I thought one of my favorite Nat King Cole Songs was the perfect title for this post. You see, my life is peppered with funny moments of people thinking I look much younger than I am. It used to be really annoying, as I wanted to look mature and hip. My mom said, “You’ll appreciate it one day!” Well, lately I’m starting to appreciate it! So I guess that means I really am getting older (oh no)! But I figured, these incidents make great stories, and I really need to keep a running list of them. So here they are:

My mom tells the story of a man coming up to me at a picnic one day, and he says, “How old are you, 5?” Deeply offended, I respond “I’m in third grade, and I can READ!”

On the day of my senior prom I went with my mom to get my nails done. The manicurist says, “This sure is a special treat for such a young girl, not many 12 year olds get taken to have a manicure!” I was mortified. Here I am, hoping to look super hot on prom night, and she thinks I’m 12… Great.

It’s the summer of my junior year in college and I’m home on break. I go to the grocery store with my mom and wait next to her as she checks out. The manager rings us up and says to me, “It sure is nice that you’re helping your mom do the grocery shopping.” Yes, I say. “Maybe some day when you have your drivers license, you can do the shopping for her!” My mom about falls over laughing and asks him how old he thinks I am. “Oh, she can’t be more than 13!” I am in shock. My mom tells him, “She’s 22 and will graduate college next year!” His eyes bugged out of his head but I could tell he felt really bad. Geesh, get me outta this store already!

I’m 26 and working as a designer at OneCreative. All alone at the office one day, the UPS man drops a package off. When I go to sign for it, he hesitates and asks, “Is there someone else here who can sign for this package?” No, I say. Why can’t I sign for it? “Oh, you have to be 18 years or older,” he responds. What? I start laughing. I tell him how old I am and he does not believe me. I show him my wedding ring, tell him I’m 26, pay a mortgage, etc. He still does not believe me and won’t let me sign for the package. It’s not until I’m about to whip out my driver’s license that he concedes, although still skeptic… like his job is on the line if he gets caught letting a kid sign their name on this box. I can’t believe this! My bosses and I have a good laugh over it when they get back to the office.

It’s the weekend of our 5 year wedding anniversary, and Mark and I are vacationing in Scottsdale, AZ. We can’t find our way out of the hotel lobby and to the pools outside, so a concierge comes to help us out. He told us all about the 9 different pools and where they were located. He then described the “Mother of Pearl” pool with it’s fancy shell walls. But as he was talking about this particular pool, he got a funny look on his face, slowed his speech and said, “Well, the Mother of Pearl pool is really a pool for the adults, because they like to swim laps and be undisturbed, but any other pool you want to swim in is quite nice…. We’re thinking, are you kidding me!? Here I am, standing next to my hubby and looking pretty pregnant in my bathing suit, and he thinks we’re trouble-making teens! We decide to give him a break and laugh ourselves silly out at the pool.

That night, we’re dining out at Roy’s when the manager comes over to check on us. He asks if we’re celebrating anything special. “Why yes, it’s our 5 year wedding anniversary!” Mark says. The manager’s eyes bug out. “Five years! What, did you get married right out of high school!? You don’t look old enough to be married that long!” He about died with shock when we told him I was turning 30 this year.

The next morning Mark and I are filling out paperwork, about to have a fabulous massage. The girl sees I’m wanting a prenatal massage and asks if I’ve ever had one. “No” I say. “Oh, is this your first pregnancy?” she asks. I tell her, “Actually, it’s my third.” Shock ensues. She can’t believe it and thinks I look way to young to even be at child-bearing age.

So, I just laugh, and try to be thankful that I don’t look as old or older than I am! Because I know soon enough the gray hairs will come in and give it all away, and then people will be giving me the senior discount without even asking me how old I am. Hey, at least it makes for good stories!

It’s been a great week here so far, although there’s a lot more humidity than what we’re used to. Here’s a little update on the goings-on…

The beach day was cold! We were able to keep warm with a great bonfire, and we feasted on the infamous Tony’s meatball grinders. Simonne made us all s’mores for dessert.

