4 years

Then

Now


Josh and I celebrated 4 years on Thursday of last week. We had a wonderful time reflecting on our wedding and even watched the video of that beautiful day. We talked about our "Greatest Hits" our favorite memories from our marriage so far and laughed and cried. God is so good to give us a chance to have this marriage. It is hard work, and requires dying to self and killing our flesh every day, but the reward is beautiful. We have been through ups and downs, easy and hard, but through it all our God is shaping us and conforming us. I pray we will only grow more in love with Him and each other as the years fly by.

We are headed here this weekend to celebrate! Hopefully it will be come another one of our "Greatest Hits"....the best is yet to come!

So after 4 years do you think its time to add another member to the family? So do we! Now if only we can get our hands on one of these:












You didn't think I meant a baby did you? :)

Red Light, Green Light

Why is it that sometimes it is so hard to follow. It takes trust. Its like a dance. If both people try to lead you will just end up tripping over each others feet. Sometimes I wish life was like traffic lights. Its just obvious. Red means stop. Green means go. Even if you want so badly to go when the light is red, you simply don't. You know the consequences. It is the law and you simply obey. I wish obeying God was that simple. Sometimes I wrestle so much with following. Whether it's God or Josh. I just like to be in control. I like to know what the plan is, what is going to happen. It's kinda like driving. You know how you always feel safer going faster, or stopping or starting when you are the one at the wheel? You always worry do they see that car? Are they changing lanes? Do they see the brake lights. But marriage and trusting God is really about giving over the wheel and not being a backseat driver. Trusting. Even when you think your way is better. I am learning what this means more. I have always been an independent person. I had to grow up fast when I was in the 8th grade for several reasons and I just got used to making my own decisions and calling the shots in my life. I have also always been stubborn. When I first got married I read this book called "Becoming the woman of his dreams: 7 qualities every man longs for". I read it with ease thinking why would I ever have trouble doing or thinking any of these things? I love Josh he is amazing! Well 4 years later I laugh at how naive I was. Marriage can be hard! It's about two lives coming together merging in to one. This sometimes causes conflict, some just based on being raised differently. Ideas of raising kids, finances, traditions, church attendance and much more. It's easy to always "have a better idea" than him, to compare him to other men, to complain about his mistakes to our friends. Its Easy to do that. Its hard to do the opposite.

Men are very different creatures and have certain needs. One of those needs is the need for respect. It is the little things that add up to respect. The way you speak to him, the comments you make about him, the way you talk about him with your friends.

Ephesians 5:33 says it this way "Let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him, and that she defers to him, praises him, and love and admires him exceedingly" -Amplified version.

This is not a husband lording over his wife demanding it. It's ours as wives to freely give. I desire to do this in a greater way. To be selfless and think of Josh above myself. To listen when he says go, to trust when he says stop. And if a decision he makes goes wrong to simply say "We will figure it out babe" not "Look what YOU did."
We. We are in this crazy thing called life together.

So following is not as simple as traffic lights, but thank the Lord we have resources like, The Word, wise people, and good books to help light our way.

"It's Me"

Just another reason to love her. Love her honest, transparent and real lyrics.

"Sometimes when Troy, my husband, and I are in the midst of a disagreement, one of us will say something that's really sarcastic or just so overt. And being on the receiving end of that, it's is like, "Honey, it's me ... Sara." Or vice versa. We just forget who we're talking to and the value of that person. For whatever reason, you cross that line where sensitivity and tenderness are discarded. You'd never talk to anyone else like that or treat someone else like that. Troy and I are working on that--talking to each other and interacting with each other in those situations in the way we would a complete stranger. -Sara Groves

6 and counting

As of yesterday Josh and I have been together for 6 years! I can't believe how fast the time has past. We have grown and changed so much since then. I am thankful for God's grace and His hand in our lives. He has kept us together and given us the chance to have a relationship centered on Him. Sometimes we get sidetracked and loose focus, but He always brings us back in His grace. We have learned so much about eachother. I am thankful my partner in this life is Josh. I pray I will grow to help and support him more and more in our journey together. I laugh when I look back and think how crazy we were. I would iron his shirts for 45 minutes just to make sure they were perfect! All my roommates would make fun of me. I was just crazy about that kid. Glad we have grown in our love and it just continues to grown and mature. I love you Josh.

I've Got A Good One

Josh
Is an amazing man and I am truly blessed to have him as my husband.

Here are Some reasons why.

1. He loves the Lord and truly seeks to please Him.

2. He is one of the most genuine people I know

3. He is going to be an amazing pastor someday, one who can preach an amazing sermon with his heart, and also relate and love people. People are just drawn to him.

4. He makes me laugh and we totally get each other and our weird sense of humors. We can laugh about so many inside jokes and I love it.

5. He is honest and transparent and wears his heart on his sleeve.

6. He hardly ever complains, and he is one of the hardest workers I know

7. He is going to be an amazing father some day. He will tenderly love and cherish a daughter and make her feel so beautiful and special. And he will also play and roughhouse with a boy, and teach son how to be an honest, and wonderful man.

