i like this.

The supreme happiness of life is

the conviction that we are loved

- loved for ourselves,

or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.

~Victor Hugo

friends & twin Beds...

One of the crazy things about having a husband on night shift is sometimes you can have a sleep over with your friends, and most of the time you don't sleep, and most of the time you are alone with your thoughts at random moments in the night.

Normally a sleepover is filled with laughter, silly outbursts, chocolate, & popcorn. Though this sleep over was different. You see it seems we have all really grown up... as I sleep in a twin bed and across the way is a new changing table and basket of baby goodies awaiting a sweet baby boy's arrival in February. Things seem different but a good different.

Tonight...I made dinner for my sweet husband and we rushed out the door, him to his patrol car, and me to my friends home over the hill. By the time i arrived my tired pregnant friend was fast asleep, and I was greeted by her kind husband, shown my room and had a simple conversation about life, anniversaries (they just celebrated too), and his joy over their baby coming to this world. I said goodnight at 10 closed my door and climbed into my twin bed. TEN I have not fallen asleep at ten in years. so I stayed up on the net until now when I fingers found my blog.

Tomorrow I get to go to my friends classroom at 6:40 am shhesh but it will be so worth it to be in her world. Amongst her students, and watch her use her gift of teaching.

Tomorrow after my "big day at school" we will drive north to visit our friend that is sick. We can only be there for a few hours but it will be worth it sooo soo much.

As I lay here praying I will sleep soon... I ponder...

In the midst of my unemployment I have had free time on my hands. I really see this time as time to spend with my friends, family and anyone God places in our path. It has not been easy, but the rewards have been great. Why must we always be Martha trapped in the hustle and bussel of life? Why can we not just be Mary at Jesus' feet? I miss minstry dearly but in all honestly, I was becoming martha in my last months as a youth pastor. It is these moments as a wife alone in my thoughts, as a friend & wife sitting litening to people's hearts, I am beyond blessed. This my just be what God has for us right now, so we are living in just that. As hard as it is at times. We are where God wants us. I love it.

one year celebration!

Ohh for us on our weekend we had such a blast celebrating! Here are some snapshots of our adventure.

I woke to two dozen Roses...& Breakfast

Crapes ohh crapes...
Rocks and Fro yo and we got a "Local discount" even though we where on Va-cay... I suppose va-cay when you travel under a hour still means local. sweet!
Bat rays celebrating a first year too... with a bat ray kiss...
Moonrise cuddles...
Cruise ship adventures...

Scribbles in the sand...

Timing and Happiness for miles...
We snapped many scenic shots... this one was just past a beware don't cross line... sheesh breaking the law breaking the law. crazy husband.
Yeah we love each other & the Ocean!
Golfing from the pro's tee...
I love his smirk here :) oops maybe we are not suppose to be here thanks pebble for allowing us to be obvious wanderers!
FRUIT STAND! ohh i love Cali 10 avocado's for $1 yeah $1.00, pineapples for two.
Sunsets & a picnic... amongst the cliff
Laughter & joy throughout.

Yeah... we tried it... it tasted REALLY Bad. Result cake fight in the kitchen... glad we didn't do that at our wedding! Much Laughter & Pondering why in HEAVENS would anyone save their wedding cake for a year??? but only to have a good food fight with! Eat it on your one month anniversary of the nuptials!

So we raise our glasses and toast to another Good year. Focused on new adventures together! Here's to year TWO!

Honest & Amazingly Beautiful!

When I spoke to my husband about the words I had picked for the countdown to our 1 year

I told him these where the words that came to mind:

• Steadfast
• Joy
• Service
• Growth
• Family
• Honest

My Sweet husband said, "When I think about our year I think of the words, "AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!" come to mind." He may kill me if I mention anymore of his sweet words to me. Yet in short he is in total agreement with my word choice.

We honestly laugh about so much, and we honestly talk about every everything. An eye opening lifestyle can make feelings hurt, and in the same breath can open they eyes to your partners heart. For us the honesty, is honesty that is routed in love and care for the other person. There is where the strength rests.

More than anything our first year is covered in LOVE, love of life, love for God, love for each other. If I had a million days I could go on with more words that express how amazing our first year has been. We seek to, "love the Lord our God with all our hearts!" and in the midst of it we find so many blessings. May your marriage be just as blessed, even in the tough times, may you rest in Him the God who showed us what true love is, and honored us with the capacity to find love.

