extra pulp please.

I am not much of a coffee drinker ... unless it is sweet, creamy, and absolutely yummy. Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and all other sugary additives are welcome. When asked how I like my coffee, I would respond, "white" instead of "black". It's just how I roll {although I occasionally enjoy a small cup of black coffee after a delectably rich dessert}. Erik is my morning-coffee-drinking husband. Since being married, my coffee consumption has increased due to the yummy concoctions he creates for me in the morning, usually including a scoop of ice cream in place of creamer {it's heavenly, unhealthy, but heavenly}.
However, we recently ran out of coffee. OH NO!!! Well, that wasn't my reaction {more of a shoulder shrug}. Much to my surprise, my coffee drinking husband didn't ask if we could refill our coffee supply ... instead he asked for orange juice. I gladly responded with "let's go get some!". It was late at night {maybe even after 10pm} and we made a trip to the store {I love late night spontaneity!}, purchased cereal, milk, toilet paper, and orange juice. Mmmm. We both agreed that we LOVE the pulp as it tastes more like an actual orange that way. {Another reason we were meant for each other? I think, yes} The next morning, we filled our glasses and realized what we have been missing. Why has it been so long since I've purchased orange juice? I am embarrassed to say, I don't know. {My sister would have a heart attack if she knew it had been months since I've purchased her early morning life-line}

Today, I started off my morning right, with a good morning kiss from the cutest man ever, and nice tall glass of extra pulpy-orange juice. MMmmmmm!

Precious

I had to steal a picture from my sister-in-law's blog to show off our little niece ...
She is beautiful!

Shalom, your Uncle Erik and Aunt Julie are very excited to meet you! We have been praying for you every day and we love looking at the pictures we get from your Aunt Sarah. We will see you soon!

Call Me Auntie

Yes, it is true. I am an aunt. I have a new little tiny niece and a young little nephew. I have yet to meet the two little people that make me an aunt, but I can't wait until I get to hug them and love them like only an aunt can. Come to think of it, I have yet to see pictures of my little niece, that's how new she is! I don't really know anything about being an aunt, but I am certainly excited to learn. Now I really need to start remembering birthdays, as I would like to be the kind of aunt that remembers important things like that. I want to be as involved as I can from a few hundred {if not thousand} miles away. I will always pray for their lives, that they may grow and live in the Lord.

I can't wait to meet them.

Someday, little ones, someday soon!

{The Lord at Work}

It was quick, it was short, and it was unplanned. It was emotional and it was uplifting.

We saw the Lord at work.

Last Monday, Erik and I boarded a plane set for Kentucky, with heavy hearts and intense emotion. We were on our way to a funeral, to bury not one, but 9 members of our extended family. We had only seen them once and only met them briefly, but we felt the overwhelming need to be together during this difficult time.

On Tuesday, March 30th, 2010, 8 members of the Esh family, along with a fiancé and a family friend, were celebrated, honored, loved, and buried after being called home just a few days earlier in a car accident. They were a family dearly loved and it was truly incredible to see the Lord’s work through their lives.

They were family to us as in-laws (it was our brother-in-law’s dear family), but much more importantly, they are family to us through Christ.

Families opened their homes to strangers, cooked food for thousands, and loved as the Lord’s calls us to love. It was remarkable to see the outpouring of compassion from such a beautiful community.

The Lord was truly at work.

Our flights were yet another example of the Lord’s provision as they were given to us by my dear sister and her husband.

Again, the Lord was at work …

Our love and prayers are continually with the Esh family as they are truly dear to our hearts.

{P.S. We also can't wait to meet the newest member of our family, due to arrive any day! We better get a phone call when the arrival is made!}

year one.

“… God gave to us this passion play to reenact, right here and now, the story of the ages. This is the story of mankind, the one story we have been telling ourselves over and over again, in every great myth and legend and poem and song. It is a love story, set in the midst of desperate times, set in the midst of war. It is a story of a shared quest. It is a story of romance. {We} are playing out before you now the deepest and most mythic reality in the world. This is the story of God’s romance with mankind.” Love & War, John & Staci Eldredge

“Year One” of the Benson Adventure has been fully recognized and celebrated! To say the least, year one has been a blessing. We have loved, laughed, cried, grown, dreamt, lived, experienced, misunderstood, talked, learned, understood, and LOVED. We attribute this ALL to the LORD as He is the sole reason we are together.

