Family

By Stacy Book

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’, and said, ‘for this reason a man will leave his father and  mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become flesh?  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.  Matthew 19:4-6

     I thought finding my lifetime partner would  be a lot harder than I thought- considering I was a single mom.  I made some  bad mistakes in my past and I’m very sorry for them.  Thank God he loves us and when we ask him, he will forgive us when we mess up.  I have to forget the past and look forward to what God will help me become.

     Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  Philippians 3:13

It was very discouraging at times thinking I might be single forever.  My friends would fix me up with someone.  I would go out with them and as soon as I met them I knew they weren’t the right one.  Finding the right mate takes patience and lots of prayers.  Finally, January 6^th, 1991, I had another date, but this date was different.  I was getting ready to go out with the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.  It started with our moms.  They worked together at a day care and walked everyday on their breaks.  They were talking about us, and not too long after that, I got a phone call from him.  I knew who he was, but never really talked to him much.  So the first time he called, my mom thought he was someone else.  She was already in bed, so she wasn’t too happy.  He didn’t call back after that.  Later on, I found out it was him, so I called him back.  We talked a while and decided to go out the next night.  I was excited and couldn’t wait.  So the next night, we went out and had a great time.  After the first date, I already felt in my heart that he was the one.  We went out again and when I got home, I sat on my bed and thought about him.  I really believed he was the one God sent me.  We kept going out and we were married the following year, January 4^th, 1992.  God answered my prayer.  Before we dated, there were a few times we had contact with each other.  We both went to summer school the summer before we dated.  I saw him at break time.  I thought about talking to him, but I didn’t know what to say.  Also, while in summer school, I ran into his car.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I had the whole parking lot to get out, and I backed up right into his car.  It wasn’t even right behind me.  Maybe it was meant to happen, I don’t know.  He also came to church with a friend a few times and I saw him there.  I said hi to him.  I wanted to talk more, but again, I didn’t know what to say.  God put us in the right place at the right time.  I believe all those times were meant to happen.  It’s all in his timing.  His timing is perfect.  We were suppose to get married the summer of 92’, but then we changed it to Spring, then it was changed to winter.  We just couldn’t wait.  After we were married, we lived upstairs at his parents house for about 9 months because he was laid off from his job.  He got another job in March.  We started saving so we could buy a house.  We had some rough times starting out, but we made it through.  Not long after we moved out, I found out I was pregnant.  We had a son on October 20^th, 1993. 

     I have a wonderful husband.  Even though we have difference of opinions at times and struggle sometimes, I know I can depend on God to get us through them.  I know he loves his family.  He takes care of us and tries his best to provide.  He treats my oldest son like his very own.  He’s always been there for him- from playing with hot wheel cars and building forts with blocks-to helping him get his first vehicle going and teaching him and giving him advice as he grows into adulthood.  My sons favorite things are his cell phone and his car and my husband made it possible for him to have them both.  I know my husband loves him and wants the best for him.  My son is very outgoing.  He has lots of friends.  He has a sense of humor.  He keeps everyone laughing.  He loves children.  They like to be around him.  He likes to watch sports and play some of t hem.  He was involved in Archery through most of high school.  His senior year, they came in 1^st place in Nationals.  He enjoys shooting and does very well.  Our youngest son is 13 years old.  He helps him in many ways, too.  He helps him with his homework.  They like to lift weights and talk about exercising.  My son loves to work.  He’s always working on something.  He likes to do yard work, build things, tear thing down.  He does very well at school.  He’s on the honor roll.  He’s in the band.  He likes to play basketball. 

     We’re both proud of our kids.  They are so different from each other, but they are so much fun.  They are very special to us and we are very thankful for them.  I’m thankful they have a dad that is there for them and encourages them.

     We’ve been married now for 15 years.  I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  We’ve had good times and bad times-like all marriages.  No marriage is perfect.  We finally went on our first weekend trip, just him and I, on our 10 year anniversary.  We went to Lake Malone.  Everything seemed to be so perfect.  The weather was perfect.  We had the best time.  I wish we had started doing it years before.  We did go somewhere for the next 2 years.  We haven’t made it anywhere since.  Every married couple needs to get away from the busyness of the world and spend time alone building their relationship and making their marriage stronger. 

     My husband works hard at his job and at home.  He shows up at work everyday.  He’s very dependable and trustworthy.  He calls me from work and talks to me a few minutes on his break.  I’m glad he does.  He takes care of things at home.  He makes sure the cars are running.  Anything that breaks, he tries to fix.  He landscaped our whole yard.  Everything is growing and looking beautiful.  We planted our first garden this year.  He worked very hard to get it started.  It’s been fun.  It gives us something to do together.  We’re alike in a lot of ways.  We’re both quiet.  We like to be at home.  We like to exercise and eat healthy.  We’re also different in ways, too.  He likes to stay up late and sleep late.  I like to go to bed early and get up early.  He likes coffee.  I hate coffee.  He loves animals.  I don’t like them too much.  I’m very thankful for my husband.  God brought us together and supplies all our needs.  And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

     I pray we will always be a close family that talks, laughs, and has fun together.  I pray we can live by these Christian household relationships found in Colossians 3:18-21

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

     Family relationships are very important, but a relationship with Jesus Christ is most important.  If he’s not in the center, it’s much harder for things to come together.