After All These Years

Jay and I checked out a local village this Saturday. They were having an annual wine festival featuring three vineyards in the area. We had high hopes for the event, however once we arrived, we think we may have over shot our expectations. However, it was entertaining, and we definitely had an experience; therefore, we felt it was a worthwhile trip.

The wine and food were sub par, but the people watching was highly entertaining. The scenery was really charming as well, seen in this beautiful chapel atop the festival courtyard.

We didn't stay at the festival very long since college football and Yankees' baseball were calling us back to the house. The unexpected heat was also pushing us back into the air conditioned car, so we headed back for a classic Warren Family Saturday night...snacks, bevies, games, sports, and puppies! Our neighbor joined us for part of the evening and taught Jay a new board game, which required crazy concentration and counting. Good thing Jay and I had only had a couple of drinks. :)

Just another weekend of reminding me of how lucky I am to have found Jay. He has made me the happiest woman in the entire world. We have the most fun together doing whatever, whenever. Which is definitely one of the best perks of our relationship, since we have to be creative with our time together. Between deployments, temporary living situations, long weekend visits, and living on only one income, we're not always given the classic fairy tale or romantic movie setting. However, Jay has given me the most loving, romantic, and fulfilling

life, better than I could have ever dreamed up. Example (one of many): Our first wedding anniversary fell on the same date as a family reunion. All a bride and groom who hadn't even spent 5 months of their married life together wanted was a little time alone. So what did my resourceful hubby conjure up for us...a sweet moment alone in the storeroom at his mom's house. We cuddled up close in lawn chairs and toasted our first year of matrimony with champagne in dixie cups. But all I saw was two of the happiest people in the world reliving every moment of joy over the last year and feeling more blessed than ever.

No matter where Jay and I are living, Augusta or Clarksville, in an apartment or our parent's house, separate or together, I know our love for each other is so strong it will forever keep us bound together and close at heart.

A faded wedding photograph
You and me in our first dance
Our eyes are closed
We're lost in one sweet embrace
Since those days the world has changed
Our love remains the same
God knows we've had our share of saving grace

And I'm proud of all the blessings
You have given me
The mountains we have climbed to get this far
You learn to take the laughter with the tears
After all these years

You make it feel brand new
After the fires that we walked thru
Against the odds we never lost our faith

In a house we've made our own
Where our children all have grown
Precious moments time can not erase

Make a livin' up and down the gypsy highway
Seasons that we've beared to share apart
Somehow in my heart I always keep you near
After all these years

After all these years
You stood by me
The days and nights that I was gone
After all these years
You sacrificed, believed in me
And you stood strong
Cause with our love there's nothing left to fear
After all these years

'City of the Angels'

City of the angels, city of the angels

Some of my favorite angels originated from Seguin and as I flew back to Texas for my beautiful sister's wedding showers, I grew more and more excited to be near memories of them again. It seems as I turn every corner in that town I see another memory of my grandma, pa, or my sweet baby girl. Those memories are just icing on the cake now when I venture back to south Texas.

Walkin' and talkin' and laughin' about
Dreamin' the things that you want will work out
People and places where you wanna be
I'm lost in the city, who's got the key?

City of the angels, city of the angels

Visiting family and friends is therapy for my soul and although I am

usually only in town for a long weekend, I squeeze as much of them in those three days as I can. This trip was no exception since we had family showers for Angie and Nick, as well as babies to celebrate for many of my friends and family. Seriously though, babies and bellies are blooming all over the place. The bundles of joy bring me such a nostalgia and a yearning for another Jay and Lauren Lea creation. Jay and I know it will be our turn again when God feels we are ready.

I've got this feeling that things will work out
I've got this feeling and there ain't no doubt
I'm folding arms, hoping to find
Life in the city can bring peace of mind

My very talented friend, Chelsea Lietz (Chelsea Lietz Photography), gave me something I didn't think I would ever get again. She

captured another beautiful mother-daughter moment and again I realize how blessed I am to have such a strong circle of friends, family and faith surrounding me.

City of the angels - ooh, I hear you calling me - city of the angels

City of the angels - oh, I hear you calling me
City of the angels - just like, just like it used to be, yeah
City of the angels

I left Seguin knowing that I may only be back again in the near future as a flash of break lights, but I felt rejuvenated, ready for the future and what lies ahead for me and Jay.

I'm going home (home), home (home), oh
Bye bye, bye bye, bye bye, oh bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
Yeah yeah, I'm leaving (leaving)
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, I'm goin' home, my friend, I'm leavin' leavin'...

Be Good To Yourself

Jay's mom and step dad (Betty and Howard), sister and nephew (Victoria and Nicholas and their puppy, Yoda) DROVE to visit us on Labor Day weekend. I know they had some crazy times in that car during the 17-18 hour trip.

"Runnin out of self-control
Gettin close to an overload
Up against a no win situation
Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove
Im hangin up my boxin gloves
Im ready for a long vacation"

-Be Good To Yourself, Journey

Once they arrived and had cooled down from the closeness overload, we all took on full tourist mode. We visited Tombstone, Bisbee, and Tucson. We toured Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. Jay and I took them to some great eateries in and around town and cooked for them a few times too. We got to hang out at the house and enjoy some college football, play some Wii, and watch the dogs run all over the place. Fun was had by all day after day. We really enjoyed the company and you know I enjoyed hosting a few dinner parties. hehe

I felt the pictures were better than my words this time. Enjoy.

Labor Day Weekend