Different

I just wanted to water my struggling lawn and garden. As dry a it is here, I was content to move the single hose and sprinkler, however long it took. Everything gets a good soaking and I get to check the progress along the way. Plenty of time for peaceful prayer...

My husband, God bless him, had a better idea.

Yesterday, he came home from work with 2 new hoses and 2 rainbird-type sprinklers. "Just connect them all together (end to end) and water it all at once."  Okay, but...

No "buts" about it. Today, I did as he instructed, got them all connected and strung throughout my yard. I hooked up the 100+ feet of hoses, set the sprinklers, and adjusted the spray zone. I turned the water on and walked back to see how it was working. I could have cried...water was spraying in every direction, so I couldn't walk through without getting soaked...there went my peaceful prayers as I resorted to desperate ones for patience. There was very little water pressure since the hoses were so long and there were 2 sprinklers spraying every which way. I gave up, switched back to one sprinkler, and went inside.

I find that there are 2 kinds of people:
•Those that are always looking for the fastest and easiest way in life.
• Those that pay attention to every detail and don't mind taking the time to do it, slow and steady.

There are pros and cons to both, you see. And yet it's rare to consistently find all of those qualities wrapped up in one individual.

Fast & Easy
+ wastes no time
+ makes quick decisions
+ always looking for short cuts
- misses important details
- doesn't always see the "big picture"
- always looking for short cuts

Slow & Steady
+ plans ahead, organized
+ considers things from many angles
+ rarely takes chances with the "new"
- needlessly worries over potential problems
- unable to make quick decisions
-rarely takes chances with the "new"

I know my husband was just trying to make my life easier. I know he doesn't realize how much I enjoyed the redundancy of this mindless task, perhaps he even saw it as tedious or a waste of time.

We are each created so differently...yet so perfectly for each other.

It's time we had a little talk...so I can say thank you for his thoughtful gesture and explain how I treasure the simple tending of my yard, my quiet time of worshipping the Lord.

I am thankful that God has blessed us with such a rich variety of personalities, each beneficial in their own special way. I pray that God continues to show me the blessings he has blooming right before my eyes.

Needed

This gift...
This wonderful gift of a man God has given me. A clear reflection of Christ in my life...my protector, my provider. My Beloved.

Every day, he rises and works hard to provide for our family. A servant's heart has he.

And he needs me...

Out of this trial, this injury to his strong body, God has given me an opportunity to serve my husband like never before. To truly be his helpmeet...

I am not accustomed to waking at 3:30 am, but my man needs me. He wakes in pain, unable to bend his knee. He needs me...just to get dressed. He needs me...to kneel before him, to put on his socks and shoes. A man on crutches cannot carry his coffee mug or breakfast to the table. He needs me...

I know that asking for help doesn't come easy for him. Me too...
I try to anticipate his needs, so he doesn't have to ask, yet I let him do what he is able to do. It is humbling for both of us.

To the depths of my soul, I know that this is what I was created for.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for giving me this man...and this opportunity to serve my husband like never before. What a blessing.

Hurt

Yesterday, my sweet husband got hurt. In the 16 years we've been together, I think this is the first injury he has ever had. My poor guy...
How?
Good question :)
Was he climbing a ladder? Fixing a fence? Moving furniture?
No...
He was playing Frisbee with our son and friends at the park. A beautiful Sunday afternoon ended with a *pop!* and a trip to urgent care.

I had stayed home from church and the park because our younger son was feeling sick. So, I wasn't there. I wasn't there to see my beloved laying on the field hurting. I wasn't there to see friends carry him off that field. I wasn't there to see our friend drive his van into the field to transport him. I wasn't there...but I thank God the others were. Thank you.

I was home with my boy when I got a text telling me "I'm praying for Charlie". What? She must mean Nathan. Afterall, he's the reason we stayed home today. Jokingly, I replied, "what's wrong with him?" Ha ha. Then I found out she wasn't at the park either. She and her husband were asked to pray for my Charlie. And I didn't know...Thank you, Lord, that others were praying for my Love even before I knew he was hurt. Thank you...

I will never understand why no one called to tell me my husband had been hurt. Strange, if you ask me.
And it hurts me too...

