Vows & Vacation

This past weekend we took our first ever family vacation with Caleb to Puerto Vallarta.
To be honest, we were pretty nervous about it.
The amount of things that need to be packed for traveling with a baby, how he would take the 4 and a half hour drive, how he would behave at the wedding and how he'd like the beach and water.
But as my boss told me the day before we left, it went much better than expected.

Our friends' Sandy & Kobus's wedding was beautiful, the sunset absolutely stunning and their vows, wow. Brought tears to my eyes.
They made me remember my own beach wedding just two years ago and the beauty of the whole event. The enormous commitment that we chose to make, wanting our marriage to be very different from all the others. And truthfully, I think we've achieved it. But in the midst of the fun stuff, God is in the middle of it all. That's the greatest gift, I think, and the thing I feel has helped us achieve our goal.

Sandy, in her vows, stated that she knew that Kobus was not meant to make her happy, but to simply be a part of her happiness. Not to make her dreams come true, but to be a part of them if they DO come true.
I thought that was brilliant.
One of the things I think messes so marriages up is that we put so many expectations on our other half. We expect THEM to please US, to fit OUR requirements, to make OUR dreams come true. When it's not intended to be so. So, when we're unhappy, when our dreams don't come true, or our lives take a path we don't want them too, who do we blame??
WE are in charge of our happiness. No one else. WE are in charge of how we look at the world and how we face moments of crisis. Where in the book does it state that HE (or she) has to fulfill our every fantasy? I'm sorry, but WE are responsable for our own lives. And more importantly, our Creator has to be the CENTER of our lives. When we put other things before Him, even our spouse or our children, we get off track. They are important, of course, but they are not, or shouldn't be, the center of our lives.
WE have to seek our own paths, our own goals, our own dreams, our own happiness.
But when things don't go the way we want them too, who's fault is it? Is it ours? Is it His? Is it because He doesn't love us?
Romans 8:35,37-39 says:
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted or hungry, or destitue, or in danger, or threatened with death?... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We choose our paths. God gave us free will to do what we wanted. But be aware! We must always seek His presence. We must always go to His word for the answer. It may not be written very obvious, but His answer is there. We must open our hearts and our minds to His word.
For those of us who trust in Him, we know victory is ours.
And for this I am so thankful.

Anyway, we ended up having a GREAT trip. Caleb was so good, and he enjoyed the new scenery. At first he didn't like the pool too much, because it was cold. But once he got used to it, he had a great time.
We took him to play on the sand, we put his feet in the ocean (he wasn't crazy about it) and the noise of the sea made him nap.
It was a beautiful experience.

After this trip, our beloved newlywed friend Sandy, goes to live to another country. We will miss her so much, but we are confident the Lord will bless her new life, in her new home, with her new husband.

Tonight I'm thankful for the Love of God. And His promise that He will love us not because of who we are, but in SPITE of who we are.
For our wonderful trip to the beach. That we went and came safely.
For every day of new memories with Caleb and my wonderful husband.
For the beautiful sceneries we take so much for granted. The beach, the mountains, the sunsets... Gorgeous gifts from God for everyday pleasures.