The Big Dog Of The House

     A couple of years ago, I brought home the cutest ten week old, soft, cuddly, black and white miniature Schnauzer puppy. Outside of the potty training phase and the loss of some chewed up flip flop shoes that I loved, he was a joy to have around and started showing dominance as the "male" of the house, so I named him Prince. If anyone knocked at the door, I did not have to worry, because he was going to let me know and warn the person on the other end that he was there and was ready to protect the house with all ten pounds of his being. He became territorial and had to give people that visited a seal of approval which did not happen that often and at that point I would put him in his kennel to keep him from barking. When he met Mr. Awesome, he immediately put down his guard dog stance as if to say that this person is good people. I had never seen him act so calm as he took to Mr. Awesome very quickly. However, as our courtship progressed, Prince started showing signs of doggy jealousy when Mr. Awesome would come around as if his position was threatened. What position, Prince? You are a puppy.

 

 

     Now, that Mr. Awesome and I are married, Prince has calmed down a little, but still barks at hubby when he comes down the stairs, or talks, or moves. OK, maybe he needs a little more work, but as soon as hubby pulls out a treat, he instantly becomes best friends with him again. That is until he has finished eating the treat. Hubby doesn't believe that the doggy likes him, but I am convinced that he does and as time goes and more treats come out he will be his best friend again. :-)

Becoming Betty Crocker

 I grew up at home where my mom did some good cooking and whenever we had a potluck somewhere, her food was on the top of the request list. My dad cooked from time to time also, but it was mom's cooking that kept us a little plump. I was encouraged to get in the kitchen and watch her, but it was never really as consistent as it could have been. After I left home for college, I would cook occasionally for my roommates or company that we may have had. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food, but I guess being in college you were just happy to get something that did not include Ramen noodles. After graduation, I lived the single life for a while, where cooking was an option. Since there was no one to feed but me, sometimes I would cook or just grab something from my favorite Chinese restaurant down the street. I realize now that it was from the grab-n-go menu that I ate most of my meals .  I wasn't serious about cooking until I got engaged. That is when I became a little frustrated with myself, because I realized that I had wasted years on take-out when I could have been perfecting my cooking skills. I needed to get more acquainted with the kitchen and I needed to do it quick.

When I made my first meal for Mr. Awesome during our courtship, everything that I thought that I could cook well turned out to be an embarrassing mess. I couldn't believe how the things that I had previously cooked decently looked like something from a kid's play kitchen. I was becoming nervous thinking that he was going to wonder if we were going to live a life of malnourishment. He was very nice about the whole thing though. I must say that from then I have gotten a lot more practice and have perfected some of those and other dishes. Before Mr. Awesome and I got married, I remember him comforting me during one of my "trial" meals saying that he was not marrying because of my cooking skills, but because of me.:-) I must say that some dishes have become second nature to me and others are still a work in progress.  Speaking to other new brides, I understand that this is all a part of the progress and I am on my way. I am very thankful to God that my hubby cooks a mean dish himself and is patient as we learn new recipes together. I am definitely on the hunt for new ideas, please share them in the comments below. :-)

Valentine's Day Love Letter To Hubby

Dearest Mr. Awesome:



     Who would have known in high school that I would call you my hubby someday?  Who would have believed that the quiet girl and the comedian would get together and make such a great connection? Thank God for his awesome power and I am glad that he brought us together.  My life was great before but I did not know how much I needed you in it until you came back into it.  I didn't know how much I was missing until you came through the door and now I don't know how I would do without you. The way you inspire me, desire me, protect me, connect with me has touched my soul in a way that is hard to describe. Your support and your laughter are things that has helped me to get through some of life's challenges. Your diligence and strong character makes me feel safe knowing that you have my back. The way that you show chivalry shames even some of the most seasoned "gentlemen" but let's me know that being a lady is still desirable. The way that you rise morning after morning to make sure that we are provided for is one of the many things that gives me a sense of security and makes me proud to say that my man is taking care of business. Your selflessness is something that I admire and it inspires me to become more that way. Your playfulness and ability to make me (and others) laugh is one of the reasons that many notice that I smile more these days.  I love knowing that I have someone so awesome to go through life's hills and valleys with. There are so many more reasons why having you in my life touches me, but for now I am just glad to call you my confidant, my love, my great lover ;-), my protector,  my friend, my husband. I love you more than I can express, I need you,  and I thank God for you. Happy Valentine's Day, Honey!!!

Love Always,

Amanda

Submit? Who Me?!

Ephesians 5:21- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

Ephesians 5:22- Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord   

Ephesians 5:25- Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her



    It was several years ago that I had an unhealthy view of the concept of submission. SUBMIT?! Who, me?! It was almost like a four letter word to me. In my childhood upbringing, I saw submission used as a way to partially control another and I turned bitter against it. I wondered why would God have women become doormats for those that are suppose to love us the most. I knew then, that if that was what submission looked like, then I did not want any part of it. Fortunately, my poisoned views about it were challenged when I became exposed to more positive examples of submission during my time in Houston. Between what I witnessed at church and through some of the people that I met, my perception of it began to change.   I started to study it more in depth in the bible and my understanding of it became more clear. Submission is in God's design for marriage and it is a beautiful thing if done according to how he instructed it.

