My last post I was on the precipice of moving into a new decade... my 50's. Even a month later that still sounds so scary... and OLD!
The actual day/week of my birthday wasn't so bad.
My day started off with a delicious breakfast made by my Honey. I apologize to my fellow Canadians for not enjoying real "Canadian Maple Syrup"... but I prefer the old "fake" stuff.
That evening, my Sweet Hubby had planned for my dearest and closest friends to come celebrate with me on my first night on the "other side". My BFF unfortunately wasn't able to make it as her precious "H" is fighting with cancer and she wasn't able to join us.
Hubby did everything himself from food, drinks... invitations. SO impressed!
Although he'd tried to make the party a "surprise", it's rather hard to surprise me as every year he gets me together with friends on my birthday. I tried my best to keep "WHO" was coming a surprise so each time I opened the door I was delighted by the faces on the other side.
With my "besties" surrounding me, the evening was full of fun, laughter and making delightful memories. One of my precious "daughters" used her talents to create a rice-krispie "cake" for me, topping it off with an extra special topper she'd made herself with fondant:
Hubby had also purchased a delicious chocolate cake for me as well to share with my guests, after blowing out the candle of course. We couldn't put 50 on or the fire alarm would've gone off!!
It was a super special night and a wonderful way to ease my way into this new decade. Thank you Sweetheart and Precious Friends for making this such a memorable evening!
The countdown is on… two weeks tomorrow we get possession of our new home… not "new" new, but new to us. They say that moving is one of the top 10 stressors of life. I would totally agree with that, especially when doing a big renovation the first few weeks of owning the new home (and moving in half way through that) and also during the busiest season of work. Phew… I'm exhausted. Well, actually, most days I'm exhausted but not tonight. Nope… tonight I'm on a HIGH. A New Home High!
Tonight I met with my real estate agent, my plumber (brother-in-law), a carpet-guy and the selling agent over at the new place. I have to tell you… every time I step inside our "almost" house I get SO excited. I never want to leave… even though tonight the selling agent wasn't thrilled to be there and made me feel rushed to get everything done in record time.
Tonight's agenda was looking at plumbing in the basement to move the laundry tub to a more functional spot (and figure out the water rental company so we can get a better/bigger unit), measuring the bedrooms for new carpet (instead of the 28 year old present carpet) measuring the closet on the main floor so I can order the organizer to make a pantry, and measuring the powder room for a vanity (instead of the pedestal sink). By the time we're done I think we will have a "new" home.
It amazes me how all the stress of this week, juggling all my clients/house/reno/ and packing balls, has melted away from one little 30 minute visit up the street. I feel like a kid Christmas morning.
I can't wait to show you all the before and after pictures, but you'll just have to wait… like me… until we get into our place.
2013 was a crazy year for me… getting my business off the ground, travelling, family weddings, etc… it has really challenged my blogging mojo, hasn't it? Well I am back in 2014 with a renewed desire to blog and a new name!
New Beginnings is the theme for my new blog and our life beginning in 2014. I am so grateful to God for allowing me the ability to "make lemonade" of the circumstances of infertility but that all feels miles behind on life's highway. Not only do I feel like I've turned a page on that chapter of life, Hubby and I are about to embark on turning the page on a new chapter… moving to our second home (finally!).
In November, life was plugging along as usual, nary a thought of moving on the horizon… until a 2 car garage, 3 bedroom, end unit town home in our complex (on the same side of the street as our current home… with no neighbours behind except the police station) came up for sale. I had always been keeping an eye out for a 2 car garage unit so I was interested in taking a peek when they held an Open House one weekend in early-November. Hubby and I took a look around the place and were intrigued by the possibility of purchasing this slightly larger unit, without having to take a large mortgage again. The day after we toured the home, Hubby was off on a business trip to California. His union was contemplating a strike at the time so house-hunting wasn't maybe the best idea at that time of uncertainty but Hubby and I both felt the prodding to move forward with considering this house. I decided to visit the Open House the following day, with tape measure in hand, to see if logistically our furniture and things would fit and we could truly make this "home". On the following Tuesday I visited Ridgeway Kitchens, to speak with my brother-in-law's, nephew-in-law who owns the renovation company to see if reworking the kitchen at the new town home would be a possibility as the current kitchen as is was a deal breaker in moving forward. Marcus needed to measure to see what options we might have and miraculously (thank you Jesus!) our real estate agent was going to be in my neighbourhood right around that time and was able to get us into the house to measure.
I won't bore you with each detail but that week while Hubby was in California, we prayed about God opening and closing doors. There were huge hurdles to jump over (like the union strike) and we kept asking God to show us His will for this house by moving such hurdles. By Thursday, God had answered prayers as the strike was being averted and ratification was scheduled for Sunday. We had decided with this news that we would go look at the house again at the coming weekend's Open House before putting in an offer.
Sometimes God puts obstacles in our way to test our faith and that Friday we encountered one such obstacle. I got a call from our agent, Linda, telling me that someone was coming to put an offer on the townhouse that evening at 7pm. Hubby was literally unreachable as he was in the airplane heading home from California. We would have to forego putting in an offer too and we would have to let the house go. It was strange as this was happening though. Similar to 20 years ago how I felt after my first date with Hubby, I had such a strong sense that this house was "ours" but I trusted God and held it loosely. Our agent told us that sometimes deals don't go through and that she would contact me the following Friday to update me on the status of the sale. "Okay God… I will trust in Your will!"
Fast forward to the next Friday. I was out shopping when I got a call from our agent. "The buyer's financing fell through. You can put in an offer if you're still interested". Hubby again was preparing to board an airplane home from his business trip to Massachusetts so again I had to tell Linda that we were on hold. Saturday morning, after a myriad of questions, we began the process of moving towards an offer by visiting the bank for a deposit draft and later that evening meeting with our agent to "get the job done!" After a few pass backs between us and the sellers, at 10pm on Nov 23, 2013, we purchased our second home (conditional on home inspection).
SOLD… TO US!!
