Newlywed School: Round II

why hello and welcome to Mrs. Day's Newlywed School!
who's ready for another round of Guess What We've Been Learning Lately? here we go, round two:

1. sometimes husbands have daily bouts with acid reflux and are unwilling to eat a piece of fruit instead of left over Beef Mess at 10pm. this can sometimes lead to "discussions" at said time.
2. sometimes wives talk to much. enough said.
3. MOST of the time, a wife's opinion is the most important thing to a husband. except when the wife thinks a certain pair of holey whitey-tideys should be thrown away. but every other time, wives can move mountains with their tongue. ....aaaand they know those underwear will be coming through the wash soon anyways...
4. sometimes marriage really is work. you really do have to be intentional and remember your spouse. life can get really busy, but you cannot forfeit some good face-time.
5. wives LOVE remembering the early days of marriage and waking up remembering that they are married. LOVE IT. especially when waking up next to their most favorite person is still the best.
6. sometimes, two God-fearing believers get married and have a hard time figuring out what their Jesus time is supposed to look like. Jesus is always good though, and NEVER fails to teach in spite of said couple.
7. ALWAYS be patient. in every moment of the day, there is something to choose to be patient about. ALWAYS choose it.
8. the term "Best Friend" takes a whole new/deeper meaning after a husband & wife say I Do. THE BEST.
9. husbands & wives MUST pray together. morning, day, and night. even if they're on stage leading worship. it means a lot to the wife for the husband to grab her hand, EVERYTIME.
10. husbands love it when wives tell other people they hate something (i.e. chocolate, pumpkin, The Santa Claus) that they don't really hate. NOT.
11. wives love when their husband works late everyday for a week. NOT. but "you gotta do whatchu gotta do." -Garrett Day
12. husbands and wives laugh ALOT.
13. you can learn all you want and study as much as you can about something but really, living it will teach you the most.
14. don't argue about money. dumbest thing in the world. it's not even yours to begin with. wives feel especially dumb when God does what he always does and PROVIDES. makes the whole argument meaningless.
15. if you're wondering if its creepy when a husband opens his eyes suddenly while he's been sleeping and stares at you with these tired, bloodshot emotionless eyes for a good while, it is.

tune in next time as we continue the discussion involving Acid Reflux and laundry! it's sure to be riveting!

the Bible game.

'ello there. (repeat to yourself in STRONG Old Englishman accent)

up for a story?

my good friend Shelby and I used to (and sometimes, still do) play a game we like to call
the Bible game. <- must be read with a narrator voice inflection
the rules of the game are as follows:
FOR 2 PLAYERS | AGES 17-ADULT
Player One holds a Bible in his/her hands. Player Two thinks of a question or great issue weighing on their heart. When Player Two is ready, he/she will give a signal to Player One. Player One will then flip to a random page in the Bible and point to a COMPLETELY random verse. The verse that is pointed to MUST be the verse read aloud. Player Two must then ponder whether or not the verse read speaks to the issue or question on his/her heart. If there is no connection, swap positions. If there is a connection between the verse and heart issue, still swap positions, but do so only after recording the entire connection/heart issue in leather bound journal.
THIS GAME NOT SOLD IN STORES.

I can remember one time, while playing this game and of course being 18... I asked the Lord who I would marry. Whatever verse Shelby pointed to that day, it had a name in it. Shimei. When she read the name aloud, I looked at it myself and being the strange homeschooler who can remember everything... I took a picture of it in my mind and told myself to never forget it.
I did though, well sort of. A week or so I ago, I was trying to remember the whole name. I could remember that it started with an "Sh" but that's pretty much it.
Two days ago, the name showed up in my Daily Light and I knew it the moment I saw it. 

I am a big believer that name are prophetic. Don't freak out you baptist folk. I just believe that with the LIVING HOLY SPIRIT inside of us (believers) the words we speak mean something. We have life inside of us. When you speak something over someone everyday of their lives, over and over again, you are continuing to speak that into them.
In some translations, Blair means field of battle.
for anyone who knows me.... things are starting to make sense right about now. eh?

So naturally, I looked up what Shimei meant two days ago, because I OBVIOUSLY didn't marry someone with that name. Would you like to know what it means?

Shimei - to hear, listen, and obey

look it up for yourself.

[I have to say something here. I don't believe that the Bible game is always going to be right on target. That's why Shelby and I have always called it that - a game. But I do believe in the Word of God and I believe that it does NOT return void. If God so chooses to speak to us through it, so be it. Regardless, the Word of God comforts and brings peace to anxiety.]

I found it interesting upon this discovery that this was the meaning of a name I have been aware of and sensitive to for 5+ years now. I'll tell you why.

