Birthday Fun!

This past week has been a busy one - and I have lots to share with you...but I'm so excited about my birthday that I just have to skip ahead and tell you about the big 3-5 and how Ryan made it SO special for me!

He'd already given me my present...back before we went on our weekender vacation trip to Cincinnati - but in case you forgot, here it is:

Lil fancy pants camera!! I have been enjoying the DAYLIGHTS out of that thing. So thankful for his generosity!!

So the morning of my birthday, he set the alarm for 4:00 and by 4:30, he was in the kitchen making me breakfast. And a little before 5:00, he appeared at the side of the bed:

 He made pancakes...and made little faces on them with berries and whipped cream - and made a frame of smoky links...it's a "picture." Get it?

 And fresh fruit with candles in it....

 And a rose.

And coffee. {Of course.} We sat in bed and ate breakfast while we watched episodes of I Love Lucy. {Because at 5 in the morning, your options are news, cartoons, or infomercials...or Lucy.}

When I got ready to leave for work, he was standing by the front door holding a brand new travel mug {to replace the leaky ones we just threw away} and a giant balloon:

He packed my lunch {including a sweet note} and sent me texts throughout the day, telling me how much he was looking forward to spending time with me after work.

I wore my new yellow dress that I'd purchased the night before {with a gift card from my parents} - so after work, we did a little backyard photo shoot in the dress before I changed.

 And then....time for a birthday date with my love!!!!

 We tried out a Mexican restaurant in town that we'd not been to before.

 We cleaned out the chips and salsa before they even took our order!!! I had a chicken enchilada - or rather, a small piece of the enchilada. The rest went home with me!!

(I am NOT that wide....I have no idea what the picture did when it posted!! But it's UNKIND!!!)

Then of course...time to hit up Starbucks for my birthday treat! You might remember that on Ryan's birthday, his card wouldn't work and he couldn't get his free drink. Guess what happened to me? SAME THING!!! But we had a nice barista this time and she gave it to me anyway. It was SO good.

 Then we went to the park {since it was pretty much the first nice day we've had all spring} and just enjoyed time together.

 We went back to the band shell where we had some of our engagement pictures taken and did our own photo shoot. Tripod to the rescue!!

 He's a good man to hit the timer and then jump up on the platform and get in position before the picture actually took!

 And a little dancing.

 Birthday girl!! :)

 Recreating a photo from our dating photo shoot....

 Enjoying sunset.

After the sun went down, we headed home and relaxed for the rest of the evening. It really was the perfect birthday. SO grateful!!

Worth it Wednesday #5

Last week I gave myself an assignment...but I confess I have yet to complete it. Between speaking twice this past weekend and being caught up in birthday fun, I didn't get to sit down and really marinate on the things I assigned to myself.

And I certainly don't want to slop through it. So I shall wait until next week for that.

Meanwhile.

Fred Littlefield was my pastor from about sixth grade through my junior year {or so} in high school. A wonderful man of God, Pastor Fred led our church out of a season of serious hurt and he led this girl in a time of serious personal growth. In all those years when God was forming a personal, Heart to heart relationship with me, Fred preached truth and love...and I absorbed.

After leaving our church, Fred and his wife, Naomi, moved back to Kansas, and I actually had the chance to see them during a visit to my sister...not long before Pastor Fred died. This picture means so much to me:

One of the things he said in a sermon...that has stayed with me all this time...is this: If we put Scripture in our spiritual memory bank, God will pull it out at just the right time.

And it occurred to me that the same principle works for worth.

 When people share words of encouragement with me...words of worth...I try so hard to store up the strength of those words for the day when that one insensitive person says that one insensitive comment and I fall apart.

It's true, you know. A hundred people can say something nice to you and one person {and usually a person who is not even that close to you!} can say one ugly comment and it wrecks everything. One hundred lost pieces of love and one magnified wound.

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was a day of much love-tank-filling in Facebook land. Friends left comments, virtual smiles and hugs, and I felt worth it. Worth their two-to-ten seconds to type a message that let me know they paused to reach out my way.

The same happened here at the blog. Much love from you...some of you even that I've never met in real life! And it made me feel honored that you'd spend time here, reading...and then pausing to write me a note.

There are dozens of other examples, but let me give you three.

My husband set the alarm for 4:00 in the morning, to make sure he was up by 4:30, so I could enjoy this start to my birthday:

Pancakes with faces...coffee...fruit...candles...rose...and I felt worthy.

And last night, after dinner, he took me for a walk in the park and carried the tripod and orchestrated {not begrudgingly agreed to, but orchestrated} a birthday photo shoot for me because he knows how I love photos.

And I felt worthy...of his time...of his love...

