October 21, 2011 by Jenilee - 0 comments

mully’s guacamole

My husband continually amazes me with his fantastic cooking skills. Last week, we had Mexican Night at the Mullikin household. Here’s his secret recipe for Guacamole!

You will need: 4 Avocados, 1 Tomato, 1 Onion, 1 Lime, Sea Salt

First, cut the avocados in half. (Avocados have a large seed in the middle, so you will want to cut to the seed and then spin it. You will then half to “break” it open.) The softer the avocado is, the better.

Remove the seed from the avocados.

Next, gently peel the skin off of the avocado halves.

In a bowl, mush the avocados with your fingers.

Dice the onion and add to bowl

Dice the tomato and add to bowl

Salt to taste

Cut the lime in half; squeeze into bowl. (The lime will add flavor and keep your guacamole fresher)

Enjoy! Pair with tortilla chips from our favorite grocery store and some strawberry margaritas!

September 21, 2011 by Jenilee - 0 comments

wedding recap

I love to write.

I love stringing words together as if stringing diamonds on a priceless necklace.

I love to make pictures with my words. I love to move people through words.

But, with that said, I’ve never been more nervous to write anything as I was to write my wedding vow for Jeff.

How could I possibly find the words to write what he means to me? Suddenly the thought of simple words didn’t do justice to describe how I feel and how deep my promises run. But, writing my wedding vow was also one of the greatest honors and joys I will ever experience.

This week, I am going to post about my wedding – starting with my vow…

Jeff:

How could mere words be used to describe my love for you? For what we possess was surely handcrafted in the heavens long before time began. Before God formed each of us in our mother’s wombs, before He saw every one of our days, we were created for one another. You, Jeffrey Vance, are my other half; in so many ways my better half. The Great Story Teller took His sovereign pen and wrote a tale more beautiful than any before it. You see, only God could bring us back together again. Only God could give me someone as perfect as you.

Jeff, thank you for loving me. I know it must sound clique, but everyday, you make me want to be a better woman. You make me want to be the person God has always intended me to be, and with your love, I am confident I will be that person.

You found me when I was broken and so hurt, and you took my heart, every last piece of it and so masterfully put it back together again. You lifted me up. You taught me how to smile and how to dream again. You held my hand and led me through the toughest of days. You dried my tears and held me. You kept me going. Jeffrey Mullikin, you are my hero. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You are the most amazing man I have ever known. You have a heart that is unequaled; a smile that can light up my entire day.

Today I promise to love you for the rest of my days. I promise to be faithful to you and to respect you. I promise to encourage you and to laugh with you. I promise to pray for you and challenge you spiritually. I promise to defend you. I will be your confidant, your cheerleader, your sidekick and your best friend. It will not always be easy, but nothing truly meaningful in life is.

I love you Jeff; today and forever.

I am most blessed of all women because I have you.

August 31, 2011 by Jenilee - 0 comments

my favorite posts

Below is a list of my favorite blog posts from this year. Many of them brought tears to my eyes and encouraged me to press on when I was struggling. But all 10 of them are inspirational and the writing that I love to read. Enjoy.

1. Refusing the gift of the desert road by Jon Acuff

Favorite line: “What if the desert road is a gift?”

2. A Spider In My Pants by Perry Noble

Favorite line: “As our view of Him INCREASES then our fear of man will DECREASE.”

3. Good from awful by Kate Wallace

Favorite line: “God can use whoever/whatever to accomplish His will.”

4. Dream Small bye Kyle

Favorite line: “I’m beginning to understand that life is not meant to be lived boisterously. It’s meant to be lived by doing that one thing you were put on Earth to do, and to do it well.”

5. The soft X by Jon Acuff (seriously, I love this guy)

Favorite line: “But please, I am not done. I have barely started to reveal your life to you. I am the God who satisfies your desires with good things. That is me! And when it comes to your hopes and your fears and your dreams, I know, my son, I know.”

6. Where Forgiveness Starts by Steven Furtick

Favorite line: “The person that’s really being hurt by you withholding your forgiveness isn’t the offender. It’s you.”

The ladies in my family got together for one last estrogen-fest before the wedding. ..

August 18, 2011 by Jenilee - 1 Comment

we gonna celebrate

I must have drove him crazy with all of my videotaping…but now we have this awesome birthday video…

August 13, 2011 by Jenilee - 2 Comments

twenty-six reasons

In honor of the 26th birthday of the man I love, I give you the “26 reasons” why I love him.

26. Because he drives slower than my grandpa. Despite my constant complaining…it’s really kinda cute.

25. Because there truly is no sexier man drenched in sweat while clad in a flat-billed hat, cleats, and a mouthful of sunflower seeds. Though it’s always an automatic out, he consistently hits home runs in our Sunday night co-ed league. And there I sit, pretending not to be the swooning girl that I really am.

24. Because in those co-ed games, no matter how many times I drop the ball when he throws it to me, he always blames it on his throw.

23. Because he possess the most beautiful, pearly white, day-changing smile.

22. Because I have never, EVER opened my car door.

21. Because he too appreciates Diet Coke.

20. Because my man is fiercely loyal. Case in point: no matter how royally bad the Royals suck, they will remain his favorite team.

19. Because I trust him.

18. Because I go weak in the knees every time he tells me I’m beautiful.

17. Because he let me choose what color to paint ~~his~~ our walls. And, he didn’t bat an eye when I chose lime green.

16. Because of the countless awkward conversations he endured at church when we started dating. Especially the, “if you hurt our Jenilee, I’ll kill you,” one from a lady half his size.

15. Because he hates roller coasters.

14. Because we pray together…a lot. And I love listening to him pray; there’s so much sincerity in his voice.

13. Because when we pray together we always hold hands.

12. Because we have uniquely experienced not one, but TWO first kisses.

11. Because the one time I tried to push him away he showed up on my doorstep 10 minutes later.

10. Because he has bewitched every female in my family. Lily asks for him now. Kasey sits next to him instead of me at dinner, and has already asked to spend the night at his house. Mom finally found someone patient enough to teach her all the ways of technology. Audrey asked him for cooking lessons. And for every step of her first five kilometer race he ran right next to my sister encouraging her along.

9. Because he took my broken heart and with expert care and attention, stitched it back together again.

8. Did I mention he is SO handsome?!

7. Because he drove through multiple states in hurricane weather to see me for a few hours in college.

6. Because he was the one who inspired me to purchase an iPhone…and my life will never be the same.

5. Because he can actually get my dad to talk about things other than church.

4. Because he’s never too busy to have lunch with me.

3. Because he’s all “tatted-up” but he’s still a softie to me

2. Because he is so talented behind a camera and I believe in all that he has already and will continue to accomplish. Because he always is the first to read what I write and he believes in me.

1. Because he is all mine. And…I’m his.

August 4, 2011 by Jenilee - 5 Comments

the green monster

So my fiance has been a bachelor for some time now, which means most of his stuff is, well…very…boy. It’s been quite fun registering here, here, and here for new things. (Yes, I just shamelessly promoted my wedding registries…whoops…But, seriously, feel free to buy us a gift!) So, we decided his bedroom needed to be “CHICK-ed up”. Off we went to the Great Orange store (aka the Depot for Homes) to pick out some paint. Some would choose pink to add some womanly flare. Maybe even a little purple or magenta. But, just what did Jenilee choose?

GREEN!

I don’t even particularly like green all that much, but I just thought it would be fun! Reminds me of life and new growth. (Yes, everything in my life has meaning behind it!) We painted a light gray and the accent wall is now this lovely grassy color.