ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - He Did It!

I did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and I challenged my husband to do it too.

My husband decided to do two ice buckets!  What a man.  I am so proud of him.

I jumped at the chance to get to dump ice and water on him.  

The Ice Bucket Challenge has brought increased awareness to ALS and donations have far exceeded expectations!

www.als.ca/en/donate

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Like many other people, I was nominated to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

We decided to research it first, before committing.  I recommend you read the information for yourself here. 

My son, Jonathan, decided to join in the fun.  We donated $100 to ALS Canada. 

I think that my husband got far too much joy out of dumping the bucket of ice and water on me.

Because of the viral success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, donations to the ALS foundation have gone off the charts. The viral craze keeps gaining steam and has raised more than $2M in Canada in less than a month. 

Commentary of My Husband's Preach - Getting Stronger

This is late coming.  A couple of weeks ago my husband spoke on Faith at church.  

What an incredible time we had at church!  We experienced God's presence and saw two people receive physical healing during our worship service.  I just love seeing people step out in faith and be healed!

The title of his message was Getting Stronger.  I love sitting in the front row and hearing my husband share from his heart.  His words are always relevant and practical.

Hebrews 11:6 

"Without Faith it is impossible to please God."

A Children's Pastor for the past fifteen years, of course he brought props with him for his message.  

He brought along an arrow, extension cord and a gas can.  

We need gas to run our cars.  Have you ever run out of gas?  I have.  More than once. It's not fun at all.

We need the extension cord to connect to electricity.  Hunters need arrows for their bows if they want to catch that big buck.

These three things are simple items, but when connected to something more complex they make all the difference.

Life is full of complex problems.  Some problems are so complex that you don't know how you'll fix them.

No matter how complex the problem, the answer is always simple.  The answer is FAITH!

Faith simplifies life.

We have to become stronger in faith to the things that God has planned for our lives.

The connection with the deer for the hunter is the arrow.  The only way to make your car run is to have gasoline in the tank.  The only way to watch your game on television is to have electricity.

All of these things represent connection and are like faith.  If I don't have my faith at work then my connection to God is lost.  Faith is your connection with God.

You can't see God, you can't audibly hear God, you can't reach out and touch God.  The only want to connect with Him is through Faith.  

Faith is not self-generated or self-given; it comes supernaturally when we hear the Word of God.

Romans 10:17

"So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God".

God is able to transmit from His word into your heart.

You don't pray for faith, it comes from hearing the word of God.

Psalm 119:130

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple".

The first part of faith is hearing and the second part is doing.

My husband then surprised the congregation by making a peanut butter sandwich and taking a bite of it.

He pulled out some weights and did a few reps.  He explained the process of weight lifting and how after eating the protein, he could build muscle by exercising.  You need to eat the protein, then exercise consistently to build the muscle.

Faith works the same way.  

When you come to church and hear the pastor speak about how love overcomes, how giving causes blessings, how God wants to heal and deliver, when you have heard that, you are feeding your spirit.

Later when something arises in your life, you will start to do what the word of God says to do in that situation.  

Faith doesn't grow just be eating alone, in James 1:22 it says "But be doers of the Word, and not just hearers only, deceiving yourselves".

When you hear the Word of God, but don't do it, then you deceive yourself that it doesn't work.

That's why we have to be people that don't just eat the word, but also exercise it.

If you don't use your faith in the small everyday things, then you won't be ready for the big things.

Jesus has us on a development program.

Hebrews 12:2

"Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith."

When you encounter a challenge in life, Jesus will coach you along and there will be parts of the Word that will jump out at you, because it will be what you need.

We all have faith in different areas.  That's why Jesus develops each one of us according to what our greatest needs are going to be.

If you want to grow in your faith, you can.  You can start the process and it is customised just for you.

Romans 12:3

"God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

We have to become stronger in our faith if we are going to accomplish the things God has planned for us.  

I'm not even coming close to describing how powerful this message was.  

And don't forget!  Every sermon is available online.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

I recently made my first strawberry-rhubarb pie.

My husband loves strawberry-rhubarb and I have no idea why it took me 26 years of marriage to make him one.  He has other favourites that I often make; lemon pie, coconut cream pie and butter tarts, but for some reason I missed making this yummy treat.

It's now one of my new favourites.

Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 cups chopped rhubarb

4 cups sliced strawberries

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix flour and sugar. Add strawberries and chopped rhubarb. Toss with sugar and flour and let stand for 30 minutes.
3. Pour filling into pie crust. Dot top with butter, and cover with top crust. Seal edges of top and bottom crust with water.
4. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut small holes in top to let steam escape.
5. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly and brown. Cool.

No Limits!

Last year I joined my daughter along with some friends and ran our first 5K.  We signed up for the Run or Dye and trained diligently with hopes of successfully running the entire course.  The option of alternately walking and running wasn't a consideration for us.  We were focused on building our endurance to complete the distance.

The day was filled with intermittent down pours of rain which tried to kill our enthusiasm, however, the contagious excitement of the crowd of runners along with the fun energizing music kept us pumped up and ready to tackle our race.  

The terrain of our 5km was over grassy mud and our course was full of twists and turns and hills.  This made it difficult to stay focused on running only without walking.  There was nothing that could take away from the thrill of the finish line, however.

Setting our goal and completing it was the best feeling! 

My husband didn't run this race with me, however, his support at the start and finish lines were the best encouragement I received.  He was so proud of me and I know that having him there made it more meaningful. My husband has always been my strongest encourager, forever inspiring me and cheering me on to reach what I might feel is impossible.  I'm so thankful for his love and support in everything I do.

This past weekend I ran my first 10K!  I ran it along with my husband and our daughter.  It was our daughter's first time running 10K as well.

What an amazing feeling to reach the finish line after running the whole race.

I woke up that morning not feeling as though I had trained enough.  I hadn't slept well the night before, nor did I feel as though I drank enough water in preparation.  

None of these deterred me from finishing the race and making a satisfying finish time!

I love that I was able to train and experience the race along with my family!  It's so encouraging and rewarding to accomplish your goals together.  I'm looking forward to tacking more mutual goals as we continue to take the limits off!

Thank you to Mark and Brittany for pursuing the 10K along with me!  
Team McFaul for the win!

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Flirting. While Married?

(If there are serious problems in your marriage, please seek godly, experienced help.)

Our culture thinks nothing of married people flirting with others, that it's no big deal, that it won't hurt anyone.

When you flirt with anyone other than your spouse you are seeking to boost your own self-image with others. Flirting is only seeking to fill something that is lacking in ourselves.

When we flirt, or we accept flirting from someone else we are passively telling our spouse, “someone will appreciate me if you don’t”. Even if your spouse never sees or knows about the exchange the seed is planted in your brain. That seed will grow and change your interactions with your spouse.

If I was in a situation where I was meeting a person of the opposite sex I would naturally be talking about my husband very quickly as I got to know this person. 

My personal convictions are to avoid:

private texting or Facebook chatting

building close work relationships with men

not eat out alone or travel alone with another man

I will speak lovingly of my husband

I will openly share my phone with my husband

I will share my Facebook passwords and email with my husband

Do you call people of the opposite sex the same endearments that you use toward your spouse?  Those no longer mean anything special. If I have a special name for my husband, it is reserved for him only. 

What about winking?  Are you a winker?  You might feel it is just being friendly, but how does your spouse feel about you winking at others?

I wouldn't sign off an email or text to someone of the opposite sex with any term of endearment.  For me that includes a 'winky face', a heart, the word 'Love', or even 'Hugs!'. 

When you have been flirting outside of your marriage it is much easier to look only on your spouses faults and ignore your own. Flirting says, “I don’t need to change, someone likes me the way I am, you must be the problem”. That message is a dangerous enemy to any marriage!

Flirting can set off a relationship with the opposite sex that quickly slides into temptation. Innocent glances, turn to jokes, jokes to conversation, conversation to sharing, sharing to relationship.

Very few people set out intending to have an affair. 

It almost always starts as a friendship or close work relationship then proceeds to slowly flirting and confiding emotional details and problems. 

It is a lot harder for an affair to happen, whether sexually or emotionally, when we purposefully stay away from comprising situations and provide no opportunity for your heart to get distracted.

I Would Never

Before you just say “I would never flirt.” I challenge you to think through every relationship you have with a member of the opposite sex: neighbors, friends, colleagues, the stranger you see at the coffee shop in the morning. Are there any of them that you really enjoy getting them to smile, you look forward to talking to, or that you haven’t told your spouse about? If you answered yes, then figure out what you need to do to dramatically change or sever that relationship. If you answered no, think about what boundaries you need to put in place to keep it that way!

Flirt with your SPOUSE! Redirect your attentions to the one you're married to.  Flirting is fun - just do it with your spouse.  Enjoy and have fun with it.

