It's official.

We just got back from seeing Marley and Me. What is it about those blessed canines that just make their way into your heart without asking permission? I never really understood how people could be so obsessed with their dogs. I guess it's just one of those things that you just really can't understand until you fall in love yourself. It's weird how I cannot even imagine our life without Sadie anymore. She truly is a part of the family. It would be so weird to come home and not see her smiling face with her energetic tail wagging as fast as doggedly possible. In case you were wondering about the word "doggedly," it is a word, because I made it up. Instead of as fast as humanly possible.... yeah... you get it now. Anyway. It would be funny if humans got as excited to see one another as dogs get when they see you for the first time after a long day. Excited high pitched noises... lots of energy... jumping up on each other... maybe a little excited pee.... you get the picture. It's amazing how much a dog can love you without you having to do anything. I mean, Sadie is exceptionally spoiled and loved, but if you take out the trips we take her on, adventures to the dog park, the extra long massages and petting treatments, the special dog bones we buy, her new toys (geez, I didn't mean for this list to get that long....). Anyway... all I meant to say was that I know that she would give me the same love if all I did was feed her twice a day and pet her once in awhile. She asks for nothing really and has unconditional love for everyone. She gives such an innocent, pure love so freely. I'm going to make fun of myself later for writing all of this. But in moments of honesty like this, I can tell you straight out that I'm history. An official, bonafide, crazy, dog lover person.

When Scott and I got our first pet, we went a little over board. Our beautiful blue beta fish (Stuart Little Esquire the I) was very spoiled for a beta. We went all out with a nice size tank, plants for him to hide in, a bridge he could swim under, and special water conditioning treatments. We spent quite a while researching how to make our fish the happiest little fish that ever swam on the earth. When we announced our new pet to the Van Sande family and excitedly exclaimed about our new purchases for little Stewie, Michael (brother in law) said,

"WOW. YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO GET A DOG."

And that's how it started I suppose. I guess we really need to have a kid now so that we don't sound like such big idiots when we talk about our puppy.

Merry Christmas!

Morgan was nice enough to volunteer her photography skills so we could get a Christmas picture out this year.  Here are a few of our favorites:

When I grow up

I spend a lot of time thinking about "what I want to be when I grow up."  Society starts us young.  When we are in junior high, we take career tests and have career day to figure out what job fits who we are and what do we want to do with our lives.  When we enter high school, it's a whole new world.  Suddenly teachers start saying, "I have to prepare you for when you get into the real world.  College is going to be much harder so you'll thank me later."  When you're a sophomore, suddenly fliers and posters start popping up everywhere screaming that you need to hurry and start getting prepared for your practice SAT or ACT.  Then junior year comes and you better be prepared for actually preparing for senior year.  After all, there's thinking about where you want to go to college which inevitably forces you to pick a major which forces you to try and think about what you want to do with the rest of your life.  How many people can answer that question at 17 or 18?  I wished I was like the friend who was just so sure and positive that she wanted to be a 1st grade teacher since the ripe age of 10.  And then there's me.  And now that I'm 23... and I still don't know?  Just thinking about it gives me a headache.  Do I want to own my own coffee shop?  Be a psychologist? Run a music studio? Be a worship leader? Be a high school teacher? Teach college psychology courses?  Maybe I should go back to music therapy?  Gosh, maybe I'm supposed to be a mom.  All of these ideas have run through my head throughout the course of the past 4-5 years.  And while I still don't know, my dad said something to me on Wednesday that makes a whole lot of sense and this is the conclusion I'm coming to.

Maybe it shouldn't be that hard.  Maybe if God wanted me to figure it out, he would put me on the right path, open those doors, and plant me where I'm supposed to be.  Maybe I'm supposed to stop thinking about searching for that one magical path I think I'm supposed to be on and just live.  Maybe I'm supposed to study the smiles of the people that I see every day and live every moment for God.  Maybe I'm supposed to travel, to study people, to focus on how best I can love my life.  I want to love my husband as much as I possibly can.  I want to play with my pup every day and enjoy teaching her new tricks.  I want to lay on my couch and look at at the ceiling thanking God for how much he has blessed me with the amazing house he gave us.  I want to study my walls and how I can decorate them in the cutest way possible.  I want to spend time with my family and best friends and love the fact that I can invest in such awesome relationships every day.  I want to focus on my inner joy and how I can best let it bubble out of me like a brook running and tripping over large rocks on it's way to the river.  Wow... I just got a little carried away.  But anyway, that sounds so incredibly exciting compared to worrying about a career and what I'm supposed to "do with the rest of my life" and what "career would best fit my personality."  Maybe we're not all built for careers.  Maybe "what I want to be when I grow up" is just the best person that I can possibly be for God, for my friends, and for my family.  

