First date anniversary.....

A year ago today Kevin and I went on our first date. I can't believe that a year has passed already not to mention the fact that we've been married for over 4 months! If someone would've told me on December 16, 2007 that I was going to meet my husband the very next day, I would've told them they were lying! LOL!

We decided to celebrate our first date anniversary by going back to the Applebee's where we met a year ago. It was really nice because we were able to get the same table. Kevin of course tried to ask for the same server and I told him it was a bit much! He did however surprise me with a very special gift or gifts I should say. One of the first gifts Kevin ever gave to me was a charm bracelet. He gave it to me back in January with one charm on it and he promised to give me a charm each month as way of showing his commitment to me and our relationship. Well he gave me charms for the first few months but after about 4 months he couldn't find the charms anymore. Well, he found a website and was able to order all the charms. Here is a breakdown of the charms and meanings:

1. Elephant - This was the first charm and he gave it to me because I'm a Delta plus it also means good luck.
2. Lock and Key - I got this one in February and it symbolized me having the key to his heart
3. Music note - One of our favorite pastimes is singing Karaoke
4. Basketball net - Kevin suggested the idea of sponsoring a Teacher vs Student Bball game in order to raise money for the DIVAS Scholarship
5. Cross with a vine growing on it - This symbolizes our church, True Vine Ministries plus the fact that we have both grown spiritually as a result of our involvement
6. The letter "R" - Symbolizes my new last name Reese
7. Just Married charm - Symbolizes us being married
8. The number "8" - Of course it symbolizes our wedding date 08-08-08....PLUS it symbolizes a new beginning
9. A microphone - I recently joined the praise team at our church and have really focused on being active in that ministry
10. Sapphire - It's my birthstone
11. Baby carriage - Symbolizes our decision to start a family
12. Piggy Bank - This symbolizes the day we painted a piggy bank at a local pottery store and started our wedding fund

I was very surprised by the fact that he took time out to find all of these charms to represent our relationship. I was even more impressed at the fact that he held true to word of showing his commitment to me. Granted he wasn't able to get them each month as he initially promised however before the year was up, he got them all. I really love my husband!!!

"You should rock together...."

Today was the first Saturday that Kevin and I have had off together in a while. We decided that it would be the perfect day to finish up our Christmas shopping for our families. Given the fact that New Bern mall or the indoor walking center as I call it only has about 5 stores, it was either go the Smithfield to get gifts or everyone would receive gift cards. The best part of the trip was going to lunch at Cracker Barrel. I don't remember the last time I'd had food from Cracker Barrel. It had to be over a year ago while I was shopping with my best friend, Tanisha. Anyway, there was of course a wait so we decided to enjoy the weather outside and rock in the lovely rocking chairs. As we are rocking in our own little world, this older lady walks by and she says, "You have to rock together!". Kevin and I had not noticed that we had our own little rock going in an alternate way. We quickly got on one accord and thanked the lady for her advice.

You know me...the deep thinker...I started reflecting on that. First let me say that I don't intentionally try to to relate everything back to God however I tend to do so quite often. The more I thought about that remark, the more I smiled because I truly feel that it was God's way of imparting wisdom to us. In a marriage it is so easy to get off the same page or speed up while the other is still going slow. A couple must always be on the same page and be willing to adjust to remain on the same page in order for the "rock" to be enjoyable for both parties. If one person insists upon rocking to the beat of their own drum, both will miss out on truly magnificent feeling of being married. Rocking to the same beat requires you to pay attention to the other person even while you are talking or drifting off into a daydream. It really forces you to have an awareness of the other person even when you don't normally think you would. I think that is the lesson that we were suppose to take from that comment. At all times we must be aware of the other person and just as with the rocking, once you have that awareness it is as if you are acting as one body.

Four Months....

Today marked our four month anniversary. Wow...time truly flies when you are having fun. Kevin and I met with our wedding planner today...well i guess I should call her the reception planner seeing as though we are no longer having a full on wedding but a mega reception. The change in the plans has saved us over $1,000 so that is great!



This past Sunday I was able to do something with Kevin for the first time. I ate at his restaurant and he was able to join me! He had to work and I typically steer clear of his restaurant because I'm not a steakhouse person but I figured I would go in after church for a nice salad. Anyway, while we were having lunch, one of the waitresses came over to our table to meet me. This young lady looked like she as still in high school and was very polite. She went on to say that Kevin talks about me all the time and that is always saying nice things about me. She proceeds to say that she has never heard a man speak about his wife like Kevin talks about me. She said he is always saying how wonderful I am and how much he is love with me. All I could do is grin because I'm thinking this girl has nothing to gain by telling me all of this. Clearly he didn't stage all of this because he didn't know that I was even coming so for her to come over and say what she said really touched my heart.

How many women can say that their husbands talk about them in that way? I thank God for blessing me with this man. I am the luckiest woman in the world!

I'm done...

My final paper for my class is done! I am so excited. As I look back over the past semester I am amazed at how far I have come. I was so ready to throw in the towel back in October because things were so out of control for me. I owe all of this to God because it was by his grace and mercy that I made it through. For people who think that God isn't real...trust me He is! Even more important, for anyone who thinks that God will not honor your requests...HE WILL!

Tomorrow, or my first day of freedom as I call it, will be spent in church then onto Christmas shopping! I'm just so happy knowing that this big cloud that has been following me around is gone! Thank God!!!!