My best friend mailed my birthday gift a week or so ago, and against my impatient nature, I put the box on the table and waited until the morning of my birthday to tear into it. And it was not yet 6:00 in the morning before I rushed into the den like a 4 year old on Christmas and ripped the box open...and found this:

I wept. I wept because I need these words. I need to see them on my wall and let them infiltrate my mind. I need them on days when that one person is rude...and I feel worthless. The perfect gift at the perfect time.

And finally...

When I got home from work yesterday, I found a stack of cards awaiting me...and one was from Ryan's grandpa. I've known him since I was a kid...long before I even knew Ryan...and always thought he was a sweet man. But look at this card:

Inside, he wrote me a sweet message and signed it "Grandpa" - followed by "That's what Ryan calls me." I cried right there in the hallway where I read it. My own grandparents all went to Heaven when I was in high school. None of them saw me graduate from high school or college. None were at my wedding. And sometimes I miss being a granddaughter.

And he just adopted me in as his own. Not "To my grandson's wife," but Granddaughter.

Worthy of being family.

Ahhh....these are the moments I need to cling to when people speak without thinking. When their ugly words unglue me and give Satan a voice to say "you're worthless." These are the moments I need to pour into my memory bank to be pulled out at the right time - much like the Scripture Pastor Fred urged me to memorize.

My husband finds me worthy. My best friend finds me worthy. The words on the wall art say I'm worthy. I have a Grandpa who called me worthy.

Clinging to it.

Thirty Five!

Dear Baby Girl...oh you with those big, big eyes and thick, dark hair...

 ...thirty-five years from today you'll still have thick dark hair...and the thick part you'll pay to thin and the dark part you'll pay to have. And those eyes will have ever so recently captured the love and heart of a man who on this day, isn't even on the earth yet. But he will be. God will send him just for you.

And that bewildered look on your face will show up time and time again between now and then, but you hang on. God's writing.

Oh you cheesy five year old girl....with that huge smile...one day, in about thirty years, you'll sit behind an engineering board and make that same face at Lynne before the show goes live on the air every day. Oh you who can't even imagine that one day you'll be in radio. But you will be. So don't lose this cheesy, hammed up way about you. You're gonna need it.

 And speaking of smile...remember that guy I was telling you about? He's gonna love that smile. The real one AND the cheesy one.

Oh sweet, awkward ten year old...this is just a phase. It will pass. And remember that for the years to come, too. It'll pass. And those attitude glasses will get you in trouble, as will many other things in life, but you know what?? You'll work your way through them. And it will pass.

 And you remember that guy? Just be really glad he doesn't know you right now!

Dear sixteen year old girl who spent the night before crying on the stairs because sixteen feels like so much responsibility...you'll cry on the stairs many more times in life, but it's okay because you have what it takes to handle responsibility.

 I see it in your eyes. How you don't love yourself. How most of the time you feel invisible and the rest of the time you wished you could be. One day it'll get better. One day you'll be YOU...not this searching, scared version of you. And that vacant look in your eye will be replaced with sparkle. It's half a lifetime away, but hang on for it. It's so worth it.

Dear twenty-one year old girl, making the best of a dinner out at Cracker Barrel. Today you have a boyfriend. One you think you'll marry, but you won't. One who won't even call you today because it's not a priority to him. But in about fourteen years, you'll find one who will not only call, but the night before your birthday, he'll take you shopping and buy you a new outfit so you can feel pretty on your special day.

 And even though you have no idea what you're about to do with your life, let me tell you...God has some plans.

Dear thirty year old girl who has given up that life and love will ever come about the way you've dreamed...hang on. Hang on and enjoy the friends who are gathering to celebrate you. Hang on and know that it really isn't long now until all those prayers you've cried out...are answered.

Love...your thirty-five year old self.

-So today my sweet Awesome Sauce you are thirty-five and let me tell you, you are so so loved.  I know you waited a long time for me, but I am now here and so proud to be your husband.  You are so beautiful, so wonderful, and so lovely in every way.  Just thinking about you makes me smile.  Our marriage together is unlike none other not only because of the love & laughter we share, but because we know what God brought us thru to get here.   You bring me the kind of joy that people always talk about, but have a hard time finding.  I love you so much sweetheart and I LOVE this life with you.  Thank you for loving me without limits and showing me that love in every way possible. 

                                                 I wanna grow old with you,
                                                                                              Ryan-

Random R&B

That, of course, stands for "Random Ryan & Bekah."

These are just some leftover bits of our vacation that I thought might, in some way, further complete your life. Enjoy!!

This is what happens when you haven't yet figured out the zoom on the new camera, yet you attempt a selfie. WOOPSIE!

 Welcome to Rising Sun!!!

 I feel so small...

 Man, he's handsome. Think I'll marry him!!!

