So valentines day has come and gone. We are not that big on celebrating our love on just ONE day of the year, but we did get engaged on valentines two years ago... so its kinda special. We had talked about keeping it simple this year, being short on cash due to the recent spending fixing things around the house. We had talked about how we just wanted an enjoyable night together. No roses sent to work... no big extravagant plans... just us together enjoying each other.
Saturday night Garrett actually surprised me. He came home from work, and I was already sitting in bed. He walked in with one long stem red rose and a little box of chocolates. He told me that he knew we didn't have the money for anything big but he wanted to get me something to show he still loves me. It was the sweetest thing EVER! I actually cried... go figure! I am so amazed by the love he shows me. Even when I don't really seem to deserve it, he is so loving. I am so lucky to have him in my life!
Earlier that week, I decided that I was going to do a little something for Garrett. So many times I tell him I love him for so many reasons. Well I decided to make an "I love you because..." box filled with reasons why I love him. Some funny, some serious, some simple. I fixed the box up with pictures from our engagement album. I had some "pre-cut" stripes of paper ready, but decided to list few of the reasons why I love him on notebook paper first. It was such an enriching experience to sit and write out many of the reasons why I love Garrett. I found myself smiling as I wrote each reason. And I found myself falling more and more in love with him as the pen continued to write. I started writing the reasons on my little stripes of paper to realize I didn't have no where near enough for the list I made in my notebook. It ended up being 55 reasons.... the greatest thing.... it was just a FEW of the reasons why I love him. As valetines day approached I found that I could continue adding to the box. I know as the days go by and the years pass I will find more reasons why I love Garrett Amin Shariat-zadeh.... God has blessed me with such a wonderful man to call my husband. I am so thankful that he is mine... I am my beloveds, and he is mine!!!!
Granted... there are times when I think he will drive me crazy :) but I only have to glimpse at a few of those tiny stripes of paper to know that God has me right where He wants me!
I want to encourage each of you to try this... It doesn't have to be for a special occasion... just do it... make a list of the reasons why you love your spouse. You will be amazed by what God reveals to you! Just start writing and see where your heart takes you!
By the way... he loved the box :) But in all honesty.... I think I got more out of it than he did ;)
Until next time...
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
First time for everything
Well, I've decided to start a blog. Not sure how often I will post or who will read anything I write, but here it goes nothing!
I've been thinking about it for a while now and decided that this is the best way for friends and family to keep up with whats going on with the Shariats! From wedding day fun to challenging moments to new additions, this will be a journey of a lifetime! We are both learning what God has called us to be and we strive to live for Him. We may stumble along the way, but this is a journey that God has ordained and we look forward to everything He has in store for us!
For those of you who don't know much about us, we have known each other almost our entire lives. We never would have imagined that God would lead us to the moment when we made commitments before our family and friends to love and cherish each other for better or worse until death do us part! But it's amazing what God can do when you give Him complete control of your furture and dreams. It's actually better than I could have ever dreamed of on my own.
Throughout our younger years we hung out at church events and even during our years together in band. After I, Jenn, went away to college, we kinda drifted apart. It was in 2006 when Garrett was at UAB and I was working at Princeton after my graduation that we reconnected. We caught up with each other and visited a couple of churches together since we were both new to the birmingham area. After one of our visits we ended up going to eat at O'Charley's. It was at this time (unknown to myself) that Garrett started feeling something more for me than just friendship. After a few months, I ended up moving back to Bay Minette (our hometown) to help my mom and step-father with my brother. In the summer of 2007, Garrett came home for a few weeks and we ended up going out each weekend with a group of our friends from church, and everything kinda unfolded from there. We ended up talking more over aim and on the phone and realized that we both knew there was something more to us than just friendship. Over the months, I went to Birmingham to visit a few times, and he came home some as well. Ending up, he moved back to Bay Minette that following Spring.
