thankful

This happened last night just down the highway from us in a town we love to visit- Branson. I woke up during the storms last night and was pretty scared, but made it through without turning on the tv, waking up Jason, or cowering in a closet. I normally would have done one or all of the above. I didn't freak out like I normally do. Scared, Yes, freaked out, no. Sometimes being oblivious is the best anti freak out medicine for me. You know what is even better? The peace of God. That's what I had. We were protected last night and I am SO THANKFUL! Missouri has defiantely had some pretty scary storms in my brief year and a half i've lived here. I pray that God continues to protect us. Next on my list, find a way to be warned: We live in the country and there are no sirens.. that's right.. no sirens! I pray that God wakes us up if any real threat was nearby. I may also need some sort of texting warning from our local news people. I'm going to look into that.. Thank you Lord for safety.

real life courageous

I am so excited to write this post. I am extremely proud of my husband. Saturday night, we finally were able to have our Courageous dinner. Jason was totally moved by the movie Courageous. It's a movie about being the man of the household and providing godly leadership in the home. IT's about being faithful to your wife and being a good father that your kids can look up to. Click   here to learn more. In the movie, the 5 main characters sign a resolution as an outward sign of their committment to godly leadership in their homes.

THE RESOLUTION

I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15

 
In October, the men of our church stated and signed this resolution as a group on a Sunday night. We were in Memphis for mom's birthday and were unable to attend. So we had our own ceremony. We invited two godly couples who have been mentors in Jason's life to pray over and lead the reading of the resolution. It was such an amazing night. You know there were tears coming out of this girl. The resolution was signed and framed in our home.

friday fav.

we kicked off our wedding with worship- "Revelation Song" to be exact. It totally set the tone for our ceremony~ so full of God and his love and anointing~ definately a special moment I will cherish forever~

prayer

I love my online devos. Here's one from today. Inpired..

Dear Lord, thank You for seeing the good in me. Your thoughts are not critical and condemning, instead You celebrate every little bit of progress I make. Your belief in me makes me want to do better. Help me to give that gift to others and myself. In Jesus name, Amen.

leaving a legacy

Today I want to honor my grandparents.. Leroy and Ruth Wiley. Over the weekend (Sunday) the church that my grandfather attends and serves in, honored them for 60 years of ministry in the Assemblies of God and grandpa's retirement. (for the second time). Grandpa, like mom, has a hard time slowing down and it took twice for him to retire.  For all of his adult life, grandpa has been pastoring mostly smaller churches across the great state of Pennsylvania. He and grandma landed in Chambersburg, PA. in a church that has done so much to honor them over the years. It is here that grandpa has served as visitation/benevolence pastor.  The church even built them a very nice home to live in. They have given honor to whom honor is due. I was not able to go to their special service on Sunday, but mom went, along with all of her siblings (8 others to be exact). During the service,  multiple testimonies were shared, telling of  how  grandma and grandpa have touched their lives. There was a representative from the district who also spoke. The church  made them a nice memory quilt of all the churches they've served and took them to a nice lunch afterwards. My grandparents loved touching people's lives in the name of Jesus. They served with humility. They were genuine and loved the Lord and his service. They gave up so much in the name of Jesus and of his service. There was a price to pay, but they paid it without wavering.  What a legacy. I am  blessed to be a part of their family and to have this as my heritage. I am so proud of my grandparents and strive to leave the same legacy for my children and their children.

the red carpet

I was inspired by this simple way of counting your blessings- with a theme! It was written by Courtney of women living well . I did, however, insert my own list of things I am thankful for. I love watching the academy awards and I'm pretty interested with all things celebrity. I can tell you what the gossip magazines said before I can tell you what Fox News or CNN said- sad, but true. This is a wonderful way of counting your blessings- Academy Awards style..

(this is Courtney's part)

The Academy Awards are this weekend.

It’s the famous ones who walk the red carpet.

It’s the honored ones who walk the red carpet.

It’s the beautiful ones who walk the red carpet.

It’s the talented ones who walk the red carpet.

It’s the wealthy ones who walk the red carpet.

It’s the gifted ones who walk the red carpet.

And I…I am about to walk the red carpet!

Every morning, I walk the red carpet right up to my sink where I rinse the morning dishes.- (I , Christa, actually have a red carpet at my sink as well)

Christa's part~

I am honored to have a husband who loves, honors, and respects me.

