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.

a Savior has been born

This year one of my brothers had his first child. His name is Samuel, and he's the cutest little boy you've ever seen. Christmas night I helped bathe and change him into his little bear footie pj's. He is the first grandchild of my parents. Which automatically makes him the favorite. Anyways.... on to the reason for this post.


Every year before my family opens presents we read the Christmas story. It's a way my family keeps thing meaning real. This year was a little different, because we had a little baby in our midst.

As my eldest brother was reading the story, Samuel was blocking my view so I decided to look at him. I was thinking about Jesus being a baby. About the fact that he was fully God yet fully human.

Being a baby is humbling, which is why I think we don't remember it. He was fully God, yet he had to have somebody change his 1st Century diaper. Let me tell you it wasn't as easy as taking disposable Elmo off his tush. What person of royalty in our world would want to be treated like that? He could command everything and anything he wanted, yet he came to us as a helpless baby.

I hope this smacks you in the face.

I hope it makes you appreciate just all that he did for us.

We sing songs about little baby Jesus. But when do we grasp it? Did he have spit that somebody had to wipe off? Did he cry after he first woke up? He was dependent on Mary and Joseph for everything. They had to bathe him, feed him, change his nasty diapers and maybe his not so nasty ones.

Humbleness at it's max.

Do you think he remembered? Do you think he knew that he was the King of kings as they were cleaning his mess up? Maybe not. But it gives me something to think about it.

I don't like humbling myself. And I'm not even the King of Kings. But he's definitely taught me a lesson.

We truly serve an Amazing God.

thats all for now
-j

Careful what you pray for

Someday I know that Brian will be in a youth pastor position, and I will be... The youth pastor's wife.
Qualities of a youth pastors wife -according to moi:
-Hot (duh)
- knows how to handle teenagers
-can organize events really well
- thinks of things her brilliant YP husband didn't
-can decorate for a party
-rocks at making cookies

---- ok so there are a lot more CHARACTER qualities obviously, but I figured I'd just put those ones down, the others are pretty standard.

So I started praying that God would prepare my heart for full time ministry and the woman I would have to become to thrive (and survive) in that position.

God answers prayer.
God answers prayer not the way I want him to.
..... But isn't that God?

Since I've started praying this prayer, he's definitely brought somethings to my attention that need to be fixed before I leave the bubble of this campus. Thankfully I'm learning now and not later.

However, he's also put situations and people into my life that I know I will encounter in the future.

I spent the better part of the weekend giving the stink eye to God saying, okay this isn't exactly what I had in mind, but teach me anyway cuz you know what you're doing.

I know that I will have to deal with people that will criticize my every move, however pure their intentions might be, I know I will have to pick up the responsibility of others, I know I'll have to deal with kids I probably don't like. I know that Brian and I will be at church more hours then we wish for. And a whole lot of othere things.

But you know what, we are a team, all 3 of us are a team. (No I'm not talking about a baby in my stomach I'm talking about Jesus). And all 3 of us are going to get through everything. I have no regrets about where God has put me to lead, but I do know that I'll have to grow up in the mean time.

God is teaching my how to respond, with grace and maturity and not using my 21 year old mouth to respond in situations. Yep, a lot of times that means keeping my mouth shut. But hey, If I can learn this now, it means I wont screw up a job for brian... or myself.


thats what i'm learning,
thats all for now
-j

Our First... pt 1

Our First...
Toilet over flow.

Yep. It was an exciting night in the Colligan house. B and I had just gotten home from the childrens Christmas play and were about to relax and watch this weeks community when I noticed the toilet was no longer flushing (no this was not my fault, it was the both of us and panda express)... B went in tried to flush it one more time. Yep It was like a waterfall, only not nearly as pretty.

After some colorful expressions and B's quick thinking to turn off the water, there was some MAJOR clean up to be done.

So there is brian soaking up nasty water in some towels with his feet in plastic bags and gloves over his hands.
Next?
Bleach.
After we got all the water cleaned up with bleached EVERYTHING. It was my turn to put plastic bags and gloves on, we looked AWESOME let me tell you.

We bleached everything from the door to the shower, to the floors and the whole toilet. And those towels have been also sterilized.


Needless to say Panada really is express. And it's just another story to had to the list of what will be many more adventrues.

Thought I'd share, and yes I did ask B if I could post it.

One of our many firsts that we'll have
thats all for now
-j