I Believe...

I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 27 years ago this month. As I sat listening to the members bear their testimonies this past Sunday, it crossed my mind that there are so many things I believe that I don't ever really talk about...religious and not. I wanted to blog about some things before and worried that it might be offensive to some. However, I have learned to appreciate differences in opinions and I hope that everyone else has, too ;o) So, I sat down with a piece of paper with "I Believe" at the top and started making a list of my thoughts that finished the sentence. I am hoping to keep up with blogging one thought each day this month.

I believe God has a plan for us.

I have no doubt about this. I love that He knows what is best for us more than we do. I also love that we don't often know what that plan is until we have weathered a storm and finally see the rainbow! And that is all part of the plan ;o)

Geno and I have moved many times during our marriage. Each one of those moves was a necessary step to the plan of our lives together. On a couple of those moves, I almost didn't go. (Geno didn't know that until this past year when we had some serious heart to heart talks.) I had some strong feelings of dread about what might happen being in some of those locations, but I loved Geno and wanted to be with him. The wonderful thing is that I can look back at each place and see why it was important for us to be there. I can also look back and see how those places were good for the boys.

Where we live now has been the second toughest place I have ever lived. The place that ranks first was helped by the fact that I had the young boys to focus on. While I was so happy for Geno and supportive of moving for his job, I had no idea that I would be so lonely here! We had been in NWA for 11 years, and I have some amazing friends there. However, it became clear to me last year that I had begun to rely more on my friends than I had my husband. So, when the storms came, Geno and I were forced to rely on each other since that was all we had here.

WHAT A HUGE BLESSING THIS HAS BEEN!

Our marriage is (dare I say it?) perfect! REALLY! Now a perfect marriage does not mean that we never have any disagreements. Just in a perfect marriage we know how to work through any issues with love and respect. We have come to a whole new level in our marriage, and I have to say that I am sure it would never have happened if we had not lived here and been forced to rely on each other.

I also don't think that it is coincidence that we live just down the road from the Arachnoiditis Foundation. Geno was able to get the treatments for this disease just within the window for the greatest success, and so far it has been a complete success as far as we can tell. He has had to change his lifestyle, but he is not in pain. If you had seen him in January before the treatments, you would know that is a huge success.

I can list so many other things that have happened in my life as part of my plan (like two pregnancies while on birth control!), but it is just too much to write! I will just say that I am grateful for God's plan for me (us) :o)