Happy birthday to me!!

So my birthday may or may not have been back in February.

And I may or may not have gotten around to blogging about it right now ;)

This year wasn't a big milestone of a birthday for me- 29! Wow! Sounds so grown up to me, & so weird to think this is my last year of my 20's... gotta live it up, right?

Since my birthday was on a Monday, we met up with my parents on Sunday for my birthday dinner at Red Robin.  RR is in our mall, and the boys were so excited about the fountain out front that we had to take our family picture in front of it (can you tell we never go to the mall? ha!)

 

On the morning of my actual birthday, my best friend Erin "surprised" me with a visit (she lives a couple hours away).  I say "surprised" because I totally knew she was coming- she kept texting me "So... what are you doing today?" "What time do you take Sean to school?" etc.  Love her!  We had a great lunch together before she had to head back home so she could make it to class on time.  You know you have an amazing BFF when she drives 2 hours one way just to take you out to lunch!

 

 The weekend after my birthday Dathan took me out for a getaway overnighter!  It was a wonderful surprise gift from him & his family!  He lined up the sitters & everything... he didn't tell me what we were doing, just gave me a list of what types of clothes to pack.

We drove to a town about 45 mins away, checked into our hotel, and went in our really awesome room.  We dressed up and Dathan took me to a delicious steak dinner.  We clean up pretty well, don't you think?

 

Saturday we slept in, ate breakfast at the hotel, and since check out wasn't until noon we went in the hot tub then took our time getting ready.  It was SO nice!  I even got to curl my hair (which never happens)!!!  I had Dathan take this picture with my phone as proof. Ha!

 After we got ready Dathan surprised me and took me to the Getty Center!  I have never been and had mentioned about a month before that I'd love to go there.  He took mental note and brought me for my birthday. So thoughtful!!

The Getty has the most incredible views of Los Angeles! I am in love with this picture: 

 

Love.

 

Honestly we spent more time walking around outside and enjoying the views, architecture, and gardens at the Getty then we did looking at the actual art inside.  It was a gorgeous day and we get easily distracted ;)

 

Looking to the west was SO bright because the sky was clear and the sun was shining.  It's hard to see because it almost blends into the sky, but we could see all the way to the ocean from the Getty.  In the left of this picture is Los Angeles, and then if you look right about where Dathan's bracelet is on his left hand, that is the ocean.  Amazing!

 

It was SO nice to get away, have some important quality time with Dathan and get a FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP! Ahhh!! :)

happy annibirthary- part 1

Our actual anniversary (7 years!!!) is tomorrow, but as most of you know it is our Annibirthary (Sean was born on our 2nd anniversary) so I want to do a post today for marriage & a post tomorrow for Sean :)

I do not consider myself to be an expert on marriage by any means.  But unfortunately in these days being married 7 years is a large feat, and I am proud.  It has not always been easy.  We have gone through some REALLY hard times.  We have had to work hard to get to where we are, and are still working to get better.  It's not always a walk in the park, but it's worth it.

I'm posting a couple engagement photos.  With my super long hippie hair.  And a couple wedding photos.  But I thought it would be fun to share 7 things I've learned in 7 years of marriage! :)

1.) Love is a choice.  You will not always feel those butterflies.  You will not always like each other.  That is normal and part of life.  But it is your choice to love your spouse every day or not.  I choose, no matter how (pregnant & hormonal) I am, to love Dathan.  He is my gift, and I choose to treasure him. 

(see, I told you... looooooong hair)

2.) It is vital to learn what love language your partner speaks.  And if it is a language that does not come naturally to you, then learn to speak it.  Making sure the other sees & appreciates your efforts to show them love is key to keeping your marriage strong.  If you do not know what those are, you can read about them here.  My top two are gifts & words of affirmation.  Dathan's top two are physical touch & quality time.  We do not speak the same language naturally, but we have learned how to speak it to each other.

3.) Take time out for each other.  Especially after kids join your family.  Make efforts to keep the romance & love alive.  Go on dates, even if it's just grocery shopping without the kids.  Stay up late & watch a movie together.  Write encouraging notes & hide them places.  Flirt with each other.  Praise each other in front of others.

