mario sluggers and my stud-of-a-husband

so after drake going on and on about getting an xbox for months... he decided to actually get a wii. so now we are proud wii-owners! drake is obviously very excited about it. we literally spent our first weekend together in weeks by playing a tournament of mario sluggers that drake created himself. it honestly took us two full days. we only took a break for church, then continued our sabbath "family-bonding" together. because of drake's work, we got a super good deal on the wii, controllers, and all our games. we even got a wii and games for josey and cole for their combined birthday! 

it seems like we've spent a lot of money lately (football tickets, plane tickets, and now a wii) but we're really only buying super sweet deals. come on, a wii for $30? you just can't beat that! 

 

also during last weekend, drake proved himself to be an adorable and useful husband by saving us a trip to an auto shop. 

pause for funny story.

about a week ago, on my way to work, i got pulled over. the officer said i was pulled over for not signaling three times. well, i was signaling, so obviously my lights are out. also, i had a busted tail light. greeeeeaaaat. even better, he asked for my registration, and came back telling me it had been EXPIRED since February. yes, i have been driving with an expired registration for six months unknowingly. before leaving for vegas for the summer, i did check my license plate, saw that my stick had a 12 on it, and considered myself completely legal. i didn't even consider checking the actual paperwork. 

so here i am panicking that my registration is expired, and my blinkers aren't working, AND i have a busted tail light. all i can think is BIG TICKET! well, the officer decides that since my registration is so horrendously expired, and i'm insisting it's my parent's car (responsible adults, right?) obviously, i must be lying. they must not know i have the car. yes, he concluded i must have stolen the car! he makes me call my mother and have her verify to him her name, the make and model of my car, and that i have permission to be in las vegas in her car, and by the way, the registration is really, really expired. so after all that embarrassment is said and done, he informs me of the damage.

"well, i'm sorry, but this is three tickets."

my stomach completely dropped. big ticket, big ticket, oh no! big ticket!

then, he starts giggling to himself, obviously very pleased with my reaction, and says, "just kidding, that would be pretty bad. your mom is sending you the renewed registration. just do me a favor and get these lights fixed. and have a nice day!" 

i couldn't believe it. i was happy and relieved, but kinda annoyed that this officer was completely enjoying himself at my expense. i really didn't care, as long as i was getting away without a ticket!

unpause...  

so i picked up the $4 light bulbs for the car, and drake spent the evening replacing the lights. i thought he was completely adorable :) 

other than housesitting and playing the wii, basically the only other thing we do in vegas for fun is softball. drake plays softball every wednesday on a team that our friends we're living with. i only spectate, but i absolutely love every minute of it. it brings back so many fond memories of watching drake play legion baseball all summer long and driving across the state to watch. 

my husband isn't only handy, he's a stud! i'm feeling like more and more of a lucky girl as time goes on!

after his games ended at 10:30 pm, drake packed his bags to visit family in texas (i am sadly unable to accompany him) and then, i dropped him off at the airport around midnight! the poor guy had to travel all night long! but, now he is able to spend all day thursday, friday, saturday, and most of sunday visiting his family in texas that he hasn't seen in years! while while he is away, i'm flying to idaho for my one-week-break from work or school this summer to be home for the downey fair. i'm sad to spend 8 days apart from my new husband, but we're both spending valuable time with our families, and we feel good about that. then, we're ready to get settled in provo! i'm so excited for that, i can hardly handle it! 

one final note of remembrance. i visited this woman's blog post today and thought it was amazing! it really hit home in more than one way for me, and so, i'm going to share it too! Her actual blog is here: 20 Things I Want To Tell Engaged And Newlyweds

1. Marriage is made up of two good forgivers. Because every marriage is made up of two sinners. (Romans 3:23)

2. At some point, you will have to learn that life isn’t all about you. (Philippians 2:3)

3. Don’t listen to women that tell you that passion fades…it doesn’t have to! (um…all of Song of Solomon)

4. Don’t give up. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13)

5. He wants a kind wife, not a maid or another mother. Be nice. (Galatians 5:22-23)

6. Give your husband the gift of your respect.  He needs it more than you know. (Ephesians 5:33)

7. Be mindful of your expectations.

8. Honor the Lord above all things. Colossians 3: 17

9. Find your worth and security in the Lord, and don’t look to your husband to meet all of your needs.

10. Be very careful about reading romance novels, they set you up for an unrealistic view of romance.

11. Real romance is finding that one spot in the crook of his arm to snuggle into, that shared look over the dinner table when the kids are acting crazy, and the way he fixes the leaky sink when he is dog-tired after work.

12. Love is about relationship.  The more I love my husband, and seek a relationship with him, the less critical and duty-bound I become.  It is similar to my relationship with God.

13. Be thankful for the husband you have. Accept him as he is, not for what you want him to be.

14. Don’t compare!! Don’t buy into the game of comparing him with anyone else’s husband.

15.The Biblically “normal” marriage is filled with joy, connection, laughter, and peace.  It’s not free of hurt feelings and conflict, but they know how to process their pain with one another so that they live more often in a meadow than at the scene of a train wreck.  This is not the average marriage, but it normal – -because it is a visible display of Jesus’ relationship with His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).

16. Your marriage is a testimony! “The #1 evangelistic tool in America (the world) today is a successful marriage, because it’s a living miracle!” – Dr. Joe Aldrich, former president of Multnomah Bible College.

17. Pray for your marriage. Pray hard.

18.I’ve heard that is gets better with age.  I have to say in my short {13 year} experience, that is so true.

19. Where there is God, there is always hope. Even for the most broken marriages. “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

20.Marriage is commitment and sacrifice. But it’s also the best, most wild ride you will ever have with your best friend.

I love my husband!