……………

March 21^st, 2010 … sunny, warm, and beautiful … much like we were praying for March 21^st, 2009, but alas, I wouldn’t dream of changing it! It was a perfect day!

Day 1 of the anniversary celebration: rode scooter around Downtown Sacramento.

We have talked about going to Suzie’s, the old fashioned burger joint, every time we drove by, so last weekend, we scootered our way on over. It was just as cute and quaint as anticipated!

We then scootered our way to Old Town Sacramento (one of my favorite parts of my home-town) and stopped at the Candy Barrel to load up a bucket of salt water taffy before our movie date … mmmmm!

After the movie (cute romantic comedy), we scootered to a coffee shop to sit outside, drink deliciously, sweet, chocolatey-coffee concoctions, read, and dream about the coming year.

Our little apartment was a delight to return to after a day on the town. We grilled up some fabulous burgers and retreated early to prepare for day 2.

Day 2: Drive to the Bay Area. We picnicked at the spot. My heart began to race (I’m a nerd, I know!) as we walked up the trail that a year and half ago changed my life!

The first time Erik took me to this spot, I left with a ring and a fiancé. This time, I went with my husband. We had a wonderful lunch while on top of the cliffs that extend over the bay.

The Golden Gate Bridge decorated our view as we ate and read and talked some more. After our long, relaxing afternoon, we treated ourselves to a few trinkets downtown and to a quiet dinner while being serenaded by the notes of a jazz guitarist. It was perfect.

Day 3: Relax some more! Early morning coffee date, shopping, and movie watching … all while holding hands.

We didn’t need a “weekend away” to enjoy each other and refresh our souls. We prayed together and praised the Lord for the many great blessings He has bestowed on us thus far. We know HE had great things in store for the coming years!

WE are BLESSED to be TOGETHER.

…………..side-note………………

Erik and I are reading a book called "Love & War" along with some friends of ours. It is written by John & Staci Eldredge, who are the authors of “Wild at Heart” and “Captivating” (respectively). These are two books that Erik and I have both read (at different times in our lives) and we have developed a true respect for the passion this couple has for God above all else. “Love & War” is their “marriage” book and it is different than every other marriage book we have read. They communicate over and over again the reason God created marriage … as the example, or symbol, of God’s love, redemption, and salvation to mankind. It is the closest we will get to ever knowing the true, pure fellowship He craves to have with us. BREATHTAKING.

This truly is an incredible adventure and I am so blessed to be able to pursue oneness with my Lord along side my best friend.

... Oh, Irish Green ...

{In honor of St. Patrick's Day}

Short Story:
Two weeks after I graduated from college, I boarded a plane set for Ireland. I convinced a friend to accompany me on my Irish adventure and we set out in search of just that, an adventure. For four months, we worked, we traveled, we lived, we learned, and we loved everything Irish. It was a blessing, a journey, a life-changing experience.

Oh, how I miss Ireland. I dream of the day I get to walk through the green fields, smell the turf, and climb the MacGillicuddy's Reeks surrounding the town of Killarney ... with my husband. I want to show him the castles we stormed, the trails we rode, the fields we danced in ... I want him to be a part of my Irish Adventure!

Ross Castle: Home of our afternoon picnics and journal sessions

The view on our drive through the Ring of Kerry

An Abbey we found driving around

An Enchanted Castle: The Killarney Castle
A friend from work took us through private property to show us this castle ... unknown to tourists ... truly, a hidden treasure!

Dreaming

Today, like most days, I am dreaming of Rome. I have been blessed with the opportunity to have walked the grounds of the Coliseum, sat on the Spanish Steps, gazed upon the Sistine Chapel, strolled along side the Vatican, and I even threw a penny into the Trevi fountain to ensure I would soon return with the love of my life. It has been 6 years and I am very ready to revisit the romance with Erik. He has always dreamt of seeing the home of the gladiators and the Roman Empire ... and oh, there is so much romance.

Someday ...

"All Roads Lead to Rome"