July 2015 Love Blog

Here’s a revised version:

David & Sheila Must-Do Checklist Last Updated: 10/3/15 | 15:00 | DW
First Drafted: 7/29/15 | 10:15 | DW
Oct 3, 2015 Update: 13:30

Dear Sheila,

This "Must-Do Checklist" is just as relevant, and even more true today in October, than it was in July. The past four months have been transformative for me, both personally and spiritually. My mental health has improved remarkably. While I still live with PTSD, it feels like that belongs to my old self—my new self is free from it.

My faith and love for you, Sheila, have only grown stronger. I am committed to doing anything to keep us together. I need you. I can’t imagine life without you. I absolutely love living with you and the girls, and I treasure every moment we spend as a family.

I’m constantly grateful to God for bringing you into my life. You are everything I’ve ever needed, wanted, and dreamed of, and more. It amazes me how God knew what I needed, even when I didn’t.

I’m often left speechless by everything about you—your virtues, your faults, all of it. I find it difficult to articulate my profound love, gratitude, and appreciation for you, Sheila. I realize that my struggle to express myself may have made you feel a lack of presence and commitment, and for that, I’m truly sorry. Please give me time, and you’ll see my true self and my deep love for God, for you, and for the girls.

When you marry me, I promise to make you feel more loved than any wife could imagine being loved by her husband. I will make you feel like the most important and special woman in the world. I say this because I know it’s within me to give, and I want to give it to you. Our relationship is still young, and I know I have much to learn, but loving deeply is what I do best.

Looking back on this Must-Do List from July, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come, both personally and spiritually. I owe it all to God, and I’m thankful to you, Sheila, for bringing me to this point. I see a bright future ahead of us.

Regarding My Political Ambitions... I have surrendered my political ambitions to God. He told me, "Just let it go, David." That battle is over for me now. He has directed me to focus all my energy on the church and our family. With that, my anxiety is gone, and I am at peace.

I love you with all my heart, Sheila. If you let me, I will show you every day how much I love you through my actions. I know what you want and need, and I have what you want and am what you need. Most importantly, I know how to be the man you prayed for. You don’t have to tell me—I will show you.

Te amo, my love,
Sincerely, your fiancé,
David

Top 3 Objectives:

1. Serve and Obey God

2. Serve Our Family

3. Provide for Our Family (Build Hot Oven Cookies)

(Comments on checklist items from July are in RED)

A) Serve and Obey God

July 2015:

• Go to church and join the Christian community.

• Get pre-marital counseling (ASAP).

• Obey God to honor and thank Him.

• Abstain until marriage (I respect chastity to honor my Lord).

• Constant prayer together and alone, day and night.

• Absolute surrender.

• Strive to live like Christ in all that we do.

• Tithe (at least 10% of our time, energy, and money to RWC).

NEW: October 2015

• Let go and let God take control.

• Live to glorify God.

• Share the Gospel of Peace.

• Commit to RWC; go every Sunday and Wednesday.

• David: M411 Thursday nights.

• Sheila: M411 Monday nights.

• Sign up for Discipleship class at RWC.

• Put on and never take off the FULL ARMOR OF GOD.

B) Serve Our Family

• Spend time connecting with each other and family.

• Piano lessons for Mia (her lessons are going really well).

• One-on-one time with each other and the girls (including Jenei).

• Get an apartment, build a home for our family (so happy about this).

• Have family dinner together every night.

• Refine bedtime for the girls.

• Read bedtime stories (I will get books from the library).

• Teach the girls about God’s truth.

NEW: October 2015

• Spend more time with family.

• Honest communication.

• Try less and trust God more.

• Get the girls’ bedroom set up and establish a bedtime routine.

C) Provide for Our Family

• Build the cookie business.

• HotOvenCookies.com (build the website Sheila is dreaming of).

• Facebook.com/hotovencookies (reach 500 likes).

• Connect with the business community (SPARKS).

• Draft an official business plan in writing.

• Get our finances in order.

• Make a money spreadsheet.

• Agree on a budget.