Familia and more Family!

Sometimes when you fall in love you, one person has a large family and the other has a small family. For us we came with two Large families... Not only are these families large, but we are families that love to be together. In our first year together we have logged countless number of hours with our crazy, fantastic, loving, kind, and such a rich history tangled together. We don't often get everyone together through out this year but we did grab a few photos at the wedding and actually not everyone was able to make it to our wedding, due to life and what nots... but here is a small picture of our busy family life...

Below is the Left the Koenig (Pherf's Dad's side) &

on the Right the Gudnason Family (Pherf's mom's side)

The Bernal side (my dad's family)

The Solis Side (my Mom's family)

I gained 17 new Aunts and Uncles, four new grandparents, when We said I do last year and Pherf gained, shoot... where to begin our count us crazy Mexicans... we needed two pictures to cover the folks that made it to our wedding.

Family has been a big part of our first year of marriage and family has always and will always play a big part in who we are.

Yet our little branch was established on year ago. and it is blossoming quite nicely.

To SERVE & GROW

I Know I Know, where have I been??? Who starts a quest and then leaves you hanging. Sorry about that, it was no intention of mine to leave such a cliff hanger :) especially with all my million readers out there. :) details.

We had to venture out of Town for a few days and we didn't take our Computer, and we acted like tourist. And it was amazing. I think heading away even for a night from time to time is a wonderful way of getting away from the norm. Our time away though brief & was soo wonderful!

These are Days 5 & 4 in our Countdown. I combined them because they really go hand in hand. Not to mention my absence. details.

TO SERVE...

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. ~Author Unknown

The biggest things society tell us is "its all about you". The biggest things scripture tells us is to (Matthew 22: 37-39) " 1st love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind... and the 2nd is to "Love your Neighbor as yourself". It is the way my husband loves God, and loves others with out a doubt is one of the first things that I fell in love with him. For us marriage has been about living that our daily.

My husband in his sweet humility often hides from me and the camera as I try to capture him

working around our home.

We enjoy a mutual serving of each other, from bring one blackberries in the morning, to picking up someones dry cleaning, to listening to music that ones loves... and the other doesn't. Its the simple things that keep us serving each other.

When you serve together your heart grows fonder together, because you both deeply love what you are committed to. The first part of our relationship Pherf and I met while i worked at high street. We both have grown so much in those years since.

This year we served together at high street until June. To the very end of our time there we loved and loved well. Serving together as a married couple was beyond what I expected.

1 Peter 4:10

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

If you know us you know we both have very different gifting, but we have one gift that is the same, we love people and love to serve them when we can. Our prayer is that this will only grow stronger with each new day.

TO GROW

The best is we have indeed grown by far. Walking through difficult situations, our Friendship is deeper in just 365 days.

When you live with a person you have the opportunity to KNOW them. The Koenig's KNOW much more of who God created us to be. We have seen when each of us are at their breaking point, and we smile at it now... not the smile of annoyance but the smile that says i understand. It is there...we see the Growth of our marriage when we know we need to leave, and when we need to be silent and when we need to just embrace the other. Growth happens in many ways.

We had the sweet opportunity to counsel my sweet cousin Gina and Patrick. We loved talking about marriage with them, we loved talking about life, finances, and challenges that would be ahead. I preformed my first wedding for my baby cousin, it was such a joy, and could not have done it with out my sweet husband.

As the cheesy but true analogy, goes we have planted seeds in rich soil... and our lives are growing deep roots in our love with GROWTH, SERVANT HOOD, JOY, & STEADFASTNESS!

One Year... Second word

Five days in the Count down until our 1 Year Anniversary!

Today's word is Joy. Joy is in abundance at our home.

BEFORE you continue reading I suggest you watch this Video by this link. I wanted to post the video right in this blog but I am not that cool, so Either click the link above or just push play on the post above. DO IT! please. We have already watched it a bunch! ha ha ha ha! Oh why is is so funny ha ha.

Back to our Post...

I cannot tell you how many times we are laughing in our home. What is a home without laughter? What is a home without dancing in the kitchen? What is a home without blaming a toot on the dog? What is a home without Doodling Pirate treasure maps with the niece... then wandering around the house to find meee treasure? What is a home without quoting ones favorite movies randomly? What is a home with just a seconds glance can erupt you in laughter... our home. Our home is full of all these things and more. I cannot picture it as anything but that, my words cannot do justice to our joy.

