Once In My Life...

Shapes

2007-01-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

Play-doh: A molding compound
Wood: A solid

Play-doh is something that you can form and mold into whatever you want. It becomes what the fingers around it shape it into.

Wood is something that you can form....but, once cut or shaped...it's not likely to change again, accept for some softened edges or splits.

In a sense, God is our widdler. He creates us.... and the experiences in our lives are what softens us and gives us character. I think He would like us to be like wood...not changing with this, or that, but having a firm, solid foundation in our inner soul and spirit. It is our decision with our words, actions and thoughts that makes us either like wood or play-doh.

I imagine a play-doh person to be wishy washy, becoming what they think their surroundings want or expect. They are the person who just wants to "fit in" and will sometimes do whatever it takes to be accepted.

Wood is formed and created and over time it gets a little dirty, the edges get softened...and maybe a few cracks occur due to effects of the world on it's outside. A wood person is someone who knows who they are in Christ....who is not affected by the words exchanged around them. A wood person is sure of themself. They exist in the world around them....and though things happen and they may get tossed around, or spilled on, or dropped...though all these things happen, they are still a solid piece in it's original form. Sure, he can get sanded to get rid of the rough edges....but his inner core is still firm and unchanging.

So, what are you? Have you ever been play-doh? Sometimes children are like play-doh when they feel peer pressure and are afraid to say "no" because of......what? The don' t want to get made fun of...or poked at. Or...are you like wood?

I'd like to be like the wood. I have my firm foundation built on the Word of God. I am a child of God. I have all the benefits that Jesus had on this earth. I have favor wherever I go, whoever I talk to and whatever I touch. The same power that created me....that is still in me today and that will never change. I already have the victory!!!

Appreciate

2007-01-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you told your parents that you love and appreciate them?...or your sister...or whoever? I have been ambushed by thoughts of love and appreciation for my family and those I am thankful for.

Think about the people in your life who you are the most thankful for....do they know it? Are they aware how they have changed your life? Do you take advantage of them just..."being around"..?

So many times people get caught up in life. I have been blessed with so much in my life. It is so easy to worry about simple little things or get distracted by the million things on my "To Do" list. I want to always be aware of and appreciate those who play vital roles in my life. Someday, they may not be here and I don't want to look back and regret my time and how I use it. Maybe they just need a phone call to say hello....

Anyway...I am writing this as a reminder to myself to appreciate those special people in my life and to cherish every moment with them. :)

Seattle

2007-01-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Dear Family and Friends,

It is with joy and sadness that we are writing to you today. As some of you already know, we are embarking on a "journey" which will change our life in almost every way. We wish we could have told every one of you in person, but it just hasn't been possible, and as such, we regret sending this news via email to you.

In any case, this week will be our last week living in Arizona. Cristin's grandparents (Clyde and Helen) have increasingly been experiencing some difficulties with their health over the past years, and most recently have begun considering professional care, due to the struggles of many daily tasks for them. The possibilities of selling their home and moving into assisted living or incurring the high costs of in-home care were a heartbreaking thought to our family, and certainly to Clyde and Helen.

Upon hearing this, we began discussing and praying about the possibility of helping however we can. The thought came to us to offer our help by moving to their home in Poulsbo, WA (near Seattle) to care for them. Matt could work during the day while Cristin attends to their daily necessities and we would work together, seeing to it that they experience the best of life in every way possible.

We considered the pros and the cons, the benefits and the sacrifices, the blessings and the difficulties. Although the challenges seemed to outweigh the advantages for us, it was undeniably clear that this would be an incomparable act; ultimately providing all of us with deeper, more meaningful and valuable joy than all the difficulties could ever contend with. We decided to make the offer and, after some consideration of their own, Clyde and Helen gladly accepted. We have committed ourselves to moving next week and we don't know how long we will be gone, or what new directions and changes will take place in our life once our assistance to Helen and Clyde is no longer adequate to meet their needs.

