Better Than a Hallelujah

My December has been busy, busy, busy.
It has been a fun challenging visiting someone each weekend and packing for not just myself, but a 'messy' (it is normal) baby.

I haven't had much time to post, but I've had a lot to think about. On a recent quick trip to Nebraska I spent a good portion of my driving time in prayer. I have learned that praying while driving leaves me such peace.

I'm also excited because my dear cousin (the one whom I meet with weekly for a devotional) bought me two new devotional books for Christmas. I can't wait to read through them and have God use them in my life!

In the holiday spirit my dear husband bought me an iTunes gift card for Christmas. We exchange gifts early due to our many trips. I was able to buy an Amy Grant song that I heard on the radio and wanted to hear again. I wanted to post the lyrics, because if you haven't heard the song it is beautiful.

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

I think the chorus leaves such a beautiful message. Even when I pour our my miseries to God, He hear my voice crying to Him for strength and crying to Him in pain. Jesus did the same thing. 

Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Of course I don't know exactly what God was thinking, but imagine with me for a second...

...that instead of God's heart breaking as mine does when Adley is in pain, imagine God rejoicing or hearing a melody knowing that all of the pain will be wiped away in Heaven. Each earthly pain we face not only allows us to lean more on the God who deserves all trust and praise, but also brings us one step closer to permanent Hallelujahs. How beautiful. 

As I ponder on these lyrics I cannot help but remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Conviction is a beautiful thing...

My mother sent me a link to a radio series...
It is definitely worth the listen...

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/past_programs.php?m=6&y=2010

Listen to the June 7, 8, and 9 series by Bob Lepine

I am going to have to process these and listen to them again. They are totally worth the listen and have helpful advice for wives and single women. I think even men would enjoy hearing a guy back them.

The two things that I took away...

1. My husband wants to know that I respect him and needs me to show it. To most men showing respect is more important than saying I love him. (I asked Jason if showing him respect was more important than saying that I love him and he said yes. It was a good refresher that I need to be respecting him in all things. He is the head that God has placed over me. I am blessed to have such a wonderful man that is so easy to respect! :D )

2. I am imperfect and sinful and I cannot just make a list of things to fix in my life. I have been really convicted lately to change my heart and attitude but, I need to submit each of my down falls in prayer to my God. Only He can help me. I cannot expect to be a better wife if I choose to fix all of my downfalls myself. I need my perfect Savior.

Have a blessed night!

Life as a Wife of a College Student

Okay...so I was thinking of ways my life would be unique or different from other wives/moms and I thought of one major one...My husband is a still a college student, full time and I am a stay at home mom.

Now before you start wondering how we can do that...I have to brag on my wonderful husband!
We have no debt! And will still have none when he graduates in May. Both of our cars have been paid for in cash! I work parttime as a nanny, but I bring Adley with me so I'm still mommy 24/7! (yay!) We save the entirity of my paychecks each month. Because my husband also works for the school as a Hall Director he gets half off his tution and we have zero housing costs! I love how hard he works at being a good steward. Besides working as a Hall Director he works as a receptionist at one of the dorm lobbys and works as the preaching intern at our church. That little extra allows us to take wonderful trips to see our families.

Thrifty is truly nifty....and Jason is such a good motivator. Our pre-light Christmas tree (donated by my parents, aka no buying on our part!) gave out on us last year so it ended up in the dumpster. Since my husband has been recently motivating me to be a better saver than spender I used his palm tree (remind me to complain, only jokingly, about that later!) as our Christmas tree. Check it out!

This is definitely funny to me! But I'm proud for only spending $1.00 on Christmas decorations (for jingle bells for my front door!).

Anyways...I got off topic. Sorry...

So yes it is almost two o'clock in the morning and I am up blogging. Jason's job and college student life style has us usually sleeping in or taking naps and staying up late. He is usually finished with his Hall Director work around 2am, so unless I work the next morning I stay up with him so while Adley is sleeping we can chat or just have some nice quiet time together.

He is still at work (no complaining here) so yes, I am cooking my spaghetti squash at 2am, yes, I am eating a snack, yes, I did not go to the grocery store until midnight and yes, I love late nights.

Weird right? We love where God has us right now and we can't wait for the next phase of our lives.

And finally a brag on my baby girl. We got her picture taken at the Lighting of the Commons at OC on Thursday night...here is her picture.

We were SO surprised that she was awake AND happy for the picture. (P.s. the outfit was a garage sale find for $2!) Not to mention it looks super adorable!!! This one is going in my Christmas cards. This picture made the front page of the OC newspaper this week for the teaser for the rest of her pictures. Her proud little mommy (yes, that is me) is going to scrapbook this one for sure! Now we just need to tell her that is Dr. B (who is the Registrar) and not Santa (oh and that Santa is make believe, not real).

And last a family picture from the night. Enjoy (and I apologize for over bragging on my family, I just love them both so much!!)