As much as Garrett Day is "brave" and full of "hope" (Garrett-"brave", Day-"hope), he is a man who hears God, listens to Him and then obeys Him.  I have come to be more aware of this within the last 4 months although I have known it for many years. I can still see a photograph I took in my mind of him when we were 15-16 years old. He had come to visit with his family and we were at the same church event. I remember sitting along the wall at the back of the room watching him worship. I remember the moment he got down on his knees and worshiped on his face. I remember the recognition of a heart that was devoted to Jesus Christ.
Now, I live with that heart. I experience it everyday. I have a man whose desire is to obey his Lord. I am grateful.

So even if the Bible game really is just a game, my dear husband has two names to me.
One of them, Shimei.

T H E  E N D.

happy 25th birthday my love.
so glad I waited on you.

10 things Mrs. Day is learning from marriage.

1. sometimes husbands have twice as much clothing/stuff as wives.
2. sometimes husbands think dishwashers clean everything out of dishes so there's no need to scrub them at all.
3. sometimes husbands & wives have different thoughts on what's important. (NBA games, movies, etc.) some things are serious matters... no joking should incur.
4. the first year doesn't have to be incredibly hard, it could be FREAKIN' AWESOME.
5. sometimes husbands already want babies even when they've only been married 2 months. wives have to be the rational beings in those instances.
6. sometimes husbands are used to sleeping in their full size bed all alone & don't want to snuggle with wives ALLLL night...
7. sometimes wives leave for work with the house looking great...but somehow every night when it's bedtime, the house is a wreck.
8. marriage contains a lot of laughter.... especially if the husband is Garrett Day.
9. sometimes wives feel like their life revolves around a sink full of dirty dishes.
10. marriage is God's design & is: sanctifying, worth it, beautiful, rewarding, holy... the list goes on.

I'm sure more will follow.

these are just a few.

but one thing has stayed the same these last 65 days...

life is sweet when you're Garrett Day's.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

[Isaiah 61:10-11]

forgotten love.

hello to all.

I have not posted in FOREVER although I have so wanted to.

Something in me just always feels the need to write out my thoughts, hash them out on a keyboard or with my favorite blue ink pen in my current journal from India.
Due to my increasingly busy schedule, I have no time.
I can't write OR read which are two things I sooooo love.

but here I am this Sunday morning, sick in bed and staying home from church.
so there is time.

My heart is so full this morning.
for many reasons, but mostly I am extremely emotionally sensitive to the Lord this morning.

you see, my sweet sweet boyfriend of 9 months asked me to be his wife a few weeks ago.
now since the moment I said yes (which was a while after he asked because I forgot to say yes. I was shocked, okay?!) life has not ceased to slow down. in fact.... it has sped up. to a rapid rate that isn't even on the speedometer. but that's okay, we are sticking with it. it's a fun season.

yesterday, I was feeling crumby as I am today, but I ventured out to the nearest "bigger" town to look for a wedding dress, as my wedding is coming SOON (May 25th). dress after dress I tried on, thinking... is this one it? no... how about this one? no...  I came away knowing what I want, but no dress. which I'm fine with. but I also came away with something else.

a thankful heart.
let me explain.

after I got home from the hour and a half drive... I called Garrett (my adorable husband-to-be) and went over to his house. we watched a movie and afterwards sat there talking. As I was looking at him, in his face, letting my mind try to memorize his features as if they will change tomorrow, my mind drifted to the Lord...
SIDENOTE: I love how thinking of Garrett Day, makes me think on Jesus. GRAND DESIGN.
and as we sat there, my eyes filled with moisture.
I just sat there thinking, "God, you were so faithful to me."

Garrett is my first boyfriend.
he's the first one I've ever held hands with.
the first one I've said I love you to.
the first one I've ever kissed.

I have often thought about all of the nights during the years of singleness that I would fall asleep thinking, praying, hoping, sometimes crying to God asking him not to forget me.
there were so many times I would write in my journals, "I feel like you've forgotten me."

but in that moment yesterday... and some moments before, but especially yesterday...
I was so thankful of our God's faithfulness.
He is faithful when we are not.
when we question and cry out and forget Him, He does not, will not, forget us.
He knew all along when I had no clue.
He was making me and making Garrett all along to be what we are now.
For each other, but FOR HIM.

It's funny because Garrett & I have known each other since we were 12.
but that whole time, we had no clue that on May 25, 2012, we would marry.
God's movements are all around us.

    "Trust in the Lord, and do good;
 dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
    Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."
                                         Psalm 37:3-4

My story is one not of romance or beauty although it does include those things.

This story of mine is of the glorious riches and divine steadfastness of our Lord.

He so badly wanted my heart, that it was not in his character to give me the things I desired yet.

He needed me to want Him. There is more to me now than a hot fiance and a task-oriented mentality.

I have roots in the One. My FIRST Love.

The Love who enables me to Love Garrett Day, my beautiful family & sweet friends.

He is ALL.

He is it for us.

He IS the prize.

and we don't have to wait to get Him.

g l o r y .

promising me.

oh the promises of God.

how beautiful they are.

s t o r y t i m e :

a little over a week ago, I had a dream.

not unusual.

