Go make your loved ones BREAD!

I don't know about your families- but Leif loves bread. No, I mean he loves bread. Making artisan (crusty baguette type) bread has being on my bucket list / new year's resolution list for years- probably since Leif and I were friends and I found out what an amazing guy he was and really wanted to impress him with my mad baking skills (not that I ever even attempted- but it was a nice thought).... anywhoo. But I've been reading this book about French cooking and baguettes and chocolate (mostly chocolate... and making amazing truffles is on my bucket list now) .... and it's totally inspired me to bake! I can cook fairly well (my mother is to be given the credit for our amazing "home economics" courses), but I rarely bake and never bake bread since I moved out on my own. (Mom baked whole wheat bread - with a soft crust.... which we totally took for granted growing up and I now miss!) But as Leif and I move in on month three of being married, it's high time for me to bake this man some bread. So yesterday- I found a pin I'd put on my pinterest recipe board about 5 min bread and started into it at about 5 p.m. yesterday. Well.  It's 5 min bread- once you've let it rise for 2 hours, and if you don't count the baking time... so at 8 p.m. I pulled this out of the oven...

We went a little bizerk with my new creation and immediately sunk into buttery, fresh bread heaven.... oh. my. word.... I've been dreaming about fresh baked creations and this soared above my expectations and perched in the tree of my dreams and sang lovely songs to me. It truly was out of this world. And the best part- is that it was SO easy! Here's the link.  Go check it out! Another great thing about this recipe is that once you've made a big batch of it- you stick the dough in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and it really does take 5 min to prep after that initial 2 hour rise. Let me know how yours turns out! Oh- they say to let it cool or the crust will be too tough and the dough spungy... well, we just couldn't wait THAT long- so we didn't and it was divine and it was just as amazing this a.m. as I nibbled left-overs after I made Leif a sandwich out of it with our panni maker (George Forman Grill) 

Enjoy! Go make your loved ones some BREAD!

Love,

Arielle

The Wedding pt. 2

The Kiss!! 

We walked out to The Piano Guys instrumental version of Better Together by the Turtles - a song that a close friend told us is our theme song. ;) Very happy song... and brings back wonderful memories of walking back down the isle looking into my family and friend's faces smiling from ear to ear ... so happy... and we are better together. :)

 

      

And.... we are living happily ever after! 

The End

P.S. Pics of reception will be posted at some point... stay tuned! 

The Wedding pt. 1

Finally! The story about our wedding... continued! :) Seems appropriate  as we get ready to celebrate our first Valentine's day as a married couple!

Here are a few photos of right before the wedding- after I arrived with my bridesmaids, parents and grandmother and adopted grandmother.

Wilson, our ring-beror

              

                    Leif and his best-man and brother, Austin

A moment of prayer together before everything began... I didn't want him to see me! 

My bridesmaids ditched me for picture time- so my dad helped me!

My mother-in-law and my lovely bridesmaids and maid of honour

(left to right: my mother-in-law: Amber, Ring beror: Wilson, the flower girls, 

father-in-law: Bryan 

My parents: Patrick and Beverly L.

Leif's Parents: Bryan and Amber A. 

And then it all started... Everyone lined up - I saw my former landlords wave through the little chapel window and heard the sounds of the wedding party's processional start. It was a recording of some of Leif's instrumental guitar music. I wanted to incorporate music from my favorite artist! Val- my wedding coordinator (and life-saver!!) handed us our bouquets that we had all  made the day before (I bought the flowers bulk through Sam's Club) and Savannah P. started down the isle, followed by Anna G., Savannah S. and my sister and maid-of-honour, Emma. Wilson, the ring beror walked down after that and I stood behind my flower-girls wondering if they really were going to walk down the isle. The stood at the entrance  hand-in-hand and peered around the corner at all of the people. I whispered that it was time for them to go... and Val encouraged them as well... and they started walking. :) YEAH! Then time really did stand still as Val closed the door for a moment, the music changed to an instrumental version Me and You by Kenny Chesney by Bryan Rason (click here for the link).... and I was really glad that my dad was walking me down the isle. I held his arm tight and took a picture in my mind of that moment.