Now came the crazy process of preparing our current home and getting it listed for sale. God miraculously gave me supernatural energy and endurance and I was able to get the house ready within the week. In that week another townhome in our complex came up for sale… a unit similar to ours with 2 bedrooms and 1-1/2 car garage. This home was refinished to the max and ended up with a bidding war, making it the highest selling unit in our complex. Again, I saw God's timing in this because in the time frame between us purchasing Unit #8 and getting our unit on the market, the "value" of our home was able to be increased by $10K due to the sale of that similar unit.
On Wednesday, Dec 4 our unit was listed and officially on the market! I was leaving for a Seminar at Sea aboard the Norwegian Breakaway cruise line out of NYC on Dec 7 (Sat) and Hubby was leaving for Connecticut on the 8th (Sunday) so fortunately we weren't inconvenienced too much with showings and the Open House held on the Saturday. By mid-week, while we were both away, two offers came into our agent with one offer sticking around. There I was on the high seas off the coast of NC on Friday, Dec 13 signing a copy of offer to be faxed back to our agent. Our house was sold conditionally! Only God can move things this quickly I believe! By the following Friday the SOLD sign was on our front lawn and we could relax over the Christmas break before starting the massive job of packing up by our January 31st closing date.
Our First House SOLD!
So… we come to the meaning of the new blog theme which comes from our new home. When I told Hubby's twin sister the unit # of our new place, she mentioned to me the spiritual significance of the number 8… "New Beginnings". I got chills when she told me because not only is moving into our second home a "new beginning", closing the chapter on this home with it's reminders of broken dreams and hopes that never came to be (and leaving our Noah's Ark "nursery" behind), it is also the year Hubby and I both reach the milestones of turning 50 and celebrating 20 years of marriage. New Beginnings… absolutely!! So join me as we pack up the past (with both good and not so good memories) and move up the street to our new place and our New Beginnings!!
I remember reading a verse in Joel (verse 25) years ago that says, "I will repay the years the locusts ate away". I understood that verse to be a promise from God that He would restore me from the pain and devastation from my past. Over the years I have watched Him do just that and this weekend in particular that verse resounds most true.
Six and half years ago, a couple years after my Mom had passed away, I met a young woman in our church small group who had just lost her mother. "C" was single, early 20's and heartbroken by this much-too-early, tragic loss. As her first Mother's Day without her Mom present, I knew from personal experience how difficult it can be to not have your Mother (and not be a Mother) on this holiday dedicated to Moms. So, I invited "C" to join me in protesting the day and asked if she wanted to play hookie with me from church for that day.
The two of us did just that. We met mid-morning and head out for lunch and then to the quaint village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, just down the road from Niagara Falls. We wandered the little shops and stopped in at the Trish Romance gallery. Both of us were hugely fond of the talents Trish demonstrated in her homey paintings and we both were delighted to find that Trish was actually in her gallery that day, signing autographs. For "C" this was extra special as her parents had many of Trish's framed prints and paintings in their home. It was if God Himself was planning each detail of "C"'s day (which of course He was!).
This little field trip began a bond between the two of us and morphed into a mentoring relationship that saw "C" through the ups and downs of the next few years as she dated and experienced heartbreak. Then, just as she was preparing to head to Africa as a missionary, God blossomed a friendship she was starting with a certain young man in our church who had befriended my Hubby.
Hubby and I became match-makers extraordinaire as we listened to each of these two young folks as "A" overcame incredible shyness and "C" wrapped her head around God's timing in bringing them together. For two years they corresponded, Skyped and visited one another half way around the world when they could. Love eventually blossomed and plans for a future were starting to take shape.
About a year ago I got a call from "C" all the way from Africa. She and "A" had talked about the fact that marriage was on the horizon and she called to ask if I would consider being her "Mother of the Bride" at her wedding. I was blown away by the request. Me? Mother of the Bride? Oh how God has restored the years the locusts ate away. He has taken this barren woman and made her a "Mother". How amazing is He!
I of course told "C" how honoured I was by the request and said "yes!" and here we are... on the eve of her wedding.
As "C" has gone into this week it hasn't been without lots of tears. No young woman should have to walk down the aisle on her big day without her Mom there at the end of the aisle to greet her with a smile. For "C" that isn't possible but I wanted to do something this week to help ease her longing heart. I asked God to show me how I could connect her Mom and me that would have meaning for "C". I went to Hallmark to see what I could find. I looked at frames and little books. Nothing was jumping out at me. Flustered because I didn't have much time to shop I quickly spun around and there my eyes fell upon a Willow Tree Angel.
I picked her up and read what she said...
This was it... the perfect gift! I quickly purchased it and then hurried home to meet up with my niece who was coming for lunch.
Last night after the rehearsal dinner, "C" and I sat down and she opened the gift. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Did you know I collect Willow Tree Angels? And I don't have this one!" I was flabbergasted! I did not know she collected Willow Tree Angels... but God did! I KNEW at this moment that God had led me to this gift.
Tomorrow I will walk down the aisle before my "Daughter-in-the-Lord" and represent her Mother as I light her family's candle. I will be honoured to do so and I will be ever so grateful for the gift of not only a "Daughter" in "C", but in being able to check off another "Mom" moment I would never otherwise had.
God truly has proven to "restore the years the locusts ate away" and I am truly grateful!
Ever have one of those days where you think you're going to do A, B & C and then something totally unexpected comes to send you in a new direction? This morning was one of those mornings.
I had a list as long as my ... arm finger of "to do" things I needed to get done for work and home. I needed to put together a package with luggage tags and the gift I bought for my August Alaskan cruisers to deliver... and I needed to run to the grocery store for some much-needed staples like bread, milk, O.J., etc. Things weren't going as smoothly as I'd hoped but I was plugging along when I heard a tap, tap, tap on my back window. I look out to see my neighbour three houses down in my back yard. We live in a townhouse complex with a common area/back yard so there are no fences around our entire yard. Any ole person can wander up & down into each back yard. It can be a nuisance at times, but today it turned out to be a bit of a blessing.
