Rock & Worship

Last week we had the opportunity to go worship in Springfield with some really awesome groups. This was our third year of going, and we had a blast! We saw Mercy Me, Tenth Avenue North, Lecrae, Hawk Nelson, Disciple, Sidewalk Prophets, and Rent Collective Experiment.  Here are a few shots of our evening.

Do you have a favorite artist you like to see?

I hope everyone is having an excellent week. Thanks to God's saving grace and my meds, my week is going a whole lot better. I'm trying to focus on feeling normal and resting a lot. It gets a little frustrating eating when nothing sounds good but knowing you have to. Oh, the joys of being pregnant! ;)

Talk to ya'll later!

~Mel

only my husband.

In the past several days I've been feeling horrible! I'm so ready for the second trimester to get here. I never knew how bad morning sickness could be. So, Joshua put this picture on my bed stand and told me to look at it when he was at work. Then I'd know he'd be with me all day. Isn't that sweet?!!

I hope everyone is having a nice week.

~Mel

a celebration of love.

dress: F21, boots: Kohls, socks: husband's, belt: F21, beaded necklace: thrifted, bird necklace: Rachel

Joshua and I found out last week that we are going to have an addition to our family. We couldn't be more thrilled! Losing our wee baby back in August was unbelievably hard, and it was something that we never expected. However, we know that we serve a pefect and awesome God who has everything completely in His hands. Even now as I'm writing these words, I worry about losing this baby. I'm trying to come to the realization that whether or not I carry this baby to term, it belongs our precious Lord Jesus. So we are going to share our amazing news about the little miracle in my belly!

Baby Babb, your Mama and Daddy love you more than you know!

~Mel

LOVE all thru the year.

Today we're sharing some more tips on keeping love alive all year long.

I thought it might be interesting to have a man's perspective on the issue, so I asked the hubs for his advice. Plus, he's a much better writer than I am. ;)

I don't know why Melinda chose me to take a stab at 5 Tips for Keeping Love Alive after V-Day. I've been married less than three years, and I have a lot of work to do in the quest to become a genuine, loving husband. Nevertheless, here are some humble insights from an inexperienced husband. Take 'em with a grain of salt. Note that these tips will be written from the perspective of a married man. Still, the generalities should apply to both sides of the coin (males and females) and to those who are dating or engaged. Also, please don't think that I live by all of these tips all the time. Tips are easy to give, but following them is much harder.

Tip #1 - Jesus Christ

You might be thinking, What?! What in the world does Jesus have to do with love and romance? In a word, EVERYTHING. Here's a newsflash: we as humans do not know what love is. The Creator of love (God), on the other hand, probably has a pretty good handle on it. 1 John 4:19 reads: We love because he first loved us. Read the rest of the chapter for further insights on love. In short, I can't love my wife with the deepest form of love, agape love (the Greeks had three words for love) if I don't have Christ: the one who exemplifies this type of love. What is this type of love? It's unconditional, meaning that I choose to love Melinda no matter what (no matter what she looks like [put praise God that you're smokin' hot, baby!], no matter the state of her health, no matter whether she loves me back, etc.). Sound familiar? The covenantal vows made on a wedding day get their life from Scripture. This love is also selfless. Selfishness is a disease, and all of us are carriers. I have to fight my selfish tendencies daily to put Melinda first. This love is sacrificial, which is a deeper form of selflessness. This means that I give up myself for my wife. It can range from the little things (foregoing a Sunday afternoon football game in order to spend time with Melinda) to the big things (considering her desires first when planning our future). Finally, this love is full of grace and forgiveness. Have I wronged Melinda? Absolutely. Many times, in fact. Has she wronged me? Sure, she has. We are both flawed, depraved human beings, which means we both need grace and forgiveness. Being slow to get angry and quick to forgive goes a long ways. In sum, Jesus Christ is the model of what love should be. If our love isn't based on and centered on him, then everything else falls apart. To steal a line from the movie, Fireproof, "You can't give [your wife/husband] what you don't have." It all begins with accepting Christ.

 

Tip #2 - Get a PhD in your spouse (another concept from Fireproof, I know)
Learn about your mate. Learn everything about him or her, and never stop learning. Thirst to know more about your spouse. Ask questions if you have to, and make mental (or handwritten) notes about the answers. Melinda's favorite flower: daisy, especially those of the gerbera variety. Favorite color: pink. Favorite drink: milk. I could go on ad nauseam, but you get the point. If you know your spouse, then you can serve your spouse in light of his or her needs and wants. Know the main things and the details. Both parties must be active in this process and active in working on the relationship. Two people never drift closer together. If you drift, then it will be apart. Take the vehicle of your relationship off of cruise control and take the initiative to work on your relationship.

Tip #3 - Let loose, have fun, find common interests

Some of the best times Melinda and I have had are when we act as though we've lost our minds. For example, we sometimes form claws with our hands, smile, and growl at each other. It's one of our weird quirks. We sometimes chase each other around the house. Just a few weeks ago, we participated in a two-person conga line through the kitchen. We laugh so stinking hard together! Let loose with your mate and find your "things". Have inside jokes and share your quirks. Let's face it; none of us is truly "normal" deep down inside. How boring would that be if we all were "normal"? Since we aren't, why in the world are we trying so hard to be "normal"? The one person with whom you should be able to cut-up is your significant other. It's just so much more fun that way.

