Party on

Married life is so much fun. Troy and I are both becoming rock stars on the guitar! And, we are SMOKING other couples on the tennis court!

But I'm tired from staying up too late rockin' out. And my arm is a little sore from all the tennis.

I think we may need to go to Wii-hab.

Happy Birthday, Husband!

Today is my Sweetie's birthday! And so I give you, in no particular order, 30 things I love about Troy:

1. He has the biggest servant's heart I've ever seen. He'll jump up and do something for someone before they even realize they needed it.
2. He is always kind.
3. He is very patient, even when I am being a crazy woman.
4. He uses big words in everyday conversation. Not because he's trying to impress anyone, but just because they are part of his vocabulary.
5. He's wicked smart. He would say he isn't, but he is. He can carry on intelligent conversations about a very wide variety of topics.
6. He is wise. He doesn't make rash decisions, and he thinks things through carefully from all sides.
7. He's really funny. Or should I say punny? Well, both.
8. We laugh together... a lot.
9. He's handsome!
10. He's hot. Literally. I can be shivering from head to toe, but it only takes snuggling up to him for about 30 seconds until I'm all warmed up.
11. He is clean. From what I hear, this is not the case with all men. I consider myself very blessed.
12. He puts God first above anyone (and anything) else.
13. He is faithful to his commitments.
14. He walks what he talks. The godly man you see out in public is the godly man I see day in and day out.
15. He is affectionate. He does things like holding my hand, or playing with my hair, that make me feel wanted.
16. He likes to do fun things, but also doesn't mind sitting around the house doing nothing with me.
17. He has a great voice. I remember when we very first started dating, he called me while I was out of town. I was sitting in a rocking chair on a porch and I think there were as many stars in my eyes as there were in the sky that night as I listened to him tell me stories.
18. He can sing pretty well too, although you'll never get him to demonstrate. I just overhear him when we're singing in church. Hopefully he won't stop singing in church now that I've admitted listening to him. ;-)
19. He makes fun of me (the kind that is fun, not hurtful).
20. He is an excellent leader.
21. He is gentle.
22. When he gets in goofy mood, he makes lots of fun faces and noises that totally crack me up.
23. I can talk to him about anything and everything.
24. He loves kids, and is very natural around them. One of the first times I started to "notice" him was when he was playing with the kids at a daycare we visited in Costa Rica.
25. He is an excellent teacher. He is patient enough to walk somebody through how to do something, or to explain something, and he does it well.
26. I learn a lot from him, both by things he teaches me, and by just watching his example.
27. He knows the Word, and is diligent in his study of it.
28. He's a really good cook.
29. He takes care of things. Like fixing things around the house, and setting up anything technology-related. There are certain things I don't want to know anything about, except that they work easily; he makes that happen!
30. He loves me and makes sure I know it. By his actions, and he tells me every single day.

Happy birthday, Troy! (I hope this post has not embarrassed you too much!)

Oh, and I almost forgot...

We also picked up my rings on Saturday afternoon. They look so pretty and it feels wonderful to look like a married woman now! :-)

A Pretty Good Weekend!

Oh, how wonderful it is to fill up weekends (and weekdays, for that matter) with activities that are not centered around planning a wedding!

Friday night we went over to LB's and packed up her kitchen for her move on Saturday morning. Troy pointed out that she saved us from having to decide what we were going to do on Friday night. We both agreed that it was quite rewarding to be able to help out a friend, and it reminded us both how nice it is to be able to spontaneously do things like that when you are not over-committed. (We are currently learning how to not be over-committers.)

Saturday morning we slept in and then made breakfast. Banana pancakes and turkey bacon... yummm!! I was quite proud of us for the banana pancakes, they were delicious! Troy made one with blueberries in it too, because we had batter enough for 1 more pancake after we used up all the banana. Oh, and maple syrup - can you say mmm mmm good?!?!

After breakfast I started getting rid of stuff - all the random junk around the house that I don't want anymore and all it does is cause clutter. I filled up 3 boxes to be donated! We spent most of the day just doing stuff around the house - laundry, cleaning bathrooms, cooking/baking stuff to take to our evening outing...

Which leads me to the evening. After swinging by to pick up LB and see her new house (sooo cute!!), we headed out to Pearland to spend time with a small group of some of our favorite peeps. Good food, good company. Very enjoyable!

Sunday morning we went to church, then to lunch at the Hobbit Cafe, and then we laid on the couch and watched TV for the rest of the afternoon. Oh my gosh, how good does it feel to lay around and do nothing for a few hours!

I love weekends that are both productive and restful/relaxing. Throw in some quality time with good friends, and you have the perfect weekend... which this one was!

Feeling naked

I took my rings to the jeweler to get soldered together today. I know, it took me over a month to get around to doing it... so I have been wearing only my engagement ring so far. The wedding band is carved out to fit perfectly around the engagement ring, so it doesn't really work to wear both until they are permanently joined together. Anyway... they won't be ready until Saturday! So in the meantime, my poor naked finger is feeling lonely. It has only been about 2 hours since I dropped them off and I have briefly panicked at least 5 times upon feeling the lack of ring on my finger. I miss you already, my pretty diamond and platinum friends! But, when they are ready I will be sooo happy to be able to wear them both and look like a real live married woman!

Happy Month-iversary to Us!

Wow, I just noticed The Hollisters have not posted since May 13. I would feel ashamed but, come on, we've been a bit busy! This is, however, my first post on The Hollister Blog as Mrs. Hollister.

Actually I don't really have a whole lot to say right now, or maybe I am just being too lazy to write something. I will say that being married to Troy is the most wonderful blessing! Oh, and can you believe we've been married for a month already (today)?!?!?

Well I will think of more to write later. For now, I am going home to enjoy a lovely evening with my sweet, amazing, awesome husband.

Sometimes it's the little things...

For a while now, I have been reading some "newlywed" blogs. I enjoy reading them because they help me see past the wedding plans and look forward to married life. Some of the things I am really looking forward to are:

• Going to the movies... just because
• Getting settled (or should I say "resettled") in our home
• Sleeping in... together
• Getting into a routine
• ...a routine that does NOT include saying goodbye to each other every night
• Trying new recipes
• Taking trips together

This list obviously is not exhaustive, by any means. Just a few "little things" I have been thinking about as I dream of a time that is not crazy with wedding plans, a time to make a home with my husband as we start our life together.