30-day birthday for my 30th!

Wow, my hubby loves me. My family has always had a tradition of having a "birthday week" where we get to celebrate our birthdays for a week-ish. Otherwise, it passes so quickly! It's not like we make a big deal out of every day; it's really just a way of saying it's my birthday week, you should be nice to me. :-p

Well, this has been a foreign concept to Mark since we've been together, as he doesn't take birthdays as seriously as I do. For my 30th birthday, though, the man has lived up to par and beyond.

On March 15, 2011, 31 days before my birthday, which also happened to be our weekly Date Night, Mark gifted me a journal he made himself -- "30 Presents in 30 Days: Jen Crowley's 30th Birthday!" Mark invited many of my friends to participate in this 30-day birthday celebration of mine that entails my being showered with love by someone different on a daily basis, 30 days leading up to my 30th birthday. I get a whole birthday month! I love it! This guy knows me well. :)

He gave me a sweet card (he doesn't do cards and knows how much I love them), reading that he hopes that in the next 30 days I realize how special I am every day. In the journal is a page for every day where I'm supposed to record what I received that day. He's so creative.

For his 30th birthday a few years ago, I gave him 30 small gifts, so he certainly stepped it up a notch for me.

It's been so fun being surprised every day by someone new with some kind of affirmation letter, gift or prayer. I've been humbled by the incredible love shown to me by those in my life.

Words can't describe how much I love this birthday gift from my wonderful hubby. I love this man.

July 4, 2008

Couples to Behold: Erin and David Osman

The Osmans are a fabulous couple to know! They're a ton of fun, very kind, have the hearts of servants and great faith and are strong-willed. I've known Erin and David since I met Mark, so about five years now. He's known this great pair since Erin was in middle school. Basically forever. Erin and David were high school sweethearts, I'm pretty sure. Adorable!

One of the most admirable qualities about the Osmans is that they definitely know how to have fun and make sure everyone else around them is having a good time, too. A lot of people joke that when their friends get married, that couple becomes boring and doesn't do anything anymore but sit at home and hide out from the world. Not the Osmans. They often throw shindigs at their home, make it out on the town, travel to fun places like New Orleans ... they are out and about quite often.

Remembering to keep the fun in a relationship and remain social with the outside world are things from which all couples would benefit. No one likes a boring pair. The Osmans are anything but. :)

David and Erin Osman; Jan. 8, 2011; D'Mello wedding

Disagreeing in a healthy way

My brother-in-law sent me an article he thought went well with my marriage blog, so I thought I'd post a link to it! I appreciate the suggestion, Paul. :)

It is an article about ways to disagree ("fight") in a healthy way. Definitely some good points to note, especially:

"This is important to me. Please listen."
"I overreacted. I'm sorry."
"I realize it's not your fault."
"I'm sorry."

We could all use this reminder about trying to communicate in a loving way when we don't always see eye to eye right away.

Read more here.

Couples to Behold: Jen and Ruben Garza

Wow, I know a lot of wonderful couples! How blessed am I?

The next couple is Jen and Ruben Garza! They are newlyweds themselves, having gotten married Nov. 6, 2010.

I've known Ruben almost five years; he was my boss when I worked at the Cathedral, and I couldn't help but become friends with him outside of work. Ruben is like no other, truly. He is sincere, loves to have a good time, a man of great faith, one of the strongest men I know (resilient) and loves U2 even more than I do. What's not to love?

I met Jen when she and Ruben began dating, and I loved her right away! She's beautiful, supportive, loves to have a good time and has a great spirit. They're a perfect pair, if I do say so, myself.

One thing I admire about Jen's and Ruben's relationship is how they illustrate what it means to be supportive of one another. Like Nikki and Steve McMinn, Ruben and Jen really seem to have down pat that part of a relationship. You can instantly tell when interacting with these two that they believe in each other's dreams and endeavors and would do anything to help support those ideas. They want the best for each other, and they are so encouraging, uplifting and even challenging the other to want to help the other get the best out of life.

They're a fabulous couple from which to learn.

Jen and Ruben Garza; Nov. 5, 2010; the day before they got married

Couples to Behold: Angela and Chris Wilson

How am I going to sum up how much I love this couple in this itty bitty blog post? Agh! Well, for anyone who knows me well, you know that Angela Wilson is the nearest and dearest of them all to me, my "bosom buddy," to put it in "Anne of Green Gables" terms. Such a good movie ... but I digress.

I've known Angela 15 and a half years now and things haven't changed between us one bit; if anything, we continue to grow closer in our friendship, if that's even possible. I've known her husband Chris since they first started dating -- 10 years, or so, ago -- and he is almost as equally wonderful as his wife (I'm a little biased). He truly is a great man who loves his wife very much; they make a beautiful couple, for sure.

Angela and Chris were the first of my friends to get married, so they've been whom I've watched and observed as a young married couple from the start. One thing I admire about their relationship is how they've been able to successfully manage their independence and personalities within their relationship. Many people lose themselves to one another after so much time together, but even though Angela and Chris have grown together in awesome ways, they've still maintained many of their original characteristics unique to themselves. I love this about them and think they're a great couple to look to for maintaining yourself as a person whilst still becoming one with your spouse and other half.

I love them. :)

Chris and Angela Wilson; Oct. 29, 2010; Angela's b'day

Couples to Behold: Molly and Jeff Socha

Molly and Jeff are such a fun couple! They're always up for some new adventure. They love to travel -- a couple after my own heart -- and they both have a great faith. One thing I love about them is that when they do something, whether individually or as a couple, they do it thoroughly and well. No halfway stuff from either of them. Whether it's skiing, entertaining or even their prayer life, Molly and Jeff take the bull by the horns and go with it, which is what I admire about them. That and Molly's sense of style and eye for interior decorating! ;-)

Such a wonderful couple to know!

Molly and Jeff Socha, July 17, 2010 at the Rudolph wedding

Check out Artisan Bistro in Lakeway

All Austinites should really check out the French bistro / wine bar / bakery in Lakeway, Artisan Bistro! The sweetest couple, Laureen and her husband (the chef), own the place. They have cooking classes every Tuesday, which is how Mark and I discovered the place, so definitely check those out -- great date night idea! Laureen actually found my blog from my e-mail signature and made such generous comments about it, noting that she's been enjoying 17 years of "newlywed-dom," herself. Celebrating great couples!

June 13, 2009