One Year Anniversary...51 more...

I write in red to symbolize love...


Sunday, July 24th, was our one year anniversary.  One year since we said "I do," one year since our public commitment to friends, family, & God, one year ago I got away with wearing an all white dress and orange Keds, and had the excuse to have 8 of my best friends standing behind me.  When I think back on that day it doesn't seem like it was a year ago, but when I think about all we have been through and where we are now...it feels longer than a year.  Are they all supposed to go this fast?  Sure hope not!  


We were blessed with a family friend's condo for four days in Crescent Bar.  They were the most amazing four days since the first four days of being born - way better than that.  Even better than our 7 day honeymoon in the paradise of Waikiki, HI (Honolulu).  Why?  Because we know each other even better than we did in Hawaii.  I know his laugh better, his quirks, and his smile better.  And with each year it is just supposed to keep getting better?  Closer to each other?  I believe it!  We laughed so hard we cried this past weekend, we joked and were carelessly carefree.  We didn't have a worry, other than what SPF we should be putting on in the blazing hot heat.  


Craig's top 6 things he learned about me this past weekend:


1. Sometimes I do like to not do anything
2. I like oysters & clams
3. I do get into a cold pool - willingly
4. I can be beaten at PHASE 10
5. My hair gets blonder in the sun
6. It is possible to have a triple layer tan one (one from my tank top, one from my swim suit, one from my sports bra)


Megan's top 6 things she learned about Craig:


1. He can learn to use any type of grill...ghetto or posh
2. He can make a mean "one-pot seafood platter"
3. He sucks at PHASE 10
4. He doesn't like to lay out in the sun for very long...he gets bored
5. He has a wicked tennis arm
6. He laughs harder at me than himself


We celebrated our wedding day in various ways.  One of which was by watching our ceremony on their big projector screen.  We considered standing in front of the screen to hold hands and renew our vows as we say our vows in the video - but decided that was some sort of cheating.  We also busted out the top layer of our wedding cake that had been in the freezer the past year.  And honestly, IT WAS STILL AMAZING!  Lastly, we sat and read through all of our wedding cards we had received.  Pretty much Craig hadn't seen any of them because as I received them at my Mom's house I would open them, read them, and put them away.  Let's just say that anyone who sent us cheesy or corny cards (or are just a really good friend for that matter) there was "CRAIG COMMENTARY" to follow.  We laughed so hard we cried.

To see more photos you can view our Pictures on Facebook

Loves,

Megs & Craig Skins

Victory is ours!

This blog won't make sense to you unless you have read, This Blog Posting.  [viewer discretion advised]

"Victory, oh sweet Victory!"

 The Crime Scene

Behind the scenes:

It was attached to the tongue of the shoe

Craig dumped it out of the shoe and that's how big it was:

Haskins vs. Bees

So, life has been pretty entertaining over this last week.  We have made great friends with about 75 bees who live and have nestled up on our porch.  They have actually been a huge disturbance.  We can't sit out there or even BBQ because of the hazardous conditions.  Now don't be fooled.  These bees ain't nothing like the bees in The Bee Movie.  They are not nice.  But we couldn't figure out where their nest was until one day I was brave enough to stand outside.  I started seeing bees go in and not come back out of Craig's Nike cleat.  I told him when he got home, he nudged the shoe with a golf club and a swarm of 50 or so bees come raging out of the cleat.  Awesome!  A bee hive in a shoe on our 8 ft x 4 ft porch.  OH if only you could have seen all the reactions we have been getting.  We have asked friends, "Have you ever had a bee hive in a shoe?"  All in all, Craig was adamant about extinguishing this thing on his own.  He didn't want to pay the $4.99 yet.  He messed with those bees on a daily basis.  They got to know each other really well.  He would poke at the shoe and make a mad dash back inside to slam the sliding glass door, then just sit back and watch them get angry.  So angry the would try to slam into the glass to get him.  So here are some brainstormed plans of his:

Plan A:
Grab shoe quickly and chuck it off our porch.  Then it is in the courtyard and isn't our problem.

Plan B:
Throw a towel over the opening of the shoe to keep them from coming in and out.  He actually played this one out and it failed miserably.


Plan C:
Place a box out there and slowly tap the shoe into the box.  Then throw the box over the porch.

Plan D:
Triple up on garbage bags and pick up the shoe like you pick up dog poop with a bag and quickly spin the bag, put it in the box, and take the box to the empty field to leave it.