I am beautiful in the eyes of the Lord, living out his will for my life as a wife and lady of our home, as a minister to the prescious children at church , and as a daughter of the king.

I am wealthy on the red carpet, for many in the world do not have a sink with running water in their kitchen. We have a roof over our heads and cars to get around in.

I am gifted on the red carpet – gifted with the riches of God’s grace that come through my faith in Christ Jesus his son.Gifted with the talents and skills that God has given me and with friends and family whom I love and love me in return.

There is no greater honor than the red carpet walk I do every morning in my kitchen.

Join me, as you step up to your kitchen sink – in welcoming a joy that the world cannot understand.

bessie's birthday, pig intestines, and rabbis

So much to talk about! Last week I didn't go home until 8:30/9 every night . I will try and cover the highlights..

Thursday night, Jason's family celebrated the 80th birthday of his sweet mimi, Bessie Faye. She's from Mississippi and she acts and talks like it too. She's a little spitfire and doing and looking so well for her age! Jason and I gifted her with a photo album of pictures that I took that evening. photos here

Friday night i went to a "cropping" fundraiser with some of the same people- Jason's cousin Heather and her sweet mom, Patty. What is cropping you ask? Well, it's a scrapbook expert's term for Scrapbooking. I have been gathering supplies for about a year now and I was finally ready to start my official wedding scrapbook. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I will have to take some shots of my fav. pages to share here.

Saturday was a  FREE DAY! I woke up a little earlier than normal because I was so excited to start editing the photos from Mimi's party. I got that done and did some deep cleaning around the house. Then Jason and I set out for errand running. It was a beautiful day and an activity we both enjoy. We were productive then rewarded ourselves with some mexican. YUMM!! Except for one part- My husband, the sneaky man, talked me into trying Menudo- a traditional Mexican soup. He had told me about it before and said I needed to try it. Well.. I tried it. The main ingredient is Tripe- ok, it's fish.. or so I thought.. Yep, tripe is PIG INTESTINES!! ICK!  I hated the taste before I even knew what it was. BLEH!! Jason gave me a gold star for trusting him in trying something without knowing what it really was. He's a sneaky one he is.. I will have to get him back!

Sunday was fun. A short day. We had to go back in to church for Easter musical rehearsal at 4:00. Kid's service was fun. We are doing a series on "The Names of Jesus" and last night's word was "Rabbi"- teacher. Jason dressed up in a full Rabbi garb and taught the lesson complete with a Jewish accent. It was classic. Another highlight was that Jason  had Jr. Rabbi's come up one at a time to read the scriptures that went along with the lesson: the kids giggled every time their friends put on a bible headwrap similar to Jason's. We got pictures, but they are not on my camera =( I will get them posted soon. We ended the kid's service playing bible trivia twister. Good times.

It's monday. Another free night. Jason and I will definately enjoy having some time to recover from a busy week and weekend. Until next time..

friday fav.

OK, remind you of a certain reality show.. starts with a B ends with an achelor. Haha! This pic. was taken at my wedding shower at my church in Memphis. These lovely ladies/lifelong mommas and friends were the hostesses of a very special night~ I am blessed.

less of this and a little more of that

I LOVE snow! So much that I feel like i'm one of the only ones hoping for it. This is what it's looked like around here the past several days

this was actually the road we live on - yikes!

Jason has fun with my camera. =)

I really wish I had my camera for the times the snow was coming down.. It was soo pretty. Anyway.. i've been telling family and friends that if we could have just one more snow (this would be it) that I would be ready for some of this

we've planned a trip to Florida in the Fall to visit our dear friends- ohmygoodness.. it's been too long since i've seen this view.. since 09 when I took this picture!

BIG CEDAR!

It will be here before we know it- Hang in there!!

a little testimony

Part of the reason I write this blog is to remember.. the moments..the celebrations.. the little things.. Well, I just wanted to share a God thing. My poor husband has been sick quite a bit this winter. Our weather here in the Ozarks has been so up and down it's not suprising. This past Sunday, Jason quickly came down with a cold that settled into his chest almost instantly. He decided to stay home Monday and sent an e-mail to his Greek professor and called in to work. I insisted that he go to the doctor for meds and he obeyed. After resting the past two days, he decided to go on back in to school and work today, despite the fact that he's not feeling 100% quite yet. He had a test to take and a kitchen that is still in need of being put back together.

