Patience

So it's been a few days since my last post... I was busy drinking hot cocoa and eating chocolate chip cookies while reading a super intense murder mystery wrapped in a cocoon of woven blankets.  Pfsh... I wish. :)
On Thursday night we welcomed a new member into the "family"... a Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever mix puppy!  I named her Kita (Kee-tah) and she is a six week old little furry bundle of fun. (Just about as wonderful as warm cookies hehe) My boyfriend has wanted a Lab pup for a while and train it for pheasant hunting and duck retrieving.  I am so excited!  I am up for ANY kind of hunting... big game or little birds :) Hopefully I will be able to snag a couple of friends and get their help with the training... pheasants- you better watch out!  Kita girl is going to come and get ya!  She is just the cutest, petite little thing you have ever seen- and that puppy breath- aw! I'm in LOVE! For the last two nights she stayed with me at my parent's house and (shhhhh...) snuggled in with me and my feather pillows and down comforter. hehe.... I just can't help myself!  I am tuckered out with getting up every two hours to take her potty... but it's worth it!  With eyes rolling and chuckles from deep down- my significant other wraps her up in her blanket (It has been cold out there, people!)  and even took her on Saturday while I had to work.  He went door knocking for our Fire Commissioner's re-election campaign and she was quite a hit.  We were mauled at Sunbirds, the pet store, the bank... seems that she is getting more than her fair share of "socialization". ;)

Just had a bath <3

I got to thinking over the weekend (BIG surprise! I actually DO think.. not just talk lol) and my word for the day will be PATIENCE.  Well actually patience and HUMILITY.  I am pretty sure that everyone has struggled with this one at least once in their life- but it is so hard to actually practice what you preach.  Not only with patience, but everything in the Christian walk.  I tend to talk myself into holes so deep that I should be in China by now.  Sometimes it is embarrassing, others it is just so stupid and pointless.  Like waiting for water to boil or a chicken to hatch- so goes my life of patience.  Or rather NO patience.  I'll share my most recent story of patience and humility... there are countless others, but I'll save those for a later date ;) I never really noticed how impatient I was until my best friend walked down the isle to meet her Mr. Right back in August.  As I was standing up with the other bridesmaids it hit me.  First it was anger laced with jealousy.  Then self pity.  I felt like someone should donkey kick me in the head.  Why do I feel this way?!  It was a perfect day- a WEDDING day; my FRIEND's day.  But that's just it.  The cat is out of the bag and my feelings are on the table.  I want to be married!  I want to start a family and raise children up to be Godly and full of His LIGHT.  There's a key word in there though, and this morning I realized it- WANT.  I want this, and I want that- but what is GOD's plan for my life?! What do I NEED?  I get too busy and wrapped up in my own knots that I fail to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.  I don't ever hear God's still small voice because my ears are being filled with the music of business. Which is almost like idleness... you are so busy that it is almost like you are doing nothing.  Wheels keep turning, yet I've taken two steps back instead of the three ahead. 
My boyfriend told me a few years back that he wanted to wait to ask for my hand in marriage when GOD wanted him to ask.  How stupid am I to pressure or joke with him about getting married.  He is following what God wants him to do and I have lost sight of that.  Shame on me.  Shame on anyone that interjects their feelings and plans into God's Will that He has for our man!  It is hard to do- especially when we live in a fast paced society or don't agree with his ideas.  God's plan for us in our lives was to be a help meet for our husbands.  Someday I can't wait to be just that.  I have such love and respect from my man and I take it for granted!  He gives up so much of his free time and life to dedicate it to me- and here I am being the dreaded "nagger". 
I think that's why God's plan was for my friend to get married before I did.  Not that I should have, I just had it in my mind that I would.  How naive.  We had been dating longer than their relationship, so I guess in my mind it made sense.  Humility.  A lesson for me to learn.  Plain and simple... yet so hard to take.  The devil creeps in and whispers garbage in my ear and foolish me for letting him persuade me to doubt!  Listening to them take their vows as husband and wife was definitely humbling.  It is not only a union of hearts, but a promise of forever.  Not everything will be peaches and roses, but together and with God they will live a blessed life. 

My best friend and I on her Bachelorette weekend in Seattle :)

The WEDDING DAY!  All of us striking a pose!

Marriage is something to not be taken lightly and I want to be fully ready before I walk down the isle in white to some sappy song that will make everyone cry. :)  God knows my heart... He knows the very number of hairs on our head. (Matthew 10:30) I trust that He knows when I'm ready, too!  When my day comes for marriage I will be ready- ready to be the wife that God wants me to be.

Proverbs 31:10-31 says:
10. "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12. She will do hi good and not evil all the days of her life.
13. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14. She is like the erchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18. She percieveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."