Make much of your marriage in public. There shouldn’t be any doubt in the minds of the people you’re serving that you’re happily married. 

Never discuss your marriage problems with anyone of the opposite sex. If you do, you’re asking for trouble. When your marriage is hurting, it’s too easy for you to see someone who is listening to you as the answer.

Would you be comfortable if your spouse were to read your private emails or texts?  Let's assume that they should never be private, then what would your messages look like?  Hopefully they would be the same as they are now.

Your marriage matters. It matters enough for you to protect it. The best way to protect your marriage is to keep working at it. Never stop growing closer to God and your spouse. The moment you’re not growing closer, you’re growing farther apart.

Commentary of My Husband's Preach

Wow! What a Sunday. My husband is an amazing preacher.  I love listening to him bring the Word of God to the people, no matter what age group they are.  

This week he spoke on Breakthrough to Your Promise Land.  So many times we get a bit of a breakthrough and we get content and distracted and we don't push through to receive the fullness of the promise.  The full breakthrough that we are intended.

He spoke from Joshua 6, the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho.  He talked about the fact that our church just came through a season of Lent.  Many of us gave up something for Lent and were believing for breakthrough in different areas of our lives.  Some of us don't feel any closer to our breakthrough than before the 40 day fast. 

Joshua's men needed to march around Jericho seven times before the walls of Jericho came down.  What if they gave up?  What if they only marched around six times?  

Here are a few of my favourite lines from my husband's message:

"I don't mind marching but I just need to know how many more laps. I don't mind hanging in there as long as I know when its going to stop hurting. I can keep my head up if I know the end is coming."

"And God says NO I need you to do your laps so that you are prepared, and when you get into your promise, you'll know who got you there!"

"Lets move, come on you cant stop. You didn't come this far to stop, you didn't stay married this long to walk away. Keep marching, keep marching, keep marching."

Be encouraged!  Don't give up!  Keep looking ahead.  Don't let distraction get in the way of you receiving the fullness of your promise.

God's Not Dead - Movie Review

Mark & I went to see 'God's Not Dead' today.  This movie was produced by Pure Flix studios.  

We have shown many Pure Flix movies at our church for special movie events and we've always been pleased with the calibre of cinema that they have produced.  'God's Not Dead' completely surpassed all of our expectations.  Pure Flix outdid themselves.  

This is definitely a movie that we will want to own and add to our collection and we will most likely be showing it to our church once it is available for public showing.

'God's Not Dead' is about a university freshman that has his faith challenged by his philosophy teacher.  This movie also brings together multiple stories of faith, doubt and disbelief and includes many real life situations that we all face.  This movie is very inspirational and will most likely challenge your own faith and walk with God.  

'God's Not Dead' left my husband and I engaging in some great conversation and feeling inspired.  

I won't give away any of the story line, just know that I do recommend this movie and give it two thumbs up!  We had to drive out of town to see it and felt it was well worth our time.

Banana Muffins

These are the best banana muffins I've made. You will love them!

4 large ripe bananas
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking power
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mash bananas and add slightly beaten egg, sugar and butter. Mix well to combine.
3. In another bowl add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir well. 
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until nearly all the flour has disappeared. 
5. Spoon into greased cupcake pans and bake for about 20 minutes. 
Touch the tops and if they spring back, they're done.

Date Nights

Mark and I started dating when we were teenagers.  We were high school sweethearts.

Five months after we were married we discovered we were expecting our first child. Our married life as two had not lasted very long.  We were quickly about to become a family of three.

Ladies, I must tell you, as exciting as it is to become a mother and nurture this new life that God has given you, it is vital that you put your husband first. My husband consistently pursued me.  He understood the importance of fostering and maintaining our relationship as a couple. My husband made 'us' a priority and established dating in our marriage relationship from the beginning.  While we've been married he's continued to treat me as his girlfriend.

Now, we are entering a new phase in our marriage.  Our children are all young adults.  We enjoy the company of our adult children, but, we are also now grabbing hold of each other and embracing our couple time.  We know that soon it will be just the two of us at home and we are planning to be that young couple in their twenties again. 

Our dates have changed over the years.  We no longer have to find sitters or wait until our children fall asleep to put in a movie.  We still love staying home, making a dinner or grabbing take-out and cuddling on the couch while we watch a dvd.  Sometimes, however, it is important to put time and effort into planning your dates.  Take some time and brainstorm together and see what sort of things you'd both like to do.

