Blog Award

Thanks to Liz @ Clay Jar People for adding me to her award list.

In retrun, I am passing on the award to blogs that I hold close to my heart. These blogs are is a mirror of amazing people and worth following.

Pretty organized palace
Chatting at the sky
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Like a warm cup of coffee
My First Kitchen
Christine and Moody
Jennie and Wess
Kristine @ Pajama Mama
Jennifer @ The Hope Studios
Happy House wife
Melissa @ The Inspired Room
Nicole Wick

Here is a rule of passing on the award:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Our New Hammock

I always wanted a hammock since I was a kid, it is such a great way to relax in the backyard reading a book, or watching the sunset or even better just laying on it with your loved one. I had only mentioned that I wanted a hammock once in front of my loving husband, and as always he heard me and put it in his mind to get it at the right time.

We just purchased our house and it has the perfect backyard for a hammock, Moody did not waste anytime and surprised me last night by purchasing this lovely hammock. Of course the surprise put a big smile on my face not just because we got our hammock but also to see how thoughtful my habibi is of me all the time.

I can't wait to have our hammock shipped so we can hang it together and of course to spend time on it watching the sunset together.

Thank you ya habib alby.

Couples: Dinner & Movie recommedations??

Getting so inspired by the Top Chef show on Bravo last night, I recommend that you and your spouse start making one new dish every week. I would like to go around and ask you to share your favorite dish and link it to our post.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are also compiling a list of the most romantic movies in your opinion. Tell me which one and I will include yours. We are planning on watching all of them as we prepare dinner.

With your recommendations, we will have a list of new dishes to cook together and enjoy our time. We need you to be part of the Z Couple family and send us your recommendations.

We can’t wait to hear from you and we can’t wait to enjoy our first dinner and movie based on your recommendations. Just post a comment.

Couples: Trading Shoes!!

See, I am a size 9 shoe, your spouse could be a size 8.
Have you thought of what your spouse responsibilities are all this past time you been married to? Do you know what you wife go through to make the house clean and presentable? Do you think of how much laundry she takes care of? etc. And, you,, Have you though of how much work your husband do taking care of the house, the cars, the bill, the yard, not even the stressful burden of responsibility of leader of a family worrying about every detail.

The question is, how you truly appreciate someone until you really be in his or her shoes?
So, here is what I thought last week... How about trading places and exchange responsibilities for a whole full week. I thought that would be the only and most fair way to understand and appreciate your spouse. So,
So, here is an idea, ask your spouse to write down all the things, that she does through out her day and tell me exactly how she would like them done. I will take notes and I will try to walk into her shoes to a week.

It is a great idea to learn many things about her responsibilities. Sure, I will pick up some food receipts and see how hard it is to put a good meal together.

I believe your spouse will learn a few things as well. Maybe she will get to know which oil the car needed, or when is the right time to cut the grass. The reason behind the excises is getting closer to each other by walking into each other shoes and get a sense of what the other person feel through out the day. We also will end up knowing so much and learning so much and completing each other. There is nothing better than the feeling that your spouse completes you.
I will keep you updated on the progress.

One on One with Liz

Today, I have the pleasure to introduce to you my blog friend Liz. The blogger author of Clay Jar People

Liz is "a 22 year old, blessed wife of a wonderful Godly husband. A qualified make up artist but currently work in the financial sector"
Liz and I met through the Internet few month ago when I am was searching for a Godly inspiring real people who live life as God want us to be. The purpose of my search is to see how real people really live life and as the same time be true Godly to their believes as Christians.

Reading Liz's blog about her daily life and about her relationship with her husband motivated me to be a better person and seeks not what it is for me but what is for God.

The most wonderful thing about her blog, that once you start reading it, you will sense the joy and the happiness that no one else but Jesus and Godly heart can provide.
Lets see what she got to say when I asked her a few questions...

How would you introduce yourselves to others and to yourselves?
I’m a child of the Almighty King of the Universe, wife to Christopher, mom to Charlie (3 yr old Yorkie) and Ickle (3 wk old dwarf rabbit), love crafts, music, children. I currently work as an insurance broker.

If you can summarise your lives in one word, what would it be and why?
That’s difficult but I would say… Blessed. We are blessed to be saved and both have stable jobs.

Why did you start blogging and how you find time for it?
I actually started blogging to talk about make up and beauty… but my blog turned into something totally different. I usually blog on the bus to work, or weekends.

What inspires you, and how you come up with ideas for your blog? Life is pretty inspirational, but I get most of my ideas from other blogs that I read, or things that happen to me.

What do you think of marriage? And how you describe yours?
Marriage is a great gift from God and it’s an amazing testimony of His divine plan for the world. Our marriage is a partnership, and like all partnerships you get good times and bad ones. The bad times make you appreciate and enjoy the good times more, as well as making you stronger. The good times are a blessing and make for great memories.

What was your perspective of marriage before you got married and did it change?
I thought marriage was much easier, I didn’t think much would change between us. But I must say, we are much more independent of each other now than we were before we got married. Chris goes to friends more and I get more time alone, to do what I enjoy. This is great, as you get to grow within yourselves as well as together.

If there is any advice you would like to give to newly wed, what it would be? Don’t sweat the small stuff… try to remember why you married your spouse, as there will be times where he/she does things that make you so mad! Always remember to keep God at the centre of your marriage, it’s His design, so He knows what’s best for yours.