[I pray for dreams almost every night. God is faithful to give.]

what was unusual about this dream is that all I saw were the words

ISAIAH 55

hearing it said over and over.

no humans.

no angels.

no beings.

no nothing.

I woke up reaching for my Bible.

now, I'm about to get really REAL.

lately, the Lord has been teaching teaching teaching me.

and it has been SO sweet.

my whole life, all I've ever wanted was to know the Lord.

well, from the time I was s i x.

growing up, I have had one thing in my life to go after.

knowing God.

and so I have.

there have been times, I have been in opposition of the Lord because this is life... and I am human.

many times in fact.

but He has always brought me back.

His mercies are new every morning.

His grace ABOUNDS.

He has placed his Spirit inside of me.

and He always leads me back to Him.

together, the Spirit & I have been in pursuit of this deeper relationship with one another throughout my life.

but now, I have this boyfriend.

I think he's one of the most gracious people I've ever met.

and one of the most fun too. and one of the most a-lot-of-other-things too, but I'll stop gushing.

in him, I have this other thing, this person who I pursue, think about, give my attention, etc.

I mean, he definitely spurs me on to know Christ more everyday, but I've never had to find this sort of balance before.

how do these co-exist?

how do I love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength but serve and love (same thing) and think about this other person as well?

but my question to the Lord concerning this was met with the answer,

"pursue me & you will be all you need to be."

the beginning of Isaiah 55 is the Lord saying to us,

C O M E .

BUY

&

EAT.

He says to us,

"Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen and you will find life."

He offers free, EVERLASTING nourishment.

in the end of the passage, He promises cypress and myrtle where there was once thorns and brier.

one morning, while reading through this chapter again, I knew…

and by knew I mean something MOVED in me that early morning.

you know that feeling of just

KNOWING

that the Spirit in you is speaking something?

well, He was doing just that.

speaking and teaching.

ultimately…

p r o m i s i n g .

He promised to me that morning that the places in my life where

once grew nothingness and ugliness…

they had now been turned over and replaced with fertile ground.

this intimacy with my Jesus that He alone has drawn me into

has prepared rich fruitful ground to yield.

He has work to do in/through/around me.

and I am willing.

because his thoughts are higher. [vs. 8]

because his ways are better. 

in my flesh, sometimes I can feel justified in my doubt of the Lord

and His sovereign plan.

there have been paths He has led me down only to stop them

abruptly.

due to these not so joyous occasions, I am faced with a choice

to trust the God who commands and asks for this

e n t i r e  l i f e .

but my flesh wars against my spirit man because in my Spirit,

my heart has tasted & SEEN that the Lord is good.

and all of me KNOWS that there is no reason to fear.

waiting on the Lord is worth all that He promises.

but that morning, he promised fruit.

He promised

GROWTH.

there is no need to fear the outcome of things to come.

because in all actuality, knowing Him is all there is to do.

to KNOW Him.

the very essence of who He is.

God, let me know your heart.

praise God for these dreams.

I cling to the promises He gives me.

snapshots in the life.

a little art for some people.

for Jess.

an order from Lindsey Morris.
Jer. 17

for Garrett Day.
just cause I believe much for his life...
and I like him a lot.

now begins the greatest photoshoot you will ever see.

my boyfriend's so cool.

love her.

beautiful friend.

ya....
I LOVE my life.

a bit of color.

some need a little color in their life... I'm convinced.

just this morning I encountered someone who needed some pizzazz in their daily grind.

oh God, don't let me be like that. please LORD.

I want to experience all that there is in this life to offer.

here's some color made for some beautiful people in my life:

a little something for the sister

& for Kim Day

well, I must go.

real post coming soon.

things I've learned in the past month:

• it really is SO SWEET to trust in Jesus. it's how we were originally created to operate.
• His faithfulness endures until THE END.
• boyfriends are so sweet. well, at least mine is.
• I was created for discipleship. I LOVE it. now to be discipled myself...
• I enjoy a nice clear coat on my nails every now and then instead of those crazy colors.
• sometimes, I am opinion-less. rare... but it happens.
• I love having my best friend live with me.
• absence makes the heart grow fonder... and fonder it does grow.
• I am a quality time, physical touch person.... but I LOVE giving gifts.
• I must verbally, out-loud submit my day, life and heart to the Father everyday.
• Aveeno is always the way to go. pay the painful extra $5.
• there are things to choose to be insecure about everyday or we can make the choice to hope in the Lord.
• I enjoy frisky activity. [frisky = Freakin' Risky]
• The enemy attacks when there is something God is trying to teach me. the greatest area of attack: my relationship with my Savior and my love for Him. I must be on guard.
• finally: Psalm 25:3 - I could preach a sermon on this... but I'll save it for my next post.

lovetoall.

let it remain.

He's worthy.