Our Big Texas Life

Sunday, October 24, 2010

My Favorite Weekends...

For most people, the weekend is a time to relax and be refreshed for the week.  Unfortunately for my husband, its only every other weekend that he gets to relax.  Unless its the holiday season, which means he only gets 1 weekend a month.  I'm not going to lie, it gets pretty old.  BUT, this weekeend is his weekend off, and so far its been one of the best.  We've both made it a priority to simply do whatever we want.  I made fudge and cinnamon rolls in the morning.  Then I read a couple of chapters of my book and watched football with Jordan.  By 6 pm we had 2 couples over to watch football and ate dinner while watching the MU-OU game (in case you haven't noticed, Jordan and I love having company over).  Today I'm going to lay on the couch and read some more, maybe go for a run, and leave the worrying for a weekday.  I've had so many picture moments this weekend that I would love to post here, but my camera is at my parents house.  So, in honor of our fabulous weekend I will leave you with a list of my favorite things to do on the weekend.

10.  Lay on the couch and watch our cats destroy everything we own.
9.  Cheer for the opposite football team that Jordan is (Unless its a Missouri game, then we'll join sides)
8.  Sunday Night Football
7.  Forcing Jordan to take a walk around the lake, then listening to him talk about how much he loves walking around the lake.
6.  Sleeping until 8 am (thats sleeping in for me)
5.  Sit and chat with the girls while the guys "play" soccer on Friday nights
4.  Demonstrating how much of a morning person I am, which drives Jordan crazy
3.  Waking Jordan by singing, "Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory.  Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. RISE AND SHINE AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY, GLORY. Children of the Lord!"  (He enjoys it a lot as well)
2.  Reading books....lots of books
1.  Waking up early to make dough for cinnamon rolls, the sleeping for the next hour to let it rise, then waking Jordan up with the smell of fresh homemade cinnamon rolls.


Can't wait until next month when we get to do this all over again!

Monday, October 18, 2010

I Hate Running But I Love My Husband

I've been on a bit of a running kick lately.  I really want to get back into shape, so I've decided to set some goals for myself.  Okay, here it is.  I'm announcing it to the world so I can't back down.  April 10th, 2011 I will run a 10K.  I'm pretty sure some of you just started laughing.  Is the idea of me running 6 miles that funny to you? Or are you laughing that I'm planning 6 months in advance?  But for real, pray that I actually follow through with this.

Okay, so my last post was all about how horrible of a person I can be.  Today, I want to focus on what I can do to help my husband.  I've been reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartain, and I totally recommend it to any married woman.  Some of her stories seem a little extreme, since Jordan and I aren't on the edge of divorce, but it is some seriously good advise!  Most of us have been told, "Well, just pray about it".  I have to admit that most of the time when someone says that to me I shrug it off  because "of course I'm going to pray that God changes Jordan, he's the one whose wrong here anyway!"  However, after a year of praying that God makes Jordan more sensitive, spend less time at work, and be more eager to sit and talk about our feelings, I can say I haven't seen the results I desired.  The thought that maybe I need to pray that God reveal a way for me to deal with my frustrations instead of changing who He made Jordan to be.  Dos that make sense?  Maybe I need to change before I expect Jordan to.  Anyway, I just wanted to share a list of things that I love and never want to take for granted about my husband.


10.  His chest hair is so thick he could probably shave it and make a rug by braiding it all together. (Have you seen him?!  He's a hairy guy!)
9.  He has a very strong personality, he's not going to change who he is just because you want him to.
8.  He is a fanatic sports fan.  One time I woke up at 1 am to find him on the couch watching some Australian sport that he didn't understand. 
7.  He is my biggest fan.
6.  I know he'll always fight for what he knows to be right.
5.  While the thought of talking about our feelings makes him break out into hives, he's always willing to hear me out
4.  He loves my cooking
3.  His ability to talk about everything and nothing astounds me every day.
2.  I couldn't have asked for a better provider.
1.  He loves the Lord more than anything in the world, which gives me the freedom to trust him and not worry about our future.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

How Can I Help?

"How can I help?"  How often do we hear that phrase?  It was something that was drilled into me when I was young.  Mom rarely turned down an offer to help do dishes or house work, and just in case my husband is reading- I won't turn down the offer either.  But today I was thinking about how often I want to help someone if there doesn't seem to be any benefit for myself.  Sure, I sometimes do things to give myself a pat on the back, but how often do I help someone because I simply want to?  I'm very selfish with my time.  When Jordan is home I want his full attention, and we hold Wednesday nights sacred.  When I'm alone on weekday evenings I like for cook to myself and watch TV to relax.  When the weekend rolls around I get together with my friends all day long to watch football and hang out.  But when do I actually serve anyone?  Isn't that my calling as a Christ follower?

I'm selfish and stuck in my own self righteousness. That's really the only answer. I'm too concerned about myself and the amount of sleep I'd have to give up if I volunteered for something on a weeknight.  I'm making the decision right now to change this pattern of behavior.  Now, I'm not going to be one of those people standing on a corner downtown with a megaphone screaming about God at you.  But I will make a better effort to be very purposeful with my time and to find ways to love on the people I run into every day.  Because, the truth of the matter is, that if I had God's heart for humanity I would be thrilled by the opportunity to serve.  It all comes down to loving people like God does, not with a reward in mind, but because it makes my heart sing.  Now, this particular blog is not meant to be depressing or to bring myself down.  It is just an examination of how me-centric I have become.  It is time to break that cycle.   It is time to start serving.  Starting with you.  How can I pray for you today?

A long time ago I read Isaiah 61:1 for the first time and felt it tug on my heart.  I was so moved by it that I realized that I was called to action.  In my head, when someone looked up that passage my picture was going to be beside it because I was going to live those words to the fullest.  My prayer today is that I can start living my life like I desired to years ago.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
      for the Lord has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.
-Isaiah 61:1