Straight from the Horse's. . .er, Husband's Mouth

We're mixing it up this month for Marriage Monday, getting in a word from our husbands! Big thanks to Kevin for being a good sport and playing nice. I must not have picked very good questions, because his answers seemed pretty boring and he's hardly a boring guy. So for your reading pleasure (or to further beat a dead horse), I've included our bantering as I reacted to his answers.

What pops into your mind when you hear the word Christmas?

Kevin: Family, church and busy. What about you?

Me: Stress. . .which brings guilt (sigh).

What is your favorite Christmas activity or tradition?

Kevin: I like our birthday party for Jesus.

Me: We haven't done that in years.

Kevin: No, we did it last year.

Me: You mean when we open up a game with the kids?

Kevin: Yeah, but we had cake or something too, didn't we?

Me: No. There was no cake. We haven't done it lately. What else?

Kevin: Are you sure?

Me: Pick something else.

Kevin: Okay, well. . .I like Christmas morning when we open gifts with the kids and take down stockings, and the Christmas Eve church service--at that point all the stress is over and you can just enjoy it.

Me: Okay, I can take that answer.

What is your fondest Christmas memory?

Kevin: I liked our first few Christmases together when we had time to make our own ornaments. That was fun.

Me: (saying nothing, but cherishing a memory of one of those years when after completing our decorations, we shared a passionate evening in front of the lit Christmas tree and slept there all night by its glow. . .aaaah, so peaceful and soothing and perfectly wonderful)

What was your favorite gift?

Kevin: I got a cool erector set one year. What would you say?

Me: In fourth grade I got the globe I really wanted. I'm such a nerd. I also remember a Little People Play House (that was back when the little people were really little, not chunky) and a basket for my bike and a Barbie camper.

What do you enjoy about the Christmas season?

Kevin: Spending time with family and hanging out more with our kids.

Me: (No comment. Good answer. Ditto.)

How do you and I look at Christmas differently?

Kevin: (slipping into defensive-this-is-too-many-questions-at-bedtime mode) I don't know. Do we think of it differently?

Me: I'm asking you.

Kevin: I don't think it stresses me out as much as you.

Describe your ideal Christmas.

Kevin: Last Christmas was great, staying at home in our jammies all day, laying around, eating, watching movies, playing games, never leaving the house.

Me: I'd say the same thing. That was awesome, even if the kids did make fun of me playing Dance Dance Revolution.

And there you have it, everything you did and didn't care to know about the Boesigers. Thank you, honey, for patiently answering my questions when all you wanted to do was sleep. I encourage the rest of you to slightly annoy bond with your man and ask him what he thinks of Christmas.

See what other guys said or link up your own interview at Chrysalis.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 60)

1) We had a great Thanksgiving. I started the day by sleeping in. I can't remember the last time I got out of bed after the sun was up. It felt great. Then we spent the day with my husband's family. I especially enjoyed some game/bonding time with our grown nephews who talked with us more than ever before and later with other nieces and nephews. We met our niece's boyfriend from South Carolina (good guy--nice work, Hannah). We knew he'd fit right in when he laughed at Uncle Kevin's racy answer in good humor. Good food, good people, good laughs, good day.

When I prayed for a husband, I never thought to pray for the family he came from, that I'd get along with them and feel like I belonged. But God was more than gracious, granting me great relationships with my in-laws. They are awesome people I am blessed to be a part of.

2) Miss Innocent One had a good laugh when she flipped a page in her notebook at school to find a little note from Drama Queen.

"Hi, Miss Innocent One. How was your day at school? Bummer. I don't know when you will find this note, but hi. Well, what are you doing? Pay attention to your teacher! Don't keep reading. Okay, I'm done. --Drama Queen"

Apparently at the school's open house, Drama Queen got into Miss Innocent One's desk and had a little fun.

A few weeks later, she found another note.

"Ha ha, you thought the other one was the only note. I got you! Epic failure! Tell Mr. M I said hi. What are you doing? Tell him right now!"

For the little girl who loves leaving notes all over the house for me, this was totally speaking her love language. Nice work, Drama Queen.

3) No Black Friday shopping for me today. I've done it in the past if there was an item I couldn't afford otherwise, but it's not my bag, because number one, you're still shelling out money and two, I'm not crazy about crowds. The only things I find appealing about it is crossing some things off my to do list and going out to breakfast with my husband.

4) It's getting harder and harder to put on eye liner. My eyelids are getting wrinkly, or should we say less taut? Yeah, that sounds better. ACK!

