I am not sure that anybody in the whole wide world still checks this thing-- shucks, even I don't... but I thought I'd post it anyway...
We're going to have a baby!! :)
And not just one day in the future, but in like six and a half months! Wow. I know. It's hard to believe, but we are so excited. This makes three grandbabies in the Ryan family in three months. Whoa. We do babies like we do weddings- All at the same time! :) Everything's going fine so far-- I haven't gotten sick (praise the Lord) and can really only tell a difference in how tired I am ALL THE TIME and not really wanting to eat a whole lot except egg drop soup and root beer. Go figure. :)
The Lord has been so good to us... I am having such a wonderful school year. I am teaching second grade at a small Christian school called Heritage Christian Academy. (They havent updated the faculty pics from this year yet) It is the most precious place and I love every day that I get to spend there. What a blessing God has provided for me in hemming me in on all sides with such yuckiness last year that I ended up somewhere that I never dreamed. I mean really... I have a BA in BIOLOGY from Clemson and I'm teaching second grade. The Lord really does put ya where he wants ya. I am so glad that he is in control and not me. His plans are so much better than anything I could come up with!
Even though I love my job to pieces, I have to say that I am thankful that today was the last day before Christmas break. It's nice to have a little time to catch up on things. AND-- we're going to Las Vegas for Christmas! (I know.... spending Jesus's birthday in the sin city? Come on! But it was an all expenses paid trip including first class tickets and a stay in the penthouse at Bally's and we didn't get to pick the dates--- plus, with a little one on the way, we won't be able to just up and go too much longer... so might as well take advantage of it while we can! :) )
We have been so blessed and I am just continually amazed at the Lord's grace and mercy to us. Not only does he not give me what I deserve for coming so very short of what he asks of me.. but he blesses me abundantly in spite of that. What a mighty and gracious God we serve. He is showing me more and more each day that it isn't about me and what I do, but about HIM and what HE does even in spite of my vast shortcomings. Praise Him!!!
And a Very Merry Christmas to you in case somebody actually does read this! :)
12.15.2006
7.07.2006
Peaches
Say hello to the newest member of the Ryan Family! This is Peaches. We got her a couple of weeks ago and she is just the cutest and sweetest little puppy I've ever seen. Seeing how I'm home alone each day now that summer's here, we've totally bonded. I just love her to pieces and I see now why people go so ga-ga over their pets. She just melts my heart! She's a 6 month old maltese and probably as big as she'll get. The family that got her as a baby puppy had three kids under the age of six and just couldn't take care of her. I think the the Lord was just preparing her for us! She's the calmest, snuggly-est, most low key doggie ever! She lets me hold her like a little baby and fix her hair up in bows. She even sleeps til noon with me! Who could ask for more?! It's so much fun having a little pup to call our own. She's such delight! See below for pics! :)
5.22.2006
One year in the books.
Whew!
The first year’s behind us. They say (whoever “they” are…) that if you make it through the first year, the rest of the years are a piece of cake! Well, we did it! Today we’ve been married a year. It’s absolutely insane how fast time flies. I thought, to commemorate the date, I’d write a little blog about what I’ve learned my first year as a wife.
I don’t know nearly as much about marriage, wifelyhood, servitude, obedience, patience, or grace as I thought I did before I was married.
This, from Cindy this morning, sums it up:
“Marriage isn’t supposed to make you happy, it’s supposed to make you holy.”
True, true. Happiness is a by product of holiness, but the Lord is the joy-giver.
It’s more important for me to be obedient to the Lord in my submission to my husband, than RIGHT. Ouch, that’s a toughie.
Sports center is NOT the enemy. Neither is Golf. :) I would rather have a happy husband that an empty trashcan. After all, he gives me grace even when the laundry is waist deep!
Silly is the best way to be.
A man with a lot of underwear is a gem indeed. And one who wears things multiple times before considering them “dirty” is to be praised.
Girl time is still just as necessary post- “I do” as it was pre- “I do.”
He didn’t marry Betty Crocker. And I don’t have to pretend to be her…. Sometimes the best dinners are PB&J with chips.
Pre-marital counseling is easy… but everyone should invest in post-marital counseling the first year. It allows you to “duke it out” with a referee.
Marriage is a process…
It’s interesting to me to see people who aren’t married and those who are and to see that there is no way to explain to those who aren’t how it is to be. They just have to wait till they are to be able to see how it is. Maybe it’s like heaven in that respect.
I thought I knew a lot about how I would be or it would be, and it is different than what I thought. And others I've talked to say the same. Again and again, I am reminded that this life is not about me, but about the Lord and His glory. It’s about being stretched and chiseled- both of which can be painful, but both of which produce a beautiful holiness…. a likeness less like self and more like the Savior.
In anything, but especially marriage, it’s easy to look at unbelievers and think, “wow, they’ve got it so easy—everything is just so simple and smooth for them.” But I think I’ve learned a lot about trials and that they are from the Lord BECAUSE he loves us. It’s easy to consider those who have an "easy" situation, Blessed. But for those of us who live in the real world, who face trails of all kinds, we can cling to Romans 5:3, “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” We can be excited and thankful over trials! Not that it's easy or anything...
