This Marriage thing..It's worth it!

I post pictures of date nights with my husband, but it doesn't mean we're all smiles all the time.

Almost three years into Marriage and we're still finding out new things about each other and still trying to figure out how to live with one another.

My husband.. I love him! Words couldn't even describe. But not because I'm fallen over heels in the clouds for him 24/7.. Because I'm not. I love him because I choose to. Sometimes I feel love towards him, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes we don't even like each other...

Sometimes we really like each other.. A LOT!

But one thing that really keeps us both going and choosing to love each other is love itself.. Because love has the power to break and erase all faults that we see in each other.

And it's not the kind of love that Hollywood demonstrates where love is all about passion and hot sex.. that I personally find myself gagging at.

Or  fantasies that many women (including myself) have always thought their marriage would be like..

 Truth is, Marriage.. It's not about loving a perfect person who fulfills your every desire and leaving you up in the clouds 24/7.

It's a ministry where two imperfect people come together and choose to love one another for The Glory of God. And boy God can do amazing things with a Married couple after His own heart!

 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Mathew 18:20.

In these almost three years I've learned many things about Marriage and what love really is.. And if I were to share some advice with a newly wedded woman or even a single woman today I'd tell her that this Marriage thing, it isn't always easy..  But man is it worth it!

It's worth it to choose love and sacrifice then to just give up when things aren't going your way.

Because even though Marriage is about selflessness it comes back and benefits you more then you could ever imagine.. Because God is the Author of love and He certainly knows how to write a love story.

Leon and I have had countless amount of arguments in the past. One even lasted for two days *facepalm. Haha and I don't even remember what it was about!

However, Those nights are easily  forgotten about when we're loving on each other while going on a coffee date, or watching late night movies, or even family walks with our sweet daughter.

 Leon and I have so many of  "Our songs" some are from Taylor Swift, Elton John, and Elvis.. Those are songs that remind us of each other and gives us goose bumps for each other. And though we've considered using those songs for our wedding. The ones that tell our story, about our cute love story and obsession with each other we decided to take another direction and chose a song that is "Our song" above all others.

Leon and I came across this song on youtube one day and immediately started dancing to it. It is the only love song that brings tears to both of our eyes and remembering what love really is. It's selfless, patient, kind and most importantly it never fails! It's the strongest and greatest  weapon that God gave us.. 

And in our Marriage, Love is something Leon and I have chosen to do.. Not because we're perfect and it's certainly not easy all the time... But it's worth it and even better love never fails!

They say "I'm missing out."

I'm twenty three years old.. I've been married for almost three years. I have one beautiful little girl and I have another one on the way coming December.

My Instagram is entirely full of my little person and husband.

And my bedtime is no later then 9:30 and 10:00 at the latest if I'm trying to catch up on something.

My definition of fun is family trips to the farm or park.

And the greatest pieces of art I carry are scribblings from a almost two year old and thoughtful words from a Beloved.

So what blows my mind really is when someone tells me or mentions that women like me. Who marry young and start a family are "missing out."

Missing out on opportunities, college, having a life, being successful, traveling the world, Having fun, partying, getting a great career and making a substantial amount of money.

But you know what? Maybe I never wanted to go to college?

Maybe I wanted a family to travel the world with?

Maybe my definition of fun is spending time with a family I call my own.

Maybe my definition of partying is having a tea party with a very special girl.

And just maybe my goal in life isn't to make a substantial amount of money but instead to seek first The Kingdom of God and let Him apply everything else in my life.

Did they ever think about that?

I have no need or desire to cross off every country as places I lived or visited before I turn thirty. Even though that would be pretty cool.

I have no desire for a huge house, nice car and everything a great career offers. I don't need that.

Because my number one goal in life is to serve, minister and to bring joy to others.

To lay down my life as a living sacrifice and serve the One who gladly laid down His life for me.

A girl who was helpless.

And for me, what better way to do that then to marry a man and raise little humans.

To be in a place where my life is never about me and my will is never mine but instead it's over there changing diapers and continuing to choose joy in stressful situations.

To live with a man that doesn't fill my every need and isn't meant to however,  I serve him with everything I am anyways.

My life.. It's hard, stressful but Oh so worth it! Because even though my life isn't about me Jesus never fails to favor me and pour blessings over me.

Because when we're all about Jesus and when we do things for His glory and not our own. He really makes it about us.