Traditions... Psshhhhhhhh

Soooooo what's up with the "save the top of the wedding cake for 1 year" tradition? Our wedding cake was ridiculously tasty on November 10th, 2007. It was.... NOT SO TASTY ON November 10th, 2008!! And what a waste! The big fat cake top sat in our freezer for a whole year (well... part of the year... thanks Mom and Dad Van Sande....) and then didn't even taste a fraction as good a year later. Why didn't we eat it right after the wedding when we had the chance!? Traditions..... this one is dumb. Don't do it! Eat it when it still is tasty! It was fun to see my beautiful cake again though... even if it wasn't as pretty the 2nd time around!!:)

Last year............

This year.....

Anniversary Weekend

We spent our 1 year anniversary weekend in Sedona in a cute little cottage at the Briar Patch Inn. It is a Bed and Breakfast right on Oak Creek where you get your own little cottage all to yourself! It was the perfect spot to celebrate our first year together. Here are some pictures taken around our cottage.

The cottage had a cozy wood burning fire place and they provided us with fresh cut wood every morning. The breakfasts were delicious as well!
On Saturday, we spent most of the day exploring, relaxing, and reading by the fire. We took a 6 mile hike on Sunday to explore The Call of the Canyon, a famous hike in Sedona. It is popular for a good reason!! It was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on and we tremendously enjoyed the cool weather and beauty of the forest.
It was a wonderful weekend and we look forward to going back soon. We heart Sedona!

1st year memories

One Year Anniversary

Today we celebrate the genesis of our family. After one year, we want to look back on our Top Ten Favorite Moments of our marriage from the first year:

In no particular order...
1) The week-long escape into paradise for our Caribbean honeymoon cruise
2) Not having to "go home" at the end of the day
3) Decorating our home with Christmas decorations, followed by our first Christmas morning
4) Getting Sadie, the first addition to our new family
5) Trips to Sedona (especially our first weekend mini-moon), Prescott, Flagstaff, and all the other places we went to to get away
6) Finding a new church, another new group of friends, a place we can both get involved together and finally "joining the club" of our young married's group at church
7) Getting to be together and hang out with your best friend every day
8) Shopping for our first house
9) Camping trips where we didn't have to sleep in separate tents
10) Well... You know... ;)

Thanks to all of our closest friends and family members for supporting and loving us through our first year! We love all of you and are so grateful to have you in our life.

-Scott and Brianne

Tagged!

You know you're a serious blogger when you get "tagged" and get excited about it!  I was tagged by Mrs. Bonnie Lewis and am quite pumped about it.  So, thanks for making me feel bloggerificly special Bon Bon!

Random Facts:

1. I have to pee right now.

2. I love red because it is passionate and bold.

3. Worship music makes my heart explode with inner joy.

4. My puppy is cuter than yours if you have one.

5. My husband is amazing and I am super in love like a fairy tale and I'm not ashamed to say it!

6. I want to travel to every country in the world for 1 day and see all the wonders of the world.

7. I am addicted to buying Bath and Body Works soaps when they're on sale.

I'm tagging Kelly, Moriah, Carrington, Jaime, Christi, Aubree, and Jessica.

So I was thinking...

Does anyone else want to move somewhere where it actually gets cold in the winter?  Cuz I do.  The problem is that my dear family members and bestest of friends live here in the blazing hot AZ.  So, I was thinking, it'd be really great if everyone just moved with us?  Who's on board!?!?

Sadie's bff Lucy and a lazy Saturday

Some of our friends have a golden retriever named Lucy. Lucy came over to play and they were best friends immediately. They drank water together, they ate together, they even squatted next to each other during their potty break ha ha....

The third pic is after a lazy Saturday... this is one of her favorite spots.:)

We survived!

The Grand Canyon extravaganza went better than planned!! While it was a little on the chilly side... and that really is an understatement, it really didn't affect the weekend. It was a little disconcerting when Sadie's water froze and we woke up able to see our breath in the tent ha ha, but all in all it wasn't too bad with lots of layers, a nice hot fire, and a heater in our tent. Sadie did soooooo good and we are super proud of her. She had 0 accidents, came when she was called, and did wonderfully in the tent snuggling up to us and helping keep us warm. This was the longest car ride she's ever had as well, and she did great! She slept in the back most of the time and whimpered a little when she had to go to the bathroom. We also found out that she can hold it for about 8 hours in a tent! She's only 3 months old... not sure how that is possible but can't say we mind at all! She was pretty much the star of the show at the rim of the Canyon, and EVERYONE wanted to pet her and play with her. She even managed to make it into a group photo of about 25 Japanese tourists. Wish we would have captured the shot, it was hilarious! All in all, the weekend was quite a success. Great food, great company, great fun, great big hole in the ground. We love camping!