So many of the Believers that I have spoken with, both young and old, have a testimony of chiseling and stretching during their early years of marriage. I think it is a sweet thing to see believers molded in this way, because in Hebrews 12, we are given insight into what is taking place. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
What a Joy it is to be refined by the Lord! To be challenged and not to be left the same as we were. To look forward to the day of harvest when the growing that is happening now will be gathered up and presented to the Lord as a magnificent gift.
Marriage is fun-- I'd recommend it. Just make sure you stay within the fence.
The first year’s behind us. They say (whoever “they” are…) that if you make it through the first year, the rest of the years are a piece of cake! Well, we did it! Today we’ve been married a year. It’s absolutely insane how fast time flies. I thought, to commemorate the date, I’d write a little blog about what I’ve learned my first year as a wife.
I don’t know nearly as much about marriage, wifelyhood, servitude, obedience, patience, or grace as I thought I did before I was married.
This, from Cindy this morning, sums it up:
“Marriage isn’t supposed to make you happy, it’s supposed to make you holy.”
True, true. Happiness is a by product of holiness, but the Lord is the joy-giver.
It’s more important for me to be obedient to the Lord in my submission to my husband, than RIGHT. Ouch, that’s a toughie.
Sports center is NOT the enemy. Neither is Golf. :) I would rather have a happy husband that an empty trashcan. After all, he gives me grace even when the laundry is waist deep!
Silly is the best way to be.
A man with a lot of underwear is a gem indeed. And one who wears things multiple times before considering them “dirty” is to be praised.
Girl time is still just as necessary post- “I do” as it was pre- “I do.”
He didn’t marry Betty Crocker. And I don’t have to pretend to be her…. Sometimes the best dinners are PB&J with chips.
Pre-marital counseling is easy… but everyone should invest in post-marital counseling the first year. It allows you to “duke it out” with a referee.
Marriage is a process…
It’s interesting to me to see people who aren’t married and those who are and to see that there is no way to explain to those who aren’t how it is to be. They just have to wait till they are to be able to see how it is. Maybe it’s like heaven in that respect.
I thought I knew a lot about how I would be or it would be, and it is different than what I thought. And others I've talked to say the same. Again and again, I am reminded that this life is not about me, but about the Lord and His glory. It’s about being stretched and chiseled- both of which can be painful, but both of which produce a beautiful holiness…. a likeness less like self and more like the Savior.
In anything, but especially marriage, it’s easy to look at unbelievers and think, “wow, they’ve got it so easy—everything is just so simple and smooth for them.” But I think I’ve learned a lot about trials and that they are from the Lord BECAUSE he loves us. It’s easy to consider those who have an "easy" situation, Blessed. But for those of us who live in the real world, who face trails of all kinds, we can cling to Romans 5:3, “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” We can be excited and thankful over trials! Not that it's easy or anything...
So many of the Believers that I have spoken with, both young and old, have a testimony of chiseling and stretching during their early years of marriage. I think it is a sweet thing to see believers molded in this way, because in Hebrews 12, we are given insight into what is taking place. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
What a Joy it is to be refined by the Lord! To be challenged and not to be left the same as we were. To look forward to the day of harvest when the growing that is happening now will be gathered up and presented to the Lord as a magnificent gift.
Marriage is fun-- I'd recommend it. Just make sure you stay within the fence.
4.13.2006
Aloha!
Since I hadn't posted in a VERRRRRY long time-- and the main reason for doing so now is that it's spring break (no school tomorrow yay!) and I've got terrible jet-lag and can't sleep (shucks) --- I thought I'd give ya a peek into what has definitely become my favorite vacation spot :)
Benjamin works for Farm Bureau insurance. (If you're lookin for a good insurance company, and a studly insurace salesman, he's your guy) Each year they have a big incentive trip that really hard working agents can win. Well my B won it and this years trip was to Maui, Hawaii! Wow! It's the prettiest place I've ever seen. I really think the Lord was showing off when he made it cause everything about it just makes you want to PRAISE him! :)
1.04.2006
Trust in the mourning
I still have all four of my grandparents. Better yet, I still have all SIX of my grandparents since my dad is married to my step mom and her parents are still alive as well. I haven't ever lost anybody close to me and for that I am thankful. But I know it will happen because we act like it is a normal thing that people live but an abnormal thing when they die- Even though we know in the back of our heads that everybody dies, it's almost like we don't really believe that. Probably because we weren't created to die- we were created to live forever but the fall put a stop to that and so since we weren't created to die, we don't know how to handle it. We know how to celebrate births because we were made to be born and we know how to celebrate weddings because we were made to wed, but death, we weren't made for death.
