Eighteen Years Ago

Eighteen years ago on a beastly hot Saturday morning, John David and I took are vows to be honor, love and cherish one another till we no longer draw breath.

Dave and I met under interesting circumstances which seem to have echoed throughout our entire lives. I was traveling on a short-term mission project with a group called Caleb Project. They sent young missionaries throughout the U.S. (in teams of 5) speaking to college campus groups (InterVarsity, Campus Crusade, etc.) about missions. I was representing the mission agency with whom I was intending to go with to Pakistan that next Spring. This was the Fall of 1987. My team was made up of a married couple and another single gal. We were training in a small town just outside of Wichita, Kansas. Teams were supposed to be made up of 5 but there was no other person at training to join our team.

Unbeknownst to the 4 of us, Dave, located in Wichita, was planning on joining Caleb staff and the head office suggested he join our team prior to moving out to California. The office said the decision to have Dave join us would be up to us, since we already trained and bonded together for almost 3 weeks. Dave met us at his church in Wichita (We just happened to have a speaking engagement there with the college group). Our leader, Sid, knew what was happening and presented us with the option of having Dave join us. We took a vote and I reluctantly said yes, reluctantly because it was nice having so much more room with one less person.

Well, Dave likes to say, he's been taking up room in my life ever since. We gone many places together (from Pasadena to India to Denver to Uzbekistan to England to Germany to Vancouver to Denver and now to Sparta). We've worked together, in the same cubicle well and not so well. We've had four children, changed occupations, prayed together, cried together, dreamed together.

It's been not an easy ride but well-worth it and the right ride. I would never trade any of these 18 years.

Thank you dear husband for knowing for so well, so intimately and still, everyday say, "Hello, wife of my youth," and everyday say, "I love you." You are my Knightly.

WHO IS YOUR JANE AUSTEN HUSBAND?
Your husband is most like Mr. Knightley of Emma! He probably gives you kind lectures to help you in certain matters, though he does these out of true devotion and in your best interests. Others look to him for his wisdom and good sense. He is generous and steadfast, though not afraid to politely argue with you. The two of you enjoy a challenging, sweet partnership and are most likely very active in your community.

New Wine

If you have a Trader Joe's near you I highly suggest you drive there and buy a bottle of their Black Mountain 2005 Malbec. Dave and I just finished a bottle of this fine, hearty red libation. We accompanied it with sirloin steak salad and stuffed baked potatoes. I think a loaf of crusty bread and strong brie would have been better - and no kids, a moonlit night, the waves crashing on the surf... but that's not gonna happen.
Anyway, we've enjoyed Black Mountain Pinot Noir for some time now and ventured out to the Malbec with our latest outing to TJ's. Mighty fine.

Why Do Truckers Like to Tailgate?

We've made it. Two weeks and some 4000 miles later we are resting comfortably in back in Sparta, IL. Some observations from the road:
1) Eastern Oklahoma is very lush and surprisingly pretty
2) Oklahoma's rest stop toilets are WRETCHED! Do not even need to go when you are in Oklahoma. Avoid it at all costs!
3) There are ALOT of dead opossums, armadillos, cats, dogs, deer, squirrels on the road
4) Emma doesn't like it when Aidan and I sing Elevation with U2
5) Dave Matthews Band is mighty fine music to play on a road trip
6) The Best Western in Weatherford in OK is very nice and serves a filling breakfast
7) Not so much for the Super 8 in Holbrook AZ or the Best Western in Santa Rosa, NM
8) I know there is a beauty to the desert but it surpasses me, kind of like abstract art
9) Gas is to darn expensive right now and come the judgement day someone should be held accountable!
10) I need to call home more often when I take a road trip (I was severely reprimanded for waited until my cell phone had service - a day and a half. Yes I know, my bad. I've already had my hand slapped.)
11) Liam does not nap in the car and
12) Compact Disc holders make great entertainment for a toddler (reflect the sun and make sun spots for him to catch - much like a cat
13) I'll end with what I titled this blog: Why do truckers like to tailgate? Is it to intimidate (ala Duel)? Do they feel perfectly safe hanging one car length behind my itsy-bitsy Dodge Stratus and trust their brakes and their reaction time is quick enough? Any ideas?
I'll write more about the trip later. Right now I'm doing laundry, trying to revive a neglected plant, brushing molting dogs and then scrubbing my kitchen floor. A woman's work...

Today is Dave's birthday

42
I wonder why God gave Dave to me. And yet I see more and more, the older I get, the longer we're married, the more I let down my armor, why.
I have a lot of armor (Dave's nodding his head right now), but this blog isn't supposed to be about me...it's his birthday.
Anyway, I wonder and I see because Dave loves me sooo much. He honors me and respects me. I know this. I see this. I live this. Dave is the best husband I could ever wish for - even more than wish for (you know I would wish for someone who wouldn't be the best and God has given me the best).
Dave is kind. He is a diplomat and thinks through his words before sputtering them out of his mouth. He retains information like no body else I know (except maybe our son Ian, see yesterday's blog). He is a man of integrity. He stays true to his word. I know in my heart that he will always be true to me and any of his friends. He will/would never betray.
Dave seeks the truth and he will study hard for it. He teaches with a love and passion. he loves to teach.
Now I've got to go and make his favorite chocolate layer cake. All you who know Dave know what he would have you do this day, raise a pint in his honor!

I heard the most brilliant sermon...

...okay, it was given by my husband, but it was brilliant nonetheless.

We're going through the book of Revelation. Lots of preconceived misconceptions being tossed out the window, I hope! Sunday we covered chapter 8:1-5.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half and hour.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.
He was given much incense to offer, with the prayer of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

For 30 minutes everything stops.... And God listens to the prayers of his people. He raises his hand to silence the world so he can focus on the requests of the saints. He is paying sole attention to my prayer, your prayer. WOW! The King of the Universe, Creator is not multi-tasking but laying aside everything to listen. WOW!

Does that change the way I pray- should it change the way I pray - will it change the way I pray? I hope so!

In Frederick Buechner's novel, On the Road with the Archangel, Raphael (one of the 7 archangels) talks about prayer:

Some prayers I hold out as far from me as my arm will reach, the way a woman holds a dead mouse by the tail when she removes it from the kitchen. Some, like flowers, are almost too beautiful to touch, and others so aflame the I'd be afraid of their setting me on fire if I weren't already more like fire than I am like anything else. There are prayers of such power that you might almost say they carry me rather than the other way round - the way a bird with outstretched wings is carried higher and higher on the back of the wind. There are prayers so apologetic and shamefaced and halfhearted that they all but melt away in my grasp like sad little flakes of snow. Some prayers are very boring.

If I'd stop and think about what I'm doing, each time I pray, I wonder how my prayers would change. I think I wouldn't say as much, but just sit open-jawed, in wonder and in awe, in pleading and on my face. And yet I think of my all-time favorite hymn And Can It Be and know God desires me to approach him, boldly and claim the crown. Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, My God, shouldst die for me.