The next day we went to Rough Point, Doris Duke’s mansion in Newport. It was quite extravagant, with huge portraits and tapestries hanging everywhere! Her two camels (and 12 dogs) even roamed the premises.

When the tour was finished, we met up with Aunt Alice in her new place and had a great time reminiscing and chatting for a while. Then, Uncle Ron and Aunt Denise picked up us and we drove over to Narragansett for dinner at Captain Jack’s with Aimée. Talk about some good stuffed shrimp and scallops (and clam chowder, to boot)! Basically, we’ve made it a point to eat seafood everyday. We’re gonna have a lot of exercising to do back in Albuquerque.

Friday’s plan was to go for a boat ride on Uncle Charlie’s boat, but unfortunately after the rains from the hurricane, the bilge pump never came on and so he had a lot of rotting seaweed and other stuff in the hull of the boat, canceling the trip. So instead, we went Dunkin Donuts to satisfy Renée’s cravings and met up with Aimée in Narragansett. We walked along the beach before meeting her boyfriend, Chad, and headed to dinner at Skipper’s Dock in Stonington, Connecticut. Stonington is the pad of Aimée and Chad. (That rhymes, by the way). There are several neighborhoods of 18th-century houses that we walked around through after dinner which Renée fell in love with–she felt like she was really back in colonial days. An urge for ice cream drove us to Mystic, Connecticut (where Mystic Pizza was filmed), so we walked around the shops while eating Mystic Mud and Coffee-Kahlua-Rum-Fudge (not quite as easy to say as Mystic Mud). Suffering from food-coma and the desire to simply relax, we went back to the apartment and talked for a while before heading to bed.

Today has been a lazy day. Tonight we’re dining with Uncle Normand and Aunt Betty and tomorrow we’re hanging out in Rehoboth, Mass. Sadly we have to go back in just a few days, so we have to get in as much seafood as possible!

After 12 hours of traveling on Monday, Ren and I have finally made it to Warwick, Rhode Island, where Ren’s Aunt Paulette and Uncle Charlie live. They enjoy a beautiful view out onto the bay, and I am sitting out there wirelessly typing up this new entry. And I’m using the neighbor’s wireless connection (shhh, don’t tell them–we’re going to install high-speed, wireless internet in the house before week’s end).

We unfortunately were delayed in Chicago for nearly four hours and didn’t arrive into Rhode Island until after 1:00am local time. So is it any surprise that I slept until noon on Tuesday? After I had finally gained my senses, we went to East Providence to visit Brown University where Ren’s cousins Mandy and Lorie work. Unfortunately, all that we knew was that they worked in administration–somewhere. Being unsure of the department, we had a difficult time tracking them down. If only we had had a faculty directory! About 10 minutes after 4pm, we found their offices in the Bio-Med building, but too bad for us–they had already left. Defeated, we lifted our spirits with a tasty treat at Uncle John’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream store and met up with Uncle Richard.

Richard took us over to the cemetery where Ren’s mémêre was buried. This was the first time we had seen the grave-site since she died three months ago. It was a somber time for us all, but we expect to see her in heaven someday.

Afterwards, Richard took us over to Hemenway’s in downtown Providence, where we feasted on clam chowder, calamari, and bacon-wrapped scallops (Aunt Paulette had a cup of lobster bisque). We spent about an hour there before meeting up with Richard’s wife, Georgette, and kids, Simonne and Ricky. We then walked around downtown at an event called Waterfire, which is basically a bunch of little campfires lit up along the river with music playing. A fun time just to walk around and enjoy the evening.

Today is a beach day after we get going, which may be a little while. It’s just a nice, relaxing day today. Something which both Ren and I have needed for a long time!

Friday morning, after having visited the Special Shapes Mass Ascension at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Renée and I hopped in ye olde Toyota Camry for a trip to the unknown—at least for Ren. I knew exactly where we were going and planned a surprise trip for her. Well, admist all of the changing colors of the Aspen trees up in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, lies a little town called Pagosa Springs.

Pagosa Springs (often simply called Pagosa) is nestled away in southern Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, next to the San Juan river. They are popular for their access to skiing at Wolf Creek as well as awesome nature-related outdoor activities (mountain-biking, hiking, etc.). Maybe, however, what they are most famous for is the reason for their name: their hot springs.

