BUT before I share today's story. I want to take a few minutes to announce the winner of the first giveaway here at Little Missionary Girl.
Julie Ann at Whimsical Words
{Winner chosen via random.org}
Yay! Julie has won a $20 gift certificate from DaySpring. Thanks again to (in)Courage & Dayspring for my Mr. & Mrs. Love Collection for review and allowing me to host this great giveaway.
AND thank you to all of you who visited and entered.
Don't forget to pop over to Dayspring before the end of this month for all the great "Month of Love" discounts! 4 more days to go!
Yay! Julie has won a $20 gift certificate from DaySpring. Thanks again to (in)Courage & Dayspring for my Mr. & Mrs. Love Collection for review and allowing me to host this great giveaway.
AND thank you to all of you who visited and entered.
Don't forget to pop over to Dayspring before the end of this month for all the great "Month of Love" discounts! 4 more days to go!
So now back to our previously scheduled program....hehe
5 Years Ago....
GO.
5 years ago, I was a newlywed, just testing the waters.
We were newlyweds but we hadn't even been "together" for a year yet...five years ago from today.
But we loved each other in that crazy-I-know-that-God-brought-you-into-my-life-and-no-matter-what-happens-I'm-all-in kind of love.
It was hard. That first year.
And not because of what people say -- the shoes in the living room, the socks on the floor, the toilet paper up or down, the shower button left on when the water is turned off.
Those things didn't really matter so much. "Don't sweat the small stuff" and all!
The hardest part was ME. LETTING. GO.
It was me yielding my heart and soul and life to this man.
This beautiful man whom God brought from the other side of the world. Literally.
But I had to learn how to surrender to this new season. How to let go of the past. Let go of mistakes. His....AND....Mine.
And the journey was tough, but now, I am his and he is mine in that wonderful I-want-to-hold-hands-with-you-and-only-you-for-the-rest-of-my-life-NO-MATTER-WHAT!
STOP.
GO.
5 years ago, I was a newlywed, just testing the waters.
We were newlyweds but we hadn't even been "together" for a year yet...five years ago from today.
But we loved each other in that crazy-I-know-that-God-brought-you-into-my-life-and-no-matter-what-happens-I'm-all-in kind of love.
It was hard. That first year.
And not because of what people say -- the shoes in the living room, the socks on the floor, the toilet paper up or down, the shower button left on when the water is turned off.
Those things didn't really matter so much. "Don't sweat the small stuff" and all!
The hardest part was ME. LETTING. GO.
It was me yielding my heart and soul and life to this man.
This beautiful man whom God brought from the other side of the world. Literally.
But I had to learn how to surrender to this new season. How to let go of the past. Let go of mistakes. His....AND....Mine.
And the journey was tough, but now, I am his and he is mine in that wonderful I-want-to-hold-hands-with-you-and-only-you-for-the-rest-of-my-life-NO-MATTER-WHAT!
STOP.Do you have 5 minutes to share today? Comment below or link up with me at The Gypsy Mama.
28 comments:
Hi Lindsey, I enjoyed reading your five minutes reflections. Will stop by for a longer visit another time.
Good points about the hardships of the first year of marriage. I believe many people (me included) blamed the troubles on the 'small stuff' when in reality it was just letting go and allowing someone else deep enough. It is incredibly difficult to let someone in that much where you are vulnerable for the other's actions... at the same time, it is even more difficult to stay married and happy without being vulnerable.
Thanks for the comments and I like your blog. The design is really neat and it is interesting to hear about missionary life.
Oh, I know that love -- I think I might have shared with you last time that I met my husband in that crazy quick this could only be a God thing kind of way, too. I was learning how to let go five years ago, too. We were just newly weds, who'd barely known each other for a year.
Beautiful writing. Love stopping by. {And funny that you're always one of the people in front of me when I link up at The Gypsy Mama.}
you guys are so cute together. just sayin' =)
But we loved each other in that crazy-I-know-that-God-brought-you-into-my-life-and-no-matter-what-happens-I'm-all-in kind of love.
Yeah. I totally get that.
I'm here via Five Minute Friday. LOVED your post! :)
stopped by from Five Minute Friday... and saw that I won your giveaway!!! hurray!!
Thanks so much, and a beautiful 5 minutes!!
The two of you? Beauty. I just see love when I look at these photos. I'm so glad I stopped by tonight, because I want to know more of your story and I am looking forward to exploring around here!
