Slacker?

I have been just awful at posting on this blog lately, but life has been truly crazy! Between spending as much time with Johnathan as possible now that he is home, outings with my Little Sister, my new job - which has me much busier during the day - all of the daily sturm and drang of life and my new business venture, I rarely even have time to think about this blog, much less write a post proof-read it 5 times, post it, proof read it a couple more times, edit it because I'm just not satisfied, repost it and then sit and think about it it for another half hour...yes that is usually my process when I blog.

But what I want to talk about today is the new business venture mentioned above. Whatever loyal readers I have may remember my post back in December about doing a photo shoot for a coworker. Well, things have really been progressing since then and I am now officially Constance Elyse Photography! You can also check out my Facebook Fan Page here. I have not yet decided if I want to start including personal blogs over there or keep things separate and try to be more active over here.

For now, here is a picture of Alivia in the bluebonnets. They are moving back to Texas in July and I absolutely cannot wait to have them close again!

So much time and so little to do....

Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.*

I feel like there is so much I need to do before Johnathan moves back and my time to do it is really short. In nine and a half days I will be getting on an early morning flight to New York to spend several days with my mom, Erin and Alivia and to go skiing. I get back to Austin on Thursday night and then Johnathan will be home at 9:00 the next morning.

Johnathan hasn't ever seen my new apartment, my "new" car. He hasn't seen Keller in two years. I feel like everything needs to be up to a certain level of 'perfect' upon his return. So here is the current list of things I need to accomplish in less than 10 days:

• Clean my whole apartment from top to bottom
• Get an oil change
• Get my car washed
• Get Keller groomed
• Lose 30 lbs
• Dye my hair
• Get my hair cut
• Finish decorating my apartment
• Buy a whole new, cuter wardrobe
• Learn to play the guitar

Hmmm...I'm sure there are even more things I would like to have done, but I get the feeling I'm being slightly unrealistic.

*Bonus if you can name that movie.

Best Day Ever!

Yesterday was an awesome day! The best part being that we found out Johnathan is coming home! We have been enduring a long distance relationship for the past two years. Well, things have finally lined up the right way for him to move back home! I could not be happier. And he'll even be home pretty soon. Just two weeks and two days.

We've been praying for this for so long and it really doesn't seem real. The past two years have put a huge strain on our relationship and we have, at times, been within an inch of the breaking point. But God never let us forsake each other or His plan for us and it has made us such a happier, healthier couple for struggling through it. We'll appreciate every day - every moment - we get to spend together all the more, because there was a time when we just didn't have the option. We both know that there will be plenty of hard times ahead, as every relationship and every life involves struggle. But, He got us through this together and we both know that He'll do it every time.

I also got to meet my new 'Little Sister' yesterday. I can't talk too much about that (to protect her privacy), but she is a sweet, adorable little girl and I had an awesome time playing with her at a playground near her house. Next week we're going to go to the public library, where she has never been before, and hopefully get her her own library card.

Today I truly feel like I have all that I could wish!

Second Favorite?

One of the many things I have come to love about Johnathan is his talent for giving me gifts. Now, if he never ever gave me a single gift in our whole relationship I would still love him, but his thoughtfulness and insight is the delicious icing on the proverbial cake.

The first gift I think he ever gave me was for the first Christmas we were together. We'd only been dating less than two months and I was working two full-time jobs and had just finished a semester taking 9 hours of school on top of it. That year, he gave me a gift certificate to get a massage. It was exactly what I needed, but never thought to ask for. Last Christmas he pulled out another brilliant idea for part of my gift. Knowing how much I love the show Mad About You and that the interactions between Paul and Jamie Buchman remind me of the way we are together, he bought me the first three seasons of the show on DVD. Again, it hadn't occurred to me to ask for them, but they've provided hours of entertainment and I couldn't love them more.

Johnathan isn't just good at giving gifts for special occasions either. He is thoughtful all of the time. He once saw a set of pearls that were modeled after ones that Jackie Kennedy wore and was so sure that I'd love them, he bought them immediately and gave them to me in October, even though he easily could have saved them for an anniversary gift the next month. On my first day at my current job, flowers were delivered to my office to offer me congratulations and wish me good luck.

Basically what I'm saying is that I feel incredibly lucky to have such a thoughtful, caring person in my life and the last thing I want to say about Christmas this year is that it was no exception. I could not possibly have ever imagined what he would come up with to give me, but I also could not possibly love it more. He gave me a tote bag with none other than my beloved dog on it. Granted, such a thing could have turned out to be really cheesy if it was poorly done, but the one he chose is beautiful and perfect and I couldn't be happier to carry it around. So, without further ado, here is my second favorite thing from Christmas this year:

Great Expectations

When I used to think about what I wanted in a husband, I had realistic expectations. I never needed anybody who was rich or gorgeous or any superlatives one might come up with. All I ever wanted was somebody who was enough. Somebody who would love me enough, who was smart enough, who was funny enough, who was handsome enough, with whom I had enough in common.

