Marriage

It is not our anniversary nor Valentine’s Day nor any other significant day in our marriage. I just thought I’d tell you how much I love my husband.  We have been married for eleven years and two months. With how common divorce is now a days this is a great achievement.  But compared to someone who has been married twenty-five or fifty years our marriage has only begun. Therefore I am NOT an expert in marriage. But, I can tell you that for every one of those days, I have felt loved. I have felt beautiful and I have felt secure. Now don’t get me wrong, every one of those days has not been roses and bliss. Yes we’ve had our disagreements and arguments. But on our wedding day we both knew we did not believe in divorce. We knew that “for better or worse” meant for a lifetime. So when those non lovely days arrive we might disagree and argue but in the end we know that neither one of us are going anywhere. So we can either make each other’s lives miserable or we can enjoy each other’s company.  We have chosen to enjoy each other’s company. So when an argument is through we understand each other better and grow closer together and “making up” helps too.  Everyday my husband tells me that I am beautiful. I tease him about being obsessed with me.  Now I don’t know if this is the truth or if he has other motives.  But every day of our marriage he has made me feel beautiful. And let me tell you, feeling beautiful is much more important than being it.

So after eleven years here is my non expert marriage advice:

Change your perspective, marry someone who is obsessed with you, not just someone your obsessed with.

Wait until marriage. It is not too late to decide.  I know it may sound old fashioned but the modern way is not working. If you cannot be patient and show respect to one another while you are dating how will you be patient and respectful during your marriage. One secret to finding a good man: he is willing to wait.

Stick to your vows. Marriage is for a lifetime, and thou shall not kill, so make it work! Exhaust all resources.

It is okay to argue and disagree. Just make sure to come to an agreement, forgive, and make up!

Do not make each other miserable. Enjoy each other’s company. Create an environment that makes your spouse want to be with you.

For men's eyes only: make her FEEL beautiful

For women’s eyes only: make him FEEL competent and needed

To my loving husband, thank you for  being obsessed with me,  for showing me patience and respect, and for forgiving me and making up. Thank you for being a man I enjoy being around and most of all thank you for always making me feel beautiful. You are capable of all things and I will always need you.

Your loving wife,

Katrina

He already Has

My Baby is here! On April 2^nd God rustled her soft cocoon and said it’s time, precious gift. Now it is time. The Baby that use to lie within me now lays in my arms. This is something I cannot get over. I thought that maybe after two or three kids I would have become numb to the miracle of birth. But I am just in aw with the whole process, even more so than I used to be.  With each one, I feel more and more blessed and I cannot get past the feeling of,” My cup runneth over”. I would have taken my baby in any shape or form.  So I feel even more blessed when I see all those little parts so perfectly made down to the smallest vein. I read Psalm 139 many times during my pregnancy. I knew this to be true about my baby girl and one day I hope she will know this for herself. “For You formed my inward parts: You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;” (Psalm 139:13-14)

 I find myself staring at all her little features.

I’m amazed by the curvature of her ear.

 the creases on her fingers

The plumpness of her lips

Her feathery eye lashes

And even her crooked toe, it’s perfect.

(What happens when you use up every last minute in the womb?

You run out of room for your pinkie toe!)

A lot of times people see a blessing as a lot of money, a new car, a big house, good health, or a life of leisure. Sometimes even what may at first appear to be a curse works out to be a blessing. God blesses different people in different ways. But many times in the Bible it states children as being gifts, rewards, or blessings. A lot of people would not consider five children as a blessing. Actually, I think I ran into most of these people during my pregnancy. With their eyes wide and jaws dropped all they could think of was,” why would someone want five kids?”. One lady, when hearing that all of these children were indeed mine responded, “God bless you”. So I responded, “He already has”. Most days when I wake up in the morning to my five children I don’t always see them as blessings. But one thing my children have taught me is while we sit around wondering when God is going to bless us we just need to remember “ He already has”.

all in His time

The people at our local grocery store, gas station, and library, look at me as if I am a walking time bomb.  Family and friends call every day.  My answering machine is full of messages that start with, “just calling to see how you’re feeling”. I hesitate calling anyone, just to talk.  The nurses laugh at me. The doctors are getting doubtful and I am beginning to doubt myself.  My children are anxious and our lives feel like they’re on hold.  That’s right! My baby is overdue!

 I did not realize, now a days, how uncommon this is. I actually find the word, “overdue ”, quite humorous.  Based on your last period, a cardboard wheel is spun and a magical date that your baby will be born is given. This date is, science, estimating that a baby is in the womb for fourty weeks, give or take two weeks.  I find that doctors are more willing to induce labor at thirty eight weeks, than to allow a woman to be pregnant till forty two weeks. I guess they are more willing to take these weeks than to give them.  I struggle with this. I want to hold my baby so badly that the urge to give in to the doctor’s orders is tempting. But on the other hand……..

God placed this baby in my womb.  Then He formed and wove this baby until it was fearfully and wonderfully made.  He knows and understands my baby. He does not need an ultrasound to see its hidden form.  I have done nothing. The doctors have done nothing .God gets all the credit for making a life. Now that God has done all of this, it is time for us to take over. God can form this baby in my womb, but He cannot find a way to get it out.  Right?  No. You see right now He is putting on the final touches. Who am I to stop Him? My baby will be perfectly made and I cannot wait to meet him or her. But meanwhile I will try to be patient. I believe this quality might come in handy as a mother.

“Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me when as yet there was not one of them. “ (Psalm 139:16)

Waiting

Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,
I thought that you might come today;
The timing seemed just right.

But the stars are out
And the moon is high
And sheepishly I wonder why
I try to arrange the plans
Of God.

For now I know
You will not come
Until the One who holds eternity
Rustles your soft cocoon
 And whispers in tones that I will not hear,

“It’s time, precious gift.”

“Now it’s time.”

-poem by Robin Jones Gunn.

Bathroom Bandit

Smallford, USA- Investigators where called to the scene of a water damaged bathroom. The first person on the scene said she entered the room to find the faucet on and the sink overflowing. Four suspects were questioned. At this time all are denying any involvement  or information on the matter. The drain was apparently stuffed full of toilet paper and the faucet left running. Water covered the floor and saturated the rugs. The clean up crew, looking on the bright side, was quoted saying "I am just glad it was not toilet water." They were referring to an incident a month earlier where the toilet overflowed in the same bathroom. Investigators are looking into the coincidence of two water problems in the same bathroom with the same four suspects. Meanwhile bathroom owners beware. There is a toilet overflowing sink clogging bandit on the loose. The two main suspects are under five years old. Below waist height and they may be seen carrying a step stool or an empty toilet paper roll. If anyone has information on this matter please contact a blessed mom with normal kids at 222-help.