This is going to be a big change for us and certainly a considerable challenge, however, we are absolutely confident that God has put this in our hearts as a step of faith in the blessings and wonders He has in store for all of us. We are excited about and welcome this opportunity, but at the same time, there is much we will dearly miss.

The time we have been so blessed to have with all of you has been incredible and has made an indefinable impact on our life. We will miss the precious moments of fellowship with you, our family and friends. You have granted us comfort in our pain, wisdom in our uncertainty, laughter in our despair, hope in our fears and ultimately, have inspired us to be our very best in all we do.

It has been amazing to connect with so many great people in so many ways over the past 2+ years. We can't say enough about our family, our church family at The Life, our good friends from the past, and certainly our new friends at Mountain Park. We cherish every moment we've spent with you all and are truly sad to say goodbye.

We will deeply miss our family and friends at The Life. You have truly been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement for us both. It is with you that we've discovered a better life in the mysteries of God. You have inspired us through your giant hearts and open minds. It was with you that we found each other and began our new life together. We've gone through heartache together and laughed really hard together. You are the best friends we've ever known and we truly consider you our family. We can only hope to be so lucky as to meet people in Seattle that are even a fraction as wonderful as you are.

We will especially miss the get-togethers, special occasions and hanging out with our family that is so joyous, fun and meaningful in so many ways. It is you, our family, who gives us a glimpse into ourselves and shows us the vital meaning of true love. We have you to thank for everything we are and will become. You are our foundation of love and support and we treasure each one of you immensely.

Our ultimate strength is in God, who has made us who we are and continues to shape and direct us in our faith and desire to be closer to Him. You have all blessed us in so many ways and it is so apparent that God has blessed us with you... He is in each one of you.

As we mentioned before, we don't know how long we will be gone, or what new directions and changes will take place in our life. With that, it is entirely possible we could be moving back at some point, but we don't yet have any plans in that respect.

It is our intent to stay in contact in every way possible. We will be updating our website with "news" and arbitrary ramblings (blogging), connecting with you via video chat and instant messaging, sending mail and emails, calling and, most infrequently, flying out to visit... (you'll find our various points of contact at the bottom of this page). We wish you all the best and ask for your thoughts and prayers in this time of transition and unfamiliarity for us. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as we look forward to discovering what God has in store for us all.

We love you so very much!

Matt and Cristin

The NAME...

2007-01-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

Vosburgh. Guess what I did today?!!!!!????? I FINALLY changed my name LEGALLY! :) It is so exciting and I am proud to say I am truly, officially (not that I really needed the legal consent of the United States) a VOSBURGH! :) I went and did it, and boy am I glad! I went in and got there right on time....9 a.m. ....when they open. Now, I totally know it's the social security office, and to think that I could get there when they open and expect no line is crazy....so, I didn't expect it. But, I did expect to get in and get out in no time....(no time meaning....15-20 minutes.....). Let's just say that did NOT happen.
Thank God I had been there previously to "check it out" ....and they told me...the later part of the week is the best time..."even in the mornings before we open we have a line"....etc. So, I went expecting to wait a bit.....when I got there at 9:01 a.m. there were like 100 + people already.....I'm not kidding. I'm totally NOT exaggerating! But, I can say, that after my freezing COLD wait outside (because you can't have drinks or phones turned on in there....) of nearly two hours they FINALLY called my number and I almost screamed from excitement. I was imagining the number A38 being called out and everyone else in the room bursting out in cheers and hooray's! But, there were no cheers except for the ones in my head :) as I began a slight jog to Window # 3.