Before leaving the house, we did our routine prayer time.. asking for strength and guidance for the day and of course, healing and strength for Jason today.

He got to his class- canceled and test delayed until Friday.

He got to work- home owner came home unexpectedly and told Jason to go home and rest.

WOW! It was like God telling Jason- you need more rest.. i'm going to work everything else out. Is that cool or what? That's my God! I HAD to share. He loves us so much and cares about our needs. Praise him today!

our love story in pictures~ part 1

Love is in the air. This week we will celebrate a holiday dedicated to love. In honor of that special holiday, here's our love story...

These were the first pictures I saw of Jason~we were set up by a mutual friend and  dated long distance

our first Valentine's day together and Jason's first visit to Memphis



Jesus is my boyfriend






Jason came to visit me during a very special week for my family and I~ Royal Family Kid's Camp~ He not only stayed, he helped out and totally was right there for everything- ahh.. this is the man for me!

 

our first trip to the grocery store~



later that night~ he asked me to marry him!

he proposed in a beautiful park~ we carved our names on the spot

Jason's family celebrates our engagement

shuffleboarding at Big Cedar resort

my handsome new husband~on our way to our honeymoon

our honeymoon~ a bike ride through Dogwood Canyon





all you need is love

Happy Valentine's Day! =) My sweet hubby had these beautiful roses for me last night when I got home from work. He wanted to make sure I had them to take to work with me today. So thoughtful!( I will share the pictures from what I did for him this morning later)  I love my man more and more everyday. Valentines day may be oober sappy and rediculous to some, but it's a very special day for me and I love the sappiness. Jason and I officially had our first weekend together (we dated long distance) on Valentines Day (here's your visual from that weekend).. it was also the date of our first kiss (oo la la!) It was a wonderful weekend. I will never forget going to Pei Wei (one of my favorite Japanese restaurants) and just being in a trance as we shared a wonderful conversation and totally fell for one another. It was like a dream. Alright.. I'm done with the sappy stuff (mostly)..

This year we actually celebrated Saturday night because we have redemtption ministries classes tonight. I made him a dinner of baked shrimp in a butter/white wine/ lemon/ greek seasoning sauce along with some four cheese bread for dipping.  I also made lettuce wraps and strawberry cake for dessert. It all turned out quite well. I continue to get more and more confident in the kitchen. It's amazing what you can learn not only from watching the food network, but just through  plain experience. I love growing as a wife and lady of my home. It's a true delight. Anyway.. after dinner we exchanged gifts. I got him this

It's one of the best christian movies to date.. if you haven't seen it.. DO! It's all about being the man/father God created you to be. Jason cried in the theater when we went to see it. Very moving and powerful!
Jason got me a tin of Gherideli chocolates.. including my fav. raspberry with dark chocolate- YUM! Along with two cards (one serious and one funny). He's so sweet. AND this..

Funny story.. I actually got this same ring for Christmas, but was fiddling with it one day and dropped it on the hard floor and chipped off pieces of the stone.  =( I was SO bummed.. so Jason replaced it. =) Anyway.. we enjoyed our evening by candlelight and our cool new electric fireplace. It was a night to remember.

Tonight we will be showing love in another way. Every Tuesday Jason teaches  a men's class for the recovery ministries at our church. I help out in the women's class that same night. Tonight, we get to show the members of the class God's love. We will enjoy a Valentine's Day potluck. How fulfilling. I think that's a pretty wonderful way to spend Valentine's day. God IS love after all.

cultivate beauty

”Whatever keeps us from his beauty keeps us from his presence.”


I just read this post from one of the blogs I follow "Women Living Well" It was about preserving the beauty around us and how to make everything more beautiful. I think I tend to do this  naturally. I absolutely love making things more beautiful and special by setting the surroundings.. setting an atmosphere.. it's so simple to add a candle here.. some music.. a fireplace. If you just take a few extra minutes to make this happen... it's soo worth it. The writer of this list saved her family by observing some of these same guidelines:


. You can read books together – to make books even more beautiful – do it beside a fireplace with a warm glow.


