Test and Persevere

PLANS: I've been making a lot of them lately.  Tricky thing about plans, there is no absolute.  Life cannot issue you a guarantee.  What I know is: God has a plan.  I beg God for what I think is best.  Several times, those plans fell through and later I realized I was glad of it.  Good things fell apart so better things could come together.  I really feel like I found where the path is leading and it makes me tremendously happy.  Yet, again, I must say that there is no guarantee.

Now, I wonder- is God testing me to see how bad I really want the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  You see, a few opportunities have presented themselves.  I should be psyched, right?!  No, these opportunities are not what I want.  In the past, I would have settled.  I would have given in, thinking, "well, this is better than nothing".  Ultimately, I would be sad that I was not where I wanted to be.  Here I am God, like a rabbit sitting behind a carrot dangling on a string.  Are you testing me, Lord?  Are you looking to see if I will desperately take the bait?  If so, it would appear that I was not as passionate about what I REALLY WANT.  But I am God.  I will not settle.  I will keep working toward what I REALLY WANT out of life.  If this is a test, I will persevere. 

Lucky Number Seven

It seems silly to call it luck because it is more like being blessed.  Seven years ago tomorrow, I married my college sweetheart.  It's been a wild seven years.  We've been through challenges and successes.  We've experienced tragedies, including the tragic death of my cousin, Tim, on the night of our wedding.  We've bought property, worked grown-up jobs, and made grown-up decisions.  Almost three years ago, we became parents, something we want to do again before too long.  For ten solid years, we've been side by side, seven years as Mr. and Mrs.

What pleases me the most, is finding that we get better with time.  We relate better, we communicate better, we are wiser.  I've realized that my husband is a great source of support, someone who sincerely wants the best for me, celebrates my successes, and feels my defeat if I experience sadness or disappointment.  He's my cheerleader and my friend.  He is witty and intelligent and I admire his conviction and resolve.  I am never bored with him and I am glad to know that I can trust him to amuse me when we are in side by side rocking chairs and have become a burden to our adult children- sorry, Claire!

The most important things I've learned in marriage are:
1) to be comfortable in my own skin- letting go of insecurities, in many areas
2) abandon fear when communicating- you never know until you ask!
3) each marriage is unique and comparison is the enemy!  Who cares how others operate?  Your marriage =  your creation!

What thrills me most, is the opportunities we are seeking right now- for ourselves and our family.  The best is yet to be!