Home Improvement Part II

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"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." Winston Churchill
I joked yesterday about how greatly Joshua's life has improved since his marriage to me. In reality, it is Joshua who has helped me to improve. Even before we were married he was always concerned with helping me be my very best. He continues to encourage me to strive to improve and to better myself daily.

• My love is concerned about my physical well being. He always encourages me to eat better: less fast-food and more organic. We started working out and exercising together. Joshua even turned me on to running. We now run together several times a week.
  
• Joshua is interested in my mental development. He is very much a believer in the "garbage in-garbage out" theory of mental development. It has been his mission to make sure that there be as little "garbage in" as possible, where my mind is concerned. To that end he has encouraged me to read thoughtful books designed to get me thinking more deeply on edifying and Christ-centered topics. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
  
• He longs to know my heart. Joshua craves to spend hours in deep, meaningful conversation with me. This has pushed me to open my heart and learn how to share my deepest thoughts and feelings. It has challenged me to strive to become a better communicator. We engage in deep conversations on a regular basis. As I become more accustomed to this kind of deep sharing, I foresee this happening more and more frequently, with the conversations lasting for hours. That he so longs to delve into the depths of my heart is a testimony to his love for me and I love him for it.
  
• Joshua cares about my walk with the Lord. He wants to know that I am growing in my knowledge, understanding and reliance on God. It matters to him that I am able to have time alone with God daily. It is also a priority that we share times of worship, prayer and talking about spiritual things together. Through Joshua's spiritual leadership I have grown in my faith and knowledge of God. When we can pray about something together it strengthens our bond and brings us closer. It is a way of teaching me trust: in him, and most importantly, in God.

So, for all the little trifles I may have added to his life, Joshua has added things of infinitely more value to mine. Things such as memories, wisdom and love. Thanks, baby!

Home Improvement

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It is a wonderful and humbling thing to witness positive changes in the life of another and know that one has had a hand in bringing them about. Take Joshua, for instance. There have been many positive changes in his life since we got married. For starters I have opened him up to the worlds of Lost, Psych and Harry Potter (he actually went and saw the Half-Blood Prince in the theatre with me TWICE!). He is also learning Portuguese. Granted his vocabulary is currently limited to words and phrases such as chato (aggravating), bum-bum (butt), linda (beautiful), querida (sweet), and so on, but he is learning.

Lest you think I only impart frivolous knowledge to my husband, let me assure you that his theology and logic are also much improved since we've been married. For example: this weekend we met a young man, a very, very Southern Baptist young man - at least in Joshua's assessment of him. Some time after we had parted company with the gentleman Joshua made the observation that he was very much a Southern Baptist and it was very obvious. How so?, I wanted to know. Well, said Joshua, it was obvious he was well fed in that fried-chicken, fried-catfish-eating kinda way. When I pointed out to Joshua that he was well-fed too he brushed that aside saying it was different, he wasn't that well-fed. I pointed out that it sounded a little bit, just a tad, as if he were passing judgment on the young man. Without missing a beat he replied:

"I'm not passing judgment. I'm stereotyping. It's different."

See, I learned in Seminary that that is what you call the doctrine of justification. And, yes, my kind of logic is rubbing off on him a bit. (Good one, honey!)

He is also catching on to my sense of adventure. Two weeks ago Southern Seminary had their annual Fall Festival on the great lawn. Thisone was extra special in celebration of the Seminary's 150th anniversary. They had a rock-climbing wall, bmx riders (which I kept calling motorcross - I mean, how different are they, really?), jousing, burgers, candy, and .... - a mechanical bull!!! So, guess what yours truly decided she wanted to do? You got it! Ride the mechanical bull! Joshua did not want to at first, but once I rode he decided to give it a go. So we rode and I got a bruised elbow, a very badly banged up knee and some whip-lash to show for my pains and Joshua got a cut hand. But it was worth it!

Tune in later this week to find out how I have improved since marrying Joshua - after all, marriage is a two-way street. For now, enjoy the pics of our now infamous mechanical bull ride!