We got engaged on February 14, 2008! We had mentioned the idea of getting married, but I was expecting a fall engagement at the earliest! I thought it was going to be just a fun valentine's day when Garrett showed up at my house with a bouquet of beautiful roses. I was definitely surprised because he's not really a flower person! I knew that we were going to eat at
O'Charley's, so we headed there first. After that we stopped in for some yummy carmel apple cider from starbucks (it was kinda cold out) and headed for Bayfront in Daphne. After getting scared by swampy critters... we decided to head back to his house to "watch a movie." Upon arriving to his house, he asked if I was ready for my next surprise... As he opened the door there was this pathway of rose petals leading to his family's sunroom. In the sunroom, he had set up a "table for two" with rose petals and candles... it was amazing! His family even had the pool fountain going outside the windows! As he was seating me at the table he told me that this was only the second surprise of the night but that I had four... I was wondering what he had up his sleeve but convinced myself it was nothing too big.... he was just trying to give me a memorable valentine's night.
Come to find out, he made me this amazing cheesecake with a heart of strawberry glaze in the center... as we enjoyed our cheesecake we sipped on some sparkling white grape juice. Of course
I had to have seconds! It was really really yummy! After I finished peice number 2, Garrett asked if I was ready for my third suprise. He went into the house and returned with a homemade card. On the card was a picture of him and me taken a month or so before. As I opened the card, I began to read 1 Corinthians 13...the love chapter... and a chapter that has become so dear to my heart as I have started on my journey with Garrett. On the right side of the card was a poem that he had written for me. It told of how much he loved me and how thankful he was for me... It was utterly amazing! I didnt realize that the end of the poem would hold so much meaning (I have to let you know that Garrett was probably dying inside at this point because I am a really really slow reader... haha) At the end, the poem read::
You thought that this was it
You thought that was the night
I have one more trick
You might really like
So just turn around, look back, hold out your hand
And won't you please make me the world's happiest man.
As I turned, I saw Garrett, down on one knee. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and told me that he had wanted to ask me this question since the day he had met me.... at this point I am crying like a baby and respond with "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" (I was just a little shocked!) But of course I followed it up with a prompt "YES!!!" The ring fit too! He told me so before sliding it onto my finger! haha!
I never thought that my valentine's day would turn out like this, and I never thought a proposal could be so romantic. I am so thankful that God brought Garrett and I together!
We became Mr. and Mrs. Shariat on May 16, 2009! We got married at our home church, First Baptist Church in Bay Minette. We then went to the Bay Minette Civic Center for some food, fun, and ... you guessed it.. dancin!!! I do have to say it was one of the best days of my life! The whole event from batchelorette party to wedding rehearsal and dinner, to wedding, to the honeymoon was absolutely amazing!
We had a luau for our wedding rehearsal dinner! It was so much fun! We had the dinner over at Garrett's parents out by their pool! It was a blast!
The day of the wedding the girls and I all went to get our hair done together at Marilyn's Hair Fashions in Bay Minette. At least most of us went! After that we headed to the church to get our makeup done and get dressed for the big event!!!! I have to say I wasn't too nervous until I walked out of the bridal room and heard the music playing. I knew that Garrett was already waiting for me at the front of the church, and I couldn't wait to be at his side! I saw nothing but his amazing smile as I walked down the isle toward my beloved.
When we went to light the unity candle, we were so focused on each other that we forgot our cue to light the candle!!! The pastor had to repeat his line and a few in the audience giggled and cleared their throats before we realized we were supposed to be doing something! haha
Now we can focus on us!
"And I now pronouce you Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Shariat. You may kiss you bride!"......
ahhhhhh.... bliss!
The reception was amazing! We had regular dancin... iranian dancin... slow dancin... food... and tons of fun! If you want to see some pics of that check out my facebook page! There are tons!
We went on a cruise for our honeymoon. We left out of Miami (gorgeous) and went to Jamaica (A.MA.ZING), grand cayman (Beautiful) and belize (it was really breathtaking on the island we went to but I didn't like the feel of the beach so much... rocky then squishy!).... We had an amazing time!!!! So ready for our 1 yr cruise to relive some of the memories!