CHRISTMAS!

Can I just say that I am sooooooo excited for Christmas this year!?!?  I am excited for Christmas every year but this year is going to be different I think.  This is the first time that we will celebrate Christmas in our new house which means Christmas lights for the first time on the outside of our house and all new holiday decor!  Also, with my dad and Juli getting married possibly before Christmas or even just being engaged (haven't set a date yet) it is going to be a whole new family dynamic which I am also excited for.  New siblings, new parent, new fun!  Not to mention, Juli makes AMAZING holiday meals I'm sure (I've experienced her cooking on random Sunday afternoons and can only imagine what's in store) and Scott and I would go to drastic measures for her cinnamon rolls!  The air is cooling down, pumpkin spice is in the air, and I can almost taste Thanksgiving already.  So much to look forward to!  Not to mention our 1 year anniversary on November 10th and my 23rd birthday on the 28th!  Then of course I will be an Auntie for the first time in December as well (or maybe early January depending on when he decides to arrive!!)  Yay for fall and Christmas!

Camping! Are we nuts?

Soooo we're going camping this weekend at the Grand Canyon.  Weather.com says it's going to be in the 40's in the day and 15 degrees at night!  Also, 30% chance of p.m. showers on Saturday with wind.  This is also going to be Sadie's first camping adventure.  AND, she can't really "hold it" for more than 4 or 5 hours, so hopefully she will whine when she has to go instead of peeing inside our tent.  AND, hopefully she won't get hypothermia and die from the cold.  AND hopefully she'll let us sleep and not jump all over us trying to lick our faces all night.  That being said, we REALLY want to go!  There are so many unpredictable factors... this could be one really crazy interesting weekend.  Yikes... stay tuned.

Give us a Sign!

When Jesus was on earth, the religious leaders asked Him for a sign to prove His identity and show He was really from God. And where he refused, it seems the Christian church has obliged... But I don't think it's what either of them were looking for.

How often do you look at marquees? I mean really look at them. Read what is says, think about it, reflect even further upon it, and have it actually affect your life. Whether this sign is for a business, a movie, or a church, do you ever care?

Someone I admire greatly, a local pastor here named John Lynch, has a pet peeve that I'm starting to relate to. His classic story is of when he was driving past a church in the middle of another smoldering Phoenix summer, and their marquee out front said: "Think this is hot? Imagine what hell is like!" I hear about that and I just picture this clergyman in his church, sitting, pining over what to put up outside that will really grab people and draw them to his church... And that's what he comes up with.

But it's not just negative messages that undoubtedly come across the wrong way! There are churches preaching a positive message through their marquees that I just can't help but think aren't received as they intended. One church I drive past every day on my way to work has had a couple messages emblazoned in bold letters: "Depressed? Jesus can help." They've had other variations, but all point back to Jesus as being able to help.

What does that mean? Put yourself in the car seat of that passerby that reads that sign... You are depressed, you do need help... But what's Jesus gonna do for you? The general consensus of much of the non-believing world is that Jesus is just some religious zealot that died 2000 years ago. So how in the world is some dead guy going to help them with their depression and their very-much-alive problems?

That is the question I think this sign raises, and I imagine it all too often goes unanswered. Yet the answer is so simple! It's so elementary that it seems too obvious. The answer is this: CHRISTIANS!

After raising from the dead and spending some time with His disciples, one of the last things Jesus said to them before leaving this world is what we now call the Great Commission. It was His pep talk, His marching orders, and His final directive: "Go and make disciples of all nations!" Put simply: "Go tell people about my love!"

The beauty of this and the greatness of the mission God has for this world is that He INTENDS FOR US TO DO THE WORK. Otherwise, why would Jesus ever have left? Don't get me wrong, anything we do, we do by the grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit... He gets all the credit, but we get to take part in His plan. The word "apostle" comes from the Greek word "apostolos," which means MESSENGER. Christ provides us with hope through the grace He offers on the cross, but we are the ones that spread that hope...

Which brings me back to the guy on the freeway reading that sign. While Jesus can most definitely help him, the vehicle through which he can receive that help is none other than Joe Christian. To this guy, "Depressed? Jesus can help" may mean nothing. But how much more may his life be touched, and how willing would he be to stop at that church if it read:

"Depressed? WE would love to help."