 Trying to not feel sad about coming home....

 Shopping with Ryan - always an adventure.

 Exceedingly thankful this is not the face I wake up to each morning.

 No need for these guys anymore. I have my knight in shining armor.

 And of course, you know it wouldn't be a Shafferland outing without COFFEE!!!

Happy Monday! Hope we brightened your day!!!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday, Ryan and enjoyed a really restful morning before heading home from our birthday bash. It was so cold and rainy - so we were extra thankful that the weekend had been nice! We drove home in the rain...but not before stopping at Sonic!!!!! That was a good day. That evening we had a chance to spend time with his family at his niece's birthday party!

* Monday evening, I was so stinkin' excited to find that my lilacs had bloomed. I've been waiting and waiting on them! Late bloomers this year, but so fragrant and so pretty. Ryan worked hard mowing and trimming our yard, which looks so nice now. {And all the nicer because I didn't have to do it!! I love it that he enjoys yard work and is 80 million times better at it than I am.}

* Tuesday evening, y'all I GOT MY HAIR CUT!!!! When Ryan and I were gone last weekend, it's possible that I ran out of both hairpsray AND gel and was ready to shave my head by the end of the weekend. So promptly upon my return, I made an appointment and chopped every last inch of that hair right off. That in and of itself will probably be a blog post at some point. But for now - the new do:

* Wednesday night, Ryan and I had dinner with Ronda. Dear, dear Ronda, who walked with me closely and faithfully during the dark days of my desert, who flew to Florida for our wedding, who helped us out with reception decorations - STILL hadn't really "met" Ryan. So she cooked a feast that rivaled Thanksgiving, and we enjoyed and evening with her and some of her family. I've missed all of them and it was a joy to be with them again.

* Thursday night, we actually had a night at home! Ryan and I have many plans for working on the actual structure of Shafferland...repairing, updating, sprucing, you name it. And Thursday night we did item #1 - which was to hang this cute star on the outside of the house. And by we, of course, I mean Ryan was the one up on the ladder. I can't believe how much difference a 2 foot star makes. Quite classy. 

* Friday evening I was invited to speak at Eastview Wesleyan's women's banquet - which was so much fun. The ladies were sweet and I loved the chance to share with them about new beginnings! After the evening was over, Ryan and I had our coffee and dessert date, but here's a photo from the banquet. And no, I wasn't singing.

* And yesterday was the most perfect Saturday. Ryan worked in the morning, so I stayed in bed until noon, watching DVR'd shows and scrapbooking! Then I got up and did some housework - and then - I had another first! Went to a wedding and had a date! My friend Rachel {who used to be my student worker and is my fellow writing lover and photography lover} got married to Jordan last night and we went to the wedding!

The Saturday Six

One.

Earlier this week, I ran across this post which just made me laugh. I'm not a mom, so I can't identify with all of it, but if I did, I would be right beside her on number 5. 

Two.

I fell in love with this Dayspring Wooden Caddy when I got it for my mom for Christmas. So, you know, when they ran a killer sale earlier this year and I could get it for about eight bucks...I jumped right on THAT!! :) I decided to put it in my bathroom to hold makeup brushes, lotion, cotton balls, etc. LOVE the way it looks and the way it has cleaned up my counter top! :)

Three.

Source

That Lynne Ford. She can get me to eat just about anything. This week's adventure was trying out Yasso bars. They are made from frozen yogurt, come in fruit flavors, and have no fat, six grams of protein and 80 calories. Okay! I'll try that! I had the raspberry kind first and then strawberry. Not gonna lie - they were way more flavorful, creamy, and filling than I imagined they would be. They're not moose tracks, but they do satisfy my neeeeeeed for ice cream without making me blow the healthy eating.

Four.

In cleaning out some things on the computer, I ran across this post, which was our inspiration to serve ice cream instead of cake at our reception. Much like the bride and groom in the post, our original intent had been to serve the ice cream to each guest, but we were afraid people would get cranky about long lines, so in the end, we delegated that task.

Five.

Source

I'm not known for my green thumb. {Just ask Lynne about the plant I killed in one day flat.} But I love this post by Susan about what she's planting on her porch - and especially her advice about a planter that "thrills, fills, and spills." Excited to put together our outdoor area!!

Six

I don't really frequent Bob Evans, but I went there now and then growing up and found that their honey mustard is the best in the world. I love honey mustard, but there's an art to making it not too honey-ey and not to mustard-y. So I guess I've become kind of a honey mustard snob. I used to buy theirs by the pint because it was worth having at home, but the last few times Ryan and I have gone there for dessert dates, I found no honey mustard on the shelf. And then this week....TA DAAA!! It was back!!!!! I'm a happy girl. :)

1st Annual Shafferland Birthday Trip: Ziplining. No. For Real!