5) Ladies Man is a budding artist and already got a graphic design gig. He designed a logo for the business my brother works for.

Not bad for a fourteen-year-old, huh? I'm proud of him! Thanks, Brad and Jackie, for giving him the opportunity.

6) Ladies Man also got a boost from Drummer Boy, when the big bro called his little bro to ask if he would help him design the mat for the drum line show.

I love it when my kids do things to build each other up. Sometimes the younger kids don't think the older ones really notice them, since they're gone all the time doing their own thing. A little gesture like leaving notes in a note book and asking for their help go a long way in showing they care. There may be a chance they like each other as adults.

7) Our Thanksgiving isn't over yet. We spend tomorrow with my family. It's always a rip-roaring time with kids running all over the place and more food than we'll ever eat. I don't know what it is about being around my family, but it spurs this eat-everything-in-sight mechanism in me. After dinner, my mom sets out tons of snacky stuff and we sit around the table talking or playing games and nibbling all afternoon. Commence praying now, okay? I DON'T want to waddle into church Sunday!

I hope your Thanksgiving was terrific. Enjoy the weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15-17

May you see His grace, feel His peace and know His love this day.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

Living out Gratitude

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy

Will you make a list of what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving? Will you talk about it at your dinner table? It's sweet and refreshing and a good way to evaluate our lives, but can we take the warm fuzzy feeling a step further?

Can we learn to LIVE in our gratitude?

Living in gratitude means on a tense Monday morning with my family (those I thank God for every day) I zip my lip when I'd rather let someone have it. I thank God for my husband by showing him grace and not nagging him when other obligations push home projects to the bottom of his list. My gratitude for my dear mother is expressed by drawing from her excellent example when raising my own children. If I praise God for my church, the lonely woman I encounter there gets a listening ear. If I am grateful for my home, I open it up to others. I make time for the treasured relationships He's given me. If I am thankful for His word, I do what it tells me.

Passing on the love and grace we've received in our every day is the highest form of appreciation to a loving, giving God.

What are you thankful for? How you can live out your gratitude?

Please join the In "Other" Words gang and give us your thoughts about today's quote.

Simple Gestures

He always locks the door behind him as he leaves.

I'm still home, working within sight of the door, able to see anyone coming and going and yet my husband feels a need to lock it. It may just be habit. He probably doesn't even know he does it, but with one little twist of his wrist, he stirs up a sense of security in me, a feeling that he cares about what happens to his wife.

I ran into a woman at Walmart, a woman I have interacted with through the years, but not spent a lot time with. She had news to share and said, "I wanted you to hear it from me because you've been significant."

Wow. One sincere sentence touched me. Her words packed a big punch, making me feel special and appreciated.

Miss Innocent One is the queen of leaving little notes around the house. I find her little "I (heart) you, Mom" notes all over the place--on pieces of scratch paper I have sitting by my computer, on a notepad resting on my nightstand, in my e-mail inbox, even in her assignment book I sign each day for school. It never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Making people feel valued is not hard. Each of these acts required less than a few seconds to complete, yet built me up for hours. It really is that simple to touch a life. A pat on an arm, a thoughtful question , a listening ear, even a comment on Facebook can buoy a lagging spirit.

What can you do to show others they are loved and valued? What simple gesture will speak volumes for you today?

7 Quick Takes (Volume 59)

1) The silliness comes out of no where at our house. When Ladies Man came over to give me a hug before he left for school, I noticed he was WAY taller than Drama Queen, his older sister and mentioned it.

Ladies Man to Drama Queen: Bye, Shorty.

Drama Queen: Yeah, bye, Gorilla.

Miss Innocent One entered the kitchen as Ladies Man shut the back door.

Drama Queen to Miss Innocent One: Well, hello there, Peaches.

Peaches?! Where did that come from? I live here and I'm confused. Is it some kind of evil plan they've concocted to keep me off balance?

2) We've kicked into crunch time on this year's Christmas musical at church. Every year the set gets more and more involved. This year we're suspending things from the ceiling as well as building 14 foot walls! It takes a regular construction crew to get this thing together, I tell you. We are blessed with fantastic people at our church who freely give of their time and get excited about the productions. It's a perfect picture of the body of Christ using their distinct gifts together for one purpose. It gets me every time. Thank you, CCC people!

And to those of you live in our area, COME SEE THE PRODUCTION! It's a full fledged musical for the whole family and FREE besides. You won't be disappointed.



