Our Pick: Movie of the Year

Jared and I saw this when it first hit theaters in September and love this movie! It's not the best acting or production, but it is by far the best message of any movie we've seen. Any couple, whether you're newlyweds or have been married for years, this movie is a must-see TOGETHER. It's moving and powerful and can spark some great discussions!

Also, a huge part of the move is a book called The Love Dare. This book helps you to love your spouse by doing a 40-day challenge. Click here to check it out.

Ken Kienow Photography

Here are 2 links to a few wedding photos from our photographer Ken Kienow. He's awesome! He set up a photobooth for our guests to take fun pictures also. It was a blast!

http://www.kenkienow.com/blog/?p=35
http://www.kenkienow.com/blog/?p=34

Enjoy!

Mr. & Mrs. Strouss

We did it! We got married and absolutely love married life.

Our wedding was so much fun! We were surrounded by family and friends and that's what made our day the best.

Here are some pics of the wedding from a friend's camera. More coming soon...

Handsome Groomsmen

Beautiful Bridesmaids

Happy Couple

And after the wedding...they lived happily ever after...and honeymooned in Mexico. Stay tuned for more adventures!

Wedding Website

My co-worker and friend Jenni has graciously agreed to create a wedding website for Jared and I to communicate to our guests.
If you want to find out about the wedding details - directions, accommodations, local events, bridal party, etc you can click here - http://www.jaredandmelanie.net/

Little House on the Prairie...I mean, Atascadero

Jared found the cutest little house for rent in Atascadero! We called and took one look at it and decided that's where we wanted to start our life together. Luckily, the landlords wanted us as tenants too!

Isn't this adorable?



It's a 2-bedroom, 1-bath house with the cutest white pickett fence around the front yard, a patio in the back and a detached garage. We are in love with it!

We got the keys this past weekend and Jared brought me my first bouquet of flowers in the new house - pink roses. He's so great!



On Sunday night we moved our first load into the house - some random things I had in the garage and our kitchen table. It's a perfect fit - thanks Mom!

We are moving more stuff this weekend and are looking for a refridgerator. If you know of anyone trying to get rid of theirs, let us know!

Engagement Pics in Morro Bay

Arlene, Jared's youngest sister and also my bridesmaid, offered to take engagement pictures of us at Morro Bay. She did a great job! And Jared did a good job too considering he had to stare into the sun AND a seagull pooped on his shoulder. Haha!

Wedding Date Decided

After looking high and low, near and far for a place to have our wedding, we finally found it! The wedding will be at EOS Estate Winery on Saturday, October 11th. Phew!

They will hold our big party, it's outside, and at a vineyard - everything I was looking for. And Dad's excited because it won't cost an arm AND both legs :)

Now, on to the next decision...

ENGAGED!

Jared asked me to marry him on Friday, July 11. And of course, I said Yes! That's the short story. Read on for all the juicy details...

It had been an extremely long and draining week for me at work and Jared wanted to cheer me up by taking me on a date. He came from Creston to pick me up, then headed back up to Atascadero. He didn't want me to know where we were going, but couldn't keep it a secret. We had reservations at McPhee's in Templeton - I had never been there before.

We had a really relaxing and fun time together. And the food was wonderful. At one point, Jared leaned forward in his chair and was looking around. It looked like he was ready to leave, which confused me, since I was still eating my dinner. He said he was just really full...

The waiter came by and asked if we wanted dessert, and who can pass up a hot fudge sundae when you're with your honey and you've had a bad week? So I ordered one for us to share. Little did I know that messed up Jared's plans.

We started talking about Jared's breakfast with his semi-mentor Darrell. We had been wanting to do pre-engagement counseling with Darrell for sometime and I was under the impression that Jared was going to set up the dates and times. When I found out he hadn't, I was really upset. It was the last straw of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. As we were getting in the truck to leave, I started crying. I was upset, then thought Jared was upset at me for being upset, which just made it all worse. (Girls - you know what I'm talking about)

I couldn't tell Jared why I was crying, but this was the second time I had ruined his plans for the evening. He told me to open his backpack. Well the problem with that was that it was shoved behind the bench seat and we were entering Highway 101. I thought we were certainly going to crash, but finally he pulled it out from behind me. Jared kept telling me to open his backpack, so I did. There sat the Robbins Brothers box! I was so surprised! I think I just kept saying "What? What?" Then he looked over at me and smiled the sweetest smile I've ever seen and asked "Will you marry me?"

