Marriage Is.....

In the last few months, I have had several friends share with me the disheartening news that they were experiencing terrible marital problems, or on the brink of divorce. Most of them have resulted from their spouses all of a sudden being unsure of their happiness, or even worse, not being in love with them anymore. After experiencing a similar situation, and taking lessons from my experience the second time around, I wanted to throw out some statements that reflect what marriage is to me.

Marriage is LOVE
Marriage is a commitment til death do you part.
Marriage is a two-person bond that requires taking the "YOU" out of the equation (Selflessness)
Marriage means to never be "complacent" or "comfortable"
Marriage is always coming to a compromise
Marriage is hard work
Marriage is like watching a foreign language film, even though there are subtitles, you still don't know whats going on half the time.
Marriage is taking pride in yourself, each of you being healthy
Marriage is an unwritten book
Marriage is staring into your spouse's eyes at least once a day
Marriage is having faith
Marriage is teamwork
Marriage is open-mindness
Marriage is something that needs a protective wall around it at all times (to keep outside influences from coming in)
Marriage is listening
Marriage is happiness
Marriage is honor
Marriage is something that requires patience
Marriage is a chance for you to fall in love with your spouse all over again, every day, for the rest of your life.

My marriage is based on trust, love, God's love for us. However, only one of those can be guaranteed. :)

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
—Ephesians 5:22-33

10 Things

(Saw this on a friends' post, and thought it might be fun!)

10 Things

I LOVE.......

My family
Laying with the girls on the couch watching TV
Learning more about what God is trying to say to me through bible study
Feeling better from my new diet and exercise
Seeing someone succeed in their ambitions and dreams
People who are honest with you (in a nice way)
Being crafty with sewing and paper crafts
Our church, Deep Creek Community Church (DC3 Rocks)
Singing, even if it hurts my family's ears.
Kenpo X section of P90X

I HATE........

Lying
Cleaning the house when I just cleaned it a few days ago!!
The new rap that's out
Not having stability
When people are selfish and big-headed
My long commute when its pouring rain
The AB Ripper X portion of P90X
To hear people thinking infidelity in their marriage is ok
Yellow Squash
Not having enough time in the day to do everything i want to do

Cross the Border

What is it about certain things that keep us from what we are searching for? Why can't we just walk over and ask for what we need, how hard is that? In our tspirituality, what keeps from redeeming ourself to Christ. Is it the fact,that we can't see him, hear him, talk to him, in a mortal way? We can, he speaks through others to us.

Recently, I started a Beth Moore bible study, Breaking Free. Just when I thought that this woman could not get anymore amazing, interesting, or closer to my heart, I start this bible study, and realized, WAIT! Its much deeper then just her preaching to us. Its her preaching to us that we need to understand the basic fundamentals of why Christ was born, died, and was risen? It comes down to this phrase, "You cannot experience healing without being wounded". Exactly as Christ did, he experienced all of our pain, suffering, wounds, etc. in order for us to be healed. Another great phrase, "Sometimes the only time someone will look up, is when they are at the bottom".

Pondering a bit, "the bottom" could be at varying levels, it could be to the lowest point in your life to a minor problem you are trying to deal with. It doesn't always have to be a dramatic means to your suffering, many times, its that "a ha" moment that you realize, Ok Lord, I see what's going on.......

So, I will cross the border, over to him, because he does not care about my past, or sins I have made, he does not care what I wear, where I live, how I dress, whether I was raised a Christian, all he cares about is that I've made the strive to come into his presence.

I am looking forward to crossing that border on Sunday, as I will receive my adult baptism. Looking forward to a new beginning. :)

Brides and Blankies

I've been a bad blogger, I was doing really good for a few days, and now its been over a week since I've blogged. So to catch you all up, this is a two part blog, Brides and Blankies.

