It's time for some Five on Friday fun!
[one]
I have to start out by saying that this is DAY 2 of the Radiant Conference and I am so unbelievably excited for what today holds in store for me! Yesterday was the beginning of it all, and for it being only 2 hours last night, I was truly moved! Although it was a long day {working and then hitting up the conference immediately after until 9pm}, it was so worth it! I seriously am so excited to spend today with some great speakers and Godly women ... the entire day! Don't worry, there will be a recap post next week! :)
[two]
Where the heck does time go?! Seriously, tomorrow is MARCH 1ST, and I'm blown away at this. And with that being said, I need to get my butt in gear and focus on a few major things in life that I've had in the works...let's do this!
[three]
I failed. I failed at the Made to Crave bible study... and that's okay. I was pretty excited and moved to join in on the Online Bible Study with Proverbs 31 six weeks ago, but it wasn't realistic to follow their time frame. I sensed it from the start, but I didn't give up. Well, now it's six weeks later and the end of their study - and I failed. However, I will do this study on my own this summer and reflect on all the blog posts that were shared on Proverbs 31's study blog. I know it's in the cards for me to do, but I want to be able to do it at 100% and give it my full attention. It wasn't fair to only be in halfway.
[four]
We received our tax return refund! Can I get an Amen?!
[five]
IT'S THE WEEKEND! How would this fact not make it on today's top five? :) Praying this weekend brings lots of joy and quality time with loved ones!
Linking up with THE GOOD LIFE BLOG.
I got a lot of feedback on my previous post about babies. So, I'm at it again. Mostly, to answer the aging question, "When are y'all going to have kids???"
The question mostly comes up like this:
"Y'all have been married for over two years now. Aren't y'all thinking of having kids anytime soon? What are you waiting for? When are y'all going to have kids?"
As previously mentioned, we do want kids. Just not right now! Seriously, why can't people just accept where you are in your life, whether it be single, married, dating, baby-less, a house full of little ones, loving on a dog/cat, living in a mansion, struggling in an apartment with no white picket fence - WHO CARES?! Okay okay, that's really a topic for another day {it's coming, don't worry}.
via
Do those precious toes make me want to have a child of my own? Of course! But seriously, what's the rush? Some may disagree with me, but this is my blog. Therefore, my opinions. You can leave if you want, I don't mind.
Yes, Colten and I have been married for over two years.
Yes, we both want to become parents.
Yes, we have baby fever.
Yes, we're waiting.
Why? Let's take a look at the reasons why we're waiting, shall we? It's really why you're here anyway...
Finances.
Surprise, surprise {not!}, having a baby costs bookoos of money. I'm talking lots and lots of paper. LOTS! I don't know from personal experience {obviously}, but it's no secret. It starts with the moment you are aware you're pregnant. It's doctor bill after doctor bill, and it's only the beginning. For nine{ish} months, you will attend numerous doctor appointments to check on your baby as well as your own well-being. Fun fact: we're not rolling in the dough. Therefore, we know that we want to be more financially stable before even attempting for children. Before you go rolling your eyes at me {yes, that means you!}, I am completely aware of the fact that no one is ever able to afford having a baby, and if we wait until we can afford it, it'll never happen. Preach elsewhere, please, as I've already mentioned - I'm aware! But there's a huge difference in being able to afford a baby and being financially stable for a baby to enter into our lives. If you want more details on that, you just let me know. :)
Marriage.
Marriage is not something that I take lightly {no one should}. I vowed forever with my husband, and by gosh, I'm going to enjoy every minute! Which also means I'm going to truly cherish every single second that it's just 'two' in our family. For those of you thinking, "but it's already been two years..." Yes, it has, but can you ever really have enough time with your spouse? Seriously, Colten and I don't get that much time together {definitely not as much as we'd like}, so we're really not rushing into adding another HUGE and LIFE CHANGING commitment to the mix right now. We want to truly enjoy each other and learn more about each other, which we do every single day. We want to stand by our commitment to stand by each other. That doesn't mean that marriage is out the window once a baby comes into the picture, but I want to be able to experience life with my husband by my side and be sure that we have 'married memories' that don't involve waking up in the middle of the night to a blood curdling scream from a newborn that only has to poop. Ok? Okay.
It's not our decision anyway!
Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. It's not mine or Colten's decision when the right time is for us to have children {if we even can}. We firmly believe that it will happen in God's timing. He holds our future in His hands, and if it shall be, it will be. Colten and I have such a want to one day become parents that we know it will happen one day, one way or another. It may not be easy, but through our current state of 'wanting', we're also learning a lot. Roman's 5:3-5 says:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We are learning perseverance and building our character to be better parents one day than we would be today. I have unfailing faith in our Savior that his will shall be done through me. If I'm meant to become a mother, it'll happen in God's timing and in God's way.
However, that doesn't mean that I'm not human and want a baby so badly some days, because I do. God knows the wants and desires of my heart, which leaves me clinging to these two verses -
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
-Mark 11:24
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
-Psalm 37:4
God knows what he's doing. He knows better than I could ever imagine. And because of that, we're waiting. We know that His timing will be impeccable, as with all things, and I will just be content having 'baby fever' until it happens. That doesn't go to say that I will be happy waiting until I'm in my 40's to have a baby, because let's face it, I'm a pretty impatient person. But God knows all of this. It's really nothing new to Him. My patience will definitely be tested during this time of 'waiting', but I know it's what's right. For all involved parties.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
-Psalm 37:7
Yes, God, I hear you! :)
How amazing is it to be at peace knowing he is working for me, even though I cannot yet see it? When we rest in God and trust Him to take care of us, then we stop trying to make things happen on our own.
