Thursday, January 31, 2013

Happy Anniversary to us!

Twenty Years.
20 Years.
10 +10 = twenty. No matter how I write it,say it or think about it- it's hard to believe I have been Chip's wife for that long!
 I cannot say it's always been smooth.The rough areas in the "road" have strengthened us. Has it been all joy walking this road together? No.We have not have not always seen eye to eye.What we have found is that {if you allow it} "iron sharpens iron".I would be lying if I would say that our marriage has been  pleasant at all times.
What I can say ?   Our LOVE runs deep.Learning and growing together is a joy.We have the same goal, it's not about us-it's about God and us working together to make this thing called life and life together work.





How have we survived? First and foremost
COMMITMENT

com·mit

  verb, com·mit·ted, com·mit·ting.
verb (used with object)
1.
to give in trust or charge; consign.
2.
to consign for preservation
3.
to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.)
4.
to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge: to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.
5.
to entrust, especially for safekeeping; commend: 


Commitment to God first than to each other. Work through the tough spots,never give up.

  SUBMIT.RESPECT. LOVE.
 Yes I said that "S" word.I said it along with the "R" word and "L" word because in a marriage relationship those 3 verbs are a MUST to make it work- running both ways.We both respect.We both love.We both submit.


"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."  Ephesians 5:21


COMMUNICATE.
I can say that communication has been a HUGE saving face of our relationship. I credit that to a MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND we attended about 5 years into our marriage.Things we learned over that 2 & 1/2 day weekend {seriously} changed both of us and changed our marriage.
It was not an easy weekend. It was not one of those weekends that you sit in a crowd of 2000 people.It was us and maybe 5 other couples.A very small group! It was not about us getting to know the other couples.It was not about meeting some GREAT well known speakers.It was personal. It was about YOU and YOUR spouse learning to know each other and how to dialogue about it. At that it did!
I thank God for that opportunity!

Last week I was on a walk by myself.I was talking to God.I began thanking him for this man in my life.This man that I feel I don't deserve.This guy who loves me,who doesn't think my dreams are too crazy,who lets me talk about girl stuff and he doesn't roll his eyes.He genuinely loves me for exactly who I am at this time.Encourages me in my strengths and helps me recognize my weaknesses without judgment.Does this man ever raise his voice,get frustrated at me? I have to answer this with "yes" -BUT only when I have gotten so ridiculous that that seriously is the ONLY way to get through my thick head!
  I was so overwhelmed in this thought process and right their on the sidewalk I had a moment.A moment when tears were streaming down my face and I am pretty sure God was smiling saying,"I knew before you were born girl-I knew exactly who and what  you would need in a man,trust me,it was going to have to be somebody very patient !"

 I pray I am the same for him.
Which brings me to that ----PRAYER
There is a card I keep in my Bible,it is a list of scripture turned into prayers for my husband.On the flip side of the card are prayers for me to pray  as his wife.I cannot expect that God has blessed me with this man who puts his 100% into our marriage but be a  slacker on my part. I have to contribute my 100%.

Chip+Me+God = "Cord not easily broken" Eccl 4:12

In the twenty years together we have

  • bought 3 homes (sold 2)
  • had a miscarriage
  • have 3 beautiful children
  • walked through the death of my sister
  • walked through the death of his brother
  • traveled the 1800 miles between Florida and Pa. 20+ times
  • moved from Pa. to Florida
  • started 2 businesses
All in all we have by the grace of God survived!


Now before you think I am trying to paint this picture of us having it all together go back and read the first part  again. :)


It has not been a perfect 20 years but would I give up any portion of it? Not at all!

I publicly say "Happy Anniversary to my man!"

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Resolutions - Better Late than Never...

It's Tuesday.
One week exactly from the first day of the year 2013.
I get up at 5 am after getting 8 hours of rest & begin journaling ,spilling my heart and it's feelings (because I know now exactly how to put them in words) all over the pages.I pray without my thoughts straying. I remain totally focused while sipping a healthy green tea instead of caffeine laden coffee.I drink 8 glasses of distilled water a day,run 4 miles without huffing and puffing.As the day goes on I check  items off my to-do list (that was made the evening before). My lunch plate holds a healthy salad with exactly 1 oz. of lean meat( if hummus isn't available). I quit the habit of procrastination .I don't snap at my children anymore and always,always greet my husband at the door with a hug and a kiss plus a smile and a cold glass of water.

You know  -that is so far from the truth!

This morning as I was driving home from dropping my youngest off at school I actually thought about this whole thing a bit.
I love New years.
I love the idea of new beginnings.
Somehow this year I feel as though I missed it.
I feel at loose ends.
I wish I could take my thoughts & my ideas that swirl around in my head ,sort them out and neatly put them on a pile. When I need them I could go to that pile and make use of the "organized thought".
I don't think it works that way.At least not in my brain.I have a mind that seriously can be thinking about a dozen things at once.So,while I haven't decided about the one thought yet I'm off to the next!
So, this year with all the areas I've been trying to sort out in my mind I haven't settled on any one thing to work on .You know put it on my "resolutions" list.
*sigh*
I feel a bit "Charlie Brownish" .
My sentiments exactly!


Things I do have on a "know for sure" pile and can back to;
God is still the same God he was in 2012.
I still have the same faith I had in 2012.
I love my family.
I love people.
I am loved.
(Although I have to remind my self and allow it to be released in me) I still have peace in the midst of all my thinking and unorganized thoughts.

Actually,I am learning to write down some of these thoughts because I know that I will forget them and try desperately to remember exactly what it was that I was processing.

Whoo boy-am I normal?
I read this back to myself and I wonder if maybe I should just put this in a VERY private journal because it sounds like a rather strange person!

So here I am one week late with my RESOLUTION list;

1.Spend QUALITY time with God not only merely reading the Bible but having dialogue with God.
(Shutting up long enough so he has a chance to speak! )I have been working on this for a while so this is a continuation of that.
2.Being a "Go Giver" in my work and my daily walk. -Wondering what that is? Ask me I would love to tell you! (It's one of those 1 million thoughts in my head that I have been sorting!)
3.Be a Grace Giver
4.Drink more water (seriously some days just drinking A glass of water is doing better than I was!)
5.Being more organized with my days
6. Exercise 
So, there you have it.Go ahead ask me sometime how I am doing! I would love it if you would.
If I look like I am deep in thought you may want to step away- although I do think I am normal!

Till next time,