News, news, and more news

So Jason and I have moved the wedding date. We are now getting married on October 23rd, 2010. It's still a Saturday, it's just a week later. My fabulous aunt, Gerry, is now getting married on the 14th. It's the day they re-met. They went to high school together then reconnected at a reunion. In other news, my cousin, Jodi, is now preggo! My other fabulous aunt, Tanya, is going to be a Nana. Jodi's husband, Aaron, is threatening to name the poor child Viera. Speaking of preggers, Jason's sister in law, Liana, is pregnant with the first nephew in the family! There are already two gorgeous little girls. On the subject of bouncing baby boys, Jason's best man, Christopher and his wife, Allie, welcomed their first son into the world yesterday. Now that all of the children news is out of the way, here's some other recent happenings:
-Last week I had the swine flu. It was not a pleasant experience. Everyone in the apartment came down with it in one way or another. Sharon got it first, then Dad, then me. Dad got over it first, then me, then Sharon.
-We ate North Indian food on Sunday with Nuke. try It was something interesting. I had never eaten goat meat before. I cannot say that any more. The best part was the mango smoothie thing and the samosas. They were delicious. Most of the rest of the food was either too spicy, too mushy, or too gross for me to eat much but I did at least try everything on the table.
-Jason took me to see Princess and the Frog finally. It was an awesome movie. They did a wonderful job of recreating the old school Disney magic. I loved every minute of it. Except the part where the Ray dies. I sniffled a bit, of course. Up next, TOY STORY!
-We played poker last night at Khon's. It was alot of fun. It's been a while since I've played a real game of poker. We've played with friends and family a few times over the past few months, but its been just a game. Last night was only a $10 buy in but it makes the difference. The pot was $110. Jason came in second and left the table with $40. I took a few guys out before emptying my stack and walking away.
-I am currently reading Saint by Ted Dekker. Incredible. If you've never read anything by Ted Dekker, go out right now and find a book by him. Sit down right where you are, and read it until you have finished. Then go find another book to satisfy your thirst for more adventure. He is a wild, edge of your seat, thriller. With every flip of the page comes a new shocker. Seriously, I adore this man's writing skills. I am a child in comparison.

Still Healthy!

Jason and I are still eating healthy! Almost 2 weeks now of the Hallelujah Diet. We have both lost weight and we both feel way more energetic! It's amazing how food affects your body. We ate bad one night and I felt horrible all the next day. I don't want to cheat any more. Fried okra does not sound appealing to me, at all, which is beyond strange. I'm really enjoying cooking so many new things! It's been a bit discouraging at times. Some things I've cooked have turned out a disaster. I made a cold soup the other day that was not delicious at all. But for the most part, it's getting easier and more adventurous. Last night, I made a dip without a recipe and it ended up spectacular! Possibly, the best dip I have ever made.
It's made with avocados, lemon juice, oranges, and various veggies. I cut up some celery, and cucumber to dip in it, along with some cherry tomatoes.

This is the disaster soup. It looks better than it tastes.

This is stuffed tomatoes!!! This is my favorite thing I've made so far. It was spectacular!

I also make a pretty amazing pudding but I don't have a picture of it, yet. When I make it, it's eaten too fast. I don't have a chance to take a picture. Haha. Tonight is veggie wraps!

1 Peter 3:1-9

¹In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

²as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

³Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

⁴but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

⁵For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

⁶just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

⁷You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

⁸To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

⁹not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Updates

I feel like posting a blog but really, I have nothing much to say. There's nothing on TV and no one is online. I have been sitting here long enough now, thinking about nothing, that my screen saver came up. I have the photo slide show one set up to run through all of my pictures. It's kinda odd watching my life scroll before me on a computer screen. It makes ya think about time and how quickly it passes. In the blink of an eye, a year passes! Jason and I have been dating for almost a year. I can't believe it. It feels like we've been dating a lifetime. At the same time, it feels like it was only a few weeks ago that we were sitting on the couch at the White's New Year's Eve party flirting. Time flies.

I am currently watching Friends. Ross just found out that he is having a son. Rachel just swore off men (Ross's feelings for her are still a secret). Joey and Chandler just bought the fooze ball table. Monica made 12 lasagnas. Pheobe is amazing. The balcony is square and there's a window instead of a door. There's a large pole in the girls' living room. This has to be the first season. I remember watching this forever ago. Again, time passes so quickly!