The first 9 months of marriage have been... well... not sure how to describe it in one word. I can tell you that we have had some amazing times together and some frustrating times too (but who doesn't when you are learning to be selfless and love someone else unconditionally). We have learned a little of what it means to become one flesh, and we have gotten a glimpse of the love our God has for us.
We have been through alot together during these first few months of marraige, but we have come out stronger because of it. I have seen God move in so many ways, showing us that we are right where He wants us to be.
He has taken something that two humans thought was great and is transforming it into something that is a beautiful and breathtaking.... and the great thing is... He isn't finished yet!
I am so excited to see where He is taking us on this journey with Him!
I have so much more to learn about being a godly wife and hopefully one day, a godly mother. I strive to be a proverbs 31 woman in a modern day setting. I guess this is one reason why I wanted to start this blog. I want to share with others what God is doing and continues to do in my heart as a woman... as a wife... as a daughter...as a friend.... as a nurse!
I also want to be able to share with others what God is doing with the Shariats as we continue on our journey of a lifetime!
Until next time...
I've been thinking about it for a while now and decided that this is the best way for friends and family to keep up with whats going on with the Shariats! From wedding day fun to challenging moments to new additions, this will be a journey of a lifetime! We are both learning what God has called us to be and we strive to live for Him. We may stumble along the way, but this is a journey that God has ordained and we look forward to everything He has in store for us!
For those of you who don't know much about us, we have known each other almost our entire lives. We never would have imagined that God would lead us to the moment when we made commitments before our family and friends to love and cherish each other for better or worse until death do us part! But it's amazing what God can do when you give Him complete control of your furture and dreams. It's actually better than I could have ever dreamed of on my own.
Throughout our younger years we hung out at church events and even during our years together in band. After I, Jenn, went away to college, we kinda drifted apart. It was in 2006 when Garrett was at UAB and I was working at Princeton after my graduation that we reconnected. We caught up with each other and visited a couple of churches together since we were both new to the birmingham area. After one of our visits we ended up going to eat at O'Charley's. It was at this time (unknown to myself) that Garrett started feeling something more for me than just friendship. After a few months, I ended up moving back to Bay Minette (our hometown) to help my mom and step-father with my brother. In the summer of 2007, Garrett came home for a few weeks and we ended up going out each weekend with a group of our friends from church, and everything kinda unfolded from there. We ended up talking more over aim and on the phone and realized that we both knew there was something more to us than just friendship. Over the months, I went to Birmingham to visit a few times, and he came home some as well. Ending up, he moved back to Bay Minette that following Spring.
We got engaged on February 14, 2008! We had mentioned the idea of getting married, but I was expecting a fall engagement at the earliest! I thought it was going to be just a fun valentine's day when Garrett showed up at my house with a bouquet of beautiful roses. I was definitely surprised because he's not really a flower person! I knew that we were going to eat at
O'Charley's, so we headed there first. After that we stopped in for some yummy carmel apple cider from starbucks (it was kinda cold out) and headed for Bayfront in Daphne. After getting scared by swampy critters... we decided to head back to his house to "watch a movie." Upon arriving to his house, he asked if I was ready for my next surprise... As he opened the door there was this pathway of rose petals leading to his family's sunroom. In the sunroom, he had set up a "table for two" with rose petals and candles... it was amazing! His family even had the pool fountain going outside the windows! As he was seating me at the table he told me that this was only the second surprise of the night but that I had four... I was wondering what he had up his sleeve but convinced myself it was nothing too big.... he was just trying to give me a memorable valentine's night.Come to find out, he made me this amazing cheesecake with a heart of strawberry glaze in the center... as we enjoyed our cheesecake we sipped on some sparkling white grape juice. Of course
I had to have seconds! It was really really yummy! After I finished peice number 2, Garrett asked if I was ready for my third suprise. He went into the house and returned with a homemade card. On the card was a picture of him and me taken a month or so before. As I opened the card, I began to read 1 Corinthians 13...the love chapter... and a chapter that has become so dear to my heart as I have started on my journey with Garrett. On the right side of the card was a poem that he had written for me. It told of how much he loved me and how thankful he was for me... It was utterly amazing! I didnt realize that the end of the poem would hold so much meaning (I have to let you know that Garrett was probably dying inside at this point because I am a really really slow reader... haha) At the end, the poem read::You thought that this was it
You thought that was the night
I have one more trick
You might really like
So just turn around, look back, hold out your hand
And won't you please make me the world's happiest man.