8. He is so giving and not a money lover. He would give everything we have away. He has a heart for homeless and poor people.

9. He trusts the Lord to provide for us and always reminds me where I need to put my hope when I worry. Which is more often than not.

10. He is one of the most disciplined men I know in a lot of areas, prayer, scripture memory (he has memorized the entire books of Malachi, Ephesians, and some of Romans!!), in exercise and in his school work. He spurs me on in these areas to be more disciplined! (I am not at allllll in any of those areas!) He also seeks to lead us in prayer and word time together even when I don't want to at times.

11. He is quick to humble himself and apologize when he is wrong.(Even when I point it out to him :)

12. He loves me and makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. He does the dishes when I am at work all day and seeks to do the little things I ask him to. He also writes beautiful cards and letters and reminds me of why he loves me and to love the Lord with all my heart.

13. He never knows the words to songs, but always knows the melodies and makes up his own words which are so totally ridiculous.

14. He likes to sleep closest to the door, or sit facing the door at a resturaunt, so he "Has my back" if someone busts up in there.

15. His smile is beautiful, and contagious. He always smiles when he is supposed to be serious.

16. He knows everything about me and loves me still.

I am truly thankful for you Josh. I know I don't always show it but I am blessed to have you. Thank you for loving me and seeking to understand me. God designed you for me. We are a perfect fit. Thanks for being strong where I am weak and spurring me on to be a better woman. I am thankful for all God has done in our lives. We are truly blessed.

(I am having a little trouble with the Mr. Linky thing, so for now just leave a comment with a link to your specific blog about your husband. Can't wait to read all the wonderful things you have to say about your men!)

If you gotta good one put your hand up....

A.N.G.E.L A.N.G.E.L
Just like a shadow
I'll be beside you
I'll be your comfort
I'm there to guide you home
I will provide you
A place of shelter
I wanna be your zone

Tell me what you wanted me to do
I'll make you great to be a man
With a woman who can stand
On every promise given
Making vows to please her man

If I could be your angel
Your angel, Your angel
Protect you from the pain
(from the pain oh..)
I'll keep you safe from danger
from danger, from danger
You'll never hurt again
(No More)
I'll be your a.n.g.e.l
(Yeah)
a.n.g.e.l, a.n.g.e.l
(Hey)
a.n.g.e.l
I'm gonna be your
(a.n.g.e.l)
I'll be your angel

Just like the moon
I'll step aside
And let your sun shine
While I follow behind
Cause baby what you got
You deserve all the props
With everything I'm not
and I'm so glad you're mine

Tell me what you wanted me to do
I'll make it great to be a man
With a woman who can stand
On every promise given
Making vows to please her man

If I could be your angel
(I could be your angel)
Your angel, Your angel
Protect you from the pain
(I will protect you from the pain)
[from the pain]
I'll keep you safe from danger
(I'm gonna keep you safe from danger)
from danger, from danger
You'll never hurt again
(You'll never hurt again)
I'll be your a.n.g.e.l
(ey hey)
a.n.g.e.l, (ey ey hey) a.n.g.e.l
I'm gonna be, gonna be
(a.n.g.e.l)
I'll be your angel

Tell me why there's so many good men
And the world misunderstood
He's a dog, he's no good
I wish somebody would

Disrespect my man
You're gonna have to come see me
I go hard for my baby
He's all that I need

So if you got a good one
Put your hands up,
Come on girl and stand up
Go ahead lift your man up
Get up
If you got a good one
Put your hands up
Come on girl and stand up
Go ahead lift your man up
Get up

If I could be your angel
Your angel, Your angel
(Protect you from the pain)
Protect you from the pain
(from the pain, from the pain)
[from the pain oh..]
I'll keep you safe from danger
(I'll keep you safe from danger)
from danger, from danger
You'll never hurt again
And you'll never hurt again
a.n.g.e.l, a.n.g.e.l
You'll never hurt again
a.n.g.e.l, a.n.g.e.l
You'll never hurt again
a.n.g.e.l, a.n.g.e.l,
a.n.g.e.l, (a.n.g.e.l) a.n.g.e.l
I'll be your angel

So it is very hard to find a song in this day and age that encourages women to support and lift up her husband.
Most songs preach independence, and that their man is replaceable, and cheating on their man is ok.

When I heard this song...ok its a little corny but I really think it preaches a good message. Its no Ephesians 5 or anything, but it does say a few key things.

1. A Woman needs to provide a place of comfort for her man. Not where he is constantly nagged or told he is not good enough. No we can't be his source of trust or saviour, but we can seek to protect him. He faces enough hardship in the world, we are to be his teammate. On HIS side!

2. A woman needs to step aside and let the "sun shine" on her husband and support him and walk beside him. Not having to be the center of attention but learn to let him do what God has called him to, and support him in any way.

3. She needs to stand on her promise given. Wedding Vows. Vows to honor, and love, and be faithful.

4. Its a good thing to lift up your man. To recognize he is great, and praise him for the things he does well!

That brings me to my idea! I think it would be so cool if us women who do have husbands write a post about our husbands. To "put our hands up" because we have a good one and to list a few of those things and lift them up. I will post one tomorrow about Josh and post a tool to link to your blogs and you can do one on your husband and link it so we all can read awesome things about our men!

