This week, my husband and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary.   I told him that if they gave out badges in marriage like they do in the boy scouts, we would have earned quite a few.  We have survived much in our 48 months together as man and wife.  I am so thankful to be walking beside him.

Every week on Friday, I put together a list of things that God is teaching me — so that I don’t forget.  I need to keep growing….  these posts help me get there.

Here in no particular order are 10 things I learned this week:

1.  This was a word for year # 5 of my marriage:  I must focus on my husband’s admirable qualities, rather than on how he does not meet my unrealistic expectations.   I love this very sage guest post by Abby from Predatory Lies over at Start Marriage Right.

Side note:  I am honored to be a regular contributor for Start Marriage Right,  Moody’s awesome blog for singles, engaged, and married folk alike.  Head on over here to check out my posts.

2.  “Pack a light heart.”  — Emily from Chatting at the Sky shares “Four Tips for Vacationing with Your Family” in this post over at (in) courage.  

3.  “Sometimes, the smallest things done in love leave the biggest imprints.”  This nerdy English teacher loved, loved, loved this post by Alicia at The Overflow.  

4.  Daily, I need to “choose to sit and soak in God’s beauty, God’s essence, God’s majesty, God’s promises, and God’s glory…” — I love how Elizabeth George explains it here in her post inspired by Psalms 16:8.

5.  Best Quote from my reading this week:

“Joy comes from giving yourself

entirely & unreservedly to God.”

—Jennie Allen on p. 164 of Anything

6.  True friendships will eventually land in “kick the door down and come and help me seasons,” but before that season arrives, I need to log in hours sitting across the table from my friend.  I love how Shauna, Jessica, and Angie explain it in this vlog as part of the (in) courage Bloom Book Club.  (If you haven’t read Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist, you are missing a treat.)

7. “Procrastination is a slippery little bugger.”  — This is a tough lesson that I keep having to re-learn because I am a sssllloowww learner.  Ali at Embrace the Struggle reminded me it’s not worth it in this post.

8. Dionna from Beauty in the Storm gave me a great idea for a new family tradition in her guest post over at Start Marriage Right:  The Special Event Book.

9.  The Dating Divas showed me that it’s not so hard to be creative in planning an anniversary gift.  Check out the great ideas over here.

10.  My marriage is not invincible.  I can’t grow complacent.  I need to keep fighting for “us.”  Here is a list of 8 Lies that Destroy Marriage. 

Q4U: What did you learn this week?

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I am joining Jesse and friends this weekend for