Nick and I were so blessed to be able to get away this past weekend. In our 3 years of marriage we have only gone away for more than one night 2 times– our honeymoon and this weekend! We needed some alone time away from people and social media. We went up north to Biwabik (an hour north of Duluth) to stay at the Giant’s Lodge. We did a teeny, tiny bit of sight-seeing but for the most part we lounged in our room hanging out, talking, eating junk food and watching the NCIS Veteran’s Day marathon! haha. We also played pool one evening in which I barely lost. In my defense, it’s hard being short and very pregnant while playing pool. You try bending over that table!
I was also reminded while reading Song of Solomon this weekend (what other book of the Bible do you read when you’re on a romantic getaway??) why my children won’t be singing a certain verse in the song “His Banner over me is Love.” Banqueting table = Wine fest and sex. Yeah, not talking about Jesus. Context, people! (Song of Songs 2:4)
I felt well rested after our getaway and more refreshed in my relationship with Nick. It was very over due. I love that guy. Next time we do this, it’ll be with baby in tow! :) I can’t wait!
32 weeks!
We stopped in Duluth on the way home. First time being there for both of us!
Three years ago, innocently I stood
scared,
nervous,
anxious,
and unbelievably happy.
The man of my dreams was only
an aisle away.
Every footstep represented
a vow
to you, my love.
Honor,
Love,
Respect,
Cherish.
In good times and in bad times.
We’ve had our fair share of each since that day.
I thought we’d never make it through our first year.
Newlywed love,
lined with sinful pride.
Our second year brought
new hope,
and a determination to succeed.
This, our third year, has been
sweet as honey.
Tinged with
sadness,
frustration,
joy,
and trust.
This year, God has seen fit to allow our first child
to grow in my womb;
a symbol of our love and devotion.
Tears fill my eyes
as I am reminded of how
faithful He has been.
I reflect on the ways He has always
provided,
protected,
tested,
and strengthened us
in our marriage.
Only He knew how sweet our
bond of love could be.
And oh, how sweet it is.
My prayer until death do us part
is this:
That we would grow as husband and wife,
Individually
and together.
That our faith in Jesus Christ would mature and flourish
in the seasons of life to come.
That trials would make us stronger,
and victories would cause
our eyes to rise above
and our voices to utter
simple,
yet thankful prayers
to the One who holds us together.
My love for you, Nicolas,
grows ever more,
for you
are my heart’s desire.
I pray we have many more sundowns together. I love you, best friend. Happy anniversary.
Usually when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I cringe, pick out a card for Nick and hope our day goes well (e.g., no fighting). We didn’t want to feel that way anymore. We decided instead of celebrating V-day, we would celebrate the anniversary of when we started dating, February 26. Now that was something I could get excited about.
amsterdam 4.19.07
This year was our 4 yr dating anniversary. Nick found us a nice hotel downtown for a fantastic price off of Priceline. We left right after work and just enjoyed the evening. We walked all through the skyways til we found a place we wanted to eat: Hard Rock Cafe. I do love that place! Then we went back to the hotel and watched Air Force One. I had never seen it before. Nick got me a cappuccino and I didn’t like it. sad. Fortunately, it wasn’t room service. Nick had gone down to the lobby and they gave it to him for free!
We went to Hell’s Kitchen for breakfast. So good. For real. It was tasty and inexpensive! In the afternoon we went to the Riverview Cinema to see Tangled! Which was also so good. Overall, our 24-hour date was relaxing and refreshing. I’m so glad we did it. I foresee this happening more often in the future!
It hardly seems possible that 2 years ago (8.8.08), I was getting ready to marry my best friend. I never would have thought that I would be where I am today.
I love being married to Nicolas. It’s hard, yes. Sometimes I wonder what I have really gotten myself into. But I love my husband so much. I wouldn’t trade him for the world. We didn’t really celebrate a ton yesterday because A) It is also Drew’s birthday that day and we wanted to throw him a party! So we did. And B) we are going to see Wicked on August 21! On that day we will celebrate fully. And I will take LOTS of pictures!
Nicolas John Laparra, thank you for being my husband for these past two years. Thank you for loving me and caring for me. I know I have been so blessed. I praise God for you. I pray He will mold me daily to be the kind of wife I should be for you, and that my heart will be open to that molding. May He bless us with many, many more years together. I know I am looking forward to them. I love you!
I love date nights. And when my husband includes a thoughtful surprise in our date night, I love it even more! He bought the tickets and didn’t tell me where we were going til we got there! [pause] Ok, that’s not entirely true. I discovered what the surprise was 3 days before the show. But not intentionally! It just…happened.