Now, here is the problem with this place: As I'm sure you know, people go there for all sorts of things.....so, apparently "name changes" were "A"s....there were also "B"s and "C"s........BUT...it's not like they have 5 people doing "A"s and 5 people doing "B"s....etc. Out of the 11 or 12 windows they had, only 4 or 5 were open and all the people were doing everything....so they would call out an "A" number, then 2 or 3 "B" numbers...then 1 or 2 "C" numbers.....then...well, you get the drift. These type of waits drive me fricken' batty!!!!! But, thank God my husband entertained me on the phone for part of the time...even if we were just breathing on the phone together. :) That's true love. :) Hee hee. I told him that when we have kids, it's his responsibility to get them their social security cards.... :) Ha ha. I guess that's only fair since we have to go through the 9 months of carrying the child and then the labor....

So, anyway...I made it through the door without going crazy from the wait and even had a nice little chat with the nice lady from Puerto Rico who's daughter also got married in June and had also just recently changed her name, although her mom told her to do it before the new year, and who's daughter also kept her maiden name as a middle name and now since the nice lady from Puerto Rico is divorced after 20 years she wishes she had kept her maiden name as a middle name too because that's somehow easier to go back to your maiden name if you want to drop your married name.......(and I have no need for that benefit because I am NEVER going to get a divorce..)....that nice lady from Puerto Rico who helped me. :) It's amazing how much you can learn about someone in such little time. :) Such personal stuff, too!

Okay....anyway....I feel like I"m ready for a nap. That sounds so nice. :)

Oh, I forgot to mention...the reason it took me so stinkin' long to get the change...the place is only open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m....and I WAS ( :) ) working from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. That is so silly why they would have their hours that way...but, oh well. I don't have to think about it again until my husband is calling me while he is waiting there.... :)

Time...

2007-01-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I can't stand that fact that I'm totally disorganized! GRRRRRrrrrr!! I now have 5 posts started...still yet to publish...and most will never get published. Some just have no meaning anymore..one is from Christmastime....whatever. :( I guess time will tell...whether you ever read them or not. It's like I get so organized to a point....I can get so much done, and then I spaz out and never finish. I don't like that part of me. Procrastination. It sucks. I guess I can make that a new year's resolution....to stop procrastinating...but, let's talk about that later..... :) It can really make life miserable. :( So, that is one on my list!!! Oh, okay, let me give you some examples: cleaning at home....sometimes it has to get messier before it gets cleaner.....sometimes it just never gets cleaner; filing...I"m seriously so good up until a certain point, thenI just can't stand it anymore...and I have to take a break, and sometimes never go back; I think this is a serious problem. Seriously!!! It's like I get so overwhelmed sometimes, even with the littlest things..., and can't make myself do anymore. That's so SO bad!!! :(
Okay, so that should maybe be #1 on my list:
1. Stop procrastinating
2. STOP procrastinating!!!
3. Start working out again! (yes, I know, I'm one of the millions!)
4.
5.

Anyway...I'll finish that list later! :) ha ha!

So many things happen over time. Changes in life....even some of the smallest things can have such huge, dramatic effects on us. As Matt and I look to our future, no, we don't have a crystal ball!, we know we have changes up ahead...we are excited and scared at the same time. Well, I might be the only one scared.....He welcomes change without any anxiety. Me, on the other hand...I would like to think I'm good with change, but, when it really comes down to it, I don't like it. I get to thinking...oh my gosh, what if this or that happens..............well, what if it does happen. We can deal with it then. What if the sky falls? Oh my gosh, we would be walking in the clouds! :) Change is good. It stretches us, helps us grow and open our eyes to other things.....in the end, when you look back, you can see where you really trusted God and where you just flat out lacked faith. Hmmm. It sounds SO easy...but trusting God really does take effort and is SO worth it! His burden is light...what am I doing carrying my own when He could be micro-managing it just fine?!?!!

Birthday Tribute!!!!

2006-12-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

Well, you only turn 30 once...!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY!!!! I know that turning the big 3-0 is a huge MILESTONE in one's life...you know, you ARE halfway to 60. Don't worry....as you age I do hear that every year just gets better and better.....but, do you actually remember all of it? Hmmm. That is something to ponder. :) You know...short-term memory loss...don't let it get to ya. You won't remember that you don't remember. Have a happy day! It's the time to celebrate!!!

