Remember when

I've had a very tough couple of weeks. Writing and reading is very therapeutic for me. I pray my thoughts and experiences bring hope to others as well. 

I know there are many friends and family members that are having health problems, financial issues, heartache, problems on the home front, and are experiencing loss of some kind. I know alot of you have WAY more going on than I do...

One of my favorite things to do when spending time with my family is to reminisce, tell funny stories, and fond memories from my childhood or more recent events.

Remember when... 

We would dress our weenie dog Sadie up in the middle of the summer and push her in a carriage?

Or when Emily was jealous I learned to ride my bike and proclaimed "look mom I can fly," while running across the yard flapping her wings.

Or that I was obsessed with the ninja turtles (until the lifesize ones showed up at my birthday party) and then later Hanson (mmbop). Hey they were a pretty legit band... Not to mention very cute in a 3rd graders eyes..Lol

I think it's good to remember the tough times as well. I remember the heartbreak after my first love, my grandma being diagnosed with cancer and then later passing on to her eternal life. I can remember sooo many tough times in my life.

I have always asked my patients, when going through hard times, "have you had a difficult time in the past?", "what did you do to cope then?"

It's helpful and encouraging to remember that you got through difficult times in the past. Then you can reflect on what contributed to you getting through it.

 

God has delivered me out of darkness so many times in my life. I pray every night and I started keeping a prayer journal a few years ago. Sometimes I expect an instantaneous fix or an immediate feeling of relief. That's not usually how it has worked for me, but every prayer in my journal has been answered at some point. His timing is perfect. I know God still speaks, but he left his word to help us remember his promise and man does he have alot.

Remember all the way which the Lord your God has led. (Deuteronomy 8:2)

Remember... hold it fast. 

(Revelations 3:3)

 Remember and do all My commandments. (Numbers 15:40)

Remember the word... Of the Lord. (Joshua 1:13)

Remember his marvelous works which he has done. (1 Chronicles 16:12)

When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:6-8)

Remember that God is the one constant thing in your life. He will never forsake you. He will help you win the fight and finish the race.

"You may experience pain, but the Lord may use your resolve to strengthen another who doesn't have the will to go on. We can reject the opportunity to be used of God, or we can seize opportunities to impact others as a testimony to Him."

(Billy Graham- Nearing Home).

God loves you and so do I. We will prevail...

Ask, Seek, Knock

Not quite sure where my old posts went so I am posting again...

Me and Cory got engaged seriously 2 months after dating! Oh man... Did my friends and family think I was crazy.

We knew each other for about a year before we actually ever went on a date! So I'm breaking the news and bringing this skeleton out of the closet. We met online. Whew! That feels good...

Coryplantx and ranahope started with a "wink" from me on yahoo personals. Man did he look cute in that hard hat! Haha! I was so afraid people would think I was a lunatic if they found out.

Nowadays... I don't really care if people know because I am probably very far from normal and that is A Ok with me. 

I had dated a few guys here and there while at Tech, but nothing very promising. I was convinced that I would never find anyone because I wasn't pretty enough or skinny enough. Omg, did I have alot of pity parties!

I started reading a book called "When God writes your love story" by Eric and Leslie Ludy. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1929125003/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

It taught me to literally give him the pen to write my love story! Knowing that God had created me in the womb, knew the desires of my heart, and also had created someone just for me was like an epiphany! 

So what did I do? I asked God for my husband. I started praying for my future husband everyday and even started a journal where I wrote to him. 

I knew I had to put in some effort and seek him in my little world. My mom met my amazing stepdad via internet and so that option had always been in the back of mind. I was going to sign up for one month only and I prayed that if God had someone out there for me that he would reveal him to me and connect us in some way! 

Oh did he ever! My husband was the first profile l saw! I asked myself, "am I gunna knock on this door?" "Well heck yeah, I'd like to talk to this handsome fella, he'd make me some pretty chillins." And just for the record my little E is as pretty as they come! Haha! 

And so God opened that door for me! We talked on the phone and texted, but were in different places in our life at the time so just agreed to be friends for the time being. About a year later he texted me to tell me happy birthday! We went on a date the next weekend and the rest is history! 

Ok you worry warts... I was safe about it. "The kitty litter is in the pantry" was my code sentence for when my friend called me about 20 minutes into the date just in case I got scared or needed to be rescued! 

I didn't have to use it. But I was rescued and it was by the grace of God with the help of my husband, Cory. 

He healed my heart when it came to men. After being raised with a somewhat absent father and having dating relationships that seemed to always end in heartbreak and fighting.

He even loved me enough that he married me twice! First at a small service with family on July 23, 2009 (I was in Grad school with little time and $$, but could NOT put off of marrying him any longer) and later in July 2010 where we had a large wedding! 

This scripture was one of the first things I read when I opened that book.

Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

I am proof...

The grass is always greener...

Not sure where my old posts went so I'm posting again...

Yes, that's my husbands lawn, and yes it is beautiful. It looks almost this good in the winter! Does it take ALOT of time, effort, and moola? You betcha!

When I was pregnant it drove me crazy that he was always fertilizing, watering, pulling weeds, and edging! I was not used to him spending so much time on it! When we first bought our house, he looked like pig pen mowing our dirt lawn. But now, wow! You would not believe how many people stop to compliment it and "ooo and aww" over it! It makes our faces light up like little kids on christmas morning!

Needless to say he enjoys it just as much as I enjoy working in the garden. Plants used to be a fire hazard while under my care. They probably could have burst into flames at any second they were so dry! Somehow through the years, I managed to inherit my mother's green thumb. 

Taking care of a garden is a ton of work! Deadheading the plants, covering them when mother nature decides to bring snow, watering, and keeping my crazy dogs from digging up every bulb or flower I plant!

Taking care of a lawn or garden is like taking care of a marriage or even your relationship with God. It takes alot of time and energy. Can be exhausting and frustrating at times, but is also very rewarding and meaningful. 

I used to tell my patients that if you think the grass is greener on the other side its time to start watering your own lawn. Because guess what? The grass is usually never greener! Things usually are never as they appear!

Proverbs 4:23

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

I love this scripture! Solomon is saying that we have to guard and tend to our heart like we would a garden. Human nature is always seeking to destroy our relationships and even our relationship with God!  If only we put the time and effort into it that we do into other things! 

When me and Cory got married we definetley did not have it all together! He probably did way more than me! He taught me that every relationship in my life is worth fighting for and now I have the marriage of my dreams! 

Needless to say he's very good at watering our lawn! We have water bills that prove it! 

Thank you hunny for having such a servants heart and loving me like you do! 

That's all folks...

Marriage Today really helped us in achieving the marriage we have today!

http://www.marriagetoday.com/