Selfless Spouse

Sometimes I'm filled with such love for my husband, I wonder if my heart has room to contain it all.  He amazes me every single day.  And in writing this, as my thoughts jump and decide where to begin, I wonder can it even be fully expressed?

There's nothing spectacular to tell you.  No one act of superhuman greatness.  Not one story of miraculous nature.  Yet, I'm continually in awe of his selflessness, his patience, his character and his genuine love for others.

I am so very blessed to be his wife.

At the current moment, I'm listening to the calm instruction, as he shows our son how to work on the water lines.  Though our dishwasher isn't even a year old, a bit of maintenance is required today.  And instead of whipping through the issue first thing this morning, he waited to work on it with our boy.

Waited, also because he's spent his entire morning helping others.  Transporting Tina where she needed to be, picking up supplies for me, helping a co-worker's friend carry furniture, stopping at the pharmacy (on his day off) to lend a hand, and returning to the store, upon realizing the cashier gave him too much change.  Such is a typical day for my hubby.

"Right tight, left loose," he says softly from under the sink, reminding Noah not to cross-thread it as he connects a line.  Then he follows with, "And now, what would you do next?"

Tim never makes excuses for why he can't help someone.  It isn't in his nature to figure out how to get out of doing so.  Instead, he seems to search for opportunities to help others.  And he never rushes or makes them feel like he'd rather be doing something else.

"Anything worth doing is worth doing right."

He doesn't ask or even expect acknowledgement.  In fact, I would bet the thought never crosses his mind.  My husband is not one for titles and trophies.  Even his "side business," or rather hobby as I call it, he does not to make money but to help others.  Because he's not a slick businessman, but rather a selfless Jesus-man, focused not of getting ahead in this world but rather awaiting his rewards in another.

"Slow and steady always wins the race."

And I couldn't be more grateful to God that I get to share my life with him, or to have him guide and direct our kids.

Joy in...Laundry?

I had another unexpected day off due to the snow today.  In the past, a snow day still meant a work day, as I could conduct business from the house.  Now, being that I do home visitation, it is a little difficult to conduct via my couch!

Though the comforts of my living room, complete with a fireplace and a never-ending queue on Netflix beckoned me, so did the growing piles of laundry at the foot of my bed.  After about the tenth towel folded, I sighed.

This was such a boring way to spend a vacation day.  

And then a memory flashed of about a decade ago, when I'd give just about anything for the ability to do something as simple as laundry.

I recalled my recovery from our motorcycle wreck and how, once out of ICU and recovering at home, I'd push a laundry basket with my walker to the utility room.  In the evening, as hubby arrived home, he give me a shake of his head and a "LeAnn...." letting me know of his disapproval.  But he understood my restlessness of a long recovery, for he wasn't many weeks ahead of me.

Each day I'd spend all my energy doing something - anything to make it easier on him.  And I was grateful for it.  Happiness in putting a casserole in the oven.  Contentment in washing a load of dishes.  Joy in folding laundry. Even if it meant the rest of the day would be spent in bed from the effort.  I was thankful for the task and the ability to do it because it meant I was still here, with and for my family.

So my sigh was quickly sucked back in today.  How quickly we forget....
And I smiled with the mating of each and every one of those patience-testing socks!

Wherever life finds you today, I hope you can find joy in it too.

God Nudges

I love the way the Spirit speaks into our lives, if we just open our ears and heart to listen.

A lot of the time, being selfish and stubborn, I dig in my heels, make excuses, or try to ignore God's gentle nudges.  Often, when I do, He'll use something to give me a bigger push.  Sometimes refusing to listen leads to unhappy circumstances, but often it's regret in missing out what He had planned for me.  More and more I'm trying to listen early to Him and receive the blessings and benefits right away!

The past few weeks He's been whispering on my heart about a few things and I've tried to push some of it to the side.  Sometimes I struggle with wanting to please others, even when I know it isn't what God would want me to do.

Time and again this week, He's sent me scripture and stories, relating to my earthly-tuggings.  Trying to nudge me on the right path instead.

The other day, while driving around for work, I caught a story on the radio of a woman going through the same struggles.  She'd prayed about something, knew she shouldn't do it, but went anyway to please her boss.  The outcome was a mess.  And then he sent me a scripture that summed it all up.

It was clear He was speaking to me.
Immediately I was convicted and let go of my needs to listen to His.