      A lot of the myths that I had about submission needed to be debunked before I was even ready to consider marriage and although I did not like it at the time, I am glad that I had the time to work through it.   I am still learning along the way, but I am glad that I have a more accurate view of what it is and the great purpose of it.  Through my personal experiences and Pre-marital counseling, here are some of the vital things that I have learned about submission:

* Submission is done Voluntarily. Your spouse is not to force you to submit. It is God's design for the wife to submit to the husband's Godly leadership voluntarily. This is not the same thing as obey.

* Submission in marriage is an example of God's relationship and love for the church.

*Wive's have the main commands from God to submit and respect. The husband has a much more extensive list of commands and responsibilities. They have to be willing to lay down their lives for us and that sounds like a heavier load to carry to me.

* The submission model that God set forth does not make you an inferior or mindless individual, but allows you the ability to fulfill your special role.

* Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." There is a mutual submission.

      Submission is such a taboo word to many due to the misconception that has been presented by some faulty preaching and the rampant feminist movement of our society. It will have you to think that in order to be a submissive wife, you must lay down in front of the door and become a doormat, when that is not what it means. In fact the husband's commanded role would never allow for that. Even as newlyweds, submission at times has been a little challenging for me, but I am glad to have a husband who makes it sooo easy for me. With his life being submitted to God, how can I not submit to him as unto the Lord?

       

The Proposal

    The day that I got engaged to Mr. Awesome (September 24, 2010) was one of the most happiest days. The array of emotions that I felt that day are very hard to put into words, but I know that I was beyond ecstatic. My prayers had been answered. I was on my way to marrying the man of my dreams and living life with him (Check out our Story. ) To tell the story of the proposal, my hubby is going to give his version of events. Welcome Mr. Awesome {applause}.

His Story: 

My wife likes to tell the story differently from the way it actually happened, so here is the truth about our proposal.  The planning for the proposal started 2 weeks in advance.  I had been thinking for some time that I knew this was the woman for the rest of my life.  I grew up with respect and wanted to convey this to her family, so I asked her Mother and her Brother for her hand in Marriage.  Her father passed when she was in college, so her younger Brother was someone whom she respected in a father figure way.  I contacted her Mother first and she was elated.  Her brother was more excited than I had ever seen him.  He of course agreed.  Then I told my parents of what was to come.  They were all happy and every one of them knew that it was to happen.  I had a few more days in Fort Dix, New Jersey (Army training before Afghanistan) and I was trying to get a ring in time for her arrival to Newport News, VA in a few days.  I arrived to Virginia two days before she did and I had to get the plan in action.  The first thing is outfit.  I went to Burlington Coat factory so I could get a respectable set of threads before she arrived the next day.  Then on to the ring…  I called up her Best Friend in order to ensure that my memory was correct.  The ring was described to me by Amanda several months before during our courtship.  The diamonds were to be Princess Cut, and 3 in total.  I went to Jared (cliché’ I know), and spent 3 hours searching for the perfect ring.  Guess what? I forgot the ring size.  So I had to make another call to Chantae’ (Men if you are reading this, being friends with her friends is not always a bad thing).  Tae came through, yet again, and I ordered the ring, but it was to be done 1 hour before she arrived.  It is almost an hour trip from The Beach to Newport News Airport (cutting it close of course).  The day had arrived.  I got freshened up and drove to get the ring.  No problems so far and none until I remembered a request that I promised would happen.  Tae wanted to be on the phone when the proposal happened and since she had been asked for Amanda’s hand in marriage as well, I felt that it would be no problem.  I arrived to the airport with a few minutes to spare and called Tae.  She was at work and was happy to be on the phone.  Then I called Amanda to see if she had arrived.  Her flight hadn’t arrived yet.  She called me moments later and I told Tae I would call her back.  Then I answered the phone to Amanda and hung up.  I called Tae and then Amanda back on 3-way.  I told Tae to be quiet first, and then Amanda answered the phone.  Amanda had apparently taken the scenic route and was not out of the terminal yet.  My nervousness was already at an all time high, and it skyrocketed when the noise began on Tae’s phone was noticed by Amanda.  When Amanda asked if I had heard it, I hung up in her face.  I called Tae back and told her to put her phone on mute.  Then I called Amanda back and she thought that we had been disconnected.  I could see her coming down the walkway and I got even more nervous.  She saw me and hung up her phone.  I kept mine on and in my pocket.  I told Tae here we go and hugged Amanda.  I immediately dropped to one knee and began my speech.  I told her, “I told you a long time ago that courtship ends in two ways, marriage or friendship.  I am choosing marriage, will you marry me?”  I was about to laugh, because firstly I know how much she loves public displays of affection.  Add to that as soon as I dropped to one knee, she continued to question me as if she didn’t know what was going on with the same repetitive word…  What?  What?  What?  Multiply that by the fact that she was rocking side to side like Martin Lawrence and hopping at the same time, while in her high pitched laughing voice (if you have ever made her truly laugh, you have heard it before).  I finished my speech and continued to wait on bended knee as she began to cry.  I reminded her that she hadn’t answered the question.  Then she started with the, Are you serious?  Are you serious?  I said, “Baby, you still haven’t answered the question.”  Which was followed by a Yes, with quick jumping up and down (if you have been to church, you have seen it before).  After she calmed down I told her that someone wants to talk to you.  When she got on the phone, she and Tae had a quick conversation where Tae told her that, she told her that she can keep a secret.  She then contacted her mother and after them both cried together, she found out that her mother knew as well.