Happy Memorial Day

My heart goes out to all the soldiers and their families this Memorial Day.  Words are so insignificant, really.  All I can say from my family and I, is Thank you.  Thank you for your bravery, for your patriotism, for finishing well, for your service.

Matthew 25:23:...Well done, my good and faithful servant...

Praying for God's peace and courage for the families, friends, and soldiers, past and present and future.  May you all experience comfort and strength that only God can provide...

a warning?

I feel moved to write about this, and I know it will cause some to say I'm over- reacting, or I'm too sensitive.  The truth is this, though:  I'm not over-reacting, and I'm not too sensitive about this.  And no one else wants to talk about it...

I'm sure many people have read The Hunger Games trilogy.  I have, and I thought it was both horrible and fantastic at the same time.  I couldn't put the books down.  I was fascinated with the characters, but even more so with their situations.  And for all the horror of that story, many just would say it's just a book... for kids... it is pretend and not real.

But, I think it is.

Of course, we are not offering up our children as tributes in a fight to the death for entertainment.  Praise God.  But we are very slowly and very surely moving toward the "anything goes" motto for entertainment.  Reality TV and the sensationalism of death, murder, sex, cheating, gambling, drug use, etc... is affecting our culture, and most decidedly our children and spouses.  Video games are so real and life-like that the violence portrayed in them isn't met with any kind of horror or remorse- it's just fun and exciting.  The news is full of stories about cheating celebrities, death by drugs, gang warfare, and mothers killing their children, and then themselves...

Do you see the connection?  The Hunger Games is like a warning... or maybe a wake up call... because these things are happening now.  And they aren't just happening in obscure third world countries (which is actually more heartbreaking, because in those places children really are dying for entertainment), it's happening here, in our country... the greatest country ever!

What really made me think of this is actually a more personal issue... and the issue is much, much larger than I ever expected, actually.  It's the issue of sexual purity.  It isn't just something we should be teaching our children about.  Sexual purity is a very large, very challenging issue for grown-ups, too. 

Think about this: can you go through a check- out line without seeing beautiful girls in bikinis, or go to the mall without passing a jumbo sized poster of a Victoria's Secret model wearing almost nothing?  How about driving down the interstate and seeing advertisements for adult movie stores, or "gentlemen clubs"?  Further more, do you think our children don't notice?  How about your husband? or your father? or your uncle? or your brother?

There is nothing good that comes from viewing pornography, or any kind of images that may interfere with your promises (be it marriage, a commitment to any other person, or a commitment to raise your children in the faith).  It leads to addiction.  It breaks marriages and relationships and families.  It poisons minds.  It absolutely is NOT what God intended for us.  It leads broken hearts astray...

http://vimeo.com/7474108

I'm praying for our families, people.  I'm praying for our men, and women, and children.  Guard your heart and your eyes and your minds... and be ever vigilant!

Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

love

I am being reminded (again!) that God's timing is always perfect. 

No ifs, ands, or buts...

always perfect.

I find it so comforting that when things are not going my way (which is a lot of the time) I have the faith to know that:

a) things will work out one way or another

b) everything changes... the good and the bad

c) there is purpose to EVERYTHING

I am a walking, living, breathing testament to these facts this year!  I'm proud to say, it, too, even though it was pretty much not fun during a lot of this past school- year -time -frame. 

LOTS of trials... and LOTS of triumphs...

...and I'm sure it makes God smile at me... because He loves me...

 more than I can possibly know:)

smile!

It has been that kind of time of year, where writing and posting, unfortunately, fall by the wayside.  Between schedules, and activities (and yard sales) it is just way hard to find time for my self and my creative writing projects. 

Please forgive Me!! (I love to write and post... so, I'm probably projecting, here... )

We have had a few breaks here and there- smoothies at Potomac Mills... and Date Knight at Chic-fil-a!

Anyway- It's been a lovely, busy (and hot and humid) spring.  Classes are ending, activities are coming to a close, SOLs are in full swing (read: anxiety, perfectionism/panic attacks)... it's all good, though.  I honestly feel like this season is just that:  A season. 

There is always room for improvement!  So, that means hopefully I'll start writing more again!

Oh, my...

Well- it seems I haven't posted in a long enough time that everything has changed on Blogger... I am not so computer savvy, so hopefully everything will post!

Easter Sunday- We went to church with G-ma.

We got to spend Easter weekend with sweet, wise, old G-ma... I just love her.  I just want to pack her up and take her home with me, but she won't let me. So... I just enjoy her as much as I can while she is here on Earth with us, because we will sure miss her when she goes to Heaven.

After church, we packed up and...

 We went to Disney World!!:)

Here we are! Our first arrival picture!

That is why I haven't posted in so long... I only have 250 pictures on my camera, so it could be worse... Eileen said she took 200 a day, and I only took as many in 4 days.. first time jitters, I guess.