Renée and I stayed at The Springs Resort Inn, which has 24/7 access to the springs. Ren and I, thus, got in our share of awesome relaxation by soothing our tired frames in the springs. They range from 97 (”The Burg”) to 113 (”The Lobster Pot”) degrees Fahrenheit and also are rich in “natural minerals”, which are said to provide healing to the body. That is part of the reason that the springs (and consequently, Pagosa) is so popular.

But they sure do smell like sulfur.

After spending a glorious weekend up in Colorado celebrating our first-year anniversary, we came back to Albuquerque to begin the next week of work, which is going very well. We are now no longer the typical newlyweds—we have at least one year under our belts, with many, many more to come. The adventure is just beginning.

And for anyone that missed the special first-year anniversary tribute, you can revisit it. Also, watch for pictures soon from the trip and from the Balloon Fiesta.

Sorry Rhode Island, but we must dismiss you. For now, you can let the pictures be your story.

Life has been busy these past couple of weeks, but very good. One big change has been the addition of a daily 6am appointment, and thus a shift in schedule to a bedtime of 10pm. Although somewhat hard to get up (on certain days of the week, especially Thursdays), the benefit far outweighs the cost. I enjoy spending time with the Lord, which is precisely the appointment. There’s just something about walking in the cool of the morning on a path (sidewalk) through the trees (the east side of the apartment complex) meditating on His goodness and pondering life. I don’t always have clear answers, but I do have security. I have security in the fact that Christ died for me and because of it, declares me holy before His and my Father in heaven. That gives me incredible freedom to ask questions, laugh, and cry with Him.

Last week Renée and I spent the weekend in Taos for a marriage retreat that we had the privilege to help plan. Although the weekend didn’t afford us much sleep, as our responsibilities had us helping out very early in the morning, plus the fact that we didn’t have any electricity or water for a half-day, God grew Renée and I closer together through the grace of His Son. We got to talk about a lot of things that couples don’t often talk about and make a [re]commitment to keep the covenant that we made together on the altar almost one year ago.

This weekend, Renée and I are finally hanging out with a couple that we haven’t hung with in a while from our young marrieds’ Bible study. Isaac and Alexis are true seekers of God and a lot of fun to be with. They spur us on toward godliness, and it’s good to spend time with them. We know the start of our evening (dinner) but for some reason are blocked on what to do afterwards. Albuquerque-ians, what in this city is there to do?

Sorry it’s taken so long to update. Renée and I have been super-duper busy, yo. But here’s another exciting episode in the Rhode Island saga (brought to you by the lovely Renée):

Saturday. Early Saturday afternoon seems like a blur now, but one thing is for sure. I know we had seafood for lunch!

At 3:00pm, we took a ride around Newport on the Aurora schooner. There were probably 60-70 people aboard, and we sailed around for two hours. I love the summer weather in Rhode Island, because it’s warm during the day but cool enough for long sleeves at night. So, it was great to be on a boat and check out all the water that we don’t have in New Mexico.

But the best part of Saturday was Saturday night. We had the most unbelievable dinner at Legal Seafood. It was the kind of meal you moan over. Their clam chowder is to die for, and I had a huge lobster poboy (the best way to eat a lobster: all the meat and none of the work). Mark had coconut shrimp, stuffed butterfly shrimp, and grilled shrimp with baked potato and clam chowder. Now for those of you New Mexicans who have never had East Coast seafood, it makes Landry’s look like Long John Silver’s.

It was a pretty relaxing day, all in all. Now, I’d like to give a shout-out to my cousin Lorie and her boyfriend Adam! For all my other cousins that check our website everyday, get ready because your shout-out is coming soon I love you guys!

Friday. Renée’s folks now in town, we start the day off right with some awesome seafood at Cello’s. I dine on fine-tasting fried fish and chips and crab cakes.

We then, having a few hours before the wedding, head over to downtown Central Falls to visit the houses that father-in-law and mother-in-law grew up in, most still in good condition. Then, we merrily drive to our second tour: Slater Mill.

