I'm not so sure that most folks will read this, but please click on the link below.  It'll take you to Lysa TerKeurst's website and tell you a story about Dax. Then, please consider making a dontation in his honor.

Thanks!

Lysa Terkeurst

But God...

But God... that is the only way that I can start this post. I had a great rant and rave type of post started to "get me back in the swing of things" but God had another plan for this "welcome back" post.

Let me say though, that I have been dreading this week for the past few months and eventually my negative attitude seeped out all over my husband, my friends, and my co-workers. Oh, how awful I've truly been!

It wasn't until yesterday evening that realized I haven't been spending as much time with the Lord as I should be, and to be honest, I knew that was the root of my problem. It's been an "all about me" show lately and I've been thick in it. "Why can't I..." or "Why do I have to..." and even "There is no way that I'm going to..." thoughts were all over in my mind, along with that hot Italian temper. Oh Girl, watch out! You name it, I've negatively thought it this week.

But then I met Kimmy and Tara for coffee last night and enjoyed their comfort & conversations. I got back in the swing of reading my daily P31 devotionals with my cup o' joe at the computer allowed them to sink in before started my work day. I went to Lysa's blog and read though her words of encouragement and then I read Courney's blog and got excited about the December challenge. Then I stopped over to... well, you get the idea. I started to surround myself with Godly women (even if it was mostly virtual) and don't you know that my God intervened. He knows that's that I don't want to dwell on my sin or stay weak. He knows that if I live there, deciding to stay grumpy or mad or feeling self-righteous I'll just miserable. He knows that I need him, I can't do this on my own. I must listen and obey Him. Fear Him more than I do man. Read his word, dwell on His loving kindness and mercies. And, this week definitely, I need to remember to extend that grace to those around me.

So today, with God's help, my goal for the rest of the year is to:
First, seek Him and his righteousness.
Second, spend time in His word, with Him, and listen.
Third, O-B-E-Y!
Fourth, not beat myself up if I fail one day before 2011.

There is this song, I unfortunately don't know who sings it, but I hear it on KLove and it always convicts me. One part of the lyrics says something about "never giving until it hurts" or something like that. Always gets me. Do I give to God until it hurts me? Do I give to others? Or, do I always just expect that I'm due this type of giving?

But God stepped in and turned my day around.

mustard

My husband is a HUGE fan of mustard. I think that we have at least 5 different varieties in our fridge, not to mention the ones that are 'in reserve' in the cupboards. He will talk your ear off about 'the most underrated condiment.' Oh, how that makes me smile!

Today, as I was reading through chapter 29 of The Power of a Praying Wife, God lead me to Matthew 17:20. Do you know it? I know of it, but haven't committed it to memory. So when I reread about having faith as tiny as a mustard seed not only was I immediately reminded of my mustard loving husband (instant smile), but I was hit with the realization that his love of mustard is a God tugging at me. Do you know how small a mustard seed is? 1 - 2 mm... that's it! I had to google pictures so that I could a visual. God says in Matthew 17:20 that if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will be able to move a mountain and nothing will be impossible. Did you catch that? Faith as tiny as 1 - 2 mm and you can move mountains!! Oh, not to mention that not one thing will be impossible.

You see, my husband Matthew's love of that tiny little seed is a reminder to me first of all to laugh, because he's just so goofy, and secondly with tiniest amount of faith in God nothing is impossible!

Fall Challenge

It's time for another challenge from Courtney over at Women Living Well and I'm so excited to start! She's been a great influence in my life this past year, encouraging me through her words and actions, living her life for Jesus. I can't wait to experience her practical tips on how to make our homes warm and inviting to our families. I hope that you'll join me, and that I'll be able to blog weekly, though this fall challenge!

Here's the topic schedule for those who want to link up each week:

October 4 - Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home.

October 10 - Play soft music everyday in your home.

October 17 - List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed because of all the clutter.

October 24 - Keep the candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family.

October 31 - Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home.

My friend, My love, My husband

This summer has found me chasing after God as I work towards becoming a better wife. Challenging at times, but oh so rewarding! I've completed Courtney's Completing Him Challenge, I've prayed for Matt daily by reading The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian, I've journaled instead of venting / arguing, and I've studied the Proverbs 31 woman. There were days that I struggled, lost my temper, and took things out on Matt when I definitely shouldn't have. I've allowed sin and Satan to get the best of me and been far from God's heart and desire for my marriage. But, after those down times and crawling out of those pits, I've seen excellence in our marriage. I've found a deeper love for my husband. I've been given a stronger desire to respect him as the head of our household and my spiritual leader. And, I've grown in my relationship with my heavenly Father.

As I will the humidity to leave our area, I've begun to research the fall bulbs I'll plant for spring flowers and look for recipes for fall baking. I can't wait for the fall! New adventures in the garden, learning in the kitchen, and starting fall #2 as a wife with my fabulous husband.

