About Me

My photo
We were married on June 18th surrounded by all our friends and family. We live in Oklahoma and love it. It is beginning to feel more and more like home. I love the trees, our church and the people! Everyone has made us feel so welcome and a part of this community. We both have great jobs, that we love going to every day! Life is good, God is good!!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Dear X

Dear X (You don't own me) by Disciple came on the House FM this morning as I was blow drying my hair. This song reached out to me and grabbed my heart. It talks about not letting a feeling or emotion take over your heart. My favorite part is "Go ahead/You're never gonna take me/ You can bend/ But you're never gonna break me/ I was yours/ I'm not yours anymore/ Oh, you don't own me!! What freedom.

Many of you know that for years I have struggled with depression. Some of this being from my past, some being genetic. I tend to beat myself up constantly. Last night was one of those nights. We went to find clothes to wear for family pictures this week and I could not find ANYTHING to fit. Andrew even had to tell me that a pair of jeans I tried on were too tight. My heart was broken. Some parts of me are too small, most are just too big. I was beating myself up all night long. I had a small melt down on the drive home. I called my mom and she talked to me. She is taking me out shopping tomorrow and everything will be ok. But this morning I couldn't help but let this song sink into my heart.... Dear Depression... YOU DON'T OWN ME!! I might struggle with this... it might cause me to bend... but it will not cause me to break. I am a child of God. He choose me, and he would not choose anything less than worthy. Besides that Ephesians 2:10 tells me that I am God's masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do the good things he planned for me long ago. Yes I changed the verse to make it  personal but I was told once that that is ok. And it is ok to read it just like that... Sit back and think about that... You are God's MASTERPIECE!! He created you NEW in Christ, this means your past is GONE!! He created YOU to do great things!! And on top of that He has planned those good things out. I don't know about you but as a closet (ok not so closet) planner... I find this so reassuring.

So all that to say several things...
  • God can speak to you in the midst of noise (blow dryer)
  • God created You & Me to do great things that He has planned
  • When we don't stop and listen to God in the quiet... He will get our attention among the noise.
  • Depression does not define who I am. Christ does... and He says that I am a Child of the Living God and he loves me regardless of how I cook, what I weigh, how clean my house is... the list could go on and on.
Here are the lyrics to the song. Read them... where it says Pain or Hate put that emotion in that you struggle with. Sing the chorus declaring that you will NOT let it take over you!! You will not break!


Dear pain, oh, it's been a long time

Remember when you were holding me tight
I would stay awake with you all night
Dear shame, I was safe in your arms
You were there when it all fell apart
I would get so lost in your beautiful lies
I let you go
But you're still chasing

Go ahead
You're never gonna take me
You can bend
But you're never gonna break me
I was yours
I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

Dear hate, I know you're not far
You would wait at the door of my heart
I was amazed at the passion in your cries
Dear anger, you made me so high
You were faithful to show up on time
Such a flame that was burning in your eyes
I let you go
But you're still chasing

Go ahead
You're never gonna take me
You can bend
But you're never gonna break me
I was yours
But I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

Go ahead
Put a target on my forehead
You can fire
But you've got no bullet
I was yours
But I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

You tempted me to look back
But everything that we had together was a lie

Go ahead
You're never gonna take me
You can bend
But you're never gonna break me
I was yours
But I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

Go ahead
Put a target on my forehead
You can fire
But you've got no bullet
I was yours
But I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

Go ahead
Put a target on my forehead
You can fire
But you've got no bullet
I was yours
But I'm not yours anymore
Oh, you don't own me

Monday, November 15, 2010

Apples of Gold

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a settting of silver" Proverbs 25:11

Apples of Gold is a program put on by some women at Grace Community Church here in Bartlesville. The program is 7 weeks long. Each week consists of a cooking demonstration, Bible study & dinner. The ladies that lead were our "mentors." To be a mentor is to be of wise and trusted counselor or teacher. These ladies held that title with such grace and love.
When I was invited I was very hesitant about it. I have never been one to hang out with a bunch of women for extended periods of time. And besides that, I was new to Bartlesville and I didn't know hardly anyone that would be there. I went with the encouragement of a few others and quickly realized how desperately I needed this opportunity. God is so good at leading you to the place you need to be, it is just up to us to follow that path.

Each week we covered a different topic. I'll list and sum them up below:

1. Kindness
Mentor: Cindy Molder

The verse that stuck out to me the most was:
Psalm 117:2 "For His lovingkindess is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting."

Cindy stressed that kindness is an attitude that is contagious.
Sometimes as a day goes by and I am feeling beaten down and overwhelmed, I can stop and think about my actions and my words to others... were they kind? Most likely not. However, if I change my attitude then others attitudes changes towards me.

