Marriage is a Carnival. Or Something Like That.

We booked it months ago.

A Carnival cruise.  A celebration, five year of marital bliss.  Sunshine, beaches, food, fun....all systems "go" for amazingness.

And then, a cruise ship stalls on the water, a whirlwind of bad press for Carnival.
Then, another ship breaks down.  And another.
Conversations about our impending trip began to include the phrase "you didn't book on Carnival, did you?"  Yes.  Yes we did.  Before any of their mess erupted.

But that mess hasn't derailed our plans.  We're crossing fingers that Carnival will go over and above to assure confidence amongst their guests.  It's gonna be great.  Heck, our ship's name is Victory!

I think this planning experience has been a fitting representation of our first five years of marriage, actually.  Great expectations, nothing can go wrong.

And then, heartache.  Grief.  Confusion.  Dependency on each other, dependency on the Lord.  When we said our vows, we had no idea what kind of messiness would interrupt our lives.  We have faced more mess than the average newlyweds.

But it hasn't derailed us.  In fact, as trials tend to do, it has refined our relationship in ways I couldn't have imagined would have been possible...ways The Lord was working for "good" that I just couldn't see in the midst of such tragedy.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger- right, Kelly Clarkson?

So, Bon Voyage, friends.  We are cruising into our next five years with a great deal of  experience behind us...and the confidence that whatever may come our way, well, we already have "Victory" over it!

P.S. I forgot to bring my swimsuit.  Sigh....

No Naps In Heaven.

Something pretty intense happens when one participates in leading a worship service.

When you know that GOD is empowering you to do what you do, it's quite humbling.
It's thrilling to be a part of the Holy Spirit's energy moving within our collective worship time.
There is camaraderie with fellow musicians, and unity is championed.
AND, it is personally gratifying to know that God is affirming you as you use your gifts appropriately for His Kingdom.

It's, like, wow.  Glimpses of Heaven.

I often leave church on a high.  I sing all the way home.  I reflect on the morning.  I thank God for allowing me to serve in the way I do. 

Then, I CRASH.  And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who experiences this massive wave of exhaustion after intensely engaging in worship.

Because not only is worship leading thrilling, it is also a massive sacrifice of energy.  It's an investment of time, and as artists, we pour our heart and soul into our worship gatherings.


It's the culmination of days/weeks of practice.
It means early morning and late night rehearsals.
It means exerting a crazy amount of energy.
It can literally be painful as shoulders, fingers, feet take an extra beating.
And, as I've experienced, the enemy tends to fight hard against those serving Him in any capacity.

As I was hardly able to move from exhaustion after such a morning recently, I was considering Heaven and what worship must be in the presence of God.  Um, intense much?  Much more than 5 songs on a Sunday morning, anyway.

How exhausting, right?!  Surely there are breaks for those gathered around the throne to rest intermittently...

I can't even wrap my limited brain around the idea of a body that doesn't grow weary.
That doesn't have the physical limitations that we do.
That doesn't need a NAP after worship.

Worship with no "after"...just WORSHIP.  All day.  Every day.  Forever.

It's gonna be incredible.
On this earth, we will grow tired and weary...especially if we're doing it right- worship leaders and worshipers alike.  To engage heart, mind, body, soul is intense, but satisfying.  It's the ONLY way we can live the way God created us to live- in communion with Him, surrendered lives postured to praise.

And it's okay to take a nap, too.  :)

This Post Has a Point, I Promise.

When Chris and I were dating long-distance, the two-hour time difference we experienced really made scheduling phone calls a challenge.  By the time I woke up, Chris was already at work.  By the time he was done for the day, I still had two or three hours left.  With multiple evening commitments on my end during the week, often my only opportunity to really "talk" with him was later in the evening before my bedtime (after Chris had already fallen asleep).  Conversations went something like this...

Me:  Hi honey!
Chris: (groggy and quiet)  Heeyyyyyyy.
Me:  How was your day??
Chris:  (still groggy) Goooooooood.
Me:  Sorry to call so late, I was at rehearsal.
Chris:  (as if stretching simulaneously)  Thaaaaat's okaaaaay.
Me:  What did you do tonight?
Chris:  (silence)
Me:  Chris?
Chris:  Huh?
Me:  What did you do tonight?
Chris: (yawns) nothin.
Me:  Do you want to go back to sleep?
Chris:  Mmmmmm...zzzzzzzz.

I learned pretty quickly that it's completely useless talking to Chris in his sleepy state.  SO, we switched our phone call agenda to a Chris-will-call-Jamie-on-his-way-to-work-at-4:30am-her-time plan.  I'm much more coherent in that kind of situation.

I don't know why I forgot all of this last night when I waited up till midnight to sing "Happy Birthday" to my sweet husband.   Because when I was done singing sweet nothings in his ear, he grunted and continued to snore.  FAIL.

*****
Our daughter Kendall has had some trouble....ummm....pooping.  She does "potty" like a boss.  But when a Number #2 is looming, her routine has become whining frantically as she holds it in for two days amidst multiple false alarm trips to the toilet. 

Such was the case yesterday as she threw herself around hysterically, complaining of tummyaches and refusal to "push one out".  This scenario makes everyone in our household frustrated and anxious to see her JUST GET IT DONE.

Off the cuff, Chris told Kendall that it would be a great birthday present for him if she would just do her POOPY in the potty.  Something about that statement must have been the incentive she needed, because ten minutes later, she was doing her business.

"DADDY!!  I HAVE A 'PRIZE FOR YOU!"
"I WENT POOPY IN THE POTTY!"

Me:  Hey Chris...you should come see Kendall's birthday present to you!!  hahahahaha :)

I'm still figuring out how to wrap that sucka.  :-P

*****

All of that to say:  we may not be eloquent, but we want to wish a great husband, daddy, friend a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY in our own special way.  We love you!!