Happy Birthday, Love Huck!

That Post Where I Expound On My Marital Wisdom

Not only is tomorrow my birthday (!!!!!!), but it's also mine and Steven's one month anniversary. Ahh, to be married a month! What a huge accomplishment (heavy sarcasm applied).  Or maybe, in today's culture, it is a huge accomplishment. 

So far, in my very short stint of marriage, I've learned a few important things. Firstly, husbands are good for killing spiders, reaching those dishes in the top cupboard you have to climb on the counter to get, and eating leftovers. All things I am immensely grateful for. Secondly, I've learned that marriage is an evolution. A never ending process of two beings becoming one. 

But wait, Danielle. (This is you speaking, FYI.) Don't the two become "one" on the wedding day? 

To answer that question simply, I'd say "yes." It says in Genesis 2:24,  "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." But your wedding day is just the beginning. To say that all your selfish, sinful human desire ends here and that you are living every moment unconditionally loving your spouse is simply untrue. We are too selfish for that. We are too human. 

I believe for two souls to become completely one they have to unite on three different levels: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What does that EVEN MEAN!?! In many ways, I'm still learning.  But can this phenomenon take place? Certainly. Can it take place with only the husband and wife's efforts? Absolutely not. I doubt there is one successful marriage in which a third party isn't involved. Christ is oftentimes the missing link. Only he can create the durability that weaves these two souls together so tightly no amount of time, circumstance, or suffering can ever break them apart. 

Danielle, you've been married one month! How could you possibly know this??

I've seen it. I have seen marriages deteriorate because of selfishness and sin. I have seen a woman suffer due to her husband's obstinate refusal to turn his heart to God. I have seen men carry a burden too great for even the shoulders of an ox to bear because their wives have sought their own pleasures and denied Christ. I see it in the news everyday. In the books I read. I see it plastered on the internet and behind the smiling facade of a stranger's face. 

I've seen it and so have you.

Some of you live it...

If marriage were supposed to be easy, God wouldn't have needed to leave us with instructions. "Wives submit to your husbands....Husbands love your wives..." (Read Ephesians 5: 21-33 for the versus in their entirety.) 

In the last month, Steven and I have already had a few ups and downs. I've felt unloved, he's felt disrespected. When I use to tongue to break him apart instead of to life him up, I hear it. I hear that third party whisper to my heart. Danielle, respect your husband. And when I feel unloved (usually due to something stupid like a raised toilet lid or dirty socks on the floor), the soft whisper returns. Danielle, I love you. [I] The Lord your God is in your midst, [the] mighty one who will save; [I] will rejoice over you with gladness; [I] will quiet you by [my] love... (Zephaniah 3:17). 

I have so much to learn regarding marriage. I know I am not the perfect wife and never will be, but by golly I'm going to start trying!!! Why not strive for perfection? Of course, I can never attain it in this life, but how awesome would that be if I tried? Tried to love Steven with every ounce of my being? Tried to honor him and submit to him daily? Wow! What an amazing marriage we'd be blessed with. 

And I suppose that's the third thing I've learned in my short stint of marriage. 

It is a blessing. 

Friday Letters

Dear Fur Babies - You are sooo precious!! Huckleberry you are an excellent big brother. And Herschel, now that you are comfortable in your new home you have become quite entertaining! I love watching you two play! So much fun! Dear Birthday Weekend - I really don't have a plan for you. {Hopefully Steven comes up with something}But it looks like the weather is going to be amazing; therefore, I know it will be an awesome weekend no matter what! Dear Mommy and Daddy - You guys were the first to give me a birthday gift! :) So you win my affection for a lifetime, albeit you already had it. I love that I'm almost 24 and still get birthday gifts in the mail from you guys. {Let's keep this going, k?} Dear Sweet Tooth - You have been outrageously satisfied lately. I don't know what my problem is but I'm on a huge baking kick. A raspberry pie, chocolate coconut cookies, and peanut butter blondies all in one week!! That's insane. I'm pretty sure my gut is going to suffer the consequences...

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! See you next week!

Birthday Wish List

I love birthdays. Especially my own. And since my birthday is only 5 days away, I thought I should come up with a wee itty bitty wish list so you'd know what to get me :) 

1. Anthropologie duvet cover   2. Marolsha      3. Lori's   4. KitchenAid Mixer   5. Custom Painting from Etsy   6. Silver Watch Necklace

Not sure what the plan is yet for my birthday, but I do know it will be awesome. Because birthdays should be awesome! Always. No matter what. End of story. I already got the best possible gift this year though. One that I get to keep all the days of my life!

Nooo! It's not Huckleberry, he comes in second.

(Although it was a close race)

My new hubby, of course, takes the gold for the best gift I've ever received!

And then Huck.

I hope you all have a great day! I cannot wait to get this work week over and begin the birthday festivities this weekend!!!!

Speaking of weekends, they're calling for a sunny one is Seattle!
 Let's close our eyes and say a prayer that that forecast sticks!
That can be your gift to me! :)

Spicy Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Steven and I LOVE thai food. Actually, I think we just love food in general, but thai is at the top of our list. There is this amazing thai place right down the street from us that we order takeout from all the time. But trying to be frugal newlyweds means eating out less! {Bummer!} I decided to browse the internet for an amazing sounding spicy thai recipe and found nothing. Why are there no good thai recipes online? Also, if anyone knows of a website I could find some let me know! I decided to just go to the store and whip something up! I know, so domestic of me. 

So here are my Spicy Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps! 

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 cup of quinoa
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 tomato
• 1 onion
• 1 tsp garlic
• Shrimp (I used shrimp that was already deveined and had the tails removed)
• 6 oz sweet thai chili sauce
• 2 jalapeños 
• Salt to taste
• Romaine lettuce

Quick Notes: I decided to replace the usual rice that comes with a thai dish with quinoa, which is all organic and a great source of protein. Also, I have no idea how much shrimp I used! I threw this recipe together rather quickly, so, if I were you, I'd just do it by sight. {sorry!} I used what I thought was enough for two people.

Directions: Place 1/2 cup quinoa in 1 cup water on the stove top. Bring water to a boil then cook for 15 minutes. Remove quinoa from heat and fluff gently with a fork. Set quinoa to the side.

In a large skillet, saute diced bell pepper, tomato, onion, and jalapeños. Mix in the shrimp, garlic, sweet chili sauce, and salt to taste. Cook for 10-15 minutes. 

Wash and separate romaine lettuce leaves. Place quinoa and shrimp and vegetable mixture onto the lettuce and roll the leaf making a wrap. 

I hope those directions make sense! And if you want further spice add some hot red pepper flakes! {That's what Steven and I did.} The extra heat is what completes this dish in my opinion. 

Let me know if you give this recipe a shot and how it turns out! :)