3) There's a much touted defensive tackle who plays for Nebraska named Ndamukong Suh. I still can't pronounce his first name. I'm so impressed when the television announcers say it so effortlessly, letting it roll off their tongues with ease, like it's the same thing as saying Fred Jones. I wonder how long it takes them to master it. Anyway, I thought Ndamukong Suh was a mouthful until Drummer Boy showed us the name of a kid on the Husker drum line--Krit Palakavong Na Ayudhaya. Try to say that three times really fast--or even once! If you can say this name without stumbling you'll have everyone believing you're a genius, just like if you read through all the tough names of the Bible at Bible study without pausing. It doesn't matter if you say it right. As long as you say it with confidence and no bobbling, people will think you're really smart.

4) A few weeks ago, I was asked to give a devotional at a bridal shower. I decided to make it an object lesson and pull out different kitchen utensils to remind the bride of what she should do in marriage. For instance, a cook book was to remind her to put the right ingredients into their relationship, a kitchen timer was a reminder to spend time with her husband. . .you get the idea. I was so surprised Drama Queen was horrified as I explained what I was going to do. One item in particular sickened her.

Me: So I pull out the meat baster and tell her she needs to keep their relationship juicy.

Drama Queen: Mom! That's sick! You're not really going to say that, are you?

Me: Why is that bad?

Drama Queen: Mom, that's just wrong.

Me: Hey, it's a very important part of married life. Sex bonds a couple together.

Drama Queen: Ew. That's gross.

Why is it okay for her to tell her siblings they smell like butt, but I can't say two married people need to keep their relationship juicy? Is she a teenager or what?

5) My hair is doing some strange things this week. One day I looked in the mirror and told my husband I had Betty Rubble hair (You know, from the Flintstones. Hey, now that I think about it, I should have wished for a Betty Rubble waist!). He laughed and laughed (He's good like that--always making me feel witty), until he carried the comparison through.

"Wait, that makes me Barney," he said.

6) We finally have a picture of Ladies Man's pvc pipe trombone. Yep, it really exists. He added the black electrical tape for funk, I guess. For some reason, it reminds me of Dr. Seuss.



7) I'm excited for Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. There's no pressure to find the perfect gift for people who don't need anything in the first place. No huge commotion. Just cooking and eating and hanging out. Since I rarely have to cook too much, it's mostly hanging out and eating. What's better than that?

I've got LOTS to be thankful for. If I think about it too much I'll cry, so instead I'll leave you with a good word.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17

The best way to express our thankfulness to God is to love and support each other.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!


Wander over to Conversion Diary to read some other Quick Takes.

Life is Hard, but God is Good

“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

M. Scott Peck
The Road Less Traveled

I'm not buying this quote. Life is difficult. Period. Knowing it is difficult is no help at all. Knowing life is difficult does not comfort me when I can't sleep worrying about one of my kids or money or how we'll ever get everything done. Knowing life is difficult does not soothe my grief over lost loved ones or stupid comments I made. Knowing life is difficult does not help me deal with a struggling child or looming deadline. It does not provide the wisdom or inspiration necessary to comfort a friend. Knowing life is difficult accomplishes one purpose.

It establishes my need for an all-powerful, all-knowing, merciful, loving God.

Jesus said,"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

He said, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

He tells me, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Only in my reliance in Jesus and His Word am I soothed and comforted. Only in Him do I find strength and motivation for each day.

Knowing life is difficult means nothing.

Knowing Jesus Christ is everything.

For more interpretations of this quote, visit Nina at Mama's Little Treasures.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 58)

1) I've been trying to eat healthier and the other night I came to the dinner table with a pile of spinach (among other things) on my plate. Ladies Man stole a glance.

Ladies Man: Leaves? You're eating LEAVES?

Dad: And diarrhea. . .

Apparently he thought my dressing looked less than appetizing.

Ladies Man: Dad, we need to support Mom.

He put a hand on my shoulder.

Ladies Man: Not that I'm saying you need to go on a diet. I think you look fine, but if you want to do this we need to support you.

See how this kid understands women?!

Dad: Okay then, Ladies Man, why don't you pray tonight?

Ladies Man: Dear Jesus, thank You for our family. Thank You for our food. Please help Mom enjoy her leaves.

And I just couldn't help it. I bust a gut right in the middle of the prayer. But it got even better.

Drama Queen: Mom, you've been telling us we need to eat what we can find in the wild. Poop and leaves is about as good as it gets. Nice job.

