We have talked about what we are, dived into a few of our plans for the future and why we started this blog. However, we have not discussed who we are? So, grab a glass of wine (maybe two) as we now dive in and share our love story.
My name is Carmen Terhune born and raised from Washington State, I graduated from Washington State University studying Strategic Communications (really proved my dyslexia to those elementary teachers wrong by studying communications lol) and International Business. After graduation I decided to move half way across the US to begin my career at Amazon in June 2016 in a little town called Kyle, Texas (Just outside of Austin). While being on my own for the first time with the exception of college, I learned to live on my own and without a single soul I knew in Texas, began building my professional career, and going through a journey that would bring me to meet an amazing man that I never anticipated on falling for. More importantly, I met a man who had crossed my path a couple of times and it wasn’t until I was asked to relocate to Houston, Texas that he truly caught my attention. To my surprise he was relocating as well and then from there I came to meet who would later become my best friend, and boyfriend Jean-Claude Rodriguez born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jean-Claude has been with Amazon for almost 5 years now, his passion for life brings success into whatever he puts his mind too. (This shows in his drive to succeed in sports, career and his relationships.) Jean-Claude graduated from the University of Arkansas majoring in Business Administration where he studied Finance and Economics. We had an instant connection and as I am sure he will share later on I couldn’t stop talking to him or about him. Our dinner’s turned one meal into a 5 hour conversation and there was something about him that in my heart I knew he would become a large part of my life. (The 2nd bottle of wine could have helped this as well lol)
If there is some advice I can give to those going through the motions of work and balancing life while trying to find love, or maintain a healthy relationship these would be the top 5 things:
- Stop Looking – I know people say this often, but when you are living your life to bring you joy you will attract the kind of person that reflects that joy, your values, your hobbies, and respects you. In order to begin a healthy relationship you have to be confident with yourself. Confidence brings attractiveness and shows you are driven to be a better person. Because in the end, the main goal in a relationship is to become a better person only our significant other can bring out the most of. Only then can you truly love your partner in one of the most beautiful forms.
- Laugh Together – This one is extremely important, life has so many curve balls you get thrown from the stress of, work, health, family or the loss of loved ones. When you and your partner are truly best friends you enjoy each other’s company and you bring happiness through laughter you in turn experience a deeper connection. This is especially needed to have a connection only you can provide in order to help through the hard times. This will bring you through tough conversations or your first big fight. Because at the end of the day it’s not just love that brings you together but the pure joy of being around one another.
- Be a Team – While being a team you will be able to go through some of life’s biggest challenges instead of it pulling you apart you come together. Jean-Claude and I recently found out that I was diagnosed with Celiac, an auto immune disorder that’s main symptom is being allergic to gluten. I had instant anxiety, this was a complete life style change, but not only that, it would affect him. It made me feel terrible and full of worries of what we would do? Where we would eat? What will vacations be like in the future? How do we bake for kids? But, You know the first thing he said to me was? “Carmen, it is okay, we just need to go Gluten Free, so we will go Gluten Free, we will be healthier doing this and we are going to do it together.” Go back and read that sentence again. Because writing it now still gives me the same support and peace I felt in that moment. The chills that started from my fingertips then running up my arms and into my chest, finally up through my throat when he first said made me realize at that point things were going to be fine and we would get through this. He could have said oh well Carmen this is going to be hard, or I don’t know what you are going to do. No he used “we” and “together” it is this kind of support that builds the foundation for a strong relationship.
- Common Ground – you have a connection with your partner? Or do you have hobbies you enjoy doing together? This is so important! You can spend all the time in the world being with your partner but in order to maintain happiness and keep your partner satisfied you need to find your hobbies, whether it is hiking, concerts, cooking, skiing or learning a new language. Make it a goal each month to plan out the hobbies/events you would like to do together. Doing this ensures you are setting aside time to spend with your partner as we can all get so caught up in the now and work while forgetting what matters most to us. This gives you both something to look forward to and something you can do together.
- Words of Affirmation – the world today is full of negativity, whether you see that in crowds of random strangers, rush hour traffic, at the office, or in your life around you. The last thing you need is that negativity in your relationship. You and your partner need to build one another up. Even in a disagreement do not point the finger, by using the correct tone and verbiage you will be able to truly master this communication that unfortunately so many relationships fail at. The 5 love languages does a fantastic job diving into these. I recommend all couples to read this book, it not only helps you through your relationship but also with the friends around you. As you will be able to understand how they like to be shown that they are appreciated.
Now back to our story and the countless hours we would spent talking and getting to know one another. One common thing seemed to bring us together not only on the first day we met but the many more that have come. Wine; through many shared dinners and evenings we began to truly connect and gain a passion and appreciation for wine. It was the elegance of learning the intricacies of wine development and different types of wine. It was a passion we were able to study and try while knowing we have a similarity for something that can be dated back to BC. We ventured into trying different blends and the best local area’s to purchase. Visited more Wine Bars, Wine Classes, on our vacations we would always make it a point to find the most unique Local Wine and enjoy one another company as we explore.
We have many passions one of those is our adventure to constantly move and travel. So here are a few of our adventures:
From Zip lining in Cabo San Lucas, going through Hurricane Harvey, wondering the French Quarter in search for a local jazz bar in New Orleans, dancing at the Silent Disco at ACL in Austin, and busting out our boots to two step in Houston and take on the Rodeo. Skiing in the mountains of Washington on Christmas. Inter-tubing and floating on the lake in Northwest Arkansas. Adventuring with new friends and introducing one another to old ones. Back packing across Europe and starting in Germany with Drinking beer in Munich. Getting lost in the Czech Republic on our way to Prague. Spending Valentine’s day in the most romantic city of Venice, Italy. Drinking wine through the Tuscan Hills and eating homemade magnum bars in Florence, Italy. Climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Dancing in the streets of Barcelona, Spain.
It may seem like we have had a lot of adventures together so far, but our adventure is only beginning. With countless trips back and forth to visit family in Washington and Arkansas and backpacking through Europe we have grown stronger as a couple. Upon returning from Europe we sat down and decided it was time to launch our Wine Blog and begin our next journey together where we will be sharing with you our passions and hobbies. We are excited to share, learn together and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. All we can say is we are looking forward to it, and it’s been an incredible journey so far. We are truly blessed and anxious to begin this next road.
Sincerely,
Wine’In Texas
Wine'in Texas 