In Sickness And Health

We're sick! Yep...this hasn't happened very often in our marriage. It's hard to take care of one another when we both need taken care of. He started feeling bad today, sounds like he's getting a bad cold. I have laryngitis so, I'm trying to do what the doctors say to do: drink lot's of water, get rest try not to speak...etc. (That last one is hard for me sometimes...especially when my husband comes home from work and wants to talk about his hard day. I want to have a voice to encourage him with. SO, lately I have been trying to find other ways to encourage him. It's working out alright...though, I still miss talking. I pray that we both get well soon!

Hopefully within the next couple weeks we'll begin to see progress. My Husband is very healthy and NEVER seems to get sick. He told me once, he said, "Honey, when I get sick...I GET S-I-C-K!!" SO, whatever my husband has must be REALLY bad...because as I said, he seems to NEVER get sick. Whenever it begins to feel like too much effort to care after each other, we sometimes remind each other of the promise we made in our vows..."In sickness or in health right babe?"...."Right sweety". (:

Last night we went out on a date. Even though we don't feel the best, we still try to make the best out of every situation. Well, last night I wasn't feeling the best...he was feeling fine then. I really wanted to go out on a date even though I felt bad so...we went. He said it was a surprise and that our reservations were made. I was like, "Hmm....hee hee. I'm excited!" A world of thoughts came swimming through my brain. "Hmmm...I wonder if we're going to a fancy hotel...or, maybe dinner somewhere...OR.. -"

We got in the the car and started driving...he reached his hand across the middle seat to hold my hand...he smiled, and said,"I love you". I smiled back and enjoyed feeling 17 again. All of a sudden, the car came to a stop. He walked out and around the car to my side of the door, opened it, took my hand like the gentlemen he is...and gently escorted me to our destination. "This is it", he said. I looked up and saw a sign above the doors that read, "La Pastorella."

He kindly opened the door, and allowed me to go in first. I looked around this beautiful bistro and saw all of the vintage pieces they had all around. The tables were set up nicely, the romantic music flooded the room. We took our seats and began reading the menu.

"Yes, I'll have the Spaghetti Parmesan with Italian Sausage please." "And for you Sir?" "I'll have the Cordon Bleu, please." As we waited for our food we sipped our drinks, laughed and talked and had a great time. Our food arrived! "Oo that looks good! Thank you." I exclaimed. "Wow this looks really good". "Your most welcome!" The waiter said. He went on, and we dug in! I'm telling you folks...I have NEVER sunk my teeth into pasta that good EVER before. I am mostly Italian and my Father and grandpa (especially Grandpa)...makes some crazy good pasta! But, it's NOTHING like the pasta from La Pastorella!

No offensive familia -I love you all but, you need to sharpen up your pasta-making skills ;)

The night at, La Pastorella was wonderful. A great surprise! Thank you honey for taking me there and surprising me! I love you! :)

We finished off our romantic meal with a tasty desert called, Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, set the tip on the table, and drove off into the frosty night! Even though I was a bit sick...I don't regret one moment of the night. It was incredible. Being sick with supper isn't so bad when you have someone special to enjoy it with :)

Have you and your spouse ever been sick at the same time?

Untill next post!

It's A Wonderful Journey

This is one of my very first posts in 2011...feels good to be blogging again! :) In this post I wanted to talk about our marriage and how this second year of marriage has been going for us.

This second year of marriage, has been so wonderful! God has been really working on our hearts. I would like to say to anyone that has said to us that, "Marriage is just gonna' get better"...well, number one, thank you for that positivity! And, number two, you weren't lyin'! It has! I thought the first year was good HA! In this second year...SO much has been going on! God has been really stretching us and transforming and challenging us to better serve each other -and Him. I cannot BELIEVE how quickly time has already past by.

So much has happened. As I had mentioned earlier, my Husband and I celebrated our second Christmas -in our first house. Living here has been great! I love this house, and the people that are allowing us to stay here. I feel I have become more 'style' savvy I guess you could say...when it comes to decorating your home. I noticed in the first year...every room in the Apt. looked like a teenagers room space. Especially the Master bedroom of the Apt. I have seen some growth and maturity in my choices (as well as my husband) and choices of style (when in comes to the house)...In other ways as well. It's funny looking back on old pictures of when we your NEWLY-newlyweds...and just seeing how much we both looked so unprepared...and clueless to how hard things were going to be in the near future. I'm not saying that we don't look like children sometimes now too...we do. Haha...then however...well...you'd just have to see the pictures...

