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RoMANtic Done Right

February 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day is approaching…are you filled with anticipation?

I get that we women long for romance and wonder what our husband’s might be planning for us, but how about a change of plans this year? How about this year you plan something special for him?

Maybe just suggest to him this weekend that you are going to make all the Valentine’s Day plans – whether you prepare a meal at home, or make reservations to go out, you take the initiative to create a romantic interlude.

I have always preferred the at home route…our children enjoy a pizza and movie picnic in a separate room for our romantic dinner at home. The best part of the night are the giggles we would get when they’d peek around the corner and see their parents enjoying a quiet dinner together!

Modeling loving each other well is a wonderful Valentine’s gift for your children – and one they will carry with them into adulthood!

Looking for the perfect gift for hubby to top the night off? Are you aware you could do this at zero monetary cost?

Get a medium sized box, put nothing in it, wrap it up in extravagant red and white wrapping or with simple white tissue paper and a big red bow. When he opens it give him a knowing smile and let him know that’s your new night gown.

Simple…but effective roMANce!

 

 

 

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Secret to 25 Year Marriage

September 28, 2011 By 3 Comments
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I have always felt like wedding anniversary’s were something that were private, a special day for the bride and groom to celebrate without much fan fair. My experiences in the last few days have caused me to realize that longevity in marriage is something people like to celebrate – because it is a novelty to most.

Celebrating my 25th Wedding Anniversary has led to some interesting conversations with several people…mostly strangers who are shocked that I am happily married after 25 years.

It really is true that it does get sweeter with time.

Join me over at MomLife Today to hear about some of my recent conversations and the secret to a long and successful marriage!

 

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Random Stuff & Happy Anniversary To Me

September 27, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

I feel loved by God fully, completely and am grateful for His unmerited goodness!

Thank you for your prayers for my horse Dot! She is doing amazingly well! Her hoof abscess finally busted and we continue to soak and clean her hoof and give her lots of TLC!

My husband and I made a trip to Pine Cove Christian camp over the weekend and I am even MORE excited about the MomLife Boot Camp event we are having there March 23-25, 2012!

My son is amazing because he cared for Dot while we were away and it was a bit of a nasty job…but he did it gladly.

My daughter is thriving in college and has made amazing Godly friends, their favorite fun activities are praise and worship sessions around campus and at a nearby creek bed…and Saturday night swing dancing at a local church! (And yes, her studies are going well – she is on track!)

I am putting together a new book proposal on a subject that is truly God inspired…I am practically bursting with enthusiasm over what God is directing me to share!

My amazing husband has spent hours discussing my calling with me, helping me to embrace and understand what God is asking me to do and challenging me to have the courage to go for it.

I love my husband and I love being his wife!

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary…I am feeling very sparkly and silver today! Hubby spoiled me last Friday with a surprise day of lunch with a friend and a surprise drop off at a spa…amazingness!

I got the BEST anniversary gift EVER…he gathered up all 25 years of photos, shipped them off and had them converted to DVD’s…I have 1,000′s of pics of our lives at my fingertips in three different locations to keep them safe forever! I know…he’s amazing!

Today I made him lots of his favorites – it is true that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

 

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Husband Help

September 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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I recall an older wiser woman saying to me once, “He will never know if you don’t tell him, sharing burdens is part of what marriage is about.” Once again that advice was proven wise.

You see I have been carrying this very heavy burden all around with me the past couple of weeks. It was weighing me down. I tried to to quietly, bravely haul it around with me, thinking it would eventually go away and become less burdensome, but that was not proving to be the case.

I have been spending more time in prayer and reading God’s word, but even He was directing me to share with my husband. I stubbornly had decided it was my burden and I just needed to continue to carry it, even if on trembling legs.

Finally, last night I poured my heart out.

My big tough, sweet sensitive man looked at me with those golden brown eyes and talked through the whole weighty issue with me. Careful to listen, careful to advise and as our conversation continued he ever so gently placed my burden on himself. At least that’s what it felt like.

That’s being Courageous.

Today I am lighter, more hopeful and trusting in God to grow us both through the burden and ultimately free us from it.

I want to encourage you married friends out there to share your burdens with your husband – it will provide new perspective and renewed hope and that look in his eye that assures you that you are not alone through it. All men want to rescue, but they need to know their fair maiden is in need of them in order to do so. How often do we cheat them from the role they were created to play in our lives by holding back?

Think about it.

For my single friends – confide in a friend, that too lessens the load. God knows we thrive best in relationship.

And as always, take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

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Children Away Parents Play

June 15, 2011 By 1 Comment
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Be prepared to become insanely jealous – both of my teens are gone this week and though I thought I was going to be so sad…I am not.