4.) No matter how upset you are with your spouse, never ever bad mouth them to your family, friends, or in other public places (like Facebook).  Nothing boils my blood more than reading a post from someone who is venting their anger out on FB for all to see about their husband or wife.  Not only does that show a high level of disrespect, but it also gives all who hear or read it a reason to disrespect them too.  We are here to build each other up, not tear each other down, even in the middle of frustration or fights.

5.) Someone posted this on FB the other day, and I have to borrow it.  It's not my own thoughts, but it's true & so powerful:

"You cannot fall out of love with your wife/husband without falling out of love with Jesus first."
Jesus first. Spouse second. Kids third. Everything else after.

6.) Surround yourself with people who are in the same place in life as you.  Now I'm not saying it's not ok to be friends with single people (one of my best friends is a beautiful single woman!) but I am saying that it's important to have a support group of people who know exactly how you feel.  We are blessed with an amazing marriage matters class at church where we get to learn ways to build our relationship on a weekly basis all while hanging out with a dozen other young couples who want to strengthen their relationships too!

7.) Pray. Lots. Pray for each other. Pray for your marriage.  Pray for your hearts to be open & never calloused.  Pray for God to show you how to change. Pray for humility.  Do not be afraid to ask for help if prayer doesn't fix things immediately.  Counseling is not only for those who are about to be divorced or already divorced... it also can help you never get to that point.

I have so much more I can share but these were the first things I thought of.  I'm sure a lot of you have some wise marriage advice as well and I would LOVE to hear it!

I want to end this post with a song.  Some people are not fans of Christian music, but sometimes there is so much power in words to a song that you can't help but be touched by it.  The first time Dathan & I heard this song we knew it was a song that defines our relationship.  Please listen & read the words & allow the truth to sink in!
"And if we try to leave may God send angels to guard the door... for love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for!"

Dathan, I love you more than you know.  And our love is such a beautiful, special gift.  I will always fight for you and for our love. Happy anniversary!

 

happy annibirthary 2009!!!!

today is such a special day in the stephens family!!! it is our official "annibirthary" 2009! annibirthary is a word i made up because our oldest son sean was born on our anniversary. i got tired of saying "our anniversary & sean's birthday" so now we say "our annibirthary" :)

5 years ago i married a man who far exceeded everything i ever dreamed up and prayed for in a husband. he makes me want to be a better person and loves me with everything inside of him. i would do anything for this man & love him more than words can say. we make such a great pair! we've been through a lot of ups & downs the last 5 years, but God has just blessed us tremendously!

aug 14, 2004

we spent our 1 year anniversary throwing my parents a surprise 25th anniversary luau.

aug 14, 2005

we got the best anniversary present a couple could ask for on our 2nd anniversary- our son sean! happy birthday little sean sean!! he was 7lbs 10oz and 20 1/4 in. just a bundle full of sweetness!!!! who knew how much this little man would change our lives and the course of our lives! we are so thankful for this blessing we call sean!

aug 14, 2006

well, since sean was born on our anniversary, our 3rd anniversary was spent throwing a 1st birthday party! it's amazing how much kids grow their first year of life, and how we grew as a married couple our first year as parents ;)

aug 14, 2007

we spent our 4th anniversary in oklahoma for my brother's wedding (him & his wife got married in january but had their actual wedding ceremony in august). this is one of my all time favorite pictures of us! i was also about 10 weeks pregnant with nolan here! we were so hopeful for all that was yet to come!!!

aug 14, 2008

and here is our family today! well not today literally, i'm gonna have to wait for our official annibirthary picture later tonight when dathan gets off work ;) but anyways, sean is 3 years old & our marriage is 5 years old! we have added another blessing, nolan, who is almost 6 months old. we have moved from california to alabama. we have been through many jobs. we are finding our place in ministry at our church. we are excited to be the family that God wants us to be and fulfill all the plans He has for us as a family. we are dreaming big dreams, and allowing God to guide us!

happy annibirthary (aug 14) 2009!!!!
i wanted to add this post to beki's fingerprint friday because i don't know what could possibly been a more encouraging, fun, & uplifting fingerprint then to see how God has moved in our marriage & family! His fingerprints are all over our lives!!!