The Beauty of Waiting

Do you ever read someone else's post and think, "when in the world did she crawl up in my brain and get those thoughts outta there?"  I mean, it's just like they said exactly what you think?  BigMama's post this morning is exactly that. 

It's not that I've really been thinking a lot about this lately, but when I read her post, I was agreeing and shaking my head and saying, "me, too!" to so many things!  Like when she talks about her early twenties and how she was a "hot mess".  .  . me too.  And when she talks of finding those guys who look so good on paper but it's just not "there", it's okay to let them go.  Yes. It. Is.

How do I know?

After messy relationships and emotional break ups, I was turning 25 single. Totally single.  But it was also that birthday that began a relationship that on paper seemed really good.  He had a great job.  He was friends with lots of my friends.  He was handsome. He was fun.

But he was also mean.  He could be a big ole' jerk.  And he never went to church with me, much less prayed with me.

So, almost a year later, I got ballsy enough to walk away.  To be alone again.  And to wait on God.  While just about all of my friends were head over heels in love with their hubbies or fiances, I was again alone.  And waiting.

And would you believe what God had in store for me?  Yeah, you know the end of this story. . . .  a few months later, I met Tim in a Bible Study group that I'd avoided going to for months.  I kept saying I didn't want to go to a singles' Bible Study because it would surely be a meat market.  Not for me.

God's definitely got a sense of humor!  Because it was that first night at Bible Study that I met Tim.  And it began a beautiful friendship based on God.  And God's best for me continues to amaze me day after day.

BooMama says it best when she says, "all I can do is keep my eyes on the One who knows everything in my heart and trust that He knows what's ultimately the best for me.  He hasn't let me down yet."

And, just as BooMama does, I'm closing with this verse.  You single ladies out there, CLAIM IT!!!!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him."  ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9

What are you waiting on?  Go over and read her amazing post NOW!!!

Titus 2 Tuesday: Ashlie

Welcome to another edition of Titus 2 Tuesday, where we celebrate the women in our lives and what they’ve taught us. Join in; we’d love to have you!

I’m recycling a Titus 2 Post from a while back. And I apologize, but that’s just as good as it gets these days with me. Too much shaking in my neck of the woods. Besides that, I find it worth repeating what a great encourager Ashlie is to me. I first posted this back in April. Today, Ashlie’s encouraging me in many new and different ways and for that I’ll forever be grateful!

I am one of few - in the world, perhaps – who can say that I lived with the same girl my entire college career. And that we never, not one time, had any sort of argument or disagreement. Never. She was the most amazing roomie for 4 solid years. During those years and since then, Ashlie has taught me so much about life.

From the wild days of our Freshmen Fall quarter ~ Ash, remember Opossum and his friends, our first night in Athens, and the freezing cold Auburn game where we sat on the concrete because of the fraudulent tickets and waaaaay too many people in the stadium ~ to the Bible Studies we attended, the friends we made, and the lessons we learned, it’s safe to say that 301 Church Hall and St. Andrews Apt 205 housed not only ourselves but our friendship, many laughs, our share of tears, and many memories of our college lives.

Ashlie has been one of the most influential friends I have in the area of my spiritual growth. It was Ashlie’s hand that held mine while we were seniors in high school sitting in church when a man in the audience began having a heart attack or stroke or something. The preacher stopped preaching and began praying for this little old man. Ashlie was also there when I fell apart one night during a Bible Study session our freshman year, over a very painful experience. And of course, Ash was right there with me, standing as a bridesmaid when I married Tim!

Ashlie taught me how to pray, how to rest in God, how to trust Him always, and how to seek His will for my life in everything I do. I love her dearly, and I truly thank my God for her!

Aunt B & Ellie

I'm posting this picture because it just makes me laugh! I was trying my best to get Ellie to kiss me. . . . Can you tell she wasn't havin' it? She's looking at me like I have lost my mind!!!!!

Happy Weekend, Y'all!!

More Blog Fun ~ 5 Words

So, you guys know I’m always up for a fun little blog game. And Lora recently participated in this and invited her readers to join in. . . . And here I am! Lora assigned me five words. My assignment? Talk about ‘em!


Work: I’m a banker, so in today’s economy, we’re working our fingers to the bone, petal to the medal, nose to the grindstone. You get the drift. But I’m so very thankful to be a tiny part of a bank that’s based on Christian foundations, and we know that our God who brought us into existence is the same God who grew our bank to what it is today. And He’s the same awesome God who’s with us today in this tumultuous time.

Babies: I love ‘em! I am now keeping the babies on Wednesday nights at church, and I absolutely eat it up! Oh how I do pray God’s plan for our lives is for us to be parents!! Like soon!!?!!

Faith: Oh man. . . where do I start? I could go on for days! Faith in my Father is what I rely on, cling to, and stand on. There just ain’t no other way!

