The last few weeks have been difficult for me. Not difficult in the getting everything done sort of ways but in the soul-stretching, hidden-down-deep sorts of ways. Times like these are painful to get through but are more helpful to who you are and who you become than the more prevalent days of ease and joy. They shape you. They stretch you. They force you to grow. It isn't always comfortable, but it is always helpful. I tell myself this, when struggling through the dark times, over and over again, because I know it is true and because even though I KNOW it's true, I need to encourage myself to BELIEVE that it is true.
It is true.
The hardest things are always the most worthwhile.
On Saturday, I could finally see a silver lining. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. It feels good. Praising God for the long awaited, much anticipated silver-lining.
Thank you to all who gave the Mister and I anniversary well-wishes. It was a good day, it has been a good 11 years. May the Lord grant us many more.
Matt showed me he loved me by taking me out to dinner. On a SATURDAY NIGHT. This is huge, people, because if there is one thing you must know about my Mattie, it is that he is a homebody and a crowdaphobe. He hates crowds, he hates waiting in lines, he avoids going uptown like the plaque. Going uptown on a Saturday NIGHT would be on his never-ever-in-a-million-years list if he didn't happen to be married to me. SO, we went out on a date uptown on a Saturday night. (He loves me.)
Our date went something like this: Drove to the movie theater to see what was playing. Nothing worth the ticket price. Matt came up with the idea of buying a movie and bringing it home to watch. Okay. We spent a long time looking and not really finding anything outstanding, so after 15 minutes, we just grabbed one that sounded somewhat interesting and bought it.
Then we decided on a restaurant. We went. We left because it was a 25 minute wait.
We decided on another restaurant. We went. Too many people outside.
Matt suggested we buy a bag of mozzarella sticks and take them home and pop 'em in the oven. (He was serious.)
I said absolutely not.
We went to another restaurant. We got a table. Ate. (It was good.) Talked (It was better!) and on the way out I rang the "Ring if you were happy with your service" bell, just for Matt. He just LOVES things like that. You know, things that make people you don't know (!) notice you (!!!). ;-)
We went home and realized that the movie we had bought was a porno (not really, but pretty darn close!) so we trashed it after watching the first five minutes. How's that for a good investment?
Ah well.
Still, I loved our date. Because it was ours.
The rest of the weekend included a trip to the fair, our first (from our own garden) corn on the cob dinner, lots of gorgeous zinnias, tomato picking, worship, my favorite homemade ice cream to date, tomato sandwiches where tomatoes are as big as the bread they sit on and a TRAMPOLINE given to us by someone who didn't want it anymore! Matt almost said no about the trampoline, insisting that it will result in broken bones or worse--but eventually gave in because I begged him like a little girl. (He loves me.)
I only hope it doesn't result in broken bones- or worse- because if it does, He will never ever let me live that down.
I've been going through that season too. Its hard. I know God is making me more like Him. A diamond can't shine without pressure and silver or gold cannot be refined without heat. But He is loving and patient and walks every step with us.
ReplyDeleteI am like your husband. I hate crowds. Love one on one but don't do well in crowds. He DOES love you if he took you out. Thats huge! Congrsts! Love the silver lining. Great pics!
Christina
There's something special about that photo of the kids playing in the garden in the rain. That's the REAL stuff - messy and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOur trampoline is probably the hands down most used item around here! In the winter, we put it in our barn and when the children (read: boys & Ella LOL) get wild, I say, "You are banished to the barn for 20 minutes of bouncing!" ;) :P LIFESAVER. :D
ReplyDelete-Knowing the good God works through painful times helps move us through, but it often doesn't make the experience less painful, so I'm glad the stretching has eased up.
ReplyDelete-That glorious trampoline! It looks like Adele already has broken every limb, too, poor dear. Matt probably hated saying, "I told you so." :)
-If that ice cream is mint chocolate chip, then look outside your window. That's me...waiting for a bite. (One of my favorites!)