Marriage.Is.NOT.Easy! (But it's totally worth it!)

Okay, so this is a serious post. I never write them but today I just need to get a lot off my chest. I have only been married for ten months so I know I don't come with a background full of experience on the wedded life but,wow, this thing called marriage is seriously stressing me out!

I love Daniel with all my heart and he really does the best he can for me the majority of the time, as I also try to do for him. But it just seems like lately the frustration-ometer has hit the roof!Last night was just the icing on the cake as I had yet another long day and he had a tough time at work. When we finally got home and sat down for dinner it seemed like the issues just wouldn't stop coming! We were getting annoyed with every little thing that the other did! And every time we have a disagreement it only takes a couple minutes before we are both telling each other, "you don't care about me!", but deep down we know that's not true. When we take a moment to separate that's when we can think clearly about just how much the other has sacrificed.

Daniel has done so much to support me through these last 5 years of school, and no matter how much I want to deny it when we argue, I really couldn't have done as well as I did if it wasn't for his help and encouragement.

• Even before we were married he has driven to my school at 11:30pm in the pouring rain just to pick up my folder that I dropped in the parking lot by accident and then he brought it 45 minutes to my house because I needed the papers that were in it.
• He has come to visit me between classes, even if it was for only 15 minutes, just so that I wouldn't have to be alone. 
• He put aside his own plans countless times so that I could get papers done on time, even though it was my fault for procrastinating.
• He has missed out on the beach, going running or just relaxing with me so that I could go to study groups.

I couldn't even begin to count all the times he has put me and my schoolwork ahead of himself! I thank God that there are only 2 more months left (65 days in fact, if you look at new Graduation countdown ticker in USF colors! -->) until I graduate so that will be a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders and hopefully we will have much less to argue about then (it never hurts to dream)! 

Me and Danny from back in the day!

love always,

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Our Love Story

Happy Thursday, Friends!

This is a page on my blog but I also wanted to share it as a post :)

A goofy picture of us early in our relationship

On Sunday morning, December 3rd, 2006, 4 months after my 18th birthday, Daniel Reyes walked into the church that I have attended since I was only 10 years old.  He also decided to recommit his life to the Lord that day.  I never met him that morning, or even saw him even though we later discovered that we were sitting in the same section!  Our love story really began the following Thursday night, December 7th.

Sunday mornings at church are always packed out with hundreds of people but on Thursdays there is only about a tenth of the congregation present so it was very easy for me to notice as I walked in that there was a new guy in a polo shirt and jeans standing alone. He looked about my age (he's only 5 months older!) and very attractive from the back since that's all I could see of him so far!  As I walked past him I tried to be as subtle as I could to get a look of his face (but if you know me I can't be subtle no matter how hard I try) and I really liked what I saw so far.  So I attempted to look at him again as I set down my stuff on the seat of the pew and again a few minutes later (oh no, that wasn't noticeable at all).  Oh.My.Goodness! He was hottt! I  knew I had to talk to him but had no idea how that was going to happen without me making myself look ridiculous, desperate or both.

At the Aquarium on my 21st birthday

After what seemed like the longest service ever, we finally closed with a word of prayer and my outgoing mom ran up to him and struck up a conversation.  Then all of a sudden she calls me over, says she will be back and that she wants to show him where Fiji is (where my mom is from) on the map in the church lobby.  I knew this was my opportunity to talk to him, how perfect! I offered to show him the map and he looks uncertain at first and asks if my mom will mind. I replied, maybe a little too fast, that she probably already forgot about it so he went with me and we enjoyed some nervous laughs together and then parted ways.  At this point I was certain he must think I'm the most ridiculously desperate person he's ever met!  As my mom and I pulled out of the parking lot she told me.........he told her that he thought I was beautiful! He told my MOM this! Is he crazy? Or could it be that he really thought I was pretty?

Going running together

Over the next couple weeks we flirted spoke only at church until I couldn't handle it and decided to make a move by asking him if he had Myspace. When he said that he did, I told him I would give him my phone number so he could call me around 10 that night and I could give him my screen name. So slick, huh? I could have just given him the screen name but it was never really about Myspace....I wanted him to CALL me ;)  And it worked!  At 10 p.m. on the dot that night I received a call from Daniel and from there it's history!

love always,

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6 months Stronger!

The last 6 months of my life have been filled with lots of learning, growing, challenges and Changes but more than anything they have been filled with so much JOY!

I still can't believe sometimes that I am really Daniel's wife and my dreams are finally reality.  But it's true!
I want to dedicate this post to the love of my life, who has been with me through the good, bad and ugly. Here's to us, baby!

We met at 18 years old, right before Christmas. It's amazing how much we have matured in the last 4 1/2 years! Here are some pics of us through the years...

My 19th Birthday!

I will never forget the time he first told me he loved me, only 3 weeks after we started dating! We went on one of our first dates to the beach and he was so giddy and nervous...it was adorable! 

