One Night Apart

In the short time that I have been married I have come across a wonderful discovery. Flirting is SO much better after marriage. I am not going to go into details with that thought. If someone had told me that when I was younger I would have looked at them like I looked at my Mother when she randomly entered my room and went "ruff!". Below I have the vows I wrote to Jordan on our wedding day:

"Like every little girl, I would play pretend with my friends. We would imagine our future's, the boys we would date, the Prince Charming that would come and sweep us away, then my friends would play house with their imaginary children. Not me, I would stop and linger over Prince Charming, how we would meet, the clever and witty things he would say that would make me blush, the dates we would go on and how he would romance me. I remember thinking, "I don't want to get married, I want to date forever. Life gets so boring after marriage."

And then I met you and you said many clever and witty things, which I laughed at. You romanced me, took me on dates and told me you loved me. It was my dream come true. But then something happened I didn't expect, I fell in love with you. And I found myself wishing more than anything else to be married to you. For the courting stage to be over so we could start our life together. You are the most genuine person I know, you love life and pursue God and there was never a more eager bride to take your hand and start this journey with you.

Jordan Matthew, I stand here today in white, not because of fashion, or tradition, or because I am pure, but because God is giving me to you today as a gift. May I always be a gift, not a hindrance or a stumbling block. I know that what we are about to vow to is going to be the hardest vow to keep, and so I promise to put Jesus first in our marriage, to love Him more than I'll ever love you, for only then can I truly show you love. I promise to make you laugh as often as possible and to be faithful. To make home a place you run to get to and a place you want to stay. I will care for you, be your helpmate, encourage you in your ministry and stand by you no matter what comes. I give my heart to you, to guard and protect. I love you."

I said those words to my fiance in front of 2 hundred people not knowing what Marriage would be like, excited, expectant, terrified but with a peace that Jordan and I are better together than apart. If I would have known when I was younger just how wonderful marriage is, I would have begged Jordan to marry me when I was 18!
I went with my Family to Lethbridge this past weekend. I was not looking forward to it. I wanted to go to see my brother and sister in law, and my Aunt and Uncle of course and witness my past roommates wedding, but I did not want to be away from Jordan for that long. We have only ever spent one night away from each other since June 18th and I wanted to keep it that way!
I managed fine the first day, but by Saturday I missed my husband and my home and couldn't wait to get back! I went to bed on Saturday night thinking- One more night!
Around 12:30 I woke up by someone coming in the front door (I was sleeping on the couch) and immediately knew who it was but couldn't believe it! My husband pounced on me and I have never been so excited to see him. It is a 3 hour drive from Trochu to Lethbridge and Jordan had to teach Sunday School that morning. As we fell asleep that night all cuddled up he said "We've still only slept one night apart." Then away he went at 6:30am to drive back.

For Jordan to show his love in such a way kept me grinning all day long and even more excited to see him when I got back. I know that we are still Newly Wed's and the full pressures of marriage haven't hit us yet, that we will have days, weeks, months and even years of hard times. But one thing I do know is, that I will love this man through everything because of his selfless love for me. I can't believe how blessed I am!
No matter where you are in life, happily married, newly divorced, single, dating, engaged...I want you to hold on to this truth as I do- God wants your heart. He will love you through everything, and will be beside you through out your life. Jordan's act of love is an example of what Jesus will do for you and does for you everyday.
I pray that you know his love today in an active real way and can't help but grin!

2 Corinthians 13:14
May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

My Very Last Spanking

I was rarely spanked growing up. My Mother says it's because I was an angel till I was 13, my Father says it's because I would look up at him with my big green eyes and he would suddenly forget why he was angry and what exactly it was that I did (this is a gift I still possess and use it quite regularly on my Husband). So you can imagine my shock when at 23 years of age, I got a spanking.
Have any of you watched the movie "Mclintock"? It's my favourite John Wayne movie. Mr. and Mrs. Mclintock though still married, have parted ways for quite a few years and reunite at their daughters return from college. Mrs. Mclintock is well...spoiled and Mr. Mclintock is well...an idiot. There are of course, side stories to the movie and many events in between the beginning and ending, but the climax of the movie happens when Mr. is confidently chasing Mrs. down the main street in the old western town with the intent of giving her just what she deserves. He finally catches her and in front of all the townsfolk, gives her a spanking.
(Spoiler!)The movie ends with them madly in love with each other.

I don't know how many times I have watched that movie. In all the times I have watched it though, I never imagined anything like that happening to me.
No, Jordan did not chase me down main street in Trochu. He did however, give me a much deserved spanking. You see, I said a bad word. Two in fact. we were parked somewhere in the car, about to drive away and I casually called him something I should not have, without the least thought as to why I would do such a thing. I have always known never to say bad words to a Pastor, now I know why.
He calmly looked over at me. Said "Rachael, was that the wise thing to say? I'm going to have to spank you."
(For those who either don't have a sense of humour or don't know me or my husband at all, I'm going to have to clarify that it was not abuse, nor was it a hard spanking and we were laughing through it all so please don't call the police)

So why did I say such a thing to my husband whom I dearly love and would give my life for? I was watching a show the day before, I show I like very much. The actors would call each other these two words often and so when I repeated it, it seemed the most natural thing in the world.
This got me thinking about what we put in our bodies.