If anyone were to ask  me why I married so young and quickly became a mom. My answer would certainly be this:

"Being a wife and mom has not only been my life dream, it's also my calling in life. A calling to be needed, to minister, to teach, to serve, to raise and to choose others before myself."

 And in this place of giving there is really nothing more fulfilling here on earth then to be a mom. I never wanted to live life for me first because I have found in this life journey that a life is more beautiful when you give it away.

I'm not missing out, but instead I have gained so much more then living any other life in this world.


 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. 
-Proverbs 31:28

Understanding my role as a Biblical Wife. (Biblical woman series)

                   

This is such an important study for me because being a Biblical wife to Leon is my passion. He's such an amazing husband and my best friend so I want to be all that  I can be for him.

Honesty time! I did  a no no folks. You see, I've put my Marriage on the back burner for a bit when I became a mama..  It's something that's so easy to do when you're a first time mom in fact I didn't even realize I did it until I read another blog post about it and realized "Oooops! Am I doing that??"

I guess because I got so overwhelmed with a little person and studying her, getting to know her likes and dislikes and making sure that her every need is met that I forgot to make sure Leon's needs were met too.

I've studied blogs and books on being the best mom I can be and leaving my studies on being the best wife I could be in the dust.  I stopped trying to please Leon, I continued to get behind on washing his clothes, and keeping his meals fresh and even worse I even stopped praying for him.

That's a mistake that took a little hold on our marriage causing us to argue and it's a mistake that I refuse to make again..

Children are supposed to make a husband and wife grow closer and not farther apart. And I believe the reason why that happens sometimes to couples is because they forget that they were a husband or wife before becoming a parent. And obviously it's not the kids fault but the parents.
                                              

Sometimes "we" wives don't run and jump into the arms of our Mr when he comes home  anymore because we're too busy keeping our kids happy.

Or we get behind on laundry because we'd rather be blogging on our little break then folding clothes.

Or sometimes we do "take out" way too often because we don't want to cook dinner..

Which is an understandable thing but not a good thing.

As a wife and a keeper of the house I'm called to be a good steward of what I have.  I was so blessed to have the opportunity to  spend my life with my husband early in life and I want to be a good steward of him and take good care of him.

I'm not saying I'm a horrible wife for getting behind on laundry, or not hugging on him when he gets home from work, or ordering take out when I don't feel like cooking dinner..

What I'm saying is that I shouldn't be making excuses for myself. I get behind on things around that house and I've used my busyness as an excuse.   I get so overwhelmed with piles of laundry but it can be prevented. Doing a load of laundry every day and folding it and putting it away is a 30 minute job at the most.  And planning a dinner menu the week before would make it so much easier to cook each night of the week and allowing myself to have a break from cooking every once in a while.

So ladies, This wife and Mama has come up with a plan to help me be a better Stuart in my role as a wife and house keeper. I'm coming up with a chart and I'm going to write a schedule of things I need to do each day to make my home a cleaner and happier one for my husband. I know at the moment Evie doesn't mind her clothes piling over but Leon does and I'm going to prevent that and make the piling go away.

And I've started praying for my husband these last few weeks every day again and I'm letting him know. Praying for my husband is the most important thing I can do. We can't grow stronger in our relationship together if our prayer life is on the back burner. I'll be posting more on that  next week.

In our Marriage we:

desire  to look and be like this everyday.

totally agree with this!



& especially me. We need to be reminded of this.


absolutely believe this is the way it should be.. Especially in Marriage.




say "Amen" to this!  And praise God because of His Truth.. In this season of life we are in right now. It's so easy to get  frustrated, down, and just upset. And for me with Leon working all the time at night. It's easy to feel lonely too! But we know that we are not victims but we were made to overcome. Leon and I are going through hard times right now.. But we hold tight to the awesome truth that God isn't finished yet..  And instead of letting our emotions be ruled by "circumstances" We make our circumstances be moved by our faith. Amen!

know that with Christ we can do all things.. Heal the sick, raise the dead. and do the impossible for The Glory of Jesus Christ and only in His Powerful Name.. We know that if we ask God for anything together in His Name. It will be done.

We know that "tough" seasons in life can be just as refreshing as a "good" season. It really just depends on how your attitude is and how you choose to look at it... You can either be moved by your circumstances or take control of them and refuse to let it steal your joy.. You'd be surprised by how quickly a "tough" circumstance can change into a good one.