Recently Mark surprised me and planned a full day for the two of us.  We started out by going to the gym together.  (Several years ago we joined a gym so that we could have an activity to do together to stay in shape and stay healthy.) After we returned from the gym, we showered and  Thad brunch at home.  The next thing on our agenda was appointments to each have a massage.  After that our date continued to Starbucks followed by supper at a local restaurant.  

Another date day recently included sleeping in, enjoying a late breakfast together at home, followed by a trip to a city across the border to do some shopping and out for a steak supper.

Our dates don't have to involve spending money.  We enjoy going for a walk, eating at home and watching television that we've pre-recorded.  

Be intentional.  Plan to spend time together.  Grab time that opens up and fill it with the one that you love.  Watch your love grow and flourish as your focus is taken off yourself and back to the one you fell in love with and chose to spend your life with.

Date nights are especially important if the week has been busy and we have not seen much of each other. It’s time to catch up on each other’s lives. We have learnt to put away our cell phones during this time so that other things don’t distract us. The date is for us to enjoy each other’s company and hang out with the person who is our best friend.

Heaven is for Real - Movie Review

Mark & I along with his parents and our daughter Sarah and her husband Evan went to the movies on Good Friday and saw Heaven is for Real.

First of all, I recommend you read the book. Even if you've already seen the movie.  The book has so many more details that will fill in the blanks for you after seeing the movie.

Heaven is for Real is the true story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son Colton's extraordinary experience with the world. 

I read the book two summers ago.  The story was very moving.  It helped me to further embrace the excitement of seeing heaven someday.  My father was ill at the time and has since passed away.  Reading this book inspired me to celebrate my father's passing on to heaven and the better life he would enjoy there.

One of the most moving parts of the book is when Colton tells his mom that he met his sister.  The mother had a miscarriage and Colton had never been told about the baby.  Colton describes the sister that he met and how she doesn't have a name.  

For anyone who has had an unborn child, this part of the book will bring you to tears.  The reminder of our children waiting for us in heaven is very comforting.

I do recommend seeing Heaven is for Real, although as most often happens when you've enjoyed a book, the movie doesn't have the time needed to portray all of the written details.

See the movie, but make sure you also read the book.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

My family loves these cookies.  Enjoy and don't skimp on the chocolate chips.  The more the better!

1 cup softened butter                                               3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar                                         1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar                               1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs                                                                       2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 tsps vanilla extract                                           
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla.
3. Sift together the flours, salt, baking powder and baking soda
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Place golf-ball size dough portions 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  
I like to use parchment paper on my cookie sheet.

7. Bake for 9 minutes or until edges are light brown.
It is very important that you do not exceed the cooking time even if the cookies appear to be under baked. When the cookies are removed from the oven, the sugar in them will stay hot and continue the cooking process. The finished product should be soft in the middle and crunchy around the edges. 

Movie Review - Noah

Mark & I went to see Noah on the weekend.  

First of all let me tell you that we both felt it was a waste of our time and money.

It wasn't a movie that I felt I had to see right away.  I was comfortable waiting for the dvd release.  However, we both felt we wanted to see it so that we could make our own personal assessment.

We decided before we entered the theatre that we wouldn't judge it if it wasn't 'based on the book'.  We decided that we would keep an open mind and expect that the story line would deviate from the true facts.

Noah is writer-director Darren Aronofksy's interpretation of the story of Noah and the flood. 

It certainly wasn't true to the biblical version - but we expected that it wouldn't be.

The movie was too long. It was boring and gloomy.  There was nothing uplifting in the film.  I had a headache when I left.

I do understand that the premise of God flooding the earth and wiping out most of mankind is for the most part not going to be a happy tale to show, however, this film was full of darkness and didn't leave you with any good feelings at all.

One of the discrepancies that bothered me the most was how Aronofsky portrayed that Noah was not hearing from God and that Noah interpreted that God wanted Noah's family to be the last of mankind living on the earth.

Mark & I enjoy going to the movies, however, like I'm sure is the same with most of you, your time is precious and you want to be intentional with how you spend it.  I don't recommend that you use up some of your time by seeing this movie.  If you're curious, wait until the dvd release, that way you can always turn it off if you want and you won't have committed quite as much money either.

As we were leaving the movie, I told my husband of one positive outcome that I could imagine coming from people seeing the movie Noah.  I felt that movie goers might have had their curiosity piqued enough to go home and pull out a bible and read the true version of Noah and discover God.

