Feb. 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him---
a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
On Valentine's Day and everyday...I delight in loving you and thank God for the amazing privilege of being loved by you...
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Dec. 21, 2007
Sixteen Years...
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Dec. 18, 2007
A Christmas to Remember...
I love to look back and remember. I come from a long line of family members with memories like steel traps. We remember dates and anniversaries and small details of everyday life. Some might call it a sickness. Even my husband hasn't always understood or appreciated my unusual ability to recall dates and unimportant data about the past. But as time moves on, we're both thankful to look back and see God's faithful hand of grace through all those everyday moments.
Seventeen years ago tonight, on December 18, 1990, my then-boyfriend and I were babysitting for my young cousins. All night long, the guys sat at the table and presented me with sweet love notes and works of art. Little did I know it was just a foretaste of what was to come...
At the conclusion of the night, my boyfriend and I returned to my home. Before long, he was reminiscing, asking questions like, "When was the first time I told you I love you?" After walking down memory lane, and with reminders of his faithful love, he encouraged me to go to my room where I beheld a single red rose gracing my desk. In the petals of the rose was a brilliant diamond solitaire, and in the leaves of the rose was a heart-shaped note that said, "Will you marry me?" Unbeknownst to me, my boyfriend had followed me, and as I turned around, he took me in his arms and repeated those beautiful words.
Oh, we thought we knew so much then. We thought we were in love (and we were). But 17 years later, I can honestly say that we didn't have a clue. For God has taken that young, immature love and caused it to flourish. The simple moments and memories of our dating days have given way to deeper, richer, more significant growth. Through the highs and the lows, the victories and the trials, God has grown our marriage into something beautiful. He's teaching us what it means to be real lovers of Him and one another.
On this 17th anniversary of our engagement, I thank God that we never "arrive." I thank Him that He's regularly working on us and changing us. He's teaching me how to better love...serve...give...help...submit...honor. And I can say in all sincerity that I've never been more excited about my God-given role as my husband's wife and completer.
Thank You, Father, for this amazing Gift.
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Nov. 28, 2007
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength
We're in the midst of a garage-building project. We're so thankful for the guys who have come along side and given of their time, talents, and energy to help make this project a reality. The overseer for the whole project is a friend of ours who is a professional builder/carpenter. He's selflessly given of his time and expertise to guide and direct the whole works. The goal was to have the garage completed before the snow flies.
Well, things don't always work out according to our timetable. On the day which was slated to shingle the roof and on which my husband had assembled a whole crew of guys to help, we received our seemingly untimely first snowfall. Now, I don't know much about roofing, but I'm pretty sure snow and ice on a roof do not equate to a productive day of roofing. Despite their inability to roof, though, the guys (aided by my electrician brother-in-law) were able to run all the electric...even in less-than-ideal conditions. What a joy to see these men working together in unity!
Even though the forecast for this week is somewhat bleak, my husband took a day off of work yesterday so that he could shingle the roof. He was out there by 7:30am and, with the exception of coming in for lunch, he remained out there till 5pm. I'd take him a cup of coffee, and as I stepped out our back door for those few moments, I'd be inwardly whining about how stinking cold it was outside. But each time I called up to my husband on the roof, he had a smile on his face. When I asked him how he was doing, he always replied with a joyful, "Great!" I repeatedly returned to the house, incredulously shaking my head. I was so blessed by my husband's attitude and joy through a long day of roofing in the cold.
It may seem like such a small thing to him, but let me tell you, it's huge. His joyful heart set the tone for the whole day. And I know without question that he invested his time of solitude on the garage roof. 'Cause not only was he roofing...I'm confident he was praying and enjoying his time with the Lord.
Our boys saw their dad's hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. They never once heard an impatient or grumbling word cross his lips. They saw in him a man who sees what needs to be done and does it, even when it's not "fun." They saw in him a man who sees projects to the end, even when circumstances would give him a plausible excuse to quit. They saw in him a man who abides in the Lord...who finds his strength in the joy of the Lord.
These are the thoughts that flooded my mind as I went out to take these pictures late yesterday afternoon. How grateful I am to be loved by such a man.
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Oct. 6, 2007
Tender Thoughts of Thanks
Life seems to be pretty fast-paced this fall, and I'm still learning to wisely balance and prioritize my various commitments and responsibilities. To be honest with you, I'm not sure I'm doing all that hot. It's so tough at times.
In praying over my often out-of-whack priorities this week, God has made me newly thankful for my husband. As I've mentioned before, I'm so thankful for a husband who knows me...who continues to study me and be tuned in to who I am. I'm thankful that his frequent question before leaving for work in the morning is, "What can I do for you? How can I help you? What do you need?" He consistently seeks to love me as Christ loves the Church; to fill me up and meet my needs.
I'm thankful that he takes an active role in our boys' schooling, aleving much pressure off of my shoulders. One of my (many) weaknesses in homeschooling is following up with the boys' math assignments and tests. They complete the work...they take the tests...but I often struggle with checking their work. Therefore, I've not always been aware of struggles they're having till they've kind of spun out of control. This year my husband has removed that pressure from my shoulders, and he daily checks in with the boys and makes sure they're up to speed. I'm so thankful for this!
I'm thankful that he senses my need to occasionally re-group, and he graciously supports opportunities for me to get alone or go out with friends. I'm also thankful that he loves being with me! I'm thankful that home is his favorite place to be. I'm thankful that he plans date nights and makes me feel as though I'm the only woman in the room.
