The Beauty of Trusting and the Grace to Follow!

My husband and I are right outside Las Vegas at UNLV for a football mini camp this week. Since we have been traveling, I have had such a new found trust in him.
While driving up here from Brownsville I sat there trying to be a good and alert co-pilot all to discover after our 18 hour drive to Chandler Arizona just how much I trust him.
Here is this man who promised to take care of me no matter what and I can see that to be true in so many ways. I thought of how there were many different ways that my life could have ended up but for a reason that God only knows here I am watching my husband pursue a career in football And the Lord has called me to pray and bless him; encourage him and stay by his side after every game and practice.
No matter what he ends up doing as a job or career I know that I must be his biggest "cheerleader" and with my words and prayers bless him. I am seeing the importance of running alongside him as a partner in all this and understanding that this just isn't his life and passion but how it is now my life too. Who knows what God will do with all of this but I have seen just how much my husband loves me this past week and that is very very humbling. God has been gracious to me and is showing me so much through this and i am thankful. In everything unfamiliar I know that Christ is constant and he has given me a wonderful husband to hold my hand through the unfamiliarity and change.

Two Months, Bragging, Easter and a Pedicure

Lessons learned in the first two months. And some thoughts.

1. A true smile is prettier than any outfit, hair style or makeup I can put on.
2. Learn to have fun with crazy schedules. Sometimes you can't help it!
3. LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN and LISTEN
4. keep doing "chessy" love things.
5. Not every bit of housework is going to get done.
6. Go to bed at the same time- No matter what! (I know this may change as we have kids but for now it is great!)
7. Keep God right smack in the middle and on the sides and everywhere else. :D
8. Go Ahead Brag about your husband- maybe if more people did they would be thankful for their marriages.

I was in the newsroom the other day and a coworker and I were talking about our husbands. We met up in the restroom by chance and she was asking me how married life was going. As we started talking she was saying that she got so tired of hearing woman COMPLAIN about their marriages and husbands. "AMEN SISTA" I felt like shouting. I know I'm a newbie but I agreed with her. She had been married for a while but out conversation just confirmed what so often happens. She was saying how she hears her sister in law complain of her marriage so often and how the negative attitude of that particular lady is like a poison. She was smart this coworker of mine. I told her how refreshing it is to have someone to brag about my husband with because sometimes I feel like I over do it. But I am just happy. I am in love. I think he is strong and handsome and smart and creative and athletic. He paints my toe nails and benches incredible amounts of weight. I think that is sexy and amazing!
-And yes those toes are mine. It's the first time he has painted toe nails. I was so proud of Him, I think he did pretty great.
- An Easter Card. MY Honey Bunny

Here is something my coworker sent me today :)

MARRIAGE IS ABOUT SHARING LOVE, NOT FINDING FAULT



DEAR ABBY: It saddens me when I hear women complain that men don’t do their fair share around the home. When a woman says, "He didn’t put the toilet seat down," I want to ask, "Did you put it back up for him?" When a woman says, "He didn’t pick up his dishes," I want to ask, "Did you clean up the oil spot your car left in the garage?" When a woman says, "He left his clothes on the floor," I want to ask, "Did you dump the unpaid bills on his desk?" I believe marriage is a personal relationship between two loving people, not an opportunity to complain to others about perceived abuses.

During the 40 years my husband and I have been married, we both worked and managed to raise three productive members of society. We have a tacit agreement. Each of us does absolutely everything possible to keep the home running smoothly, never tallying and setting up balance sheets. Out of love, each of us does whatever improves our common good, and both of us find reason for daily surprises as we receive in kind from the other. — JO IN PHOENIX

