Hey Ladies.... this is cool.

My precious man is turning 40 on November 15th.  I've been praying about how to honor him on this special day of celebration - in a new and fresh way.
On Tuesday of this week, the 14th, God used a godly woman to refer me to this "Encourage Your Husband" 30 Day Challenge.  

HOW perfect of timing was that????   God was showing me just one special thing I could do for Steve in the month leading up to his birthday.  I signed up and started yesterday, the 15th.   Every day you receive a little email in your inbox with some scripture, thoughts and and creative/practical assignments that will encourage your man. 

Today, I'm on day two, and it's already been a blessing in my own heart..... Check it out here!
It's located under "30 Day Challenges". 

Let's be intentional about encouraging our men!!!

Whew  - that was my longest blogging break (unplanned) in the history of Kelly's blogging!   God has just had me focusing time and energy on other things, though I have been so blessed to steal little moment of reading enjoyment on the blogs I love to follow!   I've missed you all!

**************************************************************************************

This past weekend, we celebrated my Grandmother's (Dad's mom) birthday! 

As is our typical tradition, we enjoy a meal together and then take time to go around and share how the birthday person has blessed our lives.  Sometimes the sharing includes funny stories or memories with that person etc.

As we shared about Grandma, the best by far was what my Grandpa said about his wife of over 50 years.

He said, "She bakes.  Your Grandmother has always loved to bake for me."  He went on to share some more, and several of us found our mouths watering for some of Grandma's delicious cinnamon rolls.

Later on I thought about what my Grandpa had shared.  He said so much about my Grandmother's spiritual walk, purpose in life, and loving heart in that simple statement.

My Grandma used her energy and time to create, sustain, maintain and nurture their home.  Not only in her baking, but in her impeccable cleaning, her attention to detail (ironing bed sheets etc), her decorating which used colors and themes my Grandpa enjoys, her ability to nurture potted plants and flowers about the yard.  All of these things made their house a home and my Grandfather's haven.    Grandma loved their three children and helped Grandpa raise them in the ways of the Lord as is evident in my Dad's and my two Aunt's lives.   There were years when my Grandma did hold a job with Tupperware here in Racine, but her job was never her main focus.  Even now she uses her tupperware containers to deliver goodies to others or to house Grandpa's favorite cookies in their pantry.   Grandma chose to and still fulfills her God-given calling to submit herself to her husband, to love her husband and their children, and to minister from her home to others.

She bakes.

********************************************************************************
Challenged by my Grandmother's testimony, I tried a new recipe today, and I encourage any of you out there to give it a stir.   It's super yummy and great for this Autumn season! 
(Hint: for you teen girls.... start learning how to bake now.  Do it for your family, in practice for the future when you can make a house a home for your man!)

Apple Spice Cake!  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 t. Baking Soda
1 t. Salt
1 t. Cinnamon
1/2 t. Nutmeg
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)
Sift these ingredients together in a large bowl.

1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1 1/2 t. Vanilla
1/2 t. Almond  flavoring
2 med tart apples, pealed, cored and chopped.
Whisk these ingredients together in separate bowl.  Then combine with the flower mixture just until moistened.

Bake for 45-60 min or until inserted toothpick comes clean.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar is desired and ENJOY!!!

I just made today in a bundt pan, and it turned out marvelous.  Can't wait to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or tea with Steven tonight! =)

A sweet blogger friend of mine recently began a little series of posting a different love story every Friday on her blog.  It has been such a blessing to read so many different stories - all portraying God's hand of love and grace in bringing about marriages and families.  Thanks Amber, for this awesome idea!!!

When Amber first asked if I would be one to type up my "love story", I wasn't sure I wanted to.  I wasn't sure I had time, and figured my story, although amazing to me, might be kind of mundane or boring to others.   After praying about it, God quickly showed me that nothing He does is mundane or boring.   This wasn't about how other's perceived my story but about me taking the time to review His goodness in my life.   It was such a blessed afternoon that I took to pray and type up the story of how God has poured amazing love into my life.   Remembering His work was so precious.     I have enjoyed many sweet and encouraging comments from those who have read my story  on Amber's site which humbles me.   I am so thankful for others who share my worship of our Heavenly Father, but even if no one else had ever read "my story", God wanted me to testify to His work.

All this to say, I thought I'd post on my site as well for those of you who know Steve and I closely but maybe haven't heard this story! =)

************************************************************************************

My love story is as much about my spiritual redemption as it is about romance. The Word says that the relationship between a man and woman was designed to mirror and represent Christ’s love for the church. God has woven that metaphor through out my life in an amazing way; from the bondage to sin’s hold on my life, my wilful pursual of what I defined as romance, the devastation that ensued leading me to Christ, freedom, redemption, and the most beautiful love story I could ever dream of. I literally still find my breath swept away when I think about what God has done for me beginning with the cross!

