Reason #23 Why I Love Him So

Crowded Gym, sweaty bodies, loud grunting sounds coming from the free-weights section, music with a rhythm to keep us going, long line at the drinking fountain, my husband in the center of it all. Women. Beautiful, tanned, toned, strong women in hot yoga pants with tight tank tops. Agonized I turn to him knowing I don't look like that. He is staring straight at me from the opposite end of the room. He slowly lefts his right hand and points his index and middle finger toward his eyes and then extends his arm and points his fingers right at me. Satisfied, content, and full of appreciation and awe I continue my workout. I know exactly what his signal meant.

He has eyes only for me.

Oh, the Knowledge

Yesterday evening Luke took me on a date to Bayou on the Bay. It was our first Creole cuisine experience together and Bayou will definitely be seeing us again. Not only is the restaurant in the heart of downtown Bellingham which always makes a fun environment, but they really captured the Southern/French atmosphere. I could easily picture us eating out in New Orleans, Mobile, Guthrie, and so on rather than Bellingham in Northwest Washington. During dinner which consisted of Alligator, crawfish, prawns, fried potatoes, vegetables, rice, seared tuna, and cornbread I started listing off to Luke the new experiences I have been through because of him and the things that he has taught me. Here is my list, not a complete list, but the list I came up with over dinner:


Luke has taught me to:

• Drive a stick shift
• Grill a steak
• Ballroom dance
• Sing "O Holy Night" on key
• Barter with street vendors
• Bench press
• Stand up to sleazy men
• Shoot an assault rifle
• Mix drinks
• Replace car brakes (saves a couple $100)
• Change the oil in my car
• Buzz heads
• Wakeboard
• Play video games
• Make the perfect gravy for biscuits and gravy
• Gourmet cook
• Tell the difference between quality furniture and cheap furniture (he takes everything apart right there in the store!)
• Play poker
• Never give up
• Chill out
• Sit still

Luke has given me an Appreciation for:

• Hockey
• Fine Wine
• Any and all types of Seafood (minus oysters)
• History
• Fancy clothes
• Muse (music band)
• Opera
• B&B's
• Watching movies not in fast forward mode
• Filmmaking

Luke has inspired me to:

• Become the best cook EVER
• Pray more
• Whine less
• Be content no matter what
• Run a marathon (or ½)
• Be spontaneous (Luke is very spontaneous)
• Give up my pettiness
• Eat healthy
• Trust God more
• Stay calm in the midst of strife
• Not take it personally

Like I said, this is what I came up with over dinner. I'm sure there is more, but this is a good start.

My Small Part

For my future children…


Background
 Apart from God and my family I love my church most. Most people ask themselves "Is it Friday yet"? I always ask "Is it Sunday yet"? Perhaps this is because more than half of my growing up years was spent as a pastor's daughter. As a pastor's daughter I would attend church regularly. There was Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service and prayer meeting on Wednesdays. I loved it all. At first I loved it because it meant seeing friends and getting to color and sing songs, but as maturity set it and my faith became my own I fell in love with the teaching and learning aspect of church. I still remember the first Sunday when I actually sat still and listened to the sermon. I was about seven and that morning I told myself I was not going to fall asleep, but I was going to listen to Daddy preach. I was hooked from there on out. J

Service
You hear about service allot these days in the church - Having a servant's heart, a servant's mindset, putting yourself last and other's first. I love this dynamic about God's people in His church. I was never one to quickly volunteer. My sister Kristi always took care of that. When we were kids and the grownups were in a church business meeting, Kristi would rally as many of her friends as she could and go tackle cleaning the church basement. What would I be doing? Drawing on the chalkboard or playing tag with the boys. Service was her thing finding a husband while playing tag was mine. As I grew older I gave myself the excuses that there weren't any service opportunities in the church, I wasn't good at anything, and no one needed me. However, I couldn't get over the fact that the Bible clearly says we are to serve one another. So little by little I started stepping out. Once I stepped out of my selfish and self-centered bubble I was shocked by how many places there where to serve. There was Nursery, cookies for Fellowship Crossing, Meals Ministry, Neighborhood Outreach, Greeter for Titus Two and so many more. As I started off slowly with these simple tasks I realized my love for my church was growing. Serving others and forgetting about me has brought such joy to my life. 99% of the time service acts go unnoticed. But if I were doing them just to be noticed that would cancel the point of doing them. Recently I was given the opportunity to be in charge of door prizes for a church function. I know I can't sing, I know I can't bake half as well as others, I know I'm awful at decorating, but I sure as heck can come up with random questions and cute prizes!
Don't ever give yourself reasons not to serve. Don't try to justify it like I did for too long. If you think there are no service opportunities, you're wrong. Look harder and step further out of your bubble. Christians serve one another. It's as simple as that.


Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."