Thursday, January 29, 2015

Celebrating 28 Years - Remembering




This weekend, we are celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary!



 I've been reminiscing about the day we were wed. A few unique things about my wedding that I remember:
  • Ken was so nervous on our wedding day that, even after being reminded by his best man, he left my wedding band at his house, 45 minutes away from the church. By the time he discovered that he forgot it, there wasn't enough time to go back and get it before the wedding. So I had to borrow a friend's wedding band and wear it in place of mine during the ceremony and wait to put the real one on when we got home. At the time, I was quite upset, but now I can look back and laugh.  
  • Ken's brother, who was one of the groomsman, was kind of a quiet and not a very social person. He told Ken that he would drive himself and meet him at the church, instead of getting a ride with him. He also lived 45 minutes away. About 20 minutes before the service was to begin, he still wasn't there. Gladly, we had all the tuxes at the church. Ken asked a friend, who was one of our ushers, to step in as a groomsman. Thankfully he and Ken's brother were the same size and the tux fit. We never found out what happened, as his brother was fine. We think he just got nervous and decided not to come.
  • My mom happened to own 2 white doves and my theme for the wedding was doves. (She raised birds in her home for many years.) We got a decorative birdcage and set them up on the stage where we were to say our vows. Right in the middle of the service, the doves started cooing like crazy. The minister stopped briefly till they stopped cooing, then continued with the service. They can be heard in our wedding video. 
  • I actually played a solo on handbells of "The Lord's Prayer" in the wedding service. (I was in a handbell choir all 4 years of college. When I graduated, my grandfather, who loved the bells, had the oppoturnity to purchase 4 octaves of used handbells from the college where I attended, So I owned my own handbells for several years and had played solo at other weddings/church services.) When I think about it now, I am amazed I was able to actually play in my own wedding and not totally mess up. 
  • My good friend, who I met while in short-term missions in Ohio, sang in my wedding. Now, her daughter is in an up and coming contemporary Christian band, called "Shine Bright Baby". They both are very gifted singers.
Unfortunately, I was unable to download our video of the wedding. It was an old video(28 years old) and was filmed by a friend, who wasn't a professional videographer. I was able to get some pictures from the video to put together and share different parts of that day...albeit, very fuzzy pictures that are mostly in gray and green. I did share some professional photos near the end, along with some current pictures of me and Ken.
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Hope you enjoyed my post about such a special day for us! 

 May your day be brightened by watching and reminiscing with me here!


Linking up at these blog hops:

 Fridays Unfolded Link Party | Nancherrow.com  theweekendbrewbutton Grab button for Satisfaction Through Christ beloved_brews_faithbarista_badge  Linkup   

Spiritual Sundays











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Sunday, January 25, 2015

When God Made You...


Have you ever wondered why (specifically) God made you?

  Throughout my life there have been a number of times that that question has crossed my mind. 
 There were times that I really wondered what God's plan was for my life.

        What was He thinking when he made me? 
                                      What was I born to do?
Ultimately, we all have been commanded to do some things:
 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  
Mark 12:30-31
 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”Ecclesiastes 12:13


With that said, I'll have to say, I truly only felt my true calling when I became a wife and mother!

 And when I think of my husband, and how we met, I can only give credit to God for bringing and keeping us together! If I ever had wondered what God was thinking when He made Ken, I know it included meeting me, and me meeting him! 

 Our 28th wedding anniversary is coming next Saturday, January 31st, so of course the story of our life has been on my mind a lot...can't help it, as I'm such a hopeless romantic at heart! 

 If you've ever watched the movie, "The Notebook" you will know right off, it's definitely a chick flick...filled with romance and all that gooshy stuff. It's also a full-out tear jerker...

 But, I love the movie anyway..maybe because it's so realistic about what a real love between a husband and wife should be about...that long-lasting, commitment to stay together, no matter what life brings kind of love. It shows that love doesn't mean that everything goes perfectly in life or that you never fight or disagree. It doesn't mean that there won't be heartaches and disappointments.

But it does remind us that it truly is worth it all! 

I love it that the story moves from the couple,  still together in their old age, even in the hardest of times.(I especially was touched by the story because my mom took care of my dad, who had Alzheimers disease, for several years before he passed away) and then it goes back to the love story of how they met and the ups and downs along the way. That's real life. Below is a trailer of the movie.

I am so blessed to have already had 28 years of memories with Ken and I pray that we have many, many more. I look at this story and hope we are blessed as we continue to share that love that is strong and enjoy our lives together, even in our old age, someday! (of course we both pray that God would bless us by taking us to be with Him at the same time.)

One of my favorite Christian love songs is "When God Made You" by Newsong, featuring Natalie Grant. Listen to the song, put to scenes from "The Notebook" below, followed by the lyrics.

It's always been a mystery to me
How two hearts can come together 
And love can last forever
But now that I have found you, I believe
That a miracle has come 
When God sends the perfect one
Now gone are all my questions about why 
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life
[Chorus:]
I wonder what God was thinking 
When He created you 
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true 
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me
I promise that wherever you may go 
Wherever life may lead you 
With all my heart I'll be there too 
From this moment on I want you to know 
I'll let nothing come between us 
And I will love the ones you love 
Now gone are all my questions about why 
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life
He made the sun He made the moon 
To harmonize in perfect tune 
One Can't move without the other 
They just have to be together 
And that is why I know it's true 
You're for me and I'm for you 
'Cause my world just Can't be right 
Without you in my life 
[Chorus:]
He must have heard every prayer I've been praying 
Yes He knew everything I would need 
When God made you 
When dreams come true 
When God made you  
He must have been thinking about me

I usually don't share more than one or two Youtube videos in one post, but I came across this one that someone made and had to share it, also.. I hadn't heard the song before, but love it, too!
(My prayer)


If you ever wonder what God was thinking when He created you....know that as long as you walk with Him as your guide, you are where He wants you!  Trust in His ways, even when times get tough!