Also, find things that you like to do together as a couple. Things you both like. Part of this process may involve taking an interest in your mate's preferences. Melinda typically hates football, but she's watched a few games with me. In fact, she has started to like it to some degree. For the most part, I can't stand classical movies, but I've watched quite a few with Melinda. You know what? I didn't die! In fact, I enjoyed taking an interest in one of her pastimes, and I found out that some of the movies are pretty good.

Tip #4 - Find the time, have dates, and interact

It's easy to let the busyness of life keep you from having one-on-one time with your mate. However, we all make time for the things we want to do. When people first start dating, they never have a problem finding time. Of course, the free time seems to dwindle when life moves along. Solution: plan date nights. And, make 'em good dates. Going to or renting a movie is fun and Melinda and I have had those dates, but the movie is one of the worst date options. It's you and your mate…staring at a screen. This diminishes the opportunity for interaction, which is what a date is for. Get creative with your dates. Take a road trip, visit a new town/city, have a picnic, take a walk, ride go-carts, play board games, etc. Take the time to do something with your mate and live life, instead of watching fictional characters live theirs.

Tip #5 - In order for a flame to continue its burn, it must be fueled and fanned everyday

It's really hard to whittle advice down into five tips, so this last one will serve as a hodgepodge. The motivation behind this post idea is a tip in and of itself. Valentine's Day is great, but it's only one day. A relationship that develops into a marriage will last thousands of days. You can't expect to knock out the world on V-Day and coast for the rest of the year. Love your mate daily. Tell her how much you appreciate what she does around the house. Remind him how much you respect his opinion. Rub her feet/back/shoulders when she's sore. Give him a kiss before he goes to work. Surprise her with something she wants. Fix him his favorite meal. The tail of Romans 12:10 reads, Outdo one another in showing honor. Serve your mate according to his or her preferences, and be creative! Melinda and I have sent each other on scavenger hunts, left encouraging notes for each other, and surprised the other on days other than birthdays. Take the time to serve and serve well. Not just today, but every day. Every morning that we wake up, we have decisions to make. Are we going to be blessings in our mates' lives today or not? Are we going to encourage them and build them up, or are we going to tear them down? The days in which we decide to bless, encourage, and build up will become dear memories to both our mates and ourselves. The days in which we don't will be filled with regret. Unlike the days of blessing, we will want to forget about the time that was lost in conflict or apathy.

Melinda's blogger friend, Kate, has some great tips in her post, and I've tried not to overlap her advice. I'm no marriage counselor and I need just as much help as the next guy, but I hope that these tips are encouraging to you. Give your relationship to Christ, and everything else will fall into place. Learn about your mate, let loose and be yourself with your mate, go on dates that give you two the opportunity to communicate, and serve each other daily. A couple that loves and serves Jesus and loves and serves each other is a beautiful thing.

Aw, shucks!! Ain't he sweet?! 

You can also find this post here. Thanks so much, Kate, for having us over!

Hope ya'll all had the happiest Valentine's Day! 

~Mel

Happy Valentine's Day and Spotlight

Howdy everyone, and happy Valentine's Day!! Let me introduce to you my new friend, Kate. She has some tips for us during this lovely holiday. Check out her adorable family and all she has to say. Ciao!

Hi JoLinda readers! My name is Kate and you can find me blogging over at Daffodils about my life in Monterey, CA with my husband and two little boys.

When Melinda and I emailed about doing a post swap, we thought it would be fun to share the ways we keep the love alive every other day of the year, not just when Hallmark is pushing us to celebrate it. So I am thrilled to be here today and to give you a sneak peek into what keep our relationship ticking.

5. Act like a newlywed, all the time. Kev and I have been together for 6 years and married for 5. We have lived in 3 different cities, gone through a 14 month separation while he was deployed and have 2 children. Despite all those distractions, I wake up everyday thankful that he is next to me and kiss him goodnight every night when we go to sleep. I think as a newlywed, you are constantly worried about pleasing the other person and doing things 'right'. I do not think that is a bad quality. Even now, I make sure the house is straightened before Kev get home and I cook dinners that I think he will enjoy. He makes coffee at night so it is already brewed for me in the morning and gives our boys a bath and gets them ready for bed so that I can have a little break at the end of the day. We spend a lot of our days doing things for each other and working to keep each other happy.

My hubby and me when we first started dating. We were so young!

4. Communicate. It is so easy to just turn on the TV and ignore each other on a Friday night. We have long, busy weeks and sometimes just zoning out is what we both want to do. But often we make a point to do just the opposite and we go to our sitting room where there is no tv, turn on some music, open a bottle of wine and just talk to the night away. The foundation of our relationship was based on communication since we dated long distance (and then he deployed a few weeks after our wedding) and we try not to take for granted the fact that we are together everyday now. Physical presence can not replace emotional presence.

