CLICK ON THE RIGHT UNDER ARCHIVES 6/1/2005 AND CHECK OUT NEW PHOTO'S OF US

Please pray Grandma Janie tonight!

Grandma Janie is very ill and we would appreciate it if you could keep her in your prayers tonight. She has three tumors, one in her brain, one in her throat, and another in her lungs, and on top of all that she has cancer. This is the third time in her life that she's had to battle cancer, but in the past she has beat the disease. Grandma Janie is an extremely strong woman and has a deep passion to live. She truly believes that she will indeed beat the odds again and claims that she is not ready to die. We love her so much and are not ready to let her go. We don't know what the Lord's greater plan is for Grandma, but we do know that God does answer prayers, and that the Bible say's there is power in numbers! "I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything I ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them."-Matthew 18:20 So our dearest friends and family if you could help us increase the number of prayers that God will hear tonight we would be so thankful. May God Bless You the way he's blessed us!

OFF TO THE BALL GAME!

Here we are on our way to the Cardinal's game. St. Louis has some serious fans so Jay got me a shirt and hat so I would blend in! This town loves the Cardinal's, I've never seen anything like it! We watched the game in 115 heat index with 45,000 people who did not complain about the humidity or the heat but only cheered on their favorite team!

Jay's home sweet home!

We're Back from St. Louis!

It's good to be home in California but a big part of us misses Missouri. We miss, Steak n Shakes (they had the most delicious frosty thick shakes I've ever tasted), the yummy fudge from union station, the Watkins home town in Chesterfield, Jay misses White Castle, (I don't I thought they were yucky soggy hamburgers). We miss the Cardinal's stadium, the friendly people in the city, but most of all we miss Uncle Bill, Aunt Randy, cousin Kat, and Grandma and Grandpa. The Weiss family was very kind and welcomed us into their home for the week. They made me feel apart of their family the second I walked through their doors. Jay and I wish we only had more time with them! The moment we arrived Randy made us snacks and smoothies, Kat cut out posters of my favorite artists, and Bill gave us a tour of Missouri. Later in the week they made us an awesome Jewish breakfast that we loved. Kat took us to the city museum (a huge in door/out door jungle gym where you climb on planes, go through tunnels, in caves and down giant slides. We did fun things that we would have never dared to do without Kat! Randy set us on our way with Imo's Pizza and tons of Pampered Chef equipment that we've absolutely love! She is big time in the Pampered Chef world and is mentioned in lots of pages of a lead selling book. We had a really good time with the Weiss Family and appreciate everything they did for us. We spent a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa, they may be old but they're lots of fun! We enjoyed just sitting and listening to their stories. They have been together for 42 years and have lived in the same house for 42 to years. They love the Cardinal's, I mean eat, breath and sleep the Cadinal's, I've never seen a woman so passionate about a baseball game. Grandma's body is very weak, but her mind is very strong! She remembered 5 years ago at our wedding reception that I kissed her on her cheek and said "I wished you lived closer" I recall doing it now that she refreshed my memory but I had forgotten all about that. Grandpa loves her so much you can see it in his eyes. In the past Grandma did everything for him so he's just learning how to do simple things like work the microwave but it's obvious that he tries so hard. He really does his best to take care of her and her every need. We love and miss them very much, and still wish they lived closer.

It's beautiful from up here!

It was so cool we went inside and on top of the arch in St. louis. This is a picture of the shadow of the arch from inside at it's highest point.

This is the elevator we rode that took up inside the arch and to the top.

Meet the Weiss Family...

This is the Weiss Family. The one's who opened up their home to us! On the right there's us with Uncle Billy and Aunt Randy. On the left a cute "Kodak moment" photo of mother and daughter picture with Randy and Kat! They are a fun loving family! They have three cats, and since we are cat people we felt right at home!

Hello everyone and welcome to our family's website!!

This was last Christmas in New York at Rockerfeller Plaza!

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this...

Eileen and I went to the ocean last night and this is what we saw! The ocean was glowing, it was amazing! We were able to write things in the sand and it would glow also. For a keepsake we took some glowing water home in an empty container, shook it in a dark room and just like magic it sparkled and glowed. It was so much fun. This only happens every 5 years and I was lucky enough to see it with my best-friend.

Today, tomorrow, always

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord Proverbs 18:22

We have been married for almost five years, together for nine years and have known eachother for 14 years! We meet at Temecula Highschool in Biology class and our paths have followed eachothers ever since. Our friendship really took off while we worked at Round Table Pizza during our highschool years. There we would sing Karaorke "Summer Lovin" during our breaks! I later got him a job at Chili's and me a date for all of the Christmas Parties throughout the years I worked there. We ended up in Speech class my first year at Mt. San Jacinto college and worked out our school schedules to match from there after. We started dating that year and have really been with eachother ever since.

