments of “Days”. Did you know that SunnyD has orange-strawberry juice now? Looks yummy. Also, just so you know, good mothers buy their children Juicy Juice boxes. I think I’ll be a good mother, but what if I run out of Juicy Juice? Oh dear.
Then our number was called. “Would number F44 please come to window 4? Number F44 please.”
The actual process only took about 7 minutes.
The man was rather friendly (he even told us where to go to get an Ohio driver’s license!).
And then we left.

We had our dinner in Eden park. It was a gorgeous evening, just the right mixture of warmth and wind. As the sun was setting there was a rainbow in the cloud directly above us. After the sun went down it got a bit chilly, so we enjoyed it for awhile …. then home and early to bed!

2008-05-13 picnic in Eden park
dinner guests

dinner guests

Evan, Sarah, Leah, Elizabeth and Esther stopped by for the evening yesterday. It was awesome to have people over!
We took them to church with us (we went last night because John had to work today) and stopped to pick up groceries on the way home. John BBQed some burgers and hot dogs (he is really starting to enjoy the charcoal grill!), and I made up some guacamole. John and I decided that we really enjoy having our family over. Mhmm.
The girls gave us a housewarming gift!

Oh, as they were about to leave I remembered that I had a cheesecake in the refrigerator that I had made up the day before (just because I felt like it). So they decided to stay a moment longer to partake. The recipe looked rather mundane, and the cheesecake itself rather resembled a wheel of Brie cheese, but once you bit into it (with some blueberry coulis on top), it was heavenly!
Sour Cream Cheesecake
Joy of Cooking
Crush or grind fine:
1 1/2 cups graham crackers
Stir into the crumbs until well blended:
1/4 to 1/2 cups powdered sugar (if substituting granulated, use 1/4 cup)
6 tbsp melted butter
1 tsp cinnamon
Pat into a 9″ springform pan. Chill.
Mix well, then pour into the crust:
2 well beaten eggs
3/4 lb. soft cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon juice or 1/2 tsp vanilla (I used vanilla)
1/2 tsp salt
Bake about 20 minutes in a preheated 375 oven. Remove from oven and dust the top with cinnamon.
Let cool to room temperature.
Mix well and pour over the cake:
1 1/2 cups thick cultured sour cream
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
Bake about 5 minutes in a 425 oven to glaze the cheesecake. Let it cool, then refrigerate from 6 to 12 hours before serving.
Blueberry Coulis
Cook’s Illustrated, May/June 2003
12 oz fresh or frozen thawed blueberries
5 (scant) tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp lemon juice
In a medium saucepan, bring berries, 1/4 cup water, sugar, cinnamon and salt to bare simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally; cook until sugar has dissolved and berries are heated through, about 1 minute longer.
(I skipped this next step) Transfer mixture to blender or food prcessor; puree until smooth, about 20 seconds. Strain through a very fine-mesh strainer , pressing and stirring to extract as mush seedless puree as possible.
Stir in lemon juice.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, as least 1 hour.
things I’ve done since I’ve been married

things I’ve done since I’ve been married

  • been called “ma’am – and it was by an adult, too!
  • done 12 loads of laundry
  • met the demo ladies and John’s regional supervisors at Sam’s Club
  • learned to sleep through the night while sharing a bed – it took a week and a half, though.
  • made cookies and bread without a mixer
  • decided I need to get a mixer
  • met the mail lady – her name is Beth
  • watched the director’s commentary on most of my movies – I leave it playing in the background while I do other things (such as laundry) just for the white noise
  • decided that I REALLY do not like the sound of ambulance sirens
  • began looking for a house in a quiet neighborhood
  • unpacked my sewing machine
  • bought thread for the sewing machine
  • found out that the Michael’s in this neighborhood has a pathetic thread selection – Walmart has a better one, but it’s still rather lame
  • used 3 quarts of Coffee Mate creamer
  • bought furniture at Ikea
  • decided we need to find a house near Ikea
  • begun to like Ohio
  • begun to feel at home in Cincinnati
  • watched the River in the rain
  • cut John’s hair
  • blogged in my underwear

*pictures intentionally not provided

quote to ponder

quote to ponder

Every wedding gives birth to a new history, a new beginning. The spiritual meaning of marriage is found in maintaining that history together.
…
Becoming one – in the deepest, most intimate sense – takes time. It’s a journey that never really ends.
– Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage, chapter VII

I listened to a message from this website this morning. It was recorded on 10-1-2006 and was by Gary Rosberg about marriages in America today:
http://houstonsfirstorg.actsgroup.net/audio_sermons.htm

Alot of it was informative, but non-applicable. There were a few parts that stood out, though. Near the end he mentioned three things to look for in a potential spouse (my ears perked up).
1. A teachable heart
2. A broken heart
3. A forgiving heart
Near the beginning he talked about your marital status being your witness, and he targeted Christian couples.

A good message.