Top 10 Blessings in Winter

Hello everyone.

It seems that almost every season, I remember how much I love writing these "Top Whatevers," so I am happy to write one for winter.

Before I begin, though, I wanted to give you a little follow up of my last post. I was kind of hesitant about writing it at first, for I feared that I would have a page view of angry parents telling me I didn't know what I was talking about. However, I had the apposite reaction, and I was extremely encouraged with comments inspiring me to BE one of those voices I talked about wanting to hear. I'm still young in life, in marriage, and I still have a few years before I embrace or give up on parenting. I don't know if I have the experience yet to write much, but I am thinking and praying about it. What insight from my life could I share with others?

Hmm....anyway...I just wanted you to know that I'm contemplating my life's story, particularly my life without kids right now, and I'd appreciate any prayer you'd be willing to offer up for me as I pursue God's will in this.

Ok now, let's get back to the fun post. (Well, fun for me anyway. lol.)

My Top Ten Praises.....yeah, I decided to keep it positive.

1. I love being able to work out at the gym again! I especially love doing this with my husband. It's been tough these past couple of days due to some minor health reasons, but I'm determined to get back at it. It's reshaping my life.

2. I've been finding some great life organizational tips that are working great, and although I still don't have it all together everyday, I'm getting better.

3. I'm still thankful to be a teacher.

4. I'm so thankful for my extremely understanding husband. He listens to every intimate detail of my life when I want to share it with him, and he doesn't complain.

5. I've been eating better for about a year now. Desserts are extremely rare, there are less carbs in the day (especially at dinner time - worst time to eat carbs it turns out), better-for-me meats, and more fruits and vegetables.

6. I love how an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts can keep me going STRONG for 12 hours straight....although I hate that I can't afford to have one everyday.

7. I am finding blessings in life..slowly...when before I counted them as hardships. For example, if my day goes according to how I like and plan it, I go to work to teach, then paperwork/planning a couple hours, then go home to cook & clean, then NAP, then get up and go to the gym 'til about 11 p.m., then sleep 'til about 6 a.m. Now, could I do that if I had kids. NO!!! But I don't have any, so I'm counting my blessings.

8. I am thankful that Jesus has promised to come back, for I'm not sure how much longer this world is going to last. (a.k.a. people get dumber and more sinful by the SECOND).

9. I love the cold weather. Yes, even the wet, cold weather like today. LOVE it!!! I'd much rather be cold than hot.

10. I'm thankful for the good, pleasing, and perfect will that God has for me, even when I'm only half sure of what that might be for tomorrow.


I hope you can find at least 10 things to be thankful for today.

What's in YOUR heart today?

Rant from a 25 year old married woman

Ok, so this may be random, but after the last failed google search, I decided to write a rant.

First, let me start off with a warning: This is in no way meant to offend ANY parent. I love parents. I want to thank all parents out there for at least choosing life for your child and devoting your life to them. However, not all of us have that choice, and that's kind of what this is about....

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of free advice about how to have a great marriage, especially a Christian one. I am thankful yet overwhelmed with a wealth of information on that.

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of free advice about how to raise children and be a terrific wife/home maker. I like these articles, but again, it's not like I often find a "diamond in the rough."

There are also MANY, many, many articles and books and studies and posts for single Christians. Oh my goodness. Before I met my husband, I at least knew that there was a lot I could do with my life if I was single. (I'm glad I'm not, though, 'cuz I love being married.)

So, if you are married or having children, pick an article. Go ahead. It's not like you're limited on choices.

If you're not married, that's ok, for go ahead and pick an inspiring article or book that explains how God has a "better" plan for you, and some great things to focus on, and some great testimonies from amazing, single Christians.

....What about married people who can't have children?

There are hardly any articles, blogs, books, posts, and even fewer testimonies, of married couples who figured out how to be happy being infertile.

I've looked. There are a few books, and there's a few really sad websites that sympathizes with infertile parents, but they either end with, "Keep praying. It might happen eventually," or, "Here are some websites on how to adopt."

After searching and researching, I'm pretty sure that the overall Christian stand point on infertility is, "Just be sad....it''s ok to be sad about this. The end."

This frustrates me.

I'm not posting this because I'm infertile. I really don't what I am; I haven't had much time to know. However, I find it really sad that in the 21st century where there's a wealth of information for almost everything and every problem, there's not much for this. What if I can't have children? I don't want to live my life being sad, and adoption is REALLY hard to do!

I'm NOT getting tired of seeing baby and pregnancy posts. It's so great! It's so exciting!

I AM getting tired of moms acting like it's so easy. It's not, and when you act and talk like it is, 'cuz maybe it was for you, it's really annoying to women who don't have the choice to become moms.

Also, it's really annoying when moms give the advice, "It'll happen when you stop trying." Uh....who said I was "trying?" (And what the heck does that even mean?) I believe the answer to your question of when I'm having a kid was, "It's in God's hands and His timing." I did not want to start an intimate conversation about my married life, and so please don't assume I'm doing something wrong. Is that too much to ask?

I truly believe that if God planned some couples to not bear children, that he designed that plan according to His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Who knows - I could be one like one of those couples. Maybe even you could, too. I know there are many childless, Christian couples out there. I want to hear THOSE stories, too! I want to hear how God used them and how they were able to see how blessed they were and how their pain diminished! Even if I have 10 children one day, I want to know those stories, too!!!!!

Anyone else agree?