3. Count your blessings. Whenever we get mad or frustrated at each other or life in general, we always take a step back and see the things we should be thankful for. When you focus on all the good in life, it is hard to stay angry.

Kev and me with blessing #1 and blessing #2

2. Spend time with each other. This may sound like a no brainer, but hear me out. It is so easy to feel pressured to map out our weekend, making plans with friends, fixing things around the house, running separate errands or having playdates for the kids. We often have to check ourselves to make sure we are taking a time out for each other. It is great to get together with friends and to fill our social calendars, but some of my favorite weekend afternoons are putting our boys down for their nap and having a lunch date at home with my hubby.

1. Remember why you fell in love. I have always been a journaler and as I get older, I am so thankful I have special moments written down. Every once in a while, I will find my journal from 2006 and re-read it. I love being able to relive the moments of falling in love with my husband and it ultimately just makes me love him more that I still feel the same way about him as I did when I was 22.

What are some of your tips for long lasting love?

Thanks for having me, Melinda!

 I hope you will pop over to Daffodils and say hello!

Isn't she just darlin'?! Don't forget to stop by her blog!
Love on someone today!
~Mel

Valentine's Day fashion 2012

1. Fashion of the Month clubs. At one time, there were only fruit or book of the month clubs. Now there are clubs with monthly mailings of jeans, shoes, shirts, socks, and even lingerie. So give the fashion gift that keeps on giving. And your sweetheart will have a reason to thank you every month.

2. High vibrational jewelry. Regular jewelry is so 20th century. The must-have jewelry this Valentine's Day is gemstones with high frequency vibrations. The idea is that everything on this earth, including stones is made up of atoms, which have vibrational energy. Some stones have higher vibrations, which reap benefits for the body and mind. Amethysts enhance clarity and insight. Citrine manifests your desires. Rose quartz strengthens love. And diamonds chase away unhappy emotions. But we already knew that.

3. Scarves. Clothes are so difficult to give, and not very romantic, for that matter. One of the few exceptions are scarves. There's a sensual, tactile quality to scarves. One can never have enough of them. They complete an outfit. And you can get romantic, snuggling closely as you put it around your loved one's neck. The top trend in scarves this season is the super-long scarf that can be wrapped around and around. They're chic and dramatic.

giveaway

Check out the awesome giveaway over at French Larkspur and enter to win!!! You don't wanna miss this one!

Happy Monday everyone!

looking. dreaming. hoping. praying.

Joshua and I will be looking at houses over the next few months. This is a really exciting time, but can also be a little nerve-racking. It's kind of a huge step and a big expense. We're also not ruling out the possibility of building. We just want to make the right decision. Thankfully, I have a heavenly Father who knows and cares about each decision we make and everything that goes on in our small little world. Isn't that a relief?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

There's no reason to worry about a single situation in our life, because He's got it. Thank you, Jesus!

That being said, I've been perusing through my Pinterest boards, doing a little daydreaming. I really want our house to feel like a home! I dunno about ya'll, but I'm a big Thomas Kinkade fan. I have one of his paintings up in my living room: "Clock Tower Cottage". Just looking at those pictures warms me from the inside out. That's what home should be like: nurturing, glowing, warm, kind, and delicious! A place that gives you a sense of belonging. I'll be so excited to decorate my own space and finally be able to paint my walls! Wanna see some of my thoughts? I'm thinkin' about asking Aunt Ruthie to come help me get settled in. She has the perfect touch! You think she'll say yes? ;)

Thanks for stoppin' by ya'll!

Hope you enjoy the end of your weekend. We're expecting snow! What's the weather like where you're at?

~Mel

Guest Post: A LOVEly hairstyle.

I would like to introduce you to, Nellie. She's a sweet little gal over at, "This Little Blog of Mine." She wanted to show us a super cute way to fix our hair. Here's what she had to share.

Recently, I discovered the most amazing hairstyle for long hair.

It can easily be done with any elastic headband.

I love it because it looks super fancy, bit it is really simple. It would be perfect for a date night, a work day, or even a relaxing day of shopping!!

Step 1:

Put an elastic headband on over top of your hair. Any stretchy headband will work. 

TIP: make a little ‘puff’ on the back of your head by lifting up the top layer and back combing it a little bit before you put on the head band. I didn’t do that for this tutorial….but this style looks pretty when I remember to do that....I didn't do it today because I had my hair up all day at school, and I took these photos around 4:30 pm...

Step 2: Wrap a length of hair from the front of your face around and through the headband like this:

**This style would look pretty just having a few of the front strands wrapped around the headband.

Step 3: Repeat with the rest of your hair, wrapping small sections through the headband. So easy!

Step 4: When you get most of your hair wrapped, take the little ‘pony tail’ section and push it around and into the  rolls.  

Tuck in any loose ends.  

Step 5: Pull down some sections from the front for face framing.

You can wrap your head in this headband style one day or night

(slightly damp is even better) and the next day you will have long

ringlet curls!

 Go ahead and try it with all of your elastic headbands to find the one that is most comfortable for you!!

 

You could even accessorize with a little flower or bow tucked into one side for spring.

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Nellie!!!! 

Ya'll stop by her blog and show her some love!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!