"B", my neighbour had come to call on me to see if I was free for a cup of tea. I quickly ran to put my kettle on while she grabbed the cushions for the chairs out in the backyard. What a lovely visit we had as we caught up on what's being going on in each other's world's and the things God has been teaching us. I'm not 100% sure where B's relationship is with Jesus, but she is open to God. Hopefully God will continue to open doors to discuss Jesus and salvation.
After our tea party I hightailed it out to do my errands. It was a gorgeous sunshiny summer day which always makes my heart sing!
Once back home, as I was putting groceries away, I got a call from a friend who needed some encouragement. I was happy to listen and give what little godly advice I could. After about 30+ minutes talking, we prayed together before we said good-bye. I felt glad for this other opportunity God had presented today.
Hubby and I had a dinner date with one of my niece's and her precious Hubby tonight. Before I could get myself ready for that though I needed to do some business. My client from yesterday had decided that Europe was out... how about a Canada/New England cruise. I called Holland America and placed a couple of cabins on hold for her and her family before heading out the door for our dinner date.
Can I just tell you... I Heart my Family!! We enjoyed delicious Greek cuisine over fabulous discussion about what God's been doing in our lives, where He's been challenging us and spurring one another on in our faith. We left the evening feeling encouraged, blessed and longing for another night like tonight. Isn't it just a gift to not only be blood family but family in Christ?! I truly love and admire my nibling and nibling-in-law!
It's been a full week and tomorrow we are looking forward to relaxing. Perhaps we'll head over to the complex pool to soak in some sunshine... or not. Still need to finish things up with my client in the morning before relaxation can become reality! Until next time...
At 9:15 am this morning, our family (and by that I mean extended family) grew by one more when my very first niece, gave birth to her second baby girl (her first born is now 19 going on 20!). Mia Isabella Doreen came into the world at 8lb, 6oz and is the most precious little bundle of pink! Mommy and Baby are doing well from what I understand.
This was where Mia was safely swimming only a few short weeks ago when I last saw my Niece
Mia's Mommy is in the middle
with my niece-in-law on the left
and another niece on the right
(both due in the Spring)
Oh yes... we are a fertile family are we not? I'm not quite sure what happened to me in the mix though. My Dad always joked that I was made of "spare parts" being the sixth child in the family. I won't lie... during the darkest days of infertility I started to believe him and that comment played over in my head, adding to the already indescribable pain. What's really neat though is how God heals us when we feel broken. I thought that my heart would never seal or heal and this picture above... was one of my biggest fears... my nieces one by one becoming mothers and me feeling left in the dust.
YET... that isn't the case. Even though my arms remained empty 24/7 as a full-time Mommy, God has allowed my arms to fill to overflowing with amazing niblings and great-niblings (that's nieces/nephews aka siblings kids = niblings) and friends' kids. What an awesome God we serve! I have MORE than enough kids in my life that I truly feel blessed beyond belief. I can't wait to meet the newest member of our big clan!
So... back to Mia! I hope my sister and niece don't kill me for this but I just have to share a little sneak peek, especially for those of you who prayed for my niece these past few weeks. Here she is....
I think she looks like her big Sister!
It won't be long until the next little one enters the family (who is also a girl) and Mia will have a playmate! Thank you Jesus for the safe arrival of Mia this morning! Bless her as she grows and bless her family too!!
It seems I'm not the only wife missing her Hubby on Valentine's Day, as I just read on people.com that Princess Kate is alone this day as well. What lovely company, don't you think? Anyhoo... like her Prince, my Prince Charming left me some goodies before he flew out of the nest on the weekend.
On Friday afternoon, my sweet Hubby arrived home with a beautiful bouquet of long stem red roses... AND... a bouquet of my favorite mixed flowers (which included my favorite of all... purple stock with it's sweet cinnamon-ny fragrance). Before a romantic candle-lit dinner I had planned for my Sweetie, we snuck off to the late afternoon matinee of the new movie, The Vow. After the movie, we enjoyed a cozy dinner with an appetizer of camembert cheese and Murphy-Goode (by Kendall-Jackson) Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by a delicious main course of chateaubriand, roasted potatoes and mixed bean medley. To end off our festive feast we enjoyed fresh raspberries and real whipping cream. Mmm! Hubby opened his gift from me... a snorkel set for our upcoming trip to the tropics! (I grabbed a set for me as well).
Before heading to the airport in the morning, Hubby left for me, a bag with various wrapped gifts, one for each day of his absence up to Valentine's Day, with instructions of which to open on what day. Here's my "stash":
On day 1 (Sat), I opened the blueray of one of my favorite movies, Serendipity. Day 2's surprise was the book The Vow: The True Events That Inspired the Movie which I'll take to read on the beach. Day 3 I opened the latest book in the Hello, Cupcake series, Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh My!. Hubby picked this up on his last business trip at the bookstore at Harvard University. (Does this make me smarter in making these, I wonder?). This morning I opened the last of the gifts, a pretty pink "Chaps" nightie he picked up at Kohl's on his last trip. I feel abundantly spoiled and loved!
As I reflect on this lavish gifting by my precious Hubby, I can't help but think of how this is how God loves us... lavishly... freely... willingly. As I ponder that, the thought hits me, "how do I love back? Am I lavish in my love for God... for others?". I realize that I have miles to go before my love is anywhere near that of my God, yet I am challenged daily to make every day "Valentine's" in how I approach my interactions with my Hubby and with other people I encounter. I know in the weeks to come, God will challenge this more and more as I work through the Beth Moore study of James: Mercy Triumphs.
So... today, for the Tuesday's Top 10, I was originally thinking of one "Valentine's" day theme, but instead let me ask this:
Top 10 Ways To Show Love Today
Here are my answers:
(In light of being alone most of the day, my answers reflect my activities for the day)
Spend time with God (so my heart is right)
Be a courteous driver
Smile at a stranger
Write love emails to my Sweetie
Tell family and friends how I feel about them
Bring flowers to my sister (who I'll be hanging out with tonight)
Bring in my neighbor's recyle box from the end of the driveway
Call my Dad & Step-Mom to check in on them
Clean the house for Hubby's return
Praise God throughout my day
How about you? What are your Top 10 for today?
