A Good Man

You know when you have a good partner? Do you honestly know? I'm going to share with you my perspective.

You have a good partner in life when he gives you his best. He knows when you need a special word, or a little encouragement, and he gives it. You have a good partner when he gives life everything he has, and only has the life he builds with you as his influence. You have a good partner when he worries about you... when you're broken - mentally or physically - or both. He sees your struggle, and he tries his best to compensate for it. He makes sure you're safe. He makes sure you feel well, and when you don't, he responds. You have a good partner when his sole focus is to help you through your toughest times. It doesn't matter if he has to eat out of a can for days... if he has to clean the catbox that makes him gag just by thinking of it... he does what needs to be done. He's a strong, sensitive, beautiful soul who knows your soul. You have a good partner when you don't even realize that he's caring for things when you can't. Pain, chores, trips to urgent care, waiting in the waiting room for what may seem to him like hours... He's willing, and he responds.

My partner is one of these select few. He is a real man in my humble opinion. He works. HARD. He puts all he has into his work in order to make a better life for us. He sees us as an eternal partnership. There's nothing he wouldn't give in order to make our lives better.

We have things we need... we joke about it actually. When he went to London for 4 months last year, we had hopes of our "dream couch" to come out of his efforts of being away. I know that seems silly, but we save up for our purchases. Instead of our dream couch, we ended up with our brand new dream furnace. Without that, we would have been struggling in the middle of this past winter, and you know the winter we had... it was brutal. Thank you Jesus for foresight, and for Ben. Everything else is just gravy. We have all we need, and we live a blessed life. I don't put all of that on Ben's steadfastness... the Lord has a part in our lives that sustains us, even if Ben doesn't see it. My prayers and servanthood blesses our lives without ceasing. I know it. I see it. We are a blessed couple. I may not be able to show the outside world everything that we trust in the Lord for, but He shows the world with the life that I live. I know Jesus is a part of this household... and it's a blessing.

Big blessings or small, I praise the Lord for all of them. Ben is the biggest blessing my life has ever seen. I thank God for him every day.

Look at your life. See your blessings. It's such an amazing reality for me... Ben and I have something that is rarely seen in the world today, and I know it. I have an amazing life... and an amazing partner. Praise the Lord!

Where I Find Myself

I'm seeing changes in my life lately. Changes in friendships, and changes in my career path. I've kept holding the torch for my graphic design career, simply because I know this field, and I excel in this field. I can make money in this, and I want to do that. Other artistic venues are here, and are exciting, but they hold a very small candle to the possibilities of earning a decent income.

I recently found great inspiration from mosaic art. I've since purchased the tools and materials to start creating mosaics. I have 3 pounds of glass pieces coming any day, and have acquired the other necessities to create these types of things. It's exciting! I see pinsterest pieces that are so magnificent! I want to do that! I know I will be able, as I learn and go along in the process. I hope to be able to bless my family, friends, and volunteer organizations with pieces that will bless them and increase their monetary income.

A blessing came to me last week where a business owner came to me through LinkedIn and asked me to interview with them this week. I'm waiting to hear if I'm the selected candidate. It's been a long time since I've been offered an interview, so I've been stoked to be found and sought out online. I hope to be able to say that I have a job, but I also realize, after 5 years of trying, that I may not get the job. We are a common group in this area. Graphic designers are not in high demand, unfortunately. The Lord directs my path, and I know whatever I leave my heart open for He will bless and move me forward in.

I've also found blessings in my friendships. I have reconnected with a friend from grade school who still lives right down the road from where we grew up. She has been open and inviting to me, and we have had several conversations over coffee that have begun to grow new connections in our relationship. I'm grateful. She has been a blessing to me. I have seen recently the falling away of more than one relationship due to their own struggles with life in general. I hate seeing them struggle, but I also hate to be a participant in the drama that is involved in a changing life. I steer clear of those issues, and I think it best that I do, because I am VERY OPINIONATED. Shocker, I know...

My post is of gratitude toward my God and my friends. I love you all so very much... and I want to be all that I can for you and to you. Please keep me in mind for your sounding boards, your ear to listen, your shoulder to cry on. I am an excellent listener, after years of practice. Be blessed! We are all in this life together!