Wedding Pictures...

2006-08-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

I am SO EXCITED!!! This morning I went over to my sister's house and picked up my wedding album!!! She did an amazing job! The book is so cool!!! I can't even explain how talented and gifted she is with photography...her eye catches things most people don't even see. These pictures are not from the album...but I thought I'd post a few pics from wedding and honeymoon today...

Married Life...

2006-08-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Mawwage.....has bwought us hewe togethew teday...

I love being married!!! It's amazing how much my life has changed in the last year. God is so sneaky!! He is very, very sneaky!! :-)

One year ago I was turning 28 and I was asked what I would like to accomplish in my 28th year of life, whether I thought it was possible or not. You know, I remember that very moment. I was at Cafe Boa partaking of the very best creamy dark chocolate dessert and dessert wine in the universe! (Yes, it's true.) I mentioned a few things of which I cannot tell you what they were because I don't remember. There is one thing that is very clear to me. I said that I would like to get married. I didn't know if I already knew him or not. But I knew it was totally possible.

It's crazy because that very next night my journey with my (now) husband started. It had been going underway already, but in a less formal way. You see, he had already decided that I was going to be his....I just hadn't been informed yet. :-) Over the next several months we both realized that we didn't want to live the rest of our lives without each other.

It's amazing what love will do. It allows you to completely overlook faults. It's not that you can't see them, but that you know they are there and your love for the other person overrides that by a million times. Everything in you passionately loves him with everything you have. I have never felt so much love for someone in my entire life. I have definitely experienced his gracious forgiveness and passionate love as well. It's amazing to me how he doesn't necessarily accept my actions when they are wrong, but that he loves me in spite of them.

As I am writing this, I am also thinking about God and His love for us. It is just like this but multiplied by a million. Thinking about my love relationship with my husband doesn't even compare to the love God has for us!! That's amazing!!

Anyway...It's so funny putting two people together in a household and meshing. We have both done things "our" way for most of our lives. Coming together and becoming "one" means more than just leaving and cleaving. :-) It means communicating through the hard things to talk about, deciding to put the t.p. in one direction (we don't deal with that, just an example), what kind of toothpaste to use: the runny kind, or the good kind. :-) (Can you imagine that?...using runny toothpaste? :-) ) what cupboard to put the glasses and plates in, how to organize the food in the pantry....etc. :-) ....what side of the bed to sleep on....All the expectations that you have from the other person.......It's not that all of these things are rough to work out...it's just that there are two very different people moving in together! It's amazing the things you don't think about before you get married. You have two different people with different ideas and different reasons to back up those ideas.

It has been fun! Sometimes working things out is a challenge, but it is also very rewarding. It's fun to talk about our differences because we are so very different. Just being man and woman create a challenge alone....and then add in the personalities and temperments. This lifelong journey will bring great rewards! I love being married and wouldn't change a thing even if I could!!!

Birthday SURPRISE!!!

2006-08-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I had the greatest night ever!!! My 29th birthday was this past weekend.....gosh, saying that now seems like I'm SO OLD!!!! :-( 29. Geeze! Alright...pitty party is over! I'm 29 and don't feel like it!!!! YES!!! So, my birthday was a busy day so we didn't do a lot....but there was a big surprise waiting for me later on!!! My husband is a good liar... and as I'm finding out...so is my sister and my mom! What is a girl to do with her most cherished people all lying to her???!!!

We were planning on going to my sister and bro-in-law's house for dinner, just my studly hubby and I...or so I thought. Now, I must first say I was wondering if something was going on....but nothing was happening the way I thought it would....so I had kind of finally given up on the idea. (I really wasn't sure what I thought, but I knew something was up.) So, anyway...we arrive and they are acting normal....until I realize the curtains are ALL closed going to the backyard....I instantly thought of suspicious acts but didn't really have time to process because my sister immediately escorted me to the back door which she opened in a way that I would go out first.....which was weird, but once again...I didn't have time to process all these suspicions because I stepped out and .........SURPRISE!!!!!