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This morning at Abide we were discussing the next chapter in our study from Linda Dillow's book, "Satisfy My Thirsty Soul: For I Am Hungry For Your Presence". (An amazing book btw!). This morning's chapter was on bowing our will in worship to God. Not an easy task to be sure! As I stood at the front reading my review my mind was FULL of thoughts of not only my "Isaacs" past and present to be laid on the altar before God, but of the huge requests God was making of some of the people I know to lay their "Isaacs" down. Ouch!
Laying down those things that are nearest and dearest to our hearts is excruciating. Abraham knew it when God asked Him to take his one and only son up a mountain and use him as a sacrifice. Jesus knew that heart-wrenching pain too when He was asked by His Father to lay down His very life to pay the price of OUR sins! Nope, it wasn't easy for either of them BUT they both did it... obediently and willfully. The faith of Abraham is something I wish so dearly I had had back when God asked me to give up my biggest "Isaac" to date - giving up my expectations, hopes and dreams of having a child. It was excruciating! And... it was a process. A process that took many years of God, finger-by-finger, releasing my clenched hand until I was able to lay that "Isaac" with open hand to Him. And like for Abraham, God provided. For Abraham God provided an actual ram to replace his son from the altar of stones and wood. For me, God provided peace and comfort. Healing so deep in my soul that I can barely remember how excruciating the pain really was. God did it! And He can do it for you too! Do you have an "Isaac" that God is asking you to release to Him? To lay it down at the altar of God and walk away in trust and obedience? It may be a person you love dearly, or something you love dearly. Whatever it is, can I encourage you today to trust in the One who knows the beginning of time to the very end of time. He knows you better than you know yourself and He has GREAT things in store for you! Let go! I know it's hard, but when you do, you release God's power to work in your life.
On that sort of note, here are my day 10 Joy Dare gifts: a gift that's sour; a gift that's sweet and a gift that's "just right".
The gift that is sour is the lemons in my life - those things that make the cheeks pucker like my infertility struggle, losing my Mom before my 40th birthday, watching friends' and family hurt and suffer with illness... these sour things of life are a gift. A gift you might ask? But they are a gift... because it is through these things that God proves Himself real and true. It's where He stretches our faith and makes us more like Jesus!
The gift that is sweet is ...
the lemonade that God makes of those times of squeezing. The gift of learning more about Him, trusting Him and loving Him. The gift of seeing how strong you really are when you get to the other side of a situation and you look back and see His faithfulness, holding you up, so clearly. Yes... this gift of lemonade is the sweetest... because it takes those sour lemons and turns them into something refreshing and delicious!
And the gift that's just right...
and the best gift of all... the Cross and what it represents. Jesus, fully God and fully human, taking on the sins of you and me. Beaten, abused, ridiculed, abandoned. He died... so we can live... and that we can live ABUNDANTLY! Yep... this is the gift that is Just Right! And the best news of all... it's FREE to anyone who chooses to accept it! Talk about JOY!!!
I was trying to think of a catchy title for today's post but nope... nothing coming for that! Perhaps once I get writing something more profound and interesting will spark, but today is rather a gray, blah kind of day and I don't really have anything super exciting to share other than my Joy Dare challenge for Day 9... a gift in my hand, a gift I walked by, a gift I sat with...so without further ado...
The first gift, a gift in my hand, I reinterpreted today and chose this...
My wedding rings
these... a gift on my hand, symbolize a promise. A promise made to me almost 18 years ago that my beloved would stand by my side, through thick and through thin. He promised to love me, cherish me, protect me and provide for me. And he has done all that and more! Those rings symbolize my promise back to him... that I will care for him, nurture him, respect and honor him, love and give myself to only him. And together, along with his (that he no longer wears because it's too tight... which reminds me I need to take him and the ring to the jewelers to be resized... that is the ring resized... his size is just fine!) symbolize a vow of commitment until death do us part. These rings also represent to me a greater promise... one made by God, that He will return one day and I will be His bride, and He my Bridegroom. How exciting to be blessed with two great loves of my life, one here on earth and one in eternity! I am beyond grateful for this!!
The second gift, a gift I walked by (or rather walk by each day) is this...
A recent Christmas Gift of Inspiration
This beautiful inspirational picture hangs in the upstairs hallway where I pass by every day to and from our master bedroom. It was given to us by my NC sister and it reminds me daily of God's love for me, which is the greatest gift of all! It says (in case you can't read it):
GOD is FOR ME
God is
... with me
... in me
... for me
... around me
... moving through me
... surrounding me
... leading me
... directing me
... loving me
This is the confidence we
have that if we ask
anything according to
His will He hears us
1 John 5:14
When I think of this picture and all it says, I am also SO grateful for the gift of these promises from His Word, and I'm also thankful for my NC sister and the beautiful friendship we share not only as biological sisters, but as sisters in Christ!
Lastly today, my gift I sit/sat with ...
My laptop
A couple Christmases ago, Hubby totally surprised me with this... my pretty pink laptop. The first year of owning it though I didn't consider it a gift in that this particular laptop had a ton of issues and had to be sent back a couple times to get it right (or at least manageable). Although I'm not a huge Dell fan, (and would never buy another of their products), my laptop is a HUGE gift for which I am abundantly grateful. My laptop is like a best friend to me, in that it links me to many of my best friends, both online and in person. It aids me in ministry and allows me to research. Unfortunately it more often than I'd like to admit robs me of precious time, but overall this gift is one that God has used to bless me, comfort me in dark days, to bless others through the ministries He's given me both on & offline. It allows me to maintain our home with sites for banking, recipes and cleaning tips. Yes, one would think it a little odd, but I consider this little hunk of components and plastic parts a true gift from God!