I think Christians need to show the world that we care. We know that this world is fallen and that something, many somethings, have gone terribly wrong. And life hurts, and it is not fair, and sometimes it makes us mad... but the very reason Jesus can help is because this is not the way He intended it to be. So He figured out a way to make it right. And rather than attempt to appeal to some self-righteous religious piety and hide our own pain behind Christian jargon, we need people to know that we hurt too. So many people feel they cannot approach Christians and be "real" with them because they always act like they have it all together. I'd like to speak on behalf of all Christians who are willing to be honest when I say that I don't have all the answers, I get scared, I get mad, sometimes I feel lost, sometimes I lose hope... But by the grace of Christ alone, I come back.

Because of that grace, Christians have something very real and very practical to offer those that need help. Sure, Jesus can most definitely help that guy in his car...we just need to show him how.

Contemplative

Haven't written in a few weeks so I thought it was time for an update! Since I haven't written in awhile, you'll have to excuse me if everything is a bit jumbled and I bounce around to a lot of different topics. My mind is very full tonight!


Everything has been pretty smooth sailing recently. It's been 10 months since we were married, 11 months since graduation, 6 months since we bought our house, 2 months since we bought the Sonata, 1.5 months since the backyard grass grew in all the way, 5 weeks since we got Sadie, 3 weeks since the downstairs bathroom was painted, 2 weeks since we got a new coffee table, and this past weekend was spent in Flagstaff at Scott's Aunt and Uncle's cabin with my Van Sande clan brother and sisters. Whew! Life is still fun and eventful, yet I am also sensing a peace about things as we are now comfortable at our "grown up" jobs, all moved into the house, and just sitting back and enjoying life one day at a time. 


This past weekend in Flagstaff was a blast! It was so great to feel cold again, put on a sweatshirt, feel the need to wear socks, and drink apple cider. I love the outdoors and love being in the forest so very much! If it weren't for all my wonderful family members here whom I love and adore so much, I would be packing my bags and moving as fast as possible!! 


Which brings me to another rant... as I have officially decided that I have the greatest family in the world. First of all, there's my dad, who I definitely could NEVER go a few days without talking to in some form. I look up to him in so many ways, and ultimately respect him for who he is and what he stands for every day. Then, there are my younger siblings, who are all unique, hysterical, and fun to be around. All of our differences amuse me daily, and it's so fun to grow and change with them throughout the years. Next, there's my new family, who already feel like old family. There are the ever loving Van Sande parents who always open up their home and their hearts for their family making sure everyone is taken care of whether it's fixing our sprinklers, feeding us delicious meals, or making sure we have enough painter's tape for our whole house even if we're just painting one small bathroom.;) Then, not only am I lucky enough to be the oldest of 4, I also aquire an older sister (which I always wanted since I was the oldest in my family), and my best friend AS a sister for real. How lucky can I be? The 5 of us (Scott, me, Christie, Mike, and Kelly) had a fabulous weekend up North, and it was so fun to just spend time with them the whole weekend. It's been awhile since I've felt so free to say whatever was on my mind (maybe too much at times ha ha), giggled like a little girl, played games for hours on end, and laughed until my stomach hurt. I feel refreshed and ready for the upcoming week, a weekend well spent. 


In regards to well being, I also feel healthier than I have in a long time, and am enjoying the benefits of exercising on a regular basis and watching what I eat more closely. After a few weekends of feeling sick from eating too much and eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, I decided I should start paying more attention to what I put in my mouth. My love for food is so incredibly great that I often eat more for flavor and for fun than I do because I'm hungry. Thinking this could be a huge problem as I age, I thought that I should probably get a start on learning about moderation! Eating "healthy" used to mean taking the fun out of eating. Now it means feeling more energized, feeling good, and living life to the fullest every day. I'll keep you posted on my new healthy habits as my life begins to change daily for the better. Right now, being healthy for me means exercising 3-4 times a week, eating more fruits and vegetables, and making sure I don't overeat by just eating until I am full and definitely smaller portions! I just discovered that I can eat 1/2 of what I used to and still be full. Hmmmmmm crazy!


Well, I think that's it for now folks. Check back soon to see an updated pic of the cutest ever quickly growing young pup!

Sadie's first vlog...

Getting bigger!

Sadie is getting bigger and bigger every day! We have had her for 2 weeks now and it's crazy how much of a difference we have seen in just 2 weeks! She can now go up and down the stairs by herself, use the doggie door, and do a couple of basic commands like "sit," "stay" and "come!" We are having so much fun with her! Here are a couple of pictures of her at 8 and 9 weeks old.

Getting into trouble:


Waiting for Daddy to throw the ball:

Playing in the yard:

Sleeping under the dishwasher:

Playing in Mommy's plant:

Finding secret hiding places:

Looking super cute as always:

This is her morning face:

We love our Sadie!