As I turned, I saw Garrett, down on one knee. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and told me that he had wanted to ask me this question since the day he had met me.... at this point I am crying like a baby and respond with "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" (I was just a little shocked!) But of course I followed it up with a prompt "YES!!!" The ring fit too! He told me so before sliding it onto my finger! haha!
I never thought that my valentine's day would turn out like this, and I never thought a proposal could be so romantic. I am so thankful that God brought Garrett and I together!
We became Mr. and Mrs. Shariat on May 16, 2009! We got married at our home church, First Baptist Church in Bay Minette. We then went to the Bay Minette Civic Center for some food, fun, and ... you guessed it.. dancin!!! I do have to say it was one of the best days of my life! The whole event from batchelorette party to wedding rehearsal and dinner, to wedding, to the honeymoon was absolutely amazing! We had a luau for our wedding rehearsal dinner! It was so much fun! We had the dinner over at Garrett's parents out by their pool! It was a blast!
The day of the wedding the girls and I all went to get our hair done together at Marilyn's Hair Fashions in Bay Minette. At least most of us went! After that we headed to the church to get our makeup done and get dressed for the big event!!!! I have to say I wasn't too nervous until I walked out of the bridal room and heard the music playing. I knew that Garrett was already waiting for me at the front of the church, and I couldn't wait to be at his side! I saw nothing but his amazing smile as I walked down the isle toward my beloved.
When we went to light the unity candle, we were so focused on each other that we forgot our cue to light the candle!!! The pastor had to repeat his line and a few in the audience giggled and cleared their throats before we realized we were supposed to be doing something! haha
Now we can focus on us!"And I now pronouce you Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Shariat. You may kiss you bride!"......
ahhhhhh.... bliss!The reception was amazing! We had regular dancin... iranian dancin... slow dancin... food... and tons of fun! If you want to see some pics of that check out my facebook page! There are tons!
We went on a cruise for our honeymoon. We left out of Miami (gorgeous) and went to Jamaica (A.MA.ZING), grand cayman (Beautiful) and belize (it was really breathtaking on the island we went to but I didn't like the feel of the beach so much... rocky then squishy!).... We had an amazing time!!!! So ready for our 1 yr cruise to relive some of the memories!
The first 9 months of marriage have been... well... not sure how to describe it in one word. I can tell you that we have had some amazing times together and some frustrating times too (but who doesn't when you are learning to be selfless and love someone else unconditionally). We have learned a little of what it means to become one flesh, and we have gotten a glimpse of the love our God has for us.
We have been through alot together during these first few months of marraige, but we have come out stronger because of it. I have seen God move in so many ways, showing us that we are right where He wants us to be.
He has taken something that two humans thought was great and is transforming it into something that is a beautiful and breathtaking.... and the great thing is... He isn't finished yet!
I am so excited to see where He is taking us on this journey with Him!
I have so much more to learn about being a godly wife and hopefully one day, a godly mother. I strive to be a proverbs 31 woman in a modern day setting. I guess this is one reason why I wanted to start this blog. I want to share with others what God is doing and continues to do in my heart as a woman... as a wife... as a daughter...as a friend.... as a nurse!
I also want to be able to share with others what God is doing with the Shariats as we continue on our journey of a lifetime!
Until next time...
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