I always say, that marriage with difficulties is a living marriage? What are your thoughts?
I agree with that, and that difficulties make you stronger and grow together. I think that we need to keep our eyes on the Lord and make sure He is the focus of our lives and marriages, and even in conflicts keep that in mind.

How you deal with conflict?
I run away J/K No, seriously, I like to deal with conflicts head on, so talk it out and come up with a solution, however its not always possible right away, Just make sure you don’t hold a grudge towards the other person if the conflict isn’t resolved immediately.

Tell us about your past two year’s journey?
It’s been an interesting journey… we’ve grown as people and I must say I think we are much wiser and closer now than before. The Lord has blessed us by providing all our needs, even when we thought we weren’t going to make it through the month.

Are you goal oriented or detail oriented?
A bit of both, I like to have goals that I can aim for, and I’m pretty fussy about details.

What makes you walk up every morning and strive to be the good wife and the better person that God's seeks?
Knowing that if I’m a good wife, my husband is blessed and happy, and that the Lord is glorified through me if I reflect His love and grace.

What is the current book you are reading?
I’m planning to start reading the Power of a Praying Wife or Married for God – I’m still deciding.
What do these words means to you?
God – my Saviour and redeemer
Suffering - what Jesus endured on the cross for me.
Little things – These details can make or break your marriage if you focus to hard on them.
Wisdom – something I still need lots of, but by the grace of God, I will grow to have.
Mistakes – learning curves, we grow and learn from our mistakes.
Destiny – to be a godly wife and mother and glorify the Lord in my life
Doubt – I think we all struggle with doubt sometimes – but we have to remember that the Lord is in control and He knows what’s best.
Husband – the wonderful, loving man I was blessed to marry.

Liz, At the end of this interview, I want to thank you so much to giving the time for the interview. I am sure more people and more people will be inspired by reading your blog and your answers. Once again, you an example of real couple who are living life the Godly way and in the the process inspiring and motivating others. Thank again.

Couples Friends

It is a blessing to have couples friend like Tony, Bisho , Shady, Mercy and the new addition to the church family Kevin and Cristin.
It is so important to have this kind of friendship that provide help, counseling and support.
We took Kevin and Cristin to Providence where we meet with Bassem and Miray and the new wed Nancy and Ramy. It was so much fun to go out with them and enjoy their company. Again, It is a blessing.

1 on 1 with Sarah Mae

Let me first start off this post by stating what a pleasure and honor it is to have Sarah the author of great blog titled "Like a Warm Cup of Coffee". I first came across her blog by a chance. I have to say that my first impressions of her blog was like sitting down with a friend and have a great conversions over a warm a cup of coffee.

Even with living so far away, having Sarah on my blog, I felt she is sitting a across from me and chatting like we are face to face. Lets just get to it and find more about Sarah.

Sarah Mae, Tell us about your self? "Hmmm...deep thinking, sensitive, driven, passionate, authentic, in-love-with Jesus, goofball."

If you can summerize Sarah Mae in one word, what would it be and why? "Transparent. I'm not good at the whole "mysterious" thing. I'm pretty much an open journal, with words written in pen that can't be erased. I try to be authentic in everything I do and all of who I am...weaknesses laid bare and all (as you well know if you read my blog!)"

Why did you start blogging and how do you find time for it? "I started blogging in 2007 with a personal family blog. In May of 2008 I decided I wanted to write "for an audience." I wanted to build a community of women that were doing the whole mommy, wifey, womanhood thing where we could learn together on this pilgrimage. Time? Haha...yea, that's a tough one. I mainly write in the evening when my kiddos go to bed, usually around 7:30pm."

What inspires you, and how do you come up with ideas for your blog? "I am inspired by Jesus, coffee, wild blue skies and everyday life! As for ideas, they usually come to me at night once I lay down in the quiet, usually when I'm praying. Sometimes the force is so strong that I just have to get back up and write. I process what I'm learning and growing in through my blog."

In your blog, you wrote 100 things about you? Since then, do you have any more to add, or would you feel to take any off? "It's funny you ask because of this: #70. No, I'm not pregnant. 71. That I know of. Hehe, turns out I was!"

Congratulations. Now, if there is any advice you would like to give to newly wed, what it would be? "Be a servant to one another...fight the good fight, don't give up when things get tough. Don't spend alone time with someone of the opposite sex. Husband, love your wife sacrificially as Jesus loves the church. Wife, respect your husband (even when you don't feel it). "

I always say, that marriage with difficulties, is a living marriage. What are your thoughts? "What I know is this, marriage is difficult. You will have seasons of abundant refreshment and seasons of drought. It will not stay "living" without Jesus at the center, and selflessness surrounding it."

You have a series of posts with the title Motivate me Mondays, let me ask you.. what makes you wake up every morning and strive to be the good wife and the better person that God's seeks? "I am a willing slave of Jesus Christ. If it were not for Him, I would have no hope. His grace sustains me and pushes me on each day. His goodness and gentle leading encourages my spirit when the everyday wrestles with my motivation. He is...everything to me."

What is the current book you are reading? "Well, I just got finished with Passionate Housewives Desperate For God. My current devotional is Chuck Swindoll's, "Come Before Winter" and it is excellent."

That was a great conversion Sarah, I really enjoyed it. I believe that we as a couple at zcouple.com learn alot from you and from your blog.

I thank the Lord for you, and your passion to continue following the truth. I also thank you for willing to be a guest on my blog and encourage me as a blogger. I really enjoyed chatting with you and it is refreshing to have a conversion with you.

At the end, I leave you with a small video from Sarah by Sarah...