The Road Where God Leads.

It is time. 

 Time to get healthy! 

After many pounds of weight gain in our first 2.5 years of marriage, we are committed to whittling our waists back down :)  We have started eating healthier (hence the breakfast above), and we have started running again.  Not only have we gained weight in our lack of exercise and overeating, but our sweet puppies have also.  They are all for "another treat" at ALL times :)

Speaking of running, I was driving our new puppy, Campbell, to Jemison trail the other day to go for a run and she cried the whole way.  Our older two dogs (who didn't get to go on this particular ride) LOVE being in the car and hanging their heads out of the windows, sniffing the air, trying to get a taste of all the different smells that they may encounter.  But not Campbell.  I kept trying to tell her that I was taking her to do something very fun, and the ride is how we get there.

As I was driving, continually trying to reassure her as she would barely put her nose up to the open window, God reminded me that this is often how I live my life before Him.  He knows the end result.  He knows the road that it will take to get me there and I have to trust Him.  He continually reassures me that He is in control and wants the best for me.  But, so often, I live in fear of the unknown and allow anxiousness to overtake me.  I can hear my Heavenly Father saying, "Trust me.  I am upholding you with my righteous right hand. In order to get where I am taking you, we have to take this road."

I don't know what Campbell went through before we found her…before she found us.  I don't know if the last ride she took was the one where she was abandoned.  I am committed to loving her and hugging her often and taking her on these rides so that she will learn the end result is a good one.  I don't know how long it will take, but we will keep on working until she trusts.

I imagine this is the same reason I always seem to be put in situations where I have to exhibit patience, why I have to wait, why I don't get (enter the blank) when I want it.  God is taking me on that same ride, until I learn to say, "All I need is You. Whatever you want, Lord, I will do.  I trust You."

We studied the passage of scripture recently in which Mary and Martha have sent for Jesus because their beloved brother, Lazarus, was dying.  The scripture reads, "So the sisters sent to him saying, 'Lord, he whom you love is ill.'….So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was." (John 11:3-6).

Wait, what?!  You mean, He didn't come right away?  He didn't rush to the rescue?! I mean, this is life and death!

I wrote above verse 3 and verse 6….but what about those in between.  The verses in between say, "But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

The story goes that Jesus arrived 4 days after Lazarus had died, and Jesus rose Lazarus from his death (after plenty of time for the body to really stink)…and it was for his glory.  Mary and Martha didn't understand at the time, in fact, they wept at the confusion as to why Jesus wouldn't have come sooner.  But then they saw.  They understood.  It was for his glory. He DID love their brother, but His timing was not theirs.

What encouragement this is to me in life...In dealing with infertility...In not getting what I want AT THE EXACT MOMENT I want it.  And although I may never get what I want, my hope and desire is that what I want will become only what Jesus wants for me.  And that is better and best.  And my heart rests in Thee alone.  His plans, His timing, His will - is perfect.

On a lighter note,  Matt finally got his backyard golf tee up that my parents go him for Christmas and has started practicing in our very own yard!  He is so excited and states, "I can just stay out there for hours and practice with one club at a time."  ooohhhhh….yay.  :)

But, he's happy :)  And I love to see my better half happy.  I also love to see him when he gets all dressed up like below…

I call this 007. 

We went to a friend's wedding in Chattanooga, TN a couple of weekends ago where this picture was taken.  It really is so beautiful there.  We need to plan a weekend trip!

And then, here's our first born.  She LOVES being held like a baby by Matt.  I am only an intrusion :)  We joke often that she says, "Daddy, we were fine before you brought her along."   Of course, she is his baby, but she does love her mommy, too ;)

Please keep praying for us for wisdom from above in our next steps in this infertility process.  We are just months away from being able to adopt if that is God's will.  We are also still working with our reproductive endocrinologist.