Eleven Months Old

This little girl is one month away from being a year old!!! I can't believe how the time flies...

About Marriage

Marriage is sacred. No matter if it is a civil ceremony in a courthouse or a church wedding, the marriage that is formed is sacred. Not necessarily in the eyes and lives of those persons who enter into the union, but always in the sight of God. When a man and woman join themselves to each other, wedding or no wedding, there is a bond formed that God views as sacred and binding.

Unfortunately, since Robbie and I married almost 5 years ago, we have known several people who have married and divorced in less than that time. It breaks my heart to hear about it, or read about it, or even think about it. Why does this happen?

I know there are many reasons for divorce that make it seem justifiable:

"He had a gambling problem..."

"She was unfaithful to me..."

"He was addicted to pornography..."

"We were just too different..."

"He was abusive and wouldn't get help..."

Just a few minutes ago, before starting write this, I looked up some statistics on divorce, and here are some things I found out...

People between the ages of 20-24 are most likely to get divorced. The older a couple is, the less likely that they will divorce.

50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. Thankfully, and miraculously, a couple who are very close to me seem to have escaped this statistic (You know who you are...).

Childless couples have a higher divorce rate than those who have children.

Our trip to San Antonio for the miscarriage of our second child.
We smiled for the camera but our hearts were breaking.

I know that in any and every marriage, there are divorce points, places that the relationship comes to that seem insurmountable. In our four-plus years of marriage, Robbie and I have experienced our share of hurdles, although they haven't been true "divorce points". Thankfully we have faith in the Grace of God to carry us through these rough patches. I believe that it must be more difficult for a non-believing couple to survive such divorce points. And yet, in seeing the lives of a few of our Christian, God-following friends, it seems that their marriage ended as quickly or even more quickly than that of others we know and love who do not claim to follow God.

So I have many questions... and I have my opinions.

Why do God-following people get divorced? This is one of the biggest questions in my mind. Honestly, I've told Robbie that I will never divorce him. For any one of those reasons that I wrote down, I pray that with God's help, I would be able to forgive and be reconciled to Robbie, and that he would be reconciled to me if I should be the one to fall. 

(Of course, I could do none of this without the Grace of God. God's grace is the power that enables a human to do things beyond their ability. I know that if faced with any of these situations, I would want to run and hide and take my girls and desire to never see my husband again. But I know God desires something better for those in situations like these. He desires to show His power in our lives. Without God, all that I have said would be impossible. But I know that with Him, if any of this should happen, all things are possible.)

I have such a burden for marriages. I believe we need to intercede for each other on behalf of our marriages! For some people, even some of those reading this, it may be too late.. but maybe it's not. I am sorry that I have not thought to pray for my married friends. Please forgive me and know that you are in my prayers now. 

May God heal the hearts of those divorced.

May he reconcile those torn apart.

May He fill hearts with love for each other,

And restore the companionship of those estranged.

May the Lord grant grace to speak softly,

And seek to uphold the vows made.

May He sustain through trials and valleys of death.

May His strength help hold the other close.

May God bring to mind the first love,

When everything was sweet and new.

May He give joy-filled hearts when together.

And to each of these, God says, "I Do."

Counting My Blessings... 86-90

86. Skype phone calls with family
87. Sisters

88. Peace that only God can give
89. Poetry after a long dry spell
90. Reaching goals

Counting My Blessings... 81-85

81. This sweet girl
82. Fresh, cooling rain
83. Books full of good stories

84. The miraculous transformation that a nap works on a three and a half year-old
85. Time with my girls

Counting My Blessings... 71-80

I thought I would spice up this list with a couple of silly pictures. 

71. Motivation to overcome bad habits
72. God's grace empowering my motivation
73. Forgiveness (and boy do I need the Lord's forgiveness!)
74. Biblical accounts of failure, repentance and forgiveness
75. Sabbath songs
76. Uplifting music and stories
77. Learning new words (one of Haven's words is bababa, which is her way of saying papaya).

78. Baby sign language (Haven can say "all done" and "more" using her hands)
79. Mosquito-eating geckos and bats
80. A peace-filled house and heart

Counting My Blessings... 61-70

We have so much to be thankful for, every day. This is my latest continuation of thanksgiving and acknowledgment of blessings the Lord has given me.

61. Splendid rainbows that remind me of God's covenant with me and all mankind

62. Hearing my daughter talk to Jesus
63. Haven learning new words, like the word "pray"
64. A wide variety of fruit available to us at great prices
65. Music that lifts my spirits
66. Goosebumps when something I hear or read really speaks to my heart
67. Daughters who love to read all the time
68. A big yard where Hope can play without my worrying about her
69. Feeling creative after years of neglecting my creative side
70. The smell of clean laundry

See You In the Morning

I've been thinking about death a lot lately (I know, that doesn't sound great). I've been thinking about the hope that I have in Christ. I believe, based on what the Bible says, that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and follow Him, when they die will rest in Him as in a dreamless sleep. Then, when Christ shall come in the clouds of glory He will raise up those who have died in Him to life everlasting. This is the hope that I have. I began to have a poem form in my heart, and thought I would share it. I am dedicating this poem to Jared and Damie, my friends who just lost their little girl.

Two months shy of one year old is much too young to die.
I love you, sweet and happy one with bright and smiling eyes.
But should death come to claim you, or catch you by surprise...
Goodnight, sweet baby, I'll see you in the morning.

What a spirit! What a will! At only three years old.
I cherish you, my precious one, whose hand I love to hold.
But should death reach to take you with hands so pale and cold...
Fear not, my precious one, I'll see you in the morning.

Almost five years we have lived as husband and as wife.
Your thoughtfulness and caring heart have brightened up my life.
But should death come, cut short your days with its unsparing knife...
Goodnight, my love, I'll see you in the morning.

I'm still too young, though getting older, not old enough to die.
I still have energy and strength, and dreams I've yet to try.
But should death come and terminate my journey, I will cry...
"Goodnight, goodnight, I'll wake up in that morning!"

Jesus, you faced death for all. You conquered, life to bring
To all who would believe in You and trust You as their King.
O grave where is thy victory? O death where is thy sting?
Jesus will make all things new. He'll wake us in the morning.