• David gets a new job (Thank You, God, for my B&N job).

• Sheila gets a new job (Still interested?).

• Fix Roji or get a new car (we still need to resolve this car issue).

NEW: October 2015

• David gets a second job so Sheila can focus more on H.O.C.

• Save enough for a business license for H.O.C.

• Save enough for the Mass Mutual event for H.O.C.

• Take H.O.C. to the next level.

• Pay rent—David agrees to contribute at least $250 each month towards rent.

• Pay utility bill.

• Pay Capital One credit card bill ($80 due Oct 18).

Other:

• Take a road trip to visit Sarah.

• Visit Uncle Felix.

• You and I go out on a date.

• Be grateful.

• Tiempo de almauda.

• Speak Spanish together (slowly replace English as I learn more).

• I want to play and practice piano while you cook dinner.

NEW: October 2015

• Finalize marriage date, wedding date, and send out invitations.

• Surrender political ambitions and redirect all energy to family.

Little Love Note for Sheila
7/29/15 | 10:35 | DW

You make me happier than I ever thought I could be, and if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way.

I could promise to hold you, cherish you, and be there in sickness and in health. I could say, "till death do us part," but I won’t. Those vows are for optimistic couples, the ones full of hope. And I don’t just hope for these things. On our wedding day, I won’t be optimistic or full of hope. I’m not optimistic. I’m not hopeful.

I’m sure. I’m steady. And I know. I have faith! I am a man following God’s plan for me. So this, I am sure: You are my partner, my lover, my very best friend. My heart beats for you, and my soul wants to be one with yours. And on our wedding day, I promise you this: I promise you my heart, soul, and will in the palm of God’s hands. And God has shown me the way and given me the strength and abilities I need to be everything you need. I am the husband God made for you. I promise you... God is in control and has blessed us with favor.

We have a blessed, wonderful, and happy future together. The Creator of the Universe, my God, provides abundantly when you are in a state of gratefulness and love.

Divinely Confirmed.
Te Amo, Sheila.
-David

David & Sheila

Must Do Checklist

Last Updated:  10/3/15  1500  dw 

First drafted 7/29/15  1015  dw 

Oct 3, 2015 update  1330

Dear Sheila,

This "Must Do Checklist" is just as relevant and even more true today in October then it was in July.  This truly has been a transformative past 4 months for me personal and spiritually.  My mental heath has improved miraculously.  I seem to be healed from my PTSD, I mean I still have it, but I feel like that is the old me, my new self doesn't have it anymore. 

My faith and love for you Sheila is stronger than ever.  I will do anything for you and to keep us together.  I need you.  I can't imagine life without you.  I absolutely love living with you and the girls.  I treasure spending time with you the family and I cherish every moment. 

I am in a constant state of gratitude to God for bringing you into my life.  You are everything that I need, want and have dreamed of and more.  I am continually amazed at how God brought just want I needed into my life, especially because I didn't even know exactly what I needed or wanted. 

I am often breathless how everything about you; the good, the bad, your virtues and your faults are all perfect.  I am often left speechless, without words, unable to articulate my profound love, gratitude and appreciation for everything that you are Sheila, that I stumble with my words or say nothing at all...  This is perhaps the lack of presences and commitment you are feeling.  I am sorry I have failed to express myself and my true feelings better...  If you just give me time, you will see my true self and my profound love for God, and for you and the girls. 

When you marry me, I will make you my feel more loved than any wife can imagine being loved by her husband. I will make you feel like the most important and special woman in the world.  I say this because this is what I know is inside of me, and what I have to give and want to give you.  Our relationship is still young, and I know I still have much to learn.  Giving tremendous amounts of love really is my specialty. 

As I look back on this Must Do List from July, I am amazed at how far I have personally and spiritually come since then.  And I owe it all to God.  Thank you Sheila for bringing me to this point.  I see a wonderful bright future ahead of us. 

About being a Congressman and changing the world...