Take time today to contemplate the gifts in your hand, that you pass by and that you sit with today! It might be a person, a place or like me, things but stop for a moment today and just be thankful! Joy will soon follow!
Today was going to be another, rather uneventful day. I woke up late (another late night) and sat down to have my breakfast when the phone rang. It was my good friend "A" who had a favor to ask. She was headed to the movies on a "playdate" and "E" (her #3 son) wasn't a big fan of seeing the Muppet movie (or movie theaters for that matter). Would I be able to have "E" come hang with me for a few hours today? I told her that I was home and would gladly have "E" come hang with me.
We got off the phone and as I continued to chow down on my late breakfast, I looked at the clock. Whoa... in less than 30 minutes my little friend would arrive. I looked a wreck but then thought to myself... he's like 8... he won't care! Luckily, neither would "A"!
Our afternoon was spent playing Wii (Summer Olympics 2012 and Mario Baseball) and watching Night at the Museum 2. We ate popcorn, chatted about the movie and our "awesome" skills on our big comebacks in the Wii games (even though we lost most of them in the end). The time went quickly and I was left feeling a sense of joy from our time spent together after he'd gone home.
I love when God brings about those pleasant little surprises to my days... especially when they are wrapped up in small child-like packages!
Seventeen years ago, on October 15 1994, I was a new bride, freshly married to my Prince Charming and ready to embark on a wild ride. We had no idea the twists and turns, victories and disappointments we would encounter, but we were committed to walk together through whatever God brought our way. To mark our 17th wedding anniversary, here are 17 memories of our 17 amazing years together as Mr. & Mrs.
1. Walking down the aisle I was TERRIFIED of commitment. I clung onto my Dad's sleeve with a death grip, while thoughts of becoming the "Runaway Bride" raced through my mind... UNTIL... I took my Groom's hand and then all the fear vanished and it was like nothing else mattered. I was "home". As we stood together at the altar it was as if no one else was in the sanctuary except Hubby, me and the pastor marrying us. Our ceremony was beautiful and we had a stand-up reception immediately after the ceremony where we cut the delicious cake my Mom had made for us. After this reception we went for pictures and then had a sit-down dinner for 150 later that evening.
2. I was a missionary when we married and because a lot of my support at that time came from friends of my parents (and dancing was taboo at Christian weddings "in those days"), we weren't able to celebrate with a dance at our reception. That didn't stop Hubby and I though. When our best man & his wife (Hubby's twin sister) and another groomsman and his wife (friends of ours) drove us (and our gifts) home, we enjoyed a glass of wine and a first dance with them. Our song was Celine Dion's The Color of My Love.
3. Because we live so close to the airport (and had an early morning flight) we chose to spend our first night as Husband and Wife in our own home. It was special to us to spend our first night in our own bed.
4. Hubby surprised me with our honeymoon. He told me to pack for warm weather and then on the way to the airport the morning after the wedding he told me our destination - Aruba! It was GORGEOUS... breathtakingly beautiful. One day I hope we can return!
5. On our honeymoon, I shocked Hubby that first day when I abruptly told him "I can't commit to you FOREVER. That's too scary for me. But... I'll commit to you today & then tomorrow I'll commit to you for that day." Poor guy. What ran through his head at that moment was WHAT HAVE I DONE?. Fortunately, by the end of the week I was 100% committed! Phew!
6. Another honeymoon memory - Hubby came down with a severe case of hives from something he ate. Mid-week he took off into no-man's land in Aruba in search of a pharmacy. Luckily he returned safely and by week's end the hives were gone. I'm sure the housekeeping wondered though what we were up to. Every morning his side of the sheets were pink from the calamine lotion I'd administered all over him the night before.
7. A few months after the wedding, Hubby and I adopted two 8 week old kittens, Meg and Sydney. We had to put down my first cat, Samantha, two days before the wedding because she... um... had gone a little psycho from me moving so much prior to meeting Hubby. Meg and Sydney were ADORABLE and grew into lovely (and sometimes annoying) housemates for the next 14-15 years. Sydney got sick suddenly September 2008 and had to be put down and Meg followed 8 months later. They are still missed... but not enough to get new pets!
8. Right from the start of our marriage, Hubby and I have LOVED to travel together and we travel well together. Often times on long car rides through the Eastern States (usually to my sister's place in NC or the ocean in SC), we will sing together, listen to sermons from our favorite preachers, and sometimes I'll read an entire novel to Hubby while he drives. We've seen so many places that we'd only dreamed of seeing and made incredible memories in the process.
9. Not all of our memories have been super happy ones. Hubby and I have endured our share of trials. One memory that falls into this category is the stresses and strains of trying to start a family. In hindsight, we barely remember how intense the pain of infertility was, but I do remember the roller-coaster of emotions, particularly the six months of fertility treatments we endured. For two weeks of every month I was closely monitored at the fertility clinic and for a week of that time Hubby would inject me in the thigh before he left for work with a Gonal-F shot, trying to boost my egg count for a better chance at conception during the IUI treatments. It was grueling to say the least and heartbreaking when the pregnancy tests would come back negative but... we worked as a team and didn't let infertility rip our marriage apart.
10. Another memory I have of this chapter in our lives was that Sunday in mid November 1999 when we got a call from the clinic saying my pregnancy test was positive. We were shocked and elated. We told a couple of friends that morning at church and called our family that afternoon to share in the joyous event. We knew it was ridiculously early to share such news, but after 4 years of everyone praying and weeping with us, we wanted them to share in the joy of the moment. Unfortunately two days later the clinic called back after my follow up blood test on the Monday to say my HCG levels were dropping and it wasn't a viable pregnancy. Tears flowed as disappointment flooded our hearts but even today, 12 years later, I don't regret telling people about that positive test. I treasure the memory of my friend's face and the joy she shared with me, if even for a fleeting moment. I didn't know that Sunday morning that it would be the ONLY time I'd utter those words "It's positive!"
