Show a little love

I've spoken a few times on here about one of the pastors in our church and how much I enjoy his sermons. They are thought provoking, challenging, and theologically "full". This has been another one of those weeks where I've been thinking about a particular sermon since I heard it this past Sunday.

He spoke on love, both between spouses and also between us and Jesus. He discussed how a marriage in the first few months looks much different than a marriage after 10 years. There is often less passion, less "butterflies", but still a solid level of commitment and stability (hopefully, anyway). He brought forth this scenario: what if, after 10 years of marriage, your spouse walked in the door and said to you "I need to let you know that I'm not in love with you anymore. I'm not saying that anything will change though! I will still come home to this house every day. I will care for our children, provide for the family, and sit down to supper with you. I just...don't love you."

Ok...devastating, right? But. How many of us treat our Father the same way? We forget to maintain the passion of our relationship. We read our bible, attend church, sing songs of worship, tithe...but we don't actively love.

Just as we need to explore love languages in our marriages, we also need to explore those in our relationship with God. If you feel most close to God when you step outside into his creation, get outside!! If you draw near to him by worshiping through music, sing! Find ways to connect with Jesus in ways that you are most passionate about.

This challenge has affected me in a few ways. First of all, it makes me so incredibly thankful for my job at camp. I feel renewed passion for Christ every time I step onto camp grounds. We meet for staff meetings in the mornings and I am immediately renewed. I get to explore my passion at my workplace and this is such a blessing. I am also trying to be more aware of how I show love to my spouse. Often how we attempt to show love is not the same as how love is perceived. I need to remember to speak his love languages.

Anyway...just my thoughts of the week. You don't have you answer this on here, but think about it this week...how do you express your love and passion to Jesus?

Blessed

Time for a list...just to remind myself of the goodness of life:

My family. I watch my husband and wonder daily how I got so lucky. Not only is he exceedingly good looking, strong, and handy, but he also loves me unconditionally. He puts up with my severe mood swings, lets me buy multiple pairs of shoes, and buys me my favorite boards games, knowing full well that he will actually have to play them with me (board games are not his favorite things...haha)

I hold my baby boy and just sigh in contentment. Oh wait...rephrase. I hold my toddler. My little man. My ever growing, changing, wonderful little boy. He gives me kisses, holds tight to my finger while running through sprinklers, and laughs every single time I pop around the corner to "surprise" him. It's so nice to have someone who always thinks I'm funny.

My job. It's been 6 months now and I am still loving it. We are working out at camp now andw it is so. good. I get to go to camp and get paid for it! SO good! The staff there right now is awesome and I love the people I work with. And I get to go horseback riding. Can you do that at YOUR job?

BBQing. I don't do it MYSELF, but I do love it when Mitch does. Just thought it deserved mention.

Ok so this is not a new list...I mention these same things every time I make a list of thankfulness. At least PART of my life is consistant! :)

Just me?

Do you ever have the distinct fear that the more people get to know you, the less they will like what they see? That the more you open yourself up, the more ridiculous you look? That the passion that you show looks like foolery?

Just wondering.

Perspective

Time flies as my child tries
And bruises bear witness
To gravity.
Hearts beat strong
-Though for how long?
Breathe my prayers to carry.
Fingers holding, feet flying
Tears not as abundant
As laughter.
Time flies, and hard as I try,
A baby gives way
To a toddler.
Sun shines like big blue eyes,
And I’ll follow him...
-Long as he’ll let me.
Love bears weight,
And being heavily blessed,
Will remember to whom we give glory.

Tyler

...is apparently not napping.

But anyway.

What I have found interesting about working part time is the intensity I feel about spending quality time with my boy. My schedule right now is I work 2 days a week and then 3 days a week, alternating. This is my '2 days a week' week and I just love it. I love taking my time with Tyler instead of rushing to love him in as many ways as possible as quickly as possible before rushing out the door in the morning. I read books to him slowly. I sit with him on the floor while he runs around me and shows me things. I laugh with him while he's in his high chair making animal noises. I love taking my time.

Tyler has personality like crazy. He is constantly pushing boundaries and limits, though not ever maliciously or in a bad space. It's more an exploration of his world and what would happen if he did....this. Or this! Or...uh oh. I'm in trouble again. He is not really a soft and snuggly boy, yet at bedtimes will wrap his arms around my neck, put his head on my shoulders, and hum. He is fiercely independent and doesn't often want to hold my finger as he walks anymore. His first choice is to pull everything out of my dishwasher, but will settle for closing it on me instead. He loves books and will sit still as long as I will read to him. He is constantly running up to me with another book to be read to him. He LOVES his dad. He has quite a good sense of what time it is and in the late afternoon starts to get antsy and hangs around by our front window a lot so he can see his dad pull up the driveway. He talks and babbles and tries to repeat everything I say. I tell him 40 times a day that he's the smartest person I know. He runs with reckless abandon and falls hard and often. He says hi to every single stranger who walks by and won't stop saying hi until they say it back. He gives wonderful open mouth slobbery kisses, but never to the person holding him.

Oh, how I love my son.

Just a reminder...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:4-7

Muffin Success

I love cooking, and I especially love making recipes my own. Pretty sure I've already said that before on here so I won't expand. Here is my latest modification:
Raspberry whole wheat muffins.

mmmmmm.

So I took the standard blueberry muffin recipe and made some changes and here's what I came up with:

1 3/4 c. Whole wheat flour
1/4c white sugar (though the next time I might try with some brown instead)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of cinnamon (ok you could probably say dump rather than dash for me, but put in what you want)

1 egg, well beaten
1/3 c apple sauce (here's where I'm not sure what do to...it calls for 1/3 oil but applesauce is a great and healthy substitute. However judging by how they turned out a little dry this time around, I'll go half oil, half apple sauce next time).
3/4 c milk

1 cup rasberries (or 2 cups...I put LOTS in)

Mix dry ingredients, make a well and add liquid ingredients, though only gently mix. Add raspberries, give it a good stir or two, and put the batter in your muffin cups. Bake at 400f for 25 min.

I love baking something healthy that both Tyler and I can enjoy and he loved these.