I need your help

It's 6 days until my wedding and I am sitting here on my couch....with a cold. This is one of my last two full days to finish up all the last minute details for the wedding and my body decides to have a clogged up nose and scratchy throat. What's this soon-to-be-bride to do?

Well that's where I need your help...I know the basic remedys for healing a cold: Lots of rest and liquids, chicken noodle soup, getting a foot massage from my fiance, beauty and the beast, and chocolate. However, I am on emergency get better mode and would love to have your input on what works. I have a very full next 6 days and now they are starting with a trip to Target to raid the medicine aisle.

Thanks for your help!

Give me a tid-bit today :)

It's the last double digit

I know it has been awhile since I have been on here. I literally have 3 half-way finished posts saved that I have yet to complete because of something preoccuping me and well...I haven't completed them yet. So here is now my 4th attempt to finish a post. (Ps: it's taken me 30 minutes just to write these few lines). 

James and I are in the final days around here. This is the last double digit day. I am getting married in 10 days exactly. My life as I know it will be completely changed around and it took a kid's church lesson to hit me. See these past few weeks I have been teaching in children's church the power of choosing good friends. Last week, I talked about how to be a good friend and shared the story of the good Samaritan. (For those unfamiliar with it, you can read it here: The Good Samaritan. It is Luke 10:25-37). From this story, I have come to realize that the ultimate act of unselfishness is coming at the end of next week. I no longer can put myself first, but have the responsibility to put James before me. Now the world may tell me I am crazy to think like that. It should be about me, me, and more me. That I need to do what's best for me at all times. But how wrong is that mindset?

During per-marital counseling, a truth kept revealing itself and came up almost every session: First- there is nothing more important to us then God, Secondly- my priority and greatest concern is James and James'  priority and greatest concern is me. We will have our own individual lives combining and will have a learning process of accepting each others hobbies and lifestyles, but as long as we choose the other over ourselves, our marriage will not only work, but grow a deeper trust and intimacy. 

It already has begun to develop. I truly am amazed how unselfish James is towards me. He automatically puts me before him. He is constantly thinking of ways to show how much he appreciates me or striving to do things that will help me. Yesterday afternoon, for example, he was resting while I was picking up the house. He stopped from enjoying his day off to get up and offer help. He not only did everything I asked of him, but made himself fully aware of what I was trying to accomplish and did things to help without me even telling him they needed to be done. I stop and think sometimes how can someone so quickly adjust to being this unselfishly-focused and demonstrate such care and concern towards another? I try and I fail. I make choices and do things and then realize that the decisions I just made were all about me and I didn't once think of James. It's a struggle, but it is a struggle worth fighting to experience such a deep love and trust with him. I admire him more and more each day for this ability he has.

This foundation that James and I are laying down now and will make permanent next Friday night before our dearest friends and family is a foundation and truth that was laid down as an example many years ago. Not only in the story of the good Samaritan, but with Jesus himself. The good Samaritan gave up time and money to help someone he did not know...Jesus gave an ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life out of love for us. He taught those who would listen for three years to love your neighbor as yourself. Not to love yourself more than anyone else. I hope that James and I can find the joy in putting one another first even when we are surrounded by a very self-focused world. And as I encouraged my students last week, I want to encourage you all to take up a challenge. Do something for someone else this week with no strings attached and experience how blessed they feel and what a joy it brings to you. 





There's a tid-bit for you.