Hubby and I are having lots n lots of fun and enjoying ourselves muchly! We have also been quite productive, doing little projects here and there! Our meals have been simple and pleasant. Our conversations have been thought provoking and playful. Our prayers and gratefulness more often expressed. The days seem to draw out and the sun, I do believe, is slipping into the horizon later than usual. And…well, the rest shall remain untyped.

It’s almost like I have had five days of dates … and I likey!

I am praising the Lord for this little glimpse into what life is going to be like when the ol Empty Nest hits. I admit, I have wondered how I will do when my daughter goes off to college in August. Thankfully my son will still be here and I will be mindful to enjoy the years left with him at home.

But…this week has allowed me to “almost” look forward to the Empty Nest.

{i’m thinking….i’m thinking…}

Yeah, let’s see what my posts sound like in September when I am pouting about how much I miss my girl!
Or…maybe not!

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Ahem…Marriage Sucks (the self right out of me)

April 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A rather crass statement for a blog title…but hey, it is what it is.

And for the rest of the story….join me over at MomLife Today to read exactly how marriage really does manage to suck the self right out of you!

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Washington Post “Gets It” Right

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are one of those people who still think divorce is a viable option when you are having “issues” and “trouble” in your marriage…allow me to point you to a very revealing article in today’s Washington Post.

Carolyn Hax, a sort of “Dear Abby” of today allowed a divorced dad to share his real life experience around divorce and the “cost” of his choice…to his son.

Below is a portion of his words, the one’s which deliver a gut shot to those who claim “children are resilient”

Believe me, having a child with separate relationships with his mother and his father wreaks havoc on the child’s emotional IQ. Regardless of the then-current circumstances, my biggest life’s regret is leaving. It was the easy way out and involved sacrifice for the one person in my life who did not deserve or choose it: my son.

 

Unfortunately, in a world where too many adults think they were put on this planet to be “happy” the quick jump to divorce leads to more than a broken home…it leaves broken children.

Whenever I write encouraging couples to work at their marriage and fight to stay together I get several angry comments from those who claim I don’t “get it” … I would ask those same people to hear loud and clear the voice of this regretful father … because not only does he “get it” he lived it, and plainly states he made a mistake and never should have left.

You think children don’t suffer from divorce? I invite you take a trip into their world by viewing their postcards.

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Modesty for Mom

October 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Shaunti Feldhahn (Yeah, how cool is that?  She was at FamilyLife and I did a video interview with her for MomLife Today.) and one of the areas of conversation left me feeling pretty hyped up and ready to spout off!

So – put your helmets on ladies, here goes!  I’m gonna just say it straight out – we need to be mindful of how we dress and stop dressing like the unjustly celebrated Desperate Housewives!

There I said it.

Think about it for a minute. Have you been swayed by your wardrobe choices by what you see other women wearing and you are trying to keep up? C’mon, you are smarter than that…straighten up and stop looking for attention, in all the wrong ways, by dressing provocatively.

I must admit – I have noticed it.  Have you? I am tired of seeing cleavage everywhere I go – it’s like an assault to my senses. And this phenomenon is not just happening at the local mall – it also happens at local churches.

Shaunti was sharing with me that modesty for women is one of the top subjects she is asked to deal with and discuss as she travels the country speaking. So, her words got me to thinking, wow – if modesty among “regular” women is what she is asked to discuss with captive audience members – seems like we (you and I) should be discussing the issue and pointing out that immodest dress has become an issue…in even the most unsuspected circles.

Let’s all agree to check, and double check, not only our daughter’s wardrobe, but our own when we “suit up” for the day.  Maybe we have just been lulled into complacency and don’t even realize that we are dressing inappropriately.

I also think it’s time for women to lovingly confront other women they have relationships with who are making this error in judgment and ask them if they have considered how their choice of clothing may be affecting the men around them. Yeah, that’s going to be hard – but it needs to be done.

Your thoughts?

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How to Break Child’s Heart

October 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

 

Odd title…I know…visit me over at MomLife Today and you’ll find out the answer to that very question.

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Voice of Truth – Music Monday

August 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In my recent interview with Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Steven Curtis Chapman – she made reference to a song her husband co-wrote (Voice of Truth) and it took me back to a time in my life when this song got me through a particularly rough time in my life.

You see my husband was working some 80 hours a week (and that is not an exaggeration) and at times I thought I wasn’t going to survive the strain it was putting on our marriage, our family and me as a woman.  At that time I was in a musical production and this song was part of the script and I heard the song over and over during practice and as I constantly listened to my practice CD.

This song truly did help me understand the importance of blocking out all the “other voices” and listening only to the voice of truth – I pray you too will gain insight from the truth of this song in whatever you are being faced with this day!

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