Our Wedding Vows

We were married at the Grand Tradition in Fallbrook December3, 2000.

My dearest Marissa
I pledge my love to you from this day foward.
I promise to faithful and true to you,
Rejoicing in my good fortune to have found you as my
lifemate.
Marissa, you are God's precious gift to me;
My springtime,
My hope,
and my joy.
You are everything that is good
and pure,
and true,
and I worship you with my mind,
body,
and soul.
How blessed I am to be able to say that you are
mine;
To be able to love and cherish you for the rest of my
lifedays.
I vow to you
that I will be a loving husband.


When we first met you were just the funny man in
my life;
you filled my days with so much laughter.
I shared my dreams with you but never thought to
include you.
You were my best guy friend and i wanted to find
someone to treat you number one.
I never thought that someone would be me.
My bestfriend is now my soul mate and dearest love.
You are my once- in- a- lifetime, miracle, dream come
true.
I thank god for giving you to me and for sending roses
through you.
I promise to be faithful with my mind, body, and soul.
I will share and support your hopes, dreams, and
goals.
I promise to walk by your side unconditionally
forever my love.
I will catch you when you fall,
comfort you when you cry,
and share your joy when you laugh.
I am proud to be the girl you needed in your life to
treat you number one.
Jay you complete me.
I love you today, tomorrow, always.

Places we've gone and things we've seen!

Marissa
Birth place: Okinowa, Japan
Jay
Birth place: St louis, Missouri

California
Oregon
Washington
Mexico
Idaho
Utah
Arizona
Colorado
New Mexico
Texas
Nevada - Our frequent destination is Vegas baby! We aren't the typical Las Vegas tourists through, we go for the shows, food, lights, rides, and the lions at MGM! I can stare at the lions for hours, no joke! I schedule my activities around the lions feeding times. You may think it's silly, but it is so much fun to watch the lions. Ask me any fact about them, I am one of the few that truly listens to what the trainers say about life as a lion at the MGM! Before you make fun of me you should try it out! We also love going to Stratesphere and riding Big Shot, it's such a wonderful view from up there. Last time we went to Las Vegas it was on a Friday night after we got off of work, we had no plans so we thought hey lets just go to Vegas, and we did! We saw David Copperfield's magic show and I was picked to go up on stage and help him out with a trick.
New York City- We went December 2004 for two weeks to be there for the two most exciting holidays, Xmas and New Years. We had a blast and it was so beautiful there. It was extremely cold(15 degree negative windchill) but the weather didn't stop us. We had a full itenerary to follow each day and were so glad we had enough time to do everything we wanted. We saw the Statue of Liberty which is breath taking...but talk about security, they are more on top of thing there than the airports (sad but true to say). We went to Serendipity's, Oprah's favorite place to have frozen hot choc. it was so good. We held hands and ice-skated in Rockefellar Plaza while gazing at the huge stunning christmas tree. We took a horse carriage ride around the romantic Central Park and I did the "YOU'RE FIRED" walk down the halls of Trump Towers. Grand Central Staion was lots of fun, they built it so you can be on one side of the wall and talk to someone on the opposite side of the wall with out anyone being able to hear your converation. I guess you'd have to be there! We shopped, took a tour of NBC, saw 5 Broadway shows, and saw the Today show tapping. We took the subways everywhere we went and saw some kids break dancing on the train, it was so cool. Before we left I researched everything and couldn't wait to to go to the Bronx Zoo because I had read it was the largest zoo in the U.S., saw great pictures of it and read visitors stories. I was thinking it was going to be one of the highlights of the trip! I told Jay that I wanted to go on Christmas day so we did. Jay was so scared, he kept telling me "TRUE STORIES", about how the Mafia use to kidnap people, break into the zoo and feed people to the Lions. Well I talked him into going and just like I read it was the largest Zoo I've ever seen, it takes hours just to walk around the entire park! But there's one downfall...No animal, seriously, no animals, there was like only 4 animals in the entire zoo, and two of them were lions! It was awful! We also went to the "View" tapping and it was the 12 days of Xmas so the show gave us two limited edition cell phones worth $600 dollars! On a lighter note, we saw Ground Zero, which was so sad, their were people who witnessed and lived through that tragic day telling their stories on the sidewalks. Even years later after 9/11 there is still so much visable damage all over and they are still rebuilding structures and buildings around Ground Zero. The locals everywhere were very nice to us, the problems we encountered were that everyone walks super fast and they walk as if they own that side walk and don't move for nothing! They will bump into you before moving and after they hit you ( like nothing) they just keep walking! Everything is so expesive and the resturants give a soda in like a 8 oz glass, and no refill! Jay asked if there were free refills and our waiter shouted " NO, you're in up town now honey, we don't do that here"! New Years was very packed but fun it was wonderful to see the ball drop in person! We had a wonderful winter vacation!
Missouri - We had a really great time! The downfall is... summer in Missouri is very hot and humid but we adjusted quickly and had an awesome time. We really enjoyed spending time with family and seeing Jay's home town. One of my favorite places was the St. Louis zoo. Now those of you who read about our Bronx zoo trip know, one, I am a fan of zoo's and two, that I must really love zoo's if I was willing to give another one a chance! Well I'm glad I did! This was the best zoo I've ever been to, way better than San Diego zoo. We were able to touch and be closer to animals than we have ever been before! So much that I was kinda worried for our safety at times, but never stepped back! I was starring at the alligators through this at the waist size, wrought iron, see through fence, thinking these gators could just extend their neck and eat us in just a few bites! Despite those thoughts I leaned over the fence to get a closer look! It was so much fun I didn't want to leave, but since I assumed it was going to be boring we made plans that night so it forced us to leave early, if I had only known!
Jamaica - This is where we went for our honeymoon! The water was so beautiful and crystal clear. We went snorkiling, on a glass bottom boat, Kayaking, water bike paddling, on a banana boat as well as a cruise where they give only women foot massages! We stayed at Sandal's resort and each day they had many different activities and contests available for us to participate in. We visited MargaritaVille which was so cool, it was a club that had a water slide going down it from the third story that droped you into the ocean. Once in the ocean you could swim to this water trampoline and jump on it. Everyone in Jamaica say's "yeah man" and was so kind to us.
Puerto Vallarta - Here we went swimming with the dolphins, one of the greatest things I've ever done! I could not stop touching them and I followed them everywhere they went in the ocean. Did you know they are the only animal that mates for love not just reproduction? They are so sweet and cute. We also went on a Canopy tour through the rain forest, it's a huge cable that's in the sky and they attach you to it and you swing through the air over streams and in between trees. In Puerto Vallarta, Jay ate 12 lobster tails which made him believe that it was one of the best time he's ever had in his life!
Mazatlan -This is where we went parasailing together for the first time. I've been sky diving before so this was no big deal for me. But Jay was so scared, I think he has a fear of heights and just won't admit it.
Cabo San Lucas- It was so gorgeous here, the rock formations in the ocean were amazing! This was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. You know how sometimes the memories are more fun than the actual moment, well not on this trip! I was shouting, "Jay I'm having so much fun right now at this moment"! We went snorkling, there were so many colorful fish. Our guide gave us bread to feed them so literally hundreds of fish were swimmimg all around us.