I was first introduced to The Swell Season by the movie Once that they starred in. It’s a great rainy Sunday afternoon movie. Their music is out of this world. I’m not kidding. I was so very excited to go see them.
We got there around 6:30pm and waited in line for the doors to open at 7pm. How we got a front row spot, I have no idea, since there were a bazillion people in front of us in line. Ok, not really, but it felt like it.
Nick looks extremely excited in this picture but really his ADD and/or selective hearing was kicking in high gear with all the people and food smells around us. paha.
So the show started at 8pm and I thought The Swell Season was coming out first, but since I haven’t been to a concert in like 6 years and I’m outta touch with the music world, I was highly disappointed when some dude came out with a guitar and a harmonica holder around his neck to sing a few ditties. While I think Nick thought he was the coolest thing since sliced bread (I judge this by the amount of swaying and humming he did), I wasn’t a huge fan. But cool for him that he got to open for The Swell Season.
Finally at around 9:15pm they came out. It was amazing. We were right next to the speakers, so we heard everything really well and obviously could see everything on stage. The drummer was super awesome. I think he looked like a mixture of an Amish guy and a Jew.
Eh? (wait that’s Canadian…drat!) nevermind
I wear glasses. Yes, I do.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are awesome musicians. In Nick’s words, “That was the best concert I have ever been to.” I have to agree. Glen just rocks it out on stage in a way that took my breath away. I’m passionate about music and when I see someone else doing what I L.O.V.E. to do, and in the most moving way, it gives me chills.
And so, the concert ended after 11pm. For those of you paying attention, that means we were on our feet in a crowded mass of sweaty people for almost 5 hours. Gross. Yuck. I was glad to get out of that throng. (And if I were honest I would tell you that I complained to Nick about my feet hurting only every 10 minutes. But I don’t want to be honest.I didn’t complain the whole night.)
It was a really fun date. Probably outshining a lot of our dates recently (which consists of coffee shops and books. Wait, that sounds like a blast. Who am I kidding?) It was a different kind of date and we needed that. Here are a few videos of the concert. Sorry the recording isn’t that great. When you’re right next to the speakers you get lots of feedback. Boo.
Falling Slowly
Say it to Me Now
When Your Mind’s Made Up
I think Nick and I are going to try to go to more concerts. In August we’re going to see The Civil Wars and that should be fun. But the Swell Season is better. Jus sayin’.
I never thought I would do so badly at being a wife.
Love. Intimacy. Communicate. Date. Children.
Wrong. It’s so much more complicated and I only have me to blame. Me. Myself. I don’t know how to speak, act, obey, respect, love, cherish, adore. Where is Jesus in my marriage? I pushed Him out. I told Him I could do it on my own. I let Him know He wasn’t necessary. That I was so good at being the best wife.
That’s why I am failing. And it won’t get better until I step aside and let Him lovingly guide me. Let Him guard my tongue.
I NEED TO LET GO! Give it to Jesus. Love my husband. Respect my beloved. Isn’t that what I said I would do, that day I said “I do”? I’ve been backing out on my vows. My VOWS.
I love my husband. I do. I need to love Jesus more so I can do the things I vowed to do on 8.8.08. Without Him, its impossible.
I am leaving in a moment to go away for Nick and I’s one year anniversary. But I just had to write something on here (wish it was really ON the date! However, no internet where we’re going).
I met Nick in August of ’06. 2 years later, in August, we were married. It was a whirlwind! We honeymooned on a cruise ship, stopping at Key West and Cozumel. We took not enough pictures but enough to remember our time together. 3 days after we came back, we moved out here, to Minneapolis. Nick started school 4 days later.
Our computer and camera were stolen out of our house our 2nd day here. Needless to say, we lost all of our honeymoon pictures. I was (and am) devastated.
Now, we come to this moment. Our 1 year anniversary. I can’t believe we’ve come this far. We have had a blessed year, full of joy, trials, and friendships, and I am so grateful. I love my husband more than anything, yet I know I can love him better. I can be a better wife, helper, and friend. I pray God will help me to do that this next year.
Thank you, Lord, for giving Nick and I a while year together. I pray you would bless us, though undeserving, of many, many more.
We will be taking TONS of pictures to make up for our lost honeymoon pictures. I’ll be back on Saturday!
I can’t even believe that Nick and I have been married for 6 months! It feels like so long, but it doesn’t feel that long at the same time. This weekend we had the privilege of going to the Bethlehem marriage retreat. The title of the retreat was “Marriage: A Mess Worth Making.” Ain’t that the truth?! :) We were so blessed. I’m sad that it had to end! But don’t all good things?
Thanks to all our friends and family for your prayers and encouragement these first few months….keep it coming! We have years and years to go. We pray that God would bless our marriage and keep on sanctifying us!
