Ah, I so connect with you on this. Last year, I finally took the plunge to start selling my photos as notecards, something I've made for myself for a while and people would compliment them. But I have a hard time thinking that people will want to buy them, so I give alot of them away. Your photo in today's post is beautiful! I'll be back to check out more of your photos. My cards are at www.snailmailnotes.com if you would like to see them.
Take care.
@lonestarlifer
Paula

Oh, I wish I was sittin' in that chair, enjoying the view and the quiet!
LoneStarLifer
Paula

I hope that my comments were not interpreted as "if you become content with your circumstances then God will give you husband and family." That is not what I was saying or implying. For me, the whole episode of taking stock, appreciating what I had, being at peace with God's plan, was a time for me to get ready to meet my future husband. Without that prep time, I would not have been ready to be a good wife or to hear what God has been teaching me all through my marriage, and I would not have been ready to be in a tough marriage where I had to believe in myself when no one around me was. I just wanted to be clear about that.

Dear Lindsey,
Well, shoot a monkey. I had the greatest. comment. ever. written and ready to post, and when I signed in with my WP login, it all went away.

I was you, 20 years ago. I never imagined I would be in my 30's with no husband and no children. I gave myself to men who didn't deserve me, trying to force the situation and make marriage happen. When I was about to turn 35, being alone for quite a while, I took stock of my life. I had a super church family, alot of close girlfriends, health, a good job, the freedom to travel and spend money as I wanted. I literally threw up my hands to God and said, "This marriage thing. It's Yours." I open my hands and gave it to him, asking that he show me what he wanted me to do with all these pieces of my life. What was I supposed to be learning? For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace, content and happy, enjoying what I had and the life I was living.

About 8 months later, I met my husband. We will be married 18 years in April. It has been a tough marriage. There have been many many times that I have questioned and begged and wept to God to tell me why he would put me in such a situation. Again, I started looking for the lessons to be learned. And I hesitantly, quietly began to see how God was shaping me. As metal on the anvil. As gold being refined. Ouch! There is quite a bit of pain associated with both of those examples. I began to see that every lesson in my life pre-marriage, was preparation for what was to come in marriage. Stepping stone after stepping stone lined the pathway to the point where I am standing today.

Is it the marriage I intended and wanted? No. Is it the marriage that my friends have? No. (And who knows what kind of marriage they really have behind closed doors?) Is it the marriage I have? Yes. And slowly, slowly, (sometimes gindingly) slowly, we are becoming one. I continue to search and beg for help in lessons learned, and He continues to hold me, to walk beside me, to heal me, to mature me.

You are a daughter of the King, you are precious in His sight, you are worthy. Prayerfully, somewhere a man is being prepared for you. A man with a mature heart who's intent is to respect you, to treasure you, to walk with you towards a heavenly goal. In the meantime, open your mind, your hands and your heart to the lessons trying to be taught. If and when the time comes for you to marry, you will be such a blessing to your husband. And if that is not the plan, I know, just know, He has your best interest at heart and will not leave you behind.

To read my philosophy of living, read Part 1 http://wp.me/pyCBa-sy and Part 2 http://wp.me/pyCBa-sS.

I' m following you now so I can see what's going on with you. Take care.
In His Love,
LoneStarLifer
Paula

Dear Lindsey,
Well, shoot a monkey. I had the greatest. comment. ever. written and ready to post, and when I signed in with my WP login, it all went away.

I was you, 20 years ago. I never imagined I would be in my 30's with no husband and no children. I gave myself to men who didn't deserve me, trying to force the situation and make marriage happen. When I was about to turn 35, being alone for quite a while, I took stock of my life. I had a super church family, alot of close girlfriends, health, a good job, the freedom to travel and spend money as I wanted. I literally threw up my hands to God and said, "This marriage thing. It's Yours." I open my hands and gave it to him, asking that he show me what he wanted me to do with all these pieces of my life. What was I supposed to be learning? For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace, content and happy, enjoying what I had and the life I was living.

About 8 months later, I met my husband. We will be married 18 years in April. It has been a tough marriage. There have been many many times that I have questioned and begged and wept to God to tell me why he would put me in such a situation. Again, I started looking for the lessons to be learned. And I hesitantly, quietly began to see how God was shaping me. As metal on the anvil. As gold being refined. Ouch! There is quite a bit of pain associated with both of those examples. I began to see that every lesson in my life pre-marriage, was preparation for what was to come in marriage. Stepping stone after stepping stone lined the pathway to the point where I am standing today.

Is it the marriage I intended and wanted? No. Is it the marriage that my friends have? No. (And who knows what kind of marriage they really have behind closed doors?) Is it the marriage I have? Yes. And slowly, slowly, (sometimes grindingly) slowly, we are becoming one. I continue to search and beg for help in lessons learned, and He continues to hold me, to walk beside me, to heal me, to mature me.

You are a daughter of the King, you are precious in His sight, you are worthy. Prayerfully, somewhere a man is being prepared for you. A man with a mature heart who's intent is to respect you, to treasure you, to walk with you towards a heavenly goal. In the meantime, open your mind, your hands and your heart to the lessons trying to be taught. If and when the time comes for you to marry, you will be such a blessing to your husband. And if that is not the plan, I know, just know, He has your best interest at heart and will not leave you behind.

To read my philosophy of living, read Part 1 <a href="http://wp.me/pyCBa-sy" target="_blank">http://wp.me/pyCBa-sy and Part 2 <a href="http://wp.me/pyCBa-sS." target="_blank">http://wp.me/pyCBa-sS.

I' m following you now so I can see what's going on with you. Take care.
In His Love,
LoneStarLifer
Paula
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