Anyways. I suppose now would be a good time to update happenings. There has been a lot going on lately, even though I seem to lack anything to write about.
We saw Avatar in IMAX 3D. The graphics were unbelievable. I caught myself reaching up let the bugs land on my hand! The glasses have been updated since last time I saw a 3D movie. We sat up in the front and had to lean back to see the entire screen.
The Hallelujah Diet is going fantastic. We had pudding for dinner tonight. Tomorrow, I'm cooking up some homemade pot pie. The night after that, we're gonna try stuffed tomatoes. I'm really getting into all of this. It's fun fixing and mixing things.
I went back to church this past Sunday. It was great seeing everyone again! I had to wear my mask, but Jason and I sat together in big church. Yes, I still call it big church.
Jason fixed my iPod the other day. It hasn't played music in years and Jason found a video online showing how to take apart an iPod to replace parts. We thought that perhaps the battery was messed up and needed replacing but as it turns out, it had just fallen out of it's little cubby hole. At least that's the best I understand what was wrong.
On my birthday, March 3rd, we are going to a Japanese sushi place for dinner then to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to see Dierks Bently and the mutton bustin'.
I share my birthday with my best friend, Kim. We will both be 21 this year. We are also planning to dance at the Hideout after the concert. We can FINALLY go to the Hideout.
In 285 days, I will be a Palermo.
I suppose I have rambled on about nothing for long enough. I've watched 2 episodes of South Park, 1 episode of Seinfield, and now I'm watching George Lopez. Every single show I've seen tonight, I have seen before. Nothing is new on Facebook, still. So, I think it's time to turn in for the evening... er... morning. It's 2:15 AM. I should be asleep. I am not asleep. I am not tired. Either way, g'night. I will try to sleep!! Perhaps I'll count sheep.

Our First Dance

We all know the first Father Daughter dance: Butterfly Kisses. The rest of the first dances are sort of up in the air. Anything goes, really. Jason and I wanted to be original so I wrote a song. Unfortunately, after singing it to my dad to get his opinion, he told me to listen to Lost in Love by Air Supply. ITS THE EXACT SAME TUNE!!! At least the words are original. As far as I know, at least. Either way, I want to dance to this song as Jason and I's first dance as a married couple. Because I made up a song. So there.

The Rhythm of Our Hearts
I love you
So I’ll make up a song
To dance with you
All night long
‘Cus I like to step in time
With the rhythm of our hearts

When I am in your arms
And I can feel your heart
My foot begins to tap
With the rhythm of our hearts

I love you
To dance with you
All night long
‘Cus I like to step in time
With the rhythm of our hearts

And then we begin to sway
Living day to day
Our lives dancing
With the rhythm of our hearts

I love you
So I’ll make up a song
To dance with you
All night long
‘Cus I like to step in time
With the rhythm of our hearts

And we know we’re not alone
Our Father sets our tone
He is our maestro
And we live in the rhythm of His heart

I love you
So I’ll make up a song
To dance with you
All night long
‘Cus I like to step in time
With the rhythm of our hearts

New Year

Jason and I are starting off the new year with a cliche. "We will eat healthy. We will exercise. We will treat our bodies like a temple. We will read more." I say it every year. It works for a few weeks. This year though, I am dedicated. You can't truly get healthier until you have made the decision. Not thought about, not read about it, not said it. But really sat down and decided that this year is different. So Jason and I made the decision. We are switching to a raw foods diet. 85% raw 15% cooked. It's called the Hallelujah Diet. It's not a diet, though. This is a lifestyle change. This is a change in our eating habits, our boredom habits, our laziness habits. This is working out. We have a video that we are going to do every day. This is eating better. We have a book that we are going through. We have the website that helps with recipes. This is our change. The rest of our lives will reflect this single decision. Want more information on the Hallelujah Diet? Check out this site:
http://www.hacres.com/
Want more information on how Jason and I plan to practically apply all of this? Check out this poem.

2010
another year has come and left
we say we will remember
but we all forget
it’s rather strange
how all the time goes
its runs away
and withers like the rose
we learn so much
and grow so little
some things never change
like a child’s riddle
i will quite smoking
i will eat right
i will change my habits
using my sheer might!
but it didn’t work last year
we didn’t change a thing
or overcome any fears
so why should i make a list
of goals and ambitions
that i will soon forget?
that in 12 months i will find
and halfheartedly regret?
i wont make any goals of my own
i cannot do it
as time has clearly shown
my only option for a better life
is to look above
hand over my strife
and ask for help

Poetry

Jason and I are both poets and we have discussed writing a poem for our vows or maybe in addition to our vows. Since I have picked up this Best Loved Poems book, I think we just need to find one that we both like. The world is full of love poems written for us! I do love Jason's poetry, though. I think it will depend on whether or not we get inspiration for a poem. In the meantime, this is one of the poems I'd like to possibly read (the one I posted in the previous post) during the ceremony.

