Happy Birthday to one of my dearest friends, Heather Michele Chapman!!!! Actually, it was yesterday (oops) but since I wasn’t able to blog about her or see her, we are celebrating today at lunch   Heather and I met my freshman year at IU through Jeremy.  She was in the CRU Band with Jeremy and they spent many hours (from what I hear) talking about Jeremy’s new love interest (me, obviously) as well as Heather’s new bf Ty, which also happened to be Jeremy’s best friend and roommate.  As you can probably guess, it didn’t take long for all of us to bond and hang out all the time. I’m also thankful that Heather told Jeremy to “stop being a little girl” and just ask me out.   Heather truly is one of my best friends- she is one of the MOST creative, optimistic, hilarious, beautiful, caring, and thoughtful people I have met.  I am constantly amazed at her drive and determination (she opened her own photography business: www.hmcphotography.com) as well as her desire to help others feel good about themselves.  Of course she was a bridesmaid in our wedding and I know that regardless of where her life takes her to, she will always remain a lifelong friend to both myself and Jeremy.

Happy Birthday Heath- you are loved so much!!

I was on the Family Life website this afternoon and found an article that mirrors much of what Jeremy and I learned about in our pre-marital counseling.  It has been crucial for us so I thought I would share it with you all

In FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage conferences, two of the most eye-opening sessions for many couples are on God’s purpose and plan for marriage. Few people know much about what the Bible says about marriage. They are surprised to learn that, as described in the first two chapters of Genesis, marriage is the first institution created by God.

1. God desires that a husband and wife complete each other (Genesis 2:19-22). When God calls you to marry, He gives you a spouse who, by divine design, will complete you. Together you will be stronger and more effective than when you are apart.

2. God desires that a husband and wife multiply a godly legacy (Genesis 1:28). Children are a key part of God’s plan. Although some couples are not able to have biological children of their own, part of God’s intent is for every married couple to be ministering down into the next generation–passing on their faith in God so others can pass it on to still others. Psalm 78:1-4 makes it clear that the family is one of the best environments in which this can happen.

3. God desires that a husband and wife experience oneness. Genesis 2:24 says that a husband and wife shall become “one flesh” and God wants us to experience all the excitement and pleasure and romance that is part of a committed relationship. But oneness involves even more. As Dennis and Barbara Rainey write in Staying Close:

A Oneness Marriage is a husband and wife who are crafting intimacy, trust, and understanding with one another. It’s a couple who is chiseling out a common direction, common purpose, and common plan for their lives. A Oneness Marriage demands a lifetime process of relying on God and forging an enduring relationship according to His design. It’s more than a mere mingling of two humans–it’s a tender merger of body, soul and spirit.

4. God desires that a husband and wife mirror His image (Genesis 1:26-27). God chooses to reveal to us a part of His character and being through our relationships. For example, God is love, therefore we can love. When we forgive others, we reflect Him who forgave us in Christ (see Ephesians 4:32).

Why is this important? Because God created us to know Him and to live within the context of His plan for our lives. When a man and woman come together in a marriage with God at the center of their relationship, they will reflect His image. The world will see in that relationship a representation of who God is and how He loves.

Marriage was created by God for our good, for the good of our society, and for His plan to be fulfilled. It’s about companionship, pleasure, responsibility, commitment, romance, raising the next generation–the whole package. It’s the most difficult and yet the most fulfilling relationship we experience during our time on earth. And that’s why it’s worth fighting for.

Last year I went to the marvelous after-Christmas sales with my mom and bought our first Christmas tree for a whopping $6.00 (http://jeremyandamber.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/)

We were so excited to set it up in our apartment for the first time!

When we first took the tree out of the box, we were worried because it was definitely a bit on the small side.

After spreading all the branches, it filled out thankfully

Our First Christmas Tree! Jeremy didn’t feel that we needed to decorate the back since no one would see it but due to my OCD tendencies, I moved some of the ornaments when he wasn’t looking… you never know who might look at the back

We started a tradition last year of giving each other one Christmas ornament that reminded us of something that happened that year or maybe just something that reminded us of one another.  Jeremy got me the graduation guy and I picked out the football guy

I know I already posted this but I just love it

10 days until Christmas!!

thanks mom & dad

16 days away from Christmas but I wanted to share some Thanksgiving pictures… (guess I’m a bit behind in uploading )

Our First Thanksgiving as HUSBAND AND WIFE!

My sis&me

This year Thanksgiving was a bit different for us all; however we had so much fun just celebrating the 5 of us. My mom made every single food item by herself..it was delicious.

The room reserved for holidays

Annual Gray Family tradition: Purina’s Dog Show!

After dinner we went to the Festival of Trees @ the Embassy Suites downtown.  They have 50 beautifully decorated trees and you get to vote on your favorite.  Jeremy and I voted for the designed with pieces from kid’s toy games like Monopoly, Checkers, etc..