I love it that our anniversary comes right before Valentine's Day every year....I get a double dose of sharing our love!! I'll be sharing some more things about our love story in the next few posts. So, stay tuned!




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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Honey for the Heart: Whom Have I In Heaven...

Welcome to 
...where I share different verses from the Psalms!
 May you find truths about God, yourselves, and living life in the images and word pictures shared here! 


Psalm 73:25-26

Psalms 73:21-28
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, 
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God.

 I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; 
I will tell of all your deeds.

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Old Habits Die Hard

Sorry, this week's post is a little late. Guess you could say I have felt challenged lately. (Don't you just love it when that happens? Sometimes, God has to come up with unique ways to get our attention, I think.)  It first started with an inner voice (not literally a voice, but the Holy Spirit's prompting), telling me that I've got to make some changes. 

source
Then, the speaker at a Bible Study I attended recently talked about taking a self-evaluation and making changes/getting rid of old habits that are hindering your spiritual life. The verses that the speaker used were...

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

 "And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. "

(Do you feel like this turtle sometimes? There are days that I do.)
source
"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
(I find this to be so true, as well as frustrating!! Don't you?)

"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"(Rom. 7:14-25)


source
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite,  and whose   glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." 

(I love this last part!)
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,(Yes!!!) by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
(Philippians 3:13-21)

Right after the Bible study, I read a post written by an inspirational blogger that I've been following lately...

 Audrey (Botti) Roloff's Blog Page, called AujPoj
That name might sound familiar to some of you. Audrey recently married one of the twin Roloff brothers. The Roloffs have a reality show on TLC, call "Little People, Big World". Both Audrey and her husband, Jeremy are devoted Christians. Jeremy is a gifted photographer and Audrey is a motivational writer and fiery red-head! She wrote in a recent post about motivation and overcoming old habits and asks and discusses questions, like: 
What are some of your goals for 2015?
How do you make your goals happen?
How do you keep yourself accountable?


Check it out HERE!

It seems like every year at this time of the season (between New Years and Easter), I find myself slacking in many areas of my life. My hubby and I were just talking about how the cold, dreary, winter weather seems to drag on forever. We eat all the wrong things, don't get enough exercise, and even find ourselves pushing and straining to crack open God's Word together. - I truly do think the physical and spiritual go hand in hand, when it comes to motivation. 

 So, here I am, thinking about what I'm going to do about it. I find that I have to reach deep down (or up, as it really is going to come from the Lord) and break those old winter weather habits. They definitely die hard, though. Do you find this to be your struggle...whether it is physical, spiritual, or any kind of lifestyle that is not healthy for us?

 One thing I do know...they do die, if we give them to God!

I'm reminded of the Word given to us...

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.(Phil. 4:13)

 God is able to help us overcome and get rid of all this hinders us!
Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us...(Hebrews 12:1)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Eph. 3:20)


I love listening to Joni and Friends on the radio, too! I found an old recording from her show that shared some of her beautiful singing and how we do need to keep striving to cast off those old habits. i plan on doing that as soon as possible. I will keep you all updated on my plan of attack and how I'm doing.. Until then, enjoy her radio segment by clicking on the words below.
Old Habits Die Hard | Radio | Joni and Friends | Radio | Joni and Friends


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Saturday, January 3, 2015

2015 - The Seasons of Life

Another year has begun and I find myself reading many posts of other bloggers who have chosen different ways to prepare their hearts for the new year. Some used the same old plan..choose a word...set goals...plan to make certain changes. Others have been quite unique and different. I personally have found it a challenge to do any specific planning or goal-setting. I think that may have to do with how things went for me in 2014. Nothing seemed to go as hoped or planned. Even the word I chose for the year, "fervent" seemed to fade from my focus about halfway through the year. If I learned anything last year, it was that God is in control and He will take us where He wants to take us. I learned that prayer is vital, but not to just get what I want or ask for, but more to help me grow in my relationship with Him. I learned that life is really a journey and as long as we let the Lord be our Navigator, we will be o.k., even along the bumpy, curved, chuck-hole paths. I learned that there is  joy in the journey, but we have to be aware of and not miss those "joy" moments....being grateful for the small things, instead of just waiting for the big things to happen. Each season of our lives takes us down different roads...some are much more difficult than others, and sometimes we make unwise choices, because of our own selfish desires. But God is faithful and true! We can always trust in His promises to us. 

 This year, I'm not choosing just "one word" for the whole year! I'm choosing many words (and verses) that will help navigate me where I am able to focus during different seasons of my life (not literal seasons of the year.)

 Winter - A time to rest and wait and listen
Contemplate; ponder; treasure up
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43)

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matt. 11:28)

Spring - A time to start fresh and anew
Renewed; 
in attitude of mind (Eph. 4:23; Ro 12:1-3); 
as a new creation, in knowledge (Galatians 6:15); 
renewed like an eagle (Psa. 103:5); 
in strength (Is. 40:31);  
day by day...
 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.(2 Corinthians 4:16)

Summer - A time of hardship, loss, lonliness, and drought
Thirst; 
In soul/spirit (to thirst after God.) 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.(Matthew 5:6)

 Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 73:25 Psalm 63:1, Psalm 107:9,  Revelation 22:17

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)

Autumn - A time to seek after Him 
A time to seek;
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.(Deuteronomy 4:29)

 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 14:2, Psalm 34:14, Psalm 63:1. Lamentations 3:25, Matthew 6:33


May the Lord also guide you and be your purpose in each and every season of this year and all of your life!!


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