2. Loving your Husband
Mentor: Amy Snowden

Something that stuck out to me was this phrase that Amy got from a book.
"What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?
Really... take some time, think about that. You will be perplexed for a while... then relieved. God's mission is to make us Holy!! We were not ever called to be happy!! Hallelujah!!

Amy talked about two topics Respect and Sex.
I was very impressed... I honestly thought this lesson would go something like this...
Women, if you love your husband, have sex with him. The end, good night. Go home.

I was amazed when Amy went into detail about what it meant to R-E-S-P-E-C-T my husband. There were 4 points that she made:
1. If a man feels disrespect, he is going to feel unloved.
2. It's a CHOICE!!
3. You have to show it!!
- Respect his judgement.
- Respect his abilities.
- Respect in communication.
- Respect in public!! (I have had to learn this one!!)
- Respect in our assumptions!!
4. We have incredible power: build up or tear down?

Amy opened my eyes to a new way of looking at my hubs. The way I communicated alone was out of line. I wasn't giving him the respect he needed and deserved as the leader of our family.

3. Submission
Mentor: Nancy Skopak

Nancy and I have a history. We know her and her husband fairly well and enjoy spending time with them. It was great getting to hear her speak. Nancy was also a teacher for a while. I love this about her. It fits her so well. It was NO surprise to me when she brought out the visuals.

Nancy used the illustration of an umbrella during her talk. She said that we are to be covered with the protection of our husbands. Thus we stand under their umbrella. However, even our husbands are imperfect and their umbrellas have rips in them. Therefore the are to stand under the umbrella of the Lord. He has no imperfection or rips. He protects them from any falling rain.

The quote that stuck with me the most is in my bathroom so I see it every morning and evening (maybe more than that).
"Submission is an attitude of my heart. it's an outward sign that I place the goal of a life-long marriage first. This day I choose to join my husband under his umbrella."
This is a choice that is not easily made by someone who lived single for a while. (Much longer than I planned on!) I am very independent and do NOT want to "submit" to anyone! However, it is so amazing when I do. The dynamic of our marriage is so much better for it.
Now, I'm not saying I do this well, thus why I still need the reminders. But, I do try.

4. Loving Your Children
Mentor: Debby Nyhof

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go (and in keeping with his individual gift or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Psalm 127:3
Children are a gift from God, they are His reward.

Debby did a great job talking about loving our children. We do not have children right now, so it was hard for me to relate to this. However, it was fun hearing different stories of how others love their children. It was fun thinking back to ways that I KNEW I was loved when I was growing up.

One thing that she stressed that I have heard many of my friends with children say is that, our children are not ours. They are the Lord's. My first initial reaction to that is "Say What!!??" I do believe that I will be doing the birthing, raising and guiding... WRONG!!! How can I be so selfish. I do NOT want to be the one raising my children. I want it to be Christ through the hubs and me. Our children may not follow our "plans" or fulfill our "dreams" that we have for them... however, all we can do is raise them to know the love of the Lord. And pray that they are following His will.

5. Purity
Caroline Casselberry

Psalm 51:10a
Create in my a clean heart, O God!

My first thought was... "Ummmmm I'm married... what does purity have to do with me?"

Caroline sweetly showed me. I could go on and on and on about this.. but I'll make my summary as short and sweet as I can with a few bullet points to think about .
  • Regardless of what you have done- if you are a daughter of Christ you are pure!!
  • Purity is a FACT for a believer!! Can I get a hallelujah??
  • Purity is shown in the way we live: what we say, where we go, what we do
  • We are called to live above reproach
  • When we leave the "plan" God has prepared for us, we are committing adultery against Him. Much like when a spouse leaves the "plan" of your marriage.
  • Purity defined: The moral excellence i demonstrate in my life as I constantly do what is right in God's eyes.
  • (My favorite) Purity is a position that we gain as a believer. At an event called Salvation. A purity that will NEVER be taken from you!! Again... hallelujah anyone??
6. Hospitality
Mentor: Kelly Spencer

Hospitality is - cheerfully sharing food, shelter, & spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into our lives.

The points that Kelly made were great!! She did a wonderful job at opening my eyes to what it really meant to be hospitable. I thought that it was simply... having a clean house, having people over, offering them a drink. (All of which I stink at!)

1. Entertaining Christ
Matthew 22:37-39
You shall love the Lord  your God with all your heart & with all your soul, & with all your mind this is the great & foremost commandment, the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

2. Dedicating Your Home to God
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain who built it.

* Regardless of how it is now, with God's help, your home can become a home of hospitality.

3. Showing Hospitality to Your Own Family
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go & when he is old he will not depart from it.

