The Set Up

Shawn and I renewing our vows in South Beach, FL in September 2011

Looking back on August 18, 2006, I had no idea what lay ahead of me on this wonderful journey of marriage.  I can recall thinking that Shawn and I would eat dinner together every day at the table, he would be everything that I ever thought a "Disney" prince would be....and I of course would be his "Disney" princess. 

When I was a child I remember thinking how I wanted to grow up and be just like some characters I often saw in the movies.  I never once imagined that "Belle" was a figment of someones imagination and that real love actually must be tested.  Over the past 5 almost 6 years I have found that the love that Shawn and I share has been tested, tried, and tested again. 

When we entered into marriage, we never once thought that the fairytale romance that we were in would have to face some really dark days.  I think every relationship must go through its own set of test and trials. But through them you become unified and refined even more for the purpose in which you were brought together.



This is one of my favorite picutres of the day.  A love that is standing the test of time.


Over the course of the years I have learned the most about myself, Shawn and most importantly God.  One thing I really had to learn and accept was that if the test is there, God had to allow it to touch my life for a reason.  That is a really hard pill to swallow....especially when things don't make sense.  Especially when you are doing all you know to do to be right and yet and still its one thing right after the other.  Trust me...I have been there. 

But through it all I can say that when I was speechless, heart broken, disappointed, angry, shattered and frozen in disbelief, that very thing was a set up to push me into the next phase of my life.  You see for me its all about worshiping and serving this magnificent God who I have learned to love with my whole heart.  And honestly I didn't start off there.  But through the trials of life, I can honestly say that the set up allowed me to know who i am, who I belong too, and who God is to me. I've learned what love truly is and if it wasn't for the set up....I'm not quite sure I would be where I am today.

As I am thinking about how God has set up my life according to his perfect will and plan for me...I can't help but to think of my babies. I don't believe in coincidences or luck. However, I do believe in God's divinity and all knowing power.  With that said, our babies, who are being birthed in a place that has roughly 58 million people with 30 million of those individuals under the age of 18.  Birthed in a place that is one of the top five countries that have the most deaths of children under the age of 5.  Birthed in a place where most people live on less than $2 US dollars a day. Our babies are being set up for a powerful testimony.  They will be able to tell others how they were predestined to be born in such an adverse environment and then how God rescued them by his Grace and Mercy.

Much like their mommy and daddy, J and J will be able to stand before many people and speak about how God kept them through the storms of life.  I love the testimony that Shawn and I have been given.  We can stand and say that even when most people counted us out....God had other plans, He sent forth help, strength, a mind and heart to forgive and much more.  God is faithful.  He chose two unlikely people to show forth His glory.  God is good!  I have learned that God not only gave me my "Disney" prince which I hoped for but he also gave me exactly what I needed to make this journey.  The Set up.......



Predestined for the set up.....



It's all about the "set up". Being able to look at your current circumstance and realizing that GOD IS IN CONTROL. He is in control of the good days, bad days, lazy days, slow days, hectic days, sleepy days, and you fill in the blank days.  He is in control.  It is His set up.  And we have to learn how to sit back and enjoy the ups and downs of life's journey.  After all it is all for His glory!