JOY "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I believe that true joy comes from only one place. God grants us Joy beyond what we can fathom. He grants us Joy in the little things.

So in our first year we have taken advantage of random events, and random moments all that have brought great joy. We have chosen to save but also to enjoy events like Giants & Sharks & even went to Cal Games, driving up & down the state, & driving across a few more states just because you can. Oh the conversations on road trips and sitting in the stands, many of you might believe my sweet husband is quiet but he is a man of many wonderful words that enrich me daily. So to all those getting married every first year does not have to be traumatic, even if life sends you down a funky path. Laugh & Smile and enjoy what God places before you.

Our first year has been JOYOUS and STEADFAST.

one year...one word

I cannot believe that in 6 days it will be our

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

It has actually been surprising as to how many people have been remembering that our first year of marriage is close. I brightens my day to

hear the sweet words from people, and their well wishes & prayers for us. A few weeks ago a former, students volunteer, and really a friend of ours asked me If I could sum up our first year with one word. What would it be? Such a good rich question!! (above: honeymoon photo somewhere in the Caribbean)

This Question motivated me... and So every day until then i will give one word. I have not thought them all through yet but as I pondered the question many words came to my mind. Here is the first. (Below: Sharks Game right after the Olympics)

Steadfast.

1.

a : firmly fixed in place : immovable
b : not subject to change

2. : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal

For the most part people while we where engaged, and the first months of our marriage would say, "BEWARE of the FIRST YEAR!!" We often talked about it and thought wow it must really be hard. My mind was drenched with these crazy ideas of what horrible things could and would happen to us. I began praying for life and a hedge of protection over our new family.

As the days and months have passed in our first year, I have to say that we have been BEYOND blessed in our marriage!

Our Love, Support, Laughter, & has not changed, it has indeed been a year of "STEADFASTNESS".

It has not been a year without challenge from me loosing my job, loosing my gallbladder, (RIGHT: drawing of where and what my Gallbladder does, Its apparently a non-vital organ? So we took it out.)

and a host of silly things surrounding that. In the midst of that craziness my sweet husband and my relationship has not wavered. It honestly gives me chills right now to think about how God's love has truly showed His Steadfastness to our life and our marriage. More than anything we are stronger. More than anything the steadfast Love I have felt and given, has created an amazing foundation for our family.

Love the Koenig's

life love and other mysteries...

It has been far too long since I have graced these pages with words. I believe its time to come back to the world of blogging. This last weekend we attended a wonderful friends birthday party and my friends mom happily said, "I read your Blog" sheepishly I replied about my lack of posts, and how we both tend to not blog as much any more. Sadness! So I return. Sooo much has happened. Where does one even begin to start with....

This Post was started in feb... its now almost July! That is almost 5 months later!!!

What has happened...

on September 27, 09 I married the love of my life. It was a day more hot than I care to admit. Funny how I said that I would never get married outside... then again I also told God I

wouldn't: Go to school in fresno, work at a church, work with jr highers, & I would NEVER marry a cop! Who knew that all of my fears would turn into some of my deepest loves. God has a funny way of dealing with my heart, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." luke 12:34.

I never figured it out until God opened my eyes to how my heart was captured by all these things.

On of the best thing about our wedding was that we had so many people that we loved by our sides. We where overwhelmed by all the people that loved us through this day, but really through this amazing season! I cannot express the love we felt, nor the reality of the outpouring of hospitality from our friends and family.

on fine night...

What does one say when their heart cannot say anymore.

Have you ever felt so happy and so excited in on fine moment that you have no words...

Have you ever felt so surprised that in one fine moment you have no words...

Have you ever known that with all your heart sitting before you is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with is in front of you on one knee, asking you to spend the rest of your life together. 

I have never felt so loved, I have never felt so special, I have never been so happy!

How did it happen how does our story of the boy and I begin?

We have been dating just shy of 1 year (one week and 1 day from when he asked me)

There feels like so much to tell. I will be back to share... Know I am loved and my heart is in a whirlwind :)

The empty Toilet paper role...

