I have created my own blog.
wow. (not really)
enjoy it here
Joe B.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sanctity of Marriage
The sanctity of marriage is translated into the holiness of matrimony.
"clipclop clip clop", thats me climbing up on my soapbox. ( I didn't know I sounded like a horse)
I am a really good sleeper, I mean REALLY good. But I was up late last night with thoughts running through my head. Only praying to my always available God would stifle them, and send me to sweet slumber.
You see, this past week has rocked me. It started with a wonderful surprise trip to Cancun from my husband. (we both turn 40 this year, and it was our way of celebrating. He has also told me it counts for EVERY holiday this year. He is covered!) You see we work very hard at our marriage.
We have to.
We read books, pray, go to cnferences, speakers etc.
We have come as close to divorce as you can get. Sin did a number on us, but Gods mercy and grace saw us through.
It sounds so easy, but it was years of hard work and Gods supernatural help in forgiving when I didn't want to. Thankfully God showed me how to love with the same mercy and grace He has always shown me.
Life can be hard, a good marriage IS hard. We can do hard. We have done hard. We are stronger for it.
The surprise weekend trip was wonderful and relaxing. My hubby and me love to be together and we travel well together. Gods creation is beautiful and we came home refreshed.
Then I returned to work to be surprised by a marriage of two employees. To each other. No one knew they were even dating(2 months). There is a large age difference and also a short distance from their last divorces. The flippancy and disregard for the holiness of marriage, literally made me sick. Ask my husband, I can't get it out of my head. I still am not sure what I can say or do. She knows my view, I have told her in the past.
Marriage is a committment. Not only to each other, but to God. Remember the 3 strands that are not easily broken? Joe and I come from a long line of divorce in our families. We vowed to end that cycle in our generation. A committment to love no matter how sick of each other we are, how annoyed, how mad etc. Believe me, that committment has been tested.
We then attended church on Saturday night. The sermon topic? David and Bathsheeba. How fitting. Dave Rod did a great job, "adultery is stealing". He didn't mince words, called people out on their behavior. Called David out on his behavior. But wait, David was called by God, " a man after my own heart". How? He had coveted, committed adultery and murdered to cover it up. Broke a whole bunch of commandments.
God forgave his broken and contrite heart. Just like He does for us.
I cried, as I do so often at church. Not out of sadness, but thankfulness. We have come so far, God has done a supernatural healing in our marriage and I will forever be thankful for Him and His forgiveness. I will tell our painful, but wonderful testimony to whoever will hear it and be helped.
I can do hard, and so can you.
"clip clop, clip clop" I am coming off my soapbox now.
I think I will sleep better tonight.
"clipclop clip clop", thats me climbing up on my soapbox. ( I didn't know I sounded like a horse)
I am a really good sleeper, I mean REALLY good. But I was up late last night with thoughts running through my head. Only praying to my always available God would stifle them, and send me to sweet slumber.
You see, this past week has rocked me. It started with a wonderful surprise trip to Cancun from my husband. (we both turn 40 this year, and it was our way of celebrating. He has also told me it counts for EVERY holiday this year. He is covered!) You see we work very hard at our marriage.
We have to.
We read books, pray, go to cnferences, speakers etc.
We have come as close to divorce as you can get. Sin did a number on us, but Gods mercy and grace saw us through.
It sounds so easy, but it was years of hard work and Gods supernatural help in forgiving when I didn't want to. Thankfully God showed me how to love with the same mercy and grace He has always shown me.
Life can be hard, a good marriage IS hard. We can do hard. We have done hard. We are stronger for it.
The surprise weekend trip was wonderful and relaxing. My hubby and me love to be together and we travel well together. Gods creation is beautiful and we came home refreshed.
Then I returned to work to be surprised by a marriage of two employees. To each other. No one knew they were even dating(2 months). There is a large age difference and also a short distance from their last divorces. The flippancy and disregard for the holiness of marriage, literally made me sick. Ask my husband, I can't get it out of my head. I still am not sure what I can say or do. She knows my view, I have told her in the past.
Marriage is a committment. Not only to each other, but to God. Remember the 3 strands that are not easily broken? Joe and I come from a long line of divorce in our families. We vowed to end that cycle in our generation. A committment to love no matter how sick of each other we are, how annoyed, how mad etc. Believe me, that committment has been tested.
We then attended church on Saturday night. The sermon topic? David and Bathsheeba. How fitting. Dave Rod did a great job, "adultery is stealing". He didn't mince words, called people out on their behavior. Called David out on his behavior. But wait, David was called by God, " a man after my own heart". How? He had coveted, committed adultery and murdered to cover it up. Broke a whole bunch of commandments.
God forgave his broken and contrite heart. Just like He does for us.
I cried, as I do so often at church. Not out of sadness, but thankfulness. We have come so far, God has done a supernatural healing in our marriage and I will forever be thankful for Him and His forgiveness. I will tell our painful, but wonderful testimony to whoever will hear it and be helped.
I can do hard, and so can you.
"clip clop, clip clop" I am coming off my soapbox now.
I think I will sleep better tonight.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Change for Haiti
We didn't have school due to the ice in the early morning. grrrr. So he asked if he could go and collect money to take to the schools collection spot for Haiti. Annie decided to join him after he came home to empty his bag and drop off a bagful of candy one of the houses gave him. He collected over $68.00, mostly in change to take to school today.
He was quite proud of himself and so are we!
Way to go buddy!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Red
Well, on a lighter note I thought I would post about my many hair adventures.
My hair has considerably darkened over the years and many babies. I use to get it highlighted and then to save money would highlight on my own for a total of 15 years. I really hated the upkeep though.
