You and Me

thepowerofprayer: I made this blog because a photo of my...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:56:10 -0400

I made this blog because a photo of my husband and I has gone viral on the internet. I wanted to share the story behind the photo for the hundreds of thousands of people who found inspiration through this sweet moment we had.

The Story Behind the Photo

Moments before I was to walk down the aisle my soon to be mother in law came in the dressing room where my bridesmaids and I were all gushing with giggles and fluttering about finishing last minute details.

“Sweetheart, your groom has called for you!”.

In a nervous tizzy I said, “What?! I’m not ready! I have to get my shoes and…” She had already taken my hand and led me to a corner, where my groom was waiting. I barely sat down; I was filled with so much anticipation! So much excitement! So many nerves!

“Is he going to like my dress? Does my hair look pretty? Can he see me?!”

Right around the corner sat my soon to be husband, I so was nervous he might see me yet secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of him. In my excited state I was the first to speak,

“Hi sweetie! We’re getting married today!”

“I know baby and I want to pray with you before we do.”

There we sat around the corner hand in hand, and together we bowed our heads. People were rushing about; the wedding coordinator directing people here and there, the photographers snapping photos and the bridal party enjoying each others company. Yet in that moment, in the quietness of our hearts and minds, my husband and I were alone in the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

My husband prayed that God would bless our marriage, that through thick or thin together we would never lose hope in one another. That instead of focusing on each others imperfections we would always rely on Christ’s perfection. That we would wake up every day and chose to love one another not through our own strength but by the power of Christ’s perfect love.

With our hands clenched tightly to one another together we said “Amen”, both with shaky voice and just like that I was whisked away to blot the tears off my face and put on my veil.

After my bridesmaids, mother, mother-in-law and every other girl in the room had finished zipping, curling, tucking and blushing me up I looked in the mirror. There I stood wearing my pure white wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle to my Prince Charming.

See, he is not only my Prince Charming because of his incredibly handsome looks, or wonderful humor, or the fact that we have so much in common. He is my Prince Charming because he helped me protect the most precious gift that I owned, my purity.

Soon after we had started dating I nervously told my Prince that I was a virgin and planned to be until the night of my wedding; to which he replied he would have it no other way.

Throughout our dating relationship and engagement we constantly fought, what at times felt like a losing battle. We fought temptation with prayer, scripture and accountability. I had friends checking up on me if they knew we were together late at night and he regularly met with other Godly men to pray for strength. At times, especially as the wedding grew closer, we thought we were attempting to do the impossible.

“Why are we doing this?” I would ask in my weakness, and he would remind me, that it’s because God had told us too.

“I can’t do it, I can’t… this is too hard!” he would confess to me and I would pray for his strength.

When I walked down the aisle in my white dress, I looked straight into the eyes of the man that had laid himself down to protect and honor the wife that God had given him.

When his eyes first caught mine he looked into the face of the woman that had waited for him, the woman that would support him and love him for the rest of His life, through good times and bad.

I share all of this because in that prayer we prayed, which was captured here on camera we asked the Lord to use our wedding to bring Him all of the glory that He rightfully deserved. We had not gotten where we were by our own strength, but by His hand of protection on our relationship.

God has used this photo to inspire hundreds of thousands of people already and for that we are humbled and honored! I wanted to take it a step further and give God praise and thanks for how we arrived at that quiet corner, holding hands and ready to begin our lives together.

(photo by the incredible Kim Burke, www.kdburkephotography.com)

Rear Facing Myths | CarSeat.se

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:51:18 -0400

Rear Facing Myths | CarSeat.se:

themamabird:

There are quite a few reasons why people don’t keep children rear facing longer. Many parents don’t know how much safer it is but some also rely on myths to turn their child forward facing. A few of the common ones:

• My child’s legs are touching the vehicle seat which is dangerous:Research has show this is not the case. It’s not dangerous to have long legs or let them hang over the edge of the seat. Forward facing children not exempt from lower extremity injuries either. “The lower extremity is among the most frequently injured body regions for children restrained by forward facing child restraint systems (FFCRS), accounting for 28% of their clinically significant injuries, defined as AIS 2 and greater injuries excluding concussions.”.

• All rear facing get car sick: Not true. There are cases with children getting car sick while rear facing but it’s extremely rare.

• My child can’t see out the window while rear facing: Children who have switched from an infant seat can see out the window just fine while rear facing

• Children hate to sit rear facing: Not true. A child who has been sitting forward facing for years and is then turned back around might complain. A child who has been sitting rear facing since the beginning rarely complain.

• I have to turn my child forward facing at 12 months, it’s the law: There are laws saying how long parents must keep children rear facing but none which regulate forward facing. A child should sit rear facing for as long as possible. Those are guidelines which more countries are starting to follow.

• My 14 month old has a strong neck, I can turn her forward facing: Not a good idea. A rear facing child is 500% safer than forward facing. It may seem like the neck is strong but a collision with a child who is forward facing puts tremendous force on the child’s head, neck and spine.

• My seat says I can forward face at 20 lbs. so that’s what I’m going to do: Not a good idea. Research has shown it’s far safer to stay rear facing. Difference in safety are largest during the first 24 months.

• Rear facing children are at increased risk for collision from the rear: Research has shown this is not the case. Collisions from the rear are rare, roughly 5% of accidents, and usually also less severe than frontal impacts. The guideline is that rear facing children are as safe or safer in collisions from the rear.

