Blog

I've decided to create a blog to share and journal about being a new Stepmom and wife. In two weeks I will marry Ethan Ramsey and I couldn't be more happy to commit my life to him.

As I was living in Germany and working for Campus Crusade for Christ, I was happy to serve God and experienced many exciting adventures. I loved traveling through Tunisia, Korea, East Asia and Europe. My friendships with teammates were priceless. Reaching students was strategic and challenging. Learning a language was one of the greatest ways God showed me how He works through my weakness.

Through all these adventures, deep inside I longed to have someone by my side to walk through the challenges and joys of life together. I longed to be a helpmate to someone. I longed to serve God with someone. Yet, the Lord didn't seem to be bringing anyone along my path.

Now that I am soon to marry and can look back on the past years, particularly post college, I see more of the plan God had in mind. I wasn't ready to get married until recently. Even now, I am sure the Lord will use marriage to sanctify me-- ironing out my selfishness, pride and all kinds of other sins I deal with. I see how my time of singleness was time of preparation. Ethan and I were not ready for each other until now.

This once again reminds me that God knows the whole picture-- as I walk through life, I can only understand such a small part of the story of life and His plan for all of creation. I see that I am a small child compared to God.  He is our Heavenly and loving Father and He is in control and knows what is best.

This reminds me of what I am learning as a soon-to-be Stepmom...

Children think they know what is best for them and they will argue (if they are 9 years old) or just run away and say "no" (if they are 4 or 6 years old), when they think they know better than the adult or parent. They will ask questions of why, questioning your authority, instead of trusting. They put themselves in dangerous situations, not realizing it. Sometimes I look at Harmony, Lucas and Melody in their childishness (which can be incredibly endearing and at times frustrating) and just think, "Wow, I probably act and talk that way to God, because I think like a child compared to God."

When I first began communicating with Ethan, he wrote something that really caught my attention: 

"I am reading through Dare to Discipline lately. Discipline from a Christian perspective is one of the most loving things imaginable. Every day, God puts me through trials that He lovingly uses to draw me closer to Him. Discipline of your children should reflect the way God disciplines us--all because of His love for His children."

 

I anticipate that becoming a parent will help me understand my relationship with God in new ways...