As Promised...

More to come...

How's Married Life?

Teaching pre-school together where we perform the puppet skits

Nick and Ryan with the puppetsMural in the classroom Nick's Publix vest and apron that he entrusted to meJosh and Damien over for breakfastShawn was our first guest! The Fullers over for dinnerKelly and George are super cute I used to teach Kelly in pre-school 9 years ago! I've got a picture to prove it!Helping Gina unpack The Chong-Yous helping as a family

I organized those books, do they look straight? Sable wearing the shirt Dana and I gave Gina

Love the purple bow!

Sable and the balloon I brought She's got a bow like Minnie!

"How's married life?" seems to be the question of the moment. There always seems to be a question of the moment in this process.

"When is the big day?"

"How's the wedding planning going?"

"Who is in the wedding party?"

"Where are you going on your honeymoon?"

"Are you ready for the big day?"

"How was your honeymoon?

and now,

"How's married life?"

So the answer is that married life is great! We are having a lot of fun saying things like, "My husband is working late" or "Let me talk to my wife". It's kind of cool seeing my new name on my driver's license. I think it sounds very European. Victoria Babinetz. At least no one should call me Virginia any more. I get that a lot because Virginia Woolf was a famous author and my supervisor's name is Virginia. Many times Nick will say something and I will say, "I was just thinking that!" Or I wilI want to do something with the house and I will come home to find out he did it. Like Friday, I really wanted to get home to clean the spare bedroom. I come home and it's totally rearranged so much nicer! Nick had gone to work later that day and totally taken care of it. Yes, we have moments when we look at each other like, "Did you really say that?" But most of the time, we are just so awed at the goodness of God in choosing the other.

I could also say that married life is busy! Funny how life doesn't want to slow down just because we go through a major change. The biggest challenge for me is the cooking. I guess it's pretty easy for a lot of people but I never got myself into a rhythm. Things like stocking all the ingredients and timing the food right to be on the table when we are ready yet before we have to leave for Rock UF or some other nighttime event. A couple weeks ago, we went to our friends, the Fullers, and Barbara gave me some recipes. That week I cooked five meals in one week which is pretty good considering I don't think I've ever cooked more than one meal in a week in my life. Nick used to work at Publix, so in honor of my effort, he let me wear his old apron. He was promoted to a green vest so he gets to wear that one.

We have been able to entertain Nick's friend Shawn, our friend Heather, Melissa Sylvia and the Fullers for dinner. We've also had Nick's friend Damien and my friend from work, Josh, over for breakfast. Nick and Damien used to be roommates (in a townhouse right behind us!) so they had fun making apple cinnamon pancakes. We are really enjoying the great plates, silverware, cooking and dining supplies that we were given at our shower. Thanks everyone! Be assured, they are being put to good use!

Nick and I also starting teaching pre-school together every other week at church. We were going to take a break serving on Sundays after the wedding but for three weeks all we heard at church was how they did not have enough workers. So we finally looked at each other and said, "We need to do this". I used to do it nine years ago, when Brittany Chapov was in my class at five years old. Now she helps lead one of the classes! Go figure! Nick is the old pro having just taught last rotation. All the little kids love him and the adult workers are relieved to have him back. I feel like the new leading lady being paired with the veteran leading man. No pressure! Last week, he was the puppet "Darlin' Duck" and I was the teacher. We were teaching the kids that everyone is important to God, even children. I think we did pretty good for our first try. When the lesson was over and we still had time, Nick brought out more puppets and I improvised. We made a pretty good team! Ryan Kochert also assists us which is fun. I've know him since I came to The Rock of Gainesville 11 years ago. This week I started to recognize some of the kids and I'm excited about this new opportunity to serve and build relationships.

Yesterday I helped Phil and Gina unpack from NYC. They are FINALLY here after trying to sell their home for a year and I am just so grateful. We went through a lot together in NYC and it will be so nice to be able to just stop by and hang out and fulfill the purposes of God together. Other people helped out like Pastor Cheryl, the Chapovs and the Chong-Yous. I actually went to Publix right before and ran smack into Gina! I was so excited that Sable was wearing the shirt Dana and I had given her at Gina's shower, while Sable was still in the womb! It's the shirt Dana created in honor of Suri Cruise that says, "Mission:Adorable". Sable was also wearing a purple bow so I told Gina I think she dressed her in honor of me. Gina said she just dressed her to look cute but it was OK if I wanted to think differently. I knew I liked that girl!

