Learning to live for HIS glory

3 years today.   We've been married three years. And while there is much to tell from those years, Much joy, Much heartache, I've yet to tell the story of our engagement...! I figured today was a good day to reminisce :) If you missed the first part of our story, it starts here:  Our Love Story (Part 1) I had spent January (of 2016) in Missouri, And because of the complications that come with distance, Short engagements, And premarital counseling-- We both knew that the next time we saw each other Carl would ask, And I would say yes. His next visit was planned for March... Or so I thought! It was the eve of my 24th birthday. I was supposed to be at young adults, But due to a snowstorm I ended up staying home. Normally I would have talked with Carl on my way to young adults, But this night he had told me he'd be working late. Since I didn't go though, I think I sent him a text to let him know. It didn't go through. ...

Happy Thursday all! Today as I count my blessings, These are the things I'm praising God for: Two months till Little Buddy is due, A good report from my midwife. Two years of marriage to my sweetheart, Time to spend together on a date tonight! Too many gifts to count, The generosity of others as we prepare to welcome our child. Also.... Music, Books, Time to read, Sleep, Yarn creations, Laundry machines, A Kitchen to cook in, A Dining Room to eat in, A Living Room to sit in, A Library/Nursery to get ready for baby in, A Bedroom to sleep in, A Garden to grow things in. God's Word, His Goodness, His Faithfulness, His Mercy, His Teaching, His Love. His Justice met at the cross.

He stands like a rock at the kitchen sink. "I love you, Allison Kate." It's one of those days,  I'm grouchy, and rather disgusted with myself for it. "You shouldn't love me right now." I say,  Turning to walk away. Why do we do that? Walk away from love that sees us at our worst, And chooses to stay? To pursue... To embrace. Why do we condemn ourselves? I'm convinced I've learned more about God's love through marriage than anywhere else. Through this refining fire, Carl chooses to love me... Even when I don't love myself. And as minutes go by, That love wins me over. And even though I start the evening feeling like picking a fight with someone, Those feelings don't stay. Does it take time? Yes. But I'm beginning to understand more how we love because He first loved us. He loved us and stayed, Stayed in our yucky moments. (Cause we all have them) Stayed when we fought a...

(If you haven't read the beginning of the story, it starts here:  Our Love Story (Part 1) Distance relationships have interesting dynamics. Like that one time we didn't see each other for a month and a half, And I began to wonder if this was real?   But it was, and is, And the next time we saw each other was sweeter because of it. I remember the first time Carl told me he loved me.   It was the weekend I first met his family, They're huge. (9 siblings compared to 3...plus all the kiddos...and they weren't even all there!) But despite being overwhelmed, I was also warmly welcomed,  And driving away, I remember him telling me, You fit in well. We were hiking later that weekend, Before I headed home. And at the top of a ridge, Where he had prayed about dating me, He handed me some Black-eyed Susan's, And said, "I love you." Three simple, yet not simple words, And I couldn't say them back. Yet. But he told me I didn...

Hope . . . I love that word!  It's a word that brings so much life & joy, but only when it's used rightly. I'm here to tell you today that my hope as a single woman is not placed in the possibility of marriage someday.  I don't live for that time, and I don't believe that will be when I am finally and perfectly fulfilled.    Jesus fulfills!   HE  is my hope.  Today and forever I rest in those truths! That said, I would still love to be married someday.  I still PRAY for my future husband.  However, I'm not promised marriage in this life.  For today, I've been given the gift of singleness, and I want to live fully in today. . . taking in all the joys and sorrows that are in this moment!  I want to embrace the people in my life today. . . loving them and my Savior unreservedly. Those words are my heart. . . but there are times when it's hard to remember them.  There's this lie floating around that too many peop...