Part 1: Brides
So, L'Esprit had a wedding shoot in Clearwater Beach over memorial day weekend. The bride, Katie, is a nurse in Norfolk, VA. What's truly inspiring about her, is not only passion for wanting to help people(being a nurse for new babies), but in supporting her husband, a Navy officer. Sometimes he can be deployed for 3-6 months at a time, even longer. I don't know what I do without Hans for a week! But.......many military wives, like Katie experience this as a part of their day to day life. My heart truly goes to all the women who stand behind their men as they serve their country to support our freedoms. To brag on Hans a little bit, his pictures of this wedding were breathtaking, and it was truly a team effort, with three of us working it, including our other photographer, Mike Clementi. Here is the beautiful bride, Katie....



Part 2: Blankies
So, by now, you know I've started sewing. By no means am I actually "good" at it, but I have attempted a few projects in the last few months, thanks to help of some friends. I am doing the easy stuff. The harder stuff seems to take much longer, and have been really pressed for time lately. But, for a good friend, of mine, Katy (diff spelling, haha), is having her second child, a baby girl, and her shower is tomorrow!! I decided to find some cool flannel at Joanns and make a nice big (36X36) receiving blanket. Good for swaddling, burping, and whatever else the baby wants to do with it, lol. Here is a pic of the nicely wrapped gift:

Priorities

I haven't blogged in a few days due to all of the stuff Hans and I have been busy with.

I had another ephiphany today. I am very glad I know what my priorities are.

1. God
2. Husband
3. Children
4. Parents & Family
5. Work (Day Job)
6. And business

I witness other people, however, take their god-given talents and use them for their own selfish purposes. They take #1, and shove it way down below everything else.

It is their own personal struggle, however, it ceases to amaze me that for a spiritual baby, I know more about what my priorities are then people who have grown up in a spritual setting. Why, I am not sure. All I know is, I will never put my work or business before my family or my children. and certaintly not ahead of the Man himself.

Recently, my husband started his photography business. He has had great success with it while growing in his profession as well as growing spiritually. Never once though, has he put his business, or his profession over me, the girls, or family. He will not let that happen. He has taught me a valuable lesson in life, and that is the importance of the family relationship. He's very wise for his young age. :)

God however, still remains his and my top priority. We have committed to our church our time, money, and faith to watch our pastor and his wife build the church God has called them to do. They are wonderful people, and I can' t imaging growing in my faith anywhere but with them.

The point of my post today is that at one point in my life, I did have my priorities twisted. But I can't imagine being where I am today without knowing whats truly important in my life.

What, Me Worry?

I've always been a very anxious person, like to have a clear understanding of things. That "everything is black or white" mentality. I've struggled with impatience most of my life, not willing to just let things be as they will be. In high school, I was a freshman who wanted to be a senior. After high school, I wanted to have a high paying sucessful career, right off the bat. As an adult, I still find myself struggling with the "gray area" of life, and the "not knowing".

However, yesterday I had an epiphany. If you are constantly worried about what the future holds, then your less likely to enjoy the moment of the present time. Here is an interesting quote that I have posted on my desk at work:

"One day at a time--this is not enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful, its worth remembering."

I've done really good with letting go of the past, but it really makes you think about the present and the fact that at any given point in time, we could leave this Earth, and join our father in heaven. So why not make your present moments, so beautiful that when you think about the past, you think about these wonderful moments. And that you don't worry about what the future brings. Recently, I began reading the book of Isaiah in preparation for a women's bible study I am joining for the summer. A passage that struck out at me:

"Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries. If you are going to worry, worry about the Holy. Fear God." Isaiah 8:12-13

Today, as I type this blog, I am putting all of my fear, worry, anxiety in God. I have faith that what is to be, will be and what is not to be, will not be. I will focus on enjoying my spritual journey, my marriage, learning my new hobby, and enjoying my children, who one day, will inevitably be on their own and not with me anymore. Its a valuable lesson we can all learn from our daily lives.

Addiction

I am finding this blogging to be quite addictive. What is it that drives us to addiction? I have fought off alot of addictions in my life. But it seems, everytime one goes away, I find a new one. People with addictive personalities tend to switch to other enjoyable activities when deprived of the opportunity to participate in the original addiction.

