Anne of the Island

Over a fine Italian meal, two lovers laughed and talked softly, pausing to gaze lovingly into each other's eyes. Following their satisfying dinner, they held hands as they made their way across the restaurant's parking lot to his car on a cold February night.  Once inside, he slid the key in the ignition, turned the engine on and then paused. The car interior was lit only by the ambience of the surrounding street lamps. She looked over at him, a bit puzzled at the wait. He was fishing a little black jewelry box out of the pocket of his coat. "I love you," he said, turning to her. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" With quiet confidence, she said "Yes". Hearts beat faster and their eyes held as smiles spread across their faces. He gathered her into as close an embrace as the car would allow. She then slid the cool diamond solitaire down her ring finger, smiling with assurance of their love and the promise of sharing the rest of their tomorrows...together.

This was us, three years ago on this very day. The restaurant was 518 West Italian Cafe. The romantic proposal was made complete with a fairy-tale like horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of downtown Raleigh the very next day. Last night, I was thinking about the sweet memories of this day and thought I would share them with you. I have not regretted saying 'yes' for one minute. Though that night it seemed like our love was bursting at the seams, today, three years later, it has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Baby, I'm so glad we're sharing the ride together on this up and down, crazy thing called life. xoxo

...would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown


Hello friends!
Long time no hear, right? What can I say - life in my corner of the world has been busy, and it's been difficult at times to stop and analyze my thoughts, much less put them into words.

Christmastime was wonderful- not perfect, but still memorable. Gran was hospitalized during that time, so it was different not having her a part of our family's celebration. Since the beginning of this year, she has returned home again. Her condition has stabilized, and we are so happy for the blessing of more time to love and care for her. Some wonderful friends of ours also joined us over the holidays and we enjoyed the time spent with them.

This past month, I've listened to the story of Joseph on the Daily Audio Bible, and what an encouragement it has been! By our standards, we would consider Joseph to be a very unlucky guy: His brothers despised him because he was his father's favorite and things got even worse when he told them his dreams of them bowing down and honoring to him! They devised a plan to get rid of Joseph, and he was separated from his family and forced into servanthood in Egypt. There his master's wife tried to seduce him, and then bitterly accused of him of rape after he refused her. Thrown into jail, Joseph worked quietly, at one point interpreting the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants. "Remember me", he told the man that would return to Pharaoh's presence, but the man forgot, only remembering him years later when Pharaoh himself had a disturbing dream. It was then that things began to look up for Joseph.

Yet despite the years of heartache, loneliness, and suffering, Joseph never lost his way. After his father passed and his brothers began to fear he might still hold a grudge against them, Joseph had this to say:"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen. 50:19-21)

Isn't it a relief to know every step, every tiny detail of our lives are overseen by God, and that He puts it all together to tell a story of His love and faithfulness, in spite of (and because of) the trials that we face? With all that we've been through last year 'til now with Gran, this promise has meant so much to me. No matter what happens, her story will speak of God's goodness, as will ours, as it intertwines with hers. God takes every single thing, and works it out for our good. God is amazing!

In other news, we had our first major snowfall of the season on last Friday, with a whopping two inches or so of snow! I know, you Northerners probably think that's just a dusting, but for us, it was a blast. We had fun sledding and playing in the snow, as well as spinning donuts in our car, thanks to my slightly-crazy husband. *wink*

I'm very excited about Valentine's Day, and one of my gifts for Brent arrived yesterday. I'm thisclose to showing it to him, because I can't wait to see what he thinks of it, but I'm trying to convince myself to wait. He says he also has a surprise for me. Next Sunday can't get here soon enough! How I love my wonderful man! <3

My niece Emma will be turning one tomorrow and we are celebrating with a party tonight. I still find it hard to believe a year has passed already since the call came and we rushed over in the wee hours of the morning to meet our just-born niece. I'm sure her mamma feels that way too.

Well, time for me to wrap this up and head out for some groceries for our Superbowl celebration. Y'all have a wonderful weekend. Keep looking up! You have a Father who desperately loves and cares for you, and who will take every heartache and tear you've cried and transform it into something precious, something valuable- something good.

Love & hugs,
Anna

...dear friends!

I feel overwhelmed, in a good way, as I spend some time this afternoon reflecting on what I'm grateful for. It may sound trite, but I mean it from my heart when I say, I am so blessed. No, we don't have a bank account balance with a gazillion zeros,  and we may not have designer things, or the best and nicest stuff, but you know what? That doesn't even matter one iota- 'things' aren't what I find contentment and satisfaction in.