Hawaii islands (very soon)

HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Exalt her, and she will promote you; and she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

PROVERBS 4:6-8

HOME SWEET HOME

We purchased our second home in Menifee and we love it. This area has grown so much from 15 years ago when I first moved to this town and the only selling point was "Marissa, you can ride your bike around the Lake". There's now signals, Target, Ross, a gym, fast food places, Cold Stone, Papa John's and one of my favorite breakfast resturants is opening...I-HOP! If only this town was like this when I was 12! But I don't think I'd appreciate it now as much as I do if it all was always here, I have enjoyed watching it grow. The only dissapointing thing is 15 years later and nothing is built on the land across from Target! Eileen and I would dream of a mall, a movie theatre, an amusement park ect. ect. each morning our school bus passed down that land on Newport Rd. We would have been thrilled about a library, but nothing came back then and nothings there now! Besides that downfall I can't complain! It takes me the same amount of time to get to the Temecula mall as it does people who live in Temecula. We live in a two story 3000 sq. ft. home only 2 minutes away from 2 grocery stores (when you're old it's a real treat to switch between Albertsons and Stater Brothers). God has really blessed us! There's a sports park being built within walking distance from our home, which will be great if we are still living here when we have kids. Not many know where the heck Menifee is but I'm glad this town found me!

Ma and Pa Watkins

I'm so lucky to be apart of the Watkins Family! Mom and dad Watkins are the most loving and giving people on earth. Jay always spoke highly of his parents but I could have never imagined they were as truly amazing as what they are. They are not the "typical inlaws" we really look foward to spending time with them and we always have a blast when we do. I feel so honored to have the last name Watkins because it symbolizes the true meaning of family.

ST. LOUIS HERE WE COME!

We are going to St. louis Mo. to visit Jay's home town and family. We can't wait! Our schedule is already planned for the week! It will be bitter/sweet because we are thrilled about seeing everyone, where he grew up, the schools he went to, the arch, union station, a Cardinals game, ect. but we are heart broken that Grandma Janie is still struggling with cancer and we know it will be difficult to see her in her current condition. We pray that she overcomes this awful battle.