Black Friday's just not for me!

So this morning, 5 am early morning I should add, I decided to drive to Macys to buy me a coat.

Honestly, I never do Black Friday. I'm one that chooses to pay the extra cents or dollars to shop on a normal day. Plus, I've read several articles that say many people end up spending more on Black Friday than shopping on any other day.

Anyways, yesterday, we went to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, and after walking in the 35 degree cold weather, I was inspired to buy myself a coat for the long weekend.

So I googled coats. Found one that I liked and decided to partake in Macys Black Friday. And so this is how it went... I arrived around 5-ish and it was already PACKED. It took me probably 15 minutes to find parking. I went to Macys, looked at the coat I liked, tried on others, and couldn't decide. Then I remembered I had seen a nice, brown coat at the Gap. So I ran to see if they had it in my size, and what do you know, they did! AND everything at Gap was 50% off!

Unfortunately, I did not like the coat. But saw sweaters that I thought Gerson would like. I then realize that the line to pay was extremely long. I don't even know how exactly to describe the length of the line, but it was too long. Still, I decided to buy those items for my man.

After 40 minutes of waiting and waiting in line, I put the sweaters on the closest shelf and left. I just couldn't believe that after 40 minutes I got no where. I was so upset that I had actually waited that long! I normally put things back where they belong. I've done retail, so I don't like it when people just throw things they don't want wherever they can. But I'm guilty. I did it today, cause I just couldn't believe the time I had wasted, or even the time that I could have used to sleep since I seem to get so little of that.

I went back to Macys to get my coat. And once more, I stood in line. Waited and waited and wondered "Is this $50 coat REALLY worth it?!" And my answer kept on being no. But I decided to wait since the line wasn't half as bad as the one at Gap. When I got to the counter, I gave her my debit card and they declined it! I wanted to scream "the money is there!" But I'm sure everybody tells that line, so I asked her to try again. By the fourth try, it was finally accepted.

I walked out with my coat at 9am feeling exhausted and unhappy. I just thought 4 hours of my Black Friday experience was totally not worth it.

I don't want to bash anybody who loves Black Friday. I love shopping and bargains! I really do. But after that experience, I came to the conclusion that Black Friday is definitely not for me. I don't like the pushing, the crowds, the attitudes, and the craziness. Maybe one day that I want to purchase an expensive appliance or electronic device, I will do it again, but for now, I will make sure to stay away from Black Friday and shop on other days.

Maybe I'll give Cyber Monday a try this year... ;)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is only days away and I can't help but give thanks to God for all His blessings.

Actually, this year didn't start too well for me. In January, my dad suffered a heart attack and was in ICU for 7 days. It was one of the most horrible experiences in my life! But thankfully, God gave him another chance. And that's exactly how my dad sees it... as another opportunity to eat better and be a healthier person.

On a different note, these last two years have not been the easiest for me (or Gerson). I was use to working for pleasure and not for money and Gerson was use to always working. But the roles kind of changed. I had to work and provide for our household, while Gerson accepted that he would be financially supported by his wife. You can imagine... it wasn't easy adapting to these roles.

Nevertheless, we have learned so much through this ongoing journey. It's not over yet, but we have a focal point, God on our side, and a dream that's gradually becoming reality. It's exciting! And I believe that we have become stronger individuals and stronger in our marriage.

All this to say that this year I give God thanks for granting my dad life here on Earth. I love my dad so much!!! He's not perfect, but an amazing father, a loving husband, and a gullible grandfather.

I'm also grateful for the doors God opened this year (for both Gerson and I). It's been an extremely challenging adventure. But God has never left our side. Even when I thought we wouldn't survive a certain trial, he showed me to trust Him, to not give up, and continue running the race.

I thank God for giving me the wisdom to make smart decisions that have resulted in blessings from Him. And I give Him all the glory for this beautiful life He has given me. :)


I want to wish everybody a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I hope you all have a wonderful week, that you eat lots of turkey and pie, and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING BLOGGERS AND READERS!!!!

