Love is Indispensable

1 Corinthians 13:5

...(love) it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Ok, so go back and read that again. Really let it sink in.

Mmkay, are you feeling convicted yet? Did you do a quick flashback to when your hubby that you love and adore so much for the 8th millionth time didn't put his clothes in the hamper, dish in the sink, walk the dog. Just fill in the blank, think of your hubby's shortcomings, the way it upset you, the way you thought to yourself that he never does this! And then thought "I am not his maid!" ...and now let that go. Stop being angry and whatever you do, do not make another mental tally of this offense.

The Lord tells us that doing so is NOT love! Love does not anger easily, so let go of that annoyance! If its not that easy, simply pray these words "Jesus help me" and then erase the shortcoming off your list. In fact, while you're at it, erase them all! Love keeps no record of wrong. And thank God...literally, lets thank God that's the truth!  There isn't enough paper on this earth for Jesus to document all my wrong doing!!

Erase your list and forgive.

In my home I always get annoyed when Matthew doesn't wipe down the bathroom sink. Whether he washes his hands, his hair or shaved, the sink is covered in water. Then I go and lean against the counter and my clothes get soaked! For about the first year I'd get so mad! I'd call Matthew into the bathroom and say "you do this all the time! It looks like a little birdy took bath in our sink! Wipe it down!"

Whoa, wife of the year, right?

One day, I just stopped getting upset. Because it was a waste of my energy and it was wrong to be angry! And it was wrong for me to keep a record of this! Now-a-days, I will sometimes yell to Matthew from the bathroom that a little birdy must have been in our sink again! He laughs and shouts back that we should keep the window closed so birds can't just come in and bathe in our home. He laughs, I roll my eyes and laugh, and then wipe down the sink  It doesn't bother me anymore.  I don't remember the last time he did it.  But it has become a running joke & even a reminder to keep no record of his wrongs.

This, my friends, is love. I don't tally his bird baths and he doesn't tally the times I do him wrong. Of course, we have a long way to go. I still get easily angered and so does he. But the God of Love says to love we must not do that! And, I dunno about you, but I want to do what God says!

Sweet Boy

John John

You are half a year old! Practically an old man already and I just wanted to write you a long winded and rambling letter about your first six months of life.

You were pretty grumpy in your first month. I think you were confused because you didn't recognize our voices...we weren't the voices you were used to while you were safe and warm in your birth momma's tummy. I chock it up to your observant (and nosey) demeanor. Slowly though, you figured out that we were yours and you started to smile and blossom. You have not stopped smiling since!

The next few months were a blur since they seemed to pass so quickly! You learned to laugh, and you love to laugh! Sometimes I hear you in your crib just cracking up! You learned to roll over but never do it because you'd rather be sitting up! You've been sitting up unsupported since 4 months! Whatta champ! I started feeding you rice cereal but you HATED it! So we moved on to veggies and you practically inhale them! You are not a picky eater at all and I love that! We are gonna have fun exploring new foods!

You're favorite people are Daddy and Gramma. You just light up when you hear their voices! You loooove it when Daddy makes you fly and tosses you around and you love when Gramma pretends to be surprised!

You love music and already have a little rhythm when you dance! You like loud toys...the louder the better...and you love to babble, yell and squeal! It is so funny to hear you "talk" and you are very expressive!

You stopped cuddling a few weeks ago and it makes me so sad, but on the other hand it makes me rest easier knowing you are a strong independent little boy. But, you do give me the best hugs. You wrap your arms around my neck and snuggle your head into my hair and squeeze me! But, that happens in a flash and you're done!

I am amazed at the transformation of you, John Ivory, in these past six months and I am anxiously awaiting your first tooth, crawling, your first word, and of course, walking! John John, Daddy and I are so proud to call you our son and I know that T is proud of you, too! We all love you so much it's overwhelming! Thank you for being a joyful little boy!

The Idiot's Guide To YOLO

Just the other day, I said, for the first time ever, the word YOLO.  And first off, let me just say, I am so uncool.  Gasp!  I know, I know, shocking.  But I am.  In fact I am so uncool that I am hot.  See what I did there?  But anyway, I digress.  I thought YOLO was a word made up by Kanye West.  Turns out it was made up by a lovely fellow named Drake.  Thank you, Drake, for changing my life.  For those of you who are as hot as I am, YOLO is a hip way of saying "You Only Live Once." or as I was so educated earlier today it's the idiot's way of saying Carpe Diem.

With that in mind I'd like to share with you now a few ways and rules I have developed in using YOLO.  And why do I use it?  Because it's hilarious and every time the word comes flying out of my mouth, Matthew proceeds to give me "the look"

...which I find both haunting and hilarious:

The Rules

1.You cannot just say YOLO whenever you want.  It must apply to the situation.

2. It must be said with a straight face.  Using such a dumb word requires you to say it like you mean it.  Plus, it's just funnier that way.

