On the Moon and God's Timing

Last night I went to a truck pull with a good friend of mine. Being girls, we didn't just sit and watch the trucks (although we did a lot of that), we also talked quite a bit --we always do when we're together. We discussed life and how difficult it is to see the big picture. We both know that God is in control, and we are both happy waiting on Him, yet sometimes that wait is so hard to bear. We know if we trust God and delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts, yet still, our hearts long for certain things for which God has not yet given the "ok."

Towards the end of the night I looked up at the moon. It was a beautiful, bright harvest moon, although not full. (After I got home I looked it up and it is a waning gibbous.) The moon is not always beautiful and bright, sometimes it's hidden by clouds. Other times it's not as full as we would like it to be, but eventually that phase comes and it is something amazing to behold. A new moon doesn't even appear to be in existence, but still it is, we just have to wait. No matter what, the sun is still behind the moon and it is shining, even in the moon's darkest hours.

Life is so much like the moon. We go through phases of fullness and completeness, only to be hit by a phase of slow waning and then darkness. At times it seems like things should be going well, but the clouds of doubt and despair move in and cover our joy. Yet through it all God's Son is shining behind and through us, longing for us to allow Him to make us into something more beautiful than we could ever imagine. He always sees us as a full moon, because He knows the path that we are going to be taking. We simply have to trust Him. Every one of us has the potential to reach the full moon phase when Jesus is shining through us.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever...to him who made the great lights...the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever." {Psalm 136:1,7a,9}

Day 26: A Childhood Memory

I grew up in a very family-oriented home. Throughout my formative years we did everything as a family...I was even home schooled! I have so many memories of times spent around the table laughing, having friends over to the house and playing games for hours, going to visit family in other states, taking walks, playing pranks, working in and outside the house, raising rabbits, going on vacations, and many more. I had a happy childhood.

There is one memory that is more prominent in my mind than any other. It was a ritual every night for as long as I can remember. Every night right before bed Dad would

come into our rooms and pray with us. Sometimes it would be a short prayer, but other times we would have a long heart to heart chat and then pray about whatever it was we talked about. Sometimes Dad would be away on a business trip, but he would call us at night and still pray with us. I thank God for a father who took the time to pray with me.

Day 12: A Song I Want at My Wedding

This post is much easier than many of the others in this challenge. One song that I have wanted to be played as the processional at my wedding is "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." It's a very old song, but the lyrics are amazing.

I must admit, the first time I heard it was while watching "Anne of Green Gables" and being the helpless romantic that I am, I could not resist loving the song. (Now I want to watch all of the movies again!)

What is Love?

Let me preface this with the fact that this is not aimed at anyone at all. Some recent events in my life have caused me to want to come up with my own definition of what love is really about, and these are my findings and my opinions. So, with that being said, after much thought and research, here is my definition of love.

I did quite a bit of research, reading, and deep thinking to come up with this definition. I read Bible passages and articles people had written, as well as looking up definitions of numerous words, and I have formed my opinion on this topic from all of the digging I have done.

True love is not an object to be thrown away when imperfections are found. True love is a commitment to be there when the other person falls. It's a promise that no matter what happens you will always be there for each other, it is also a partnership of two people united together to face the world as one and sticking together in joy and sorrow. True love asks not, "What can I get?" but rather, "What can I give?" True love never fails.

True love sees past the imperfections of a sin cursed human being, to the real inward beauty of the other person. Love accepts the person as they are – not as they want him or her to be. It doesn’t try to change the person into what they should be; rather it strives to build the other person up, to help them grow on their own.

When thinking of love I also thought of the word “devotion.” Miriam Webster defines devotion as “the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal.” When one is loyal he never wavers from his belief. Therefore, when one is in love and dedicated they never leave their partner in the good times as well as in the bad. This makes me think of the movie, “Fireproof,” and the main theme, “You never leave your partner, especially in a fire.” The apostle Paul said it well, “Love suffers long and is kind…” (I Corinthians 13:4a) Solomon, in all of his wisdom, wrote, “Love is as strong as death.” (Song of Solomon 8:6). In other words, love is being faithful to your partner. The Marines have as their slogan, “Semper Fidelis” which in English is translated, “Always Faithful” and so it should be with love.

Love is a perfect trust in an individual. It has no fear of anything happening in the future to possibly change how the other partner feels about them. I John 4 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” An Irish saying goes something like this, “When mistrust comes in, love goes out.” To be fearful is not to love.

Love is the ability to watch someone fall and instead of saying, “I told you so,” or, “Why did you do that again?” it simply reaches out and picks the loved one up, dusts them off, and moves on. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (I Corinthians 13:4-7)

Probably the thing most longed for in the world is love. Everyone is looking for it, but the only way it is going to be found is through Christ, for it is only He Who holds the key to everlasting and perfect love. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” By looking to Jesus we will find the perfect example and only by following Him will we in turn be able to truly love others.

Doylestown Trip #2 and Kyle's Graduation!!!

As I'm sure you've noticed by the title, I once again made the trip to Doylestown...only this time my entire family went as well! The following are pictures from the visit:

*****At Kyle's graduation...the ceremony lasted around 3 hours!*****

*****Kyle and Gran*****

*****I'm sooo proud of him*****

*****My family and Kyle*****

*****One of my favorites!*****

*****Cousins*****

*****Brianna*****

*****Ummm....I really have NO idea*****

*****Nom, nom, nom!!!*****

*****He's happy about something! :D*****

*****Ian*****

*****Amanda*****

*****Cuddle Buddies*****

(I LOVE this picture)

*****Ivy looks very pleased with herself!*****

*****Lil Miss Smiles*****

*****Brianna playing a video game*****

*****Paige*****

*****Sushi*****

*****Nanna and Kyle*****

*****To make up for not having a picture of Michaela from last time I made sure we had a pic together this time!*****

*****At P. Graham Dunn*****

Trip #1 to Doylestown

I was able to go to Doylestown last weekend and spend time with Kyle and the rest of the Shearer clan. I thought I'd post pictures from the trip.

*****On a walk on Friday*****

*****Relaxing after the walk*****

*****Friday night we went on a date with his parents*****

*****Saturday we went to Kyle's grandparents house for Easter dinner/Easter egg hunt/hanging out/having fun*****

*****Easter Sunday*****

*****Me 'n Paige*****

*****Bestest pals, Kyle and Ivy*****

*****Brianna*****

*****Paige at the piano*****

*****Who knows?!*****

****Uh yeah...not the greatest picture, but it IS funny*****

*****NO MORE PICTURES! PLEASE!*****

*****Lil ray of sunshine - Ivy*****

*****Another happy person - Brianna*****

*****Aww...mush*****

*****Superman!*****

*****Kirsten and Hannah*****

*****Kirsten, Brianna, Hannah, and Paige*****
(Michaela was taking the pic, and Ivy was off somewhere)

*****Kirsten****

*****Me*****

*****Chickens*****

*****Paige*****

*****Bubbles*****

*****Ian*****

*****Kyle*****

*****Talking, what a crazy notion it is!!*****