It Takes a Village by Andrea

With the divorce rate being at 50% in the US, it's a bit discouraging for young couples starting their new lives together with all the hope in the world that it will last forever. Even with the great examples I have in my family of successful lifelong marriages, I had some eye-opening conversations with 4 friends in the last couple months... 2 are getting divorced, and the other 2 called off their engagements.

Obviously I'm doing everything I can to be a good friend to everyone, and be there for them if they need support. But to be perfectly honest, it's a bit scary to have these conversations while I'm planning our wedding. Sometimes I think, if they couldn't make it, what makes me so special? So I guess this is where "the rubber meets the road" so to speak...when we say "I do" and promise to keep God in the center of our marriage, I'm praying that He will give us the strength to hold on during the tough times. And when even that doesn't seem to be enough, we've gotta trust that God will keep our support network close to us to push us forward when we've run out of energy. We can't do this alone. As my parents have always said about raising kids AND sustaining a healthy marriage, "It takes a village..." Andrea

Sick by Kelly

So I'm sick for the first time since we got married. I never get sick. I imagined when I did that Jake would be there to wait on me and do whatever I wanted and just hang out while I puke and keep me company. Hang on, I mean keep me company after I puke, not during the puking part.

I think I got food poisoning. Not sure but I don't know what else it could be. I'm not pregnant. Stop thinking that. It's not possible right now. So I was kind of looking forward to being able to hang out with him. Weird, I know.

It didn't happen. At all. He is working far too hard on the remodel. He works from 9 AM-3 AM every day down there. He is getting a ton done which is amazing. It's coming along much faster than I thought it would. So I didn't get to hang out with him at all. I don't blame him. I felt awful and had puke breath. I didn't want to hang out with me either. Kelly

Dre Just Loves Me for my Sketti by Andrea

I like to cook. My menu is pretty short, but the few things I can make are pretty darn tasty. So far, it appears that spaghetti is my specialty. I know, it seems simple, but I try to make my meat sauce from scratch and it takes some serious skill and patience to get the flavor just right. So I came home from work and browned and seasoned the ground turkey, sautéed the onions, green peppers and garlic in olive oil, and boiled the whole wheat pasta. By the time Dre arrived, the garlic bread was in the oven, and the whole house smelled like the kitchen at Balagio's Italian Ristorante across the street...yummm :)

Dre just smiled and said "I don't care what advice anyone gives you on Facebook about using canned tomatoes vs. fresh ones. Do EXACTLY what you did the next time you make it. I liked it just the way you made it." I asked him what he liked about it, and he said ,"Everything." I asked him to be more specific; was it the meat sauce or the pasta? He said, "Everything." So apparently I'm a culinary genius in my man's eyes. I really think Dre just liked the "sauce" since it was mostly meat. Typical guy. But I must admit it was really good. Even the leftovers were mouthwatering. I think I really outdid myself this time....let's just hope it tastes that great the next time I make it! Andrea

Newlywed dilemnas by Kelly

It's remodel the parents' basement time. That's our big project. It's going to be amazing. It will be like living in someone else's basement! I have to give Jake little incentives to keep him working hard. Such as, he isn't allowed to buy his 73 inch TV until the front room is done. He isn't allowed to buy the 50 inch TV for the bedroom until the bedroom is done. And he just isn't allowed to get a surround sound system and a PS3 until we come up with a lot more money.

Actually we went on a date to ABT last night and realized a 73 inch TV is a waste of money. We will have to survive with a 58 inch. Kelly