I must say it was such a blessing to spend my day with friends and family!! Thank you all so much for coming to celebrate with me!

I still don't feel 29!!!

BUG SPRAY....

2006-08-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

Oh Thank God!!! So, the bug guy came and gave us GOOD NEWS!!!! It's not fleas! Believe it or not...there are other small, black jumping bugs. They are called Mites. :-/ I know, it's still totally disgusting but much easier to deal with! Yes! They sprayed and we need to dump some special juice down the drains...and we should be good to go. (Aside from cleaning up the aftereffects of the spray...) They are "moist-dwelling" creatures apparantly and should not be able to live after the spray takes effect! So, we can continue to clean and unpack everything should be smooth-sailing form here! Yee-haw!!!

We've Got Bugs.....!!!!!

2006-08-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh you guys...please pray! Seriously, I don't think I can handle anything else. Our new place has fleas!!! ...in the carpet and under the countertops....So, at this point we don't know what is going to happen....but let's pray that they take good care of us! We have the FAVOR OF GOD!!!!!!!!

COUNTDOWN CONTINUES.......

2006-08-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

2 DAYS TO GO....2 MORE NIGHTS....YES!!!

Okay...so we may seem a little anxious to you...but seriously folks, we have the right to be. :-) If you have ever lived in the ghetto....you'd unerstand. Now, living in the ghetto could mean so many things.......

So, let me clarify for you:

GHETTO:

1) having to call 911 for the cops over 8 times within 5 months is too many; you are living in the ghetto.
2) when you have to translate for the police in a domestic abuse case; you are living in the ghetto (you would think they would require all law enforcement to speak at least 3 languages in our neighborhood).
3) You have a slimy yellow "something" (still having yet to be identified) that slinks and slides downs your walls...and 7 months of requesting it to be taken care of is still there...you eventually give up; you are living in the ghetto.
4) Upon moving in your father tells you he will get you rod iron coverage for your windows...it makes you rethink your decision to save some money and live somewhere cheaper; you are living in the ghetto.
5) Upon that same day of moving in your boyfriend (now husband!) makes another suggestion to get new doorknobs and locks because the door doesn't quite close (you hear and feel the breeze as it flies by your door)....; you are living in the ghetto.
6) You have all sorts of people who are living there because the government pays for it (this is not the problem) who are receiving government aid becuase they are mentally unstable (in the scary sense) and cannot maintain a job....and you find this out from one of your "friendly" neighbors who does not speak any English.; you are living in the ghetto.
7) Within weeks of living in your new establishment you come home one evening to find all the windows of the laundry room smashed out with bricks and broken glass all over the place....; I think you are livin' in the ghetto.
8) Oh, you see different people all the time staying in the laundry room because (as you learn from one of your friendly non-English speaking neighbors that the laundry gets stolen so they stay there the whole time waiting for it to be done.....; living in the ghetto.
9) Oh, yeah....homeless people (bless their hearts) sleep in your laundry room because there is a bench to sleep on and the laundry door no longer locks...still in the ghetto.
10) You are awakened regularly throughout the night (every night) by the howling of police, fire, and ambulance sirens...; welcome to the ghetto.
11) Of course, Mariachi music echos throughout the neighborhood attempting a chorus with booming gangster rap, from "custom" economy lowriders and pickup trucks, and right through your front door...; kickin' it in the ghetto.
12) (Matt's favorite) the air hood over the stove sucks in air, only to blow it right back into the room...; you're cooking in the ghetto.
13) Going for a walk requires you to make sure you have your mace or stun gun (haven't used them, YET), and on any given walk, you are certain to encounter a variety of individuals who reaffirm your decision to carry self defense products...; definitely in the ghetto.
14) Oh, and the final one....You have your seriously cheap (but shiny) hubcaps (all of them)stolen from your car in the middle of the night...yup, you're in the ghetto!

