Excerpt from Mommy's Life Journal

Writing Promt:
How did you know that Dad was the one you would spend your life with?

By the time I met your dad (John), I had been through more than my fair share of boyfriends. There was even one guy that I had thought I'd spend my life with. It took quite awhile for me to realize that I needed to stop searching for "the one". The guy that I had given my heart to before your daddy didn't treasure it for the gift that it was, and as a result he broke it. While I was healing from this hurt, God truly made himself known to me and I realized that He was "the one" I was looking for. For the first time I surrendered my desire to be loved, and before I knew it I was drowning in the intimacy of God's grace.

I set in my heart and mind a list of standards that I believed God wanted me have for the man I would give my newly healed heart to. Here were some of the things that I had to see in a young man.
1. Love God first and foremost
2. His life must show the fruit of this love
3. Family must be a priority.
4. A hard worker
5. Intellectual
6. Character above reproach
7. Must endure to preserve romance
The list goes on but to put it simply I was going to be picky.

I met your dad not long after this took place in my heart. Our first date resembled a trial more than a romantic experience. I was delighted to know that John had endured a similar experience and had settled his heart on the same matters. Your dad and I questioned each other back and forth to determine if we each met each others standards. He did and I did, and by the time that date was over a deep peace settled over my heart. Over the next weeks God revealed in countless ways that John Davidson was my prince.

I'll share one sweet specific example. Before I even knew your dad, I had prayed that God would help me know His choice on mate. I asked him to have the young man surprise me by dancing with me under the stars. Your dad and I had not been seeing each other long when one evening on the way home he pulled over in a parking lot. (Yes readers,I was a bit leery too). He told me to climb in the back on his truck and close my eyes. (Yep, creepy). Skeptically I did as told. Suddenly I heard music and then opened my eyes to see John holding out his arms. He asked if I would like to dance and I said yes. As I laid in bed that night, praying and asking God for guidance, my previous request came to mind. Not once had I mentioned this to anyone. I'm not saying that God fulfills our petty needs for signs, but this moment truly seemed to be appointed by my Father.

It wasn't long after that night that your dad told me he wanted to marry me, and I was able to assure him with all of my heart that I wanted the same...

Politically Correct Christmas

Regardless of who you are...

Regardless of what you believe...

Regardless of what generation you hale from...

Regardless of where you're from...

Regardless of your political leanings...

Christmas is about Jesus!

To any and all who say otherwise, I hope that truth seeps into your soul with every gift you open this Christmas.

Just had to get that off my chest!

Excerpt from Mommy's Life Journal

I thought that occasionally I might let some of you in on a few of my secrets that I'm sharing in Abigail's journal. So sit back and enjoy a foray into the mind of Brianne!

Writing Prompt:
What was the worst date you've ever been on?

The summer before I met your dad (John), was the first single time I had experienced in over 4 years. I had several dating experiences, but one sticks out as the worst. A good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless for his sake) and I had been hanging out frequently and were really enjoying one another's company. At Jessie and Dusty Davis' cookout he finally asked me if I would like to go on a date. I agreed thinking that although we were total opposites that it might be just what I was looking for. The night of our date things started off well until I opened the door when he picked me up to find him standing there dressed in turn of the century golfing attire. We went to Bobe's ( a local pizza place) and had dinner. Our prearranged plans included getting together with other friends to play music and hang out, but when this feel through my date's mood went sour. Needless to say this made things awkward. By the end of dinner I feared that he was nearing the point of being mildly depressed. I asked what he'd like to do next and he replied that he was taking me home. I was dropped off on my doorstep with the sun still up on a Friday night. Obviously I was a little bummed that things turned out so poorly and to compound this I didn't hear from the guy until a month later. He told me he'd had a great time and would like to go out again, but he was too late. By this time I'd met your dad and lost my heart to him.