Fast forward to our trip to Costa Rica. I came home from there changed and decided to stop coloring my hair all together. It seemed, at the time, like a waste. So I have been au naturale hair color wise ever since( almost 2 years).
Lately the gray hairs are starting to take over. It didn't seem like as much of a waste anymore. I'm not 40 yet and was having a hard time with the gray. A recent visit to my beloved Target saw me coming home with wash out brown hair color.
Unbeknownst to me, my hair pulls red. No one told me that, I just picked the box with the hair closest to my darkening brown hair.
While Joe is at work and the kids are at school, I decide to color it. No one will even notice since it is just like my natural hair color. Right? Wrong, I step out of the shower and look in the mirror to find I have bright red hair . We are talking Lucille Ball here. I don't have time to deal with it since I had to pick the kids up from school and start our busy Tuesday routine. Amy noticed right away, but was nice about it. Ann and Andrew never noticed. But, when I got home, Joe and Aaron noticed and were not too kind. To give them some credit, I didn't warn them and they were quite shocked.
After some tears, I called my hair lady and she was booked for the week. I then called the number on the hair color box. The nice lady on the phone, walked me through what I should have done and what I could do to "fix" it. It won't "just wash out" either. Great.
I did what she said but it didn't really work. My hair is just a darker red. I am getting used to it and looking at it as an adventure and will not be recoloring for awhile.
Lesson learned!
At least my family loves Lucille Ball!
My hair has considerably darkened over the years and many babies. I use to get it highlighted and then to save money would highlight on my own for a total of 15 years. I really hated the upkeep though.
Fast forward to our trip to Costa Rica. I came home from there changed and decided to stop coloring my hair all together. It seemed, at the time, like a waste. So I have been au naturale hair color wise ever since( almost 2 years).
Lately the gray hairs are starting to take over. It didn't seem like as much of a waste anymore. I'm not 40 yet and was having a hard time with the gray. A recent visit to my beloved Target saw me coming home with wash out brown hair color.
Unbeknownst to me, my hair pulls red. No one told me that, I just picked the box with the hair closest to my darkening brown hair.
While Joe is at work and the kids are at school, I decide to color it. No one will even notice since it is just like my natural hair color. Right? Wrong, I step out of the shower and look in the mirror to find I have bright red hair . We are talking Lucille Ball here. I don't have time to deal with it since I had to pick the kids up from school and start our busy Tuesday routine. Amy noticed right away, but was nice about it. Ann and Andrew never noticed. But, when I got home, Joe and Aaron noticed and were not too kind. To give them some credit, I didn't warn them and they were quite shocked.
After some tears, I called my hair lady and she was booked for the week. I then called the number on the hair color box. The nice lady on the phone, walked me through what I should have done and what I could do to "fix" it. It won't "just wash out" either. Great.
I did what she said but it didn't really work. My hair is just a darker red. I am getting used to it and looking at it as an adventure and will not be recoloring for awhile.
Lesson learned!
At least my family loves Lucille Ball!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
thoughts on Haiti
It seems as if my mind keeps thinking about all the
13
11
10
and 7 year old children in Haiti right now that are sleeping in the street, as mine sleep in the OWN bed.
that are wondering about their next meal, as mine complained about having to eat tacos for dinner tonight.
that no longer have parents.
These kids did not choose homelessness. They did not choose hunger. They did not choose to be orphans.
We live in a fallen world. It is groaning like the pains of childbirth. It will someday cease and become new. God is present in the midst of strife.
I am a jumbled mess. I praise God my family is safe. I cry out for those only seen on TV. And I wonder why Haiti and not Indiana? Maybe it will be Indiana one day. Maybe Westfield Indiana. Maybe not.
God is mysterious. I fear Him.
Yet life can only be reconciled through Him.
the older I get, the more I dont know what I dont know.
jb
13
11
10
and 7 year old children in Haiti right now that are sleeping in the street, as mine sleep in the OWN bed.
that are wondering about their next meal, as mine complained about having to eat tacos for dinner tonight.
that no longer have parents.
These kids did not choose homelessness. They did not choose hunger. They did not choose to be orphans.
We live in a fallen world. It is groaning like the pains of childbirth. It will someday cease and become new. God is present in the midst of strife.
I am a jumbled mess. I praise God my family is safe. I cry out for those only seen on TV. And I wonder why Haiti and not Indiana? Maybe it will be Indiana one day. Maybe Westfield Indiana. Maybe not.
God is mysterious. I fear Him.
Yet life can only be reconciled through Him.
the older I get, the more I dont know what I dont know.
jb
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Busy afternoon
Between 2:15 and 4pm, this is what I have to do:
Pick up Amy from school and take her to dentist
Run her back to school for swim practice
pick up Aaron from Math club and take him to dentist(drop him off)
Pick Ann and Andrew up from school and drive to Piano lessons.
Pick Aaron up from dentist
Pick Ann up from Piano
Pick Amy up from swimming
Get home and get dinner ready because the boys have basketball and wrestling at 6pm.
whew, I hope there isn't traffic or I'm doomed! I have called Joe in for reinforcements if needed!
Today is also laundry day at the Bennett home. Kelsey does her best to keep the warm towels on the couch for me. Pathetic.
Pick up Amy from school and take her to dentist
Run her back to school for swim practice
pick up Aaron from Math club and take him to dentist(drop him off)
Pick Ann and Andrew up from school and drive to Piano lessons.
Pick Aaron up from dentist
Pick Ann up from Piano
Pick Amy up from swimming
Get home and get dinner ready because the boys have basketball and wrestling at 6pm.
whew, I hope there isn't traffic or I'm doomed! I have called Joe in for reinforcements if needed!
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