Instead, I will pray blessings on those that surrounded our family to help and to pray. I will choose to be thankful and glad, instead of angry and bitter. I will praise God that my husband has only a minor injury to accompany his physical pain. I will...

Heal me, O Lord , and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
~ Jeremiah 17:14

The Little Things

While my posts have been sporadic as of late, my blessings have not!

I have tried to spend this CHRISTmas season truly focused on preparing my heart and home for the coming of the LORD. That was the plan anyway...

 "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9

Instead, I found the LORD leading me on a little journey of discovery. Who knew?? ;) Each LITTLE THING that He has revealed to me has been a blessed gift in, and of, itself...

With the last days of autumn, here are My Autumn Blessings:

#95...having a dear friend join my family for dinner and staying to bake cookies with me, just because ♥

#96...attending a beautiful CHRISTmas concert that touched my heart and made my soul sing in praise!

#97...hearing the LORD's Prayer spoken in another language...one I do not know or comprehend, but God does.

#98...getting ready for my husband's company Christmas party and taking joy in "getting pretty" just for him:)

#99...sharing my childhood Christmas memories with my husband, the good ones and the not-so-good ones.

#100...spending an hour on the phone talking to my mom. I miss her so much, especially at Christmas time. We decided that if we can't get together next Christmas, we will set up the webcams when we make our gingerbread houses so we can "share" the time together and laugh at the sugar-induced fun!

It has been a beautiful, blessed season...even if it wasn't what I had planned. I didn't even finish my advent countdown...I was too caught up in each LITTLE THING...each little gift.

Thank you, LORD.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..."

~ James 1:17

Counting my blessings

Something different…

There comes a time, when life is looking a little darker than usual, and a girl must tell it like it is.

This is that time for me…

Counting my blessings started last summer as a little challenge the Lord had placed on my heart to look at all He has blessed me with, rather than the ugliness surrounding me. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the YUCKY STUFF. It has been therapeutic to see “the little things” that God daily blesses me with!

Last week, I spent a morning having 9 vials of blood drawn. It just so happened to be Halloween, a day I don’t celebrate, and would you believe that the gal who took my blood was….a vampire? Yes…

More tests on Friday…thankfully done by a normal human being. ☺

Today, I am overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and physical pain. The myriad of symptoms my team of doctors have been trying to diagnose and treat have left me exhausted….I also underwent a nerve conduction test this morning (OUCH!) and was informed that surgery was necessary to avoid imminent and permanent nerve damage.

Lord, WHY can’t I just be normal??? WHY haven’t you healed me yet??? WHEN can I rest??? I’m so tired…WHEN will You heal me???…I’m tired of hurting…

*sigh*

In the midst of my rollercoaster ride that is my life, I have still been able to count my blessings.

#53…I am thankful for the husband God blessed me with.

#54…I am blessed by my tenderhearted children who see the pain in my eyes and know to hug gently, but sincerely.

#55…I am thankful for friends who ask “How are you?” and want an honest answer.

#56…I am thankful for my partners in prayer, those I pray with, and for, and those who lift me up in prayer too.

#57…I am thankful that when I go to see a new doctor and have to fill out the stack of new patient paperwork, that I can gracefully, thankfully, joyfully write homemaker as my occupation.

Father God, You bless me so completely. You know exactly what I need because You SEE me…Help me to see others with the love that You see them with. Thank you for my family and friends, who surround me with Your love and grace…Help me to extend Your grace to others, even when I don’t understand why I should. Thank you for calling me to be a mother, a wife, and to be home where You want me to do what You would have me do…Equip me for each day as You see fit. AMEN.

My Autumn Blessing #21

My Autumn Blessing #21...


...movie date night with hubby...at home. My favorite!

Thank you, LORD, that even when we can't get away, we can still find time for each other at home:)

My Autumn Blessing #5

My Autumn Blessing #5:
...spending this morning with my husband discussing our plans for renewing our vows next month and choosing to glorify God with our time, money and plans....so we will continue to pray about what that looks like.

♥Thank you, Lord, for the gift of marriage. Struggles and triumphs, I wouldn't change a thing!♥