Monday, February 23, 2009

31 years and still growing strong

Hello fellow bloggers. This past week (2/19/09) was my 31st wedding anniversary to Troy. We celebrated for four days. :-) Troy and I were married when we were only 18 years old in Moriarty, New Mexico. We had no idea at the time what an adventure our marriage to each other would be. We have had many wonderful moments. We have also shared in many tramatic times as well. When we pledged to love and care for one another in sickness and in health to death do us part.....I don't think we REALLY knew what all that would entail. We still don't grasp that fully but we have with God's grace and strength been able to persevere with love and respect towards one another. I just wanted to share some of those things that I adore and respect of my dear husband Troy.

1. By God's grace..........Troy has grown to be a man after God's own heart.

2. Troy is an wonderful husband, father, and grandfather to our family.

3. He gives 110 % to his job. He is willing and does the smallest tasks no matter how awful those tasks might be. He has a servant heart and believes in setting an example. He has worked hard at any job he has ever had. He starts from the bottom and works his way to the top. He isn't afraid to tackle any task and does so with attention to detail and quality.

4. He has grown to be very patient with me and all my faults. He lovingly admonishes me when I sin but also lifts me up and encourages me in my walk with Christ.

5. When Troy is with any of our grandkids....his face glows. He will wrestle with them, carry them anywhere and answer any/all questions with such love. It makes my heart rejoice to watch this.

6. Troy is the leader of our family. I respect his decisions and know that he has our best interest at heart.

7. He has the best laugh. We have shared in many fabulous laughing sessions. Sometimes we will reflect on what was so funny..........and can't really recall but find that funny as well. He can also laugh at himself. He is learning not to take himself too seriously.

8. I love that Troy loves to hunt. I know shocking isn't it!!!! He is very good at it and it comes so natural to him. I am proud of his skills in this area.

9. Troy can fix anything if he can google it, buy a book to show him how etc....he is not afraid to give it a go as "Mr. Fix-it." Most of the time he just KNOW's how to fix something.....I find this amazing.

10. My husband loves me dearly. He would die for me. He shows me every day how much he cares and supports me by his actions and words. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. I am blessed. God willing we will have another 31 years or more together. May our lives reflect God's glory.

This list is not all I love about my hubby but I just wanted to share a few things......not everything.

As women we play such a important role in encouraging our husbands and others around us. Many of us (me included) fail to realize that we can kill with our words or heal. More and more often I choose to heal with my words. But every so often I stick my foot in my mouth big time. Do you ever do that? Do you remember hearing this little rhyme as a kid...."sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." True stick and stones could break bones. But they heal. A scar is left but they do heal. Words tend to linger so much longer. I can remember many hurtful things I have had said to me or said to others. They don't just go away. Sometimes they even shape us into who we become. OUCH! That is scary isn't it....especially if we have been molded by hurtful words. On the other side of the coin though.......words build up and encourage. It's amazing when someone gives you a compliment or tells you what a good job you have done how that will effect your day. You feel like you can do anything. There is spring to your step and you just feel better.

Our Lord Jesus is the word of God in the flesh. He has so many wonderful encouraging things to say to each of us. Take time in your busy schedule to spend time with him today. Find out what he would like to say to you today. I find that I hear his still small voice more and listen more. His words are nourishment for my parched soul. His words are what fill me. His words of encouragement are examples of the words I should and can use today with others.

I have been asked many times.......how did you and Troy make it all these years married. At first I use to say......... ALOT OF WORK. Ha! Which is partially true but mostly it is faith in Jesus Christ and the WORK that he alone is doing in our lives. He has given Troy and I grace to overlook many hurtfilled words, the grace to love one another when we are unlovable, the grace to encourage, celebrate or admonish when needed. He is molding us and changing our hearts every day to be more like His. WOW! I find that amazing. I hope that we have many more years together as a married couple. I like hanging out with Troy. He is fun and so good for me. So until next time friends.........encourage someone with your words today and be blessed.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

