Called to Shore

Tomorrow marks a very special day.  Exactly one year ago, February 28th, 2011, was the official start date of Wade's new job.  For those who are new readers, this day was the beginning of an incredible journey that God took our family on and totally redeemed our situation.  I find it interesting that I wrote these words just a few days before God MOVED in such a radical way...

As Wade and I tackle this time in our lives, it is important for me to LEARN while I am waiting. I need to remember what God has shown me through all of this, so that when things turn to "better" that I don't forget all of these monumental moments. Sometimes when things get "good" we forget about the ones that are hurting... the ones that we should show compassion and love towards! Although I want to get out of this "place" of want and need, to a place of abundance, I don't ever want to forget how it feels to truly NEED God! So many times we call upon Him in need, but never when things are going good. Let's praise Him while we are being blessed and while we are WAITING to be blessed. We will always need Him... (read the full post here)

My family has now spent almost a full year here at the coast and I hope that my words have stood true.  Things have been great and I hope that my praises have been greater.  I hope that the favor of God that is bestowed upon me has been used to glorify His Kingdom daily. 

I know that God moved us here for many reasons.  Financial stability, the beach that we have fallen in love with, our friends that amaze us, our Church that we are so blessed to be a part of... the list goes on.  But with all that said, I can't help but to think that there is an even GREATER PURPOSE for us here.  A purpose that surpasses all understanding and glorifies the Lord in a way that immeasurably blesses our family and the lives of others. 

So after a year of reflecting back on God's goodness while enjoying the future He has for us... I have decided to change the name of my blog.  I have wanted to do this for sometime, but until recently I wasn't sure what to name it. 

But God has shown me that we were "Called to Shore" for a reason.  Therefore it is my hope that God will use this blog to record all of our journeys and speak to you in some way.  And of course, I will still use it to keep you posted about our crazy family and growing girls.

I don't know why God has chosen us...  I sometimes find myself asking myself this question because I know my past, my short- comings and my failures.  But the truth is that He has CALLED all of US.  He has a greater purpose for each of us and it's up to us to surrender to His heart and His desires for our lives.  When we can overcome this challenge then we are in God's territory... and we cannot fail. 

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You should also know that this new name, Called to Shore, will be debuting with a new design as well.  Yay!  Thanks to Catherine at Constant in Chaos, our blog will be beautiful.  Also make sure to skip on over and read her blog... it's a wonderful read!

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Embracing age.

The other day I was on my way to a doctor appointment, enjoying the quiet ride and the hour break that I had for myself the doctor.  I was at a stop light and looked over at the person next to me.  Young guy, probably in high school or college, driving a Nissan SUV, chatting on his IPhone.  As I wondered if he were in college or high school, I asked myself... I wonder if he thinks I am in college?  I came to the realization, as I rolled down the packaging on my Tums, grabbed the steering wheel of my minivan and drove off to the thyroid doctor, that this theory was ridiculous.  It was at that moment that turning 3-0 in just 4 short months, didn't seem so frightening.  It was reality.  And it is a good one. 

Here's why...

Beach weather in January.

Sneeking a peak at Ej's dance lesson.

Enjoying the beach while big sis is in preschool.

Reading some Word... while Lela played in the sand.

special laughs...

Lela rockin out with her BFF.

The hilarious personalities we've created. :)

One evening after church.

Ej's daddy daughter date... she was so excited.

Valentines Morning... heart shaped pancakes and Reese's Peanut Butter hearts!

They barely made it to 7pm...

All a girl needs is a good pair of shoes.

And more babies to come...

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dreaming and waiting

We all have dreams...  the kinds of dreams that range from material possessions to spiritual and physical breakthroughs that we need in our lives.  I believe that God values BOTH.  Determining if and when these dreams will come to pass, is the real issue.  How do you dream BIG without getting lost in the results of your desires?  How do we learn to value the process we must walk through when we don't see the purpose?  And why does there always have to be "a process"? 

Our dream is to build a house.  It's been our dream since Wade and I were gallivanting around without much care in the world and just enjoying the fun of dating.  What couple in love doesn't dream of these things?  This dream has been a burning desire in our hearts for a long time.  There have been times when the dream was pushed back, buried deep and even doubted at many points in our married life.  But it has always been there.  It has never left.  I am not going to explain my reasoning for this desire, but I will say that it goes much deeper than the house. 

Dreams look different for everyone.  Motives vary, pure and impure, and the waiting period may be lengthy or prompt.  Regardless of the process, one thing is certain...  The outcome will be GOOD.

This blog is what I needed to hear today...  Maybe you do too.

Did I Shave My Legs for This?

"Turning Disappointments into Discoveries"

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Possibly Overboard...

So Wade Nagy read my last post and told me that although he admired my boldness, that I may have went a little over board with my need to state... "if you are waiting for him to change, then you will be waiting for an eternity."  He reminded me that I too underwent a "change" and that jumping to the assumption that the other person in the relationship probably won't change was discrediting what God had done for me. 

