Jonathan was asked to speak last night for The Exchange, which is the high school ministry at our church. The topic, control, was part 2 in a series called "Experiencing God in the Suburbs".
The talk was recorded and I am posting a link below for anyone who cares to listen. And you should care to listen 'cuz it's good stuff. And I'm not just saying that- really- it was good stuff. I needed to hear it myself.
Who's Calling the Shots?And J... in case I haven't said it enough- I am proud of you. It's an honor to be the wife of someone so freakin' awesome! I love you!!
Barb, at A Chelsea Morning, is asking how people met their spouses. Since I've been in a blogging funk lately, I thought this might help pull me out. So, for your reading enjoyment, here's my story...
In the fall of 2000 my family up and moved from Southern California to Vermont. I was 20 years old at the time.
Upon moving to the Green Mountain State I found myself leading worship for the youth group at our church. (Still not sure how that one happened since I do not play an instrument, but never the less, I did it).
One Sunday morning, after the youth service was over, a very good looking face caught my attention. I quickly averted my eyes thinking it was just one of the students. I went about my business and did not think another thought about that handsome face cause that would have just been wrong.
Several days later my younger brother Andy, who was 14 at the time, began pestering me about meeting some guy named Jon. Jon could play the drums on the youth worship team, he would say. Jon's from Southern California too, he would say. And, I think you're gonna marry him, he would say.
Since this was my 14 year old brother talking I, of course, ignored him. I just figured my brother had found a hero to worship and wanted everyone to do the same.
For weeks Andy continued to tell me that I should marry this guy and why wouldn't I just meet him already?!?
And still, I ignored him. I was not interested in having a boyfriend, I was not interested in getting married and I was not interested in being set up by my 14 year old brother. (Have I mentioned that yet?)
Well, then the magic happened. (Gods' kind of magic).
About a month or so later I was helping to chaperone a youth event. At the start of the night Andy came running up to me and said, "Jon is here, you have to meet him. I'll go find him."
Trying to hide from Andy and his suitor, I introduced myself into a conversation that my other brother, Gabe, was having with someone named Jonathan.
Hmm, I thought, Jonathan looks strangely familiar...
Halfway through that thought Andy comes running up, "Oh, you've met him already?!"
Yep, you guessed it. Jonathan was Jon. Andy's Jon. The Jon that Andy had been raving about for a month now. The Jon that my 14 year old brother had been trying to set me up with.
Jonathan was also the good looking face from the back of the youth room that I had seen months earlier. Turns out that face didn't belong to a student after all.
And folks, can I just say... I was smitten. Right on the spot, I was head over heels infatuated with that man.
I don't believe in love at first sight, but I knew at that moment Andy had been right all along. I was going to marry that man.
And, four years later I did just that.
I have sung his praises on here before, and much to the chagrin of those that dislike the mushy stuff (my husband among them), I must sing this little tune once more. I have the greatest husband alive!
Really, I do.
I was having a bad day yesterday. I'm talking PMS bad. No, I am talking PMS, uncooperative hair, largest cold sore known to man (seriously, it is HUGE), work day from H-E-Double Hockey Sticks, mountains of laundry to conquer, massive sinus headache, a thousand things still to do before leaving the country for 2 weeks bad.
IT. WAS. BAD. (Are you getting the picture yet?)
And I was grumpy. Very grumpy. By the time I picked my husband up after work I was in tears. Actually, that too is an understatement. I was in the middle of a mini-melt down thanks to my dog who was barking insanely at every living soul who walked by the car. Just made things all the more dramatic, and I love drama, right mom?!
Anyway, I digress.
My sweet husband gets in the car, takes one look at me and says, very matter-of-factly, "This is what we are going to do..." He then begins to address every stressful thing that was running through my head. Here's the superhero part... he just knew what was wrong without having to ask. He fixed all the problems in matter of minutes, like he was Marry Poppins with a magic carpet bag.
He relieved me of my plans to make a nice, well thought-out meal.
