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

Posted on September 2, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

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 1148 – Guest Post – Bret’s Musings On Working With The Rebel Race

Posted on September 1, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

“My last post was about losing my job and being encouraged to start my own businesses and write a couple books. During this past month, I have had some really neat experiences, which I want to talk about.

I went to Texas for a few weeks working for Rebel Race. As I said in my last post, the work was tough, we worked every day, and sometimes all day. That experience was a blessing because I got to spend time with another entrepreneur, which meant I got to see lots of ways to run a business. I also learned some about construction, even if they were just obstacles, and got to see Texas and some of the rest of the states in between.

We drove to Texas in U-haul trucks. That was interesting because I had never driven a truck that long; I think it was like 35 feet. For the first couple hours I was by myself, going down lanes that were narrowed because of construction, with semi trucks getting a little closer than I was at first comfortable with. After stopping at a few hotels, and getting a flat tire, we eventually made it.

The race was set up in a little town about 20 minutes south of Dallas. I did get some time to see Texas. I got to get BBQ a couple times, and went to a local bar a couple times with the other guys I was working with. I also found a neat place to work out so that was a blessing. I also got bit by fire ants which was a first, saw some really weird spiders, and so many grasshoppers that I thought it was a plague. I didn’t see much of Dallas. It had way too many freeways and buildings for me so I wasn’t really comfortable there.

Probably the most notable experience of working with Rebel Race for the past few races has been getting to work with a range of people. In Maryland, I got to work with a man who was probably about 60 years old, rode his bicycle to the event, and slept under one of the canopies during the nights. After the last day of work, I offered to give him a ride, which he was thankful for. Through talking with him, I realized he was homeless, but he wouldn’t allow me to take him much further than Towson because he didn’t want me to go out of my way. But, I got to talk to him about God and being thankful in all circumstances, which I felt really uncomfortable doing knowing that I was going to be sleeping in a bed that night. But he was so thankful for the things I said. He started telling me about a number of bad circumstances in which he felt he had no other explanation for getting out of except that God had helped him. Really remarkable was that he started crying because he was so thankful for the things he had, which were pretty much a few clothes, a bike, and some work a few days a week. I couldn’t believe it; a homeless guy was so thankful for the things he had that he was crying. I reminded him that he already had the most important thing he ever needed. He told me that he was ashamed that he felt he had been thinking only about himself lately, but that he wanted to remember the ways that God had blessed him. I got to pray with him before he rode off, and I was just so humbled by that experience.
In my next post I will share an inspiring experience about not giving up. Until then, I hope that reading about these things will help some of you the way they have helped me.”

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Day 1145 – Bret’s Musings Replaced by Pigs and Coffee Dates with Friends

Posted on August 29, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

Today I got a call from my friend Heather, seeing if I was free to grab coffee. I have to say, this is one of my FAVORITE things about working from home! Being able to drop everything and go see a friend! We had a really wonderful chat.

I took a quick picture of the key chain I gave her for her birthday…

I also showed her the blog post I wrote about her and got her reaction…

So, you know today is supposed to be Bret’s musings….and you also know it’s been a while since he was able to write a guest post….between traveling halfway across the country, starting school again, writing a book and working on his business…he’s been a little busy. Instead of nagging him….again….to write a post, I figured I would replace him….with pigs….

Ok ok, so I didn’t replace his post completely….he was actually there with me watching the pigs…

This is his “I’m not photogenic face”…

So why were we watching pigs? Well, it was our now annual trip to the state fair! As last year, we spent very little. We got our honey again. Very tasty! And we grabbed a basket of candy. That was it! It’s just fun to walk around, look at everything, try and win a scratch off at the Maryland Lottery booth (this year we won a hat and sunglasses) and avoid the shouts of the carneys running the games! All in all, a great trip and wonderful day!

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

Posted on August 27, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

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!