So, he practiced for Plan D the most....it was his favorite idea.  Of course he would be from head to toe in winter gear as he is doing this.  He had psyched himself up so much he began practicing.  It failed miserably.  He couldn't get all three plastic bags back up and over his hand to spin the bag closed fast enough.  He would be dead.

In the end, he hung his head as we went to Fred Meyer and paid $4.99 for a "kills on contact" foaming spray.  We have used it a count of 4 times now and there are still one or two survivors.  We almost have victory though!  Now Craig's question, "Do I keep the shoe for bragging rights or throw it away?"

The people who come to Spokane....

It occurred to me tonight that Craig and I moved away from home a year ago...about 5 hours away from home...but yet we have still seen so many familiar faces pop in and out of Spokane and the surrounding area.  Spokane, WA?  Who goes to Spokane?  Well a lot of people, clearly!  All them western folk who want a change of scenario travel east, or it might be because our city hosts some of the nation's largest events (i.e. bloomsday & hoopfest).  I think I get to visit with more people here than I did back in Federal Way.  God is so good -- He knows I needs familiarity in my life or I just might go a little crazy.  For someone who is not good with change, in fact, a BIG baby when it comes to change, God has provided and has only isolated us within reason.  Every now and then I'll get a phone call with someone on the other end who says, "Hey!  I'm in Spokane (or will be driving through).  Can we meet up?"  And then I hear from God, "Megs, stop complaining.  I am bringing you a friend at least once a month...what more do you want?  ...any more friends and you would think you hadn't left Federal Way and we don't want that now, do we?."

Okay, so documenting, beginning August 2010:


Amanda Brown
Johnny Gannaw
Rachael & Marcus Hudson
Abbie & Paul Warmbier
Colleen Olson (who lives here)
Darby Haskins
Nicole Vanourek
Matt & Michelle Moyer
Jon & Michelle Cramer (who live here)
Jason Quey (who lives here)
Sally O'Leary
Rachael Steiner
Mailloux Family (in Richland)
Aunt Carol & Uncle Jim Hoffman
Michael Wooley
Addison Smith
Mark Heald
Jordan Devos
Chris Caldwell
Tiffany & Dean Dammerell
Steve & Shannon Van Dyken
Michelle Rock
Kenny Kilmer
Sean, Krysta, & Lincoln Haskins
Thayer Nielson
Joyce Mininger
Kiel Boynton

Mom & Dad

Ben Smith (not a visitor but a Spokane resident with us!)

Aunt Becky (all the way from Florida!)

Granddad & Grandnan (from Port Ludlow)

Lindsay Smith (all the way from CA)

Uncle Greg & Aunt Sue (from Issaquah)

Mama Marian (from Shoreline)

The Mallory's (from Carnation)

Ben & Chelsie Swanson (from Carnation)

Katie Swezea, Ashley Marolf, Tiffany Rutter (FW)

Angela (who resides here with me)

Tina, Guy, Kevin, Jill, & Caleb Hilden (in Chelan)

Todd, Jaye, & Kelsie Zern (from FW)

Our cousins...Michaelle, Ben, Craig, Molly, Me (who all reside here) & Molly's BF Dustin

Caitlin Britt (whoe resides here now!)

Seneca Ropp (from Halsey, OR)

Andrea Peterson (from Missoula, MT)

Kate Roberts (from Switzerland)

David & Julie Schmidt (Bong) (from Edmonds)

Want to be added to this list?  Wish you could see us too?  Come to Spokane!  Just call 253.709.0448....day or night!  If you call within the next 5 minutes you will receive a FREE futon to sleep on, a $49.95 value.

Matthew 5:30

"If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell"

Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off his right hand, but that "if your right hand causes you to sin" in your walk with Him, then it is better to "cut it off." -- Thank you Oswald Chambers.

There are so many hindrances in my life that I would like to throw off.  And since being married I have been exposed to even more imperfections and sinful sides I withhold.  Cut them off?  It sounds easier said than done but Jesus demands my all and deserves a daughter who is at least willing to try to lead a pure, blameless life.  God knows our weak spots, what knocks us down, better than we know ourselves!  And it is only with His strength that we can rid ourselves of impurity.  I don't even allow myself to go near magazines (ok Better Homes is a different story) because of the immediate thoughts that flood my mind about my body and how disgusting I look compared to the bikini airbrushed models.  Those thoughts are trash to God because He is the created of my body...why do I struggle with dissing His creation?  But that is an avenue I have had to "cut off" because of the path it leads my mind down.  It's a hard concept and I will never fully understand the lengths that we are called to go to but I can at least lean on God and try my best through His strength.