11. Another not-so-happy memory that actually is one of my favorite memories is a time when Hubby was fired (and then reinstated 3 months later at his job). This was a time in our marriage when we had to completely trust in God's provision as I wasn't working and Hubby had no income coming in. It was one of those moments when the "rubber hits the road" and you see what "for better or for worse, for richer for poorer" really means in the wedding vows. God did provide a part-time job for Hubby, delivering flowers to grocery stores, and I was able to join him sometimes which was really fun as we worked together as a team. I cherish this time as God showed us His faithfulness and His grace, especially when Hubby returned to his position after the 3 months.
12. Hubby has been an amazing rock and comforter when my heart has been broken. When my Grandma and Mom passed away during our years together, Hubby has been a wonderful comfort to me and my family. He has stood by me through so many ups and downs of emotional heartache. He truly is that soft place to fall!
13. Hubby would have been an amazing Dad but obviously God had other plans. That hasn't stopped my Hubby from being an amazing Uncle and Friend to many of my niblings and his own niece and nephew. When the majority of my niblings were young we would have them over 8 at a time for a sleepover, Hubby with the boys and me with the girls. I remember one time in particular we had the kids over and we got them all in our car (this was before seatbelt laws changed) and took them to glow in the dark bowling late one Friday night. We had a blast! So much laughter! This was the beginning of beautiful friendships with our niblings and allowed us to team together in helping to mold these young lives.
14. Many of our memories involve Hubby's work, particularly in the past few years as he's gotten more overloaded at his job. A lot of these memories involve travel with him on his work trips. Together we've explored Boston, Nashville, San Francisco and Southern California, in between Hubby's business and have been able to make some incredible vacation memories out of these business trips and made some very neat relationships with some of his clients.
15. Hubby is the definition of "Phlegmatic" and by nature is not a risk taker. A funny (and exhilarating) memory I have of one vacation we took to Myrtle Beach totally shocked me when Hubby stepped out of character and suggested we go parasailing. We were on a morning stroll down the beach around 9:30am when Hubby turned to me and said, "Let's go parasailing!" Stunned (and admittedly frightened at the prospect) I agreed and we ran back to the condo to get Hubby's credit card to pay for this exhilarating adventure. It was kinda scary being that high up over the water, but it was also an amazing experience and I'm glad Hubby stepped out of his "norm" to suggest it! He's learning to embrace life and do those "bucket list" type things
16. My Hubby is a wonderful spiritual leader of our family and when I think of the spiritual aspect of our marriage I am reminded of his leadership in prayer. Rarely a day goes by in our 17 years that Hubby doesn't lead us in prayer, either before he leaves for work in the morning, or on the phone before we head to sleep while he's away. We have gone through many marriage devotionals during our married life and these are treasured memories as we've grown together spiritually over the years and solidified our foundation in God.
17. Every day I spend with my precious Hubby is a treasured Memory. Yesterday for our 17th anniversary we invited some of our family members to join us for a wine tour & tasting that we had won back in June at my nephew & new niece-in-law's "stag and doe" party. Eleven of us piled into two vehicles for a fun afternoon of wine and cheese. By the time Hubby and I got home it was evening and instead of rushing dinner and a movie, we decided to just do the movie & postpone our celebratory dinner until today. We saw the new Footloose (eh... it was okay) and then today after church we had our celebration meal. We considered going out to a nice dinner but instead chose to make a new memory and opened one of our California bottles of Chardonnay and made a delicious spread of cheeses, meats and bread. Together we sat on the floor in our family room, watching Andy Stanley's sermon from this morning online and discussing what cheeses went with which wine (we were sampling a French red wine too). Not our average anniversary meal but just as special... maybe even more! Here's a pic of our spread:
I am beyond grateful for the man God surprised me with back in 1993 and gave me as my husband in 1994. He truly has been a dream come true and I have enjoyed the opportunities we've had together to watch so many of our joint dreams come true. Thanks for walking down memory lane with me today!
Now friends... I'm going to warn you in advance. Today's initial post may gross you out. If you're eating, I suggest you put whatever it is down and grab a tissue in case I make you gag. You've been warned!! ha ha
So... for our ladies group banquet in mid-May, to compliment my coral top and white pants ensemble, I found the perfect orange colored nail polish and applied it on my then "perfect" toes. Weeks ago, I started feeling a slight throbbing in my middle toe of my left foot (wasn't that a movie? My Left Foot? I digress). Seeing a small "bruise-like" mark on that toe, I decided to remove my polish and take a peek at what was going on down there. To my horror and shock I found that my toenail was starting to look weird with parts of the nail seeming to lift off my toe. Hmmm... I began to apply an anti-fungal cream, figuring that it was the most likely culprit. Within days the "bruise" looking mark had disappeared and the nail was looking somewhat better but still rather funky.
Today, I finally decided that it was time to go have a doctor look at it to confirm what was going on. Being the google-aholic that I am, I was starting to freak myself out looking at the ghastly photos of other people's disgusting toe fungases and that's what spurred the rush to the walk-in clinic.
As expected, the doctor confirmed my suspicions and I do indeed have a toe fungus. Great! Fortunately, she told me I came in at the right time and it can be treated and should return to it's former beauty within ... months. Oh well... guess I'll have to withstand ugly toes this summer.
Now... to complete this tale of toe, I mean woe, I've taken a picture so you can see my funky toe. (This is where the aforementioned warning comes in... if you have a queasy tummy, you may want to rush past this photo to get to the 30 Day Photo Fun challenge picture. This is NOT todays!!
Fortunately my fungas doesn't look as gross as some out there! Phew!
Okay... enough of THAT... on to today's pic... .which I of course am again cheating on because, well, I had no time today with the toe emergency and all, to take today's photo.
Day 24 ~ LOVE
This picture was taken on the second "formal" night of our cruise in January. My Hubby is the LOVE of my life and I still pinch myself that he picked me to be his life partner and wife. He is everything I ever dreamed of and so much more. He constantly teaches me about God's love and grace and I feel abundantly blessed to be called his wife! I LOVE that after almost 17 years of marriage, we are more in LOVE today than we were back then! (as she sighs a big dreamy sigh).
