My Valentine
He loves God more than he loves me – I love his faith and commitment to Christ. He challenges me in my spiritual walk (and I hope I challenge him as well.) My love for Scott wouldn’t be anything though, without my love for Christ! And I know that he says the exact same thing.
He knows how to love – Scott loves others deeply. For this reason, he worries and has a desire to please others. He invests deeply, which also means he can be hurt deeply. He knows how to love his family. What more could a wife and mother ask for?
He invests with everything – Scott is a giver. He can rarely carry his full allowance for the week because he would give it all away. He gives his entire heart and being. Scott really doesn’t know how to do anything half way.
He is my partner –Scott loves doing anything with me. We have fun, even if he has to walk around Barnes and Noble while I dream about my next book purchases. We definitely do life different from a lot of people, and I am so thankful that God made him for me.
He has a common desire with me – Scott and I both desire for our marriage to bring glory to God. We do this through the roles that God has given each of us, but even more than that, at a foundational level of self-denial. Scott loves an imperfect wife, just as I love an imperfect husband. Our ability to do this, to put each other first, to honor and show respect and love comes from our satisfaction in Christ.
Helping my memories!
Time for a recap of life – helping my memory one day.
- Scott is extremely busy (as usual) but because of some very fun and different choices. His life has been consumed by North River for so long that he lost his ability to interact outside of the “church” community. When he was asked to coach the girls (YES girls) Hillcrest High School soccer team – we talked about it, prayed about it and then decided to jump in. It is a way to meet more families, interact with teenagers, and be around Dean without “being around.” And yes, we know that Ariel no longer plays soccer for HHS, but Dean does!
- Dean is loving soccer, counting down the days until track starts and developing a budding spiritual and social life. I am thankful that they are intertwined right now. He had the chance to go to The Basement in Birmingham last week and LOVED it! I love to see him studying his bible at night. It warms my heart.
- Dean was up at the crack of dawn this morning, literally. I was up around 5:45 and was determined NOT to get out of bed before 6:00 am, which is my normal time to get up and study God’s Word. But Dean was up and we had the best morning. He went running as the sun came up, I read and prayed and then we cooked a big breakfast of eggs, bacon and applesauce and just enjoyed our time talking. I know Scott would have enjoyed it if he hadn’t gotten in at 11:30 last night. Sometimes church “work” just kills me.
- Ariel is busy at Auburn. We text and talk but all I really know is that she is busy, doing well, working, involved in some clubs, and really looking forward to her Valentine’s with Spencer.
- Date night is tonight! LOVE IT!
- Several weeks ago I started to notice some issues I was having with itching, nausea, etc and couldn’t quite figure it out. As I paid more attention to it, I noticed it was always after eating dairy. I knew it and just didn’t want to acknowledge it. How could I possible go gluten free/dairy free? Turns out pretty darn easy. I can’t describe how good I feel. Not good but great!!!! I accidentally was “glutened” last week and oh my….the aches, joint pains, etc that developed was debilitating. Scott was worried and new exactly what happened before I did. He has taken to my new eating requirements super great and Dean is loving it!!! I think Dean does better than Scott and feels so much better as well. Hopefully, Scott will be on board soon.
- I am amazed at the research and connection between Celiac and gallbladder disease. Makes you wonder!!
- Did I mention date night?!
- I am thoroughly enjoying my personal study of the life of Paul. I have learned so much. I have just reached Paul and Silas’ prison stay. God is amazing. Did you know Paul had disagreements with fellow disciples? They separated to better reach other for Christ and to calm down.
- I am also thoroughly enjoying my group study on the life of Joseph. Love that Joseph’s whole life points all of us directly to Christ!
- Working on scripture memory. You can join us at www.chosenladies.wordpress.com
Cooking
I really do not mean to disappear from the world, not writing for days or even weeks. Somehow it just happens. Scott returns from Sudan and life resumes. Life is good.
Over the last several weeks however, I have really started to pay close attention to my food intake and my body’s reaction to it. Why? I am not real sure. Maybe because of the deep study of gluten ingredients. Maybe it is the study of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Or the hormones, fake ingredients, badly labeled packages, etc. Food that we eat sometimes tends to be very gross when you think about it.
My love for cooking has grown into a more natural cooking lifestyle approach. Hopefully my honey will slowly buy into it as well. Our menu plans have gotten healthier, more organic, and much more natural. The more I read and study, I really learn that our definitions for healthier aren’t always true or correct.
This weekend, I did make a very bad, sugar full dessert requested annually for Valentine’s – Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches. My crew fully enjoyed them. Hopefully, I offset that by some very healthy snacks and meal planning.
- Homemade pico de gallo
- homemade guacamole
- chickpeas with spices
- gluten free/sugar free muffins
- almond milk pancakes
Now, to cut out more sugar and the pasta from my family’s palate. Has anyone done this with success?
My day
Thursday
- Wake Up
- Take Gideon out
- Eat Breakfast
- Quiet Time
- Shower
- Wake up Dean
- Finish getting ready
- Off to school after writing checks for events, going over afternoon routine and forgetting Dean’s breakfast
- Drop Dean off at school
- Realize that I forgot to send Reagan her birthday gift
- Rush to grocery store – buy food for tonight and birthday card
- Arrive to work a few minutes late
- Mail card, answer a few emails
- Watch flight tracker and the clock
- No more concentrating
- Waiting
- Praying
- Excitement building
Walking Contradiction
My heart is racing and excitement is building. Tomorrow is coming and all I know is Delta better be on time and the weather better be great! My best friend is coming home!
This trip has been a wonderful experience for my husband. I know that I have also had plenty of time to pray, write, study, and meditate. The lack of communication and the chance to step back from a lot of different responsibilities has offered a chance to unwind, regroup and “power up.”
For the last several months, I had wanted to know that all the sacrifices that our family makes….that I make….that Dean and Ariel make….that Scott makes…mattered. What a self-centered, human view.
I am a walking contradiction. So busy and so single-minded but yet a deep need to know and feel loved. I am one of those type people who really doesn’t like to visit hospitals but I want everyone to visit me in the hospital or send a text message. I want to know that my sacrifices matter. Do you hear all the “my” and “me” in those sentences? Honestly, it has meant the world to me to receive phone calls or texts just to check up on how I was doing. I mean 10 days is a long time with sporadic communication, 28 hours of travel time, and a whole ocean separating you from the one you love. From my heart thank you for caring and showing love this way.
With that being said, I am definitely learning a lot about mercy and compassion and communication through this latest travel separation and my selfishness over the last several months. I know that as minister’s wives, seeking approval from others is a dangerous but realistic part of our lives. And I was slowly falling into that trap. Praise God for His reminders though! My verse for 2012:
Galatians 1:10 ”Obviously, I am not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
Amen! And Welcome honey Scottie!