Ghettoville be gone!...4.5 days left!

2006-07-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

So...The day is near...please don't be in fear! The load may be light...so let's not be in fright! Please, please come and play!...you won't want to miss this great day! Please don't bail...we just don't want to fail!! You will be rewarded with food and drinks....so let's take care of these kinks! You know who to call....so do it, or we might bawl! So, we'll see you soon....so that we may be done by noon!!!

Only 4 days left....

We're MOVING!!!!....

2006-07-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

COUNTDOWN.... 9 DAYS TO GO!!!

Dun-du-du-dah!!! Here it is!! Our first place as a married couple!!! Isn't it cute? It is great! It is like a mini-house. We have a place to grill just outside of our patio so that will be nice ...It is also by a pool which has a fountain/waterfall and we can hear that....it's like we are in our own little resort!! Yeah!! So, praise the Lord...we'll actually have a microwave, washer and dryer and a dishwasher.....(I know what you are thinking....NO, we'll have a MECHANICAL dishwasher).....SWEET!!! Oh, wait, what's that you say??? Oh YES!!!! Of course you are WELCOME to come and join us on SUNDAY, AUGUST 6th and help us move!! NO PROBLEM!!!! :-) More updates to come....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2006-07-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

This day is to celebrate my mom!! Today is her birthday!!! She is my mom. She is my mentor. She is my best girlfriend! She makes me laugh! She laughs with me and cries with me! She breaks out the gum and crinkly wrappers and tic tacs in church! She has giggle attacks with me when we are SO NOT supposed to be having giggle attacks! She is honest with me even when it hurts to hear. She gets her toes and nails done with me! She gives me that look in public...and I know what it means...and we both desperately try not to lose it in laughter! She does the "time" with me when we can't say just "who" we are looking at! She'll shop with me and talk with me and drink coffee with me. She create and perform water ballet with me in the privacy of her pool. :-) She'll seahorse race me in the pool....and we'll both try to cheat! She appreciates me and accepts me for who I am not matter what I've done or said. She loves me no matter what! She'll come over and help me clean and organize. She'll baby-sit the Bundle and take very good care of her. She'll drive into town just to come hang out with me. This is my mom! This is her day! I love you mom!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Summertime Blues...

2006-07-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

I hate being sick. I can handle it up to a certain point...but once I cross over into "Okay....seriously, I feel like total poo" my body gives in and wants nothing but to sleep. I have been having the sore throat on and off for a week or so...and today I woke up feeling alright. A few hours into my day my throat worsened, my head began hurting, I realized I was extremely exhausted and seriously thought about how wonderful even the floor would feel. I have been taking my vitamins, trying to eat healthy, getting enough rest, blah, blah, BLAH! Why? Yo no se. I'm over the hump and now have only 2 hours, 42 minutes left of my work day. Halleluia!! "For by His stripes I am healed!!!" In Jesus' Name!!!!
Okay, so here's the plan: take your vitamins, drink lots of water, eat healthy, get enough sleep
Oh yeah...an apple a day will keep the doctor away! Yes!
Can't wait to sleep. :-)

Testosterone...

2006-07-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

Okay...I was going to give the Webster's definition of it...but have decided not to. I think we all have a pretty good idea of what it is. :-) Matt and I just finished watching the movie "Patriot Games" ...."Jack Ryan tries to stop an IRA fringe group from carrying out an assassination attempt on English royals and is subsequently brought back into the CIA in order to save his now threatened family". This was a good movie! At times I had cover my face because I was so stressed out watching... but had my hands cracked so I could see what was going on! A good movie...filled with "love and war". Immediately after the movie gets over guess what Matt pulls out?....! He gets his PlayStation 2 out and what does he put in to play?????? BLACK. Now this is a war game and of course, good triumphs over evil...because the "good" is my husband who has completely won this game! He is so funny! Completely engrossed in his game talking to the bad guys telling them they are "gonna die!!!" I love him so much and am so glad that he is committed to protecting me from the "evil and war" in this world! :-) As you can see, I have posted a picture of my victor (intense profile while performing the finishing touches of his wins) and his score... to brag on my soldier!
Oh yeah....notice on the score...the total game time played. It seems like a relatively short amount of time to secure democracy and freedom around the world!