Seeing what my principal and her husband are going through is just heart breaking and mind bending. The Lord says that he won't give us a test that is more than we can stand- and maybe that's why i haven't ever lost anybody- I don't know if I could stand it. And why is that? I don't know- Maybe because I wonder about eternity. I know that I know that I know that I love the Lord and that He is mine and I am His- but as far as anybody else, I don't know where they stand with him and that is a huge burden to me. I guess there are two remedies to this burden. Number one: the Lord is in control. And Number two: the Lord is in control. He is big enough and strong enough and capable enough to call people unto himself. He called me, didn't he? AND He is faithful to His promise that He will be our righteousness.
In Jeremiah 33:16 Gods says that Judah (which represents people who are saved) will be called:
"The Lord Our Righteousness." Now, this is an interesting thought to me because it is saying that this will be our name. Our name will be called, "The Lord Our Righteousness." As in, "Hello, my name is, 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'" Or "yes, this is my friend, 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'" I like this. I like thinking of myself in this light because it has nothing to do with me. The Lord is my righteousness. The Lord is anybody's righteousness who calls on Him. I once asked the question of which name would be in the Lamb's book when I get to heaven, jessica hunter or jessica ryan and I got to thinking, maybe it will be "The Lord Our Righteousness." If that is what we who believe are to be called.
I feel a sting to death since I don't know whether people are in heaven or not. I feel like I can't be celebrational since I have no confirmation of arrival. This is a very heavy and sad feeling and I am not quite sure how you get past it. If it is true that the Lord is in control, which I know it is, and if it is true that He really does give life to some people even though we all deserve death then I suppose I can only praise Him for his mercy and trust his judgement. Who am I- one who has been given mercy and called by the name "The Lord Our Righteousness" -to doubt the very one who has made me righteous- God who even made it possible or ever entertained the idea of giving me His righteousness. He is certainly good.
We do not have to call evil, good or sad, happy. He does not ask that of us. He understands our pain because he has been there. He tells us to mourn with those who are mourning. He tells us to Trust in Him with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. I can't remember who it is, but somebody once said
"Don't let what you don't know make you question what you do know."
More than ever, in times or mourning, loss and grief, we must place ourselves "Before the throne of God above" where "we have a strong and perfect plea a great high priest- whose name is love who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart, I know that while in heav'n he stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart- no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When satan tempts me to dispair and tells me of the guilt within upward I look to see Him there, who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless savior died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the just is satisfied, to look on him and pardon me- to look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there the risen Lamb. My perfect spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable I AM the king of Glory and of Grace. One with himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood, my life is hid with Christ on High- with Christ my savior and my God... with Christ my savior and my God..."
Seeing what my principal and her husband are going through is just heart breaking and mind bending. The Lord says that he won't give us a test that is more than we can stand- and maybe that's why i haven't ever lost anybody- I don't know if I could stand it. And why is that? I don't know- Maybe because I wonder about eternity. I know that I know that I know that I love the Lord and that He is mine and I am His- but as far as anybody else, I don't know where they stand with him and that is a huge burden to me. I guess there are two remedies to this burden. Number one: the Lord is in control. And Number two: the Lord is in control. He is big enough and strong enough and capable enough to call people unto himself. He called me, didn't he? AND He is faithful to His promise that He will be our righteousness.
In Jeremiah 33:16 Gods says that Judah (which represents people who are saved) will be called:
"The Lord Our Righteousness." Now, this is an interesting thought to me because it is saying that this will be our name. Our name will be called, "The Lord Our Righteousness." As in, "Hello, my name is, 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'" Or "yes, this is my friend, 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'" I like this. I like thinking of myself in this light because it has nothing to do with me. The Lord is my righteousness. The Lord is anybody's righteousness who calls on Him. I once asked the question of which name would be in the Lamb's book when I get to heaven, jessica hunter or jessica ryan and I got to thinking, maybe it will be "The Lord Our Righteousness." If that is what we who believe are to be called.
I feel a sting to death since I don't know whether people are in heaven or not. I feel like I can't be celebrational since I have no confirmation of arrival. This is a very heavy and sad feeling and I am not quite sure how you get past it. If it is true that the Lord is in control, which I know it is, and if it is true that He really does give life to some people even though we all deserve death then I suppose I can only praise Him for his mercy and trust his judgement. Who am I- one who has been given mercy and called by the name "The Lord Our Righteousness" -to doubt the very one who has made me righteous- God who even made it possible or ever entertained the idea of giving me His righteousness. He is certainly good.
We do not have to call evil, good or sad, happy. He does not ask that of us. He understands our pain because he has been there. He tells us to mourn with those who are mourning. He tells us to Trust in Him with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. I can't remember who it is, but somebody once said
"Don't let what you don't know make you question what you do know."
More than ever, in times or mourning, loss and grief, we must place ourselves "Before the throne of God above" where "we have a strong and perfect plea a great high priest- whose name is love who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart, I know that while in heav'n he stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart- no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When satan tempts me to dispair and tells me of the guilt within upward I look to see Him there, who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless savior died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the just is satisfied, to look on him and pardon me- to look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there the risen Lamb. My perfect spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable I AM the king of Glory and of Grace. One with himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood, my life is hid with Christ on High- with Christ my savior and my God... with Christ my savior and my God..."
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