Our Love Affair ... and Adventures in Edwards-ville: The Love Jar

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Love Jar

'I've fallen in love many times...always with you.'

This verse spoke to my heart last night...

'...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might
so that you may have great endurance and patience.'
Colossians 1:11

And that is just what God has blessed me with. Patience. Endurance. And when waiting on a baby, it can be hard to have patience. But God has TOTALLY gone before me and filled me with an un-Jennie-like amount. The kind where I seriously am happy to meet baby Vivian. But am also glad to do it in God's time. Thankfully.
I tallied last night. Of the 4 pregnancies. How many weeks of my life in the last four years have I spent pregnant? 140 weeks.
EVERYWHERE I go, people say: 'You haven't had that baby yet?'
Our friends just moved to town and they joined us for church yesterday.
SO many people asked me that same question, that our friends looked at me and said, 'Have they placed bets on when you are giving birth or something? Everyone is saying the same thing.'
I know.
So I wait. And wait. On my sweet girl.
Meanwhile, being at home is crazy-loving-fun for me! Who knew? Getting so many things done and more closets organized! :) And finishing up Carlisle and Evelyn's baby books. I know, should have had those done years ago. But who has time for that?

Our Valentines started a couple of weeks ago. Carlisle cut the paper. I just wrote down her thoughts about her Daddy. I prompted her, just a little, with a few questions. What makes a 4 year old tick? Love came spewing forth... like a little water fountain, for her Daddy. She's funny. She's cute. She's creative. She just unabashedly loves. Him.
~
ME: 'If you were a big girl, would you marry Daddy?'
Carlisle: 'Yes....(cutting paper, thinking).....well, I AM married to Daddy.'

ME: 'What do you like to do with Daddy?'
Carlisle: 'I like to eat salad and oranges with Daddy.....OK, not really oranges.'

ME: 'What do you like to do with Daddy?'
Carlisle: 'I like when Daddy tickles me.'

Of course, Evelyn and I threw in some of the things we love about Brian into THE LOVE JAR too.~And, Brian and I had a couples massage yesterday!
On Valentines Day!
....in our home!
Yes.
It was EVERYBIT as ridiculously-wonderful as it sounds.

Love never ends.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Love the "Love Jar" idea. You are so thoughtful and creative!; 2/15/2010 4:13 PM
Our4GreatKids said...: The Love Jar... what an awesome idea!! May have to copy that one! Also, LOVE your snow pics... great snowman/snowwoman... your pics are great and you guys are all so stinkin' cute. J&J talked about playing w/C at school today... they sometimes argue over who played with her the most.; 2/15/2010 4:32 PM

Speaking Engagements

Every once in a while, I get a microphone and the privilege to share with women what the Lord is doing and has done in my life. And about His GREAT LOVE for us all.

If you need to get in touch with me about that, email me at jennieandbrian@me.com

June - August, 2013 Good Soil Girls Conference Call

September 13-15 2013 His Proposal Conference w/ Kay Arthur (Chattanooga, TN)

November 7, 2013 Ebenezer Baptist Church Ladies Dinner Speaker (Florence, SC)

January 14, 2014 MOPs (Florence, SC)

January 24-25, 2014 His Proposal Conference (Florence, SC)

February - April 2014 Good Soil Girls Conference Call. A study of the book of Philippians

March 27-28, 2015His Proposal Conference (Knoxville, TN)

March - May 2015 Good Soil Girls Conference Call. A study of the book of Esther

Carlisle Victoria...our heart...

Most likely to become a VETERINARIAN. She is our 8-year-old. She was born 11 months after her big sister that lives in heaven. She acts the part of 'Mommy', a bit, with her little sisters. She is an encourager to everyone around her and showers the people she loves, WITH LOVE. She has an amazingly and intensely-cool sense of style that would remind of the 80's. She is tender for her Jesus. And loves her Daddy. She already thinks it's fun that her Mommy teaches aerobics. She is incredibly feminine...but would rather go fishing, than play with dolls, anyday. She is the best eater of any child I've ever seen...onions cooked, or raw is her favorite. Milk? The only thing she doesn't like.

Evelyn Annette...our light...

Most likely to become HEAD CHEERLEADER. She is our 7 year-old and also our 3rd baby girl in 2 1/2 years. We call her 'Little Ol Ev!' There's a song that goes with the name too. She has more spunk in her small little frame than four normal children. Born 19 months after her older sister, she is funny and fun and just wants to be included. She is a dancer through and through. She laughs, ALWAYS. She absolutely unconditionally loves her family (especially her big sister). Her hair is stick straight, but even it has a little spunky something going on with it. She gives the BEST kisses and makes great eye contact. She is a textbook extravert. Oh, and the picky-est eater on the planet. She loves milk.

Brian....my strength...

This guy. Oh goodness. I am so madly in love. He gave his life to Jesus in 1999. And patiently waited to marry me until I did the same. He's smart. He's tall. He's extroverted. He's true. He's right. He's noble. And strong as a bull. With the physique of an Abercrombie model. He's the guy who stole my heart in Charleston, in college, all those years ago. He loves the Lord. Gentle enough to handle 4 little girls and one girly wife. What a HIGH calling. He loves to fish, but rarely gets to because he's always hanging out with us. He's so outnumbered with females…and sooo good at the job. He likes his coffee black and his food clean and organic. He is type A. He's a Jiu Jitsu champion, which means he could whoop a cheetah. But too humble to talk about it. He loves his family. And his family absolutely adores him. He is a servant leader and takes care of all these little ones so that together we can serve the Lord. He's WAY out of my league.

Me

I'm an extrovert who digs my husband in a big way. But, I love Jesus the most. I have an identical-twin-sister. I really enjoy things tidy and organized. I like Diet Dr Pepper. I never thought about being a Mother. (When Brian and I got married, I made him promise that we'd wait five years before we had the first one...and we were 4 months shy of our 5th anniversary when Grace was born.) I never like being alone. I love taking pictures. Especially of my family. I took a semester off college and worked at Disney World. I love getting (real) letters in the mailbox. I have a hard time always answering emails and voicemails on time. Brian sends me to the gym, if I am grumpy. I was a competitive swimmer and dancer growing up. I sing REALLY loud in the car if I like the music. I cry. Friends are very important to me. I used to be corporate-girl in Atlanta...I think I'll stick with being an aerobics instructor. It's one of the best jobs on the planet. Memorizing scripture is my heartbeat. God made me to be a wife and Mommy...He just knew it way before me...