                                                                                     Oh look Here's One! : p

 It's so exciting to see all the new, fresh and exciting things God is doing in our marriage now, in 2011. Years ago...before we even got married, we discussed the years ahead...and what we felt they would bring. When we got married we found ourselves having that same discussion. 2011 was brought up a lot...we have always called "2011" the, "Kid Year"...for some reason we always felt that in 2011 was when God was going to start blessing us with children. Well, the year's still fresh! So, we've got time! (: Yes...my Husband and I are still wanting a child right now. No...we are not expecting...yet. 2011...I feel this year could be the year. God may have different plans, however. We shall see.

Recently, the Lord has been really impressing upon our hearts that we should attend a Christian marriage seminar next month in February. I think, that would be an incredible experience, and very good for our marriage. I was telling my Husband, "Maybe we can make it an annual thing". I think going to one every year...would be a great time of renewal for us. It is true what they say...over the years...(NO, THE LOVE DOESN'T DIE) (I want to heavily emphasize that)...however, it does feel...not as fresh, and exciting always...(like in the first year of marriage.) SO...to rekindle that flame that you've already got burning brightly...why not go to a Christian Marriage Seminar every year...to turn that flame into a bonfire? Why not, right?

Don't wait till' 'issues' arise in your marriage...go just to go! And have a good time with your spouse! :) That is why we are going, to be renewed, and learn stuff...I'm very excited. Their going to have dinner and a show there, so it will be very romantic. They will also have, a great speaker, a comedy team, (hopefully a slow dance)...like we saw in the clip of this seminar. Lot's of great things to bring a sense of renewal in your marriage. (: If you would like information on this Christian Marriage Seminar...let me know! And I will be happy to give you the details! Maybe, you could find a good one in your area if you can't attend this upcoming one.



TRUE Love never dies! True love can ONLY come from Jesus. Only HE can keep that fire alive! Allow God to keep it burning!! We are living in an age where day after day we see marriages burning to a crisp...don't let yours be the next set of ashes. Keep striving to love God, KNOW God, genuinely,sacrificially,selflessly,deeply LOVE your Husband and family.

May God Bless y'all, in your marriages...and for those of you who don't yet know Christ. KNOW HIM! He'll change your marriage and your life!!! For the better :) There IS hope for your marriage! And His name is Jesus Christ.

Got any plans with your spouse for Heart Day 2011? Don't be afraid to share! :)

Until Next Post!

SORRY EVERYONE!! HAPPY 2011

Hey, I just wanted to apologize...I'M SO SORRY! I know...it's been SO long since I blogged about something. Well...let me catch you up! My Husband Jon and I had a splendid Christmas...and holiday season. It was filled with family, fun and the warmth and joy that only Jesus can give. Below are some photos! :)

                                            2nd Christmas in 1st house...

                                                                    Opening of gifts...

 

My Husband and I

Christmas 2010 was awesome! December was a very exciting month for us! My brother came home! Yes believe it or not! He is now living in this area! I am so excited!!! I haven't seen my brother for years and years and years! It was like amazing! How God worked it all out! Thanksgiving was great too! New years Eve was fun too...we went to a Church get together...Oh my...I seriously need to start blogging more. Again...So sorry to all of you out there who read my blog. Well...Happy 2011! Many blessings everyone!

Until Next Post,

                                                          

Miscarriage: A Poem

This poem that I wrote is about the baby my Husband and I lost. It ended in a tragic miscarriage.

                        MY CHILD:

Dear angel, It's been a little over a year now that you have been gone.

I miss you very much...you were my song.

The way you felt inside me, I will never forget.

The pain I felt when you left me, I will never regret.

It's made me a stronger person.

I've grown better from it.

I have not grown bitter- I am not a quitter.

I won't give up to give in to sorrow.

For, tomorrow is much sweeter than those past memories that ache.

My life felt at stake when I was carrying you, as you lay dead inside me...

I felt black and blue.

I lay paralyzed in pain as I look up to Heaven, "Oh Father God please lessen this pain"...

My strength is gone". I must move on...

I sit here a year later as a new woman. Child, you helped mommy become a better person.

I learned a lot from what you put me through.

I'm so grateful God used you.

I pray one day, we'll meet.

I'd love to hold you in my arms, and kiss those tiny feet.

You'll forever be my angel, you are sorely missed.

Don't worry about Mama...

My life is truly bliss.


-Tina Rose Reed

~December, 7th 2010~.

Making Memories

                                                                              

              

What about you? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year? With who? What did you do?

