Seven Years and Counting!

Here's  a picture of the first day we met. I'm looking at it and laughing at how 'scrawny' you looked then. And yeah, I was still my good old elegant self, thank you very much!
That was 11 years ago.

The first day we met!

The last time I did a post on our anniversary, we'd only been married 2 years. Back then we were still basking in the freshness of our union. We still had sparkles in our eyes, blissfully oblivious of the steep curves that lay ahead of us.

So young and in love!

In this second picture, you had recently proposed to me and anyone who saw us could immediately tell we were in love. See how our eyes shone. We were so happy, so hopeful for a beautiful future together.

The day we made our vows...

Then came the day of the 'Big Leap'. 1st December, 2007.
I have our wedding song on repeat in my head even as I write this now - Luther Vandross' "Here and Now". Lovely song.
We made promises to each other on that day and God has helped us keep them so far.
The laughter on my face that day has not left my face, it has instead slipped into my heart and remained there ever since.

Thankful Post -The 'E' Edition

Seems like everyone's getting their various Thankful Editions out. Thanks to Aloted, I finally get to do my 'E' Thankful post.

There's the comfort of knowing that my whole life is Encapsulated by God's love. His presence in my life gives me the feeling of being wrapped around by a warm blanket on a really cold night.

With His word, I find my self Established daily in my walk of faith. I realize that this is not a once-and-for-all thing but a daily decision to submit to His will.

Sometimes I wish I were more 'perfect' than I currently am and I'm working on it but I'm still grateful for the joy of the Lord in my heart. To put it simply, it Enlivens me!
That joy makes me feel like I have been Entrusted with a very special gift. Hmmm, what can I compare this to? Okay, it's like a lamp that's been lit in my heart and it's my responsibility to ensure it never goes out. The joy in my spirit is the fuel that keeps that lamp burning. It's not always easy as tough times threaten to put out that light. I am grateful for the grace I have received time and time again to Endure.

Endurance over time has helped to strengthen my character and sense of self-worth. It has given me the Enablement to persevere and come out stronger on the other side. It's amazing the beauty that shines out of our lives after we have been well polished by adversity.

,There's an even greater beauty when we share our lives with that special someone. I have been blessed with a man who has me Enamored with his love. To put it like Adaeze has, there's no sugarcoating this. Sometimes our lives are reduced to mere routines yet in the midst of it, we are able to find time to pause and ask "hey babe, how are you?". In the midst of the routine that is sometimes life, we are able to take pleasure in hearing each other's voice or simply Enjoy each other's company.

For all these and more, I am Eternally grateful!!

PS: Phew! That wasn't so bad was it? lol!!

Ten Things Tuesday (05)

I've not forgotten to be thankful. I have just been too lazy to blog about them. I think thanksgiving is not just the act of listing out all the things that we are thankful for. I'm beginning to recognize it as a state of heart. I said heart and not mind because they are two different things entirely.

Our mind is where we have our thoughts and emotions and they are constantly being battered by external circumstances. Circumstances that make us feel there's not much to be grateful for.
Our hearts however are deeper. It's that part of us, our spirits, that's in touch with our heavenly Father. That part that still trusts him. That part that knows beyond all doubt that everything's going to be okay even in the midst of turbulent waters.

Can I get a witness?! Yeah!

So I'm thankful...

• For the life that I have been given. I have been favored beyond measure.

• For the successful hosting of our in-laws, friends and family at my sister's traditional wedding.
• For the prompt intervention of medical personnel when my little sister found she had difficulty in breathing.
• For the peaceful resolution of issues I had with my insurance company. Even though I'm paying more than I initially thought was due, they've helped me structure it in such a way that it's not too much of a burden.
• For the safe delivery of my best friend's baby. It was swift and a lot easier than she'd anticipated!
• For my new healthy eating and daily exercise habit. I intend to keep it up!
• For P. who developed a really bad cough recently but who is getting better.
• For God's word, it lights up my path in life and gives me hope when I can't seem to see the horizon.
• For a new friend I just made on blogville. Thanks for the privilege!
• For my mom. She's the greatest ever!!
  

What are you thankful for?

Ten Things Tuesday (04)

You know how it is when you wake up one morning and all you can see are the things that are yet to be?
You look and think, where has all the time gone? And why does it look like I'm still standing where I've been standing for a long time?
I've been on this project for years, why doesn't it look as if it's about to be completed? I thought that by now, this and this should have come through so why does it look like I'm still waiting for them to happen? On and on.
That was how I felt this morning.
Usually it starts with one thought and then another and another....suddenly it takes over your mind and it changes your mood. Your face becomes sullen and downcast....woah! Woah! Wait a minute! This isn't right! I'm letting the wrong thoughts take over. No way am I going to let myself have a bad day today. As a matter of fact, I'm deliberately going to do my Thankful post today. If only to remind myself the good things I have in my life right now. I'm a work in progress and just because it looks as if things are still it don't mean nuthing's happening!

So I snapped out of the mood that threatened to swallow me whole and I began to Worship God. I sang and I prayed until those dark clouds rolled away. I have so much to be grateful for!

