". . .as Christ loved the Church."

Ephesians 5:25-27 (The Message)

25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

My husband and I have been married for 8 years as of yesterday. I remember most every day after we met (at Cedarmore Discovery Camps while on mission teams for the state of KY comprised of college students from all around the state known as Son Teams). Even from the very beginning, I thought Joshua was someone different than any other guy I had met. In wonderful ways, of course! We quickly came to know each other and began coming to one another at the end of the day to share about our campers and pray for each other as well as the students we were ministering to. Shortly after camp was over, as in the first evening we were back at our homes after our 10 week commitment, we began our journey of dating. From there, it was all about committing to something that was very obviously bigger than us, it was a God ordained gift that we should marry and live this life together.

Yesterday, we got the opportunity to share lunch together, as our two beautiful girlies were at Parent's Day Out. Joshua already had made plans for us to go out and celebrate on Friday night, so when he came walking in at 8:30 instead of the 10:30 he usually does on Tuesday evenings (he has his master's class every Tuesday night from 6-10), I was more than excited. He had Godiva chocolate covered strawberries in one hand and beautiful flowers in the other. He had skipped class, gone to the mall for the fun treats and was now here to give his full attention to me. He is allowed to miss one class in the 8 week course, so he had chosen this night (and we now pray that he doesn't get sick for the next 5 weeks), telling his professor that he wouldn't be attending because he was going home to see his wife for his anniversary. It is these moments that I can see him back at camp in 2000 when we met, see his smile and know that when I felt that he was different somehow, that I can truly testify that he IS very different.

Last night wasn't just a simple class skip to get out of class or to come home. By skipping class, going to spend crazy money on one of my favorite treats, and coming home to just be with me, he was loving me as God has called him to, "as Christ loved the church" as seen in Ephesians 5. To make me more holy and to point me to Christ by being unselfish and choosing me above anything! When I think on my life, I thank God first of all for loving me and sacrificing everything so that I may have joy in life as well as an eternity with Him in heaven, but then, I am quick to thank him second for sending me such a man of God that treats me as I pray that someday, my girls can be treated by their loving, God fearing, unselfish, Christ-like husbands!

Just a few catch up pics!

Joshua and Lela enjoy a fun, free gift from a friend of a broadway show of White Christmas and an evening at the Galt House to ring in 2010! Thanks soooo much, Sara!

The girlies enjoyed their new princess gowns!

Jovey turned a big 5 and was more than excited. . . mommy, a little mixed emotionally! :-)

The girls loving on each other before being flower girls for Uncle Drew and Aunt Lauren's wedding!

Brothers Joshua, Drew and Caleb, sneaking in a pic before Drew ties the knot!

It's been a while!

Wow! August 19th. . .the last date of my blog. Of course, I never kept great care of blogging "regularly," but that has definitely been a bit of a hiatus! What has been happening? Hmmmm. . . My Jovey has turned 5, we celebrated 1 year (as of Sept. 1, 2009) in ministry with Joshua as the lead pastor at Elk Creek Baptist Church in Taylorsville, KY. We had a wonderful Christmas that was much lighter on the physical "gifts" and much heavier on the beauty of what Christmas is about: the bringing to earth of Jesus Christ that began the sacrificial giving of His life and resurrection to secure both mankind's eternity with the Father God in Heaven as well as a life full of purpose and joy on earth; even in the midst of trials that are to draw us nearer to Him, if only we accept His gift of grace and love. We watched as our baby Laney walked into her classroom at Parent's Day Out and trusted again in God's provision of yet another opportunity for her to learn and grow in a safe, fun environment and learn more about the gift that friendships can be. .. these are just a very few of the highlights.

God continues to mold us all into more diligent students of His Word and even more determined seekers of learning who God is and how He desires for us to move as His creations in this world He created! It is a blessing to trust in a world that gives us many reasons to doubt and to question what the next phase of life looks like, but as we start to wonder, Joshua and I point each other to the center of our marriage, the center of our lives, Jesus Christ, and we focus . . . still, watchful, silent, humbled and ready for the wisdom and guidance that He is waiting to pour out!

Now, to see you before 2010! :-)