What do you think?

Perfect Date Night

A little taste of Home (half off Tuesday's)

+
Pumpkin Carving

+
The First Celtics game of the Season

= A Perfect Date Night

Till death do us part......

So I am usually not a fan of cheesy Christian movies. I mean I know they have a great message and it is refreshing to see something clean in the movies, BUT usually they have corny actors, lines and anyone you take to see it will think it is not the greatest. (Let's just say when watching "Facing the Giants" last year with Josh's sisters it got turned off in about 20 minutes.) So when our good friends invited us to go see "Fireproof" Kirk Cameron's new movie, I was sceptical. But I was plesantly surprised and loved the movie. I found my self laughing, shedding a few tears, and relating to the characters and their struggle. Now don't get me wrong there are a couple of cheesy lines (like "I am gonna give him a karate chop sandwich") but what would a Christian movie be with out a few.

The theme is Marriage, which lets face it anyone who is married has faced difficuties in marriage. The couple is on the brink of a divorce and includes arguments, struggle with pornography, flirting and enjoying another man's attention, feeling like your spouse doesn't respect/love/appriciate you. A couple of the arguments were so life like Josh and I looked at eachother and laughed as we have had that exact same one! (Yes we get in arguments!)In the movie he is given "the Love Dare" from his father a 40 day challange how to love your spouse unconditionally. (This book is really available and a great idea!) It is such a great movie and opens the doors for great conversation with your spouse and other couples. Josh and I are all about being real in our marriage with others. It does no good to put on a happy face and pretend marriage is a breeze. You grow and learn more when you are honest (and it totally humble's you.) We had a great relationship with a couple in Birmingham where we could talk and be honest and really get down to the nitty gritty of marriage. (We MISS YOU Jason & Michelle!) We have been praying for a couple here we can share and be honest with here as well. You can go to their website to learn more about the movie and resources to help.Fireproofmymarriage

I really encourage you to go see this movie if you are married and to find a couple you can be honest with! God meant for marriage to be a journey and what better way to do it then learn from eachother.

Sara Groves one of my favorite artist of all time (Get to see her on SUNDAY!!!)
is very honest about her marriage and often jokes she "hangs out their dirty laundry of marriage" in her songs. It is so encouraging to listen to her songs and know you are not alone and be reminded about the center of marriage wich is Christ. So hop on I tunes and check out a few of her great songs.
Here are a few of my fav's about marriage:

Roll to the Middle - A song about when you have an argument and then in bed you want to face the other way and not touch your spouse but you let your pride melt and roll to the middle of the bed.

We just had a World War III here in our kitchen
We both thought the meanest things
And then we both said them
We shot at each other till we lost amunition

This is how I know our love
This is when I feel it’s power
Here in the absence of it
This is my darkest hour
When both of us are hunkered down
And waiting for the truce

All the complicated wars
They end pretty simple
Here when the lights go down
We roll to the middle

No matter how my pride resists
No matter how this wall feels true
No matter how I can’t be sure
That you’re gonna roll in too
No matter what, no matter what
I’m going to reach for you

When it was over - A song about a wife breaking her husbands heart and he was going to leave her and they decide to work through it through "the Love that covers a multitude of sins"

When it was over and they could talk about it
She said there's just one thing I have got to know
What in that moment when you were running so hard and fast
Made you stop and turn for home
He said I always knew you loved me even though I'd broken your heart
I always knew there'd be a place for me to make a brand new start

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

When it was over and they could talk about it
They were sitting on the couch
She said what on earth made you stay here
When you finally figured out what I was all about
He said I always knew you'd do the right thing
Even though it might take some time
She said, Yeah, I felt that and that's probably what saved my life

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

There is a love that never fails
There is a healing that always prevails
There is a hope that whispers a vow
A promise to stay while we're working it out
So come with your love and wash over us

Honesty - A song about being honest with yourselves and with another couple about your marriage
Here in the stillness
where thoughts are born
here in our frailty we're tattered and torn

here in confession
here in our mess
here in the place where we're mostly undressed - mostly

oh honesty, oh honestly, the truth be told for the saving of our soul

here in the corner
where we craft our pain
here in the open we're laying our blame

here in the hallway
here behind doors
here in the places we wage our private wars

oh honesty, oh honestly, the truth be told for the saving of our soul

Only the truth and truthfulness can save us now/ only the truth and truthfulness can save us
Only the truth and truthfulness can save us now/ only the truth and truthfulness can save us
can save us now

Bend it Out

CHOSEN
HOLY
BELOVED
I love John Piper.... he is so real and saturated in the Gospel. He just points more and more that everything in life is rooted in the Gospel. You want to be a good student? Root your self in the Gospel. You want a good marriage? Root yourself in the Gospel. You want to be a better parent? Root your self in the Gospel...and so on. The Gospel should be OUR LIFE! Not just some prayer I prayed at age 5, it changes you, it fills you up. And then we can "bend it out" as JP says. I desire to live it and remember it...lest I forget.