My recommendation:  If you'd like to see a movie about Noah that isn't quite so dark and gloomy, then rent Evan Almighty.  This movie is not strictly true to the Noah of the bible either, however, it's far more enjoyable and you won't feel as though you've lost two hours that you'll never see again.

Movie Review - Captain America

Mark & I had a date night this past Friday night.  We hadn't been to the movies in quite a while, so we had a few to choose from.

We decided to see Captain America in 2D. When we have a choice our preference is to not see a movie in 3D.  Just our personal preference.

We purchased our tickets through the app on Mark's phone.  When we tried to scan in, the app wasn't connecting properly with the ticket machine.  A cast member at the theatre assisted us and directed us to our theatre.  Unfortunately he directed us to the wrong theatre.  We ended up seeing our movie in 3D.

We personally find the 3D version to be a little darker and not as well lit as the 2D option.

Captain America was full of great action scenes and for the most part the movie was very fast paced.

The movie focused on some of the early days of Steve Rogers and how he became Captain America.

Chris Evans plays the role of Captain America very well and it was nice to see Robert Redford competently playing a key role in the movie.

Marvel Studios certainly makes the best comic book film adaptations.

This film was definitely on par with the first Captain America release.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Mark and I have always had a busy life for the most part.  The season we are in now seems to be one of the busiest.

We have three wonderful children who are all young adults now. Their lives intertwine with ours for the most part and we are enjoying having two of our children still living at home. 

Letting busyness rule your life can be detrimental to your marriage and family.  

Quality time is my love language.  But don't be fooled about the myth of 'quality time'.  I'd rather have 2 hours of doing 'nothing' with my husband than ten minutes of 'quality' conversation.  I'm just as happy curling up with him and watching a movie so that we can just decompress while being together.  

Mark and I look for opportunities to be together as well as plan time to be together.  You need to be intentional.  

Take a walk together.  It's a perfect opportunity to hold hands and connect with each other without any distractions. 

Plan a date at the beginning of your busy week and one at the end. Our marriages need intimate connection.  We refuel by spending time together.

Turn off the tv. Find other ways to relax together. Perhaps give each other a massage. 

Look for ways to facilitate conversation. This is so important during seasons of busyness.

Use technology.  Send each other texts and emails. Picture texts can be lots of fun too!  
If you have time, have a quick phone call. Hearing each other's voice can be a nice change.

Are you free for lunch?  Connecting in the middle of the work day can be a great way to spend time together.  The end of the work day can be a tiring and busy time as you arrive home to make supper and maneuver home life.

Pray together.  You don't have time not to.  Praying together is one of the most intimate things you can do as a couple.

KISS!  There's nothing that connects you more than kissing.  Greet each other with a kiss.  Leave each other with a kiss.  Kiss just because you're in the same room.  And don't forget to linger.  This is the person you love more than anyone.  Your best friend.  The one you get to share your whole life with.  

Intimacy reenergizes you and builds deep connection for your marriage.  Out of this time together you can face the challenges and life stuff that comes along.

Make time for each other! It's so worth it.

Love Like God Does

This post is take from my old blog.  I posted this on February 27, 2007.

Love Like God Does

Sometimes it can be difficult to see people the way that God sees them. To see past the walls that they have built to protect themselves. The walls which are inhibiting them from embracing the love that God has for them.

It can be easier to only visualize people where they are right now and not see them fulfilling all of their Godly potential.

I was praying and asking God to help me to love others the way that He does. I asked God to allow me to see people after their hearts have been changed and living for Him. I wanted to see them (in my mind) the way that God can see them. I wanted to be able to love them. I so wanted to see past their situations and see them living in God's will. 

BUT! God said to me that He loves them at their absolute worst. God told me that I have to love them right where they are now. 

John 13:34 says "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Things I Love About My Husband

Mark and I started dating 33 years ago.  

We became best friends and fell in love.  I am so blessed to have been married to the love of my life for over 25 years.   Staying married and being together until 'death do us part' is non-negotiable for us.

I still get excited when I see him.  If he sends me a special text telling me he loves me or an email telling me I'm beautiful, my face lights up and my heart is full.

Everyday is not a fairytale. Marriage means committing to real life together. Forever.  Marriage is a Vow.  Not a contract.  

My husband adores me and I love and and respect him. 

