"Unconditional Love and Obedience"

Andrew and I have 2 dogs, "Huey"-who is Andrew's husky mix, and "Skylar"-who is my golden retriever.  I've had Skylar for 13 years and I used jokingly say, "if I could find a guy who loved me as much as Skylar, then I would be set":).  Andrew and I have talked about our dogs unconditional love for us and related it to Christ's love.  I think about how Skylar looks at me with those big, droopy eyes and loves me no matter what the circumstance.  That is exactly Christ's unconditional love for us.  No matter how many times we've made mistakes or become distant from Him, His love and mercy never fails.
Dogs are so loving and obedient and it's a good reminder of not only Christ's love, but how we should love our husbands.

Both of our sweet dogs were diagnosed with cancer within 1 month of each other.  We are trying to spend as much time with them as we can!! It's crazy how attached you can become to a dog, but they are really family.  They were both given 2-3 months to live, but are still with us and it's been almost 4 months.  We're praying for as much time as we can have as long as they're comfortable!!

FINALLY Blogging to keep in touch with our families and friends! Woohoo!

"His Plan is Perfect...Why and how could I doubt?"

God continues to amaze me with his perfect timing and plan.  Andrew and I desire so much to get pregnant soon and start a family.  I know that His timing and plan are PERFECT, but I am definitely being sharpened and refined in the process of waiting.  It is so comforting to know that Andrew and I are not in control of our lives and that our creator has it all planned down to the details.  I must keep reminding myself of that daily and keep praising Him in the waiting period...
We have been so blessed in our lives and have been shown God's love and mercy in trials and tough times.  Andrew lost his mom to cancer when he was only 15.  I am so proud of him and the strong man of God he is today.  God has truly blessed me with a sweet husband who humbly desires the Lord and to please Him. He is in his 2nd year of Pediatric Oncology Fellowship and though it has been tough and there has been lots of "on call" nights with little sleep, he is persevering and is such a blessing to those kids and their families.  He has the personal experience that can help those families on a deeper, more intimate level which sometimes is just as important as the medical care.
I have been blessed beyond belief by God's miracles and unfailing love and devotion to my family.  My brother, Blaine, was in an accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury when I was 14 and he was 12.  It has now been 20 years since that day that our lives changed, but I'm am more thankful each day that we have Blaine and that he is doing well.  He is such a miracle and testament that NOTHING is too great or difficult for God to handle.  My parents are my example of unwavering faith in God and have had so many trials but God continues to bring Blaine through them and show us over and over again HIS power.
In Genesis, God gave Abraham and Sarah a child past the age of child bearing (WAY too old for kids!!) and Sarah questioned His plan (who wouldn't, right?).  In bible study this week, we randomly chose scriptures to read and tell what they meant to us.  One that really stood out to me and was perfect in this phase of my life was:
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?  I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son". Genesis 18:4
No matter how impossible or crazy it seems, God has a wonderful, perfect plan for everyone who loves Him.

Overwhelmed today by His grace and love for me,

Paige