Relationships

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Perfect Morning

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

By all accounts, this is a perfect morning.  I woke up to a happy, sunshiney baby who lay on my bed and coo-ed at me while I got dressed for the day.  When I went to change his diaper, I heard a strange sound coming from the kitchen–Brenton had done the dishes for me before he left for work.  After changing Wiggles’ diaper, I headed back to the living room and noticed that more than just the dishes had been done!  My sweet, wonderful, amazing husband had also straightened the living room and dining room before he left for work.  Now all I have to do this morning is wash a load of diapers.  Oh yes, My hubby rocks!

I forgot to add…I’m planning on spending my day snuggling my baby and listening to the rain falling on our tin roof.

Bedroom makeover giveaway (SITS)

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Remember how one of my New Year’s goals was to buy hotel quality sheets?  Well this month, the blog, The Secret Is In The Sauce is hosting a Bedroom Bliss Giveway.  The offer is basically a whole bedroom makover complete with 500 thread count sheets!

So yeah…I want those sheets!

Laugh in the Face of Adversity

Monday, January 5th, 2009
rainbow through the sleet

The first backpacking trip I took with Brenton, or ever, I was 6 months pregnant.  It was Labor Day Weekend, and we decided to take a 3 mile hike into a mountain lake.  The drive to the trailhead was about 30 miles from our house–19 of those miles were on dirt roads.

I was disappointed and concerned when it started to rain just as we got to the trailhead.  Brenton and I discussed turning back for a few minutes and decided to press on.  The forecast was for partly cloudy weather, but sun in the afternoon.

We put on our backpacks.  Brenton carried about twice the weight as I did since I was carrying an extra 20 lbs in my “front pack” (pregnant belly).  The rain had slowed to a sprinkle as we set out on our hike.  After about 1/4 of a mile, we were walking in a downpour.

We were well prepared for rain and cold, and we had plenty of hot chocolate, hot cider, and chai mix to rejuvinate us once we got to camp.  We had another “should we turn back” conversation when the rain turned to sleet at about 1 1/2 miles up the trail.  We hiked on until we found a clearing in the trees hoping to see a break in the clouds.

When we found that clearing, delighted to see, through the sleet and rain, a brilliantly colored rainbow.

To laugh in the face of adversity is like seeing the rainbow through the sleet.

Four things about marriage they never told me

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Welcome to my new visitors from Marriage Monday!

1.  He won’t understand you; You won’t understand him.

In our house, one of the most common phrases that I hear from Brenton is, “You’re so cute. I love you”  This is usually followed with a silly grin and him shaking his head at me.  What he really means is, “Wow!  You’re…different (wierd).”

For me, it’s the little things that make me shake my head at him.  I’ve never understood why he takes a physics book on vacation with us, or why he sometimes insists on doing things the hard way.  I guess he also can wonder why I do things the hard way.

2.  In time you will think you have settled into a routine.

It happens with every married couple, over time you settle into a routine.  Date night one night, Bible study another, you have regular routine, you go to bed early like old people…

Life becomes calm, and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out…

3. Then he will change something.

I’ll never forget the night when, after over 25 years of marriage, my dad told my mom he didn’t really like pepperoni pizza!

With Brenton, I found out that he doesn’t care whether the shirts are all in the same drawer, but he is very particular about how they are folded.  He doesn’t like watermelon, or cantaloupe, or cucumbers–three of my favorite fresh produce items.  But I distinctly remember sitting in the grass with him eating ripe watermelon spitting seeds at the car, so when did he stop liking watermelon?

Routines in a relationship are all just a facade.  The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes. This is really bothersome to us control-freaks.  Sometimes you just have to ligten up.

4. Live Well.  Laugh Often.  Love Much.

At the end of the day, he’s a good man.  Our peculiarities blend nicely.  He keeps me laughing.  Marriage isn’t always what you expected, and no one can warn you of all the lessons that you need to learn.  It’s been said that you should keep your eyes wide open while you’re dating and half closed once you’re married.  I’ll add to that.  Live well, laugh often, and love much.  Love and laughter can wipe away a lot of misunderstandings.

The art of the compliment

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Do you want to create magic in someone’s day today?  Offer them a compliment.  Leave it there, no strings attached.  Don’t use the compliment to sandwich a criticism.  Leave out the ‘but’.  You did a great job!

And when you are given a compliment, just say thank you.  Don’t brush it off, no excuses, no personal put downs, just “Thank you.”

Compliments are gifts, and they are free.