• Rear facing is a new thing with research just now becoming available: Not true. Sweden have been rear facing children since 1965 and the huge benefits were known early on.

• Rear facing is uncomfortable for my child: Older rear facing children often sit with bent legs which is not uncomfortable. Notice how children sit when they play, almost never with legs straight out. It’s very rare hearing a child complain about leg problems while rear facing.

CAR SEAT SAFETY IS NOT A PERSONAL CHOICE, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR YOUR CHILD.

mamalungs: xxemoxangel: starlightspies: music-and-bullshit: f...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:38:57 -0400

mamalungs:

xxemoxangel:

starlightspies:

music-and-bullshit:

fuckmikefuck:

piercetheveilbro:

Happy Father’s Day Mitch! We miss you but you will forever be in our hearts. Kenadee will turn out just fine with you watching her.

RIP Mitch

This is the third time I’ve read this and it’s the third time it’s broken my heart.

Oh my lord, what a way to tear my heart out.

I MISS YOU MITCH

Saw this the second it was posted. Miss you Mitchy.

always reblog mitch. always heartbroken

Dear Mom: Yes, we would all be better off without you. Yes, the fact that I didn’t call you...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:05:34 -0400

Dear Mom:

Yes, we would all be better off without you. Yes, the fact that I didn’t call you this morning when I was at the doctor and doing schoolwork means that nobody cares about you. And yes, the fact that I have a boyfriend (not even the fact that I hang out with him, just that he exists) definitely means that he’s all that I care about and that I must not pay anymore attention to you.

And definitely yes, me, dad and Gabby all hate you. We definitely don’t care about you. That’s why when you were sick on Monday, we all totally worked our schedules around so that no one would be home with you. That’s why I called to make sure you were okay. Yup, I totally don’t care.

Actually you are right about one thing. I cannot stand you. You are a shitty mother. And yes, the way you raised me is the reason I disrespect you. I’m 19 years old and still have to answer to my fucking mother. I can’t even have a morning without coming in contact with you, and suddenly you’re having a breakdown at work and going to kill yourself. You say my kids are going to disrespect me the way I disrespect you. Well, fuck no. My children are going to actually know what freedom and independence are. My children are going to be respected and not have to do things just because I say so. MY CHILDREN ARE NOT GOING TO BE HIT JUST BECAUSE THEY DO SOMETHING I DO NOT LIKE.

Sincerely, your daughter who does fucking hates you and can’t wait to move out of your house.

I’m dumbfounded that people actually still believe there’s a link between vaccines and...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:10:30 -0400

I’m dumbfounded that people actually still believe there’s a link between vaccines and autism…

love-1910: mynondisneyplaylist: Once Upon a December |...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:05:23 -0400

love-1910:

mynondisneyplaylist:

Once Upon a December | Anastasia OST

Best song ever.

paigeallenyummm: “this leaves men confused and unable to...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:37:49 -0400

paigeallenyummm:

“this leaves men confused and unable to pigeonhole you. What they are forced to do instead is… take you seriously.”

Reblog every time

basemvnt: yay for edits

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:14:39 -0400

basemvnt:

yay for edits

missesdressy: Asymmetrical Crystal Organza by Moonlight...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:11:43 -0400

missesdressy:

Asymmetrical Crystal Organza by Moonlight Collection in Peach, shop it here.

talkerwhenshetalks: absolutepreposterousness: All Shook Up by...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:25:36 -0400

talkerwhenshetalks:

absolutepreposterousness:

All Shook Up by Avila.

Love this version.

inn-between-dreamss: Unwell-Matchbox 20

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:17:58 -0400

inn-between-dreamss:

Unwell-Matchbox 20

talkerwhenshetalks: vestigialangel: Kind of what is going on...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:17:32 -0400

talkerwhenshetalks:

vestigialangel:

Kind of what is going on with Alex and Lori right now. Or at least I think so.

This song. Right now. Ugh
Fits sooo damn good.

I’m sitting here bawling watching The Bachelorette. They went to Seaside to see the damage...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:14:38 -0400

I’m sitting here bawling watching The Bachelorette. They went to Seaside to see the damage done from Hurricane Sandy. Seeing all these homes destroyed breaks my heart and hits so close to home.

I go in tomorrow morning to get my TB test done. Then I have to go to the hospital and fill out my...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:20:27 -0400

I go in tomorrow morning to get my TB test done. Then I have to go to the hospital and fill out my background check forms. The woman who runs volunteering is going to try to get me placed in a nursing unit! I’m looking to do Thursday mornings and I hope I start soon!

hellotoparadise: Love the turtle :)

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:22:00 -0400

hellotoparadise:

Love the turtle :)

Photo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:11:28 -0400

Photo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:05:48 -0400

Photo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:59:17 -0400

I had my hospital volunteering orientation. It was boring and the same thing I’ve sat through...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:56:21 -0400

I had my hospital volunteering orientation. It was boring and the same thing I’ve sat through the last two times.

BUT. Tomorrow I get to call the lady who handles college volunteers and get my assignment and exactly what I’ll be doing!!!

So I’ve been playing Neopets for the last two hours….

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:54:57 -0400

So I’ve been playing Neopets for the last two hours….