Though this is a hard season in life for Leon and I right now. We hold tight that there is a plan and a future for us and we know that now and at the end of it all God will get all the glory out of our Marriage and this experience in life is going to minister to millions of young married couples one day. We know that Jesus will take what the enemy has tried to make for bad and use it to do amazing things! Because God is just awesome and groovy  in that way! (yes, I said groovy! Don't judge meee! 

 

Ps. Don't forget to link up with Sarah and I for tomorrow's Link up!!  We wanna know who your favorite person is and why? :)

Two.

     

Today Leon and I celebrate our 2 years of Marriage. And my what an amazing two years it has been!

These past two years hasn't been the easiest road but through it God is planting flowers where we are walking. Always reminding us to take time to smell them and see the blessings we have.
 
It's truth that Marriage takes a lot of work. I find that it is a daily refining process to be all selfless. But despite all of the hard times, there has been a heck of a lot more good!

Because even though God doesn't will for struggles to happen in our marriage He sure knows how to fix it and work it  all out for the good!

And I just know that what Leon and I are going through finiancially will work out for the good and it's time to bring an end to the generational curse that has made it's way through both of our families. It stops here. And this year. So by mine and Leon's 3rd anniversary  I'll be writing a blog post telling you how we did it! You excited? I sure am. 

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I am so so  happy I married my best friend! Words can't even describe!

He is my half.
My love.
And the man in Armor that Jesus gave to me to call him Mine.

Fire proof is one of my favorite movies of all time. Because there's so much truth and marriage advice in it.

One of my favorite parts is when the salt and pepper are mentioned.

Anyone who knows us would know that Leon and I are very different.
I'm the salt and He's the peper.

I'm Mrs Sensitive and He's Mr get over yourself.

I like to go to dinner and he likes to go to the movies.

He's a perfectionist and I'm allergic to cleaning.

He's a talker and I'm a listener.

He likes to spend and I like to hang onto every dollar!

And the list goes on and on.

We're different and it's not a bad thing! In fact, It's a great thing! Especially for ministry. We can take on both groups as we work together. We balance each other out.

Happy Anniversary my holy pepper shaker,

I'm so so glad God gave me you to be my Holy hunk.

He has used you in my life in so many ways.

He has used your hands to comfort me.

To love me.

To protect me.

And to show me His face.

He has used you to show me  truth that I've longed for all my life. He used you to open my eyes to the fact that God isn't mad at me but He loves me more than I can even imagine. And He has used you to show me that God can take an ordinary man and use him to do extraordinary things!

And I'm looking forward to another great year of laughs with you. And many more of course!!

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And now a little romance of the song we danced to at our wedding. *tear.

To The Ones who Married Young.

On the 23rd of December  (One week from today) Leon and I will be married for two years!

We had no money, Leon barely had a job and a wedding that was put together by Church family and myself with a guest list of fifty people.

The only thing our marriage was founded on was Faith and faith alone... Much like my pregnancy three months later!!

We really didn't see what was coming. We had no idea what to expect. We didn't know how we'd survive but we just knew the time was right! We loved each other and  somehow God would provide all of our needs and Leon and I just knew The Lord approved of this.

We've had opinions thrown at us by people we barely knew.

We've had some gossip about us being sure I was having a hidden pregnancy.

And must I even mention the one's who threw a tantrum because they weren't in or invited to the wedding? Even the one's I haven't heard from in years.

Many were positive Leon and I wouldn't make it.. We didn't start out with money, a good job or a nice house. We started off renting  a place with His mama, a slow non steady income and our feet planted on The solid rock.

And here we are two years later still saving as much as we can, Leon now has a steady income with a career, a beautiful  baby girl to add to the family and we'll be getting our own place next year! And our feet is still planted on the Solid Rock.. God has literally provided for all of mine and Leon's needs.

Leon and I. We are ones who Married young. These days it's not something the world recommends. In fact  they make it very clear that they don't approve.

And of course where we were and our circumstance made that thought even worse. Heck if I was my friend I would even tell myself it wasn't a great idea (does that even make sense?) Anyways.

Our wedding wasn't a huge wedding. It wasn't the one  I imagined it would be when I was a little girl with 500 guests and a million dollar photographer.

There was so much drama it wasn't even funny.

And there were many times when Leon and I have honestly felt like eloping but man I'm so glad we didn't!

Minus the craziness thanks to the women of the church, my spiritual sister and everyone who helped out and provided things for us we had a very nice wedding! And the Man I said "I do" to is much more handsome than I had ever imagined.. Just everything about him is better.