2) Lately God's pressing on my heart a desire and NEED to pray with others. It feels more powerful, you know, because it's two or three gathered in His name. He's blessed me this week with amazing prayer times with friends. Praying together is part of my growing awareness that God does not intend any of us to walk alone. He has given us each other. Why do we put up a good front, striving for independence when we could accomplish so much more for His name if we humbled ourselves enough to ask for help? What are we afraid of?

We need each other. We feel the love of Jesus through the skin of people. We've got to touch each other, physically, emotionally, spiritually, to persevere in this world. May we recognize the great gift He's given us in each other.

3) Who says kids don't pay attention to current events? After playing with the kids of some family friends, Ladies Man said, "I hope when I start dating, my girlfriend will have a cool little brother. That would be fun. I like little boys. . . well, you know, not like Michael Jackson, but they're cool.

4) My fig tree is having sympathy pains for its cousins outdoors, shedding leaves by the minute. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my forgetfulness in watering it, right?

5) I've been trying to break Ladies Man's habit of saying "no offense" after any contrary opinion he feels compelled to share.

Me: Saying "no offense" after you've just slammed something doesn't soften the blow. You can't take it back by saying "no offense." It still hurts whether you say "no offense" or not.

I'm not sure it's sinking in, at least not to him, but evidently Miss Innocent One is catching on. After her rough day at school I offered to take her out to lunch.

She gave me a funny grin and didn't say anything.

Me: Or if you want I can make something you really like at home. What do you really like?

Miss Innocent One: You make good stuff and all, but I'd rather go out. No offense. Wait. That doesn't erase the blow, does it?

Glory be. At least ONE of my children listen to me!

6) Yesterday was Ladies Man's birthday and the anniversary of my father's death. I've decided God knows what a wimp I can be, so He orchestrated the two events on the same day to force me to buck up and be happy on a day I might be tempted to wallow. It gets easier every year and God graciously surrounds me with VERY thoughtful people who call or e-mail to say they're praying for and thinking of me. He is so good.

7) Which reminds me of an old song. Enjoy.





Be sure to visit Conversion Diary to read other people's Quick Takes.

A Tough Lesson

Poor Miss Innocent One. I may have to change her name.

The girl's had a rough go of it this fall. First she had to hear about S-E-X and gain the icky understanding of what goes on behind her parents' bedroom door. Then one friend told another she "talked about Jesus too much."

And today after school she got another dose of growing pains. As I approached the school to pick her up, she didn't give her customary wave. The van door slid open and she blurted through tears, "Well, _______ hates me now."

_______ is the girl she's been inseparable from for a good year and a half, the one she exchanges best-friends-forever jewelry with, the one who bought her a matching best friend t-shirt for her birthday.

"She told this other girl I was too churchy."

Oh dear. I'd seen the signs for a few weeks--defensive questions, tiffs on the playground, a general annoyance in __________ face, not waiting to walk out of the school building together.

"It's not like that's all I talk about," Miss Innocent One rattled on, "I just ask kids if they want to come to the plays. That's not talking about church. I don't talk about it 24/7."

She cried and spilled her raw thoughts, talking through big tears, wiping her nose. I listened, blinking back my own sadness.

"I'm sorry, honey," was all I could say at first, "That stinks. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't care what she thinks," my daughter declared, surprising me with her firm tone, "I'm not going to change for her."

Miss Innocent One, the girl who wants everyone to be happy, has limits to her accommodation.

"I'm proud of you," I said, giving her a hug, "Some people would change to be popular. I'm glad you're not one of them."

And I showed her a verse,

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 Peter 4:14

"See?" I told her, "This means the Spirit of God rests on you. That's a really good thing."

She smiled, kissed my cheek, then skipped out the door to ride her bike, ready to move past it.

My heart ached for her, knowing she faced a lifetime of these moments, realizing her childhood slowly slips away. Yet I couldn't help thanking God. He's working in my daughter's heart.

What more could a mother ask for?

Blessings in Disguise

A clump of hair sat on his shoulder.

Several more strands littered his maroon sweatshirt. Dad's spirits were good, but the chemo sapped his strength. Walking even three steps required him to hold onto something.

I couldn't let him see the tears in my eyes, so I busied myself putting the groceries away, loading the dishwasher, cleaning up the bathroom, anything to avoid looking at him. But there was no escaping the obvious. Medicine bottles lined the counter. Pamphlets from the oncology center lay scattered on the table. The lint trap in his dryer resembled his sweatshirt.

