God of the Detail

God's Hand is evident in the "big" things of life. Creation, the Exodus, oceans, childbirth, etc. are just a few examples that are easy to see the big ways that God moves. But what about the details? Have you ever seen the tiny close up detail pictures of sea creatures that live on the bottom of the ocean floor? No one sees them but God. Psalm 104:26 says that God created the Leviathan to play in the ocean, yet no one knows where or what the Leviathan is. God moves in every detail.

Nearly three weeks ago, we were in a car wreck. The van crumbled in the impact (and was totaled, by the way.) Yesterday, Ray talked to a man who was involved in a car wreck several years ago, very similar to mine. He was driving an older suburban, like I used to drive. The injuries they had were so extensive that the man and his wife nearly died and spent a long time in the hospital. The suburban didn't crumble, it bounced everything off of them, it stayed strong. The detail that I see God's hand in and how does it apply to us? I just bought a van with the latest safety features, it was supposed to crumble and take the impact of the crash, so we didn't have to. Some engineer, that I don't know, researched and figured out that a crumpled vehicle is safer than a metal bouncer. God has used those tiny details to save lots of lives, including Hannah, Abigail and me.

In front of the Tower Bridge in London.

But what about other details? Today, Ray and I celebrate twenty eight years of marriage. How many details has God orchestrated to get us here, where we are today? Many bumps in the road, many mountain top experiences are under our belts, lots of "big" events, we do have six children and two grandchildren. Yet, detail after detail God has moved us together.

I am thankful for twenty-eight years of details that God has intricately woven in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:15)

Happy Anniversary to the Man I Love!

Ray knows the way to my heart, chocolate. 

 For our 26th wedding anniversary a dear friend gave us a night away to Chattanooga. It was a wonderful time of relaxation and food! We ate out, walked around and talked for two days. It was so good to get away from the normal cares of life and just be together. It does our marriage good to have some uninterrupted time.

Charleston, SC

Rachel and Adrian sent us off in style in their car.

The sites were beautiful!

The food was... well... This is fried green tomatoes on a bed of grits with fried ham between each slice, smothered with a bacon-tomato chutney. We ate at Magnolia's, The Southend Brewery, Cru Cafe' and Cypress. I can't choose a favorite, it was all scrumptious!

We rode bikes all over the city. I hadn't been on a bike in years so it took me a few minutes to get comfortable on it.

The time together was the BEST!

Fort Sumter was great.

Some 25th Anniversary Pictures

To celebrate our anniversary, I had always thought we would go someplace exotic, but since Abigail was born, exotic places are really out of the question for a long time. Besides the huge party the girls planned for us, Ray had several days of fun planned. We enjoyed time just being together.

We ate lunch at Chateau Elan and toured their facilities.

If you haven't eaten at a dinner movie theatre, you should, we loved it!

Ray bought me a new dress to wear on our "fancy" date. We ate ate Aria's in Atlanta then walked around downtown. 

Ray had the waiter serve these beautiful earrings to me under a covered platter. Besides impeccable service and delicious food, everything was so pretty. 

The view from the rotating restaurant on top of the Hilton Hotel is breathtaking and free to the public.

We were so honored by our children when they put together an amazing party to celebrate our 25th anniversary. 

 The girls prepared many of the foods that were at our wedding reception. They learned to appreciate the hours and hours that my mom spent making heart shaped ham biscuits and sausage balls the week before the wedding.

 Most of the decorations were from our wedding. Here,  the cake topper and 'the bridesmaids and groomsmen' sit on a table with a painting that Rachel did.

 Lydia wrote a very sweet welcoming speech for us.

We had so much fun visiting with are dearest friends in the world.

 The girls had put together a slide show of pictures from every year of our life together.

  

Overwhelmed

...is the only word I can think of. When the girls asked if they could have a party for Ray and me to celebrate our 25th anniversary, I had mixed emotions. I didn't want them to go to so much trouble and I knew I wasn't comfortable with so much attention on me. But at church, the elder making the announcement said, "The Rhodes children want to honor their parents." That's when I got excited. 

When you give a gift, how do you feel? Do you want the receiver to be embarrassed or shy? No, you want them to receive it joyfully. After I had my thinking changed, I tried more to receive the gift more joyfully. I watched them work, and they worked hard! I waited as they whispered about secret details, and there is always whispering of secrets! And I thoroughly enjoyed the getting ready together. 

The party was overwhelming. They had invited our church and family and decorated everything beautifully. There was a sweet video and slide show put together of our wedding and life together. And through it all the girls arranged for all gifts to go to a "second honeymoon" type getaway to Charleston, SC. I am so blessed to have such sweet children.

Ray & Lori - 25 Years

Twenty-five years to the man I love. Thank you God!

Love Sacrificially

Titus 2 lists things older women are to teach younger women. On that list is to "love their husbands". I don't think it's on there by accident or chance. Women are hormonal, fickle creatures led too much by emotions. There I said it, I know it's a generalization, but too often true of women, including myself.

In the beginning of marriage you are "living on love". The emotions are usually running high and sweet. But with time, valleys come, and they must be crossed effectively or they will destroy a marriage. Women have to seek out ways to love their husbands actively. I know that Ephesian's command for husbands is to love their wives as Christ loved the church, but I think there can be application for women too. We must be willing to give up ourselves daily to love our husbands. Women must learn to love in a sacrificial way too. 


Coming up on my twenty-fifth anniversary I've been thinking about these things a lot. Non Christians can hang on and have long marriages, they can grin and bear it through the rough days. They can learn how to date creatively and ask good questions. Until a couple learns to love one another as Christ loved the church, they can't have that God glorifying marriage.  

24 Years!

I am constantly amazed that God has blessed me so much! Happy Anniversary to Ray!

50 Year Anniversary

One of the most glorious things I've been a part of in the Rhodes family is celebrating Ray's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. How can that be? 50 years? Hebrews 13:4 is the answer! Marriage has been held in honor.

The pictures are from top -

Ray's parents in front of the cake that Rachel made. It was made to look like their original cake.

The whole family minus Robert and Josh, who couldn't be there.

The parents with their own six children.

Our own five precious girls who have learned some valuable lessons on marriage in their short lives by the example of this family.

Anniversary Number 22

The girls bought, prepared and served a fine dinner for our wedding anniversary. They cleaned the dining room, turned on soft music and hung white sheets over the doorways for us to eat alone quietly, though it was hard not to notice the little peepers.

The Funniest Anniversary Card Ever

Pastor Jerry White of Emmanuel Community Church sent his wife the funniest anniversary card that I have ever heard. I think they have been married 40 plus years and he sends red roses to her with a card that he has signed and written on it Proverbs 31:10-31. One year he had a slight mistake on the card. He wrote Psalm 31:10-31. Mrs. White went straight to the Bible to see what the new wonderful truths her husband had found for her. Thankfully, she is very good natured, recognized the mistake and can laugh about it now.

Twenty-One Amazing Years