It seems that no matter where I am, the office, the home, the friends' house, the boys' house, or the Coffee House. I always with out fail am the one that finds, "THE EMPTY TOILET PAPER ROLE" What are the odds that I would find these roles in multiple bathrooms across the state? I would say that I have about an 80% chance of walking into a bathroom and finding an EMPTY or Next to Empty Role. It has become a joke among some friends and co workers that they will hear me say, "its my spiritual gift to find empty Toilet paper roles" I have to say as far as spiritual Gifts go, I am really using this to its full glory.

But seriously it made me think, and then laugh and then think again. This is where my thoughts ventured to. 

To often in life there are those of us that just love people. We love so much that it hurts from time to time... with a rush of emotion we pause and realize that we indeed have forgotten again about self. Which in our minds is silly because self and should not need anything. I would say that we even go as far as to say with our relationship with Christ, we to pour into and yet do not pause to be poured into by Him the only one that can give us the energy to love anything. Until that one day or moment where every place we turn feels void on some level. It is the thought of which I say everything is so good right now, why do I run on empty. Why am I with every turn finding the empty toilet paper roll in my life. 

As I spoke with a dear friend, the other day we realized that we, for being a christian as long as we have, that we know what we need to do, however most often we fail to actually do what we need or should do. We know how we should feel about our relationship with Christ, yet we pause and forget the essentials. So here I go...back to the essentials that I know I should be present in. 

vacancy & africa

It is hard for me to sit here in my quiet house with "more that words" playing in the back ground and the sun setting on my dinning room table. I cannot help but reflect on what has happened in the last 48 to 72 hours. My house that seems to always be filled with noise and sound only echos the sounds of my ipod and the typing of the keys. 

So what indeed am I thinking about? This last week I spent time in Catalina with good friends and a small crew of family enjoying the surroundings as we meet to celebrate my dear friends dan & annie's wedding (that is wedding number 4 of the summer that I referred to in a past post). Its strange how much people can truly become brothers in your life. Dan is a friend, amigo, roommate, and brother, which makes them family. Annie's brother's toast at the rehearsal dinner was ended with this final great line, "May you love each other as much as your family loves you" and it hit me...such power again in those words as two families begin to merge. Such a bond with family. 

Family is about pissing each other off, sticking up for each other, laughing with one another, giving up your room as they visit, making fun of each other, picking up boyfriends from the air port before they even have meet them, killing spiders for you, speaking on behalf of you, telling you when you are being a mean, loving you because you are who you are, makes tortillas together even if its been 2 years since the last ones, understanding that you are stressed, praying for each other, standing along side they decide to go to Africa for a month, and standing along side you as walk down the isle. These are the things that make family both Blood related, and Life related, truly real family. 

 

Ps.

I want to talk about Venessa's humble spirit and her journey to Africa to hold babies...but time is running out. I will post again soon. But know that She should be landing in Africa now. Pray for her safety, her heart, her health, the children and local adults she is working with, and her spiritual and emotional well being. Not only is Venessa in Africa but our blond friend Julia "bruin" is in Kenya (she boarded her plane sunday, Venessa boarded her plane monday) at the same time as venessa is in Namibia.

3 out of 4 Weddings this summer

"Every Human Longs for love. The possibility that God is Love is almost an overwhelming prospect." ~ Erwin McManus - Soul Cravings

Love is indeed a beautiful thing, and marriage is often a public display to celebrate that union and desire to commit two people together who have fallen in love. This last year has indeed been a year where I have been trying to understand what God's true LOVE is for me. I didn't understand it for the most part other than head knowledge, yet being, going, and being a part of weddings provided me a glimpse into that window. Since this journey, going to weddings this year has been a whole different view and enjoyment for me. 

One thing that I have admired in the last few weddings i have attended is that people's recent desire to have their friends and family to commit to walk with them through the journey. So Beautiful. Marriage is an extension of friendship, from what I can tell and ultimately brings beauty to family, and displays on earth Christ love for the church. Which Christ Love for the church in itself is such a long conversation, I will spare you and stay away from that for now other than I agree. wink. 

This Year there have only been a few weddings (and I am blessed to only attend this year, because I have been feeling like the Girl in 27 Dresses, so the relief is all mine) but they have all been thus far unique and true to each couples personalities. We laughed smiled and I enjoyed each moment. My prayer in general is that God will Bless there unions and will allow them all to continue to see HIM more, as they learn really who each other really are. I do not know from experience but only from what people tell me, that the first year of marriage is hard, and as they walk through together it can make or break the marriage. My prayer for these four is that this first year makes it for them!

