All the Single Ladies

Today, my husband and I have been married for 5 years! He woke me up with a kiss and a whispered "your presences is requested in the kitchen in ten minutes...". I walked into our kitchen to find him working over a hot stove and a delicious, gourmet (if you ask me) omelet full of bacon (who can resist bacon?!), peppers and spices. Fresh orange juice was waiting on the table along with two freshly changed children. Yesterday he had surprised me with a beautiful, delicate orchid and had also planned a beach picnic for this afternoon. I feel more then blessed. :)
If there's one scripture that sums up my marriage to SM ( "SM" being a private joke between the two of us...stop guessing...back to that scripture...) it is Ephesians 3:20;
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..."
When I was a young girl, I did a lot of "thinking" about my Prince Charming. I thought about what he might look like, what he would like to do and most importantly of course, how he would treat his "princess". I imagined how I would meet him - would he save me from a ferocious beast or would I meet him in the library? How many children would he like to have? And, would he like them? I imagined star-lit nights and roses and dancing and all the other dreams little girls have about 'the one'. Well, with age and time, my dreams seemed to take less grandiose paths. I thought that Prince Charming may be a little too high to hope. So, here's where the story gets exciting...well...give it a few years...but then it gets exciting!
I found that God was challenging me to fight for His best plan for my life. Whether He had someone special out there or a special life of singleness - whatever it was - I knew that God's plan would be the best and most exciting for me. Sometimes it was great fun and full of days of hope and promise of what might be around the corner. Then, there were doubting days that were hard and lonely and not so much fun. One wonderful thing I came to see was that each day was a gift from God and that I could be content and fulfilled in my relationship with Him. Leaving the "I'll finally be happy when..." mentality came with a sense of freedom.
Then, God decided to blow my mind and introduce me to my very own, personal, Prince Charming. He has done "exceedingly, abundantly" above all I ever could have dreamed up as a little girl. My marriage has indeed been filled with star-lit nights, roses and dancing. Of course, it has also been filled with occasional misunderstandings, tears, tantrums (from me and the children), spit-up, burnt pancakes, rolling eyes, and other things that would test any Prince. However, God continues to work His grace in our hearts and our marriage grows even better every day and I honestly am amazed at the goodness of God's gifts.
So, on the fifth anniversary of being quite happily married, I want to encourage you single ladies to wait for God's best for you. You are so worth it! My heart wrenches at the thought of 'all the single ladies' who sell out and settle. God's got something amazing for you! There may be some of you who aren't necessarily waiting for the right one, but you're waiting for the right job, or the right child, or the right opportunity. Don't give up - wait on God - He's got your best in store.
The neat thing about Ephesians 3:20 is that God assures us He can help us wait for His plan. The full verse goes like this;
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
God is more than able to work strength, wisdom and patience in you that will help you wait on His perfect timing. Don't give up.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace...

At 8:12 pm tonight my boys were both sleeping peacefully. 8:01 pm was a different story. Neither of my boys LOVE to go to sleep (that is one of the few things they haven't inherited from their father...). In fact, tonight as I read "Fankin" the Turtle to big brother, little brother wailed from his crib in the next room. The crying next door was not completely conducive to peaceful story-time, so I went in to console our little guy. There he was, standing up in his crib, fat tears rolling down his little cheeks and arms out for mama (how does one resist that?). His eyes were drooping with sleep but he was so sure he wanted to be awake. I cuddled him close and brought him out to finish story-time with brother. "Fankin" finds out he likes school after all and story-time is over. Now our big guy, eye-lids also drooping with sleep, is sure he wants to stay awake too and the wailing starts anew. I tuck him in, kiss him good-night and take the little one out to rock to sleep. It isn't long before both tired boys are in dreamland.
I suppose I could let them stay up until the cows come home and they fall asleep on the floor or in the middle of their blocks or while watching a movie. However, despite their protests, I put them to bed because I love them and desire what's best for them...good, refreshing sleep.
Sometimes, I do a lot of protesting too. I complain and wail and want it my way. I question God and the wisdom of His plans. I worry about the future and try to figure it all out. But God keeps reminding me of one outstanding thing. He loves me. He LOVES me. Our children don't always understand why we have bedtimes, or time-outs, or limits on junk food but we make decisions based on our love for them and what we think is best for them.
If you are in a time of indecision, fear, anxiety, doubt or even anger at God. Let this one word stay fixed in your heart - love. You may not be able to understand or even fathom what is going on around you, but know that God LOVES you and wants your best, always.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Do not depend on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways remember him.
Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. Proverbs 3:5

For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only Son. John 3:16a