72 Days.?

Kim Kardashian. Ya'll already know. I must say that I've been trying to dismiss the hoopla that I've been seeing on the magazines near the checkout counters. I've been telling myself that they can't POSSIBLY be on the brink of divorce; they just got married. Well apparently they are, according to People.com, E News (the network that airs her show), and the rest of the world.

I hope I'm not the only person who thinks this is tragic on so many levels. Even though some celebrities seem to view marriages as disposable as used toilet tissue, I always have a glimmer of hope that they might make it. Was the Kardashian-Humphries wedding just a show? Was it just a cleverly created, EXPENSIVE marketing ploy? Why do I care?

I care because I dearly love my husband of six years. Marriage is definitely not the easiest thing that I've done; he can annoy me like no one else. However, marrying this man is one of the best things I've done. I am so grateful for him, he is my best friend, and we don't have an exit strategy. Marriage is sacred; it's a commitment that our society shouldn't treat so lightly.

On a side note, how much was spent on the wedding? I know a few churches, non-profit organizations, and unemployed folks who could have used that money.

De-Log Your Eye

I had a slightly disturbing conversation the with a friend who was perfectly content to indicate that his wife was the cause of the majority of their marital “concerns”. Now, you might be appalled by this, but ladies, don’t we do it too? “Oh, if he would just __________ , everything would be fine.” All I have to say about that is walk into you bathroom, turn on the light, look in the mirror, and grab that big ol’ log that’s hanging out of your eye. Use a little prayer if you need some help. I bring mess to the table just like my spouse. I need to be honest, reflective, and prayerful about my junk before I start throwing stones at him.

Quality Time- Part 2

I just finished a lengthy conversation with my mom about raising kids and being married. The conversation made me think of another reason why we need to nurture our relationships with our spouses. In the grand scheme of the things, you only have a few years before your precious babies will be heading to college or other worldly pursuits. What are you going to do when the "nest" is empty? Will you have devoted so much time to the munchkins and so little time to your Boo that you guys will have nothing to talk about, and nothing in common? My mom said the day I rode into the sunset with my new husband and a U-haul, she and my dad walked back into the house, sat on the couch, and talked (Did I get a few tears?). She said that the thought never occcured to her that she and my dad wouldn't make it after the kids left. The sad part is that this is happening to empty nesters everywhere. Her advice? Invest the time into each other now. Take care of the kids, but let your Boo know that he is a priority.

Quality Time

I think that we must be careful not to allow our children to be a buffer between us and our husbands. If your idea of spending quality time with your husband involves little Timmy and JoJo, you might want to re-evaluate your plans. I do think that it is important to spend time together as a family, but if the only way that I enjoy being with my husband is when the kids are tow, then I may want to regroup. Ladies, I spend all day with my children. I have a great relationship with my kids because I spend so much time with them. However, my husband deserves to have some interrupted attention. Heck, I deserve it too, and the end of the day, my kids will benefit from seeing that mommy and daddy really do value each. So ladies, if you are using your kids as a means of hiding from your husband, call a babysitter right now, and take your honey out on a date.

All My Single Ladies...

Three of my oldest friends are 30 and single. Periodically they talk to me about how trying this can be, especially when it seems like everybody has somebody, and the way to get somebody is to throw all of your standards and godly principles to the wind. The other side of that coin is that I know of some situations in which the women in particular compromised and paid dearly. I know some situations in which women ( and to be fair, men) thought they were getting one person and ended up with someone totally different. And I don't mean learning that the person snores or is messy.

So experienced married folks, how do we encourage the single ladies in our lives? Putting "a ring on it" is not worth the heartache if you have to settle. I believe this why the Scriptures are very clear when it says "Do not be unequal yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). This scripture can apply to all sorts of situations but it is a giant stop sign for marriage. Now, some of us have made choices that don't reflect this principle, maybe because we didn't know, or maybe we chose to ignore it. If we do end up in a situation like this, the Bible tells us that if we are living holy before our spouses we can draw them to Christ (1 Peter 3: 1 & 2). The question is, how much do you have to endure before we get there?

To all my single ladies, I say hold on. The Lord hears you, know where you are, and has something fabulous in store for you. The grass might look greener, but it could be astroturf.

Happy New Year!

I'm a few days late, but Happy New Year! I trust that you and yours had a fabulous time during the holiday season. My husband was off for two weeks, and we basically did nothing for two weeks. It was great! We are always on the go, especially during the holidays, so it was nice to not run around trying to visit the world like headless chickens.

Starting a new year has made me reflect on the things I'm thankful for. It's so easy for me to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that I forget to live with a thankful attitude.

I am thankful for Christ paying the penalty for my sin by dying on the cross and rising again so that I could have the security of eternal life with Him. I am thankful that he blessed me with an absolutely fabulous husband who is far greater than anyone I asked the Lord for. I am definitely grateful for my beautiful babies who keep me hopping and laughing. In spite of the daily challenges of being a wife and a stay at home parent, I feel absolutely blessed that God is using me to raise children who have a heart for him, to be the trusty sidekick for a great man, and as a tool to encourage you.