My sweet Hubby

Good morning friends! I wanted to share with you a sweet story about my every changing/growing Christlike husband....my Troy. Troy and I met when we were 17 years old in the lunch line at school his second day at Moriarty High School in August 1976. He had moved to Moriarty that summer with his family from Bloomfield NM. He was not happy to be in a new school but all the girls in Moriarty were truly happy to have a "new boy" in their midst. So it didn't take long for all of us to somehow meet him. My best friend at the time was a gal that was in the band. Troy was also in the band and she had met him that summer through her church. So she together with Troy's new friend Dennis introduced us in the lunch line. Funny how a moment in time that you don't place much importance at the time can change your life. Who knew that we would spend a lifetime together......God did. He is so clever like that. Anyway Troy was very romantic in those days. We went on dates every day and pretty much spent every waking moment we could until we graduated from High School.

After graduation Troy was off to boot camp for the Air Force and I was off to college. Less then a year later we married. 1 year and three months later we had our first child. 20 months after that our second child and then four years later our third. Time just has a way of slowly going by and before you know you have both changed so much and the romance is gone. We raised our kids together in a modest home. We went to church now and again but it wasn't a weekly thing.....big mistake. Troy worked a lot of hours with the Air Force. I also worked outside the home so there really wasn't time for us to spend a whole lot of time together. Looking back that was another mistake we made. We didn't make time for each other and we should have. We should have always had a date night every week....even if it was just sitting outside on the porch swing. By God's grace we made it through all the graduations, marriages etc. We found ourselves alone in 2002 when our youngest graduated H.S.

In January of 2003 we moved to Florida. It was time for us to get to know each other again....spend time together....talk....go on vacations etc. Instead we found that we were fighting over some of the same stuff we had fought over back 20 years ago. UGH! Slowly through much wisdom from God we have managed to fall in love with each other again. I realized I hadn't been that great of a wife to Troy. I had been pretty selfish for many years. It's impossible to go back and relive any of those times. Thank goodness for God's mercies new every morning. Troy and I talk so much now. We have learned to communicate and put each others needs before the other. We aren't perfect. God continues to change our hearts. Daily we have grown in our love of Christ. Not only has our walk with God been strengthened but our marriage continues to grow stronger because of the Lord.

Okay now to the reason for this blog....my recent story......on Saturday we went to Blue Lake Alabama for a meeting of Emmaus folks. We always stop in Defuniak Springs at a place called Ed's Pub Burger. Yummy stuff that! I love Ed's as they have the best burgers and they have crushed ice. There is nothing better then a coca cola on crushed ice. We ordered our drinks and when the waitress brought our drinks I noticed there was cubed ice. I was disappointed and asked her why and she said she just didn't get it out of that cooler. Oh well no big deal. She takes our order and while we are waiting for our meal other Emmaus folks show up and we are all visiting all over the place in the cafe. The waitress comes back for our drinks so that she can refill them. Before she can wisk them away....Troy places his hand on my drink and says to the girl....would you please empty out this ice and give my wife crushed ice...she really likes crushed ice...................................................<---stunned silence from me. :-) I have never been so touched in a long time. That had to be the SWEETEST thing he has done for me in a long time. Troy isn't the type to draw attention to himself and this did draw the attention........first from me and then from the people at our table. He was embarassed. I told him he had just earned 30,000 brownie points. He just smiled. Funny thing is I felt cherished in that moment, in that cafe with all those people everywhere.

We think that we have to do grand elaborate things to bring people a little joy. But it is all about the small things. Troy's words have continued to bless me this week. I have thought of them often and I have shared them with other friends. The reaction is the same. AWE! I love Troy very much. I realize that I treasure his friendship. I love his insight and wit. He is my champion when no one else is. He is also strong and not fearful to tell me when I am wrong or need an attitude adjustment. He is my best friend.

I praise God for loving me so much that he brought a man like Troy into my life. I am thankful that God is changing our hearts, that he is giving us grace to give more of ourselves to each other and to change our "it's all about me" kind of thinking to it's all about serving others.

Take a moment this week to speak a word of encouragement to a friend or spouse. Think of little ways that you can show your loved ones you care. Until next time.........be blessed ya'll.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

What's your state of mind?

