Dear David...{She Won't Be Perfect: Letter 15}

Dear David...

On and off I've been thinking about how much I need to start praying for your future. Not only what job you'll have and who you'll become as a man...but who you will marry, if you do marry at all. It is my duty as a God-fearing mother to intercede spiritually for you both, now and then. It sounds so crazy saying this. You are going to be two years old this Sunday and we are going through the potty training adventures at this moment. Your only concern today was eating another bite of brownie and rolling toy cars down the hallway without wetting your pants.

Prayer is powerful. I've told you that before in this letter. I will do all that I can to encourage you to pray for your future spouse and when you are married, continue to pray for her and with her. Why? Well, she won't be perfect. She will have experiences that will shape her thoughts and dreams. They may not go along with your beliefs. She will have made mistakes. She will be over-emotional and over-critical at times. She might become needy and lonely. She won't always say the right things and will some times argue points that are untrue. She will be fully human; full of potential on a path that hopefully is guided by her Maker.

She won't be perfect, David. And neither will you. It is easy to envision the one we truly love as a perfect vessel, in the beginning. We almost idolize and worship one another. However, the only perfect One is the Lord Jesus Christ and as you both seek Him first, you both will be perfected.

So even when you see a glimmer of the imperfect nature inside of her, remember your vows. Even when you don't understand why she is upset or crying, hold her. Even when you feel your world is being shattered, don't forget who is part of it. She won't be perfect but you are still called to love her with all you have. And love is an action word. Look to Jesus for that demonstration of what perfect love is so when she disappoints you (because we do that as humans) you can see past her imperfections and will encourage the potential she has inside.

Above all else, remember that we all are clay in the hands of the Potter. It pains me to think that I'm probably making a mistake raising you right now. I'm constantly praying that as a parent I'm doing the right thing and as a Christian woman I'm producing the right example for you. But one thing I do know is no matter how long of a list you have of what you seek in a woman of God, she won't be perfect. But love her anyway.

Love, Mom

Why I Love My Husband

This post is part of the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with hundreds of inspiring bloggers. I did not receive any compensation for this post; I just have an amazing husband who deserves to be praised. To learn more about the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour and join us, CLICK HERE! 

Let me start off by pointing out that I do not like how I look in the picture above. This was after the wedding ceremony and we were taking photos at a beautiful local park. I had not eaten for hours and was starting to get crabby and have a headache. But then there's him. And he makes this picture so worth it.

When I'm at my worst, he's still there. This photo proves it. This year we will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary and every year has come with new challenges, as well as great blessings. Here are just some of the reasons why I'm head-over-heels in love with my husband:

• He makes me laugh. Even when I don't want to and I try to push the giggles away, his efforts almost always win. And I'm glad for that. 
• He absolutely loves family. My husband would rather come home every night and spend time with his wife and son instead of hanging out with friends or gallivanting around town. As a young man the temptation could be there but he is not bothered by it in the least.
• He is a man of integrity. When he makes mistakes, he is honest about it. Even if it's not right away, he has a good conscience and a heart to please God. He also respects me enough to confess any faults and keep that line of communication open.
• He is smarter than me. I'm serious, he really is. I was terrible in school so having a husband who is actually smart and not just pretending like I do is amazing. If I have any questions about history, math or science I can count on my guy for the answers. And if he doesn't know, he legit cares about finding it out. Unlike me.
• He strives to be better. My husband is not satisfied with who he is at the moment, no matter how much I try to encourage him. He is always looking to step higher, go farther and be better. It's admirable and pushes me to be a better version of myself.
• He learns from mistakes. He is not only a man of integrity but when he falls, he knows there is a lesson to be learned and he repents. I've seen him develop into such a wholesome individual and it teaches me not to beat myself up when I make a mistake.
• He takes fatherhood seriously. Not only does he truly adore our son but he knows the value of having a father who is hands-on and involved. He is constantly making sure that he connects as a dad and loves making memories as father/son. He is burdened by men who treat children like objects or trophies and put their desires before the little ones in their lives. He makes every effort to be above that and more.
• He takes love seriously. My husband is very cautious who he opens his heart too. The fact that he has not only opened it to me but has entrusted me with the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of his being is truly a gift. His love is intentional and with purpose. I love him even more knowing that his acts of love stem more from his heart than hopeful emotion. 

I could go on forever but the fact is I love my husband because he pushes me, challenges me and sees me for who I am and who I can become. I can trust my life with him. I can trust my heart with him. I can trust our family with him. Because He trusts God with his life, heart and family.  And when there is unity among a man and His Maker, there is unity among the entire household. Love can abound and grow. We can prosper even in the valley and move mountains even in rainstorms.

My husband is ready to fight any battles that come our way and doesn't mind me as his sidekick. How can I not love a man like that?

