How We Survive Marriage - Part 1

I'm going to start a couple series here on my blog. There are some things I have been wanting to post about but the topics cover too much for just one post.

Can you guess what this series is about? Marriage you say? Why how did you guess that? You're just so stinkin' smart. :)

So here we go. I was looking through our wedding photos the other day. It made me realize just how far my husband and I have come in the past few years regarding our relationship. We were pitiful in the beginning. We used to fight all the time. Even before we got married, while we were going through pre-marriage counseling, I called numerous times to cancel the counseling sessions because we were calling off the wedding. I look back and laugh now, but at the time it wasn't fun. We have learned so much through this marriage process. We are by no means anywhere near being experts at marriage, but I do feel like we have either learned or been taught by others many things that are essential to a lasting marriage. Marriage is one of satan's favorite things to attack, because it is symbolic of Jesus and His Church. Divorce has a negative effect on all of those involved, but it takes work and compromise to avoid it. In this series I am going to share what we have learned to keep us away from divorce.

Let me start by saying that I do believe there are times when divorce is the best answer. I do believe that God can change anyone to make a marriage last, but sometimes people don't want to change. If a man is abusing his wife and children, mentally or physically, with no remorse or attempt to change, then unfortunately divorce is the solution to protect the wife and kids' well being.

The first thing that I believe is essential to a lasting marriage is making God a priority. Psalm 127:1 says "Unless the Lord builds the house,They labor in vain who build it." I've learned that God has to be at the center of our marriage for it to work. Any time there is discontentment between my husband and me, I try to take a step back and examine my relationship with Jesus, and nine times out of ten, it is not our marriage relationship that needs work. If my relationship with God is where it should be, then usually all my other relationships easily fall into place. I don't mean that there won't ever be any problems, but if I am in proper relationship with God, then when those problems do arise, they don't have a lasting negative effect.


Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Most people don't realize how real the spiritual world around us is. I've learned the more we pray together, the better we get along. I firmly believe our spiritual lives effect every other aspect of our lives. If we take care of our spiritual needs first, then the other areas of our lives will more easily fall into proper alingnment.

More to come.........

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Five Question Friday

One two three. Here is some stuff about me. Like my mad rhyming skills?

1. How much time do you spend on the computer a day?

This varies greatly from day to day. If I don't have a lot to do and my kids go to bed early, I might spend a few hours. On busy days I'm on here for about 30 minutes. Usually on the weekends I'm not on the computer at all unless I need to look up something.

2. Will you pay for your children's college or raise them to pay for their own way?

We will help our kids financially as much as we can, while making sure they are financially smart. I don't want them finishing college with a lot of debt. My parents did a good job of making sure I wasn't too dumb when it came to my finances and I want to make sure we do the same for our kids. Credit cards are evil. I will teach that to my kids just like my parents taught me.

3. Have you ever been in a car accident?

I've been in too many. In one when I was young I earned my first ambulance ride thanks to a bump on the head. When I was fifteen I was in a bad wreck where we ran over a brick mailbox and flipped quite a few times. There were four of us in the car and nobody was over fifteen. Not smart. My parents were notified (don't remember how) and when they tried to come to where the wreck happened the road was blocked off and the police didn't want to let them come to us. I think they panicked a little. God had His hand on us because we were all ok. Literally minutes before we wrecked something told me to put on my seatbelt and I made the driver put on his. Only bumps, bruises, staples, and stitches were the end result. I've been in a few other minor accidents. I'm a pro. Not by choice.

4. What is your favorite book?

Green Eggs and Ham......or did you mean a more grown up book? I can't pick one. Yes, I am a fan of the Twilight series but I wouldn't say it is my fave. Right now I am loving Karen Kingsbury's books.

5. Do you make your bed everyday?

My bed has to be made before I go to bed, but sometimes that doesn't happen until right before bed time. I don't sleep good unless my bed is just right. I'm wierd like that.

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Notice something different?

I bet you do notice something different, unless it is your first time visiting. If you are a first timer, welcome. If you are an "old friend," let me know if you like the new look.

I think I'll be happy with the design of my blog for a while. I'm done playing with it for the night. Goodnight all.

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The Point of No Return

Hi blog world. I have missed you.

I said I wasn't posting this week. I guess I lied. I am somewhat caught up with everything. Maybe that's another lie, but it is raining here today so I will have time to get everything caught up.

Tomorrow is the day I have to register Jazlyn for kindergarten. We considered homeschooling, but anyone who knows her knows she would do much better in a class with other kids. Jazlyn is very social, maybe a little too social at times. I think she might get bored and resent school time if she is at home everyday with only her brother and me.

So tomorrow is the point of no return. I am going to get her blue card in the morning, then we are heading to the school. I didn't think it would be this hard. I don't want Jazlyn's world to change. Right now in her world she is the princess and people are nice to her. She hasn't been around too many people that are just plain ole mean, like some of the kids she might encounter in the classroom. Right now I always know what she is doing and who she comes in contact with. In five months her life will be out of my control. Boo to losing control.