Family: My family is my world! If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know that much is true! I grew up in an incredibly loving home, and I have so many memories of family times together. And now, my husband and I are a family, and I love every single minute of it.

Embarrassment: I am one of the most klutzy human beings on this earth, so I’m full of embarrassing stories. Maybe Lora included this because I was soooo embarrassed after passing out in the middle of El Azteca Friday night? Perhaps she remembered the time I fell on the treadmill at the gym. Regardless, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my embarrassing moments, it’s that being able to laugh about them is over half the battle!

Fun times! Let me know if you want to play along!

Thursday's Ten ~ My Bucket List

Lora's Thursday's Ten today is Your Bucket List.  What's on your list of things to do before you die? 

1.  Carry a child.

2.  Be a child's mother.

3.  Go skiing out west.  Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, any of it!

4.  Be used by Christ to bring someone to salvation.

5.  Effectively give my testimony to a group.

6.  See UGA play in a national championship game.  In Person.

7.  Go to Europe

8.  Go on a mission trip.

9. Hiking / Camping trip out west like Nilsa and Sweets recently did.

10. Work in a mission-type environment

So.  What's on your bucket list?   

Thomas Nelson Book Review ~ What Kind of Difference Do It Make

Wow. I just finished reading What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. As I've mentioned before, this is the second book by Ron and Denver. Their first book, Same Kind of Different as Me is incredible.

So, I expected great things from What Difference Do It Make? And my expectations were met! Not only do readers get an update on the beloved pair; our hearts are also touched by the stories told of others who read Same Kind of Different as Me and took action, those who began giving to those in need, those who forgave painful pasts, those who paid it forward in some small - or big - way.

As was with the first book, Denver's tales are honest, true, and thought provoking. Ron’s stories are often heart-wrenching and profound. Together, the two tell a story of making a difference in the lives of many. I highly recommend diving on into What Difference Do It Make? After all, this much I know is true:

What Difference Do It Make? Oftentimes, an eternal one.  And that's what it's all about!

Titus 2 Tuesday ~ Gma

Welcome to Titus 2 Tuesday, where we honor women who've taught us something worth remembering.  Won't you join us?  All you have to do is link your blog post to this post!  Be sure to hop around and visit other Titus 2 blogs as well!

This week, I’m honoring my precious Grandmother. Affectionately known to her 6 granddaughters, 3 great granddaughters and one great grandson as “G-ma”, my grandmother is a true matriarch, a true legacy, and a true Christian woman.


Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take Gma to the oral surgeon for a quick procedure. As is typical, the entire trip was worth remembering! Here are a few snippets of what was heard during our time together:

- While sitting at a green light waiting to turn left, Gma says, “Go! You can go!” I most certainly could not go, though. . . less she be creamed by an oncoming car. That’s when I quickly reminded Gma I was driving this buggy! She just laughed! Ha Ha!!

- Upon entering the doctor’s office, Gma says, “shoo, this place smells like medicine!”

- She refused to put her social security number on their patient information sheet. She gave me an ear full about that. “Someone” recently told her not to “ever EVER” do that. My money is that Nancy Grace has recently said that. Gma takes anything Nancy says to the bank!

- Since I was taking my lunch break to do this little trip, I was checking my emails on my phone. Gma leans over and says, “Are you texting? Or are you on that facebook thing?” She then has me explain both texting and facebook to her. She doesn’t understand why it’s called texting. Why not messaging?

- And that conversation led to blogs. I’ve mentioned before my cousin also writes a blog. Gma’s heard us talking about them, so I was trying to explain to Gma that they’re basically online journals. Gma seemed to think that was a little silly; aren’t journals supposed to be of your deep, private thoughts? She didn’t seem too interested until I told her Seoul-Mama uses hers mainly to document their adoption of Seoul-baby. Gma perked up then and thought blogs were an excellent idea!

- And only my 89-year-old Grandmother would come out of having a tooth extracted with gauze sticking straight out of her mouth and talk the ENTIRE ride home. She was non-stop! It was hilarious!

- Gma made me cookies as a thank you. Never mind that my favorites are her chocolate chip cookies. Nope, she gave me a batch of her homemade peanut butter cookies. Conveniently Tim’s favorite and Gma knows it!

Throughout my almost 30 years, Gma’s taught me so much. So many verses come to mind because my Gma taught them to me. I know Hebrews 13:8 ~ “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” ~ because of my Gma. She shared that verse with me after my Daddy died. I cherish it so very much.  I remember that being the second time in my life I'd seen my Gma cry; the first time was two years before when Gpa passed away. I also think of Gma when I think of a true woman of beauty and strength, such as Esther. And a true Proverbs 31 woman. Yep, that’s my Gma.
 
So after dropping her off at home, after her assuring me she would be just fine – with that gauze still shoved in her mouth – I left to return to work and thanked my God for her, for her humor, her wit, her legacy, and her love.