Posted in Family Life

I just realized it has been awhile since I've posted, so thought I would share a few milestones that have happened in the last month with you. 

Firstly this weekend was our dd's first JBQ tournament (Junior Bible Quiz), and all the churches in our district, which were participating in this program, came together for the first competition of the year.  Our dd's team ended up taking 1st, and the other team at our church took 2nd place, which they were both humbled and incredibly blessed to have achieved.  You see . . . Our church is brand new to JBQ, and the kiddos had well over 100 scriptures to learn between September and now.  We didn't even think they would be able to place at all because of the short amount of time to prepare for competition, but God's favor, as well as the kiddos hard work paid off, and now they are all pumped and ready to start memorizing more for the next competition. It is really a great way to help our kiddos memorize the word of God and get blessed in return.

Secondly, we took the plunge and finally became members of a church here in Minnesota.  It took awhile for us to get comfy and find the church home we have been looking for, and we came across some great churches along the way, but we can proudly say we are finally home!  Whoohooo. We have all found our place of ministry within this Body, as well as a place of refuge. 

Hubby's helping the church offices with computers as well as aiding Worship through Computer Presentations; DD is in the worship group (Sunday's) for Children's Church and competing in JBQ on Wed. nights; and I am in the choir as well as freelance writing articles for the monthly newsletter.  It has been a looooong 5 year search, with plenty of blunders along the way, and many valuable life lessons. We know now to be extra cautious when committing ourselves to a group of believer's, as it is important to be rightly knitted (joined) and not just fitted :-). We feel extra blessed to be able to rest, find peace and enjoy the community God has called us to, for such a time as this.  His timing is always perfect :-)    

This week is our 15th Wedding Anniversary, and I was just spending a few moments thinking about these precious years we have had together as husband and wife (warning: mushy-gushy moments ahead!!) They haven't all been hunky-dorey, and in fact have had their fair share of trials, tests and tears, but as we both talked last night and reminisced, we realized just how very blessed we are to have the marriage we do and the close friendship with one another.  We are a one-income family that has chosen to live a middle-American lifestyle instead of a lavish two-income one, so we can raise our daughter in the admonition of the Lord. Because of this we aren't able to go on a Carribean Cruise or European Adventure for our 15th anniversary, and quite frankly we can't even go and stay in a hotel for a few nights, however we are overly joyed to be able to belly-laugh out loud with one another, share tender moments, joke and play around, and genuinely adore being around one another, living everyday together through every season God has brought our way.  There is such comfort in knowing we can trust one another, and even in the silent moments there is such warmth.  How rare that is now adays in a world where people try on spouses for size and then throw them away when they get bored, or the least little way of opposition comes their way. I remember our pre-marital counselor asked us a question during one of our meetings.  Hubby and I had only been dating six months, and it went something like this:

Counselor:  Hubby-to-be, do you love Kelly enough to die for her today?
Hubby: (with great amourous zeal) OH YES, YES YES . . . I would die for her today!
Counselor:  Kelly do you love Hubby enough to die for him today?
Kelly:  (again with amourous zeal) Oh Yes absolutely!
Counselor:  Okay you two, since you love one another so much you would die for one another today . . . let me ask another question.

Hubby-to-be and Kelly look at each other with glee, as if they have passed the test already

Counselor: Hubby-to-be, and Kelly . . . (long pause) do you LOVE one another enough to LIVE for one another everyday for the rest of your lives?

blank stares and silence

Counselor: Ya see, anyone can say they want to die for one another when they are in love -- easy simple done quickly -- but to truly live for one another everyday is the true test of love! Laying down your lives for one another daily is what true Love is.

Wise words indeed, and we can honestly say now, after 15 years of marriage that we have LIVED for one another everyday in Christ.  And let me tell ya . . . it ain't easy!  I look back now on our counseling session and I just grin thinking of how naive we were as two lovebirds that couldn't wait to get married. How simple life was back then.  Now . . . 1 beautiful child later (and hope to have more), 2 multi-state job transfers, 7 residences, 2 lay-off's, many trials, tears, victories and one broken leg later . . . we are still in love!  How THANKFUL we are to have one another, and even if our anniversary was spent at Don Pablo's instead of Cabo San Lucas, we enjoyed every moment together, because it was just us - Hubby and me - laughing, giggling and grinning from ear to ear, holding hands and looking into one another's eyes with a greater love, greater understanding and greater ability to truly live for and love one another everyday, no matter where God takes us and what we have to go through together.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HUBBY!

That's it for now.  Have a wonderful THANKGIVING week, and can't wait to hear about a few of your milestones! GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!