MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

Today, November 23, is our 9^th wedding anniversary.  A few of the many things that I have learned through these wonderful years are:

• The fusion of two lives takes a lot of work
• Men are from Mars and women are from Venus
• Making up after a fight is great!
• The road gets bumpy from time to time
• We do belong together!

The list gets longer and better, but I’ve chosen to leave those for our 10^th anniversary.  Needless to say, I’m so grateful to God for placing a wonderful man in my life. These nine years have truly been a pleasant learning experience.  Sometimes it feels so surreal as though I was trapped in a wonderful dream. When did this happen?  When did I stop being a little girl who completely depended on her mom and took over the role of a wife and a mother?   The responsibility is enormous, but the joy of accomplishment is greater, especially when God is the center of it all.

I love my husband with all my heart.  He truly completes me and makes me look forward to spend a life time with him. I also love the small wonderful family that we have formed.  I vow once again to be there for better or for worst till the end of times.  Cheers to a match made in heaven!

IT TAKES A WHOLE VILLAGE….

An old proverb says that it takes a whole village to raise a child, unfortunately for the past two year, in our village there have only been my husband and I.  I’ve been saddened by this situation from time to time but it always comes down to the fact that my kids are blessed to be surrounded by both loving parents.  In a world where 1/3 of our children live only with one parent, we’re more than blessed and completely grateful to God.  I, myself, come from a dysfunctional family.  My dad left for a better job opportunity when I was 8 and didn’t see him again until I was 15.  

As parents, God has been there for us every step of the way, but as more often than not, we tend to rely more on the visible only to be flat face disappointed.  This past year has been specially challenging for us as we moved into our own place far away from friends and family. We were excited at first until finding babysitters became an issued.  So many times I’ve gotten frustrated by the inability to go out on a date with my husband, or simply going to the store without having to drag our kids along.  No biggies, right? Or not?  Are my kids missing out in some major spoiling, indulging and pampering?  Do my kids ever crave the attentions of other adults?  

Just yesterday, as we’re driving back home from church, my 3 year old baby girl, tells me that she has a new uncle and that his name is Uncle Robert.  Robert, who is a member of our new church and his wife have been so warmhearted.  My Debbie was so excited about it that it broke my heart as I felt so helpless.  This is not the first time that she tries to recruit others to be part of her village.  A couple of months ago, coincidentally, she was calling Robert’s mother in-law “grandma.”  She’s also constantly seeking our pastor’s wife approval by dressing in her favorite color: purple.  And then, there is also my son.  Just this past Saturday, he was trying so hard to get our pastor’s attention to let him know that he had made it to the principal’s honor roll on his first trimester in 1^st grade.

As hurtful as it sounds, my kids do crave for other people's attention.  I now do see that it does take a village to raise a child and in lack thereof, I can only turn to God for help.   My prayer request is for our Lord to provide such village filled with honest, loving, caring people of God.  

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  Matthew 7:7