Second honeymoon already?

Well, not quite, but close. We're heading back down to Massanutten this weekend (where we spent the second half of our honeymoon).

This time it's with family, the McConnell side, but it's still a weekend at a resort! Maybe this time we'll actually be able to enjoy the activities they provide, like a huge indoor water park!

Who'd have thought? Not I!

SJ over at Keeping Up puts up some great posts (the one I'm thinking of at the moment is Defective Christian). Her struggle with really getting into the Word and enjoying it the way that a Christian ideally should is "me too". Most of my reading of the Bible is relatively dry, in that I don't usually get excited about the reading. I like it and I'm usually touched by what it has to say to me, but I can't say that I usually enjoy it and finding it fascinating.

That has changed now that I have someone there studying it with me. We've just finished reading through Exodus and its looooooong descriptions of the tent, the ark, the altars, the utensils, the curtains, the framing, the clothing, etc. It's actually been less painful that I was fearing, and even at points it has been fun and interesting! I doubt that I've suddenly become a more fervent Christian (though I can hope!), so my only explanation is Charlessa. Having someone there who can discuss things, who will offer their own insights, and who encourages just by being company and a companion in the endeavor boosts the enjoyment and delight in studying the scriptures.

If iron sharpens iron, Jesus attends when 2 or more are gathered in His name, and companions mean there is someone to pick the other up, then shouldn't married couples be the ultimate fighting force in the Christian world? Where else is there the constant rubbing which sharpens and soothes? Who has the opportunity to more regularly join together in Christ? Who else knows most intimately and is there most constantly to see when encouragement and assistance is needed?

I had thought that having the extra "pressure" to be a spiritual leader would help me to seek the Lord more diligently through reading and prayer. But I didn't imagine that being with Charlessa would, just through the companionship, change my feelings about seeking God quite so much!

Being married is SO cool!

Wedding Vows

We'd decided pretty early in the process that we didn't feel inspired to write our own vows. But when we started trying to pick a set of vows, none of them seemed exactly right. Finally, we narrowed it down to 2-3 different vows. Jesse combined them together, then we spent a couple of days smoothing out the wording and grammatical problems.

We were both very pleased with the final result--traditional and clearly Christ-centered. For those who weren't able to make it to the wedding (or those that did and want to read them), here are the vows we said.

I Raymond Jesse, in faith, honesty and love, take you, Charlessa Eileen, to be my wedded wife, to share with you in God's plan for our lives, united together in Christ from this day on, to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows, forsaking all others, until death do us part. With God's help to strengthen and guide me, I will be a strong spiritual leader for us in our life and give you all that I have of my love and my self to love and care for you as Christ does the Church. All these things I pledge to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. With this ring I seal my vow of love to you, Charlessa, and pray I may fulfill God's place for me in our home, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I Charlessa Eileen, in faith, honesty and love, take you, Raymond Jesse, to be my wedded husband, to share with you in God's plan for our lives, united together in Christ from this day on, to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows, forsaking all others, until death do us part. With God's help to strengthen and guide me, I will be your strong helpmate and give you all that I have of my love and my self, submitting to you as the church submits to Christ. All these things I pledge to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. With this ring I seal my vow of love to you, Jesse and pray I may fulfill God's place for me in our home, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Shockingly Electrifying Kisses

Charlessa gives the most hair-raising kisses! We have definitely got a spark going on between us! She really lights me up! Being together gives me a real charge! Kissing Charlessa electrifies me! It's positively shocking how good a kisser she is! I am positive that she's the one for me!

We were having fun with static electricity when we got home last night. My rubber-soled moccasins made great static charge builders. It made us a bit hesitant leaning in for a kiss. Static electricity shocks between lips can hurt!