For my son's first birthday party I had every intention of having an owl theme.  The invites I creativly put together had fun owl sayings and in my mind that's how the party would look like.  I realized today while beginning to decorate that this owl theme was all pinterested up in my mind :) (kind of like dreamed up). Can anyone relate with me!? I had to make a quick desicion to be okay with the reality that it's not but it's still going to be a wonderful day with friends celebrating our sweet boy. 

Although i've been busy cleaning today I HAD to get outside because this weather is to die for.  I took Garrett with me on our first run of the year and we both loved it.  As feet pounded the pavement I remembered how hard running is but decided to push through. 

Thankful for good friend loaning us their jogging stroller!

Then I finished weeding my flower bed in the front.  For me there's something theraputic about weeding and taking care of my own yard.  I L O V E it. Weird huh?

I'm excited for this spring to plant flowers and praying that God would allow there to be room in our budget for flowers.

I have one year in this beautiful home (as of now) and want to bloom where God's placed us and part of that is throwing myself into caring for this home and making it our own.

Yesterday morning I heard one of the best testimonies of a wife learning how to love her husband better.  Eydie Thomas spoke to a group of military women about her own journey of being a selfish wife to wanting to bless her man.  I walked away encouraged to love Darren and take care of him.  I can relate to her story because in the first few years of my marriage that's been my attitude most of the time.  In my marriage it was 'me, myself, and I'.  It's hard to admit to that but i'm learning right now how to die to myself.  Bare with me becuase this is simply not easy for a human being.  It's a supernatural act that gives me the strength to do this. 

Darren doesn't read this :) so i'm going to share this with the wives reading.  Take a journey with me please. 

I don't come to you saying i've figured this out. I'm saying that rock bottom is not fun and it's time to take back what is ours.  Satan has been given way too many strongholds in our hearts.  It can start with the simple realization that our husband is not meeting a need and then we start to gossip about him only to have our attitude toward him turn bitter and this slippery slope leads to hard times in our marriage that we can avoid.

Take 30 days to concentrate on your man.  Don't look at the amount of days just do today with me.  Committ to not say anything negative about him to a friend or even to him. 

Be a blessing in his life. 

Thank him today for something that he does, no matter how small. 

 'But laura he has done this or that to me...'

It's time to let go friends.  As Eydie talked about holding grudges yesterday I realized how rediculous it is to not forgive a friend when they hurt us.  It's freeing to say 'I forgive you and forget it, moving on'. 

I don't know your circumstances but trust me when I tell you that in my own marriage we have been at the door ready to walk out and time and time again God has pointed us to get back into the committment we made before him and love each other.  HE will give you the strength to walk through anything, trust him again.

Please tell me how you did today on loving your man and what creative way you let him know you love him!

The clock reads 5:00am and I roll out of bed quite cheerfully.  My mother would never believe that I'm intentionally getting up at this hour.  I understand how she loves the mornings now.  For me there's a peace in watching this home go from dark to light over a cup of coffee.  It's cozy and warm while I read my devotional and skim over it but this mornings devotional in 'Journey' doesn't seem to fit.  However, the words from last nights military bible study stick.  I'm mulling them over even now.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

This is God's word to me as my family treks through the unsure waters of the Military.  This describes a military family in the truest way.  I know in the years ahead there will be workups, deployments, moves, change, and so much more.  BUT God who having chose this small family will provide like he always has.

I moved to Chesapeake, VA a little over a year ago and I have a beautiful rental home, food to eat, well over 20 women that have blessed me greatly, an incredible mentor, am being stretched to serve in a teen girls ministry and the preschool Sundays, a church family that has taken us in, and a lot more.  This is God's doing, not my own. 
It is hard BUT he will provide.  I know that soon we'll be wading back into the waters and God has put into place all that we will need to make it through.

Maybe you're in a different career but never forget God chose you to be there.  Embrace it today and remember 2 Corinthians when you're feeling beaten up. There is hope in knowing Jesus Christ.  Thinking of you today!

~Laura

To write is to pour out your life as a love offering for people you may never meet, because when you do so you feel God’s pleasure in your fingertips. -Lisa-Jo (http://thegypsymama.com/)

There I was last night kneeling on aching knees tracing letters that all together read, 'Happy Birthday'.  A simple banner but as I traced, my mind wandered to that first moment he was in my arms.  No even further back to when I held that tiny stick telling me God was forming my child.  I loved him from that moment on and as this mother prepares for the FIRST birthday she rejoices in a full year with the sweetest boy i've ever met, aside from my husband of course! 

This child of mine is a rare treasure.

Some mornings are made extra special when accompanied by 'I love lucy' and a giant cup of coffee. But not before a quiet moment with the Lord being reminded of this journey to a closer relationship.  It's the most incredible thing to have Him daily.  That he willingly pursues me knowing the past, present, and future.

There are issues out of my control that leave me with high blood pressure and an exhausted husband. (poor man has to hear all that is wrong with this world when he knows for himself) I won't get into details but this morning as tired eyes skimmed line after line of a most disturbing story I fumed.  My anger only grew with the next story and the one after that.  I forgot though..my enemy is not against people..but against satan who has skillfully crafted lie after lie that has led to a disturbing corrosion of this once fine country and world.  As a follower of Christ I struggle with loving people and yet not accepting certain behaviors that go against God's word. 

I can hardly stand to read the news these days but the growing conflict around the world rings louder.  I'm so deeply hated by people in Afghanistan,  I'm deeply hated by a community of gays and transgender, I'm deeply hated by a group of Atheists, and deeply hated by a group of people who believe in having the choice to abort a life when it's not convenient for the mother. 

I'm hated. and this realization stings but brings comfort because it shows that I am right where Jesus said i'd possibly be.

John 15:18

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

When Jesus walked this earth he was seen performing the most wonderful miracles.  Caring for people and reaching out to them was his ministry.  He was incredibly bold to religious leaders along with coming to earth in the most unusual way.  He was hated for speaking the truth to people because it got under their skin and he called sin just that..sin. They could not even find fault in him but still crucified him.

I am His.  And from early on I knew this was part of the deal for following Christ.  As my freedom begins to feel like someone is choking the life out of it I have to remember what this world did to my Savior and his followers then.  If you're feeling slightly in the same boat as me be encouraged by the fact that Jesus wasn't silenced by the grave.  That grave did not Keep him and he did just what he set out to do, bring us life.  Don't walk through life feeling hopeless remember the hope we have in Christ and share His love with everyone you come to meet.  Bask in his glory and enjoy this daily walk alongside of him.  Don't grow weary when this world seems to be falling apart, look to the God who has and will always remain.

Thanking God for this reminder today!

Praying for you that you'd be strong and continue to seek Him.

~Laura~