Category Archives: Christianity

Day 1149 – The Best Day We’ve Had So Far

Posted on by
2

Today was really the best day Bret and I have experienced so far. I mean, there have been a ton of good days, to be sure, but this was one of those….wow, this just gets better and better!

First, the sermon was AWESOME at church. It was on Luke 14:12-24 and the parable of the great banquet. There were a few things that really stuck out to me… first that Jesus is the master of the awkward moment. How he would ask questions that got to the heart of the matter and made people really uncomfortable. I mean, how comfortable are you with your sin? It doesn’t mean he’s trying to be a jerk and leave people in that uncomfortableness, it’s out of love to help us grow. It made me want to grow in making people uncomfortable like that.

Then we met up with Brian and Rebekah, our October 6th couple. We had lunch and then went to their venue, Deer Creek Overlook. We had so many awesome ideas for photographs and just had a super fun time getting to know each other.

After that, Bret and I headed down to Gunpowder Falls State Park – Big Gunpowder Falls Section off Bel Air Road. We’ll be taking engagement/family portraits for Kevin and Caitlin, our March 16th couple, there on Saturday.

The last location we scouted was Rocky Point Beach and Park in Essex. We’ll be taking engagement portraits for Jason and Jennifer, our April 13th couple, in a few weeks.

I will post pictures from each location over the next few days…mostly because I didn’t want to overwhelm you with so many pictures!!

We were driving home and at the end of Rocky Point Road and saw a sign for Island View Waterfront Cafe. I pointed it out in a “hey, look at that, isn’t that neat?” and he said, “let’s go!” We don’t really go out a lot, so I was SUPER excited about it!

We got seats outside and this was our view…

It was just perfect. But then the wind picked up and we felt a few drops…but hoped it would pass…sadly, it started to rain, so we moved inside and this was our view!

I ordered cream of crab soup and it was amazing! One thing I notice in cream of crab soup is if there are “flour clumps that you think are crab.” I think that’s the WORST feeling….you think you’re getting this awesome lump of crab meat and ew no!! There were NO flour clumps! The soup was the perfect amount of creamy, but not too thick. There was a lot of big pieces of crab. AND (this is truly the BEST part of this restaurant) along with the regular salt and pepper shakers…there were OLD BAY SHAKERS on EVERY table! AH! As soon as I finished the soup I wished I had ordered a bowl instead of a cup. Ah! I washed it all down with a Fat Tire.

My meal was a shrimp salad sandwich on a croissant with lettuce and tomato! I also ordered mashed potatoes instead of fries. Old Bay on top of that was just perfect!

Another highlight was seeing two families that arrived and left BY BOAT. How cool is that??

If you’re interested in checking them out (which you TOTALLY should), here’s the specials they had listed on the door outside…I know I’ll be going back for those $1 and $2 crabs!

Day 1143 – Update or Where The Heck Have You Guys Been?? or Life is Wonderful

Posted on by
Reply

OK! So I did post about a week ago giving a mini update on where I was. Today I want to tell you what has been going on for the last month in the lives of the Gaitans!

First, Bret helped out with the Rebel Race again, this time he went to Texas! He left on July 31st and returned on August 22nd. Now, you may remember his musings about losing his job at the beginning of July. He shared what we both feel, bottom line, as he said “It really has been one of the best things to happen to me, and I have been able to give thanks in this circumstance.” We still feel this way, even more so now. The money that he earned in Texas, a payment from the GI Bill and we’re in the green until next year. Yea, you read that right, NEXT year. Bret thinks (and I agree) that it was God just covering our eyes to a certain part of our budget and making it clear the direction we should go (move back in with my family, him work with Rebel Race, etc). God is beyond words good. We are SO thankful!

Second, the day before Bret left, a woman was attacked in her home….right across the street from us. So, we decided that I should stay with my parents while he was gone. This also happened the day after we sent in our lease ending letter. Talk about a clear “yep, you made the right decision to move out” sign!

Third, to catch up on my posts, I thought I would share a few things! So, I’ll backtrack with a few wedding ideas, a few of my favorite wedding vendors and share a few anniversaries!

Lastly, thank you to all my wonderful followers, friends and new readers! I appreciate your understanding and patience about new posts! Our lives are getting back to normal…well, normal for us…so expect posts every day again!!! We have a number of engagement sessions and weddings coming up, so lots to look forward to!!!

Oh! And here is a picture of Bret and I in 29 Palms from a few years ago. The past two months have been a great reminder of what we have…and what we don’t have to worry about anymore….namely, the long distance relationship. As Bret says, we’ve been spoiled getting to see each other every day!

Day 1116 – I Believe in Miracles…Even If It’s Just a GPS

Posted on by
Reply

Today, I drove a friend to Easton, PA…which is about 3 hours from here….about ten minutes from the destination, the GPS was like, um, eh, I’m done working for you today. Powered down and we’re like, oh crap! Thankfully my friend had suggested printing off directions so we were good to finish the journey. I wasn’t driving at the time, but would be driving back…on the ride up I was texting one of my friends to see if she could chat with me as I drove back. She texted a few times to make sure everything was ok on the way up…and after the GPS went kaput, I said, well, if you can pray that the GPS works again, that’d be great! Not a minute or two after I sent the text, the little green light came back on the GPS powered up. It stayed on long enough to charge back up and even though it flickered a few times during the drive back, it worked the whole way home.

