13 Years

13 years.  13 facts I’ve learned being married to Vince.

1)      When he tells a story or event he tells the middle first, then the beginning and then the end.  That’s just the way he does it.
2)      He never relaxes. Like NEVER.
3)      He can fall asleep ANYWHERE and at ANYTIME. Probably due to the 4 kids or the never relaxing.
4)      He organizes his shirts in his closet in order of when he last wore them, so that each shirt will be worn the same amount of times.
5)      He could handle having 20 more kids and would not be stressed one bit.
6)      He talks to EVERONE EVERYWHERE. Bank teller, waiter, mailman, and get this TELEMARKETER.   
7)      He has no concept of time. What is 5 minutes to him is 30 minutes in real life. 
8)      After 13 years he still doesn’t always understand that my “maybe” means yes, my “no” means yes, and my “yeah” means no. 
9)      He can’t get up in the middle of the night to help with the kids because he is so out of it. He once “not knowing” put one of our babies under the bed because it was crying. If I send him out to the kitchen in the middle of the night to refill a bottle with milk he will forget what he’s doing, sit down at the kitchen table, and fall asleep.
10)   When driving he thinks you don’t have to put your blinker on until you are half way through the turn.
11)   In the 15 years I’ve known him when we go to a mall he loves to try on multiple pairs of expensive sunglasses. He has YET to EVER buy a pair. Just tries them on.
12)   When he comes upon a stairway he counts the number of steps, in his head, not out loud. I didn’t know this for years until he told me once the number of steps in every stairway at church and everywhere else we go regularly.
13)   He tells me he loves me multiple times a day.

I have to honestly say that we’ve argued about several of these things over the years.  I have even unsuccessfully tried to change some of these things at times. But, I will say right now that I would be very disappointed if he stopped doing ONE of these things. Some of these things are the very things I first fell in love with 15 years ago. These are a few of the things that make Vince who he is and who I was privileged to marry Thirteen years ago today. That day we made a commitment to each other, our friends, family, but most importantly to God.  There have been times when the day ends and our marriage feels like a fairytale. Then there’s the ordinary days when the only time we’ve had to talk is while we are eating dinner with our wonderful loud boys, giving the little ones baths, reading bed time stories, cleaning the kitchen and picking up toys. In the midst of busyness there is no one else I’d rather do or share life with. We will continue to have lots similarities, and several differences, but the most important thing we share is our relationship with God.  This morning I read Philippians 3:20 “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” So, until then we will keep serving the Lord together with our family and telling others along the way. We will keep laughing at each other’s quirky habits, arguing over stupid things and enjoying life together. Happy Anniversary to my husband of thirteen years! 



by Vince Bueno:)

Stole this from my hubby's facebook:)

Daddy, look at me!
A couple evenings ago we had boy’s night. Mommy went to do one of the things she loves to do, serve at church, and we put a sign up in the window that said “No girls allowed!” We dished up our pizza and settled in flipping on a movie that, according to Elisha “WE HAD TO WATCH FOR BOYS NIGHT!” It was the completion of the Open Season trilogy (let’s just say I’m glad Red Box had it for $1). Elisha suggested another idea which is true to his form, “Daddy, let’s all sit on the green couch together.” He always wants to be together. Half way through the movie it was time for dessert so we dished up the rest of the left over chocolate cake and ice cream, threw in the last couple Oreos, sprinkled on the remaining chocolate chips and topped it all off with some chocolate syrup….improvise, adapt, and overcome! Bowl 1…Elisha. Bowl 2…Josiah. As I was crafting the daddy-bowl Josiah calls out to me wondering “Daddy, are you going to sit on the blanket with us?” (The boys aren’t allowed to eat on the couch so they have spread a blanket to prepare for the feeding frenzy.) And if I take my eyes of the screen, almost in unison the question arises “Daddy are you watching?” How could I say no?

Jedidiah is getting SO BIG! You dad’s know how fast they move from phase to phase. It is as if by the time you finish assembling the multitude of parts labeled “Ultra Swivel & Glide Rock Bounce and Raise Contraption” they have already raised themselves. But anyways…Jed’s new phase, which I have been thoroughly enjoying (check back with me in a couple weeks), involves me walking him to sleep, sometimes multiple times per night. In the midst of my prayers I approximate my paces, 160 laps…120…180. Here’s his cue, he lunges. It seems that non-verbal communication is the best way to convey your desires when you don’t know any words. So, if mommy’s holding him, he’s ready for bed and I walk in the room he turns, smiles, and luuuuunnnges for me. “Oh, hey mom”…turn…luuuunnnge… “Oh, hey mom, you’re still here?”…turn…luuuuunnnge. What he’s saying is “Daddy, let’s take a walk…a very long walk.” How could I say no?

It is with emotion that I emit these words hoping that my children never stop desiring my attention. And it is with great compassion that the Father sent forth the Word which dwelt among us and died for us striving for the same attention as myself but in a much holier pursuit. As a student of theology I know that God is omniscient and omnipresent, that He is everywhere seeing and understanding all things (Psalm 139:1-12). As a son of God I know that Jesus has opened the door for me to boldly show the Father my needs (Hebrews 4:16). Isaiah 66:2 informs me how I can gather the particular gaze of the One I love; “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” So how do I attract the special attention of God? I must be of a humble and contrite spirit, I must tremble at His word. When on the inside I am poor and broken before Him, free from any pride or worth. When I am afraid enough to respond at the sound of His voice. When I am nothing and He is everything, THEN He will look to me.

If I turn toward my children I simply displace a small amount of air but when God turns toward his child it is as if all of creation is drawn toward us in one sovereign sweeping motion being held captive to do His will in the life of the one that has been able to effectively leverage a look from Him. Is it worth it to a grown man to humble himself declaring “Daddy, look at me”? How could I say no?