The doors opened and (whew, I'm listening to that song right now and it's making me cry... I am so blessed to be married to this man!) ... I saw my grandma, and everyone else who was there for just a moment- and then I saw Leif. I slowed my pace and wanted this moment to last forever...

                                

It didn't go by too fast or too slow. I hung on each word and each moment, trying to memorize it all. This is the day I dreamed of... and it was more perfect and amazing than I imagined. Leif looked stunning, everything was perfect, sunny and most importantly I could feel the Lord there so radiantly. 

We didn't want to do sand combining or a unity candle, so we decided to wash each-other's feet as a symbol of our caring and serving each-other selflessly as Jesus washed each of the disciple's feet in John 13:1-17.

Our vows exchanged- we wrote our own

A Quote

Source

Marriage: It's way better than I'd thought

Don't let the title of this post make you think that I never wanted to get married, that I thought it was a drag, a ball and chain ... anything like that. My parents taught by example that they thought marriage was awesome! I remember numerous occasions where my dad would kiss my mom in front of us (A real kiss, not a "honey-the-kids-are-watching" kiss) and then grin at her, look at us and emphatically state that, "You guys are going to LOVE being married!" We were never grossed out. My brothers even would smile and say, "Yeah! I can't wait to be married!" I've planned my wedding since I was 7years old, I've known what style of ring I've wanted for over 10 years (I had this silly idea that the guy would just "know" the perfect ring that I wanted without me telling him. We never talked about rings.... and he bought me the ring that I've wanted and picked out when I was 10 years old.... crazy, eh?)

So, I knew I wanted to be married and I've known that it was going to be awesome for my whole life. But what I didn't know is that as the days go by of newly-married life, you feel more One, more connected, and as you battle through things you feel closer. I'm not just talking about intimacy (which someone should tell you all is far more awesome than you ever imagined) - but the daily stuff of beginning to know someone so well and have them know you.

A year ago today, my best-friend Leif, came over to my apartment porch for hot chocolate and cookies (It's true- the way to a man's heart is through his stomach) :) and asked me a question that started all of this. Before heading over to my house, the Lord told him to ask me:

"Arielle, do you feel cherished by me?"

He struggled with that, because it wasn't a very "friend-ish" thing to say- but he knew that he wanted to pursue a relationship with me (again... long story). So he did. He came over and we chatted, and ate cookies (He still claims that they were the best cookies he'd ever had.... thank you Betty Crocker!) :) There was a bit of silence as we just listened to the porch swing rock, as he swung the swing- because my legs weren't long enough. I remember looking at the rope lighting and realizing how romantic it looked ... and hoped he wasn't offended by that- since we were just friends... for now... I thought, and tried not to think about how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man....

                                          "Arielle, do you feel cherished by me?"

My throat caught, and my heart stopped. This was really happening.... Lord, is this the time? Can I tell him? I felt completely at peace to speak, and knowing that once I opened my mouth- things wouldn't be the same after that. I couldn't believe that he'd used that word... I'd been studying it- and had just told a friend the day before that I had never felt more cherished by anyone than Leif. I opened my mouth and began to tell him all of the ways that I felt cherished.

Who knew that a year from that night... I'd be making chili for my sweetie and we'd be celebrating the cherished night in our own little home. God is so good.

I am so thankful to be married. It's harder than I ever thought, but so much more wonderful and unbelievable than I ever dreamed. To be completely honest, I burst into tears in Leif's arms a lot and just weep at how good the Lord is to bring us together.... that after such a long story, the different trials that went on that shaped and strengthened us.... to be here in each-other's arms is so incredibly lovely.