Three years ago today, my new friend Johnathan and I went to see an Ansel Adams exhibit at the HRC. I had been wanting to see it, but didn't really have anybody to go with and he was into photography, so we went. After viewing the exhibit, neither of us was ready to go home, so we decided to head downtown and take a walk on Town Lake. The Celtic Festival was in full swing, and we were serenaded by the music of it as we strolled along the water talking about everything and nothing and enjoying comfortable silences. We were having such a great time, that we decided to have dinner at Katz's before going our separate ways. By the time we parted that evening, we both knew that there was much more than friendship between us. Months later, I would ask him when he thinks we actually started dating and he gave the answer that was already in my head. It was that day - November 5, 2005.

In Johnathan I found so much more than my "reasonable expectations." I wanted somebody who would love me enough and got somebody who loves me better than anybody in the world. I wanted somebody who was smart enough and I got somebody who challenges me, teaches me and opens himself up to learn from me too. I wanted somebody who was funny enough and I got somebody who can make me laugh any time, no matter how hard I resist. I wanted somebody who was handsome enough and I got somebody who melts me with his eyes and takes me away in his strong arms. I wanted somebody with whom I had enough in common and I got somebody who shares my values and takes interest in all of my hobbies.

I was blessed the day that I met Johnathan. If the slightest factor of either of our lives had been different that day, we would never had known the other existed. I truly believe that God wanted us to meet each other, to love each other and to build a life and a family together to His glory . It has not always been easy and I know there will be plenty of struggles ahead, but I thank Him for my soul mate every day. Happy 3rd Anniversary, My Sweet Babboo!

In The Beginning

Three years ago today I met a very nice, slightly older (3 1/2 years) man with whom I had an instant connection and easy conversation. I was not looking for love and neither was he. I felt I was too young to meet The One and I was working two full time jobs at 82 hours a week, plus taking classes part-time. I really did not have time for a boyfriend. He had broken off an engagement only a few months before and was casually dating somebody else. But we could not deny that we had a lot in common and enjoyed each other's company. Over the next few weeks we exchanged many emails, talked on the phone regularly and got together for coffee, as friends. Boy did I have no idea what I was in for...

What's In A Name?

Johnathan and I aren't really big on nicknames. Occasionally I'll refer to him as Johnny, John-John, John Boy or J-Man when I am being goofy, but he has always just gone by the full version of his name and I almost always just call him Johnathan. Likewise, he calls me by my name most of the time. In fact, he uses my name more than any person I have ever met. In the beginning it actually bothered me that he so often put my name at the end of a sentence. I thought he was being condescending. Like if he was trying to make a point and I was misunderstanding he'd say "that isn't what I'm saying, Elyse," and for whatever reason, my name in that sentence made me feel like a child being chastised. But in time I came to realize that he didn't just use my name when frustrated. He also says things like "I love you, Elyse" or "thank you, Elyse." And he uses everybody's name when he talks to them; he is not being patronizing, it's just one of his traits. But my point is that aside from calling each other "Baby" or by our given names, we have never been too big on nicknames and terms of endearment.

However, ever since he bought the a video of It's Flash Beagle, Charlie Brown on an eBay auction, because it was one of his favorite things to watch as a child, I have taken to calling Johnathan "My Sweet Babboo." It's Sally's nickname for her true love, Linus and apparently (thank you Wikipedia) it was what creator Charles Schulz's wife called him. When I heard that, it was just too disgustingly precious not to inflict on him. Linus is not much of a fan of this moniker or the girl who uses it, but [I like to think that] Johnathan doesn't mind it. At least once in the Peanuts series, Sally also said she was Linus's "Sweet Babbooette." I guess that makes them a couple of Babboos.

When I decided to create this blog I wanted the URL to be something that stood for both of us and was personal and it couldn't be taken already by one of the other millions of bloggers out there. I can change the header/title of the page as often as the mood strikes me, but the address would be permanent. So (not that anybody asked) that is why this website is TwoBabboos. And, come to think of it, maybe the fact that all of the titles of Peanuts cartoons he watched as a child ended with Charlie Brown's name had some influence on Johnathan's habit of using peoples' names the way he does.

I Dream of Jeannie

The good news is Johnathan has officially finished his coursework toward his Master's in Biblical Studies. Of course, that means that he is now working on his thesis - no small task. The subject of this paper (that word doesn't seem to have enough gravitas, considering the whole degree relies on it) is pretribulational, dispensational premillennialism eschatology....yeah, already pretty much over my head. Basically, as I understand it (though I may be corrected on this), that means he'll be discussing/defending the view that Israel and the Church are distinct entities and that Jesus will return before a seven year tribulation, followed by an additional return of Christ with his saints to reign on earth.

I actually really enjoy the fact that Johnathan is pursuing post-graduate degrees in Biblical studies, because I become so much better educated about my own beliefs through discussing his studies with him. My only question is, once his thesis is approved and he has actually graduated, do I have to call him "Master?"