HUSBAND AT HOME

I enjoy when my husband works from home.  I enjoy being around him. We have a couple of hours in the morning just us before my youngest returns from pre-school. It is great to have time to us where we talk, laugh, fold laundry together, have breakfast or just sit next to each other on the couch working silently. 

I am thankful for this time we have because when we are empty nesters I believe we will know each other despite raising kids. I am thankful for this time because it strengthens our marriage, our friendship.  I love this time because I appreciate it as I know we are fortunate to have it. I love this time because simply said I love him. 

As we look into this new year with hopes of resolution and commitment I also look at my year with gratitude to have my husband work from home twice a week.  

*sigh* 

Friday Favorites: Pictures in my phone

Here are some of my favorite pictures that I have from all summer stored in my phone...

She loves cats...well lap cats.

We have enjoyed getting to hangout with these guys all summer!

Summer nights are for star gazing.

At the Alamo this summer...kids first time.

At the salon getting a family makeover....

...he is too cool!

An afternoon where he made his toy a superhero costume!

My husband leading a game at BIGS...man of many talents.

Why not? Making fish faces.

I loved my manicure that I had to take a picture.

Being with daddy.

All summer he practiced writing his name...he is self taught!

Testimony

My husband and I were faced with a possible decision to make yesterday.  It wasn't a life changing kinda of decision but as we talked it out it became a matter of our testimony.  Our testimony to our kids and people around us.  I am using the word testimony but I know that many people get lost in thinking it refers to a religious meaning.   I could say it would affect our reputation or how people percieve us. I like the meaning though, that we do declare, advertise our faith.

Testimony:  evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.open declaration (advertisement of belief or acknowledgment) or profession, as of faith.

We could have made our decsion on one hand with the right to.  After letting some of the emotions settle, I realized that even though we have the right it, would not give a declaration, an advertisement, a testimony to who we are.  We tell our kids that we love all people, that we are friends to everyone and that we should respect everyone.  Our actions do influence our kids and if we do not take decisions that reflect our belief then we are giving a false testimony.  Sure the kids might not ever know that we considered making this decision but the adults around us would. By all means it would have been understood and even expected for us to do so. However there is a bigger picture with a bigger purpose in front of us.

What an opportunity to show that we believe, that we trust and stand confident in the bigger picture.  Granted if needed we will speak up but as we saw last night we have not been given a reason to.  Quite opposite we have been given the ability to show a good testimony of giving other people around us a chance!

What a lesson for the kids to learn...yet I am the one that is learning!

A Groovy Kind of Love

My husband and I have been celebrating our 10th year anniversary all year long. We got married January 26th, 2002. My husband in a romantic moment told me that for him this song describes how he feels about our relationship! I loved how in that moment this became 'our song'...


A Groovy Kind of Love
Phil Collins

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When you're close to me, I can feel your heart beat
I can hear you breathing in my ear

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love

Any time you want to, you can turn me on to
Anything you want to, any time at all
When I kiss your lips, ooh I start to shiver
Can't control the quivering inside

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love,

(Solo)

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When I'm in your arms, nothing seems to matter
My whole world could shatter, I don't care

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, we've got a groovy kind of love
We've got a groovy kind of love, we've got a groovy kind of love
Oho, we've got a groovy kind of love

The Gift of Love

All of us need to do a job on our thoughts. If the mind is filled with grudges, if it's bogged down with hate or selfishness or impurity or dishonesty, the clean light of joy cannot filter through.  Fill your heart and mind instead with God's words, search for the good in those you meet, get rid of impurity and negativity.  Ask forgiveness for your wrongs and replace them with the great truths of the Bible, the words of Jesus, and the great affirmations in the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Epistles. Simply accept God's gift of joy as you would accept a present from a friend.  Take joy, believe joy, live joy, and you will become happy. 

  

One thing you notice about happy people is this: it isn't how much they have or who they are that makes them joyful.  What determines their happiness is the state of their mind. Remember, the greatest way to live that will produce the best possible state of mind is found in the following words from the writer James Barric, "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves

                          Action steps

  

1). Accept God's gift of joy by bringing happiness to others. 

2). Your life serves a great purpose. Believe it and live with that purpose always in view. 

3). Refuse to say anything that is mean, dishonest or depressing, no matter what thoughts enter your head.  

 

PARTNER WITH US!    Join Dr. Rob Carman in changing the world.  Click Here

Date Night

My husband and I have been fortunate to be able to enjoy 'date night' through the years. In frankness we have had more wonderful dates but there have been a handful of just miserable ones.  Tonight though it was wonderful! This date will go down as an all-time favorite.

As we spent the day with the kids going around to stores the rousing force was ‘were going on a date tonight’! If you have kids you well know that some days they are just more chatty and noisy than others.  Today was that day for us.  Once in the car we took our deep breaths and peeled out for a quiet time. 

Maybe our date was so satisfying because we went to eat somewhere we rarely like to go. Tonight’s restaurant choice was decided by a free steamy pot coupon my husband had. We ordered our pots with eagerness to which it did not fail. I sat there focused eating with my hands, fingers dirty with seafood, potatoes and corn. Just across from me was Bobby, doing the same thing eating with his bare husband saying ‘this is good’ every 3minutes or so.  We sat there engaging with our meal in a comfortable manner that just brought awareness that I was being myself. To be able to sit there with no worries of having to speak but being able to revel in the fact: I was there with my husband despite dirty fingers.  I love spending time with my husband. I love laughing and feeling like I am a comedian when he laughs at my comments.  I love when, like tonight, we can just enjoy sit next to each other.  

It is doing the little things that will make you both feel loved, appreciated and excited about your life together." 

Two precious words, for either the single or the married…butterflies, anticipation, heart beating, hope, reconnecting, nourishment, fun...emotions or benefits that can come with Date Night.  It’s just too easy for the weight of the world to pull you apart without dedicated time and attention for pleasurable reconnecting with your spouse. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by!