Gotta run... the treadmill is calling my name (as is my Hubby!).
We just got home from a wonderful evening with our long-time friends who we haven't spent time with in way too long. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard tonight. Don't you just love those kinds of evenings... and friends to laugh that hard with? Oh how foolish we've been to let these gems of relationships slip through our lives for too many long years. Their kids are almost grown and we've missed out on so many precious memories and milestones but now we can make up for lost time!
It's not often that people come into your lives that you really click with... you can be 100% yourself and not worry about what they think of you or how they'll react when you're a little ... out there. These two sets of friends are that special. One couple I've known for my entire adult life, the other couple almost my entire married life. Both couples have long held a special place in Hubby's and my hearts. How awesome is God that He directed their paths individually to the same church 2 years ago. And not only did they attend the same church, both newcomers at the same time... they actually sat near each other every week. It was through Facebook that we women figured out that we all knew one another... theirs a new friendship, ours a long-time friendship that had slipped through the cracks of busy lives and different life paths. I am still in awe at how good God is and I can't thank Him enough for bringing us all together as a sextet of friendship.
Hubby's been working like a dog, working almost non-stop for weeks. Tonight's laughter and catching up was medicine to his soul as much as it was to mine. It is such a gift to have these types of friends that pour so much back into our weary souls. We have all vowed to never let so much time pass between our visits again. These friendships are much too precious to let distance and time come between again!
It's late so I feel like I'm rambling on now so before I head to bed, I'll post my picture for the
Day 11 ~ Silhouette
Now, although this picture wasn't taken today, it was a picture taken by either my Hubby or myself one very early Summer morning from the front porch of my Dad's lake house. I wasn't able to take a silhouette shot today so I had to dig through old files to find a good one. I had a couple others we took on our travels around North America but I chose this one because it was more plausible that I could have taken it today (if I'd been up to my Dad's place... or the sun had been shining... or I would actually be awake early enough to see the sunrise).
I remember many years ago... long after my days of rebellion, that God had revealed a verse to me... a verse of restoration. In this verse, Joel 2:25, the Lord says, "I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts and the cutting locusts..." Now I'm not about to presume that theologically I understand this verse, but what I do know is that we have a God of restoration. He doesn't just leave us in the cesspools of our own sinfulness. He takes the broken pieces of our lives and makes something new and even better of them.
Today I received a phone call from a friend. This friend, similar to myself, lost her Mom years ago. God had drawn me to this woman at the time of her great grief and we bonded over our motherless state and I have become somewhat of a mother figure in her life.
While chatting, my friend asked me a very important question... a favor if you will. This favor is one that won't need to be fulfilled for quite some time, but with the question of this favor I remembered the verse in Joel 2. Although not engaged, my friend dreams of one day getting married and has asked if I, in her Mother's absence, would take on the "Mother of the Bride" duties and role for her when and if the time comes. Although I'm not completely sure of all that entails, I was honored beyond belief. With tears in my eyes and a shaky, emotional voice I told my friend that I would be honored. Who'd believe that I, the childless woman, would be Mother of the Bride one day?
Yep, our God is a God of restoration. He doesn't leave the fields of our lives stripped bare from the damage of locusts. Instead, He comes to replant new hopes, dreams, purposes and plans that will bring Him glory and us, a heart full of gratitude.
As we enter this Easter weekend, take some time to ponder God's restoration work in your life and then thank Him for giving back what the locusts ate away.
In my Bible reading this morning, I read from Exodus 14, the passage where Moses leads the Israelites from Egypt out into the dessert. As the Egyptian armies bear down upon them, the Israelites begin to gripe and complain. “Why didn’t you just leave us where we were in Egypt? It’s better to be slaves to the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness”.
I am reminded again as I read this familiar story, how much we today can be like the Israelites. I am like the Israelites.
We all have “wilderness” experiences in our faith walk. Those times when like the children of Israel, we wander around in the desert seasons of life. It’s dry. It’s lonely. It’s cold in our hearts. When the enemy starts to bear down on us, we too panic. We long to go back to slavery, where it seems simpler to just not give a rip, than to have to be a warrior for God.
But as I reread these verses, I am reminded that we are NOT slaves any longer. We have indeed been freed from the bondage of the enemy’s rule. We forget too often that God is on our side, watching out for us.
The Israelites saw first hand God’s amazing power and strength as he tore back the waves of the Red Sea to provide a dry pathway for His people to walk through. That’s in His character. He ALWAYS provides a path. While we’re in the midst of our wilderness though, as we look around at the dry, arid surroundings, we often miss that He is there, preparing us and readying that path of escape.
When, like the Israelites, we take courage and follow Him; we find that path to safety. We wake up one day and find ourselves “on the other side” and it feels amazing. I know this from personal experience as I reluctantly at first (like the Israelites) stopped my griping about things and followed Him through my wilderness. By trusting Him, I found the most amazing peace and freedom that I’ve ever known. Sure it was a laborious journey. I won’t lie… some days it was downright brutal, but to know the sweet peace of Jesus. That “Promised Land” is as sweet as honey.
I can’t help but think of what would have happened had the Israelites dug in their heels and decided to not follow Moses through the Red Sea. I believe that they too might have been swallowed up in the Red Sea. For sure, they would have missed out on the awesome experience and display of God’s glory along that path of the Red Sea floor.
At the end of today’s passage in Ex 15:2, these words stand out to me. It is a song of praise from the Israelites from the other side of the Red Sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise Him – my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
The Israelites unbeknownst to them had just passed the first of many “wilderness” experiences. Many more were ahead of them, as is true in our lives. We won’t reach the true “Promised Land” until Jesus returns and takes us Home. But oh what sweet victory we can experience when we keep our eyes focused on The One whom will safely lead us there.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
I remember reading this Scripture verse many times over the decade + of infertility grief. The constant roller coaster of emotional highs and lows as hope was continually deferred. Yep. My heart sure was sick... but not anymore.
