Q & A Part 3.

Marriage

What was the MOST DIFFICULT thing to get used to when you and Garth got married/began living together? Did he have a bad habit that you couldn't stand, was he messy, did he hog the remote?

The most difficult thing to get used after we got married was sharing a bed. I was used to a having a queen bed all to myself and I would sprawl out in the middle of it. Then I had to share the queen bed with another person! I have been known to kick him or elbow him in the face during my sleep. I think we're getting better at sharing, but when we buy a house one of the first things we are purchasing is a king size bed!

What is the one thing he does that makes you the craziest?

He puts his drink NEXT to the coaster. I just don't understand this and I feel like a nag asking him to put his drink ON the coaster.

How do you keep God in a marriage?

I guess if you want God to stay the center of your marriage, you've got to make sure He's the center of your own life first. Prayer and Bible study are the key elements to both. Having a growing relationship with the Lord and knowing His truth will strengthen any relationship. I think it's important to have a mutual determination to be a part of His will and work on strengthening each others faith together.
This entails going to church together, joining a small group, praying together, and reading the Bible. Lastly, you need support. This doesn't necessarily mean a small group. It just means you need friends who are strong Christians to keep you accountable and to go to for advice.

How do you chose the right friend for you BOTH?

We chose friends based on how well we connect with them. Do we have a great time together? Do they have a good sense of humor? Do we genuinely enjoy each others company?
We are blessed to have many great friends who love us, support us, and crack us up. We have a balance of friends who are strong in their faith that keep us accountable and friends with very different religious backgrounds.
I think my dad said it best - "We have a responsibility to accurately represent what faith in Christ looks like in practice. We should have a passion to represent Christ in such a way that the lost are drawn to our Lord." This is important to keep in mind so you are not always surrounding yourself with people who think exactly like you. Life is way more interesting with different cultural and religious views! And you just never know how your friendship and behavior could change a life for Christ.

What is the BEST advice you have ever been given about marriage?
At my work shower a co-worker advised to surround yourself with people who will always tell you to go home and work things out with your spouse. She was divorced and shared that she wished she had people to tell her to go back and work things out because maybe things would be different. This always stuck with me because it was such an authentic answer.
I can also appreciate how important this advice is. I know marriage isn't always going to be butterflies and roses because life is hard. I get that. But I'm thankful that I have friends and family who will always tell me to go home and work through it.

What is your favorite memory from you wedding?

Our whole wedding was perfect in every way, but my favorite memory had to be after we finished eating because we just sat back and soaked everything in. We knew the day was going to fly by, but in that moment everything seemed to freeze as we looked around the room and saw all the people we loved in one room there to support and celebrate our relationship. It was such a special moment I won't forget.

Are you and Garth planning on having kids soon / anytime? If so, how many?
We're on the five year plan. Our plan is we want to go on a big, amazing trip on our five year anniversary and then start having kids. We're about to celebrate our second anniversary so we think we'll be ready in another three years. We want two healthy, happy babies.

Favorite baby name (boy and girl)?

Oh man, this is tough one. Garth and I debate this issue all. the. time. I would like to name our kids Priscilla and Tristan. I wrote my thesis on Priscilla and I just think she is the coolest woman in the Bible. And though I hated the movie Legends of the Fall, I loved Brad Pitt's character, Tristan.
But Garth and my entire familyHATE those two names. So it was looking like the names were going to be Jacob and Isabella, but then Twilight came out and I didn't want people thinking we named our kids after them. But I'm hoping the whole Twilight phase will long be over in three years when we start having kids.

If / When you have kids, do you want to become a stay-at-home mom or do you want to continue with a career?

I would love love love to be a stay-at-home mom if we were financially able to do it.

Do you want a boy or a girl?
I would prefer to have boys. Girls are high maintenance! But really, I just want healthy kids who grow up to love the Lord.

Where do you see you and Garth in 5 years?

We have a beautiful home in Texas with a boat, two little kids and two dogs running around. Garth has opened his web design company and I'm a stay-at-home mom taking the kids to MOPS and playgroup.

10 years?

I'll be 36, eek! The kids are in school so I'm working part-time as a wedding coordinator. Garth is running a successful business and we're a happy, fun-loving family who love going to the beach, camping, hiking, and establishing family traditions.

50 years?
I hope Garth and I will be doing the chicken dance at our 50th anniversary party and we get to dance together at our kids' weddings. I hope we are close with our children and their spouses and they come over often for home cooking and game nights. I hope we're retired and bought a condo right on the ocean. That would be the life.

Finances

What kind of a car do you guys drive?
I drive a 2007 Silver Saturn Ion and Garth drives a 2004 Red Chrysler Sebring.

If money was no object which handbag would you purchase?
This amazing Coach because it is the most gorgeous handbag I have ever laid eyes on. And pretty much every single handbag at shopbrandbargains.com. Gorgeous bags and great prices! My red hobo bag is from this site and I adore it!

*Stay tuned for the last edition tomorrow - fitness and miscellaneous.