Cam & Beth

Two of our best friends got engaged this weekend. 

Cameron Kinch took Bethany Ezawa to the church where he asked her to be his girlfriend a year ago. He proposed with his grandmothers ring, then brought her back to his parents house where friends and family were waiting to celebrate. 

Watching her face when she walked in the door was one of my favorite moments. I could relate, because the same thing happened to me a year ago. This day could be described as an overwhelming dream-like rush of happiness and gratitude. It is one of the best and memorable events in a girls life, and it was obvious that Beth soaked up every second of it. 

{Cory and Marie}

Our friends Marie and Cory are engaged! They are two of the most beautiful, creative, and godly people I know. Marie has been my friend since High School, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. Marie is one of those truly unforgettable people. She challenges, inspires, and loves people in ways no one else does. Marie and Cory together are a couple seeking the Lord above all else. I cherish them, I look up to them, and I am so excited for what they will do together through their marriage. 

If you want to see what I'm talking about, just watch this video. It's probably the cutest thing I have ever seen. If you want to support them or learn more about their story or hear more of their music, go HERE.  If you want to see more of cory's awesome videography, you can watch our wedding videos, or visit his website. 

{the roles we fall into}

Jordan and I have been reading "Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts" by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott. We really like this book so far, and today we read the chapter about myth one: "We Expect Exactly the Same Things from Marriage."

We each have unspoken roles and rules that we need to discuss and work through together so that little annoyances and problems don't turn into major issues.

Jordan and I have dealt with this very thing in our own marriage. There are roles I naturally assume and things I just expect him to take care of because that is how I watched it being done through my own parents' marriage. What we decided to do was identify the unconscious roles we fall into.

Here is our list:

Jordan's                             Alli's
navigator                          planner/scheduler
money manager               shopper
problem solver                 cleaner
comedian                          organizer/decorator
doctor                                gift buyer
leader                                 cook
secret keeper                     hostess

Do you think this sounds like us?

We also made a list of rules we want to follow. We both came up with five rules that were important to us, and now we have 10 things written down that we have committed to as a couple. Some of them are as as simple as 'always be on time' and 'wash the dishes after they have been used', but they are still important principles that will create a less stressful life and a healthier marriage.


I highly recommend this exercise for every engaged or married couple.