The Bundle...

2006-07-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, here is Bella, otherwise known as the Bundle. She is my little Princess! She thinks she is the Queen of everything, though. :-) Here are more pictures of "the kids".

The only thing we have to watch these little stinkers for is CHEWING on Matt's cables and wires! Bells has taken it upon herself to chew on the wires for the speakers that are hung on the ceiling. I have NO IDEA why she thinks she can do this. She has never done this before.....has never chewed on anything for that matter....(now, her prior accomplice, Guapo, chewed on and ruined my coffee table....maybe she's feeling a little neglected since we are married now and was remembering those days....I'm just not sure.) :-) Matt has threatened to ban her completely from the Vosburgh Castle if she continues on with this nonsense. I, of course, would not have this!

The Boy...

2006-07-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

So, you finally get the meet the boy. Not that you have been wondering who he is....and I don't even think I mentioned him...but I should have. I would have to say he is the cutest little furry creature! His name is Mr. Smith. He is my parent's dog...but comes to visit quite frequently! He has the cutest little personality and loves to play and snuggle! In this picture he has just had a bath...believe it or not. :-) He is needing a haircut so he is looking a little "rugged". :-) His best friend is Bella, otherwise known as the bundle. She is my cat...and she thinks she's all that! She'll play with Smith, chase him and hide from him....and whenever he leaves she cries for him. She looks all around and then looks at me like, "Where did he go?". She will be turning 4 in September.....she's a little obese for her age so please don't say anyting. She's a little insecure. :-) She loves to snuggle..but it's always on her terms. :-) She also enjoys watching t.v., so if there's a good show on, you'll find her sitting in front of the t.v. Smith, on the other hand, does enjoy t.v. as well, but he's happy just playing and chillin'.

Camping...

2006-07-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Well, our 1st week of marriage was topped off with a weekend of camping! How fun was that!!! It was so nice to get out of the heat and get to cooler weather. It was a little stormy but I loved it!! The winds and the rain came and we soaked it up!...literally! It was so much fun to cook with the minimum and let me tell you...the food is really good when you've worked up your appetite! Matt and I decided to go on a hike. So, he grabbed his compass and we started walking. Now, I was thinking that we were going to go on a hike. :-) You know, the kind of walk that you take on a trail...maybe some ups and downs and some rocks to climb on. We come to a fence with a gate.....and Matt says, "You know what that gate is for, don't you?....It's so the bears don't come through and get to the campground. Come on, let's go!" Hold on. He wanted to go THROUGH the gate and just wander through the forrest. I don't think so. After several minutes of begging, prodding and some words of love exchanged, for some unknown reason I agreed to go with. What was he feeding me to make me do something so crazy?!!!? It could have been the food, the lack of sleep....I don't know. :-) So, instead of going on a hike, we were going on a 'compass hike'. Let me tell you what a 'compass hike' is. It is a 'hike' in which there really are no trails (in this particular case), and you use your compass (imagine that). So, I would go to a place and he would figure out the degrees to which I was going and then he would come meet me. We did this about 8-9 times or so. On our way to each location we had marked a tree (remember, we are in some forrest...it is getting stormy, windy, raining, lightning....). Now on our way back, we had to use the compass numbers in degrees to find our tree that we had previously marked. And because there are so many trees (it was very dense) it's not like we could just say "Oh hey...there's our tree!" We had to FIND it. :-) Through the cold stormy weather we found our way back to the bear gate. "Praise the Lord!" is what I was thinking....and Matt was saying "Lets write all the compass numbers down so we can come back later and do it again!". Oh, my cute husband! I'm so glad we are so different and we can learn from each other! I'm sure we will cherish these memories forever!