The difference tho between THEN and NOW is that I choose to only be addicted to things that will positively affect my life as opposed to negatively. I've chosen to be addicted to Christ, to learning the truth written in the bible. Also, I am choosing, oddly, to be addicted to sewing and crocheting, as dorky as that sounds, it is such a positive outlet for the stresses I experience throughout the day and I have made some good friends in the process of learning.

I recently found myself getting quite addicted to Facebook. Why? Because its some alternative world to our own reality? What ends up happening is you see the varying emotions and moods of all of your friends day in and day out. At any given point, you will know what your friends have done, what they have eatin, when they go to the bathroom, when they go to bed, etc. etc. . Its almost like information overload. Its hard enough that we have to manage a daily routine ourselves, let alone all of your friends on Facebook. So now, I have cut myself to only looking at it once a day, because any more than that is just too much.

Some closing thoughts/scripture:
Rom. 14:23 - "whatever is not of faith is sin"

Thank you all for reading my posts. God Bless.

Big Girls and Boo-Boos

Kayla received a new Hello Kitty Big Girl Bike from Grandpa Tom. Within the first five minutes, she was riding so FAST, that she fell to the side and scraped her knee yesterday. :) So excited to be a big girl! She's growing so fast, Hans and I were looking at pictures of her as a baby last night. How does a little girl grow so fast?

Aleah is now growing like a weed too. Her 20" bike is almost two small for her, she's growing out of her shoes AGAIN.........I told her she must make them last until the summer, where I will slap flip-flops on her for the next 10 weeks!

Kayla's new bike also sports a little baby carrier for her favorite dolly. Kayla is such a MOM. Always wanting to take care of us and ask "Are you ok", or "Do you want me to rub your head to make your headache go away?" She will make an awesome mom some day, and maybe a big sister soon too. :)

Kayla Bug Is Four!!

Its amazing, looking at my sweet baby girl, who today, turned four. Oh, how time flies when you are having fun. This girl however, has had a lot of life experiences in her short life. She is a beautiful little lady. She makes me want to smile more, laugh more, and cuddle more. So affectionate, so smart, so in love with her family.

I still think about the accident last September from time to time, amazingly enough she has been in the pool numerous times since it happened, and is well on her way to being a strong swimmer. Today may not have come, if it werent for the angels in heaven watching down on us. Thanks Grandma, I knew you were watching over us on that night. (A whole other blog subject).

Today, she is now on a big girl bike. Today, she is learning how much Jesus really loves her and all of us. I am so proud of her. Words cannot express the love for my daughter, I can't wait to see her grow until a strong young woman.

She is prepping for her big shindig on Saturday! Only kids get to celebrate their birthday ALL WEEK long. :)

Ok, I think I will start a blog.

So, I've had the opportunity to read some blogs from well, AMAZING ladies. So I thought, why not give it a try? At any given moment, I can have 20 things on my mind, and according to some, blogging is like an online journal. What a great way to get these racing thoughts out of my mind and into something for everyone, including myself to read.

So why title my blog, "Journal of a Newly Found Woman of Christ". Well, to put it out there, me and Jesus did not actually meet, until a few years ago. Not that I didn't have faith before then, I just didn't FEEL or KNOW the experience of having a personal relationship with Christ. Since then, things are looked at in a completely different perspective. Things I have learned in this relationship with HIM.

1. Its not about me. I must be giving of myself, I must be selfless.
2. I need to listen more
3. My children are my legacy, I need to leave good ethics, morals, and values behind, so that they can share that with their children.
4. He has put people in my life for a reason. I must learn as much as I can from the relationships I have.

So what am I planning on blogging about? Lots of stuff! Here's the short list:

My awesome hubby
The girls
The Greatest Mom in the World
L'Esprit Photography (The Biz)
Sewing & Crocheting
My Spiritual Lessons
Lessons from Friends

Well, I must be getting back to business. Ta-Ta for NOW!