Tucked Deep...

Much has happened around our home the past few months (years) that have whittled away at my spiritual, mental and emotional bank of life. The continual whittling finally caught up and left me completely overdrawn Wednesday evening. After a small incidence right before putting our girls to bed that night, Kyle found me on the floor nestled in a corner of our kitchen silently weeping. He drew me in close to himself and the silent tears turned to uncontrollable sorrow. I was hurting...he was broken. I was empty...he was desperate. I've always been able to "pull myself together and rise to the occasion", but my emptiness was so great that all I could do was succumb to the weakness I was feeling. Kyle offered to purchase me an individual ticket to Tucson and place me on a plane first thing Thursday morning so that I could get away and spend time with my very best friend from high school but I knew with him and the Lord was where I most needed to be. After a few hours of letting me cry, he put me to bed where he spoke, read and prayed scripture over me until rest and peace overtook my body and I fell asleep in his arms. Thursday he left work early, packed our bags and took me away for the weekend. We somewhat had this excursion, in shortened version, planned previously but due to several factors, one being me finding it hard to leave MaKayla and Mallary, I individually had decided we would just disregard the idea and stay home...it was a more "comfortable resolution". He on the other hand knew the breaking point I was at and gave me no choice in the matter. We left shortly after noon on Thursday and spent from that time until late Saturday evening together...investing in one another and in the Lord. It was a time I needed...he needed...we needed! He nurtured me, he loved me, he held me, he taught me, he renewed me. We laughed...we cried...we learned...we rested...we found renewal...individually and as a team. We shared so many things in our time together...things that make me smile when I think of them...

Jelly Bellies
an enormous bed
Philly Steak and Cheese
cozy fireplace
heartaches
Panera Carmel Latte'
prayer
Medium-Rare New York Strip
Pepsi
an inviting hot tub
dreams
Raspberry Truffle Cappuccino
new revelations
Bacon Cheeseburger
God's Word
goals
convictions
Foot-long Subway sandwich
Christmas ideas
fears
White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake
a quaint room
soft music
new shoes...
MUCH LOVE!!!

It was oh so hard to see our time together come to a close yet each memory we made, each tear we cried, each laugh we shared...I have forever tucked away deep within my heart. I am so thankful that this was not the end of something but only the beginning of a new season in our relationship with the Lord as individuals, in our marriage, in our family... Many of life's satisfactions are short-lived and bring temporary fulfillment yet my God, who has known me from the beginning of time, has blessed my life with this man who I am honored to call my own. He is mine to love, to hold, to care for, to nurture, to sharpen, to forgive, to grow old with... He created Kyle just for me and he is the richest gift besides my salvation in Jesus Christ that I could ever have been given. As the Lord showed me last week, the union that Kyle and I share together is the next most important relationship in line to the one I have with my Maker, Creator and Savior. Kyle is my Jesus in the flesh and I will forever be in love with him.

As I journaled this morning:
God, I so love you and I bless you for giving me a man, a leader, a provider, a protector, a lover, a best friend, a teacher, a healer, a counselor...a man after Your own heart. I thank you for Kyle and the sweet and precious memories made this past weekend. I will tuck them deep within my heart, always to be remembered! He is my everything and my richest gift from you!