So I thought I would explain my heart better...

My heart leaped out of my chest when I read the status update of a young girl (college age) stating that she was broken hearted on Valentine's Day because of the way she had been treated.  This status update lead to a public argument between her and the boyfriend on Facebook.  Although I know absolutely no background on the relationship, nor do I need to, I related to this girl all too well.  I remember those moments of sitting back in my own tears wondering why I was always dating someone that did not complete me.  I just wanted to be happy.  I spent years trying to conforming myself to my relationship, rather than finding out who I really was. 

I was not judging either party in this conversation, I did however think to myself...  you both are too young to be putting yourself through this??  If I had just dated Jesus, found my true identity and allowed God to show me my special someone first, then I would have saved myself from many heartaches.  Thankfully, God's grace gave me that someone special even when I wasn't seeking Jesus first.  (That was the part Wade Nagy agreed with).

So with that said...  There is hope for change.  But allow God to do the changing in someone and you worry about what He wants to do in YOU.

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L.O.V.E.

I am 29 years old.  Some may consider this ancient, while others may consider me "just beginning."  Either way, after 4 years of dating, 5 and half years of marriage and 2 (almost 3) kids later, I feel like I have enough experience to at least bring up the topic of L.O.V.E

Today is Valentine's Day... the day of LOVE.  But as I scrolled down my Facebook page I noticed a few of my younger "facebook friends" who instead of celebrating with chocolates and flowers, they were left feeling lonely, unwanted, and unappreciated. 

As I was taking a shower, I thought about these posts and I begin to pray for these young women.  I was reminded of my own story.  Without going too much into my testimony (which I may share one day), I begin to think back to the days before God sent me Wade Nagy.  I wasn't the same person in college that I am today.  I made a lot of mistakes and most of those being in the guys I dated.  I was left feeling confused, dark and depressed a lot of the time and I remember those Valentine's Days when you showered yourself with tears, rather than chocolate.  Even though I wasn't living a good life at the time, I always knew to pray.  I prayed for a soul mate.  I prayed to just be happy.  Thankfully Our God helps us even when we don't deserve to be helped.  I didn't.  But His grace covered me and He sent me Wade.  Wade literally came out of no where and saved me.  I didn't realize his impact on my life until later, but looking back, he was exactly what I needed at that time.  God knew it.  He had a plan.

If you are dating and sitting around this Valentine's day sad, then my point is this...  If he doesn't treat you good now, then he is probably not going to treat you good later.  If you spend more days confused and crying than laughing and loving, then he is probably not the ONE for you.  If you are waiting for him to change, you will be waiting an eternity.  You most often have to change yourself first.  If you are not seeking the Lord in who you date, then you are not setting yourself up for a forever marriage.  The saying... "date for a mate" is true.  I denied this truth for a long time.  Find yourself first, then allow God to show you your partner.  He doesn't disappoint.

The saying, "You must kiss a lot of frogs before you find your Prince..." is a bunch of bologna.  God already has a that special someone for you... just be patient.  Save yourself for that someone.

Love is always kind.  Love is not selfish.  Love NEVER fails.

Trust, Pray and Watch what God can do for you.  Embrace Jesus today.  He will never let you down.

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Happy Valentine's Wade Nagy. 

You are God sent and I look forward to the next 90 years together. :)

(Wade says we will live till we are 120)

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Perspective.

Tonight, as soon as I finish typing this post, I will begin to get ready for the Thrive Marriage Conference that is taking place at LCC for the next two days.  This is a special event for Wade and I that goes well beyond just making our marriage "thrive."

But before I explain, I must tell you that I did not awake with this excitement.  I actually awoke around 12pm, along with everyone else in the house to a very sick baby girl. After a night of consoling and breathing treatments, our next obstacles came quick and soon I had lost perspective.  Wade and I both did.  My world came crashing down in lots of tears, words of question and doubt.  I was then reminded of my own words.  The words from my own blog that I had written exactly 1 year ago.  The story of how God came through for us in such a radical, supernatural way that put our family in our own "heaven on earth." 

Last year, at the Thrive Marriage Conference, Wade and I experienced the hand of God come down and do a miracle in our lives (our miracle).  Reading the raw emotions, the excitement, the joy that was taking place in our lives at that very moment reminded me of who God really is.  I should always know this, but when you lose perspective the way that I did this morning, you sometimes lose sight of what God really wants and has for you!  Pastor Tim Blevins spoke about drawing from our "well" one Sunday and today that's what I needed.  When I was dry, I needed to be reminded of my own testimony.  My own miracle that God had done just for me.  I needed to be reminded that MY God will do it again.  And again. And again.

Reading my own words brought back the perspective that I needed.  God gave us a breakthrough that we needed at the last hour this time last year and He will continue to do so.

Looking forward to sharing this experience with you.

Now let's THRIVE.

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