day one

This post is a bit different from our usual, but it's something we feel compelled to try. I'm praying that through this we will truly gain perspective and gracious hearts for the plan God has created for mine and Jake's lives. Jake can agree that I've been complaining about the smallest things lately, but why? I'm often wishing for life to be more detailed, more interesting during this stage of school and interning, but isn't it already? Sure, school might leave Jacob exhausted and frustrated every week, and I find myself discouraged from job searching. Yes, we literally have to plan when we can manage to have quality time together, but I cannot thank God enough that we are together at all. We each have a desire to serve one another, our love has been challenged and grown, we have been encouraged by our new community in Roswell, and we are trusting God with what's next. Why wouldn't I wake every morning thankful for the Lord, his grace, mercy, and the life he has provided for my husband and I.

1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

To get to the point of this post - I (and Jake here and there) will be writing a few things we are thankful for and find joy in for a total of thirty days. This will be my first post with day one (combination of joys from the week), but I will most likely combine each week into one post to make reading a little easier. I'm praying that this will contribute to us finding peace with our current circumstances and remind us of how full our lives are because Christ sustains both Jacob and I individually and our marriage. I'm also very much memory-driven, so this is fun for me to look back on:)

day one - joys and thankfuls

• Jake writing a note and giving it to me when I woke up Tuesday morning.
• Late night conversations
• Making burnt waffles and using left over waffles to make "waffle sticks"...clever.
• Going on a walk together tonight (freezing) and enjoying conversation without school/work mentioned
• Talking with my younger sister on the phone. She is super intellectual and kind, and will be taking her Driver's test on Tuesday. I don't know how the time has gone by so quickly, but I'm thankful for the love of sisters and the bond that we've had despite my being somewhat far away the past five years.
• Jacob receiving a phone call from his good friend, Chris Pope (who recently purchased a Moped, which in return left Jake wanting one..) He also, more importantly, recently proposed to a really great girl - Alli.  We are incredibly happy for them and thankful for their friendship!
• Small group Monday night - feeling like we're becoming closer friends with our church community and beginning to feel less like the only married couple without children in Roswell.
• My coworker buying me the pear ornament I told her I loved! We now have 4 ornaments. Thankful that I'm in such an encouraging environment and that these girls have become some of my closest friends.
• One of my great friends and practically family has his new single "Snow" on iTunes. Really excited for him! You can download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/artist/jason-gridley/id480195110?v0=9988&ign-mpt=uo%3D1
• Spending time with family and friends this weekend, so for that I am thankful. and joyful.

We'll be back soon! Love, The Stagnaros

1 Peter 1:3-9

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in its last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." [ESV]

depth

For a night of much need quality time, Jacob and I decided to watch a few episodes of The Wonder Years, compliments of Amazon Prime. In fact, we are already on the second season. First The Cosby Show, now The Wonder Years. What has marriage done to us?..Old souls.

We have been talking lately about how quickly a relationship can lose depth among a busy and routine life.  Relationships with friends, one another, and God. And how easily we fail to be intentional with our time. This is something I'm beginning to pray for as Jake and I are only experiencing the mild version of busy, but can you imagine adding children to that mix? (We won't actually imagine that now..) I want God to be so real to me and to Jacob individually and in our marriage among the routines and schedules. It's hard to imagine not ever having the depth in our relationship with one another or with God, but becoming consumed in the world can do just that. Thankfully, nothing can truly separate us from God's love and his depth, and in that, we find hope and rest apart from this world.

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. (Romans 8:38)

love, the stagnaros