I often expected that the answer to the "dreams coming true" portion of this verse meant a baby would be on it's way, but God had other plans for Hubby and I. Instead, He chose to heal that sick heart and put new dreams and hopes inside and allowed life and joy to come outside of the norm of becoming parents.
As I've learned to "let go and let God" over the past few years, I've seen many dreams come true. I've watched God use me in ministry with our ladies' group at church, and I've had the joy and pleasure of travelling with my precious Hubby to places I had only dreamed of in the past.
Last Monday, Hubby and I arrived home from a 12 day vacation in the sunny south. We enjoyed a part of Florida we'd never seen before (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach & South Beach, Miami)
Me, using my superhero strength on Fort Lauderdale Beach
while waiting to board our very first cruise ship, The Crown Princess.
Our "home away from home"
During the cruise we did some AMAZING things... total "dreams come true" for me. In Grand Cayman we swam with stringrays
I never imagined I'd be brave enough to do this!
and with dolphins
I am fascinated by these creatures so this was HUGE for me!
In Roatan, Honduras we flew through the trees on ziplines
I've wanted to do this forever!
and lounged on a beautiful beach
This day was perfect!
Even amidst the disappointments of a gray day in Cozumel, we were still so blessed as we met some amazing ladies that shared in our miserable day on "Passion Island". It's funny how adversity can draw people together! Humor helps a lot too!!
Here we are with our Fort Wayne Girls on our last night
The biggest dream of mine that ever came true was meeting, falling in love and marrying my Best Friend over 16 years ago! Taking this trip, having him all to myself with NO WORK for 12 days was like a tiny piece of Heaven.
Formal Night # 2
Now we're home and back from the grind, but the memories of these dreams come true will last for quite some time. God is so good and I can't begin to thank Him enough for the many, MANY blessings He has given to me! I hope my gratitude never wanes!
1/1/11. Isn't that one of the coolest dates? With it comes a moment of reflection at where we've been and a look ahead at what's to come.
Where we've been? Physically, we've been to Myrtle Beach for a chilly Spring vacation and to Sunny California where I was blessed to meet up with many of my online girlfriends as well as tour most of Southern California. I've been to Michigan to visit another friend in the Fall. Spiritually, I've seen God stretch and strengthen me, blessing me beyond belief as I've walked in obedience into ministry with our ladies' group.
Christmas was super busy but a wonderful time spent with family and friends as we celebrated Jesus' birthday. This year, Hubby and I went with his Mom to a "quiet" Christmas Eve service on the Eve of Christmas Eve (Thursday). It was held at a local Anglican church and we really enjoyed it. It was different than we'd ever experienced and I really liked the idea of having communion at the service at it seemed to bring everything "full circle" as we celebrated Jesus' arrival to earth and his death/resurrection which fulfilled the purpose of His coming.
Last night (New Year's Eve) we had a quiet evening of ringing in the New Year with close friends. We ate, we drank, we chatted, we laughed and we watched the countdown from Niagara Falls on t.v. (while taping the ball drop from NYC on our PVR).
So... with the turn of the clock into a new year, I have spent the day watching the most beautiful parade of all - the Rose Bowl Parade - and spent the day watching movies and reflecting on what's to come in 2011. I don't really make resolutions since they are usually broken within the first few days of the year, but here are a few of my goals that I am aiming for this year.
I am seeking to once again read through the Bible in a year, this time doing it with a friend at church using the One Year Bible.
I am aiming to take better care of myself - diet and exercise wise. I started reading Candace Cameron-Bure's new book which combines health advice with spiritual truths to altar our relationship with food and exercise. That's what I need... or having my mouth surgically shut - ;-) I've been trying to get on the treadmill regularly lately but that probably has more to do with the fact that I'll be in a bathing suit in public soon ;-)
I want to be more organized in my home and I plan to give my house a good "shoveling out" this winter... getting rid of clutter.
Hubby and I are looking forward to taking some time to relax in the next few weeks and I for one am ready for some R&R... and having him ALL TO MYSELF!!
As this first day of 2011 comes towards it's end, I want to wish each of you a very special Happy New Year!
This morning I was sitting in our church service and the Pastor was talking about God's love. It was a great message and I really was paying attention, but a few times my mind wandered. What caused this brief lapse of attention? It was a few of the verses Pastor Andrew took us to while sharing about God's extravagant love. They were verses that made me think of my Mom.
The first of the verses that grabbed my attention from the Christmas message was James 1:17.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
My mind went back to a day long ago when my Mom shared the story of my birth. She had told me that while awaiting labor to strike with me, her sixth baby, her thoughts turned anxious. Would labor go well? Could she be so blessed as to have a sixth perfectly healthy baby? As these thoughts taunted her mind, she opened her Bible that day for "morning devotions" and there on the page, were the words from James 1:17. Mom relayed to me that a peace came over her and she instantly knew that her labor would go smoothly and I would be born healthy.
I love that story and it has made that verse so very special to me. No wonder I couldn't pay attention with those precious memories attached to that verse! Soon after Andrew shared that verse, he quoted another "memory"-filled passage from Lamentations 3. Verses 22, 23 say:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.
These verses were some of Mom's favorite verses and the reference used in her favorite hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". It is at this time of year that Mom shone. Growing up she always made Christmas special for our family. I downloaded from iTunes Nat King Cole's Christmas album a few weeks ago. I was remembering those days heading into Christmas where the air wafted with the sweet aroma of Mom's Christmas baking, while Nat King Cole, Perry Como and Roger Williams played on the kitchen stereo. Aww Sweet Times!!
Although Christmas has changed from those precious childhood days, and Mom has gone on to Heaven, the memories of Christmases past remain warm and cozy within my mind and heart. This week my own Christmas baking begins and as I roll and cut out, bake and frost the various cookies, I will treasure the legacy my Mom left me all those Christmases ago and I will remember not only the love of my wonderful Mom, but also the awesome love of my Blessed Savior Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at this time of year!