Don't believe the World's message that marriage is a ball and chain, that it's a drag, old fashioned, or restrictive. I feel more alive, encouraged, inspired, safe, motivated and productive as a married women. We are excited in this season of our marriage to be exploring both of our dreams and ideas for the future. My husband is not restrictive- I LOVE being home when he is home, but he facilitates and encourages my ideas, passions, and thoughts.

I LOVE being married! It is a wonderful season! For those of you not quite in that season yet and looking forward to it- something that the Lord really encouraged me to learn well in the past few years is this: "Love the ..."   The dot dot dot  ... is what comes between two things, the past and the future that you're waiting for. You are always in a ... time. I am now, so are you. I'm in-between being married and having children, a house of our own. In-between my husband leaving for work and coming home, in-between one birthday and the next. You're in-between the beginning of the school year and the end, between fall and spring. Enjoy your ...

Love,
Arielle

P.S. Check out this great article about the benefits of marriage!

Before the wedding...

I finally have a moment where the dishes are clean, floors are swept and washed, laundry done(ish) and my husband is gone golfing. :) ...So I can write all about our wedding day! I just can't believe it's taken me a month and a half to catch you up on one of the most amazing days of my life! :)

Source

I woke up on Saturday, November 24th 2012 slightly nervous about the weather- but very sure that God would have answered my (and many of your!...) prayers for lovely weather on my wedding day. I jumped out of bed, and held my breath as I tugged on the roll-up shade. There wasn't a cloud in the sky- it was chilly, but there was no rain... Even though there where ominous clouds when I fell asleep the night before. :) My joyful heart felt like it could explode as I ran to the guest room (Emma stayed with me for three nights before the wedding- helping me remember everything!!) I shrieked and jumped on Emma's bed. "I'm getting married today!!!!" :) I spun around the room and jumped up and down and tried not to cry. She smiled and rolled her eyes at me at the same time. We decided to go through the Bojangles drive through in our Pajamas - and get coffee at a local coffee shoppe. We giggled and had fun together- and I kept thanking the Lord for the time with her before the business of everything started that day. I really don't think that I've done so much in my life in one day.... :) The lady at the coffee shoppe told me to have a good day- and once outside I said to Emma, "Of COURSE I'm going to have a good day!! I'M GETTING MARRIED TODAY!!" Emma rolled her eyes, but grinned big- and led me back to where she'd parked the car... because we both didn't think it was safe for me to be driving, since I couldn't remember a darn thing. :)

Applying makeup

Everyone started arriving at the house at about 9 (I think?) :) The bridesmaids, the girls that did our photography while we got ready, their sister who was so so awesome to offer to do everyone's hair, my mom, aunt and grandmother with brunch for everyone... When the Mrs. G showed up with Anna- one of my bridesmaids.... I ran out to see them and she shouted at the top of her lungs: "YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!!!" :)  Finally someone who was getting the excitement!!

My Maid of Honour and Sister: Emma

A little help from my mom and Emma

Just a peek...

We all got ready, ate, watched everyone get their hair done, did make up, and I realized that I still hadn't trimmed the veil that I made to the right length... so Emma did that for me after she put it on. :) My Dad showed up with Flynn (my brother), my grandmother and Mimi (my adopted Grandmother) and Dad came up and we prayed as a family (but without Liam and although this was the happiest day of my life, I tried so hard not to cry- because I SO wanted him to be here for this). We all went downstairs- and I prayed over the day with everyone - and tried not to cry.

Savannah S. drove all of the bridesmaids in my car, and Mom, Dad, the grandmas, Flynn and I rode in my parent's van. We drove out to the chapel - or almost there.... Because the chapel doesn't have any other rooms to get ready or hide or anything, we had to drive to a little gas station just up the road and wait for the call that they were ready for us. We ended up heading up there at 2:15ish (I think) ....

The Beautiful Day!

The Chapel of Rest

The words on above in the chapel are:
Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest

.....