My love for him has continued to grow and to honor him I'm making a list of what I love about him.  It will continue to grow as I am reminded daily of his many character attributes that have captured my heart.

1. He loves God.
2. He loves me.
3. He loves our children.
4. He is funny. He has a quick sense of humour.  He shows his love to me by letting me be the object of his humour.
5. He is incredibly intelligent.
6. He has amazing blue eyes. When he looks into my eyes, my heart melts.
7. He says he's proud of me.  (Wow!  That is so important to me.)
8. I love his voice.  
9. The way he forgives me when I make mistakes.
10. He prays with me and for me.  This speaks so deeply to me and solidifies our relationship.
11. He always holds my hand whenever we are walking.
12. He is a great cook and enjoys making meals for me.
13. He vacuums and mops. Every week. (I know I am spoiled.)
14. He likes to take care of me.
15. He is the perfect height for me.
16. Although he is right most of the time, he doesn't rub it in.
17. He can always make my troubles go away with an 'I love you'.
18. I can tell him anything and he won't be shocked.
19. He has incredible integrity.
20. He is all I've ever wanted for my husband.
21. He didn't freak when I got a tattoo without telling him.
22. He is patient with me.
23. His strength. Physical and spiritual.
24. He inspires me and brings adventure to my life.
25. He is my biggest encourager and supporter.
26. He is very sexy.
27. His strong arms.
28. He sets goals and achieves them.
29. He dreams with me.
30. He is creative.
31. He often puts me first.
31. He wants to make my dreams come true.
32. He is ambitious.
33. I feel so protected when he wraps his strong arms around me.
34. When he reads to me.
35. I love when he surprises me.
36. He is thoughtful.
37. He has fun with me.
38. I can be silly with him.
39. He'll take me shopping.
40. He celebrates marriage.
41. I love when he sings to me.
42. He thinks I'm sexy.
43. He is an incorrigible tease.
44. He is generous with me. Sometimes too much.
45. He loves me freely. He only expects me to be me.
46. He inspires me to be my very best. He never gives up on me.
47. He invests in me.
48. His confidence in himself.
49. He handles stress very well. He brings peace to me.
50. He is willing to try anything.
51. He sees more in me than I often do.
52. He is prompt. I am not.
53. I love standing beside him.
54. He talks to me.
55. He has always made 'us' a priority.
56. He tells me he loves me.
57. He is a great kisser.
58. He is good at forgiving me for my occasional stupidity.
59. He is the friend and the lover that I've always dreamed of.
60. He is my best friend.
61. He extends grace to me when I definitely don't deserve it.
62. He works tirelessly for our family
63. He is open and honest with me
64. He doesn't let our conflicts carry over to another day
65. He makes great eggs - the way I like them
66. He is great at decision making
67. He reads his bible
68. He is steadfast
69. He likes to have fun with me

Too be continued....

The Truth in Love

Speaking the 'truth in love' can be a very difficult thing to do.  And a very difficult thing to receive.  And sometimes unnecessary.

Confronting isn't always ours to do.

If my friend is talking disrespectfully about her husband; complaining and not honouring him, is it my job to confront her?

If my husband is not helping around the house, or watching too much tv, do I tell him?
Or if my husband is short with our children, do I need to confront him?

Sometimes love doesn't need to speak.  Sometimes love remembers that I watch too much tv, get angry with the children and sometimes complain as well. Sometimes love just prays.

When I see something someone in my life is doing wrong, sometimes the best thing I can do is pray and trust the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26
"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall everything I have told you."

The Holy Spirit is there to convict us because God loves us and wants the best for our lives. His conviction is all about God's love.

When I give the situation to God and He can speak into the hearts. I have seen God change hearts in a way that would never be possible for me to do.  God loves our friends, our children, our husband and our marriage even more than we do.

I need to remember that true change takes place when the Holy Spirit speaks, not me.

Love, Honor & Respect

I deeply love my husband. We have been married for more than 25 years and I can unequivocally say that I love him more now than I did on our wedding day.  He is my best friend.  

He is a man of integrity and strength.  I honor him completely.

He is very wise and I submit myself to his leadership and spiritual guidance.  I respect him.

I love and adore our three children.  They bring life to our home and have made us a family.

I am honored to be their mother and to be their friend.

Our children are now young adults and as they begin to make their own choices and establish their own lives, I need to show them respect.

I also need to show love, honor and respect to myself. 


We're so much better than we've become, because God is so much greater than we're allowing Him to be through us. 


"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12