We Did It!

Over the past year or so I made a list of things I want to do in the future...it was more or less just a list of ideas that I thought would be fun to do; just to name a few:

• plant a garden
• take a pastry class
• have a craft room
• volunteer somewhere to make a positive difference
• remodel a house

Zach and I had a few items on the list that we wanted to do together before we have children. The crazy thing is that the one we thought we would be least likely to do...we did! Two weeks ago we climbed the highest peak in New Mexico. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I KNOW I could not have kept going if I didn't have my sweet husband encouraging me the ENTIRE way! He was so sweet when I need to stop; my stops were alot more frequent than his. We didn't sit down until we were at the top; 16 miles, 8 hours, 18 water bottles, 2 PB & Js, good conversation, a handful of pictures, sweat, laughs, and many memories made along the way. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. We are so thankful that God made this a reality for us! It was so wonderful being surrounded by His amazing creation the entire way.

Unconditional RESPECT

Our 3 year anniversary picture...

Finally, after years of being torn between reading "fun" books and "text" books...I am free to focus only on the books I WANT to read...

Jim and Gwen (my amazing in-laws) gave Zach and I a great book a year or so ago and, needless to say, I am just now getting a chance to read it!

It's called LOVE AND RESPECT, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs...you should read it if you haven't already.

We always hear about the love aspect of relationships...Col. 3:19 (No matter how hard it gets, husbands, love your wives)...Ephesians 5 (...Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her...)...however; RESPECT is a forgotten subject, rather, a subject that is often pushed aside.

Over the past few weeks, God has layed this subject (RESPECT) on my heart in a very heavy way. How selfish of me to hear the verses above (and other verses) and think...yes, husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church, AMEN!...yet not see the other side, the side where God's word tells us

...and the wife must RESPECT her husband...Eph 5:33.

Of course I have read those words a hundred times, but just recently it clicked and now it makes perfect sense...now I just need the grace, mercy, and patience from God to work on it! We are to love our husbands, but MORE importantly, we are to RESPECT them...sounds weird, I know.

All that to say, Women crave LOVE, Men crave RESPECT, no matter what...unconditional respect and unconditional love, that is how God made us.

After a few chapters I asked Zach if he would rather be A)left alone and unloved in the world OR B)feel inadequate and disrespected by everyone. Even though it was a close call, he said he would rather be left alone and unloved!!!

C-R-A-Z-Y, but amazing at the same time...so now it is my everyday mission to let him know how much I respect him. Every time he tells me he loves me (which is alot) it reminds me of how much I truly respect him. Right now, as I am reading the book, I have an easy reminder to be respectful in all situations...I just hope it grows to be a part of me even after I am done with the book. I WANT my husband to KNOW I love him, but also RESPECT him. Lord, please help me.

My handsome husband...whom I RESECT.