More to come in Part 2: The Wedding! Hope you all enjoy the pictures! Our photographer, Jennifer Abel (Leif's Aunt) was fabulous! 

Sincerely,

Arielle 

Our First Christmas!

It started at 8:30 with cinnamon rolls, sliced oranges and poured eggnog... actually it started at 7 a.m. with my sleepily telling him that it was Christmas and we should get up. Then he told me it was only 7 a.m. and we should go back to bed. So I fell back asleep (No one ever tells you that that is one of the top 5 awesome things about being married... snuggling and waking up together. Awesome!) Then we got up at about 8:30 and got breakfast ready- as I got dressed he brought all of the breakfast stuff into the living room- since he's stuffed my stocking last and he didn't want me seeing it. :)

Let me just say that I have no idea in the world where he hides things! We live in a little apartment and somehow he'd pulled out of thin air everything to stuff into my stocking and put on the mantel above my stocking! I was shocked! We prayed, ate a little breakfast and then I got him to open his stocking first. We love going slow and telling stories about where everything was found, our thoughts about it etc. I gave him a smattering of his favorite candies and the world's best licorice (Tubi's Tire Tread Licorice) that I got through our natural foods coop. Snider's pretzels, mini apple and peach sparkling grape juice etc. He filled mine with little things that he grew up having in his stocking. A Princess Pez Dispenser with Pezs (I'd never had them), candles, Almond Joy M&Ms in a tube with a football on one end- because he's proud of the New England Patriot's fan that I've become. :)

He bought me a pink laptop case for my Mac Book Air! A New England Patriot's purse. :) the towels and bathmat, and glasses from our wedding registry!!! Then I gave him tickets to Biltmore Estate!! (He's never been and always wanted to!) :) A toolbox (He'd been wondering for ages where his tools had been... I'd wrapped them inside!), Home Alone 2 (He'd bugged me for the last MONTH about wanting to find it at the Library, rental places etc and no one had it.... it was under the tree the whole time!) Then he got me to open a red envelope that had a beautiful card in it and then he pulled out a surprise gift....

Let me preface this gift by saying that the Friday before Christmas - we'd gone up to the mountains to sled.... it was too windy- so we didn't , but I'd been trying to catch this one little store during a time it was open and Friday we hit the right time and day and Bless Your Heart in Boone, NC was open. God lined up a book that I needed to read that day. A book that felt like it was written for me. You know the kind- where you have to look over your shoulder- wondering if someone's been watching your life and then wrote what you needed to hear in a book for your heart. The kind that gets you deep and makes you weep from the bottom of your heart from cover to cover and you don't even care that you're in the middle of a store. That's what I Am Her By M.H. Clark did to me on that snowy day in that little shoppe. Leif just held me as I wept and wept and turned page after page. When I was done- he just held me as I processed and as the Lord held my heart and healed me. After that I put the book down and turned and smelled the most amazing lotion on the face of the earth. Do you ever smell something that makes you want to cry- it just triggers something in your heart and memory that touches you so deep? It was called Believe By Lollia.

That day was so incredible in so many ways, but let me bring us back to Christmas Day... Leif pulled out a surprise gift- after I read his love letter. It was the book that I'd read that day up on the mountain. After I held him and the book and cried... about how much it touched me, him remembering.... Then he brought out one more (Again- where does he hide these things!?) .... and said that sometimes scents help us remember amazing moments in our lives. It was the lotion. Believe.

It was the best Christmas I've ever had. It wasn't the gifts. It was the fact that we were finally together - finally married (those of you that know the whole story understand this!) .... it was a perfect, quiet, memorable first Christmas.

One other thing that made it very very special and memorable is that my brother made it home and surprised us for Christmas! He's in the military- and we didn't think he'd be able to come home.... but he's known since July, and bought his plane ticket three weeks ago... :) Great Christmas Surprise!

Off to take him for Sushi.... what better way to welcome someone home!? :)
Happy New Year to you all!

Love,
Arielle