CHC

A few months ago I stumbled over Courtney's blog, Women Living Well, and have been inspired every week since. She's a stay at home mom, loving wife who's living for God and trusting him in every aspect of her life. She's a fabulous Christian woman who you should definitely check out!

At the beginning of June, she started a Completing Him Challenge which I'm completing with her and many others. It's about becoming the wife your husband needs as you follow God's commandment in Ephesians 5:21-24. This can be such a difficult topic that I gladly accept others insight.

This week is challenge #7: Following Your Husbands Vision. Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead.

Matt and I talk often about our short term goals because sometimes our "wants" turn into "needs." At that point, we need the other to redirect our thinking to the list:

1. Pay off ALL debt - we have been truly blessed by his family and have been able to tackle our debt as we live rent free in his grandfather's home. A good friend introduced us to Dave Ramsey and we've put into practice his philosophies. We're so close to paying off loan #3!
2. Buy a house - hopefully this time next year we will be debt free and find the house God has prepared for us.



His long term goals for our family include:
1. Trusting God to continue to prosper his law firm.
2. Allowing me to be a full-time stay-at-home mom once we begin to expand our family.
3. Teaching me to become a better cook - I'm a work in progress!

As we grow as a family God has brought our dreams and visions more in line and paved the road to achieve them together. My prayer daily is that he keep us equally yoked on every situation, no matter how big or small. When one of us 'gets rowdy' and begins to pull away, I ask God to give a tug and remind us of that paves road. Sometimes it is hard, but with his guidance and our prayers / faith, I know God's will be done.

I'm off to the kitchen to work on LTG #3. I'm making Thai Tilapia with Peanut Sauce.
Fingers crossed Betty didn't steer me wrong!

So, it took me a few more 'hours' than I thought to get this up because I'm just not sure what to write about. I'll let you know what we've been up to so far this summer...

Last weekend one of my oldest friends got married! Jenny married a fabulous guy and their wedding was perfect! We jokingly said that she looked like Barbie... but I definitely think it is true. Stunning bride, wonderful wedding, and a GREAT cookie table (sorry, no pictures of that yummy, goodness yet).




One of the best parts about this wedding was the Jenny, Jess, and I were all back together. Jess and I are getting ready while Jenny is taking pre-wedding pictures. It was one of my most favorite wedding weekends, aside from our wedding. I can't wait to see these girls again!



Another great thing is that we welcomed a new niece a few weeks ago. Matt's sister Katie and her husband Tom had their first little one. Faith arrived June 22nd at 6:50 pm, 10 lbs, and 21 1/4 inches.



Charlie loves being a big brother! He kisses her every chance he gets and always want to help out his mommy.



We also celebrated our first year anniversary with a excellent dinner at Mancy's Blue Water Grill and then drove around Perrysburg for our future house. It was a wonderful celebration together! Our little family is enjoying year two.

Time to get serious

Tonight... after we figure out dinner and I work a bit... I'm going to get serious with this blog and make it happen. Come back tomorrow!

The contacts are out... time to catch up

After an amazing dinner cooked by chef Exton (so glad that I married a man who loves to cook), I've cleaned up the kitchen (the "love" of my life), played with the pup, and sat down to catch myself up on twittering, facebooking, emailing, blogging. At this point in the day, my poor eyes are attempting to get my darn contacts back into focus and begging for relief. So, tonight I've decided to put on my glasses and start our blog. Hopefully, like many others, this will become a journal of sorts and be the motivation I need to take those pictures I always wish I had. Honestly, we only have 12 from our honeymoon!!

Oh, our honeymoon was amazing. Last night as we watched The Bachelor it was so much fun to remember all of the places we went and the amazing time we had. It was as if we were just there yesterday and not over 9 months ago.

9 MONTHS!! Some days it is still amazing to me that God kept us together through law school and studying for the bar exam; what a summer that was! After the exam, Matt drove hours to take my parent's out to dinner and then hours back to Toledo to tell his mom and dad he was going to ask me to be his wife. With an absolutely gorgeous engagement ring and wonderful dinner (cooked by him, of course) he made me the happiest girl on August 1, 2008... Okay, I'm getting carried away as I look at all of the photos from the last year and a half. I want to share them all! We had the greatest photographer. I am still in awe at his talent. The pictures he took for our engagement shots, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day are phenomenal. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite's that show how beautiful the day was as I bid you good night. Enjoy!!

work in progress

I feel as if I should put up construction tape and urge you to wear your hard hats if you get too close. You'll have to excuse the 'mess.'

I would like to say that I got 'roped in' to blogging kicking and screaming but a very dear friend found me out; secretly I've been wanting to blog and just didn't know how until she forced me into it. No joke, she put the page together, found the background, came up with the title, and then passed me the link. No joke... she did it all!