The Tough Stuff of Marriage

They don't tell you in all the glittery pastel-y cards you get by the boat load - you know the kind that speak of the magic & wonder & stardust & castles & true love bit of getting married.  They byway the true stuff & go for the fluff we all love.  Truth is, in my neck of the woods, marriage is hard.

I know we are all human {That's the problem, right?}, but when time & time again another Christian marriage crumbles in the spotlight, or in our small community of believers, it hits me where my fear is so strong.  I could end up hurt.  Another statistic, like the other couples we thought were unbreakable - the couples who vowed on their wedding days & wholeheartedly thought they meant it... until one or both of them didn't.

It's true, the enemy hates godly marriages.  It's scary in this messed up world to know you & your husband have targets on your back.  But, in actuality, all Christ followers have these targets, &, in turn, we all have all we need with Jesus as our strength & His holy Spirit as our power.  But, can I be honest, I'm still scared sometimes.  In all utter honesty, sometimes the fear of the possibility of my marriage failing & my heart being broken into bits freezes my soul & begs me to take the easy way out - end it now, when there's no children to be harmed, & no more chance of my own pain that could be down this unknown road.  Isn't that so wrong?  Isn't, even this, the very tactic of the enemy in my life?  That in the end, I cannot control what my husband does, or make him love me forever, or be his enough.  It terrifies me, this loss of control that I never really had in the 1st place.

God is in control.  Let me just repeat that to myself & breathe: God is in control & He is good.  That is all I know right now.  I don't know if my marriage will end happily ever after.  I only know I promised a good & faithful God that I would love this man with all I have for all our days.  And, I know the only way I can do it in this world where marriages are thrown out with yesterday's leftovers, is through Christ.  In Him, my husband & I, find our cord of 3 that cannot easily be broken {Ecclesiastes 4:12}.  Marriage is tough, but our heavenly Daddy is bigger than our biggest mess, & that is an abundance of hope that carries me through way better than any Hallmark card poetry ever could.

P.S.: Romans 8:28!

Gifts // Vol. 15

949. hiking adventures with him

950. spotting a scarlet tanager on the trail

952. 2 strawberry sprinkle donuts

958. my dad in heaven

960. that You are my perfect, patient, faithful, loving, merciful, all-knowing Father - I need You & I love You

962. hearing the missionaries speak

965. a potted Gerber daisy from him

966. a love card with glittery white "sand" in it

969. exploring old abandoned bunkers together
977. trip planning

How We Do Disney

Here's how we {Laura + Dan} love to experience Disney...

Two words: Dole Whips!

Wearing Disney stuff at the parks.  C'mon, where better to get away with wearing all the cutesy Minnie & Mickey stuff + mouse ears?

Doing as much as we can.  We start early & make smart use of the Fast Passes. {Dan is amazing at patiently refreshing the app when we are waiting in line for other rides.  We were able to snag many random Fast Pass openings this way.}

Getting celebration pins when applicable.  They are a fun {& free} souvenir of a special time, & the Disney people love to congratulate you throughout the day {& occasionally give you an extra perk or 2}!

Splurging at one higher priced Disney restaurant. {P.S.: We are both total tea totalers, in case any questions arise from the photo. 😉}

How do you like to experience the magic of Disney Parks?

Introducing Little Letters // July 2017

Dear Life,

Half of you is literally "if," & that is scary to this girl who wants the control.  Or, at least, to think she has the control - imagining is okay, right?  Can the rest of you be Jesus?  I know that we'll have to change Webster's & update pretty much everything, but... pretty please?  Either Jesusif or ifJesus, because Jesifus sounds strange.  Maybe this whole letter sounds strange?  Hmmm...

Signed,
the Control Freak Girl Who Needs Her Jesus for Each & Every If {& All the In Between}

✉ ⏩

Dear Jesus,

Can you help me give over the aforementioned control to You.  I know You already have it.  I need You to have it - & not me.  I'm done white-knuckling it over here.

Love,
Your Daughter

✉ ⏩

Dear Mysterious Invisible Creatures,

Can you stop biting my feet when I wear flip flops & any other such sandals.  I'm running out of hydrocortisone cream over here.  Not to mention, you're creeping me out.

Signed,
Itchy Feet

P.S.: Are you chiggers?

✉ ⏩

Dear Sunlight,

Thank you for streaming into my apartment & making the empty space {after my husband goes to work} all bright & cozy each & every morning {well, unless it's overcast}.  God did a good thing putting you up there & this apartment's windows where He did.  He knew I needed you.

Love,
Laura

P.S.: The white Gerber daisy says, "thanks," too!

✉ ⏩

Dear Nail Polish,

Thanks for making my toenails rock the whole summer long... & really all 365.  Who am I kidding?  You are so not seasonal to this fan girl.

Love,
The 10 Little Tootsies

✉ ⏩

Dear Tissues,

You've been put through a lot the last few months.  Thanks for being there to catch all the tears + gunk when I cry when no ones around.  I promise this won't be forever.

Love,
Hopeful {#keepingitreal}

✉ ⏩

Dear Pink Flamingos,

You are so cute & the epitome of summer cool right now.  I love your quirky legs, neck, & beak - & don't even get me started on your pinkness!  Your plastic selves can plant your metal legs in my yard anytime.  I just wanted you to know.

XOXO,
An Admirer

✉ ⏩

P.S.: Linking up!