He assured me he was okay, encouraged me to get home to my kids, which was a nice way of saying he was ready for me to leave. I stalled in the doorway and though it wasn't our habit to express our true feelings to each other, that clump of hair beckoned me to take the risk. Would there be another chance?

"Dad, we love you. We're going to be here for you. You won't go through this alone."

He didn't know what to say. We didn't talk like this.

Then I pushed myself to kiss his cheek and gave him a hug, knocking the clump to the floor. And though I cried all the way home, the pain in my heart shared space with sincere gratitude for true connection with my father, for a chance to bond like never before.

My dad's cancer--a blessing in disguise.

My mother and I followed the ambulance which carried my two-year-old son to the hospital in another town. Fear and uncertainty, along with the hormonal fluctuations and sleep deprivation of having a newborn wore me down. Tension hovered between us. For months we ignored a big elephant that needed to be addressed. I wanted to talk about it earlier, but was too chicken to bring it up. I wrote letters I never mailed, imagined big speeches while I lay awake in bed, but never mustered the courage to talk about it openly with her.

But in a quiet car, my emotional reserves completely spent worrying about my son, the conversation I'd wanted to have for months, the one I talked myself out of too many times finally took place. And though we saw the situation differently, true communication happened, relieving my anxiety over the situation.

My son's illness--a blessing in disguise.

Sickened by my own actions and hurtful words which ended a friendship, I no longer trusted myself and decided my usefulness in ministry ran its course. Ready to quit everything I was involved in, a woman who should have been hurt by my words came alongside.

"Tami, you can't quit. If you quit, you let the devil win."

Her sincere encouragement and faithful prayers held me up until I was able to stand again, forming a new relationship, an alliance necessary to continue in ministry.

A gut-wrenching low point in my life--a blessing in disguise.

Every trial carries with it an opportunity to deepen a relationship. The urgency, the stress, the pain heightens our vulnerability and breaks down our defenses, enabling us to say what we're really thinking, to act when we wouldn't otherwise. A crisis brings grief, but a blessing may be waiting in the middle of it.

What are you facing right now? Could it be the impetus to deepening a relationship? Could it be a blessing in disguise?

7 Quick Takes (Volume 57)

1) Planning for a hectic evening, I gave Miss Innocent One her instructions on what to do before I got home.

She took both hands, patted her fingertips to her temples and said, "Save. . .Save. . ."

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Trying to remember."

2) Our gecko saga continues. This week marked another trip to the vet who told me, "This guy must have a poor immune system. In the wild, he would have been eaten by now."

Great. To get him through the latest infection we're feeding him baby food through a syringe (yes, you read that right--baby food--chicken and gravy--yum, yum). He acts like he feels better, but I haven't seen him smile yet.

It's been too long since I used baby food. How long can you keep it in a fridge before it goes bad?

3) My writing buddy, Oscar the fly, was back this week. But this time he annoyed the snot out of me and apparently sucked the creative juices clean out of me.

4) Ladies Man is constantly on the prowl for creative project. Cardboard, tape, wood and hot glue are high commodities in our house. Now that he's getting older he asks if we have screw guns and saws and drills. I'm getting nervous.

Lately he's spent time making movie props for some movie he and his friends are planning to shoot. He cut two wooden guns, glued pieces of plastic and metal to them to make three dimensions, then painted them and you know, they look like the real deal. I wouldn't want him to get caught with them in his backpack!

His latest project, though, is one of my favorites. He and his dad spent Saturday afternoon constructing a PVC pipe trombone. Yep, a trombone made completely of PVC pipe. He uses his mouth piece from his real trombone and can actually play the thing. It has a muffled sound, but he can play any song on it. Cool beans.

5) Marriage tip #1: Say nice things about your husband to the blogging world and he will appreciate you.

6) Marriage tip #2: Leave a suggestive text message on his phone and he will REALLY appreciate you. (And come home early!)

7) Now we must erase the icky image I just created with a different one. How about one of my kids' favorite jokes?

Have you seen the movie Constipation?

It hasn't come out yet.


Don't think about that one too hard, folks. Instead, take a trek to Conversion Diary to read more wholesome Quick Takes.

To those of you in my part of the world, enjoy the fantabulous weather!

But I Love You

Nothing really weighed on my heart that afternoon, unless you count the Bible study lesson I felt inadequate to lead. I wasn't sad or afraid or worried. Just a little tired and very aware of my imperfections.

I took advantage of a quiet vehicle all to myself for half an hour to worship God, singing my favorite choruses.

"There is none like You. No one else can touch my heart like you do. I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like You."