3. Always disagree with people when they say YOLO is dead.

4. Use it around your grandma.  She will love your clever and charming whipper snapper ways.


How/When To Use It

1. Playing Jenga!  Pick the hardest block to remove.  Remove it.  Place it on top.  When the following player says "Why'd you do that!?" Reply YOLO!

2. When your husband gives you "the look"

...when you open up a carton of ice cream and turn on Vampire Diaries, just look at him and say in a serious tone YOLO and then continue on with eating & watching.


3.  When you put your seat belt on.  Look at the person opposite you & say very calmly as you snap that thing in: YOLO.

4. When you're about to cut you're long hair short & your mom warns you that you'll regret it.  YOLO, Mom.  YOLO.

5. Swimming right after you eat instead of waiting thirty minutes?  YOLO.

You get it now, right?  You're welcome, friends on your short education to the Idiot's Guide To YOLO.  You're welcome.

Source: Pinterest

Apartment 73

I tend not to get too sentimental over material items.  I don't hold on to old mementos, or cry when it's time to move.  It's just not me.  I like photos & the memories I keep in my mind & heart.  Those are my favorite.  But, for whatever reason, when it was time to leave good ole' apartment #73 last week, I was so sad.

I wanted to hug my apartment goodbye.  I wanted to promise to come visit every now and then.  And then I wanted to seek professional help for wanting to do those things.

I have to admit something to you, too.  We moved from #73 to #78.  Yep, a flight of stairs up & three doors down.  So, let me reiterate how ridiculous my inability to say goodbye to apartment 73 was.  But, the more I thought about it, I realized I wasn't going to fight the feelings anymore.  I was going to give in.  So here I am giving in:

Apartment 73,

You were good to me.  You were the first place ever, in my life, that I have lived in for longer than one year.  You saw me through a lot of seasons.  My  husband & I picked you out.  We searched all over the city looking for a one bedroom apartment & when we found you, Matt says the hunt was over.  We moved in.  Remember that day?  We had fun, didn't we?

I thought I was a big shot when we finally had furniture to fill you with...

We were newlyweds within your walls.  We fought.  We made up.  We laughed & cried & had some good times.

I decorated & cluttered your walls.  We brought new furniture in & took old furniture out.

 

 

We celebrated lots of "firsts" as a married couple within your walls.

Then we started preparing for a family to fill the home with more love.  Your ample storage space made me one happy nesting momma.

Mo might have thrown up on your clean carpet a few times.  All those times he snuck into the garbage can were rough on you.  Sorry about that.

and when we finally did bring a baby home...we brought him home to you.  You will be the first place he ever called home.

Apartment 73, I know you are an inanimate object.  I know you won't hold me tenderly in your heart but I know that one day when I am old and gray, and maybe John John will be getting married & I will look back and reminisce with him about when me and his daddy fell in love, married & moved out you were our first home.  Well laugh about how you didn't have a fridge in your kitchen for the first month, about the mistakes we made as newlyweds, how our home wasn't pinterest-perfect but how it was perfect for us.  Well look back at the "good ole' days" and know that they were good indeed.

Your tenant...the crazy lady writing letters to apartments,
Ashley

My Hearts is in Africa

I feel a big part of having faith that Jesus is Lord is not just loving but sharing. Sharing the gospel. Sharing His word.

I mean, before Jesus was crucified he didn't tell the apostles to maybe take a minute and tell somebody in the marketplace about Him or tell a friend over a dinner date. Did they have dinner dates back then? But no, He told them to get up and go out into the world and share the Gospel. It wasn't a suggestion it was His command.

Lately, as I've been staying home with John John I have allowed myself...dared myself, even, to dream. Most of my dreams included me and handsome hubs hopping on a huge boat with endless amounts of food setting sail for the Bahamas. Or Caribbean. Anywhere tropical and beautiful really. But the more I dreamed my visions slowly changed from tropical to desolate. From the high life on a cruise ship into a plane landing in Africa. From people serving me drinks into me serving people. At first I was all "Hey God! What the heck!?" and then I let my new dream settle in and now I think "Hey God! How do I get to this new place in my dreams!?!?"

This new place is Africa. I've never been there and I don't know what it's like except for pictures bloggers share. All I know is my heart is already in Africa & my body needs to meet it there. I spoke with my hubs and told him this a few weeks ago. He told me to go there. He told me to pray and God would fly me across the world to get there.

An opportunity has risen. And usually missionaries take months and months to raise money for travels but I have three months to raise $4,000. If this is the Lord's plan, the money will show up and I will be boarding a plane this summer to serve the people of Ethiopia and Uganda.

Will you pray with me? Pray the Lords will be done and if He desires me to serve His people in Africa...then somehow, someway, I will get there...and that I can obey the command that was given so long ago to get up and go out into the world and share the Good News.