Scrapping My Plans

Hello friends,

How do you start your days? Do you begin by making a plan? I generally begin with a plan, normally on paper but sometimes just in my head. It has things like: "Wash towels", and "fold laundry", "clean the kitchen", "vacuum living room", "bathe the puppy", "read Bible study book" etc. And then as I accomplish these tasks, I scratch it off my list with satisfaction. I don't always finish my list, my plan for the day and then I tend to feel like I'm a failure and beat myself up. I'm learning to let go, to be okay when I don't get it all down. As long as I know I've been a faithful steward of my time, I know everything is okay. I'm trying to live with open hands. I have a "Plan A", but most of the time, God has a "Plan B". I'm learning to trust in His Plan B when my Plan A has to be scrapped.

There are times when I can't accomplish everything on my plan because of sinful choices, but instead of succumbing to the temptation to give up the rest of the day because of my laziness or lack of discipline, I am learning to confess my sin and repent, then moving on with my day and starting anew. And when I look back on my day and regret that I couldn't do all I wanted to, I'm learning to see the difference between God's Plan B and my sinfulness. Some weeks are harder than others. Monday morning last week I woke up energized and ready to be faithful with my time. I accomplished much last week. This week? I woke up later than I wanted because I stayed up too late last night and then my day got started slowly. So today I'm choosing to confess my laziness and deny the urge to let my entire day go to pot and use the rest of the time I have wisely.

So far, the dishes are washed, the bed is made, the rice is cooked for dinner tonight, I've worked out and showered. To go? The floor is covered in leaves and dirt tracked in by the dogs, there is a pile of clean laundry on the bed and piles of dirty clothes in the laundry room. So off I go to use the time God has given me wisely.

Anna

Marriage and Motherhood

I get to see this precious little one day in and day out. I am so privileged to be able to be home with her 24/7 and watch her grow. My heart wells up with love for her more and more. I love to go into her room in the morning and see her after being away from her all night. I just love her with all my heart!

No matter how much I love her though, she is still a sinner. We've only seen slight glimpses yet, but I'm sure we will see it in full force before long. It's important that I respond to her sin in a Christ-like way, not in kind. This is impossible in my own power! I must have the power of the Holy Spirit helping me, and thankfully I do because I have been saved and the Spirit of God lives within me. All the same, I must be putting on Godly responses instead of reacting in my flesh because I am not held in bondage to sin anymore! Everyday I must be filling myself up with His Word so that my thoughts are on God and His ways. I desperately want to be the best mommy I can be to this precious little blue eyed girlie. Notice I said best, not perfect. I don't want to try and be a perfect mom, I want her to see my sin and then see me confess, repent and change. I want to instill the marvelous truths of God and His marvelous plan for the world in her heart and mind and then watch as the Lord opens her little heart to His ways and works. I am so glad He is in control of that and not me because I would be so stressed if it was up to me to convince her to believe in the Gospel! I am content to trust in the Lord on that account. 

Even though most of my days are spent holding, talking to, changing, feeding, dressing, laughing with, teaching, reading to, and watching this little one, I need to remember that my role as wife comes before my role as mother. Am I loving my husband? Am I submitting to him? When Aaron and my marriage take precedence over Brielle, she will feel secure because she knows her mommy and daddy are committed to each other for life. We love our daughter so very much. But not more than we love each other. 

Anna

Things I'm Learning As a Wife...

Here are just a few random things I've learned and I'm working on as a wife. I have a loooong way to go, just in case you think I've arrived. {laughs}

• Pouting isn't a good idea. It just isn't. And I knew that before I got married too. You'd think I would have figured that out by now! It just makes life miserable for both of us. And Aaron loves me and wants the best for me, so when he says no, it must be that it's for my good. (This principle applies to God too!)

• Every day right before Aaron gets home or I go to pick Aaron up from work, I spray a little perfume on and fix my hair and swish with mouthwash. I know Aaron appreciates it and it certainly makes me feel fresher! 

• "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1. It really works too. Funny how that is! The problem is that I tend to feel self-righteous after I've responded gently! So I jump from one ditch into the other. So I'm learning to stay right in the middle. 

• Even when you just know you're right, is it really worth arguing? In view of eternity, does the subject at hand need to be won? Maybe not, especially when it's put that way.

• Your spouse comes with habits, good habits and bad habits. And both good and bad habits are hard to be broken. Be patient, marriage doesn't change a person. They are the same person after the vows as before the vows. Just like you! You come with plenty of bad habits yourself. 

• When you pray out loud for your spouse, pray with your eyes open, staring deeply into their eyes. There is something intimate and tender about talking to God while gazing on the person you love.

• Don't talk badly about your husband. The wife of the pastor who officiated at our wedding is a dear friend of mine, and neither I nor my mom have ever (ever!) heard her say one negative word about her husband. That is who I want to be, all the time.

• Read together. Aaron and I are reading three different books together: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, and The First 90 Days of Marriage by Eric and Leslie Ludy. Most of the time it's just a way to relax together, but sometimes something causes us to have a good discussion. The best part is that I get to put my head in Aaron's lap and watch his face while he reads. 

I had thought of some others while I was driving to pick Aaron up today, but I can't remember anymore. If I remember them, they will probably become another post! 

Love,

Anna

PS - Being a wife is awesome!

Martha Thoughts: In The Kitchen

I'm going to share a cake recipe that I got from my Nana. Every time my family would make the 10-hour drive out to Denver, Colorado, this ultra moist cake would be awaiting us in her immaculate kitchen. As my family expanded, she had to make two cakes for everyone to have some! Once I got married, I discovered that my husband prefers coffee style cakes over cakes with frosting, so I determined to get my Nana's recipe. After the very first bite, Aaron was instantly a fan! Here it is:

Ingredients:

• 4 bars (1.55 oz each) Hershey chocolate bars
• yellow cake mix
• 1 package vanilla instant pudding mix (3.4 oz)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. powdered sugar

Spray and flour Bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Break up Hershey bars into small pieces. Mix yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer until thick and smooth. Fold in chocolate and pour into Bundt pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Leave in pan for 20 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely. Shake powdered sugar on top. Enjoy! 

PS - This cake simply begs to be eaten with a glass of milk! 

Love,

Anna