I was born, the oldest of nine children, into a loving Christian home. Both of my parents had grown up knowing and following the Lord, and their desire was to train me up in the way I should go.

I believed the gospel story and prayed the sinner’s prayer at a very young age. I believed that I was saved, but my faith was not in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather placed in my own works. If praying this certain prayer and living like a Christian would ensure my place in heaven, I would do my best. I wanted to be comfortable right?

As I grew, I became quite the perfect little pharisee. I obeyed my parents, loved my siblings, did good works, and overall followed all of the rules. People praised me constantly, and on my cheerfully fake countenance, you always found that perfect ministry smile, but inside I was miserable. Imagine desperately working to earn the approval of people only to find that when you get it, you’re now pressured to maintain it, and that there was a whole new group of people to impress. My heart was tired of trying so hard without ever experiencing joy. My mind was warped from years of operating under the Enemy’s lies.

When I was 16, the breaking point came in the form of a very cute, outgoing and fun boy. I fell for this guy hard and fast. He and I had allot in common; both of us looked really good on the outside but were secret rebels on the inside. Our "friendship" grew on the foundation of lies. You see, both of us had been forbidden to date by our parents, so we secretly pursued each other. Emails that were read and deleted, smuggled phone calls, and walks to secretly meet each other went on for almost a year. Although, I never more then held this boy’s hand, I had quickly given and committed my heart to him. What he represented tasted like freedom to me, and I lived for it. I yearned for it, and I was determined to have it.

One morning at 5:00am, my Dad quietly came into my room and told me he would be taking me out to breakfast. I got up and went.

We drove to the restaurant but never got out of the car. Dad had found an email exchange that I had failed to delete. My mistake - God’s perfect work. My heavenly Father used my earthly father to confront me with my misery. Dad wanted to address my lack of honesty.... God addressed my lack of new life. I’ll never forget sitting here with tears running down my face as the dam in side began to give way. Because our relationship was based on lies, my Dad asked myself and the boy to take some time and space. We were held accountable to some very strict interaction rules. There was basically none!

The next several weeks were full of tears. Tears because I missed the boy. Tears because I felt oh so guilty. Tears because I didn’t know what the future held. Tears of stubbornness because I wanted to have my own way.

Two months later, I learned in a very painful way that my boy was dating someone else. My source explained that he had never really liked me but really liked this other girl. God graciously allowed my heart to be ripped open in the space of those two short sentences. He knew this was the only way to get a hold of my life. I was in shock. I had been so certain that this boy and spending my life with him was the road to happiness. To see that all crumble away in minutes was more then devastating.

That night as I lay in my bed staring up at the bunk bed above me.....I finally cried out to God. Tears poured out of my eyes and into my ears (don’t you hate that feeling) as I realized for the first time that my whole walk had been about working to please others or myself. Neither had brought joy or redemption. In that moment, I needed a Savior who would rescue me from my sin and purify me. I knew all of the scripture.....but that night was the night where I fully surrendered my life to my Lord. I pledged allegiance to Christ and committed that my life would be lived for His glory regardless of what that entailed. I was new! The searing pain of this boy’s rejection was lifted almost immediately. I was made whole in the knowledge that I was Christ’s. I no longer had to struggle to please Him, but because of His work on the cross, He had made me to be pleasing to Him. All I had to do was walk in the life He had given me.

There was so much joy and peace in this amazing new life!!!

I was 17. A year and two months later, I met Steve. I had recently graduated from highschool and was headed to Dallas for a year of girl’s ministry. Steve was 32 and worked in finance. We met at the home of an older couple who hosted events for young singles in our church. Being fresh out of highschool, I was new to the group and quite certain I had many years ahead of me before marriage would be my calling.

The first thing Steve said to me was, "How do you keep your shoes so white?" I was wearing brand new tennis and couldn’t quite imagine why he would notice or care. Little did I know then what a wonderful detail oriented man he is. He is still the one that cleans and cares for our shoes, which is a good thing in my case!

The other thing I noticed that first night was Steve’s amazing ability to include and handle special needs people. Having a sister with Downs had caused me to be very sensitive to this quality in guys. Based on that observation alone (oh and the fact that Steve was one of the cutest guys I’d ever met), I commented to my Mom the next morning that I wanted to marry a guy like this Steve guy someday. I never dreamed Steve would be the one. We had a 14 year age difference, so surely he would never look at me that way. Right?

A year of ministry later, I was home from Dallas for a visit and went to church with my family. That Sunday evening, Steve came and sat at the end of my pew. Mind you, it was a very empty sanctuary, so the fact that Steve came and sat at the end of OUR pew stood out to me. =)

This continued for several Sunday evenings. Steve would sit near us and find some way to chat with me after the service but nothing more. I was a little worried. I knew Steve knew that I wasn’t dating - as most would define the term. He knew that I was praying and seeking God to write my love story rather then casually spending time with guy after guy, so what Steve was up to, I wasn’t exactly sure.

Finally one night as we were saying goodbye, Steve said almost in a frustrated tone, " I know you’re not dating right now, but how else am I supposed to get to know you?"

With my heart in my throat, I jotted down my Dad’s office number and said, "If you really want to get to know me, you’ll call my Dad and ask him." Then I drove away with my hands literally shaking on the steering wheel. I couldn’t believe I had just asked that guy to call my Dad. Oh my goodness, I had probably just so weirded him out. =)

Three weeks of nothing went by. I assumed that I had been right....talking to my dad was too much to ask and moved on from the whole idea. I was back in Dallas when one morning I woke up at 4:00am and couldn’t fall back asleep. For no reason at all (that I knew of), I had butterflies and couldn’t stop thinking about Steve, so I got up to pray. I prayed through Psalm 91, many of the verses jumping out at me as words of God’s promise. I asked God to be at work even though it felt silly to do so. There wasn’t anything going on, was there?

I had breakfast with the other center staff and began my day of office work/house keeping responsibilities. Being one of the privileged walkie talkie carriers that day, I heard the message loud and clear at about 11:00am. "Kelly, your Mom is on hold for you. She says it’s important. Can you take that call?" You bet I could.

Mom told me that Steve had met with my Dad, and that after only one discussion, my Dad had given blessing for Steve to "win my heart". WHAT???? To say I was shocked doesn’t do it justice. I didn’t know whether to bawl or yell. My excitement was partly generated by the fact that a really godly and HOT guy wanted to know me, but mostly I was just so floored by God’s direct hand in my life.

Unlike the first boy where I had to lie, cover up, pursue and hold on to a relationship, God was practically putting this man in my lap along with the blessing and direction of all of my authorities. It felt so so so so good!!!!

I came home, and Steve and I enjoyed dating for the next 10 months. We fall so in love and both grew closer to the Lord. We weren’t 100% sure then, but every time we prayed together and studied the WORD together, we were laying the foundation for our marriage.

Steve proposed to me on Easter morning, 2002. We were spending the weekend in Manitowac, WI with his parents when he presented me with a very cute little stuffed bunny. It took me a couple of moments to see the diamond solitaire tied by a pink ribbon around the bunny’s neck. I dropped the bunny (and ring, which freaked Steve out.) and wrapped my arms around Steve’s neck. The answer YES was not my own......it was the cry of my heart in perfect unity with God’s plan. My life had been turned over to Him, and where He was taking me was beyond my wildest dreams!!!

We were married on October 19^th, 2002 and have been more in love every day since.
(sorry no wedding shots...I don't have them digitally.)

This man that God gave me has taught me so many things. He has been Christ in my life!!!

 Steve has guided, comforted and loved me through the loss of our first baby, Leeanne, two cross-country moves, some painful relationships and countless important decisions. He constantly challenges me to be in the WORD, to deal with my sin, and to go deeper then I’ve gone before.  We have so much fun in our marriage.... we honestly love to debate, wrestle, compete and razz each other mercilessly.   Steve is my best friend!  We finish each others sentences and weird ourselves out by saying or doing the same thing at the same time.   We talk about everything, and he does such an awesome job of showing interest in "my things",  like new recipes, paint colors, clothing and shoes, pilaties.  He has taught me to love all things sports, primarily football, primarily the Denver Broncos.   He spends hours every evening teaching our boys to hit a base ball, score a soccer goal or shoot a basket.   Then he helps with their baths and reads the Bible with each one individually before putting them to bed.   

Steve is passionate about the Word....IT being in him and he living by IT!   Every evening from about 8-10pm, he can be found reading and studying not only for his own benefit, but in preperation for his ministry to the young men and women of our church's youth group.   Together, we support, pray for, enable and overall, just have a blast with, each other in youth ministry. 

There aren’t words to express the joy in walking by his side and standing behind him as he follows God. We are enjoying two little boys that God has blessed us with, Glendon (3.5) and Jaydon (19mos.), and my prayer is for these two little men to grow into big men just like their daddy, a man of God!

This has been long, I know, but to sum it up.....

I was lost and headed for death. Jesus rescued me from my sinful self, and I now live the life He breathed into me, more wonderful then anything I could fathom.

This is our love story. My love, Steve’s love, flowing out of our Redeemer’s love!