Choosing to SEE.

This title of my post reflects a book I've mentioned before on this blog.  Choosing to SEE was written by Mary Beth Chapman and a book I HIGHLY recommend to everyone!  It has been teaching me so much about life and how all too short it is.  I took a break from it for a while, and truthfully,  I forgot about it!  I'm not much of a reader, but decided I need to get back into it and finish it.  So... while away at the mountains with some friends... I decided this was the time to do so.  I really didn't think I would spend much time reading it... but I did!  And I'm so glad I did.  Saturday morning, after waking up WAY TOO EARLY for vacation, I snuggled on the couch by the fire and opened up to where I left off.  For the next 4 hours... this is where my head was buried!  It was perfect.

This book is all but a blessing to me during this phase of my life.  Although I have not experienced the tragic loss of a child, I have felt so many of the feelings she's expressed in her book.  I admire her and the life she and her family have lived.  Our lives over the last year or so have changed, dramatically.  Our worlds have been rocked, and in a way I am truly grateful for.  My priorities have changed, my goals, my desires have too!  My life as a whole, is being molded for something with a greater purpose!  For that, I am FOREVER changed.  It is amazing to SEE that there is sooo much more to life than our own selfish ways, selfish desires and daily things that WE want in life.  God's desires and His plans are much more beautiful!  God is working in our lives in ways I never thought was possible.  He is giving us these beautiful reminders that we've been putting away for far too long.  Thank you my sweet Jesus!  Thank you for the daily reminders and passions you're giving and showing us!  I need them, I needed desperately to SEE them!  (when you read the book, you'll get that!)

I want to live a life that is pleasing to Him!  To honor Him, to give of myself so freely (that of a child, like Maria), to surrender fully to Him!  During this weekend of reflecting personally and spiritually, God showed me things I needed to be shown and I am so very thankful for that.  I have a clear mind, and a heart to do so much more.  Please pray for us over these next few months.  Pray for the decisions that we will be facing, and that we will continue to SEE God's beautiful reminders that He shows us!

Here are a few more glances at our weekend....

Have I mentioned how much I adore my husband!  So thankful God gave us each other!  What a wonderful, loving and supportive husband he is to me!

Until then... Brantley