It is common knowledge that what goes in must come out (for those laughing right now, yes, like poop). I believe this is not only about the food we eat. When I was putting that show into my mind, even though it is a wonderful show and gets me laughing so hard, my mind was picking up everything I was giving it with my eyes and ears. Some of what came into my mind stuck and came out of my mouth. This is true for the books we read (I am vehemently against romance novels that put unrealistic views of love and life into impresionable girls minds. I myself was one of those girls that read every romance novel I could get my hands on, I started to think that was the way it would be and stepped into that world, forgetting reality, who I was and the God who loved me and wanted my heart when ever I would open a book. I could go on about this topic for an entire blog and maybe someday will. But for now I suppose I should go back to what I was saying), the movies we watch, the shows we watch, what we do on line, who we talk to, who we are friends with, who we hang around. And the list goes on! We are who are friends are, isn't that the saying? I want to expand on that and say- we are what we put in our minds.

I have noticed that when I am watching a lot of movies, even if Jordan and I want to relax by putting a few movies on a week, or am on facebook five times a day (this sometimes happens), or if I'm listening to music that doesn't glorify God, or am around people who are swearing, gossiping or being pessimistic about life, or am reading books that do not point to God or are saturated with romance, that I am less likely to pick up my Bible or go away by myself and talk to my God, or even think of Him through out the day.
I have also noticed that I am more likely to become depressed, down, angry at God, my husband, family and friends, and think essentially that my life is terribly boring and I wish I were someone else. I do not look in the mirror and say -Dang, you're attractive. Or- thank you Lord for making me the way you did. Instead, I am quick to criticize myself and others. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

I should again clarify that I do not see anything wrong with picking up a non-christian book, or watching a movie, or being on facebook. BUT when I surround myself with these things and do not have a good balance, that is when I slowly start to change. I become self-absorbed.

On the flip side, when I take the time to shut off my computer and wrestle with my husband, or play a board game, or simply cuddle and talk about life, our relationship grows and we have both met a need in our daily life.

When I read a book about Joni Eareckson Tada, Corrie Ten Boom, or Billy Graham, I am less likely to look at my life with remorse and selfishness, but on what God has given me and how I can give that to others, their stories teach me about the God I love and encourage me to love others.

When I am listening to music that inspires me and is drenched with the words of God and speaks of His glory, then I go throughout my day with the words of God in my mind and can't stop singing!


When I am having regular devotions, reading my Bible and memorizing scripture, I find that verses come to my mind when I need them the most. Some times I don't even remember reading or memorizing them but know that I have and it's God's gentle whisper to me!


When I am reading a book about how I can grow my relationship with Jesus, a book that teaches HIS promises and the life He led, I find myself talking to Him more, reading my Bible more and laughing with Him more. Books like that also encourage me to write, a passion I have had all of my life and would love to take further, they inspire me to dream and to act on those dreams.


When I say no to a movie and yes to a tea date with a friend, or go into my craft room and make a card for someone, clean my house, or go on a walk with my husband, I am investing in REAL PEOPLE and real relationships and come out so joyful, a part of me has been fulfilled by investing in others.

When I surround myself with close friends who also have a relationship with Jesus, who encourage me with my walk with Christ and who love to talk about theirs, I become a better person because I have shared an hour or two with them. I am so incredibly blessed with the close friends I have, friends who encourage me, who love me even when I say bad words =), laugh and cry with me. Friends who forgive me and I know I can count on and who can count on me. This is because I made it a point to surround myself those kind of ladies.
It is so important to spend time with those who build others up instead of tearing down. And it's even more important to be like the friends I was describing.

In the Bible it talks about the fruit of the spirit. Fruit is simply a word to describe different attributes. A tree that has good fruit will grow and flurish, but a tree that has rotten fruit will quickly die.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

God is also described as a vine and a gardener. Please don't skip over these next verses, even if you have read them before, but read it twice if need be so you truly come to know what Jesus is saying.


John 15:1-9
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be the branch bearing bad fruit that God throws away. I want so desperately to REMAIN IN HIM by not being idle, by working with my hands, putting clean, good things in my mind, reading my Bible, singing praises to Him, laughing with my husband, encouraging my friends and non believers, being the kind of woman who brings people to God simply by being around them. I want to be a good wife, a good friend, a good daughter and a good woman. And I don't want to have any more spankings in this lifetime.

Some good books I have read that everyone else should-
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
Waking the Dead by John Eldridge
Joni by Joni Eareckson
The Small Woman by Alan Burgess
The Sin Eater by Francine Rivers (anything by her)
The Lost Art of True Beauty by Leslie Ludy
50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren W.Wiersbe
We Were Young and at War by Sarah Wallis and Svetlana Palmer
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

And the list goes on! If you have a book that you think I should read please tell me! I'm always looking for more. A friend of mine and I have started a book club, we just started last month, got together and each chose a book. When we get together next, we'll talk about that book that we read and swap them! It's already been a lot of fun and I would encourage anyone to do it if you love books and reading.

This is all something that God has been patiently teaching me as I grow into a woman after HIS own heart. I mess up countless times only to run back into the safety of His arms, all it takes is for me lift my eyes off of myself and on to the One who created me for His glory, the One who knows and loves me like no one else ever will. The One who loves YOU. Remain in Him.