Hello friends! Today is Saturday and a beautiful one it is turning out to be. I am such a silly creature. All winter I have complained of it being too hot here and wanting colder weather. Well I got my wish this week and then some. It has been in the 20's and 30's early in the a.m. Burr!!!I realized I am a wimp. And I realized I liked the colder temps when I was much younger. This damp cold gets to me now that I am older. My bones seem to hurt too. I was at a gathering this week when it dawned on me I am middle age. MIDDLE age! When did that happen? Actually I am past middle age. Because I will be fifty in April and I doubt I will live to be a 100 nor do I think I want to if the aches -n- pains I have now are any indication of how I'd feel then. Ha! So I am getting old. But I also think that getting old is a state of mind. Inside in my spirit I feel like I am still in my late 20's. It's only when I look in the mirror.......with my glasses on........that I know I am old. I see age spots, crows feet around my eyes, moles that were not there the day before, more gray then my normal color....whatever that is! Ha! I have noticed that when I see what I consider to be old people they are not treated well. They aren't treasured like they should be. My grandfather lived to be 95. He had lived through so many decades. He had a wealth of knowledge in his brain that we as his grandkids had no idea exsisted. One time he started talking to us about the time he got his first car. He said he was in his early 20's working on a goat farm with his dad. He came upon a man that would sell him this car for 20-30 goats. My grandpa made the deal and came home to show his dad. His dad was not happy with him and thought he had made a terrible deal. My grandfather tried to convince him by telling him it would only take hours to go into town for supplies instead of it taking three or four days. His father didn't believe him. So my grandfather asked his dad to come with him to town. He did and my great grandfather was so amazed at the speed in which this car traveled. Ha! I think the nearest town was only 20-30 miles away. :-) I would have loved to have seen my grandpa and his father in that car. I could only imagine the story. Goodness where is this pondering leading???? No clue! I just know that I am not getting younger. Life is short and I need to make the most of every moment I have to touch other lives. I don't want to grow old in my spirit. I want to always have that zest for living. Don't you? I believe that our state of mind is a big deal and if we think OLD we will become old and fast. I had a friend that recently passed away. She was close to 80 but I never thought of her as old. She was so much fun. She made making a sandwich fun, cleaning fun, crying fun. Her zest for life and the Lord Jesus was awesome. I miss her so much! I want to be like that when I grow up. :-) So....what's your state of mind....are you old already and you are only in your 20's or are you just waiting for a chance to bless someone's life with your zest for living? Until next time...be blessed.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

What's in a word?

Good morning bloggers! Today's topic is "what's in a word?" Yesterday a friend made a silly comment to me that struck me to the core. She called me lazy. LAZY! I really don't like that word. I don't think that is true. And yet why did it upset me so much? Am I lazy? This I pondered most of the afternoon. She was giving me a hard time for not walking yesterday morning. We started walking last summer. As the winter has gotten colder I had told her I would not walk when it was in the 30's or below. (Not that the 30's is all that cold but it sure feels colder here then it did in some of the drier states I have lived in.) So I decided that this morning regardless of how cold it was that I would get up and walk. Well I got an email from her saying it was going to be in the 20's and she wouldn't be walking either. So is 20's cold or is 30's cold and who decides what's what? I think both are cold and not fit for human's to be walking in. (I am sure this summer when it is hotter than hot I will be wishing for some 30 degree weather. Ha! ) It's all in ones perspective....I guess. But still why did the word lazy get me upset? I guess because the truth of the matter is I tend to be lazy when it comes to excersise. If I wasn't lazy I wouldn't be this out of shape. Walking each morning has been a very hard thing...one I had hoped I would grow to love. I haven't! I still dread the walking part. If it wasn't for my friends company I probably would have quit long ago. I do feel better when I walk. I can't say I have more energy.........yet.......but I do sleep a whole lot better. So I have learned that some words still have the power to hurt. How many times have I said things to people in jest (just like my friend) that I didn't really mean. But I wonder how those words affected them. I can't change the things I have said but I can be more careful in the future of what I do say. I am so thankful to my friend for her comment. It turned out to be "not quite so silly" but one I should ponder a little more in the future with my own choice of words to others. So what's in a word.....do you have words that push your buttons???? Let me know....until next time.............be blessed!