• I am grateful for P. who just returned to his base. We were together for a total of 3months at a stretch! We grew together in leaps in those 3 months and we crossed major milestones on our relationship learning curve.
• I learned in those 3 months the 'magic' of deferring to my husband and reaping a bountiful harvest. Oh no! I didn't learn it the easy way. Talk about disagreeing to agree. I'm grateful for the opportunities I get to learn more how to be the kind of Wife God wants me to be.
• Another expectant mother from my list has given birth! Grateful to God for the safe delivery. Mother and child are doing well!
• My younger sister has just been added to that list. Gave Momc enough reason to sigh in relief. I'm ecstatic!
• Another younger sista'll be getting married soon. The introductions took place a few weeks ago and it all went well.
  
• I'd been suffering from severe pain in the pelvic area for a while with cramps that drugs couldn't fix. I attended a healing meeting and now I'm completely healed. Praise God! It's great to have a healthy body. I'm truly grateful.
• I'm thankful for God's provision for P and I. I sure could use a bit more money right now but amazingly God still supplies our needs! He is Jehovah Jireh!
• I am grateful for the Rhema I received a few days ago. I've been rolling it around in my head and analyzing it but I'm glad I stopped that. If God says this is this then I'm not going to question it. Just like Mary, I shout at the top of my lungs "Be it unto me according to your Word oh, Lord! I receive the fulfillment of Your Word to me!
• I'm thankful for my cell group in church. My world is being expanded to include other people and I think it's really beautiful. I'm being blessed every week!
• Regardless of how many challenges I face, I'm still grateful to be alive! My future is bright and all I need to get there has been made available already!

Do you have anything to be grateful for?

Ten Things Tuesday (03)

I missed my TTT post for last week not because I had nothing to be thankful for but for pure laziness’ sake! God truly has been gracious and I’m thankful for these things:

• P’s back in town and I get to have him to myself for 4 whole weeks! This year is definitely a great one!

• I had some issues with my tummy coupled with symptoms of malaria this past weekend but I’m well now. Good health is such a huge blessing!

• All the 8 expectant mothers on my list are doing great! One of them really does look like she’s about to burst so it won’t be long till we celebrate!

• P. is such a patient and considerate man. It’s a wonder how he puts up with ALL of my antics! I am thankful too for him.

• My younger sister who’s had to miss several months of school due to a dreadful drug reaction was favored by having most requirements waived for her!

• I’m grateful for my safe trips to and fro my examination center. I expect the best!

• I’m excited about blogville and all the new friends I’ve met here. I’m grateful for this the opportunity it affords me to be creative and share my faith in the process.

• My brother-in-law has been wanting for the past 2years to go do his Masters abroad and it’s been one issue after another but finally it’s all worked out and he leaves next week!

• In addition to that, he bought my sister a new car! It’s indeed a pleasant surprise and an unexpected blessing!

• Finally, like I always say, I’m truly grateful to be alive!

So tell us, what is that thing that gladdens your heart and for which you are grateful?

Ten Things Tuesday (01)

I boarded the “Ten Things Tuesday” train with not a little help from aloted. She directed me back to the originator , Jill Brownstone and I have tried to follow her guidelines as much as possible.

I had already decided that this year I would be more thankful and what better way than to deliberately find 10 things to be grateful for each week?


NB: I know it’s Wednesday but I started writing this yesterday (Tuesday) but couldn’t post it.

Here goes..!


1 – Since P. and I got married, we’ve lived and worked in different cities and the longest amount of time we’ve ever stayed together in the same city is 2weeks at a time. However throughout the holidays up until now, we’ve spent 6weeks straight together! It’s been glorious and I am truly thankful for this.

2. I returned to work this year to find that my job description had changed. The head of my discipline had been moved to a management position and I was moved up to take his place as lead. Even though this promotion is yet to translate to increased benefits, I’m grateful to God for the opportunity it provides. Promotion does come only from God!

3. P.’s phone got stolen 2 days ago. An annoying and inconveniencing development but I’m grateful that even though his wallet was in the same pocket as his phone, it wasn’t taken. His wallet contains much more valuable stuff (apart from money) than the phone. Thank God.

4. I got a call from a close friend of mine yesterday. She and her husband have been trying to have a baby for quite a while now and she broke the good news to me – they’re expecting a baby! God is great!

5. This year for P. is supposed to be one of upgrading himself in his career by becoming a certified project management professional. Part of the process includes attending lectures and seminars which cost huge sums of money. He has got the opportunity to have most of this training done at no cost to him. Awesome!

6. This month’s daily devotion has been an exposé on faith and I am deeply thankful to God for His Word. How could I even live without it? Thank you!

7. Two days ago we were at my brother-in-law’s place and there was talk about a family that had just been thrown out of their house. Very touching and humbling but it made me even more grateful that we live in our own place. It’s still under construction but at least we have a roof over our heads and we never have to pay rent.


8. Just this morning I saw my name short listed to take a scholarship application exam. I am glad I made it through the first hurdle!

9. P. got paid yesterday for a job he’d done almost 5 months ago! It was an unexpected blessing. Thank you Lord!

10. I'm thankful that I am alive today!

So what are you thankful for?

I have been tagged by olufunke in the 2 truths, 1 lie meme. I'm still thinking it through. i should start on that soon enough!