"I worship You, Almighty God. There is none like You. I worship, O Prince of Peace. That is what I want to do. I give You praise, for You are my righteousness. I worship You, Almighty God. There is none like You."

"I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear."

"As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my shield. To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship Thee."

"You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. Seeing You as a precious jewel, Lord to give up I'd be a fool. You are my all in all."

"Who are we, that You would be mindful of us? What do You see to keep looking our way? . . ."

Though I kept singing, my soul asked the questions over and over.

Who am I, Lord? What do You see? How can I be the right person for Your work?

In the middle of my singing, my heart was pricked with one sentence, catching my breath, bringing tears immediately.

But I LOVE you.

Me? This obsessive woman who thinks too much, feels too much, talks too much? Why? I don't know what I'm doing half the time. I just do it. I'm sure to mess up. I have before. I will again.

I felt acutely my smallness.

Suddenly I understood my Calvary, my curse, my cross.

I am human.

But I LOVE you.

And because He loves me, some day, when my life here is finished, I will be complete in Him. Until then, He will fill my holes with His spirit and use me. Isn't that the most incredible thought? He wants to use us, US, giving us a front row seat to His work?! And when an insignificant woman gets a little weary, the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the all powerful, all knowing, eternal God who could change the whole world with a snap of His finger, takes a quiet moment to say,

But I LOVE you.

Incomprehensible, but true.

But I LOVE you.

That is all I need to trudge forward. Lead on, Lord. I will follow.

Choosing Peace

I called myself a "dateless wonder."

And though I joked about it in public, in private there were lots of tears and questions to God.

"What's wrong with me?"
"I'm a good person. Why don't guys like me?"
"Would it be so terrible to have one date?"
"Is there a problem with having a little fun?"

The only answer I got was "Trust Me." (Sound familiar?)

I didn't like it. But I decided if the man of my dreams was going to be part of my life, only God could do it. So I trusted, like a child who proclaims, "My daddy says. . ."

This conscious decision led me to say, "Thank You, Lord, for knowing what's best for me. I know You've got a plan here. I trust You, even if it means I need to stay single."

Peace of Christ guards our heart when we pray with thanksgiving. A thankful heart is a guarded heart.

Wayne Cordeiro

Expressing thankfulness in hard circumstances is the ultimate form of trust. Being thankful for the tough stuff proves we trust God to have our best interests at heart.

Being thankful and trusting in His divine plan gave me the gumption to keep going. It replaced fear with peace. It gave me the objectivity to learn while I waited, observing the relationships around me, seeing what did and didn't work. Gratitude and trust guarded my heart, turning those lonely days into a time of protection and preparation.

If you read yesterday's post, you know God answered my prayers beyond what I imagined, but if all we see is the answered prayer we miss the point.

Gratitude and trust gave me the peace I needed to get through a trying time--more than once. Gratitude and trust led me through my parents' divorce, sustained me in a painful time in a relationship, and held me up while watching my father die.

What difficult circumstance do you face? Try thanking God for His divine plan in your life, whether you understand it or not. Let gratitude and trust bring you peace.

To see more impressions of this quote, visit Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus.

For My Husband

Dear Kevin,

Every day I thank God for you, my miracle. I love you. I love our life. And while there are countless qualities I admire in you, one in particular stands out. If all men were as good at this as you, there would be lots of happy women out there.

You make me feel loved.

You accomplish this in a myriad of ways:

When we walk side by side, you grab my hand.

You listen. Without judgment. Without advice. Without fixing.

I slip back into bed for a few more minutes before the day begins and though you are not really awake, you snuggle in and mumble, "Mmmmm".

You say, "I miss you".

When you come home, you don't sit before you've found me.

You believe in me, even when I don't believe in myself.

You talk to me, sometimes longer than I have the patience or attention span for, but knowing you want to tell me shows me my importance. I am so thankful (even when it seems I'm not interested). Don't ever stop!

You notice when I'm feeling down.

You linger at the dinner table to talk after the kids have run off.

You hide your annoyance when I ask you to pick something up on your way home from work.

You slip my name into conversation as naturally as breathing.

You say "I love you," but your actions prove it.

I am loved. I am blessed. And deeply grateful. You've provided the soil for me to bloom. Your love gives me confidence and courage, sanctuary and security. I pray our sons follow your lead and love their wives as well as you do. Thank you so much.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth--for your love is more delightful than wine.

Song of Songs 1:2

I love you, Kevin. Deeply. Wholly. Always.





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