2. You can serve the family a warm dinner – but if you add a candle and some light music it becomes an event.

3. Take the time to make holidays extra special – celebrate life together – this builds a beautiful strong foundation.

4. Read good books – you can only give to your children what you already possess inside. Good books are essential not a frivolity.

5. Expose your children to the best things – the best art, best people, best books, and the best thoughts.

And all this beauty doesn’t happen by accident. We must cultivate time for beauty and time to celebrate life with our families. We must remain connected to the source of all beauty.

I am so thankful for the advice of these godly women.. I pray that I can serve my home, my family, my husband with excellence.. as God would have me to do.

speaking of beauty.. it snowed today.. still snowing actually.. here's what my drive (no worries, Jason was driving) looked like this morning

friday fav.

I knew ahead of time what pic I wanted to post today. In honor of Valentine's day.. this is Jason and I on our first- we didn't plan our outfits.. I promise!

{added later today} ok, i'll admit.. I tend to revisit my blog several times a day.. not sure why.. I DO know that I like to check my stats for readers and also for comments (love them). I think I also like to know what my blog looks like and I look at it with a critical eye. Anyway.. during my most recent visit (just now) I've noticed that there's something up with my hair.. humm.. LOVE the picture.. not so much my hair. Oh well.. it's a sentimental pic. and there's this dark haired blue eyed handsome man that distracts me from seeing the flaws.. ;) Happy weekend friends!

10 ways to honor your hubby

A friend posted this on facebook so i checked out the link- A GOLD MINE of knowledge and Godly wisdom greeted me. I wanted to save these words so I can live by them. I love the simple instructions for such important and valuable princlples to live by.

10 Practical Ways to Honor Your Hubby


by: Grace Driscoll on Feb 08, 2012 in Marriage

This Sunday's sermon was "The Respectful Wife," based on my chapter in Real Marriage. On Tuesday, I wrote a long post on what it means to be a respectful wife and honor your husband. Today, I thought I'd offer up 10 practical ways you can honor your husband.


1. Pray faithfully.

When I pray for my husband, the Holy Spirit softens my heart and his, and I learn to trust God with my marriage.

2. Grow personally.

Time with Jesus and the Bible, studying and repenting are essential to honoring our husbands.

3. Encourage regularly.

As you encourage him, you will begin to understand all the ways you can be thankful rather than grumbling.

4. Inquire daily.

Don't just ask what he did during the day. Rather, ask how he is doing so you can find ways to serve him if he is stressed or celebrate with him if he is excited.

5. Pursue intimately.

When you work on the friendship, the intimacy becomes more mutually enjoyable, so be willing to step up and pursue him.

6. Play frequently.

When a marriage is all work and no play, it feels like a business partnership instead of a loving partnership, so plan fun.

7. Listen attentively.

Women love to talk, but it is important to learn to listen in order to get to know your husband better.

8. Speak respectfully.

Make sure your tone isn't out of bitterness or unrighteous anger. His ability to lead will suffer if you are disrespectful.

9. Correct privately.

When you see sin or error, do not try to belittle him publicly, but instead prayerfully approach him with your concerns in private.

10. Laugh loudly.

Back to having fun, don't allow life to get so serious that you don't ever laugh together.

nothing can separate

This morning on my drive in to work I was listening to one of my absolute favorite worship cd's- Travis Cottrell- Jesus Saves Live.

 I highly recommend it! No, it's not the latest and greatest, but it's completely anionted and chocked full of excellent praise and worship. There is one song.. oh my goodness.. I'm not even sure of the name of the song so i'll make it up (a common occurance) "Nothing Can Seperate" This song puts to music the words of Romans 8:31-39.

     31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wow! What amazing words! In one section of the song, Beth Moore, one of my absolute favorite bible teachers speaks these words with an anointing that just moves me. This song has definately brought me to tears over and over. This morning was one of those times. Music definately moves me.. and when you add scripture, espically spoken, to it.. GOOD STUFF! 

 God's love reaches across all boundaries.. no height, no depth, no earthly power can separate us from God's love. Umm.. that's my God.  I challenge you to meditate on these words today and allow God's love.. his strength.. wash over you and bring you peace. Then, praise him for his love and his faithfulness.. his goodness. I guarantee it will lift your spirits. It sure lifted mine!