Rather it's in the richness of a loving God who's mercies are new every morning, and knowing that I am His delight. It's because of my sweet husband, who lovingly wakes me up with coffee or tea, rubs my tired feet, and shows me in hundreds of ways daily, how much he loves me. I love you so much, Babe! It's in the laughter and close companionship shared between members of our family- I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. It's in the mercy of God who allowed my Grandma to be able to come home after the hospital told us she'd never leave. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity we have to care for her as she has done for us for so many years.  It's the joy of seeing my beautiful niece grow and discover her world. It's in the Lord's provision enabling my husband and I to be able to work from home. It's in the lasting friendships we've been blessed with, we love y'all! It's appreciation for health, enough to eat, clothes to wear, a cozy house to call home, peace, and a blessed country where we can worship God freely. Lord, I know I don't deserve all that you've given me, but thank you from the bottom of my heart. You've been good to me and I love You.

And Lord, thank you for pumpkin pie! =)

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

 

I'm snuggling on the couch with my sweetheart, and we are watching Iron Chef America. It's nice to have a little 'chill' time together after an eventful week. My great aunt and her son arrived all the way from Barbados last Saturday and we had such a wonderful time visiting with them. We were sad to see them go this morning. It was so wonderful learning more about the place of my birth and hearing stories of their childhood. My great aunt spoiled us with plenty of Bajan cooking. My mouth waters just thinking about all the delicious dishes she prepared. And Ronald kept us entertained for hours with his jokes and silly antics. =)

There is so much on my mind and my heart is so full- too much to put into words right now. But ultimately I feel content and blessed. God is good. My grandma is home again and making small improvements. She got to see and spend time with her sister and her sister's son, whom she hadn't seen in over 20 years. I treasure this time that we spent with family and all the unforgettable memories we've made. And snuggles with my babe make me happy. <3

Isn't it hard to believe the holidays are nearly here? I noticed that some people already have Christmas lights strung when we were on the road tonight, and that fact really hit me. We've never had a problem with this before as a family, but one thing I think we'll treasure even more this season is the gift of family. You know, when it all boils down to it, your kids won't care that you got them the newest toy or electronic on the block each Christmas, instead they'll reminisce on the times that you spent actually playing with them. My challenge is to forget about trying to give and get what's considered the hottest thing, and give/receive with your heart. Make time this holiday season for memories with your families, realizing that those are everlasting, while material things are not. Be there for each other, through the thick and thin!

Well, I'm starting to get sleepy and should probably head to bed. Blessings, my friends! Talk to you soon.

Love,
Anna

"There is music in the meadows, in the air --
Autumn is here;
Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,
Leaves are crimson, brown, and yellow;
~ William Stanley Braithwaite, Lyric of Autumn


The last couple of weeks have been somewhat of a roller coaster ride- full of highs, lows, and in-betweens. It seems like when I'm going through alot, I find it harder to write and to put my thoughts down in a logical manner, so unfortunately I've neglected to blog.

~About grandma

Since my last update, my grandma was discharged from the hospital to her home, where she spent about a week being loved on by her family and the wonderful in-home care nurses. She developed a fever, however, and since the conventional methods of lowering it were not working, the nurses and our family felt it was best to take her back to the hospital. We left her in the ER that night, and she had perked up and seemed to be doing better. The very next day, we got a call from the hospital saying she had coded, had to be resuscitated a few times, and was not expected to live but for a few hours. Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter know what a heart-wrenching time this was for me and my family.

We surrounded her bedside, telling her how much we loved her and coming to peace with the fact that God ultimately was in control, and would do what was best for Gran. The 4-hour time frame that the hospital had given for her life went by, and she was still fighting. The hospital staff told us she wouldn't make it through the night, and the next morning she was still with us.

I walk away from this experience feeling like I've witnessed a miracle. The hospital wasn't lying when they said she wouldn't make it- we saw her vitals and they were not good. If you went by statistics, she shouldn't have lived. But as in the lyrics to a song that has meant alot to me during this time, "It doesn't matter what you've heard, impossible is not a word" (Kutless, What Faith Can Do),  for our God nothing is impossible! Obviously He plans to bless our lives with my grandma's sweet presence for awhile longer. She still has many hurdles ahead of her - they've discovered that she has MRSA and are treating her for that, but we're praying that she'll be discharged soon and able to live comfortably at home again.

