A real live miracle

Y'ALL!!! You won't BELIEVE what happened last night!! We had dinner, I did the dishes, normal evening, no big deal. EXCEPT!!! We have a cast iron skillet, and I had made some chicken adobo in it, and as I always do I washed it with hot water and then left it on the stove on low with a little oil rubbed on it so the water evaporates and it doesn't rust, only this time I forgot that I had left it on the stove!!! We LEFT the apartment for like 30 minutes, came back, and were starting to nonchalantly talk about what we wanted to do the rest of the evening, when I set my keys in the key bowl and saw that the stove light was on, telling me I'd left a burner on. WHAT?!?! I rushed over and not only was there no black smoke and burning smell billowing out of the pan (ok, so maybe I have a little experience in this area), but the oil was still there and it had accumulated into a little puddle on one side, and it seemed to be room-temp consistency. I was amazed. I put my hand over the pan... nothing. I picked up the pan... nothing. I put my hand over the burner... nothing. Praise the Lord!!! It's a miracle, there's no other possible explanation!!! For reals y'all, that was the same burner had used to make dinner, and guess what.... I used it again this morning to make tea. Our sweet Jesus took care of us, and protected us from setting out little apartment on fire! Thank you, Lord!!!


And by the way, tomorrow's our 3 year anniversary!!! Yay!!! I love you, my sweets!!! You're my perfect gift! I just realized yesterday I've been telling people we've been married for three years for quite a while now, oops :)

Addicted

So for the last six days I have been a bachelor. Although, this time around it was not nearly as fun. My wife went out of town, but it wasn't anything like what I remember single life being. I once was a proud and independent young man. Of course back before I met her I lived with my best friends in a house that was always awake. I loved that time of my life but I always, even growing up, felt a little bit lonely to be just a bachelor. I know that Paul said it is better to not marry if you can but, if I'm honest, I don't think I was built for that.

I was 20 and perfectly content with my life, not feeling that I would care if I ever got married, and then SHE came along. She was sweet, cute, unashamedly wore her heart on her sleave, and could often just be a wreck. I liked her. So, to shorten things a bit, we got married and I love our marriage! So, she goes out of town for almost a week and I become a bored and much less useful man... How did that happen?!

Three months ago my grandmother died and a couple of weeks ago her husband followed. After she was gone he felt like he didn't have a purpose in life, so this perfectly healthy older man got shingles and died in his sleep a couple of nights later. It's amazing to hear of people dying of a broken heart. There have been books written on it by doctors and scientists. You should look it up. A woman will die on what would have been her husband's birthday or their anniversary.

My marriage changes me. I do things because I'm married that I would not do if I was single. When my wife leaves town I slump into withdrawal. I think it is safe to say that I'm addicted to my wife. So let's answer this question: is it OK to be addicted? Well, my marriage and my wife are certainly not sufficient to fill up my life. That infinite hole calls for an infinite God. If my wife were to die I would still have purpose, would still want people to know this God that fills me up.

Marriage was not created to fill me up, but to be a picture. The way I love my wife is supposed to be a picture to her of how Jesus loves her, and her job is to be my treasure. Our relationship is a little glimpse of the great love affair between God and us. He loves us and we are his treasure. So this is what I have decided while I've been writing this: I need to be more girlie. I need to know that my purpose in life is to be the Groom's treasure. So when my wife leaves for a day, or a week, or for good, my addiction will not get the best of me, even if I'm not willing to seek treatment.

Favorite Song: Please, Before I Go by Derek Webb
Favorite Food: Salad
Favorite place to practice dance moves: the kitchen (socks are helpful)