I'm thankful that my husband gives me a fresh perspective; that when I'm struggling with doubts, discouragement, or uncertainties, he holds me and reminds me of the truth of God's Word. I'm thankful that he prays for me (and tells me so). I'm thankful for his faith and conviction and leadership. I'm thankful that he wisely and rabidly protects me. I'm thankful that he reveals his heart to me and allows me to know him. I'm thankful that he's my ally, my confidant, my best friend.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him---a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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Dec. 21, 2006
On Our 15th Anniversary
To my beloved husband, dearest friend, leader, protector, mentor, & encourager ~
If ever two were one than surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If every wife were happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is sure that rivers cannot quench,
Nor aught but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
~ Anne Bradstreet
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May. 9, 2006
Love
Remember the present I bought myself for my husband's birthday? It was that great "i love my husband" t-shirt. Well, last night my husband arrived home wearing this:
I love surprises, and this was one of the best! 
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Feb. 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day!
"My beloved is mine, and I am his."
Song of Solomon 2:16
Author Linda Dillow admonishes us in her book Creative Counterpart, "Now that you know your husbands admirable qualities, why keep them to yourself? Its good to admire your husband secretly, but how much better to admire him actively!"
My husband has touched and impacted so many lives. His heart is so tender toward others. He loves and accepts them and makes them feel cared for. He asks questions and remembers the answers. All of this is done in a genuine, humble manner. I think of all those lives who would testify to the fact that his influence has changed them forever. Time and time again, God has used my husband to be His hands...His voice. Through him, many people have gained a clearer understanding of who God is and what He is like.
Yet of all the people whose lives he touches, I feel overwhelmingly honored, joyful, and privileged that I am the only one who can say, "He is mine." I am the one who gets to wake up beside him and fall asleep in the warmth of his presence. Im the one who gets the window into his heart; the one who prays for him and shares his deepest longings. Im the one he returns home to each night. Im the one who has the honor of closely knowing this man who follows so hard after God. I get to delight in cherishing and enjoying him. And I do...though I know I can improve in so many ways.
Yes, on Valentines Day and everyday, he is mine and I am his. May God continue to make our lives and our marriage a pure reflection of Him.
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Jan. 19, 2006
"I'll make him a helper..."
Oh, how I thank God for His continual work in our hearts and lives! I share the following from my heart and ask that God use it to encourage you and fill you with hope.
We've been in the ministry for 14 years, and for several of those years, I deeply struggled with feelings of jealousy and resentment toward my husband. I resented the many hours he spent away from home while I was left home alone to care for and nurture three young boys. It seemed that he led such a charmed life! He was able to communicate with adults throughout the day, enjoy lunch appointments, and receive encouragement and affirmation from co-workers and others. In my mind, he just had it made!
To add insult to injury, my husband would often return home for a brief supper, only to leave again for evening meetings and obligations. That left me to patiently (or not-so-patiently) train and nurture the hearts of our boys. And sadly, when my husband was home, I'd frequently be whining about the times when he wasn't...so even the time we did have together was stressful!
I'm so grateful that in the midst of my pity party, God led me to read "A Woman After God's Own Heart" and "Beautiful in God's Eyes" by Elizabeth George. Through these books, He began tilling up the soil of my heart and giving me a fresh vision for my marriage and my home. The words 'I am on assignment from God to help my husband' funneled right into my heart. A lightbulb went on in my head (one of those "duh" moments) when I recognized that my husband is supposed to win, and I'm on assignment to help make that victory possible. A man of influence is the wife's gift to society. By caring for our home and our children, I'm contributing to my husband's reputation and his ability to minister. WOW!
Oh, how God convicted my heart through those books! And then there was this quote, "Shunning the spotlight, she gladly gives her life behind the scenes so that her husband may be noticed and honored. She is glad when he is the center of attention, when he excels, when he is recognized, when he rises to the top. Indeed, she delights in living in his shadow. His promotion is her greatest reward. She desires that her husband be highly respected and esteemed, so she contentedly offers the supreme sacrifice of herself for him."
My husband had always said he needed me...and sadly, I never understood what he meant. I selfishly thought, "Yeah, you need me to cook and clean and care for the boys and..." It's just in the last several years that I understand that he really and truly needs me. He cannot be the man God has called him to be without me embracing the call God has placed on my life...to help and support and fill him up.
Not only do I embrace that truth...I rejoice in it!
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Dec. 21, 2005
December 21, 1991
Fourteen years ago today I married my best friend. My heart spills forth with praise for all that God has done in our marriage over these years. There have been highs and lows, yet through it all, God has been faithfully refining and transforming us into His image.
Those early years of marriage were not necessarily blissful...there were lots of growing pains as I slowly learned what it means to respect my husband. There were issues of homesickness as we lived hundreds of miles away from family. There were those adjustments that needed to be made as we put aside our own selfish desires and learned what it means to give selflessly and sacrificially.
Yes, as in any marriage, there have been tough times which have stretched us, deepened our faith, and knitted our souls even more tightly together. And as I consider God's blessings over these past 14 years, I'm simply overwhelmed.
How I praise God for my incredible husband. He loves Jesus so much. He loves and protects me so beautifully. He's revealed his heart to me. And He leads me and our boys right on the heals of Jesus.
I'm exceedingly blessed to be his wife...