~On his birthday

Brent's birthday was this past Tuesday. I treated my birthday boy to a delicious, autumn breakfast: pumpkin pancakes topped with maple pecan syrup and eggs sunny side up, and coffee, of course, to wash it down. This was a treat because typically we just have cereal and coffee for breakfast- we're not really morning people. :D

We celebrated with a party that evening (and into the night) here at our house, with our dear family and friends. Thanks, Paul and Sarah, for letting us borrow your Wii. Good times! Pictures are still on the camera so I'll have to share them with you another time.

Happy birthday, Sweetheart! Two plus years later, I can still say "I can't help falling in love with you". Each and every day, I'm glad you're the one I wake up to, stand alongside of, hold hands with, and fall asleep next to. You are the love of my life.  xoxo

~ On family visits

This weekend, some extended family from Barbados are going to arrive, and I am very excited. I'm looking forward to hearing that island accent again and hearing news and stories from the isle where I was born.

~ On work

Work continues to keep us busy, which is a good thing. On the photography side of things, we are currently running a senior/high school session campaign. We've selected a few high schoolers to model for and represent us in our local high school. Check out our recent sessions on our blog and Facebook fan page. Here are a few pieces of eye candy for you! =)



~ on traffic

This has weighed heavily on my heart since hearing this podcast a few days ago. If you've watched the movie "Taken", you already realize that trafficking exists. What you may not know is how common it is, and how close to home it may be for you. I did a little research and was surprised to find that at one point there had been a brothel just outside of our little town.

Brian shares testimonies from women and young girls who have been through this horrible ordeal (not suitable for young ears) and urges us to pray and get involved in ending this modern day slavery.

If you think this only happens once in awhile, you are so wrong. Like in one of the stories Brian shares, it could happen to your daughter, right here in America! Be informed, know how this degrading system works, and seriously consider financially supporting outreaches that 'buy' these women and children to set them free.

~on being a prophet

I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible today and hearing about Ezekiel, in particular, about when God told him to take on the sins of Israel, and lay on one side for so many days, and the other side for so many days, and shave off his hair, etc. And it really hit me - being a prophet was hard! People in Ezekiel's time probably thought, wow, he's one crazy man! I'm sure he was laughed at and despised. Yet, he was doing what God called Him to do. I began to ask myself, if God called me to do these crazy, uncomfortable things, and to give people a message that wasn't easy to hear or popular, would I do it? One thing God kept telling Ezekiel was to not be afraid. Have I overcome my fear of what others may think of me? Honestly- no, still working on that.

Here is some more sobering food for thought:
 "Son of man, I've made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, 'You are going to die,' and you don't sound the alarm warning them that it's a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I'll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they'll most certainly die for their sin, but you won't die. You'll have saved your life.

And if the righteous turn back from living righteously and take up with evil when I step in and put them in a hard place, they'll die. If you haven't warned them, they'll die because of their sins, and none of the right things they've done will count for anything—and I'll hold you responsible. But if you warn these righteous people not to sin and they listen to you, they'll live because they took the warning—and again, you'll have saved your life." ~ Ezekiel 3:17-21

Never underestimate the power of speaking into someone's life. They may or may not listen, but at least you'll have a clear conscience and know that you've done the right thing.

Well it's time for me to wrap this up so I can snuggle with my babe. Isn't that one of the most wonderful things about fall nights? <3

Love and hugs,
Anna

As I was putting on my makeup the other morning, I noticed the smattering of freckles on my face from being in the sun over the weekend and frowned. Don't get me wrong, I think freckles are cute, on everyone else but me! :D Then I remembered a conversation my mom and I had this past weekend as we read the Bible together,  Song of Solomon 1:5-6 to be exact.

"Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun."

The love of Solomon's life apparently didn't like the fact that she was dark-skinned. Maybe at that time it was considered more desirable to be fair. Anyway, what jumped out to my mom and I is that in that same line she says, "yet lovely". We'd both never really seen or thought much about this before.

We all have things about us that we don't like, wish we could change, and are self-conscious about. I could give you a whole list! Yet we need to realize despite what we consider flaws, that we really are lovely, beautiful, exactly the way we are. If we could view ourselves the same way that God sees us, we'd see that He's not holding us up to the world's mostly fake standard of beauty. The things that make us unique (that we don't often like) are the signatures He's stamped us with that make us who we are.

So my friends, when you look in the mirror and see something about yourself that you don't like, think: I have (..freckles, or whatever), but I am lovely. Because you really are! =)

I am imperfect
but still You love me
exactly as I am.
All of my flaws
You see as beauty.
You've fashioned me
with Your hand.
Help me to see me
the way that You do,
as beautiful,
one of a kind-
Your captivating bride.
and precious jewel,
the apple of Your eye.

(C) 2009 Anna Deitrich



Until next time, lovelies!

Anna