Love,

Adri

Step up your game

I had a wonderful anniversary. It was only the weekend, but we got to spend much needed quality time together.

I think I enjoyed the resting and relaxing too much because Monday was a dreadful one. I didn't feel like going to work. So I thought, maybe if I go to bed early, I will feel much better.Unfortunately, that did not help either! Sometimes sleeping too much does not help our bodies.

Well,while I was driving to work, I remembered something my mom would tell my sisters and I. She often told us "Remember that wherever you go, you are always replaceable."

What she meant was that we should never get too comfortable or too cocky at our game (whether it's your school, team, workplace, etc), because someone with more eagerness or more willingness can come and replace us.

That reminder was my energy pill for the day. It changed my attitude and pumped me with adrenaline to start and finish the work I need to do.

We should constantly be aware of that and work with excellence, walk the extra mile, give all we can, and step up our game! Someone is always ready to prove that they can do it better than we can.

In a Nutshell...

Four years ago I married the man that makes me so happy. He's my biggest blessing.

I'm not sure if psychologist or sociologist are right when they say opposites attract, but Gerson and I are pretty opposite. He loves Gilberto Santa Rosa music and I listen to rap. He's into science and math. I'm into English, writing, and arts. He's patient, I'm not. I love sweets, he loves salty foods. But the one thing we do have in common is that we're crazy about each other. I have no doubt about that!

In a nutshell, this is how it all began. We met at CFNI through mutual friends. My friend told him to give me a call cause I could get everybody to show up to the party we were having at his house. He called me and basically never stopped.



After a year of a really good friendship and a lot of chemistry, the summer arrived. Our friends had gone home, and it was just me and him. We went out several times and realized that we really liked each other.




We dated several months and eventually became an official boyfriend and girlfriend couple. We had a blast together. He's extremely romantic and I loved it! But after a year and a half of courting, Gerson broke up with me. Not because he didn't love me, but because he wanted to marry me, and I wasn't ready for marriage. I was leaving to Brazil, and he felt that I would never stop fulfilling my dreams and would probably never marry him.

4 months apart did it for me... for us. I knew I had lost a good guy, but I also had Brazil and other adventures ahead of me. My heart ached the whole time.

A day before I left to Houston to then leave to Brazil (for 6months), Gerson came to my apartment at Dallas Baptist University and admitted to being stupid for breaking up with me. He told me he was happy to see me fulfilling my dreams but wanted to eventually fulfill these dreams together. I completely agreed! He then asked me there at the parking lot of DBU if I would please marry him when I came back and I said yes! The most informal proposal ever. And this is always my response to when people ask me how I knew Gerson was the one, I say " I lived 4 months with out him, and life was much better with him in it"

I went to Brazil, six months later came back to the states.




He proposed in the Fort Worth botanical gardens, with a picnic and a scrabble board. 11 months later on November 5th 2006, we married.



I never made up my mind on a cold or hot honeymoon, so he gave me both... 7 days in Vail, Colorado and from there flew to Playa del Carmen in the Mexican Riviera for 7 more days of paradise. Can you imagine our luggage?!



In these four years as husband and wife, we've laughed, cried, fought, loved, traveled, lost, won, moved, stressed,been surprised, given, sacrificed,hugged, kissed, and experienced so much. And I so very much look forward to the many more years to come. It's been an amazing ride, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I never thought I would get married young cause society had convinced me that once you're married, it's over, so do everything now and then get married. But society was so wrong! My life only got better when I married Gerson. And I give all the glory to God. He has blessed us so much in this marriage and I'm forever grateful that we met, fell in love, and now only grow in love. All I can say is GOD IS GOOD!




So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Matthew 19:6

PS Mark my words, we're in this til' the end! Happy anniversary to Gerson and me!!!