"There are a hundred and one things that you dare not do - things that would be sin for you, and would be recognized as sin by those who really know you.  But the unspiritual people around you will say, 'What's so wrong with doing that?  How absurd you are!"  Oswald Chamber hit it head on.  These comments made by others make it even harder to live a life that you know in your heart is right, pure, genuine, and Godly.

Remain strong.

Summer Time Update

Well, I think it is officially summer here in Spokane!  We have had a string of really nice days - in the high 80's - which is a nice break from the snow and the drought.  As we approach our first summer together as a married couple it is weird to think about everything that was going on a year ago.  It was nice weather, sunny days and crisp evenings, but I remember I didn't get to really enjoy any of them because my life was consumed with wedding planning.  But boy how I year in time flies!  We love Spokane, we love our friends and our church!  And our work, eh, it could be better!  But the flexibility to take time off is amazing!  This summer we have already made it home for my sister's graduation party and traveled to Oregon for a wedding.  This month we will be taking off the weekend of our anniversary to head to Crescent Bar, and in August a family camping trip with the church and another trip home for his cousin's wedding.  Craig has picked up full-time work for the next couple months, which is an incredible blessing.  So he has been waking up at 5am to be at work by 6am.  I am so blessed to have a husband wiling to commit to that much work during his summer break.  I am still working my three jobs.  So other than my schedules being quite shaken and stirred it's the same old grind all summer long.  Craig and I do find time together, mainly in the evenings.  Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday are our days together.  This past Monday we decided to go old school with our desserts and made Banana Boats on the grill - thank you girl scouts.  They were delicious!!!

Just take a banana, slice it down the middle not cutting all the way through, stuff it with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, wrap it in foil, and grill it or bake it @ 300 degrees for 5 minutes!  Easy!

I then proceeded to be creamed at a game of Scrabble.  My adorable and most gracious husband decides not to be so adorable and gracious when we play board games.  He has our score posted on one of our kitchen cabinets to remind himself daily of the win.

But despite any game I've lost in Scrabble I enjoy every minute with him.  He makes me laugh -- and let's be honest -- he makes me cry a lot too!  But he is mine, all mine!

To Bliss & Back

Traveling 900 miles in 4 days is draining but what made up for it was getting to spend 4 days with my best friend, preparing and encouraging her as her wedding day approached.  The wedding came and gone in no time at all.  We all curled our hair, smiled for some photos, fluffed her dress, sent her down the aisle, stuffed our faces, and wished them goodbye!  It reminded me of my wedding day – a day of many wonderful memories that led into one awkwardly beautiful night!    This weekend I wanted to cry out of happiness because I am so excited for their journey that they just begun yesterday and I am grateful to be a part of it.  God is tremendously amazing!  He molds two different people so perfectly to fit together…a bond that no one should be able to break apart.  My Dad told me today that marriage is like a pair of scissors.  They are two different units attached to each other at the center that work together for one goal, in this case to cut something.  The units separate and come back together, separate and come back together, time and time again.  But when they come back together….watch out because if you try to get in between them it sure does hurt!  It has been a blessing to watch my best friend engage in such a healthy and dynamic relationship that is pleasing to God.  Their wedding was at the church that he had grown up in.  How neat to surrender and allow their special day to be at his church rather than hers.  Now, they both attend together. 

I was the matron of honor because I am married :]  Yes, that is how I begun my toast at the reception.  I just wanted people to know!  But I told them that I didn’t have any advice for them because I, myself, have been married only a year.  What is a year out of 75 years?  It is a blink of time in the grand scheme of things.  But I could tell them that marriage is fun, exciting, and a challenge daily!  Just grab hold and hang on tight.  Kiss each other even when you don’t feel like it.  Regularly say, “I Love You.”  And appreciate the little things – don’t always expect big things to happen.  But when you are following the road of Christ, God will allow big things to happen every once in a while to remind you of His goodness and grace, but most importantly that He is the number one fan of your marriage! 


A clip I created to show at the end of my speech:

And, as I sit hear in the car, almost 3 hours into our 7 hour drive back, I asked my husband what more I should say and he recommended that I write about him, so here it goes…

Why I Love My Husband: Craig J Haskins

1.       Most importantly, he loves the Lord

2.       Second importantly, he loves me in all my glory and goodness!

3.       He laughs with me, not at me….most of the time

4.       He supports my workout addiction and healthy eating

5.       He always is looking at that dang bright side of things

6.       He makes friends wherever he goes

7.       He is extremely flexible

8.       He doesn’t snore every night

9.       He gets along with my family and friends and calls them his own

 He made me write all this about him on our blog :]