Priority Switch and A Lot of Love

I will be married a month this Saturday and so much has changed within my heart. In a good way of course.
The Love I have for my husband is one I thought was only for others or was just not possibly true concerning another person.
I remember attending a wedding and seeing the bride so happy. I mean overflowing with happiness. She was being loved and kissed by her husband and she looked so carefree and beautiful. So alive in every way and I thought "WOAH wait a minute here this looks real, I mean the Love and happiness I see it looks genuine."
I will never forget that picture in my head.
The day I got married and even more so the morning after I was incredibly happy. I mean "outside of myself" happy, This has to be unreal sort of happiness. I had never experienced such Joy concerning another person.
The morning after I woke up to kisses, a bible reading and breakfast in bed.
What sheer joy that was and still is.
I felt loved, safe and cared for.
And it has not changed,
Now I know that with time a couple grows and sees new sides to one another and there will be disagreements but concerning others "well intended advice" let me offer some advice back.
If you feel trapped in your own marriage don't make comments like "oh that's it, it's over you're TIED DOWN."
WHAT!!??? My response back was "Why did you get married than?"
Or the ever popular
"IT'S OVER FOR YOU"
UHHHHHH why???
I found that some people will offer their experiences negative included and expect you to feel the same.
Some were
- You are going to cry to go back home.
- You will be annoyed at the clothes he leaves on the floor.
- Little things are habits he does will annoy you.

Well no I never cried to go back home although I love my family.
I am thankful I have an amazing man to pick up after and wash his clothes. And I know this isn't a newlywed thing because, not having something for so long and finally being blessed with it, believe you appreciate every little thing about it.
And NO, I am not looking to be annoyed by little things he does or doesn't do.
Now I am not perfect and no one is. I know there will come time of disagreements and change but I would hate to expect the bad all the time.
I think it is good to adopt the habit of thinking the best of people. It helps you filter out an expectation of bad. Not everything is a potential argument and I pray that I myself am simply pleasing to be around.
One thing I am certain of is that a relationship takes work,
But even the word "WORK" can sometimes sound exhausting. Working at a marriage is joyful work and a blessing.
I write this in hopes that marriage will be seen as a joy and a blessing designed to make one selfless yet loved. Designed to make us like Christ. And that people is a good thing.
Pray your marriage is filled with fresh love every day. I do for my own.

Getting back to the Real Purpose

My wedding is a less than three weeks away and stress could weasel it's way into my mind and cause me to be cranky unhappy or just down right mean.
But surprisingly throughout this whole engagement I have been one happy puppy!
Not to say I am perfect by any means but after seeing 6 other brothers and sisters get married (Lola included) I picked up a few things.
A couple of rules to follow.
1. Plan within your means of finances
2. Don't try to please every single person. It is impossible.
3. Choose NOT to think the worst of people.
4. Leave room for changes
5. Have a fair amount of Compromise from both families.
6. Stay thankful.
7. Get back to the real purpose for marriage.

in other words stay focused on why you are even spending this great amount of money on this party of all parties! ( BTW our families are helping tremendously with finances.)

The reason for even writing this entry was because of an incident that happened yesterday as I was at my trial makeup appointment.

As i was sitting there the lady says "remember not to STRESS OUT!"
and i said "no I haven't been stressed" "Busy yes, stressed No"
and she said "OH but Yes you Will be stressed as it gets closer"
and I simply shook my head. Not wanting to continue the conversation of why I SHOULD be stressed any further.

Where is it written that all brides must be an absolute mess before their wedding!!!
And why MUST I be stressed.
Sure there is a lot going on, and as i was tempted to fall into the STRESS HOLE I stopped myself.
As I was praying this morning I asked the Lord

"Please don't let me lose focus of why I am even getting married. Let me enjoy this time I will never have again. Let me laugh when others say I should be worried."

There is a purpose for God putting Rigo and I together. And I am going to just enjoy this time of Love and learning.
There is such an emphasis on your wedding day and rightfully so. But you can miss out on all the beautiful things when you are consumed with everything that is not going right. This is when I pray that God will let me take my hands off the wheel and let him drive.
He can do a much better job than Rigo and I can anyway.

24 Days left till the BIG DAY!!!!

A birthday snapshot and a few thoughts...

As my wedding day approaches I think I am more and more in awe at what God has done this past year. So much has happened in a matter of months that at times I feel overwhelmed at the grace of God. I truly don't deserve it. I only pray I will be the wife He has called me to be. I know I have A LOT to learn. I guess I am just thankful He has brought me into this season. I know it is filled with so much change and adjusting. I pray for the ability to do what He has already willed in my life.

***Love can draw so much amazing things out of a person***