So, as most of you are aware, I am a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan. His novels speak to me in ways the reach my innermost thoughts and it's such a beautiful thing! I'm about to wrap up his latest novel, The Choice, and it's amazing - I would've expected nothing less. I just recently discovered that he has a website as well (www.nicholassparks.com) with all kinds of wonderful information about the author, the novels, works that have been turned into featured films, etc. I'm so excited to explore all of this and learn more about him and what inspires his stories.
If you've never read a novel by Nicholas Sparks before, I recommend starting with The Notebook first. It's my favorite! :)
Happy reading!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Change
Over the last couple of months, we've gone through some pretty significant changes - worth mentioning. For the last 5 years, Chris has been away from home so much that I'm amazed at how solid our marriage has proven to be in retrospect. It's never easy when you don't have that quality time together each day and your communication becomes stagnant and almost void at times as a result. We've been working through this since the day we were married and I'm glad to report that things are finally stabilizing for us. Chris' new job has revealed to us the importance of a normal work schedule and the effects it has on our family. Right now, at this stage in our life together, it feels like we're in a totally new place. I joke around with friends saying that we're finally getting to experience that "honeymoon" phase that we were so reluctantly robbed of for the last 5 years. Each morning is new and exciting and has so many more possibilities than it's ever had before. I love how we relate to each other now. It's like we're remembering all over again what it was that made us fall in love with each other from the very beginning. Not to mention the unbelievable reality that I'm married to my very best friend in this world - the man who knows me, loves me and accepts me for all that I am - flaws and all. How gratifying is that?!
We've thoroughly enjoyed our new morning and evening schedules. Take this past week for example. I'm up at 5:30 with my cup of coffee and my Bible, beginning my day in the very best way. Then gradually Chris wakes up, then the dogs, and the whole house is buzzing! We get ready for work, I pack our lunches, make our "to-go" cups of coffee, grab a pop-tart or muffin for the road, then book it to the car by 7:15 so as not to miss my bus at 7:30. Chris drops me off, kisses me good-bye, then drives in to the office (only 5 minutes away). In the evening, he picks me up at the bus stop at 6:15, we come home, feed the dogs, cook dinner, then have the whole rest of the night to look forward to spending together. Chris even has time to work in the yard after he gets home at night - which has almost never happened before! Not to mention, he's now around to help with cleaning up after dinner, folding the laundry and helping take care of our dogs. I realize that this is the "norm" for most people - who would've thought I would be so excited to be this "normal"?
Needless to say, we're very pleased with where we are in our life together right now. Sometimes God's plan can be so mysterious and we have trouble seeing beyond our current circumstances. But the truth is, He never loses sight of His dreams for our life - even when we do. So it all comes down to faith. Paul describes this state of mind perfectly when he instructs in Romans that " . . . we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." (Romans 5:3-5)
We've thoroughly enjoyed our new morning and evening schedules. Take this past week for example. I'm up at 5:30 with my cup of coffee and my Bible, beginning my day in the very best way. Then gradually Chris wakes up, then the dogs, and the whole house is buzzing! We get ready for work, I pack our lunches, make our "to-go" cups of coffee, grab a pop-tart or muffin for the road, then book it to the car by 7:15 so as not to miss my bus at 7:30. Chris drops me off, kisses me good-bye, then drives in to the office (only 5 minutes away). In the evening, he picks me up at the bus stop at 6:15, we come home, feed the dogs, cook dinner, then have the whole rest of the night to look forward to spending together. Chris even has time to work in the yard after he gets home at night - which has almost never happened before! Not to mention, he's now around to help with cleaning up after dinner, folding the laundry and helping take care of our dogs. I realize that this is the "norm" for most people - who would've thought I would be so excited to be this "normal"?
Needless to say, we're very pleased with where we are in our life together right now. Sometimes God's plan can be so mysterious and we have trouble seeing beyond our current circumstances. But the truth is, He never loses sight of His dreams for our life - even when we do. So it all comes down to faith. Paul describes this state of mind perfectly when he instructs in Romans that " . . . we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." (Romans 5:3-5)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)