Our first Valentine's Day

On our 3rd Valentine's Day together he gave me the biggest surprise. That Sunday morning he proposed to me in front our our entire church! He did this because it was the place where we first met, where we worked in ministry together, and where we have grown in the Lord together.

He had a slideshow of our pictures playing on the screen as read me a poem that he wrote.

He also gave me a bouquet of roses before he popped the question

He even brought yellow roses for both of our mothers

 Together we have overcome the odds, both big and small :)  We encouraged each other to face our fears (heights!) and he's the one that really taught me how to ride a bike, and bought me one for my birthday, since I pretty much blocked it out of my mind after falling off of one when I was 8 years old.

Me at the top of an overpass (conquering both fears!) and Danny was the camera man :)

 The best moment of our relationship was on December 11, 2010 when we tied the knot.  I will be creating a page for our wedding but here is just a tiny glimpse of our Big Day.

Everyday that goes by I am even more certain that Daniel is the love of my life and I can't wait til we celebrate our first year of marriage together...and then our 50th year! 
Happy Weekend, friends!
love always,

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Encouraging Your Husband - Day 3

Happy Friday!!


I couldn't be more thankful that Friday has arrived than I am today!  It seems like ever since I took on this Encouragement Challenge from Revive Our Hearts I have been put to the test in my marriage more than ever! Even the smallest situations that we would never concern ourselves about have been turning into mountains!  So if you have decided to join me on this 30-day challenge to become a more loving and supportive wife be warned - this is not for the weak! You will want to give up every single day along the way, but if you somehow manage to just get through it I know it will make a life-changing difference! So here we go again...
 
Day 3:
 "...love suffers long, and is kind..." 1 Cor. 13:4
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
Love indeed suffers long and is kind. As you consider your Encouragement Challenge, determine today that you will not say anything negative to or about your husband. Speak kindly to him with words of genuine encouragement. If your husband is considerate of your needs, let him know that you have noticed. Thank
him for his kindness and consideration. Thank the Lord that your husband knows how to be both tough and tender. Sometimes it's difficult for a man to be gentle, kind or tender - especially if he hasn't had role models in these areas. If he's not a considerate person, appeal to him for help without complaining. Let him know that it's hard for you to handle some things alone. Then, when he moves in to help, don't insist that he do it your way. Be glad that he is responding, and express your gratitude. Ultimately, you can't expect your husband to make you feel more secure, loved, etc.
Remember that only God can meet the deepest needs of your heart.

 I wish you all the best in this challenge and am keeping your marriages in my prayers, hope you'll do the same for me :)

P.S. - Epcot pics coming soon (for real this time)! We had such a great time there and pictures are so wonderful because every time you look at them, it brings you right back into that moment when they were taken! Hope you all have wonderful weekends!!!

love always,

 

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30 Day Challenge - Encouraging Your Husband!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!


As every newlywed soon finds out, everything you thought marriage would be like couldn't be farther from how it actually is! Since Danny and I have been married one of the hardest things we (okay, mostly me) battle with is trying to find a balance between dealing with the pressures of life and being a loving, encouraging spouse.

I found this great 30-day Challenge from Revive Our Hearts that I will be doing starting TODAY on how to be a more encouraging wife. I know it takes 21 days to make (or break) a habit so I'm hoping that through this I will make the habit to be more loving and not just give up after the next 30 days!  If you want to join me on this month-long journey let me know by posting a comment :) So here is Day 1:

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does
him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:11-12
Here are the rules for the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge:
* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your husband...and to someone else, about your husband!
To help you get started, have you ever thanked your husband for "choosing you" above all other women? He found you attractive as a person, and appreciated you. Though many circumstances in your marriage may have changed, let your husband know that you are glad God led you together, and that you want to be a blessing to him for the rest of your marriage. Let him know that he can trust you to be in his corner. One of the best opportunities to express your gratitude is first thing in the morning. How do you greet your husband each morning? Is he confident in your love? Give him a "wake up call" that he'll never forget-a big "I love you" and an "I'm so glad I'm your wife!"

I'll let you know my progress and look forward to hearing how everyone else does!

love always,

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My first blog...EVER!

     After going back and forth in my mind for what seems like the millionth time, I have finally decided to write my first blog ever on this last day of March.  It is the perfect weather to meditate on my thoughts because there is such a torrential downpour of rain outside! I definitely love living in Florida for the blue skies and sunshine but rainy days every once in a while are not so bad either....they give me a chance, for once, to feel like I'm not missing out on anything while I am at work.

Danny and I are still getting used to the ups and downs of being newly married but overall are having a great time getting to know each other.  Thankfully we have a lot of the same likes/dislikes which makes everything that much easier.  Right now our biggest focus is on getting all the projects done around our house.  The list seems like it will never end! But in the next post I will show some pics of the awesome home decor stuff I got!

Well I hope everyone has a great Thursday and I look forward to the future of my blog!

Love always,

Asha

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