10 Things I miss about my husband Mark

I am not really good at telling my husband how great he is. Nor do I tell him all the ways I miss him. Yet, I do. I really do miss him. He is the love of my life. He is my dream come true. He has been terribly missed.

In celebrating our last week without him, I thought he deserved a post. Of course, I am good at lists. Here is a list of the 10 things I miss about my husband (in no special order.)

1. I miss the way he jumps in and helps with all sorts of things.
2. I miss the way he looks at me from across the room with a smirk on his face.
3. I miss how he makes coffee for me everyday.
4. I miss the comfort he brings when I am blue.
5. I miss the way he cleans up icky messes without batting an eye or gagging.
6. I miss him praying with our family for meal times.
7. I miss our early morning talks of how God is working in our lives.
8. I miss his pancakes.
9. I miss holding his hand.
10. I miss staying up late with him and watching grown up movies.

Basically, I just miss all of him.

Rain

Most of us are in need of rain. Our land is parched. Fires and dangers are overtaking our lands. Crops are destroyed. Homes have been ruined. Lives have been forever altered. We are crying out to God for some relief.

Recently, God has been answering our prayers and we have been getting our daily showers where I live. I am so glad. My yard is greener. My checkbook is fuller. My home is cooler. My spirit is renewed. My senses are at peace with the sights and sounds of the thunder, lightening, and dark rolling clouds.

This morning I started contemplating how the rain as renewed the earth and me. What if we treated God's word like the refresher rain is to the earth? What if I looked to His word to replenish my Soul like rain does? Just like the grass I would grow. My love bank would be full and the words of my mouth would be a sound of love. Inside I would be beautiful as radiant light just like the lightening.

Yes, God's word is the rain I needed today.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast

spirit within me.

Ps. 51: 10

Just some thoughts...

Lately, God has been speaking to my spirit.

He is telling me that my focus is off. I am so concerned about making it through the day that I am forgetting the purpose of my day. Sometimes, I just want to escape in my head....it is quiet there you see. It has no crisis....like the dog messing on the carpet or ME wetting herself and the carpet as she came and told me. Yet, living doesn't happen in the escapes. Living happens in the day to day grime of life. Each moment is to be embraced. Each moment needs to be cherished and looked upon as teachable. Here I am with the chaos of the morning. Yes, my dog decided the carpet is a lot like the green grass outside. Yes, my son has had 2 meltdowns. Yes, I have been asked about a dozen questions already. Yet, I am looking at my children as if they are the priority and that everything else is the distraction. Thank you Michelle Duggar for allowing God to use you to help refocus me.

Kaleb Mother's Day Poem 2011

Your love is like the air, it stays with me no matter where I go.

It's sweet like ice cream.

It's warm like a blanket.

It's soft like a dog's fur.

And your heart is as big as the Universe.

Thankful for my Mom Today

* I am grateful God gave me to my Mom.

*I am thankful for my Mom's transparency about her life.

*My Mom knew how to laugh.

*My Mom taught me how to forgive.

*She taught me the importance of knowing Scripture during tough times.

*My Mom chose life for me instead of aborting me.

*My mom never met a stranger-she loved everyone.

*She always loved me.

*She was always proud of me.

*She taught me how to "fight" for my family effectively. She was my biggest prayer warrior.

To God be the glory for loving me enough to give me my Momma even if it was for a short period of time.

The Journey to a Grateful Heart...

*Listening to my son, Joshua, belt out his heart in song at church.

*Kaleb smiling at me from across the sanctuary at church.

*Long talks with friends.

*Mary-Elizabeth playing with my hair for the first time.

*Topical steroid ointments, zyrtec, and other sorts that keep the itch away.

*Meals already planned.

*Unexpected love emails from my Prince.

*Stephen teaching his younger brother how to play.

*Kitchen cabinets cleaned off.

*Full body hugs and giggles from my sweet teddy bear Micah.

*Empty dishwashers.

*School room table cleaned off.

*Laying on the couch with my family and watching movies.

*Unexpected checks.

My heart leaps for joy

and I will give thanks

to Him in song.

Ps. 28:7b

Gratitude Awakens

*Thankful for a laptop computer so that I may sit in my most comfy chair and chat with my husband.

*Thankful that the baby inside me is doing well and that he/she is measuring correctly.

*Thankful for nap time---quiet time in my otherwise very loud home.

*Thankful for an abundant amount of hugs and kisses from all my children.

*Thankful for breakfast family devotionals that end up convicting me.

*Thankful for peace and prosperity in my walk with God.

*Thankful that my devoted husband lavishes his love to me from far distances.

*Thankful for being renewed today by friendships missed.

*Thankful to be in the second trimester.

*Thankful to have a new outlook.