Monday, August 29, 2011

Our Wedding Anniversary!

September 3, 2011 (this weekend) marks 11 years of marriage to my wonderful husband, Reginald Williams. Marriage to him has enhanced my life in so many ways and I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else. You've worked hard to give us a great life and for that I'm thankful. It's easy to write a list of all the reasons I'd marry you again but I'm limited to only eleven reason for the years we've been married. Have a happy anniversary and I love you dearly. xoxoxo

Eleven Reason's I'd marry you again!
  1. He has a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I wanted a partner with whom I could be equally yoked. We both take our spirituality very seriously. Since this is such an important part of my life, I needed this to be an important part of my husband’s life as well. He pays his tithes always. Even in college my husband understood the importance of giving the first 10% of his earnings back to the Lord. I found this incredibly admirable that even at such a young age he was already doing things that demonstrated his obedience to the Lord.
  2. He respects me and himself. My husband carries himself in such a way that commands respect. It’s obvious in the things that he says and does. Even friends and family have remarked on what a respectful and respectable guy he is. He has never disrespected me or called me names. He's a gentle soul.
  3. he makes me feel beautiful. My hubby is constantly flirting with me, although not always at the most appropriate times…I still appreciate it. He compliments me if he sees a new hairstyle, new outfit, or even if I've lost a pound or two. He texts me sweet words and winks his eye at me.
  4. he is very responsible with money. It is important to know whether you are marrying a spender or a saver. I can trust that all of our bills will be paid on time and that he never takes on more financially that we can handle. He is excellent at this job, which makes me feel completely confident in the way he handles the  finances. He has a top credit score and gives me the freedom of spending as my heart desires. He gives me the option on whether I want to work or not and is completely content with me choosing not to work.
  5. he is dependable. My husband has always been a man of his word. When he says he will do something, he does it. He has yet to break a promise that he has made to me.
  6. he is my best friend and best father for his kids. I can tell my hubby anything and he’ll be there to share in my joy and my sadness. He is the keeper of my secrets and one of my favorite shopping buddies even though he hates shopping. lol. He's such a great dad to his two children. He does whatever it takes to raise them in a happy home.
  7. he makes me smile. I don’t know how or even what it is exactly, but I’m usually just in a better mood when he’s around. He loves to joke around, play, and have fun.
  8. he holds me accountable for my actions. This is one quality about him that I love and hate because it forces me to be a better person.. We don’t always want to hear when we know we’re wrong, but this demonstrates to me that he is concerned and responsible for my spiritual growth and development. He doesn't sugarcoat our conversations but tells the truth in love.
  9. he puts the toilet seat down. This wasn’t something he always did. I’m pretty sure that after me, the nurse, explaining the internal female anatomy, the numerous type of bacteria in/on a toilet and the awful types of nasty, oozy, slimy, smelly, painful infections that one could acquire if their “vag” was to fall in toilet water, he made it a point to start putting the toilet seat down. Not to mention that I did wake him up in the middle of the night to put the lid down too! lol. But, I appreciate his courtesy even though I had to use that scare tactic to get my point across. Oh well, it worked :)
  10. he takes initiative to do things to please me, surprise me, and keeps the romance blazin!!Every woman has needs (I’m not talking about sex…well not solely). A woman needs to feel loved and every woman perceives love differently. He knows that my love languages are personal time and gifts. lol.  He takes the time to go out of his way to do things to make me smile. He'll bring home random gifts such as a starbucks gift card, a puppy with a big red bow, or even my newest baby a bmw. He'll plan dinners, outings, and trips. I love his adventurous side.
  11.  he is quick to forgive. I have learned so much from my husband about forgiveness. I’m mostly learned that it is easy to do if we have the right frame of mind. Sometimes he has to remind me that it is easy to forgive others because of the way in which Christ forgave us.I love you hubby for holding me to that higher standard. He's a humble man that will apology when he's wrong or apology when he's not wrong as well to keep peace.
Happy Anniversary Reggie!

Thank God for the trials and tribulations :)

One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is the fact that becoming a follower of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations. Trials and tribulations are a part of our everyday lives and obviously has a divine purpose. Trust me, I've had my share of  trials lately that has shaken me to the core of my being. Not only have I been though a lot but I've gotten texts, emails, and calls from other christian friends who too are going through things. In my own life, I had to leave my beautiful home due to an unexpected rat problem. My little precious cockapoo, Sadie, ran away. My husband's overseas with a high demanding, time consuming, stressful job which keeps him traveling a lot. I've had a relapse in my fibromyalgia which afflicts every joint in my body, causing pain, and making it difficult to take care of my kids. (thankfully relapses only last for a few days)  We been in a location to where we haven't found a great church to call our place of worship. Through it all, I ask God why do you allow me go through things to test my faith in you? Surely, if He loved me, He would take all these things away from me. After all, doesn’t loving us mean He wants our lives to be easy and comfortable? Well, no, it doesn’t.

The Bible clearly teaches that God loves those who are His children and He “works all things together for good” for us (Romans 8:28). So that must mean that the trials and tribulations He allows in our lives are part of the working together of all things for good. As in all things, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). This is the goal of the Christian, and everything in life, including the trials and tribulations, is designed to enable us to reach that goal. It is part of the process of sanctification; that is, being set apart for God’s purposes and fitted to live for His glory. The way the trials accomplish this is explained in 1 Peter 1:6-7: "

Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Jesus Christ set the perfect example. He did the will of his father, endured suffering, shame, and death with one purpose in mind. To save us from from our sins and to help us escape the penalty of hell. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  God encourages us to rejoice when we goes through hard times and to continue to pray. He is forming us into a stronger, more patient, Godly, and better overall person if we learn that everything works together for the good! Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12)


Through my trials I have hope in knowing that God will be with me, strenghten my spirtually and make me a stronger person. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-4,12 Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, we have the victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." These verses encourage us to see that although we are in a spiritual battle, Satan has no authority over the believer in Christ. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Holy Spirit to enable us, and the privilege of coming to Him anywhere, at any time, to pray about anything. He has also assured us that no trial will test us beyond our ability to bear it, and “he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
So be encouraged, for I am encouragedl that I have God's word to comfort me, lead me through this life, and give me promises to make it through the difficult times. We all have our good days and our bad days but it will all work out in the end and we will reap our rewards in heaven. Be blessed and have a great week.