Slater Mill was one of the very first mills in the initial stages of the Industrial Revolution. They utilized water power to turn huge cranks and gears to power the machines they had to make all kinds of things. One of the most impressive parts was the process of turning cotton into fabric. They still have operational machines, and it is simply amazing to see the ingenuity of the creators of these machines, as well as their volume! If you were ever hurt in the mill, there was no yelling for help—you wouldn’t be heard!

After spending about two hours at the mill and being thoroughly impressed, we went back to the hotel to prepare for the wedding. We then arrive at the ceremony a good 20 minutes before showtime, and I meet another batch of Renée’s family—too many to keep track of! Finally, the ceremony proceeds, and Seth Slater and Julie St. Pierre, well, proceed to be married. And are. It was very nice.

But what was really fun was afterwards. The party had just begun at the beautiful reception hall, where prime rib or baked scrod was the plate-of-the-evening. After the food, the cutting of the cake, the tea ceremony, and some other small parts, the dancing erupted like crazy and continued for, oh, the next four hours. Renée’s family loves to dance!

After getting completely sweaty and also losing the keys to get home, Renée’s fam’ and I hop in the car to troll back to Warwick, where Renée and I were staying and where the fam’ was close by.

But, we ended up extremely close to Connecticut. On accident.

Three hours later, we got home. We were extremely tired, and we’re sure that Rhode Island was very pretty had we seen it, but we were home.

I’m only going on four hours of sleep today. I didn’t finish working on our server computers until about 2:30am, and then maybe got to sleep around 3am. And of course, today has been chock full of problems. Oh well—such is life. Early to bed tonight.

But on with the adventure.

Thursday. Thursday began by sleeping late—something I haven’t done in quite a while (especially this morning).

We (Renée, Aunt Paulette, and I) spent the day walking through Wickford (or as them R.I.ers call it, Wickfud) at all kinds of little shops. I entered a small book store in the area and search for The Count of Monte Cristo, but to no avail. We also spent some time walking through an old cemetery (of the legendary Updikes) and through the Old Narragansett church—close to 300 years old. Surprisely, the church still holds services in the summer. In the winter, families used to sit in boxed pews and bring warm bricks to keep the heat in the building, since it was mighty drafty.

After that was the highlight of my day: our first real taste of seafood. We went to a local market right on the marina and purchased some snail salad, stuffed quahogs (stuffed clams), and stuffed scallops. Oh man, oh man, oh man. What a heavenly decadency! Oh mother of magnificence! Tasty tantalization. Renée and I both were on cloud nine.

Well, about this time Renée’s fam’ had arrived in Rhode Island, so we jaunted over to their hotel. We picked up Paul and went over to Bonnett Shores (where we were the previous night) to meet up with Aunt Paulette’s sister Denise and her family. We were planning a huge bonfire on the shores, to the tune of snail salad (and other food), a nice breeze, and lots of fun.

But—it rained.

Hard.

In fact, we went up to our “cabana” and tried to wait it out under a tiny tarp above our heads while we ate pizza. So much for the bonfire. But now with Uncle Richard, Aunt Georgette, Ricky, Simonne, Uncle Johnny, and Aunt Paulette, Paul, Renée, and I are rather enjoying the company. So much, that all of us decide to go to Uncle Johnny’s Ben & Jerry’s store in downtown Providence, even though it’s a good hour away.

So after the rain lets up slightly where we were, Paul, Renée, and I jump in with Aunt Paulette and head off to Providence in the Volvo (gotta love those people). About 30 minutes later, though, we had the fright of our lives.

You see, it was raining torrentially, and I guess even some New Englanders can’t always keep their vehicles under control. We were okay—but a Jeep came spinning 360 degrees multiple times right by our left side and ended up straight in front of us, headlights shining brightly into our eyes. But Aunt Paulette kept calm and veered to the right to go around him—but in the moments after, all of us were extremely nervous, scared, and shocked. Thank God for His marvelous protection! No one hit the Jeep, either, which is a blessing.

So, needless to say, we don’t really need any sugar in our bodies right now. We decide to call it a night and count our blessings instead. Ice cream will come later.