Week 1 - God-Centered Spouse

I love my MIL, she's such an encouragement to Brian and I. For our wedding, She gave us Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas. (If you're married, or about to be I suggest you read this book)

Well for Christmas she bought Brian and I the devotional for the book. It's split up to read one devotional, once a week for a year. Now because Brian and I are still students it might take us longer to get through it, but I thought I would blog about at least the one we read.

Week 1, Is all about being a God Centered Spouse, and what that looks like.

"A spouse centered spouse acts nicely toward her husband when he acts nicely toward her. She is accommodating as long as her husband pays her attention....But Paul tells us we are to perfect holiness out of reverence for God. Since God is always worthy to be revered, we are always called to holiness; we are always called to love. A God-centered spouse feels more motivated by his or her commitment to God than by whatever response a spouse may give."- Gary Thomas

I started to think about what that looks like for me.

Psalm 144:12 "Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a place;"
This verse intrigues me, but I only want to focus on the second part of it. Women are a corner stone. Women were set for a place.
What is a corner stone.
....It holds everything up (It supports)
..... It gives the building it's shape.
...... It is there doing it's job, even if the roof isn't there to shelter it,
..... or if the things inside the building isn't there to appreciate and thank it.

I am Brians partner in ministry. I am also his partner in life.
He needs to be able to count on me.
He also needs me to not take the lead in ministry.

Women have an unbelievable power to manipulate. I've met some pretty manipulative men, but I've met more manipulative women. I believe I am the manipulation queen, just ask my mother. It's a wonder she still has her sanity.

I DON'T WANT TO GET MY WAY.
I DON'T want to be "that woman"
I DON'T want to hinder his ministry
I DON'T want to NOT support him.

I want to be what I was made for. I was made for a place. I was made to support, not lead, not manipulate enough so I am leading.

I want to love him, even if he doesn't love me. I want to be gentle towards him, even when he leaves the seat up. (Which btw he NEVER does because he grew up with 4 women). I want to be focused on God that I serve Brian, despite how i feel or what he does.

I want to be a God-Centered Spouse. Instead of being centered on myself and what I want.
I challenge those few of you who read this, to be the same.

Thats all for now.
-j

food adventures

I love Mexican food.

and thankfully so does my husband.

I am secretly Latina.

Or at least in my dreams I am.

Last night I thought it would be fun to try and make our own tortillas. (Partly because I only had one tortilla left and I was too lazy to go to the store again) Sounded easy enough. And for the most part it was. They didn't come out terrible, but they definitely weren't as good as what you get in the store. But at least I can say that I made them.

We did have a lot of fun tho. We made quesadillas out of our tortillas which may not have been the smartest idea. But for the most part it worked. Brian was throwing the dough on the counter like he was on t.v. telling his imaginary audience how to make them. It was rather entertaining.

I had hopes it was going to be easier and cheaper then buying them every week and I'm not sure thats the case. I might try a different recipe next time I feel the need to satisfy my inner Latina. Or I might just work up the energy to go back to Safeway and get more.

This was what our tortillas looked like. We couldn't really master the perfect roundness so they mostly looked like giant eggs. Or other various shapes.



This is what my quesadillas normally look like. Big and Beautiful. With store bought tortillas.


This is what the ones with our home made tortillas looked like. They are special.




Brian was a good sport about it. He usually is. He usually only gives his opinion about food when I ask for it. This might be something we try with youth kids and do a taco bar. Becasuse it is fun... just different. And not good for making quesadillas.


On a side note. Normally My quesadillas are the bomb. I end up making enough for multiple people. Brian will take them to work and share with a few friend of ours. (Not to toot my own horn *HONK!)

Secret quesadilla sauce.
1/4 cup mayo
2 tbs jalapeno juice
2 tbs cut up jalapeno's
little bit of Chipotle pepper seasoning
little bit of chili powder

- and then mix all together and Voila!

You may have to play with it to get it to taste. We like ours spicy and I never make it the same way twice. (I dont use measuring cups --too many dishes, too little a sink)

My quesadilla recipe: (I use 10 inch tortialls.)
Preheat the oven to 350
Cut chicken into little paces
In a bowl combine equal parts chicken and cheese and a bowl (usually needs more cheese)
Butter ONE side of the tortilla and fold in half
Spoon on jalapeno mixture to suit your taste (I always put a lot on)
spoon on chicken and cheese mixture

bake in the oven for 2(ish) mins. flip over and bake the other side.
It should be golden brown, crispy and DELICIOUS!

Serve with the usual sour cream or salsa (brian also like queso sauce)

Let me know if you try it and what you think
thats all for now
-J!

Whats4Supper

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-MIM2Nqmdg

My family is crazy when it comes to cooking. Especially my aunts. They know all the short cuts and secrets of making food easy and good. I fully believe they should have a cooking show.

My aunt made the app that was just in the video you watched. She's a pretty smart lady if I do say so myself. It looks like a wicked cool app.

She drove Brian and I to the airport which is a 45(ish) minute drive. What did we talk about the whole way?

Food and recipes.

So naturally when I got home, I was in the mood to cook. So I did. Then I realized how much easier my life would be if I had that app.

Well I'm not cool enough to own an Iphone or Ipod touch...
so....
this is my Whats4Supper app.



No Judgments, but I guess I'll give you permission to laugh.


Yep. Thats the Whats4supper app in my life right now. But hey, it's better then nothing and it's better then just a piece of paper.

this is my wife life. Thats all for now.
-j

Our First pt 2. "In Sickness and In Health"

Brian and I had our first....

Real sickness.

We said the traditional wedding vows at our wedding. You know the ones that say "In sickness and in health" I can't remember what comes before that. I just remember saying that part.

I take back what I said.

Not because I don't intend to love Brian through those times, but because I believe those words don't even begin to cover what I really intend to do. Our vows should be changed to, I promise to hold your hair when you have your face stuck in a toilet, or wash your clothes after your fever has broken. I promise to get you a glass of water to rinse out your mouth, and to not get grossed out when I hear awful sounds coming from the bath room. Or to put up with your moody self because you're not feeling well. THAT'S what the vows should read. Just because I think a lot of NEW couples don't really know what they are getting into when they say " in sickness or in health"

In the course of our two week Christmas vacation, Brian and I both got a sinus infection and a nasty flu bug. So we spent the end of last week on the couch looking pitiful. I thought I was on top of my game because he got sick first and I was waiting on him getting him anything I could. By that night, I had it too. I was laying in bed when it hit and as I'm running to the bathroom I hear him say "I'll hold your hair!!". So sweet. He didn't tho, I have a "Don't touch me when I'm throwing up" policy. But I fully believe he would have.

So that was my wife life last weekend, pitifully lying in my In-laws house with the flu, with my husband on the couch next to me. Such an interesting life I hold. This Christmas will forever be remember.

"Hey Hunny remember our first Christmas when we thought we were going to die?"

Thats all for now
-j

Oh and P.s. The part about being moody, I was the moody one, just wanted to clarify.