SO- it was a BLAST!!  I am a Disney convert now; I can't wait to go back.  The kids had so much fun. The grown-ups had so much fun.  We ate way too much food, but I figure we walked our tails off, so hopefully it will balance out (eventually- my waistbands are a tad snug).

Meeting the Mice!

 Magic Kingdom was definitely the favorite- great fun, plus tons of shows, parades, the fireworks are awesome, Tink zip-lined from the top of the castle during fireworks (!!!), and the characters love to hang out there.  So, it's just way awesome!

Tommy got chosen for pirate training by Captain Jack Sparrow!

The girls with Cinderella

-with Ariel

-with Belle

-with Aurora

Epcot was so cool.  It's like a science museum on steroids.  Plus, two of our favorite rides are there (Soarin' and Mission Space).  Also, the gardens and the countries are amazing.  We ate in Germany, for example.  The countries and gardens surround the back side of the lake that is there in the center of the park, while the rides and attractions are on the front side of the park.  I think I could very easily spend a weekend there with just grown-ups...

Katie was captivated by the belly-dancer in Morocco

 

 

 

The fairy garden

 Hollywood Studios was great for shows.  Plus, Star Wars has a ride, there, with C-3PO.  That was a huge hit for everyone! We are a Star Wars family, I suppose.  The stunt show was amazing, apparently; Danielle and Mark went, while Tommy, Katie and I met Pooh and The Incredibles.

the kids with the "green army man" from Toy Story

 So, obviously, I highly recommend a trip to the happiest place on Earth- you won't be disappointed.:)

We met Aladdin and Jasmine

We posed with Pluto

Of course, Snow White is sweet

and...Fireworks!

We loved it!  Everyone had a good time.  There are way too many photos to post, obviously, but we have some great pictures and even better memories.  We are so blessed, I know, to be able to do this together- I thank God for giving us everything we need, and a lot of what we want...  This was a fantastic opportunity to re-connect the five of us:)

spring :)

I just pray that everyone has a very meaningful Holy week...

This is one of my favorite times of the year.

The hope that is present for me in the risen Jesus Christ who came down from HEAVEN for US (all humans)... is overwhelming.

That these miracles occurred for me to have a relationship with HIM is just so amazing... it is crazy how much God loves us!

I pray that YOU may have a relationship, begin a relationship, or nurture a relationship with our Father so that the hope that I experience may be shared with you:)

Much love,
Kristen

anticipation

That first date... that first call... that first kiss...

Anticipation of the event is what makes it so exciting- that butterflies-in-your-tummy excited.  As a kid, anticipation of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny would cause sleepless nights.  As I entered my teen years it was the anticipation of seeing that boy, anxiously waiting for him to notice me. 

As I met and dated Mark, the anticipation of the proposal would cause me to stop eating (at times altogether- but that is another story for another time), and  actually almost pass out on some occasions (anxiety disorder diagnosed much later in life, you see)...

Then, as a newly-wed, anticipation of buying our first home and, for us (we did a few things unconventionally,) graduating from college was a HUGE anticipation. 

Becoming parents was anticipated... and then all of those first events:  the first smile, the first laugh, the first step, the first tooth... all kinds of firsts... all anticipated, and all causing some visceral reaction - anxiety, hope, worry, love, protectiveness, excitement...

Now, it is with great anticipation that I enter into a new relationship with my husband... healing from past hurts... moving forward together.  This time, though, we are both experiencing our relationship openly walking in faith with God. This time, both of us seek the greatness of God's intention for marriage.
 
It is intended to be something great... marriage, that is...  it is intended as a gift.  Notice I didn't say easy or happy- all- the- time.  However, God intended marriage to be great.  It is with Him that it is able to be great (again, not ever easy, not always happy).

Most people will disagree, but  marriage really is intended as a three way relationship (hold on, there... not three people, but two people and one GOD).  It is also intended to last forever.  For real, no matter how impossible this may seem, it is one man, one woman, for ever.   I think the reason so many marriages don't last forever is that God isn't a part of the relationship.  I know this, because just two months ago, my marriage was ending.  I was sure of it, in fact.  I knew that I could not continue to live in a one-sided relationship.   Then an amazing thing happened...in a moment of desolation, after the realization that he could no longer do it (life, cope, heal, live) on his own, Mark accepted the truth of God, and Jesus dying for him. 

A new relationship began.

Two relationships actually, one between Mark and God... and one between Mark and me.

And it changes everything. 

Anticipate... hope... believe... love... live... laugh... pray...

So, pray for us, please, as we anticipate "A Weekend to Remember" - which  is three days of faith and marriage workshops... and anticipate that God promises to finish the great work He began... in me... in us... and in you.


picture from google faith images