Oh...I forgot to mention that we "got" to use our emergency ponchos that my very prepared husband had in his pockets! I love him so much!!!

"I Do"

2006-07-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Eloption

We did. :-) We eloped. We call it an "Eloption." It was like having a semi-planned wedding moved way up! It was wonderful! Talk about the day every girl dreams of. You know, how she starts dreaming and planning at the age of 4. She has all of these great ideas about grande entrances, white horses, miles and miles of green grassy hills and castles. The "sworded" entrance and the "trumpeted" exits....yea...I know. You know, mine was kind of like that. The great "sworded" entrance was the stormy winds that escorted my dad and I down that nearly took myself and the vails away with the wind. The winds nearly caused the flowers in glass vases surrounding the pool to plummet in for an icy-hot swim. The romantic ceremony that was to take place with a unity candle, special thoughts, scriptures read and communion to take place turned out to be lack of ability to keep the candles lit, scriptures read quickly and a communion rushed through with the groom so close to stepping back into the pool. Planned out thoughts and special words took place but in a different way. The ceremony was still very intimate. As I looked into Matt's eyes it seemed that everything all around me wasn't happening and he was my "calm" in the midst of the storm. I looked into his eyes and found such peace and quiet. Our very special vows that proclaimed our love and committment to each other were heard and accepted as we joined our lives together. We are now one and will never be alone. We stand strong as three with God. The blessings of the other will be blissful forever. We know there will be differences of thought and wants, and we know we are very different. As we embrace the other, we will grow together and become stronger and stronger every day. As we accept those quirky things about the other and love our differences we will become a force and marriage champions like no other.

We are married! We are one! We are the Vosburghs!!

Work, Work, Work....

2006-05-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

New job....boy, o' boy.... :-)
Well, tonight I am preparing for my new job tomorrow! I will be working at *************. It is very different than anything I have ever done, but I am excited for the change. I have prayed about this decision and feel peace about it. Now, to prepare for this, I have studied Microsoft Excel online, using their tutorials as my teacher. I never thought I would actually enjoy something like Excel....but, believe it or not, I'm truly excited to learn more! There are so many cool things you can do with the program!!! Anyway...I must go and prepare for my day....which happens to include a non-uniform cute outfit!
Oh, by the way: Matt has been at the studio recording with Wes and Martin for the new album....how exciting! I stopped by last night and checked out what was going on. It is a cool studio...It is so amazing what they can do with all of that stuff! :-) "Till next time...

The Business of Life...

2006-05-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

So, it has been too long since I have last posted anything....the long interval of silence is over. :-)
So much has happened in the recent months...many things from moving to career changes, to engagement, to more career changes....Yes! I did say engagement!!! These glorious days of joy and planning, dates and hors d'oeuvres, dinner, cakes, colors and time of year....oh the joy of being in love!!! Yes, this is a busy time but I realize that it is a time I need to cherish. I desire to relish in all the moments of planning and preparation, appointments, tours, tulle and chiffon. Of course I want to absorb every moment of this time as Matt and I prepare to spend the rest of our lives together.

It is so easy to get caught up in all the rip-raff of our daily lives. I hate the fact that I allow myself to get stressed out and sucked into the business of life, not leaving time for important things that should really take precedence over all the rest. It is when I am forced into quiet that I realize how great and peaceful these important things really are.

God's love is so full of mercy and grace, and though I may mess up in every area of my life He is still there loving me and so interested in me...! The fact that He sees me as His righteous child in the midst of my "daily grind" gives me such joy and the "umph" to go on!

So, my thought for the day is: set aside some quiet time for yourself and evaluate your life...see what is most important...and how does it rate in your life? Do you act like it is the most important thing?...or are other things in the lead that shouldn't be?

Blog???

2005-11-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

Hi there! So, this is my first experience with a blog. This should be fun! :-)