For about 2 seconds I was ecstatic, but then I realized I had ruined his plans for the perfect proposal, so I started crying again and zipped his backpack up again. About a minute after that I got over it and was beaming! Jared explained that he has been trying all night to get me to Atascadero Lake Park at sunset, which is where we had our first date, to propose. We drove in awkward giggles to the park, got out and found a spot.

By this time it was completely dark. Jared opened up the ring box and the ring was glowing! The box has this awesome light inside when you open it. I just stood there in awe and then he asked "Do you like the ring?" Then I said "Don't you have something to ask me?" So he got down on one knee and asked me a second time to marry him. I said yes and was so excited. I had already done a fair share of crying that night so there were no tears. Just hugs, kisses, and pure excitement.

We hopped back in the truck and drove to our secret spot, where we go just to be alone and talk. We hung out there just talking and enjoying the time together. It was so sweet!

When we got to my parents' house and told them, my mom was jumping up and down and squealing. My dad was laughing, hugged Jared and instantly whipped out the camera. It was so cute! We toasted with Diet Dr. Pepper, since none of us were in the mood for champagne.

Here's a picture of us that night at my parents' house:



It's been a crazy, fun, overwhelming ride ever since... And we're so happy!

Prince Caspian in Theaters May 16th

Disney's second Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, will be in theaters Friday, May 16th. It's gonna be good, so don't miss it!

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

I've never been a huge fan of Ben Stein. That is, until last night when I saw Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

About the movie...
WHO: Ben Stein, in the new film EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

WHAT: His heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world’s top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few.

WHEN: In theaters now; released on April 18, 2008

WHERE: Ben travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth…that bewilders him, then angers him…and then spurs him to action!

WHY: Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance. To which Ben Says: "Enough!" And then gets busy. NOBODY messes with Ben.


After a few weeks out in theaters, we finally got it in San Luis at the Downtown Centre theater. When I first heard about this movie, I admit, I thought it looked a little strange. I mean, what's up with the weird Catholic school-boy outfit? Besides that, what is Ben Stein trying to accomplish with this movie?

Jared and I hoofed it down to the theater after work last night with my parents and Andy. And I was surprised first to see so many people there, and second that Ben didn't seem to be "pushing his agenda" on movie-goers like so many would assume. Ben's initial premise is that all Americans value Freedom, and that Freedom is being compromised in a frightening way.

Watch the trailer below.

This is a GREAT movie and initiates some very interesting conversations. If you've seen it, let's talk!

If you haven't seen it, go enjoy the Freedom you have - see the movie and come to your own conclusions.

Hunt for Wildflowers

Jared has been telling me about the spectacular spring wildflowers since one of our first dates and I couldn't wait to see them! Yesterday after church we grabbed some sandwiches and drove out to Shell Creek Road. On the way we saw a bunch of yellow and orange flowers, which were very pretty. But then Jared spotted a field of the most delicate light blue flowers and immediately pulled over so we could take pictures.

As I was gushing over how pretty the flowers were, he said "Just wait until we get to Shell Creek Road." I knew we were there when I spotted the endless acres of bright wildflowers and the long line of cars parked on the street. Families were picnicking and snapping pics of the surrounding beauty.

We drove almost all the way down the road to Shandon - we just couldn't get enough! Jared specifically wanted to find the rare red flowers. We searched and searched and finally found the them, here's proof!

After a while, we remembered we had a picnic lunch, so we parked on the side of the road and threw down a blanket. We just soaked up the sun and enjoyed being outside in such a gorgeous place. That is until we started getting sunburned! Back in the truck we drove on and saw millions and millions more - tiny white ones, big yellow ones, purple flowers in every shape and shade, and of course the California poppies.

This "Sunday drive" was one of our most fun adventures together. I loved discovering this side of God's creativity with Jared. We are definitely going next year! Who's with us?

~Melanie

New to the Blogging World

Welcome to our blog! We've never been this web savvy before, so this is exciting. Because our lives are becoming increasingly busy, we want to make sure we are sharing our lives with our friends and family as much as we can. So...here we are! We hope you enjoy reading about our adventures as much as we enjoy living them.

Love,
Melanie & Jared