I have surrendered my political ambitions to God, and He said "just let it go David".  That battle is over for me now.  He told me to redirect all energy to the church and my family.  And with that, my anxiousness is gone and I am at peace.   

I love you with all my heart Sheila, and if you let me, I will show you everyday how much I love you by the actions of the overflow of my heart.  I know what you want and need.  I have what you want, I am what you need. And most importantly, I know how to be the man you prayed for.  You don't have to tell me.  I will show you....

Te amo my love,

Sincerely, your fiance,

David

Top 3 Objectives: 

Serve and Obey God

Serve our Family

Provide for our Family (Build the Hot Oven Cookies)

(Comments made today to reflect on Checklist Items below from July are in RED)

A) Serve and Obey God

July 2015

Go to Church and join in with the Christian community

Get pre-marital counseling (ASAP)

Obey God to Honor and Thank Him

Abstain until marriage (I respect chastity to honor my Lord)

Constant Prayer Together and alone all day and night

Absolute Surrender

Strive to live like Christ is all that we do

Tithe  (At least 10% of our time, energy and money to RWC)

::NEW:: October 2015

Let go and let God take control

Live to glorify God

Share the Gospel of Peace

Commit to RWC, go every Sunday and Wednesdays

David M411 Thursday nights

Sheila M411 Monday nights

Sign-up to Discipleship class at RWC

Put on and never take off the FULL ARMOR OF GOD

B) Serve our Family

Spend Time Connecting with each other and Family

Piano lessons for Mia (her lessons are going really well)

One on one time with each other and the girls (including Jenei)

Get apartment, build home for our family (so happy about this)

Have family dinner together every night

Refine bedtime for the girls

Read bedtime stories ( I will get books from library)

Teach the girls about God's Truth

::NEW:: October 2015

Spend more time with family

Honest communication

Try less and Trust God more

Get the girls bedroom set up and establish bedtime routine

C) Provide for our Family

Build the cookie business

hotovencookies.com   (build website that Sheila is dreaming of)

facebook.com/hotovencookies  (reach 500 Likes)

connect with busiess community SPARKS

Draft official business plan in writing

Get our finances in order

make money spreedsheet

agree on budget

David gets new job (Thank You God for my B&N job)

Sheila gets new job  (Sill interested?)

Fix Roji or get new car (We still need to resolve this car issue)

::NEW:: October 2015

David gets second job so Sheila can focus more on H.O.C.

Save enough for business licence H.O.C.

Save enough for Mass Mutual event for H.O.C.

Take H.O.C. to the next level

Pay rent -  David agrees to contribute at least $250 each month towards rent

Pay utility bill

Pay Capital One credit card bill  ($80 due Oct 18)

Other:

Take road trip to visit Sarah

Visit Uncle Felix

You and Me go out on a date

Be Grateful

Tiempo de almauda

Speak Spanish together (slowly replace English as I learn more)

I want to play and practice piano while you cook dinner

::NEW:: October 2015

Finalize marriage date, wedding date and send out invitations

Surrender political ambitions and redirect all energy to family

Little Love Note for Sheila:

7/29/15  1035  dw

You make me happier than I ever thought I could be and if you let me I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way.

I could promise to hold you, and to cherish you. I could promise to be there in sickness and in health. I could say till death do us part. But I won't. Those vows are for optimistic couples, the ones full of hope. And I do not just hope for these things. On the day of our wedding, I will not be optimistic or full of hope. I am not optimistic. I am not hopeful.

I am sure. I am steady. And I know. I have Faith! I am a man following God's plan for me. So this, I am sure. You are my partner, my lover, my very best friend. My heart beats for you and my soul wants to be one with yours. And on the day, the day of our wedding, I promise you this. I promise you my heart, soul and will in the palm of God's hands. And God has shown me the way, and has given me the strength and abilities I need to be everything that you need. I am the husband God made for you. I promise you ... God is in control, and has blessed us with favor.

We have a blessed, wonderful and happy future together. The Creator of the Universe, my God provides abundantly when you are in a state of gratefulness and love.

Divinely Confirmed.

Te Amo Sheila,

-David