1. Dave and Meg Lockwood, 

Meg seems to hold her beautiful heart out for all to embrace and love. And Wow Dave is married....hard to believe my dear friend walked down the isle...There is hope for us all Wink! Anyone who will choreograph a dance with Dave is amazing...I only wrote a song ha ha!  

2. Jacob and Jordan Tracy. 

I have always enjoyed this couple. Their carefree spirit for freedom in life and style as they approach all that is before them. With Bluegrass in the background I was blessed by this wedding, to the setting of winery, to the fantastic music selection! I have known them for a while, and have seen their kind hearts as I am now a new closer friend due to their friendship to one of their Groomsman whom I am fond of.

3. Shiba and Samir: She is indeed like another little sister as she is one of my best friends little sister. What a beautiful cultural wedding, the Indian culture is deep in tradition, and surrounded by family. Even though the weather was hotter than hot...it was worth the heat to witness the entrance on the white horse and the 5 plus times we where served Indian food that I had the change to fill my place with Indian (Dot not feather) Cuisine : ) yummy!

4. Gator and Tuesday Meyer STILL TO COME : ) 

We are going to Catalina, and we get to play mini golf tourney!! What more can you ask for! I just love them!

Two Pictures of Waiting

On May 3rd I was given a bouquet of Stargazer Lilies which had not yet bloomed, by a boy that has indeed become close to my heart. Stargazer lilies I thought to myself, I LOVE these. How could he have known? The fragrance, the vibrant color, the unique curve of each bloom yet the similar star shape of each. I could go on.

Clearly I was excited, and impatient by the end of day 2. My flowers where still only pods and to my eye they had started to loose their luster. 

On the morning of day 3 I stood in my kitchen listening to my morning coffee brew and I stared at them: Why would they not bloom? Had they not been bought for my pleasure and enjoyment? Wasn't there purpose to bring the sweet fragrance into my home? sigh. I would wait yet another day.

That night the flower buyer asked me, "How are your flowers?" to which I began my lament on how excited I was, and how sad I was that my Joy for what was to come in my flowers had not been met. How all I wanted was just one to bloom and then, then I would be happy. No. Actually I wanted all of them to bloom and then I would be happy...but this waiting was starting to wear on me. To which he smiled and looked at my impatient (acting) 5 year old sad face and said, "Melinda, think of it this way: If its taking five days to bloom, then you have five more days to enjoy them, than if they where blooming on the first day that I gave them to you, and you will be able to enjoy them for even longer" 

I paused... shook my head. How correct was he, when all I could do was sit in front of them and say OPEN, OPEN, OPEN like that stupid Mervyn's Commercial! As if being sad, staring at them, would make my waiting shorter. 

The next few days I enjoyed the pod's, I enjoyed the essence of the wait. I began to anticipate the beauty that would be coming with out even being able to see any progress. 

On March 11th, EIGHT 8 DAYS LATER, such a long time to wait, my first pod BLOOMED! Over the next few days I watched each one open in their own time making the vase look prettier and prettier and if I am honest my allergies getting stronger and stronger.  (Yeah I moved them to my room the second they started blooming...yeah I am suffering ha ha, worth it)

As this process moved forward I was struck by the by the fact that this is SO our lives. I claim that I am waiting on the Lord, and the reality is that I am sad, impatient and I don't believe that the end result will be as beautiful. I subconsciously believe that as I wait on God with each passing day the answer will loose its value. If one is truly honest they will find that while waiting on the Lord as trying as it is, that he indeed will fulfill our every needs, often larger than we can imagine, in ways we never thought.

Why do we sit staring wishing and hoping that the "pods" of our life will open today? Why do we question the God of the universe as if he has not and will not answer us? Why in the days I wait do I think I do not hear his voice?

Truth is I hear his voice in the waiting. I choose to anticipate the beauty that is ahead of me, even thought it is hard to wait.

What does LOVE look like?

It has the HANDS to HELP others.

It has the FEET to HASTEN

to the poor and needy.

It has EYES to SEE misery and want

It has the EARS to HEAR the

sighs and sorrows of men.

That is what LOVE looks like.

ST AUGUSTINE

A few weeks ago, My dear friends...made a choice to give up thier wedding gifts in lue of a Giving Fund. To start there marrage off by giving away. so Beautiful really. So amazed at thier hearts to give.

May we be moved to give and continue to give...because we have been blessed. myself included.