So, the moral of today’s story is…it’s ok to pray for small things….

And here’s our GPS…it’s been through a lot….2 and a half cross country trips…a ton of weddings and lots of fun trips….

Day 1114 – Sometimes “Thanks” Just Isn’t Enough….But I’m Going To Try

Posted on by
Reply

Today at church, something awesome happened.

After the service, we’ll typically stay a little while to talk to different people. Sometimes about photography jobs…sometimes about life in general…it’s a great time to catch up with friends.

Today, I was chatting with my sister about a photo shoot next Sunday. At which point Bret walks up with an envelope in his hand. I gave a raised eyebrow, but he said we’ll open it in the car. The anticipation was killing me! I’m not one for waiting when there is something like that! I’m one of those people who opens my mail in the hall or in front of the mailbox…in the middle of the road.

This was the front of the envelope…

We opened it up and found this note…

Inside was a generous gift. We have no idea who gave us this….Bret said some lady he didn’t know handed it to him and she said she was told to give it to him….we have no way of knowing who it was….Well, I would assume it was one of the 300-400 people who regularly attend our church….but it doesn’t matter. I’m sure the person who gave this to us doesn’t want to be known. But, I figured, if there is any way that I can say thank you to that person, it would be through my blog.

Dear Generous Giver,

You have blessed Bret and I more than you know. We were brought to tears (ok, just me) because of your gift. So far it has helped us fulfill immediate obligations and allowed us to have sweet fellowship with each other before Bret has another stint with his temp job. We are very grateful. We are very humbled. Thank you for seeing a need and filling it. I have always thought I wouldn’t be on the receiving end the “pray for food and hear a knock on the door with groceries on the other side” stories. But now I can say that I am. Thank you for giving us another thing to put up on our thankfulness board. I can’t wait to share how God can care for us through others. Thank you for living out this verse:
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Thank you,
Two very grateful and humbled people

Day 1110 – Guest Post – Bret’s Musings on Losing His Job

Posted on by
7

“A few weeks ago, I lost my job. The timing could not have been worse. I was about two months away from starting the next semester, so I thought it would be hard to find work because nobody would hire someone if their schedule was going to change. But, I needed work now, not when I start school. Additionally, without going into details, it has been financially tough. Jen and I are going to be moving back in with her parents, which will be a humbling experience. Throw on top of that how the economy is, and everyone saying that nobody is hiring, and it seemed overwhelming. I was upset with God, asking Him why this had to happen when our finances were hurting the most, and when it would be so difficult to find a job. However, this caused me to really ask myself where my trust was. Was it in money, or my job, or my marriage, or was it in God? I had to re-shift my focus.

Jen and I have a board on our wall, on which we post things we are thankful for. At the top of the board, we have written, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” So, I put my termination paper up on the board, and after that, trusting in God has been much easier. Then things started to happen which I did not expect.

I found a job helping with Rebel Race. It’s one of the muddy, obstacle races that is trending now. Setting up the courses is tough work, and we are working 10-14 hours, whether it’s pouring rain or 100 degrees. The owner liked how hard I worked and asked me if I wanted to go to New York with them, which I did. They have also asked me if I can help them in the future. This job has been an answer to prayer for a number of reasons. First, we work many hours, which is fine because I have no other obligations right now, and it means I am actually making more money than I was before. Second, it didn’t require any certifications or previous experience. Third, I can work until I go back to school in the fall, which was a concern.

While working with the owner of Rebel Race, an entrepreneur himself, we would talk about starting businesses and being entrepreneurs. About this time, Jen went to a conference for women entrepreneurs and came back with so many ideas for our photography business. Also during this time, Jen and I were house-sitting for friends who own their own business, but were on vacation. These things culminated to me thinking, it would be nice to be my own boss. So, I have decided to start two businesses and write two books, one of which I have already begun writing. So many people think that job security is having a full time job working for someone else, but as I read someone say, “If you can lose your job from two words ‘you’re fired’, that is not job security.” I also find the idea of working my butt off to create a business, being the one responsible for how it does and how much money I make, and being able to take a vacation, very appealing.

I won’t say at this time what either of the businesses are, or what the books will be about, but I can’t wait to see where they go. I might fail at all four of them, but that doesn’t scare me. I can’t just start the businesses, because we need some money, so I have been applying to different places. Also, I will stay in college because getting the degree is useful for the markets and audiences that I will try to be reaching later on. All of this would not have come about if I had not lost my job. So, if you read this, or talk to me, don’t feel bad that I lost my job. Please don’t tell me you’re sorry, or that it sucks. I won’t be mad or anything, I understand my friends just want to console me, but I would ask that you rather encourage me. It really has been one of the best things to happen to me, and I have been able to give thanks in this circumstance.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel