An Excellent Wife is Forged, Not Found...

A dear friend posted this on facebook and after reading it, I thought it more than worthy to post here.

http://theresurgence.com/2011/06/20/an-excellent

This article, written by Jennifer Smidt, challenges women to examine their definition of what it means to be an excellent wife.  As a newlywed (and a type A personality!), I can attest to the mentality of trying to make a list and do my best to serve my husband in the way God requires of me.  And while thinking of how better to serve my husband is a godly attitude, it can easily shift into my eyes being solely focused on meeting his needs and not focusing on my relationship with the Lord as the reason why I serve him!  I cannot be the wife my husband needs me to be unless Christ is at the center of my thoughts and actions--it is not a role I can fulfill on my own (nor should I try!).

My favorite quote of the article:  "A godly woman becomes an excellent wife as she understands she is made in the image of God, re-made in the image of Christ, and formed over a lifetime of repentance and redemption.  Excellence is not measured by a to-do list;  it is measured in the life of a wife who knows Jesus intimately."

How I praise God for his patience with me!  How I long to be an excellent wife for the dear man God has given for me to call husband!  And how thankful I am that it is measured not in what I do but rather what Christ has done for me and in me to give me the ability to be a wife of excellence.

One of our favorite together times...

Last year, Patrick and I planted a really small garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash...not much, but enough for us to enjoy watching things grow (it was the first time he had ever planted a garden) and eat (we even made pickles from our cucumbers)!  This year we got more adventurous!  We've planted tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, and several flowers (marigolds, petunias, butterfly bush, black-eyed susan, zinnias...)  We're hoping to have enough cucumbers to make pickles again,  enough peppers to make some pepper relish (a specialty of my grandmothers!), and just have fresh veggies through the summer. 

 The beginnings...

 Our pretty baskets!  They've really filled out over the last week!

 One of Patrick's favorites...

 butterfly bush and cucumbers

Our very first tiny cucumber...

A year ago today...

 Well, technically a year ago last Saturday, my dear sweet husband proposed to me!  We celebrated by taking advantage of a door prize we won from his company Christmas party back in December:  a free limo ride wherever we wanted to go and dinner on the company!  We started the day by taking a trip down to Haas Jewelers to let Phil clean our rings and just visit with Phil and Susan (they're super!).  Then, we met the limo driver over in Indiana.  He decided to take me down to visit Churchhill Downs and watch the horses race for the day.  His boss gave us tickets to the Turf Club and we were treated to the best buffet I have ever had, complete with appetizers, salads, main courses and sides, and a delicious fruit and dessert bar!  All in all, it was quite a relaxing day for us...one of our most luxurious, to be sure! 

 Sitting inside the Turf Club...we were so thankful for these passes!  It was wet and hot outside!

The finish line!

Seriously some of the prettiest horses I've ever seen...

Outside watching the races...

Our transportation for the DAY!

Woohoo!

And to top the entire day off, he treated me to Graeters!  This just may be June 18ths tradition from now on...:)  Every day, even a year later, I am thankful for this man God has given to me.  He is the most precious earthly blessing and I look forward to serving the Lord alongside of him for the rest of the years God gives to us...

Vacation Bible School: Part 2

We had such a super week at VBS this year.  Rachel did a fantastic job getting everything together--even with our total number of kids reaching nearly 300 every night, things went very smoothly!  She is the epitome of organization!  Pray with us over the next few weeks as we follow up with the many visitors that we had attend...and pray for all that attended VBS and that the gospel message would take root in their hearts.  Here are a few pictures from our week!

Me and JB after a very long but rewarding week...

:)  They all love 'Mr. Patrick.'

FUN Bible storying!

A talent I didn't know my man had...

Taxi cabs!  Cute, but we decided it was TOO much sugar for our guys!

Statue of Liberties!

                        A few of our kiddos!

Our stage set for the week...Live with Carter and Kelly!

VBS in FULL-Swing!

Vacation Bible School is proving to be a busy week for us, but we're enjoying every minute of it!  We've had a record number of kids at each campus and are excited about the opportunities to minister to these precious children.  Here are a few pictures of our New York decor for the week!  We sure have some creative volunteers!  Patrick and I are responsible for the Brooklyn Bridge...:)

Continue to pray for our kids and volunteers!

Settling into routine...

Week 1 as the Children's Ministry Assistant at Highview Baptist Church has reached its end.  With VBS right around the corner, things around the office were a little crazy this first week, but I am really excited about this position and my new coworkers.  The commute is much shorter (major plus!) and the shorter work days have been a huge blessing.  We are still marveling at God's providence to us with this job--it's a perfect fit for me to work in children's ministry and we don't have to leave our church family at Highview!  Huge answers to prayer!

The Big Apple Adventure begins Sunday night...Patrick and I will be teaching a group of Kindergartners.  Here are a few things to pray for:
     *Our amazing Children's Ministry Directors who have poured so much of their time and energies into preparation for the last several months:  Rachel Thomas, Manda Murphy, Marsha Boggs, Heather Carr, Nicole Jolly, and Lauren Foster.
     *Our leaders who will be preparing to teach and investing in our kids next week.
     *Pray that our kids would have open and receptive hearts to the Gospel and that many would come to faith in Christ!

     *Pray that everything runs smoothly and that God is glorified.  :)