Odd title…I know…visit me over at MomLife Today and you’ll find out the answer to that very question.
Voice of Truth – Music Monday
Aug
23
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!
Hubby Noticed Shred Results!
May
25
I am writing this post because I was asked to…by my husband. You see, he said something that I turned all around that left him standing, staring and asking, “What am I supposed to say to that?”
The scene is as follows: I’m in the laundry room, bending over throwing clothes into the dryer, he walks by, slaps me on the backside and declares, “Whoa that’s a skinny little shredded bottom!” To which I say, “Oh great, what did it used to be?”
Yeah, that would be the moment he stood, stared and said, “What am I supposed to say to that? You know, husbands just can’t win, even when we think we are saying something nice, it gets turned around!” Then he shook his head and walked into the bedroom laughing. I was laughing too and agreeing that my comment was off base and then wondered why it flew out of my mouth, even if it was in jest, why was it on the tip of my tongue?
For 33 days I have been doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred and even I know I have been shrinking. Why should I be surprised that hubby would notice and why would I take a compliment and turn it around? Because I think all women are sensitive to their weight and appearance.
I am not getting my butt kicked (and thinned) daily just because I want to look good – I am doing it because I want to be healthy and live a long active life. Hubby’s comment seemed to narrow all that hard work down to appearance only and that made me get a bit bowed up and defensive. Which is wrong of me, if there’s less junk in my trunk and hubby noticed I need to just appreciate that he noticed! No ulterior motives here, just a simple compliment.
Is he right – is this something we all do? Do you get defensive if hubby mentions something about your appearance, even when it is in the form of a compliment?
Maybe you are better about this than I am – maybe I am just messed up in this area and need to work on it! Do you look around, behind and through a compliment when hubby gives you one, or do you just accept it and say thanks?
This little laundry room exchange pointed out to me that hubby should not have to “think twice” before handing out a compliment, or in the future he may choose to keep his mouth shut.
Why men should do the dishes!
May
10
Yesterday, my hubby and two other men but on a grand Mother’s Day celebration for three families that was absolutely fabulous!
There were 17 guests at the well thought out affair and all were seated at one very long table skillfully put together with card tables and layered tablecloths. The place setting were mix and match China with hand crafted place cards and seats of honor for each of the moms in attendance. Our orders during the flurry of preparatory activity were to sit, talk and do absolutely nothing. We gleefully accepted our orders and conversated happily while fathers and children worked steadily to serve and honor us.
When the dining, toasting and edifying words to each of us came to a close our “before meal orders” remained in place after the completion of the meal. Children cleared and scraped, while men put leftovers away and dove into the sink to tackle doing the dishes. It was during that later chat fest that I made a very interesting observation. They were bonding.
Men should always be made to do the dishes after a family or fellowship event. I overheard some very heartfelt, jovial and downright bonding conversation going on amongst the men as they went about their after dinner clean up.
That’s when it hit me…the reason women are considered relational and men are not is because when women clean up after a meal and do dishes we share our lives and have very real bonding sessions. And traditionally where are the men at that time? Parked in front of a television watching football, or golf, or Nascar.
So…if your hubby doesn’t bond with guys, maybe it is because they just won’t bond if they are sitting and staring at a television. I’m guessing if you don’t tell them why you want them to do the clean up the whole conversational bonding thing might just happen. I am guessing it will make you as happy as it made me!
Oh, and if you can get them to do the cooking too, it makes for a very relaxing event for you!
Valentine Faux Pas
Feb
14
Hubby ran out to get some groceries a minute ago - which was so sweet, because then I didn’t have to go!
But I certainly managed to almost ruin his day upon his return. I jumped up off of the couch to greet him and in his hand was a beautiful deep pink tulip plant in a decorative pot and I got all excited and smiled and started professing his wonderfulness for getting me such a beatiful flower.
The blank stare, followed by his darting eyes and the growing look of panic tipped me off real quick that I had made a huge incorrect assumption. And, in the process had sent my husband’s brain and heart into a rapid rush of overflow adrenalin. Oops. “What now?” I wondered.
I quickly went into “salvage mode” and said, “Oh wait, that can’t be for me – you gave me my Valentine gift last night! Who’s that for you big sweetie?”
He was shaking his head and saying, “Oh, no…I messed up…oh man!” I continued to insist it was all good, no worries and then he went on to explain it was for his new Personal Assistant who’s first day at work is tomorrow. I again assured him it was really ok and that I thought it was great that he was being so thoughtful and that she would love it.
He suddenly froze, looked at me real hard and said, “This is going to be a blog post isn’t it?”
Obviously, I thought that was a superb idea!
But the moral of the story is, if you have a thoughtful hubby, it is always nice to applaud him when he’s thoughtful to others – a man’s heart is revealed in how he chooses to treat the other people in his life too!
I sure love my hubby’s heart!
Valentine Ideas for Hubby (please forward)
Feb
12
Valentine’s Day must be a real stress-er for our husbands.
All the advertising pointed at them is trying to sell, sell, sell: Get her a box of chocolate, take her out for an amazing dinner, buy her a diamond, a car … Come on, Buddy, show her you love her by pulling out the wallet.
Uh … excuse me, I do not need my hubby’s wallet to be happy. My guess is, you concur with me on that one.
Most of us just want something out of the ordinary and unexpected to occur as a special little reminder that yes, I am still his Valentine—he still loves me best.
If you agree, forward this post to your hubby (or others you know who need some ideas) and this will be your way of providing a hint as to just what would make a wife’s heart sizzle this year.
I’ll provide some ideas for all those hubbies out there, you add more through your comments, and let’s all get to forwarding this to the men we know who may need a little help giving the right Valentine—One that does not involve a wallet!
•Make a “Why I love my wife” list, and name one item for every year you’ve been married, or one for every year of her life.
•Turn down the bed and put a single mint/candy on her pillow.
•Draw her a bath, put lit candles all in the bathroom, and give her one hour to pamper herself.
•Read something sweet out loud to her.
•Put on some special music and ask her to dance an “up close” slow dance—right there in your home.
•Give her a massage—hand, foot, full body—your choice (or all of the above).
•Write her a note describing all the reasons you married her.
•Clean something in the house you know she does not like to clean.
•Take her hand and pray for her, out loud.
Okay, ladies your turn. List some more ideas in the comment section!
This post first published at www.familylifemomblog.com
Valentine Solution for Hubby
Feb
11
For Valentine’s Day this year I decided to just come right on out and tell hubby the pressure is off! Rather than him sweat it and try to figure out what wonderful thing he could do for me…I asked that we plan the evening together.
I suggested we invite another couple over to our home for dinner. We’ll set the table with china and have everything all sweet and romantic…our guests will arrive, he and the other hubby will go get take out from a nice local restaurant and wave to all the other couples waiting patiently to be rushed through their dinner. My friend and I will relax and chat incessantly until their return with our yummy meal.
The four of us will then be able to enjoy a long, slow leisurely dinner in the comfort and quiet of our comfy, cozy, home – with refills of everything at our fingertips, romantic music wafting through the candlelit air and a roaring fireplace right in the dining room! Now…that’s a night of quiet romance.
Hubby is excited knowing the evening is something I want and I am excited about the fact that I can relax and not feel rushed at a restaurant. We can enjoy preparing for the evening together and serving each other throughout the night. We are also happy about helping our friends benefit from a night out and then seeing them safely out the door…just moments from their own driveway.
A lovely evening…far from the hustle and bustle of restaurant fanfare.
And…there is something to be said for that much relaxation happening, just steps from the bedroom…or that roaring fireplace! Oops TMI?
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