Trophy Wife

By standard definition, a "Trophy Wife" is a charming young woman who is typically quite attractive, both physically and facially. She casually marries a much older man who has a good deal of money. Despite his age, he is rich and/or powerful enough to attract her. She becomes a "trophy" for him to show what he has earned; her affection via his wallet.

I am a trophy wife. Certainly not by the standard definition, because my husband I are the same age, he is far from wealthy (sorry, Babe) and I don't fall into that "extraordinarily beautiful" mold that society seems so fond of these days. (I can be pretty charming though!) LOL

So, how am I a "Trophy Wife"? Well, I'm so glad you asked!

My husband is a great man. He works very hard for our family, he values our relationship, respects our privacy and he does everything in his power to make me happy. He places me in high regard, as one would a trophy. He "won" my heart and now that we are together he continues to make sure that I am cared for, tended to, and "polished" in any way possible. He is proud of me, I am the trophy of his heart, and that means more than any young bombshell ever could.

I am not on a shelf to be admired from afar or glanced at every now and then. I am wrapped in his arms, adored and cherished... and it's the best feeling in the world!!

I am proud to be a Trophy Wife, and just so you know, I have a Trophy Husband to match. My trophy is his heart. I guard it tenderly and protect it in every way I can. He loves me more (and better) than I ever could have imagined! Loving him faithfully, wholly and endlessly is the least I can do!  The richness of a marriage with true love and deep commitment is an amazing thing and we are very lucky to have found it. It makes us quite the power couple! ;o)

*Mommy Brag*

So the kids are back in school and things are going very well. Our oldest, J, has a FULL class load! In 10th grade he's already doing college prep work and hopefully he'll be setting himself up for some scholarships! He's a smart young man, and headed in the right direction!! We've had some unexpected bumps along the way, but he's definitely back on track now!! We are very proud of all his hard work and strong determination.

Our youngest, B, is settling in to 2nd grade and making new friends. Unfortunately none of his classmates from last year are in his class this year, but he does know some of his classmates from around the school so he wasn't completely "new". B is a wonderful, friendly, outgoing child with a heart of gold. He showed it again this morning while we were getting ready for school. I was packing his snack and he told me about a classmate who didn't have a snack the first day. He asked her if she forgot it but she didn't answer him. He said, "I thought she was just shy." On the second day of school she didn't have snack again. When they went to wash their hands she told him that she was hungry. He asked if she brought a snack today. She said no, her mother didn't have any. He told me that he felt so sad and that he had shared his snack with her. While they were talking over snacks, she told him that her mother didn't have any money to buy snacks. My heart broke. So as I was packing his snack this morning he asked me to pack extra for her, so he could share again. :o) He is just the sweetest, kindest child I have ever met. He loves and cares about people in the most amazing, unassuming ways.

We did pack extra snack today, another bag of Cheese Nips and another juice box. The smile on his face was amazing, just knowing that he was caring for someone else, and he was so happy to do it. God has truly blessed us in SO many ways, and we are so lucky to be able to share our blessings with the world. I've said it many times, but I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if B grew up to be a pastor. Our kids are our biggest blessings, and they continue to pass it on. That's the best gift of all.

Sin, Love and Mercy...

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." -John 14:15

"But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God's love is perfected. That's how we know we are in Christ." -1 John 2:5

What does it mean to obey God's commands for us? What is it that God commands us to do? The Ten Commandments are laid out for us in Exodus 20:1-17.

1. You shall have no other gods before me. 

2. You shall not make for yourself any graven images.

3. You shall not take the Lord's name in vain. 

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. 

5. Honor thy mother and father. 

6. You shall not commit murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet. 

We are all sinners. We have all broken God's commandments. We talked back to our parents as children, we work on Sundays, we wish we had that cool thing that our friend just bought. Some of us have committed adultery, some of us have committed murder. God does not hold any sin in a "worse" position than the rest. They are all God's word, and are all to be obeyed. 

As humans we have socially weighted each sin. We cannot imagine that telling a lie could equal murder, but both are sins against our Father as both mean we disobeyed Him. We will all have to answer for them, and I for one to not look forward to that day. It saddens me to know that I have been weak and allowed myself to stray from the path that God has set before me. Although His mercies are great, I try to lessen the amount He may graciously bestow. ;o)

In addition to the Ten Commandments, God also commands that we read His Word, the Bible. He tells us to witness to others, and to pray for them. One of my greatest joys was hearing my seven-year-old son witness to a girl in his first grade class. She told him that she didn't have a father. He replied, "Of course you do! Don't you know about God?" He then proceeded to tell her! I was so proud, and I'm sure God was, too. 

Jesus said,  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14

God knows our hearts. He knows, when we ask for His forgiveness, if we are sincere or not. He also knew that we were going to sin before we even did it. That's a pretty heavy concept for me. He KNOWS what I am thinking; all the ugly thoughts, all the hate I've held for people who have hurt me in my life, all the wrong I have done... and yet He loves me in spite of it all. AMAZING!

"For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "-Jeremiah 29:11

I work hard to be a good person, to be a proper example for my children, to be kind to others. Some days it's hard, and some people make it even harder. I do my best to make decisions based on my sense of right and wrong, my beliefs and my own experiences. You cannot "earn" your way into Heaven's Gates. That toll has already been paid. Being a good person is the right thing to do, and we are also commanded by God to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).

Several times I have heard the phrase, "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle". It's true! You never know what a person is going through, maybe right before your eyes. The pain a person buries in their heart can manifest in many ways. How we choose to deal with it is up to us. God's desire is for us to give it to Him, pray for guidance and let Him carry our burden's weight. We are to fall back on our faith, finding comfort in knowing that God has it all under control. Satan wants us to question God's devotion to us as His children and His love for us. He puts doubt in our hearts and longs for us to sin. We are tempted just as sure as we are human, but if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have recognized God as the Almighty, you are forgiven, and you will be saved. 

I know that I have fallen short of God's glory, and I am saved only by his grace and mercy. It's a wonderful feeling, one that I find myself taking for granted all too often! I am a mess, and God knows it! But He loves me, unconditionally, mercifully, without ceasing. 

 Rely on God. Put your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior and rest your weary head at his feet. We are not perfect, nor does God expect us to be. He knew we would sin, that's why he sent his Son to die for us. 

"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." -Ephesians 2:4-5