* Kelly shared many ideas of how to show hospitality to our kids. I am so excited to be able to do this. :)

4. Showing Hospitality to Others
Acts 28:7-10
(Its long, I'll summarize)
Paul was visiting an estate where there was a sick man. Even though it was not convenient for the family they hospitably welcomed him. Paul healed the sick man and others on the island. In return they honored Paul in many different ways.

5. Piratical Hospitality
Kelly said something that really scared me ....
She was not an organized person, until God gave her 4 kids.
(My prayer is this ... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE God, give me organization before you give me the babies!!)

The last week our husbands were invited to come. This was such a treat. We had been hearing so much about all the husbands but didn't know many of them. It was wonderful introducing Andrew to some of my new friends. It was amazing showing him what I had experienced these past 6 weeks. Now he knows why I loved going so much!! We also had an elder at our church speak to the men. He challenged them to love us the way Christ loved the church. (I'm not going to lie... it was hard for me to listen. I was thinking about all I had learned in the past few weeks. I was fighting back tears at how special it was for each of these mentors to pour into us. I was really struggling with self control!!)

Apples of God is over and I am very sad about that, however, I am so glad I was able to experience it. My heart has been overwhelmed with the love of each one of these ladies. I have made many new friends. I have even learned how to make a few things. (I could go on and on about the yummmmmie goodies... but I have to stop somewhere!!)

Friday, November 5, 2010

not recomended

So last weekend we decided to take another trip. We have been very adventuresome lately and have loved it. Recently we had felt the need to get away from "life" for a while. So we decided to go Camping. for the past several months, maybe even the past year, Andrew has been talking about this place called Devil's Den. It is about 30 miles south of Fayetteville Arkansas, which is where Andrew spent most of his growing up years.

I agreed that camping would be fun. (yes... he didn't even have to convince me!!)

We packed the whole family up and headed out on Friday. The dogs were THRILLED to be going for a ride.

Because I tend to get a little wordy (I saw that eye roll) I am just going to list a few bullet points that give the facts... and ONLY the facts... then I'll put some pictures at the end. :) You have to read this way... you don't just get to see the pictures!! HA !

  • we arrived around 6pm
  • we had to walk 1/2 a mile to our campsite...
  • (this was a long ways)
  • I packed way too much but I was so glad about that
  • My Hubs is part Super Man!!
  • We set up the camp site!
  • We started a fire.
  • The sun went down
  • We ate hot dogs for dinner... in the dark... freezing!
  • It got cold!
  • We went to bed (at 9pm)
  • It got colder... 35 degrees. to be exact.
  • 4 am- Buster the big dog pukes in the tent!
  • 9 am I finally get up... don't even think that I slept that long... there was VERY little sleeping in the cold!! There is a temperature where sleep is in fact impossible. It is below 38 degrees!
  • Pop tarts for breakfast
  • We went on a hike. My hubs packed us a yummy PB&J lunch and we had a blast!! It was amazing and the dogs did wonderfully!!
  • We made it back to the camp ground... I would say we walked about 10 miles Saturday. It was great!!
  • We were able to eat in the light on Saturday. :) It was hot dogs again but this time we splurged and added chili!
  • We went to bed at 9 again.
  • It wasn't as cold this night... and Buster didn't puke!!
  • Woke up
  • Packed up!
  • Went home!!
On the way home we stopped by Fayeteville to see the Hub's Grandparents!! It was so great. I love getting to visit them and spend time with them. Then we went to Siloam Springs to see his mom and dad. They welcomed us with open arms and before we could get to far into the house they showed us to the bathroom where we got to clean up!! (My mother-in-law really understands my need to be clean!!)
Then we came back to the Ville and enjoyed an evening at small group. It was fantastic!
I'm still recovering, mentally, physically & emotionally but ... it was wonderful and next spring... you bet I'll do it again. (However, I will try to negotiate a cabin into it!)

Ok and now past the blah blah blahs... and on to the pictures!!

Buster boy... he is lucky to be alive after his puking stunt Saturday morning!


Cami- The BEST camping dog!!



Getting ready for our hike!


Family picture!!

Cami Joe was such a great little hiker!!

The handy walking stick I found... it was helpful.

Another family picture!


This crazy rock the Hubs just HAD to sit on!!




Resting while we had our lunch! (they almost look like the like each other!)



The leaves were stunning!

I love my family!!




This was the view from our tent! Absolutely STUNNING!
 The trip was a blast!! I'll do it again ... I just need a while to recover. 

My friend Shelby is coming into town this weekend. She is coming all the way from Midland to see me! I just can't believe it. We have lots of fun things planned and next week you can count on a blog update with some fun pictures!! :)

Blessings and happy fall yall!!