He finished the last few loads of laundry for me.
He vacuumed the entire house.
He took out the trash.
He cleaned the BATHROOM! (His least favorite chore)
All the while, I took my time preparing a very simple salad for dinner. Yes, feeling slightly guilty, but he would not let me help do anything else. He knew what I need and he blessed me immensely by selflessly giving me the night off. That puts him firmly in the hero category for me.
(I won't mention that his ulterior motive was most likely getting the house cleaned quickly so he could watch 24 all night. If I had done the cleaning there wouldn't have been time for such trivialities. But like I said, I won't mention such things).
I love this picture of my gorgeous husband!!
During dinner, on my birthday, Jonathan asked me what I want to accomplish in this next year of my life. All day long I had been pondering the same sort of question. My dad started the train of thought by emailing me the following:
You’ve got a lot of life lessons and experience under your belt, but so much of your life ahead to go out and tackle. So, go tackle it. Have a fun time being 25. Make the most of it. Keep making great memories. Look for the adventures along the way. You’ve got a lot going for you. Enjoy it.
It was funny that my dad should mention looking for adventures. Lately I have been craving a "bear hunt". By that I mean something a little wild and crazy and hard to get, but oh-so rewarding in the end. Something that builds character. I'm not begging on hardships in order to come by character through suffering and perseverance (Romans 5: 3&4). Though should the Lord decide to take that route, then so be it. I'm just looking for... well, John Elderege says it perfectly in his book, The Sacred Romance..."Indeed, if we listen, a Sacred Romance call to us through our heart every moment of our lives. It whispers to us on the wind, invites us through the laughter of good friends, reaches out to us through the touch of someone we love. We've heard it in our favorite music...been drawn to it while watching the shimmer of the sunset on the ocean. Something calls to us... and rouses an inconsolable longing deep within our heart, wakening in us a yearning for intimacy, beauty and adventure.
When I got home from work I saw a card from my mother-in-law sitting on the kitchen counter. In the card she explains [I am paraphrasing here] that she had been praying for me in the early morning and felt that God was saying that this year would mark the beginning of a double blessing for me. Jonathan reads the card and quietly prays, "Lord, please no twins"! I read the card and my heart leaps with in me.
This longing is the most powerful part of any human personality. It fuels our search for meaning, for wholeness, for a sense of being truly alive. However we may describe this deep desire, it is the most important thing about us, our heart of hearts, the passion of our life."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24 to run the race in such a way as to get the prize. I have come to the realization that I have been walking for the majority of this race, and sometimes I've even taken a seat on the sidelines to just watch. My dad talked a while back about going through a spiritual boot camp. Paul alludes to that in verse 25 of the same passage saying, "Everyone who competes in the game goes into strict training..." Like the Refiners fire, producing character, producing a woman in me who is gracious and life giving in encouragement.
I know I should tie up all the loose ends I've been rambling about, but the truth is, I don't know how to. All these things have been swirling around in my heart for a few days now. Somehow they are all connected.
To answer Jonathan's question I simply said I desired to be closer to God. That about sums it all up I guess. Looking for an adventure, running the race, double blessings, and spiritual boot camp. I want to be a woman of life giving encouragement, of sound character, of strong integrity, of unconditional love, and grace to forgive. All that by time I'm 26.That's a lot to do in one year... guess I better get busy...
I have wanted a pair of diamond earrings for several years now. Since we bought our condo I quit dreaming about them and stopped asking. I just couldn't justify spending the money on such an extravagant gift when they weren't a necessity. And then last night, while enjoying a romantic birthday dinner with my husband, he quietly asks, "Would you like your gift now?" And then he slides over a small box wrapped in a big bow.
Good things come in small packages and I have the sweetest husband in the world.
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- Casey
- I am a lover of: God... my sexy husband... 3 of the cutest kiddos in the world... deep friendships... a good book... music that moves me... the beach... sunshine... cooking... and laughter.
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