Fawn Weaver, the founder of the Happy Wives Club wrote a book about the best marriage secrets the world has to offer. They say the book is like “Eat, Pray, Love meets The 5 Love Languages.” I say the book is inspiring. You can grab a copy HERE.

Dear David...{Things I'll Tell Your Future Wife: Letter 10}

Photo Credit / j&s Photography

Dear David...

Just typing out the title of this post made mommy's heart and tummy hurt. You are barely 16 months old and I don't want to think about you getting married {if you do}. Right now, I love how you only have eyes for Daddy and I, running around the living room content with a remote control and a Popsicle. However, my mind was completely blank with zero ideas for this week's letter. Until the Lord illuminated a personal situation, thus inspiring me to write this post. So even though in the future I'll be speaking one-on-one to your wife-to-be, right now I'd like you to know what I will say. This way, you will know where my heart is coming from.

There are plenty I could say to your future wife. I don't want to talk with a lot of words with empty impact. Simple statements can make more of a difference than a long lecture. So, that being said, I'll tell your future wife...

Edify, Uplift, Bless.

Nagging never works. You may want to nag my son because he didn't complete a chore in a certain time frame or you don't feel like he is listening to you. Please, don't. Not because I'm protective {which I am} but because it does no good. Nagging tears down and doesn't build up. Look at the positive. If he completed a task, who cares if he did it because you asked him or that it was finished five minutes before you came home from Ladies Conference! Be grateful. Tell him he did a great job. Thank him. Make him feel good. Bless him with words of edification that will uplift his self-worth. It will only move him to want to bless you back. This will stop a lot of "power struggle" fighting and improve your communication

Always Be Faithful.

My son may not always do the right thing. I will do my best to raise him as a fine gentleman, strong in the Lord and filled with integrity. But he is his own person and will make his own decisions. Let him. You can still state how you feel but sometimes letting him make mistakes {even if it affects the entire family unit} can be for the best. It is scary. It is hard. But no matter what, you be faithful to the Lord and what He says. My son may decide to do something against God. It is very difficult for us to stop people when they do that. But we can pray for them. We can still go to church, read the Bible, and listen to the preaching. Be faithful to God, to your marriage, to your commitment. Try not to let my son's wavering rock your walk. Keep going. Because even though you may think he is far gone, he is still your husband and watching every step you make. Make those steps faithful.

Don't Hoard Love.

There will be times you may feel unloved, ignored or taken advantage of. Know this: it may not be intentional. We females are emotional beings and this can cause feelings that are only one sided. If my son says or does something that offends you, go to him with your concern. Don't hold in anger and hoard love. It is a natural instinct to protect ourselves from harm. You must remember that you've done or said things that probably offended him too. If you did, ask for forgiveness. Regardless if he forgives or not, love anyway. Love because God is love and He did not hold anything back from us. It didn't matter how He was treated, He still loved and continues to love. Hoarding love causes sickness and poisons a heart. Hoarding love burns bridges and suffocates growth. Let it go. In the end, we must all be accountable for our actions. My son will face the music in time, should his actions stray. We are not Saviour. We are "wife". He is your other half, so pour love into him if you see he is empty. It may be the very thing that could change his world.

Love,
Mom
{PS: It's okay. You can call me that.}

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Wedding Fun Wednesday!

This is something new...and I love it!
I don't want to make every day a theme day and this may not be every week. However, I have so many friends engaged and getting hitched. It got me thinking how much fun I had planning mine, so I've decided to share with you some awesome wedding photos/ideas I've found.
(PS: At the end of the feature, I share my own wedding photos!!)

Check out these gorgeous cake toppers my friend Danielle made!
Click here to check out her DIY bridal blog and click here for her shop!

A button/brooch bouquet!

Here is country singer Miranda Lambert with her very own, personalized bouquet, created by a fellow Etsian!

Peppermint Pretty is a gorgeous shop. I just love how this dress flows! It looks so fluffy and soft :)

Beautiful hand-stamped forks!
This shop has everything to add some personalized, hand-stamped magic to any wedding or wedding gift.

 

Okay, confession. I am in LOVE with BraggingBags!! I adore their shop and every little treasure inside.

Another good friend  Kimberlee/ Gracefully Girly showcases many stunning wedding accessories. I adore this cathedral length veil, so stunning.

I absolutely LOVE this rhinestone and crystal headband!

Twigs & Honey is such a beautiful shop. You have to experience it here.

Okay, now I'm ready to share some of my own wedding photos!!

 

We had a casual dressed down reception. It was awesome! For our gigantic wedding party gifts, I created personalized t-shirts using Zazzle.com...it was quick & easy. The amazing day ended by riding away on the motorcycle, while everyone blew bubbles. It was great!

Oops...can't forget our Bride & Groom Pimp Cups, yo :)

How was your wedding day? Share your stories in the comments!