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Blogging Vacation

I'm not going to do any blogging this week. The weather has been nice, so we have been spending a lot of time outside. We have had a lot of fun, but my house has been neglected. I also have some stuff I need to get done this week for church. I don't think blogging will fit into the picture if I am going to do what needs to be done.

I'm so sorry to disappoint you. Hopefully next week you will get the privilege of reading my interesting posts. :)

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Five Question Friday

Ready. Set. Go.

1. What's your guilty pleasure?

Right now I would have to say Coke. I have been steering clear of the calorie loaded drinks. Sometimes. And just in case you're not from the south, Coke is Sprite, Sunkist, Coca-Cola, Mt. Dew, root beer, etc. Coke in the south is anything carbonated. My husband calls it pop still sometimes and it drives me crazy, just like I probably drive him crazy calling it coke. My other weakness at the moment is Oreos. Yummmm.

I know I probably have the lamest answer. I'm a boring person nowadays.

2. What is your favorite TV series?

Really just one? How about I pick five and we pretend I picked just one? Ok.

Big Bang Theory (funniest show ever!), Criminal Minds, CSI(all of them), Biggest Loser, real life crime shows like Dateline, 48 Hours Mystery.

3. Can you speak any foreign languages?

Hola. Como Estas? That's as far as my foreign language abilities go.

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Is there really a woman who can give an accurate answer to this question?

5. What's your favorite kind of M&M's...peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.?

Peanut or peanut butter, depending on my mood.

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I Don't Feel Like It

I feel like I'm in a rut. I'm not sure how to get out. Actually I do know how to get out, but I don't feel like it.

I don't feel like cleaning my house.

I don't feel like teaching Jazlyn anything.

I don't feel like doing the dishes.

I don't feel like cooking.

I don't feel like picking up toys.

I don't feel like praying.

I don't feel like reading spiritual stuff.

I don't feel like spending time with God.

That last sentence is my real problem, letting my feelings dictate what I do. I need God in my life. If he's not a priority in my life then I get in a rut. I need that fellowship with him to be a good wife and mother. Sometimes it seems like it is just easier not to take the time to read my Bible. Sometimes it seems like it is easier not to to take the time to pray, and instead just go about my day.

That's when the rut comes. Every time I begin to feel this way, it is the same reason behind the cause of it. God speaks to us everyday. If we are too "busy," or just don't feel like hearing from Him, we become more and more distant from the One we need most. This results in the rut. So....

I don't feel like praying, but I'm going to.

I don't feel like reading the Word, but I'm going to.

I don't feel like communing with God, but I'm going to.

Nehemiah 8:10 says "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." Fellowship with God brings joy. Joy brings strength. If I spend time with Him, even though I don't feel like it, He will give me strength to get through the day.

Is there anyone else that can relate to being in this rut?

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Kids' Passions

If you are a long time reader of my blog, then you are cool, and you know that Jazlyn loves to dance. Jazlyn also loves to run, so this year we are going to let her try soccer. She is a very prissy girly girl, so I'm not quite sure how that will turn out. She might go to one practice, get a smudge of dirt on her, and decide that outdoor sports are not for her. We are going to let her try as many things as we can think of to help her figure out what her passions are. I know one of Jazlyn's passions is dance, but we want to find out if there are any others.

Isaiah is still young, but I think he might have a thing for music. Any time he hears music he stops whatever he is doing and starts clapping his hands. He is much more aware of music than Jazlyn was at his age. We'll see if it is something that keeps his interest or not.

I believe that God puts a desire or passion is us for the things that we are supposed to do in life. Some love to sing. Some love to dance. Some love sports, and some love music. My husband and I have made the decision that we are going to do everything we can to give our children the tools they need to find their passions and be successful in them, whatever those passions may be.

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What's up with all these blizzards?

A light dusting on the ground is considered a blizzard here in Alabama. We have much more than a light dusting now, so the blizzard has probably been here for hours. And it is still coming down. I'm sure we have seen more snow this winter than the past five years combined.

In Alabama snow doesn't mean the same thing as it does in the northern states. Our state goes into complete panic mode when the "s" word is mentioned. Panic mode means the grocery stores are wiped out clean. If we are expecting more than half an inch, eggs, milk, and bread will not be found in any stores. Panic mode also means the kids get to stay home from school, even if there is no snow or ice on the roads. Frost bite sets in quicker in Alabama than anywhere else so we can't take the chance of the kids having to walk from their house to the bus through the snow. *Yes, that was sarcasm.*

It is Tuesday and there is a blizzard today. This past Sunday we had to turn on the air conditioner in the car. This weekend the high is 67 degrees. Gotta love this unpredictable Alabama weather.

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My Sweet Kids (pictures)

It's been a while since I have posted any pictures on here. My camera is still doing the funny line thing. I need to check on the warranty for it. I have something exciting for you today, because you have been deprived long enough. Pictures!

Friends who are photographers are great, especially when they take pictures of your son at a birthday party and send them to you. The pictures of Jazlyn are older ones taken by my dad. Enjoy.

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