To my dear husband, on our 3rd year anniversary,

Three years ago today I walked down that beautiful garden aisle, and not as a lone bride to meet her groom at the very end of it -- as most weddings traditionally go -- but with you by my side, holding my hand.

Just like other brides on their wedding day, I felt that day to be as perfect as perfect can be... never mind that I was a little late in arriving, or that we were both a little (okay, a lot) stressed.  Never mind that we couldn't find the song for our "first kiss" moment, or the chaos and confusion of the pictorials with friends and family, that we didn't have a mic stand for your dad, or even that we didn't get to enjoy the wonderful buffet as much as we liked because of the busyness and the blur of it all... everything still turned out perfectly because God had His hand in every single detail of our wedding -- from the day we first met to the moment we said "I do".

I thought that I already knew what to expect on my big day.  I knew that I was going to cry, and that you were going to cry more.  I knew there were probably a lot of things I might forget, and anticipated the moments I knew I would remember forever.

But what happened at the altar was something that I never would predicted, a surprise I would never forget.

That moment you gave your vows, kneeling down on one knee.

Like a knight in humble reverence, pledging his service, his loyalty... his very life...to me!  You made me feel like a queen, with words that still ring clear and true to this day...

"I, Gabriel Gabriel, pledge to you, Diane Sipin, before God and in the sight of man...to be the best husband that I can be...

... to love you as Christ loved the Church...

...to protect you from harm while there is still breath within me...

...to take care of my health, and to be with you as long as humanly possible ensuring to the best of my ability, that the grief of losing a spouse will be mine to bear...

...I vow to lead our family under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seeking the Lord at all times in every decision...

....to raise our children in the ways of the Lord and to love them and cherish them as I love and cherish you...

...I vow to remain faithful to you...fleeing from any circumstance that may compromise our unity...

...I bind myself to you from this day forth, to be yours and yours alone as long as we both live."

I thank God for you everyday, my Muffin Man.  3 years down... forever more to go.  Happy anniversary, my love.  I love you. :)

Linkshare: Can you afford to be a Stay At Home Mom?

photo by www.catilo.net

Sharing a great article today by Rhee of Rainy Days on Mom Days : Can You Afford to be a Stay-at-Home-Mom?

She made a table that you fill up to help you calculate if you can afford to be a stay-at-home mom, or even a stay-at-home dad for that matter, hehe!  You can tweak it to match your current lifestyle and situation but overall it's a pretty good list of what to expect in terms of budgeting and child-related expenses.

When you become a parent, you are faced with a lot of decision-making -- Breast or bottle? Carrier or sling? Home-school or regular school? Cloth or disposable? And so on...and so forth. 

Song of Ruth

Ruth In The Fields by Merle Hugues, 1876

"Wherever you go...I shall go. Wherever you live, so shall I live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God too."

We used to sing this song at church, and sometimes during weddings. At the time I just understood the lyrics as they were, but now knowing the story behind the song, it seems a bit odd (?) singing these verses at a wedding, now that I think about it... but I digress.

Have you ever been at a difficult situation... I mean a REALLY difficult one, one that took you out of your comfort zone, and clinging to God seems to be either your only option, or the last thing on your mind?

Undignified

Music is in my blood... my life is filled with it.  My whole family lives for it... my mom and dad and their siblings all sing and play the piano and/or one other instrument (guitar, violin, sax...you name it).  I've played the piano since I was 5...grew up singing Broadway songs thanks to my mom, learned to play the guitar and even at one point, the accordion (!), and throughout my whole college life participated and performed on stage in a choir.  After graduating, I later found

Being "just" a mom

It's been about a month since I've "officially" embraced my new job as stay-at-home-mom, and just like any new job, I am adapting, changing habits, making adjustments, doing the best I can to get an A+ status with the boss -- which in this case, is also Me.  

I've also had some well-meaning loved ones question my decision to be "just a mom" ... throwing all career plans, talents, potential and what-have-yous up in the air to change diapers, do the laundry, and tend to a crying infant.

I, of course, just