And now, I am thinking about five minutes. What would I say? I might have to sleep on that one...
It is grace that God brings this kind-of love into our lives, isn't? I laughed at your leave the shower button on. 10 years later, my husband still does that and I end up with a wet head! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sweet! May you feel that kind of love when you are married 25 years still. Letting go is a process. We've been married ten years and the last three or so have been the happiest because we have learned to do just that. Blessings!
I loved those newly wed days, they seemed so hard in some ways and yet they were really special :)
Love it. Those early days are moments to treasure.
You are a wonderful writer, Lindsey. Your words are fresh, smart, full of life. (I'm guessing those words describe YOU too).
P.S. I'm glad that you shattered the myth that the 1st year is hard b/c of superficial things like toothpaste and toilet paper. I remember people saying that to us too...ridiculous!
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
nice to "meet" you Lindsey! After just celebrating my one year anniversary, I have to agree with you...those "small" things really are not the things that matter!
Marriage grows us in a way other things and relationships just can't...
@Bernadine
Thank you! I look forward to more connections with you!
@Inspirational Thoughts by Stephen
Thanks, Stephen, for your insightful comments! I appreciate it! You are right! Vunerability is SO hard, yet SO important. AND a day-by-day process...Great to have you here and thanks for the blog compliments!
@Hyacynth
I am SO glad that we have gotten to meet each other via Gypsy Mama, and I look forward to getting to know you better & better!
@bahava
Aww...thank you! *blush*
@Mary
Thanks so much, Mary, and thank you for stopping by!
@Julie Anne
Yeah, Julie! So happy for you! Let me know if you have any trouble with your gift certificate.
@Nony the Slob
Yes, they are! Thank you so much for stopping by!
@Stephanie
Oh, Stephanie! Your words ALWAYS encourage and thrill me so much! Thank you for that compliment. It is a treasure to me! And...YES....I remember thinking after that first year how silly that people made a big deal about the little things because that probably prevented them from really overcoming real issues and/or gelling sooner.
@ruthy ann
Oh, yeah! Congratulations! I pray that each year just gets sweeter and sweeter in how your love grows no matter what you have to face, that you will KNOW that you are "in it together!"
@laughwithusblog
So, so true! I have always thought each person I meet shows me another aspect of Jesus, but none quite so clearly as my husband. What a great idea God had!! :) :) :)
@bahava
Aww...thank you! *blush*
@Mary
Thanks so much, Mary, and thank you for stopping by!
@Julie Anne
Yeah, Julie! So happy for you! Let me know if you have any trouble with your gift certificate.
Marriage grows us in a way other things and relationships just can't...
nice to "meet" you Lindsey! After just celebrating my one year anniversary, I have to agree with you...those "small" things really are not the things that matter!
I loved those newly wed days, they seemed so hard in some ways and yet they were really special :)
Sweet! May you feel that kind of love when you are married 25 years still. Letting go is a process. We've been married ten years and the last three or so have been the happiest because we have learned to do just that. Blessings!
It is grace that God brings this kind-of love into our lives, isn't? I laughed at your leave the shower button on. 10 years later, my husband still does that and I end up with a wet head! Thanks so much for sharing!
The two of you? Beauty. I just see love when I look at these photos. I'm so glad I stopped by tonight, because I want to know more of your story and I am looking forward to exploring around here!
And now, I am thinking about five minutes. What would I say? I might have to sleep on that one...
stopped by from Five Minute Friday... and saw that I won your giveaway!!! hurray!!
Thanks so much, and a beautiful 5 minutes!!
But we loved each other in that crazy-I-know-that-God-brought-you-into-my-life-and-no-matter-what-happens-I'm-all-in kind of love.
Yeah. I totally get that.
I'm here via Five Minute Friday. LOVED your post! :)
Good points about the hardships of the first year of marriage. I believe many people (me included) blamed the troubles on the 'small stuff' when in reality it was just letting go and allowing someone else deep enough. It is incredibly difficult to let someone in that much where you are vulnerable for the other's actions... at the same time, it is even more difficult to stay married and happy without being vulnerable.
Thanks for the comments and I like your blog. The design is really neat and it is interesting to hear about missionary life.
Hi Lindsey, I enjoyed reading your five minutes reflections. Will stop by for a longer visit another time.
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