The whole family + Carly’s boyfriend.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both families- thankfully we didn’t have to cram them into one day. We spent Thursday with my family then drove back to Fishers for Jeremy to work Black Friday (yuck, I slept in until 10 ) and then spent the weekend with Jeremy’s family.  I love the holidays, especially as husband and wife- there are so many things we have to be thankful for. As we drove to Fort Wayne we came up with a list of what we are thankful for- there were so many items to list but by far we know our greatest blessings include our belief in Christ, our marriage, our families and their health, and the blessing of two incomes with shelter and food.  In reality, that’s all I could ever ask for.

My boss lives in downtown Chicago and was walking along State Street by the Macy’s this weekend. Macy’s is doing a Letters to Santa theme and as he was walking by, he noticed this letter front and center:

if only my address really was Santa Clara, California

It snowed in Fishers today! Christmas is almost here

Many of our friends and family have asked when the band  (My Yellow Rickshaw) Jeremy drums for is playing next.  They just secured their December schedule so I thought I would share in case any of you would like to come watch.  They are a really, really fun band that play a mix of cover songs from the 80s,90s, and today plus some others   The guys are a great group and we have enjoyed getting to know them more.  If you are planning on coming, let me know because I usually reserve tables to ensure we have seats for our friends and family

My Yellow Rickshaw December Schedule: (all shows are come and go as you please from 9pm-midnight)

Saturday, December 5: Fionn McCool’s in Fishers

Saturday, December 12: Claddagh Irish Pub (downtown Indy)

Friday, December 18: Brockway Pub in Carmel

Saturday, December 19: Claddagh Irish Pub (Northside Indy)

Thursday, December 31: Claddagh Irish Pub (downtown Indy) (10pm-1am)

Saturday, January 2: Fionn McCool’s in Fishers

Meet Lucy, our new Honda Civic!! Scroll down a few posts and you’ll see that we unexpectedly had to purchase a new car a few weeks ago (I’m a bit behind on posts).  Well, it wasn’t too unexpected if you knew my old car however it wasn’t an investment we were planning for this fall.  God is so faithful and good and provided us with the research and resources to buy Lucy brand new… let me tell you, it is so wonderful to know we can drive places outside of Indy and feel safe and secure knowing the car won’t break down or just flat out die. 

Some things I learned during the 4 week process of buying this car….

1. You never find out the bottom line price until you show you really will walk away from the dealership and purchase elsewhere.  We were fortunate to have my parents searching at the Honda dealership in Fort Wayne so every day for a week I would go to the Indy dealership and show them what Fort Wayne was willing to do for us.  The car salesmen all knew my name…and hated me lol.

2. Persistence pays off. We would have paid a few thousand dollars more if we had just walked onto the car lot the first day and purchased without researching or negotiating.  Actually, we would have paid a few thousand more if we would have purchased the car even after a week of negotiating. We kept going until we knew we had the best deal possible. (thanks Dad)

3. Although they are simply materials, losing a car can become sentimental.  I drove Dixie (see below) for almost 7 years and she saw a lot of good times and a few bad times. I didn’t cry when we dropped her off but I had a few tears earlier in the week.  I’m pretty sure my mom was emotional when we dropped her off too because they had bought her brand new about 14 years ago.

I’m really thankful for my parents who answered lots of questions and provided so many resources for Jeremy and I during this process. It was our first big investment! ahh! And even though I about threw up after writing the check, I am still really proud of Jeremy and I for making this decision. Thank you for your faithfulness Lord!

This post would not be complete without a few good-bye pictures…

Lucy & Dixie…

scroll down for more updates… I’m on a roll today with posts

My family visited us the first weekend in November to celebrate Carly’s 19th birthday AND to cheer on my dad in the Indy Marathon.  I had been looking forward to the weekend for awhile since it is hard to get all 4 (5 with Jeremy) of us in the same room these days since Carly is in college now.  I love my family so much, sure we have our disagreements but overall I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mom, dad, and little sister. 

The birthday girl with the presents Jeremy and I got her! (Jeremy had to work )

My family celebrating at the hotel! Happy 19th Carly! Our family loves Vera Bradley

Saturday morning!! Waiting for the race to start! Race pictures always crack me up because Carly and I always look so pitiful in them hey, it’s early so give us a break!

Go Dad!! We love you!

Saturday night we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown. It was delicious! This picture is really cute and would be even cuter if this computer would let me turn it the right direction. I guess just turn your head to the right

The Gray family

aww look who showed up Sunday morning   He had to work all weekend

me & my momma!

greaaaat weekend with my family. see you guys @ Thanksgiving

I saw this website on Adie Camp’s (wife of Jeremy Camp) blog and found a great amount of encouragement, ideas, and support for Christian women throughout the entire site… I hope it brings the same to you! Let me know if you find anything that jumps out at you- I would love to hear about it

www.justbetweenus.org