The other day I was on my way to a doctor appointment, enjoying the quiet ride and the hour break that I had for myself the doctor.  I was at a stop light and looked over at the person next to me.  Young guy, probably in high school or college, driving a Nissan SUV, chatting on his IPhone.  As I wondered if he were in college or high school, I asked myself... I wonder if he thinks I am in college?  I came to the realization, as I rolled down the packaging on my Tums, grabbed the steering wheel of my minivan and drove off to the thyroid doctor, that this theory was ridiculous.  It was at that moment that turning 3-0 in just 4 short months, didn't seem so frightening.  It was reality.  And it is a good one. 

Here's why...

We all have dreams...  the kinds of dreams that range from material possessions to spiritual and physical breakthroughs that we need in our lives.  I believe that God values BOTH.  Determining if and when these dreams will come to pass, is the real issue.  How do you dream BIG without getting lost in the results of your desires?  How do we learn to value the process we must walk through when we don't see the purpose?  And why does there always have to be "a process"? 

Our dream is to build a house.  It's been our dream since Wade and I were gallivanting around without much care in the world and just enjoying the fun of dating.  What couple in love doesn't dream of these things?  This dream has been a burning desire in our hearts for a long time.  There have been times when the dream was pushed back, buried deep and even doubted at many points in our married life.  But it has always been there.  It has never left.  I am not going to explain my reasoning for this desire, but I will say that it goes much deeper than the house. 

Dreams look different for everyone.  Motives vary, pure and impure, and the waiting period may be lengthy or prompt.  Regardless of the process, one thing is certain...  The outcome will be GOOD.

I am 29 years old.  Some may consider this ancient, while others may consider me "just beginning."  Either way, after 4 years of dating, 5 and half years of marriage and 2 (almost 3) kids later, I feel like I have enough experience to at least bring up the topic of L.O.V.E

Today is Valentine's Day... the day of LOVE.  But as I scrolled down my Facebook page I noticed a few of my younger "facebook friends" who instead of celebrating with chocolates and flowers, they were left feeling lonely, unwanted, and unappreciated. 

As I was taking a shower, I thought about these posts and I begin to pray for these young women.  I was reminded of my own story.  Without going too much into my testimony (which I may share one day), I begin to think back to the days before God sent me Wade Nagy.  I wasn't the same person in college that I am today.  I made a lot of mistakes and most of those being in the guys I dated.  I was left feeling confused, dark and depressed a lot of the time and I remember those Valentine's Days when you showered yourself with tears, rather than chocolate.  Even though I wasn't living a good life at the time, I always knew to pray.  I prayed for a soul mate.  I prayed to just be happy.  Thankfully Our God helps us even when we don't deserve to be helped.  I didn't.  But His grace covered me and He sent me Wade.  Wade literally came out of no where and saved me.  I didn't realize his impact on my life until later, but looking back, he was exactly what I needed at that time.  God knew it.  He had a plan.

If you are dating and sitting around this Valentine's day sad, then my point is this...  If he doesn't treat you good now, then he is probably not going to treat you good later.  If you spend more days confused and crying than laughing and loving, then he is probably not the ONE for you.  If you are waiting for him to change, you may be wasting time.  You most often have to change yourself first.  If you are not seeking the Lord in who you date, then you are not setting yourself up for a forever marriage.  The saying... "date for a mate" is true.  I denied this truth for a long time.  Find yourself first, then allow God to show you your partner.  He doesn't disappoint.

The saying, "You must kiss a lot of frogs before you find your Prince..." is a bunch of bologna.  God already has a that special someone for you... just be patient.  Save yourself for that someone.

Love is always kind.  Love is not selfish.  Love NEVER fails.

Trust, Pray and Watch what God can do for you.  Embrace Jesus today.  He will never let you down.

Tonight, as soon as I finish typing this post, I will begin to get ready for the Thrive Marriage Conference that is taking place at LCC for the next two days.  This is a special event for Wade and I that goes well beyond just making our marriage "thrive."

But before I explain, I must tell you that I did not awake with this excitement.  I actually awoke around 12pm, along with everyone else in the house to a very sick baby girl. After a night of consoling and breathing treatments, our next obstacles came quick and soon I had lost perspective.  Wade and I both did.  My world came crashing down in lots of tears, words of question and doubt.  I was then reminded of my own words.  The words from my own blog that I had written exactly 1 year ago.  The story of how God came through for us in such a radical, supernatural way that put our family in our own "heaven on earth." 

Last year, at the Thrive Marriage Conference, Wade and I experienced the hand of God come down and do a miracle in our lives (our miracle).  Reading the raw emotions, the excitement, the joy that was taking place in our lives at that very moment reminded me of who God really is.  I should always know this, but when you lose perspective the way that I did this morning, you sometimes lose sight of what God really wants and has for you!  Pastor Tim Blevins spoke about drawing from our "well" one Sunday and today that's what I needed.  When I was dry, I needed to be reminded of my own testimony.  My own miracle that God had done just for me.  I needed to be reminded that MY God will do it again.  And again. And again.

Reading my own words brought back the perspective that I needed.  God gave us a breakthrough that we needed at the last hour this time last year and He will continue to do so.

Looking forward to sharing this experience with you.

Now let's THRIVE.