Love
Roy Croft

I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

Love's Philosophy

I have been in a particularly poetic mood today. I have written two new poems (one unintentional) and if you'd like to check them out, please feel free to at www.onoceansofblue.com <3
I've also felt like reading some poetry. I have two very wonderful books that I love to pick up and flip open any time. The Best Loved Poems of the American People and Treasury of American Poetry. I am a huge American poetry fan. I really enjoy our language. It's not necessarily that I understand it easier, I just think we've got a pretty good mix of so many different cultures that the American English Language is so super unique. Anyways. This is from the Best Loved book. It's by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Love's Philosophy
The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle: --
Why not I with thine?

See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea: --
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?

Merry Christmas

Yesterday, I woke up to some wonderful smells. Daddy and Jason cooked a delicious brunch of bacon and omelets. Later, my older brother, Sonny, his beautiful wife, Casi, and their handsome son, Asher came over. We filled the day with laughter and joy and love. Jason cooked dinner, Casi cooked the side dish, and my younger brother, Ethan, baked a pumpkin pie, an apple pie, and a pecan pie. We played rummy, drank cheep wine, and played with our new toys. Christmas 2009 has been, by far, the best ever.


From left: Daddy, Sharon, Nick the Chiwawa, Jason, Me, Ethan, Casi, Asher, Sonny
At the very end of the evening, we decided that after all of the millions of pictures that had been taken, we had yet to take a picture with everyone in it! So here it is: the family 2009


Nick was cold so Sharon wanted to warm him up. He didn't like the sweater and he somehow shimmied out of it but I snatched a picture first.


Jason and Ethan cooking dinner. Stuffed chicken breast topped with baked asparagus. It was so amazingly tasty!


Me and Jason relaxing on the couch after everyone left and everything settled down.


This is Nick's new Christmas sweater. He hates it. It's waaaay to big for him and when he tries to run, he ends up prancing because it gets in his way. He shimmied himself out of this sweater too.


Jason gave me a baby laptop for Christmas :) It's itty bitty and black. I can carry it with one hand and the battery power is amazing! Unlike my old laptop, the keyboard works on this one. I have a card reader and a webcam! It's one of my favorite gifts!


I gave Jason a genuine leather wallet for Christmas. I also gave him a big coffee mug that says "you're the sparkle in my snowflake" It's really cute.


This is our Christmas tree. Jason and I decorated it several weeks ago for my room but then we transferred it to the living room this week. It became the family tree. We put my great grandma's nativity scene in front of it and all the presents around it.


This has got to be one of my absolute favorite pictures of me and Jason. It's so sweet looking!


And finally. Nick as he wishes to be: shivering and sweaterless.


I am so thankful that I will be able to spend eternity in Heaven with my Father. I am also thankful that my family will be there with me. Jesus is the reason for the season. He was born to die and He died for me. Merry Christmas, ya'll!!!

holidays are here
and folks are spreading
Christmas cheer
people scatter and fret
to find the perfect gift
but soon forget
why we are here
the reason for season
is Christ Himself
not evergreens
or flashing lights
or a nativity scene on a shelf
so gather around the family
the young and the old
and tell the Christmas story
as the book of Luke unfolds

My Smile

This is a poem I wrote for Jason while I was inpatient. God has blessed us so much! I wish I could express my joy better, sometimes. Then a poem comes flowing out :) I hope you enjoy it!

thoughts of you
tug the corner of my mouth
turning a frown upside down
as lame as that sounds
its the truth
ive lost my hair
ive got new marrow
…almost…
i need help with simple things
i feel pain
i feel shame
and disgust
and while i tie my scarf
i look in the mirror
my eye is red
popped another blood vesslel
a memory of you creeps in
instead of crying
i smile
it starts at the very tip corners of my mouth
they twitch upward a bit
then my chin gives in
my lips are a sideways "c"
then it hits my eyes
they twinkle at first
then they squint
before ya know it
my eyes are smiling too
next my nose joins the party
it wiggles into a little scrunch
its rather cute
not that im bragging or anything
thats just what you make my face do
my ears move
my cheeks blush
my eyebrows raise
my forehead wrinkles
seconds before
i could have cried
but you invaded my sad moment
now my whole face is smiling
thank you.
i love you.