Marrying Ryan has certainly made me embrace adventure. I love that he challenges me to step outside my comfort zone but understands I'm flat out scared out of my ever loving mind and is willing to meet me halfway.

The ziplining was actually my idea. When I was looking on the Creation Museum Website, I searched around the tab for things to do in the area and saw that Dagaz Acres offered a discount with the purchase of the Creation Museum tickets. So I asked Ryan if he would be interested in working a zipline side trip into our vacation.

Sure took a lot of arm-twisting (HA!), but he said yes.

So Saturday afternoon, after we'd spent a few more hours at the Creation Museum, we headed about 45 minutes away to this little place WAY out in the country and signed away our very lives in favor of strapping ourselves to cables and flying through the air!

 By the way, it's pronounced "de-gah." I asked because I planned to talk about it on the air. Sure was glad I asked because old Classy McClasserson here would have called it "that day-gaz acres place."

They have room to take up to 14 people at a time on a tour, but Ryan and I were the only ones who signed up for that slot, so we got our own private tour! That turned out to be an actual blessing from God {not kidding there} because I wasn't as nervous with an audience of only Ryan and the two guides who went with us. Plus it was just more fun to have it reserved for the two of us, since it was our birthday trip and all.

We were early but they were ready for us, so we actually got started almost as soon as we arrived. They took us to a little barn and suited us up with our harnesses, gloves, and helmets.

 Then they took us to a demonstration area to show us how it would work when they strapped us in and attached us to the cable, and so we could take a "practice feel" for how it worked. Ryan had done this before and is generally afraid of nothing, so he didn't really need this step, but he humored me.

As for me...well...this was adventure enough right here!!

 The guy above is Zane, who was one of our guides. He and Cody, the other guide, were FANTASTIC. I'm sure they went home that night and said, "Man you should have seen this nutso woman on the course today. She was scared out of her mind and it was SO FUNNY!" {At least that's what I would have said if I'd been them.}

Zane fastened me in and showed me how to hold the rope and clasp and NOT get my hand in the way of the cable which would ruin my manicure. {Actually he never said those words but that's the reality of the situation and I knew it.}

And here's your Bits girl...on the demo line.

 DONE!!
Okay just kidding. We weren't done.

We did the smaller {easier, lower, kid version...take your pick} of the two courses they offer, and the thing that was so great about this one for a chicken like me was that there were seven lines {WHA???} and all but one of them started this way:

 Wowsa. Back views are humbling. LOL!! Anyway, the point is...we ran down a hill until we couldn't touch the ground anymore and then we flew across to the other side and ran back up a hill. No jumping off platforms and landing on platforms and messing with any sorts of brakes. Just "nice and easy." {I would have possibly punched you in the face if you'd used that term in this moment, though.}

I also loved it that the lines were all side by side, so Ryan and I could go at the same time. Zane always went first, waited for us on the other side, Cody strapped us in, and then we went. After we were safely across, Cody followed. Both Ryan and I had our phones with us, and the guides each took one and used them to take all these pictures {and some video} for us. We appreciated that!

 And of course, when I say we went "at the same time," I mean we started at the same time and then Ryan ran headlong into adventure and I hung onto every square inch of ground that I could, so we ended up not together at all. LOL!!!!!

 See what I mean???

 The guys were really understanding about me being so scared...and they were kind to let me have whatever moments I needed to get my courage up, but they also were good to say, "GO!!" and make me go.

 After a few lines, I got a little bit more comfortable with it. And by that I mean, I was able to stop praying for the nausea to go away. LOL!

 That's more a smile of relief at the sight of ground than the thrill of the ride. :)

 This one above is the one that REALLY freaked me out. This is the one in which we had to jump off a platform. I was on the lower one and my hands are cold and sweaty just even writing about how it felt to jump off a platform. Seriously. I didn't like that at all. {As you might be able to tell from my awkward pose back there.}

And then...this. If you listened to BLT yesterday, THIS is the photo we talked about on the air. This photo encapsulates the entire experience of "Ryan and Bekah go ziplining."

 In the front, my handsome husband just sitting back, enjoying the flight, with his muscles engaged, his face relaxed...he's a poster child, really, for the joy of ziplining. And in the back...well...we call me Duck Woman now and with good reason. What kind of form IS THAT????

It's true that I felt the wild kicking {a la a duck under water} would somehow help the ground meet me sooner...and so there I was, in Lynne's words, a 2013 version of Lucille Ball...

It's okay. Laugh. I deserve it. I laugh with you.

But in the end....WE MADE IT!!

Seven lines. No broken nails bones...no broken cables...and two very happy birthday kiddos!!!!