So that's married life right now. Wedding pictures to come...

"How's married life?" seems to be the question of the moment. There always seems to be a question of the moment in this process.

"When is the big day?" "How's the wedding planning going?" "Who is in the wedding party?" "Where are you going on your honeymoon?" "Are you ready for the big day?" "How was your honeymoon? and now, "How's married life?"

So the answer is that married life is great! We are having a lot of fun saying things like, "My husband is working late" or "Let me talk to my wife". It's kind of cool seeing my new name on my driver's license. I think it sounds very European. Victoria Babinetz. At least no one should call me Virginia any more. I get that a lot because Virginia Woolf was a famous author and my supervisor's name is Virginia. Many times Nick will say something and I will say, "I was just thinking that!" Or I wilI want to do something with the house and I will come home to find out he did it. Like Friday, I really wanted to get home to clean the spare bedroom. I come home and it's totally rearranged so much nicer! Nick had gone to work later that day and totally taken care of it. Yes, we have moments when we look at each other like, "Did you really say that?" But most of the time, we are just so awed at the goodness of God in choosing the other.

I could also say that married life is busy! Funny how life doesn't want to slow down just because we go through a major change. The biggest challenge for me is the cooking. I guess it's pretty easy for a lot of people but I never got myself into a rhythm. Things like stocking all the ingredients and timing the food right to be on the table when we are ready yet before we have to leave for Rock UF or some other nighttime event. A couple weeks ago, we went to our friends, the Fullers, and Barbara gave me some recipes. That week I cooked five meals in one week which is pretty good considering I don't think I've ever cooked more than one meal in a week in my life. Nick used to work at Publix when he was in school, so in honor of my effort, he let me wear his old apron. He was promoted to a green vest so he gets to wear that one.

We have been able to entertain Nick's friend Shawn, our friend Heather, Melissa Sylvia and the Fullers for dinner. We've also had Nick's friend Damien and my friend from work, Josh, over for breakfast. Nick and Damien used to be roommates (in a townhouse right behind us!) so they had fun making apple cinnamon pancakes. We are really enjoying the great plates, silverware, cooking and dining supplies that we were given at our shower. Thanks everyone! Be assured, they are being put to good use!

Nick and I also starting teaching pre-school together every other week at church. We were going to take a break serving on Sundays after the wedding but for three weeks all we heard at church was how they did not have enough workers. So we finally looked at each other and said, "We need to do this". I used to do it nine years ago, when Brittany Chapov was in my class at five years old. Now she helps lead one of the classes! Go figure! Nick is the old pro having just taught last rotation. All the little kids love him and the adult workers are relieved to have him back. I feel like the new leading lady being paired with the veteran leading man. No pressure! Last week, he was the puppet "Darlin' Duck" and I was the teacher. We were teaching the kids that everyone is important to God, even children. I think we did pretty good for our first try. When the lesson was over and we still had time, Nick brought out more puppets and I improvised. We made a pretty good team! Ryan Kochert also assists us which is fun. I've know him since I came to The Rock of Gainesville 11 years ago. This week I started to recognize some of the kids and I'm excited about this new opportunity to serve and build relationships.

Yesterday I helped Phil and Gina unpack from NYC. They are FINALLY here after trying to sell their home for a year and I am just so grateful. We went through a lot together in NYC and it will be so nice to be able to just stop by and hang out and fulfill the purposes of God together. Other people helped out like Pastor Cheryl, the Chapovs and the Chong-Yous. I actually went to Publix right before and ran smack into Gina! I was so excited that Sable was wearing the shirt Dana and I had given her at Gina's shower, while Sable was still in the womb! It's the shirt Dana created in honor of Suri Cruise that says, "Mission:Adorable". Sable was also wearing a purple bow so I told Gina I think she dressed her in honor of me. Gina said she just dressed her to look cute but it was OK if I wanted to think differently. I knew I liked that girl!

So that's married life right now. Wedding pictures to come...