I call these "God nudges."  And I'm grateful for the place they have in my life.  They are a reminder that I'm not here for my pleasures, my desires, or my needs.

My husband shared a similar situation he's been in this week. Counseling a friend they shared, "but how do you ask for forgiveness when you know you're going to do it anyway, even if you know it is wrong?"

I've been there.  I remember when the struggle wasn't as hard.  When the nudges were softer and I allowed myself to disconnect and push them aside.

And back then, some of those might seem completely innocent to you - things like language, or watching something I shouldn't, or gossiping, or just avoiding spending time with God.  Then, living life for me was much easier.

What I shared with Tim clicked for him and maybe it will help you too, my friend, if you're struggling with something this week.

The closer I draw to God, the easier it is to resist the earthly pulls and temptations.  

Do I still fail?  Yes, (see above)!  But the nudges come quicker and it is harder to ignore when my relationship with God is strong.

As we near to Valentines, a day of love and expectations, we sometimes use it as a measurement of our relationship with others.  If he loves me he'll buy me this.... If she loves me, she'll do that....

But our worth to each other can't be fulfilled with anything we do or purchase in a store.  Our relationship is strengthened when we spend time together.  A partnership requires this.  How can you really know someone if you don't spend time with them?

And that is what God desires from us too.  The more we connect to Him, the stronger our relationship becomes.  The closer we walk with Him, the easier it is to hear His voice in our daily lives.  And when our marriages/relationships are focused on Him, the more solid they become as well.  Because without God, happily ever after isn't possible.

I'll close by sending you back a year ago to a post about a fairy tale marriage 

and how to ensure your own "Happily Ever After."

Hope your weekend is filled with the One True Love!

Why I Chose Essential Oils

A little over a year ago, I began researching essential oils.  I was facing unemployment and for the first time in my life, I was also uninsured.

For someone with an autoimmune disease that catches colds over the phone, it was a scary place to be.  Knowing I couldn't afford to just run to the doctor if I became sick, my search for healthier options kept leading me to essential oils.

Finding (a company I can't tell you the name of), researching further, and even seeing it on blogger friends' pages, I went as far as nearly becoming a member.  And then chickening out at the last minute.  What did I know about using EO?  Where in the world would I start?

So, I put it on the back burner and moved to using vitamins whenever I felt sluggish.  By the grace of God, I made it through the next year only being ill enough to need antibiotics once.  Even then, I only took them to get back to work sooner.

In reality though, antibiotics rarely made me feel better.  And I hated being so dependent on medicine.  I watched others have to take a full dose, and then go back for another, because it didn't help.  I really wanted a more natural approach.  I wanted to take preventive measures.  I needed a healthier choice for my family.

A few weeks ago, I read about a friend's experience using EO on Facebook.  So convinced in the product, she scheduled a workshop to share the product with others.  And I was lucky enough to be invited.

When I walked in, the lady passed around peppermint oil and offered to anyone wanting to try.  Suffering from allergies, it is rare I can breathe through my nose at all.  That night, my left side was completely blocked.  Within 15 minutes of taking, I could breathe through both sides!  I also drank a water with lemon oil and, while I don't know of any immediate benefits, it was very refreshing.  Later I learned it could be used as a detoxifier.

By night's end, they probably thought I was the quickest, easiest sell in history, but in reality it was the missing piece of the puzzle I'd been waiting for.

This week, my oils arrived!

The day it arrived Noah was complaining of a headache (rare for him) and Tina was scratching her arms from an eczema outbreak.  Reading for recipes and instructions, I put peppermint on Noah's temples and lavender on his foot.  For Tina, I mixed up a few into coconut oil and had her put it on her arms after her shower and again this morning.  And Tim and I snoozed off into lullaby land with our diffuser.

This morning, I certainly felt more refreshed.  In fact, sleeping so soundly, I nearly didn't make it in time to the restroom this am!  Oops!  Noah shared that he fell asleep in the middle of his show, something he isn't known to do, being a night owl.  And - his headache was gone.  As of this post, I've not seen Tina for her results, but this morning she said it was slightly better, after only one application.

I'm still new but am so excited about learning more on essential oils.  If you're in the area, I'm planning an informational workshop next week.  If not, I'd be happy to chat with you online.  In the meantime, you can visit my site here.

Do you use EO?  I'd love to hear from you and the successes you've had.