What it’s like to be pampered for 32 years…

I am pampered.  Well cared for, spoiled, and absolutely, completely, in love with the husband who takes such good care of me.  I have been completely, totally pampered for the last 32 years.  I think when Scott and I took  our wedding vows there must have been a silent clause that he took that said, “I will love, cherish and pamper my wife, until death do us part.”  I  know I said “I will obey,” which I remember adamantly telling our pastor that I would not say, but it was in the vows and with stars in my eyes I never knew I ever said it, until I saw the video tape.  Yet, I confess, I have obeyed his wishes, desires, and wants since the day that I uttered the words.  God must have known that those things would align with mine anyway.

Tomorrow is our 32nd anniversary.  I would have to say, as a pampered wife, life has been perfect.  That being said, it has not always been easy.  We have had many challenges in our career and family life.  In some ways more than others, in other ways fewer, but definitely not idyllic.  However, at every point in our relationship I  have felt cherished and loved.

In the beginning, when we were just newlyweds who were trying to finish our degrees at Kansas State University, I felt loved when we found days that our schedules matched and we could have dinner together.  A rare treat with each of us working retail jobs while trying to finish school. I also felt cherished  when I would set off the smoke alarms trying to cook the perfect meal, and my darling husband would check the banking account to see if there was enough money to take me out to Country Kitchen for a meal.

Then I felt loved and pampered when he held my hand, and my head as I was sick through almost 8 months of my first pregnancy with my son, and he dealt with the stress of a pregnant wife and graduating KSU while looking for a job that would support us.  It was real, and scary, but I was taken care of each and every day.  

I felt pampered while he held my hand through every child’s labor, through the scary take offs and landings of each vacation that involved airflight, through the deaths and funerals of both of my parents and my best friend, and the weddings of my children.  I have never felt alone.  Even when he was on a business trip for weeks when the children were small.  Even when everyone had the flu, and the tornado sirens were blowing,  and I was alone, I was not because he was thinking about us and calling us and a constant source of support.

I felt pampered because he has done the dishes every night that I cooked dinner.  That was the deal when we were in college, whoever cooked the meal didn’t have to clean the dishes.  I have almost always cooked, which I prefer.  I rarely burn a meal anymore.  God must have known that I love to cook and he doesn’t mind dishes.

I have felt pampered to receive a hot cup of coffee everyday on my bedside table to help me wake up.  When he travels, and I must get my own, it makes me miss his presence and realize how truly blessed I am which makes each cup of coffee even more precious.

As of tomorrow, we will have been married for  32 years.  The journey is amazing.  I hope and pray that I will never experience it without my dear husband.  Thank you Scott, for always letting me know that with you at my side I am truly pampered.   

Blood Rose Rebellion

Young adult fiction is a genre that I have always enjoyed.  Perhaps because I found my true passion for reading at that age. Book series that contain all the elements of a great young adult novel are a certain gem for my bookshelves.  Great series such as "The Hunger Games,""Harry Potter,"  "Dragon Slayers," and "Divergent," to name just a few are some of my favorites.  In my opinion,  Rosalyn Eves's book, The Blood Rose Rebellion is the next book to enter this realm of great young adult novels.  

The Blood Rose Rebellion is set in the world of an "alternate Victorian England" per Eves, and the main character, Anna is a young woman who is alienated from her place in society due to a lack of magical ability.  All of her family have magical powers, but Anna's lack of magic not only is an embarrassment to her and her family, but also wreaks havoc to unravel the magic of others in her presence.  Following an embarrassing event at her sister's societal magical debut, Anna leaves England with her grandmother to hide out in Hungary.  Little does Anna realize, that her true adventure has just begun.

Eves's novel is captivating from the very beginning.  She weaves a story with intrigue, mystique, and romance. Her characters are as engaging as her plot is riveting.  It is easy for me to recommend Rosalyn Eves book, The Blood Rose Rebellion to both young adult and mature readers.


FTC disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Thy will be done...very scary words indeed

Four of the scariest words in the English language (if you are a Christian and completely understand what these words mean) are "Thy will be done."  I try to always pray this in any situation I am faced with, I ask for God's will for me, and I must tell you, it is a scary prayer to pray.  So often I want what I want, and praying for His will is humbling.

Just recently I was faced with an incident that disheartened and discouraged me.  My gut, human reaction was to be frustrated, angry, and hurt.  I was in a situation where I couldn't show any emotion, (being an adult is often this way) so I pushed the feeling down and "adulted" my way to the end of the day when I could properly process them. What I discovered later was that of course, I can't change anything on my own so I "simply"(okay, so it's never really simple, a bit of sarcasm slipped out) prayed for God's will to be done in my life.

My situation is not life threatening.  It hurts but I won't be financially strapped. However, I began to think about all who daily pray for God's will in their life, and the faith and humility it takes to do so.  The parent of a seriously ill child is one example.  Trusting God's will for the healing of the beloved child, knowing that His will very well  may be that their child is ultimately healed by going to heaven is a truly frightening situation. A homeless individual, asking for God's will when they have no idea of where the next meal or bed will be, is faith as an action verb.

Praying for God's will in any loved ones' turmoils takes absolute faith. The one praying must relinquish all claim and control and allow their life to be purely in God's hands.  I happen to believe that our lives are anyway, but giving up the pretense of control is difficult. 

Every time I attend church, my congregation recites the Lord's Prayer. I say "recites", because sometimes I wonder how many are actually concentrating on the words being said.  The prayer begins:

Our Father, who art in heaven

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done...

Right there, In the fourth line we are asking for God's will and giving ourselves entirely into His hands. A very safe place to be, but perhaps a test of giving up control which is a very human trait.

Though the words and the actions of placing oneself entirely in God's control, asking for His will and being content in the waiting are scary, in the end following His will is the safest and most comforting place to be.  You're welcome to join me, anytime.