                                                                             

                                                                               

                                               

Marriage Takes Three

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Our Wedding Celebration: June 27th, 2009 

In today's society men are the women, and women are the men. Is this Biblical? Is this right? Absolutely not. God created man for a woman and woman for a man. Not, woman for a woman, and a man for a man. A lot of you may be reading this and thinking..."Are you talking about homosexuality?" Yes, I am referring this to same sex couples. But it goes much deeper than that issue. I am also talking about the great desire now a days to become a feminist. Men, us women need you to be men: Strong, Wise, godly, Caring, Sensitive. Men, act like men...you can and will never fully take a woman's place. Ladies, us men need you to be dependent, compassionate, submissive, hard workers at home and or other places, loving, kind, considerate.You can and will never fully take a man's place. God has designed men and women much differently.  

God's plan:

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

—Genesis 1:27 

"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.' Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

—Genesis 2:18-25 

God's image is both male and female and is reflected in a godly union between male and female where the creative power of God, His life-giving, His self-giving and His moral nature are perfectly expressed. This is only possible in a heterosexual union. This is what God desires for us!  The Holy union between a man and a woman, who are in the confines of marriage is part of God's divine plan and purpose. Those who are not following this divine plan, are not in the Lord's will. Women be women, and men be men. 

When God created a partner for Adam He created Eve - not another Adam. It's not, Adam and Adam or  Eve and Eve. It was Adam and Eve, a perfect Holy union. This means that perfect partnership takes some level of difference as well as a level of similarity so great that Adam could cry out loudly, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh". Sexual intimacy between a man and a woman is the normal method of male/female bonding (emotionally and physically) because it corresponds to the design of our bodies and because it is the normal means by which offspring are created. Life is precious! Why taint God's perfect and Holy plan? This is the way we were truly designed! 

If God had intended the human race to be fulfilled through both heterosexual and homosexual marriage, He would have designed our bodies to allow reproduction through both means and made both means of sexual intercourse healthy and natural. What drives same sex couples to want to begin a "relationship" is lust...not love. (It is no relationship, if there is no true love in it). It's a game, filled with selfishness and rebellion. Homosexual intercourse carries a high risk of disease, this is recognized in Scripture where gay men are said to receive in their bodies the due penalty for their error. Women are not exempt from getting a disease. These diseases are deadly!

"In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." 

"For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."

-Romans 1:26-27

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

—1 Corinthians 6:9-10 

"Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,"

—1 Timothy 1:9-10

These three references from the Scriptures indicate that homosexual passions and acts are unnatural, shameful, wrong, contrary to sound doctrine and deny entrance to the Kingdom of God. This being so they cannot be the basis of a Christian marriage sanctioned by God's Church. The Church exists to save people, not to bless the means of their damnation. No marriage can be sanctioned by the Church if the very basis of the marriage involves acts that put the couple outside of eternal salvation.

 No matter what our society may legislate, the law of God is clear - that a marriage is not a godly marriage if it is a same sex union. Same sex marriage and "relationships" are all sinful in God's eyes. We are all sinners and we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. God sees all sin the same. Stealing something to God, would be just as bad as killing someone or raping someone. We are all equal in God's eyes. God is no respecter of persons. He loves us all the same. He hates all sin the same. God doesn't hate the sinner...He hates the SIN because He is a just God, who cares for his creation, and desires for us to live right lives, and to follow his will. 

Marriage is a fundamental social institution that does not exist just for the emotional satisfaction of two individuals but for the greater good of the community which stands under the blessing or curse of God. Societies that put emotional fulfillment before right actions and principles will soon give way to a multitude of addictions and deep corruptions and collapse.

 God will judge any society that institutes same sex marriages.

I also believe that God will judge a society that permits adoption of children or the use of sperm banks by same sex couples. His Word stands over society and when it is deliberately flaunted in the name of progress and enlightenment, then it is not light but deep darkness that results.

We cannot bend the principles of God's Word to suit vocal minority groups. While some nations may enact laws permitting these evils, the true church of God must stand resolutely firm and never allow the sanctioning of same sex marriages by Christian clergy.

 No church that takes the Bible seriously can sanction a union between homosexuals or lesbians.

THIS...IS WHAT TRUE LOVE IS:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV

*Note, this is really in the Bible. :) 

                                                                        

THIS...IS WHAT TRUE LUST IS:

Lust is impatient, lust is not kind. It does envy, it does boast, it is self-seeking, it is easily angered, it keeps record of wrongs. Lust does delight in evil and rejoices with the lies. It never protects, never trusts, never hopes, never perseveres. 

-2 book of opinions

*Note: 2nd book of opinions is not really a book in the Bible just FYI. ;)

 Do you agree with God's way, or disagree?