My Valentine

Several bloggie friends have asked me to write about my husband & my relationship. They are intrigued when they learn we have a 24 year age difference. (I am 40). The truth is, our age difference has yet to play a part in our relationship.

We met when I was working as an assistant to a member of the Board of Supervisors for our local government. LeRoy (my hubby) was the Planning Commissioner for the same district, and consequently called the office a lot and we often spoke on the phone (since I was the one who answered it!)

We dated for three years before we got married. My dad was a bit concerned about the age difference, as was one of LeRoy's sons. He has 2 sons, one is 2 years younger than I am, the other is 4 years younger. The youngest accepted me right away, but the older son has never gotten over the fact that his dad married "out of his age group."

We've been married for nearly 13 years (in May). While we've had our share of issues, I can honestly say the age difference has never been one of them. We've had our share of funny moments. When LeRoy hears a golden oldie on the radio and says "Oh, remember this one?" I look him straight in the eye and deadpan "No." Then we both laugh.

One Sunday at church there was an elderly man there sitting with a woman in her 50's or so several rows ahead of us. LeRoy leaned over and whispered "I wonder if that is her husband or her dad." And I whispered back "The people behind us are wondering the same thing about us!"

LeRoy graduated college the year before I was born. He has 5 grandchildren, 1 who is older than our own children. Yet, it isn't an issue in our daily life, although it is sometimes noted by others. One of Gigi's classmates noted that her dad was younger than Gigi's half-brother. On the first day of preschool, Cici's teacher asked LeRoy if he was Cici's grandpa. But we are happy, and that's what matters to us.

We've been together for 16 years. We're just "us." There is no secret or magic to making the age difference work. It just does. I don't know why. But I pray it continues to for years to come. Happy Valentine's Day, LeRoy.

Thankful Thursday - 2/12

Before (nervous smile)

After (pure joy!)

Gigi & LeRoy

Chatty Kelly & CiCi

So much to be thankful for this week!!! Where do I begin?

1. My 9 yr old, Gigi was baptized on Sunday! Praise God that she made the decision herself. No pressure from mom & dad. She was sprinkled as a baby, but now has made her own statement of faith. I'm thrilled. We celebrated by going out to lunch after church. (see pics above) Our extended family is celebrating tonight complete with cake.

2. Sonya (Truth4theJourney) and I went out to dinner on Tuesday. JUST US! No kids, no hubbies. It's truly rare we get out like this (about 4 times a year), and complete laughter ensues. Thanks Sonya! And thanks LeRoy for keeping the kids.

3. My sister, Mary (MyADHDMe). She always has my back. If I don't get comments, buster, she is leaving me 100 to make up for it. If anyone says something that is not 100% encouraging, she's there. I think she'd defend me even if she knew I was wrong. Awww, sisters.

4. Dental insurance. Gigi supposedly (per the dentist) needs braces on her BABY teeth, to make room for the permanent tooth that doesn't have room. Then we'll need real braces again later. Cha-ching! $$$ (I think the dentist is trying to make up for his falling stock portfolio.)

5. Perserverance. I'm thankful that it's mid-February and I am still working out, and still reading the Bible regularly. Keep it up Kelly! (yes, I am encouraging myself!) Nothing is impossible WITH God!

What are you thankful for this week? Head over to Sonya's and link up, or just leave it in the comments.

Pay It Forward

I was visiting Edie at Rich Gifts, and she has posted a "Pay It Forward" Challenge on her blog. This is a great way to bless others with a surprise in their mail--using your time, talent, and love.

Here are the rules as posted on her blog: The first 3 bloggers to leave a comment stating "I want to play & pay!" will receive a hand-made gift from me. Those 3 bloggers promise to post this challenge on their blog (meaning they too will ‘pay-it-forward’, creating a handmade gift for the first 3 bloggers that leave a comment on their blog!!)

The gift can be any price range--though I'm thinking that keeping it small will be sufficient--and you have 365 days to make/ship your gift!! Obviously you must be willing to send me your U.S. only (sorry) mailing address. International shipping is just too high.

As for my gift...well the only thing I make "hand-made" is cookies. Then I thought, would I want to receive homemade cookies from someone I don't know personally? Not really. (Okay, they could have anthrax in them or something, couldn't they??) So I'm going to fudge on the rules a bit, and send you something that I find fabulously on sale if you don't know me personally. Because my hobby is finding great deals, that counts...sort of. Believe me, you don't want anything I made. I'm just not crafty.

If you want to participate, just leave a comment telling me so "I WANT TO PLAY AND PAY!" Then repost this on your blog so that you can pay it forward to 3 others, and so on, and so on, and so on.

You can still leave a comment even if you don't want to participate, just don't post the magic words.

God: Too Big for My Brain

I've been in a relationship with God for quite a while. I know the stories of the Old Testament, but am a New Testament gal. I've love Jesus and his patience and love for me! A good friend (Sharon) even reminded me that Jesus said "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29). That's the relationship I know and love.

I've been reading the Old Testament in my goal to read the entire Bible this year. I'm having a hard time. God considers Job to be "blameless and upright." Those are God's exact words about Job, yet he turns Job over to Satan letting Satan take everything, even killing Job's children. When Job asks God why this happens, God basically tells Job he has no right to ask him why. (He does restore everything back to Job.) Have you ever asked God why? I have.

In Exodus, God tells Moses to go see Pharaoh. Moses isn't a great speaker, calling himself slow of speech and tongue, and so he asks God to "please send someone else." The Bible says "the Lord's anger burned against Moses." Have you have asked God to get someone else to do something He wanted you to do? I have.

Later in verse 24, we learn that God is about to kill Moses (or either Moses' son, the footnote states the text isn't clear which). God plans to kill Moses because Moses failed to circumcise his son. This was a sin of omission. Moses hadn't done something, rather it was what he didn't do. Have you ever failed to do something you should have? I have.

I deserve God's burning anger and even death. I'm sure God wouldn't even call me "blameless and upright" as he did Job (whom he allowed catastrophe upon). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, and destroyed the entire world by flood, all because of sin. Where does that leave me, a sinner?

My study Bible says when the earth was created, the angels were there, but not Job (or us). Therefore he (and we) should not expect to be able to understand even lesser aspects of God's plans for the world and for mankind. I can honestly say I don't!

I am so thankful for the grace and mercy I receive through Jesus. I think sometimes we accept the grace too easily without realizing what we could have gotten. Just check out the Old Testament. God has a standard that we can't meet. But Jesus met it for us. I'm thankful for that, even as I try to understand the rest. It's not easy.

Isaiah 55:8 -- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Job 36:26a -- How great is God—beyond our understanding!

Proverbs 3:5 -- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.