Thursday, March 31, 2011

The One With Gifts

So my husband is incredibly thoughtful! I cannot believe how much thought he put into this gift. He gave me a few bags w/ gifts numbered 1-11. The first gift was a card. Inside it said he was giving me traditional gifts... one for each year.

1. Paper ~ The card.
2. Cotton ~ A beautiful 100% cotton scarf
3. Leather ~ A leather journal
4. Flowers ~ 1 long stem rose
5. Wood ~ A wooden garden tool
6. Candy ~ Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffles. *YUM*
7. Copper ~ A bud vase he made out of copper. Very nice. :)
8. Pottery ~ A planter
9. Willow ~ A willow tree memory box w/ the 'embrace' figurines etched in the front
10. Tin ~ A tin candle holder
11. Steel ~ One of his figurines made specially for me w/ "Nuts About You" written on it.

I'm going to have to take pictures & share later. I have to say I am extremely touched by his thoughtfulness. He put a lot of time into this. <3

The One Where We Got Married


11 years ago we married. 11 years of wedded bliss... well, not all blissful, but 99.9% of it has been. We've both made mistakes and have hurt each other, but in the end we're still as in love, if not more, than we were 11 years ago when we said "I do" We've been through a lot: 7 moves, 3 house purchases and 2 house sales, 5 pregnancy/births, 2 losses, job loss & financial hardships. I wouldn't change it tho... There's no one else in this world I'd rather have by my side as I go through life.

I am so very blessed with this man and am forever grateful that God brought him into my life.

Monday, March 28, 2011

The One About Loneliness

Being alone.

I've never been good at being alone. Don't get me wrong... I'm definitely an introvert and love the quiet, but I cannot stand the feeling of loneliness. Not having friends, not having a significant other, not having family.... those things just eat away at me. Obviously, now, I'm near my family and I have a wonderful significant other. I also have some wonderful friends. But still I often feel lonely.

I was talking with a friend and she said that we are always alone and if you think about it deeply, she is correct. Relationships give us an illusion of not being alone, but when it comes right down to it... we ARE alone. We, our innermost beings, are alone in our thoughts, in our choices, in the things we say and do. We are alone.

But we weren't created to be alone. We were created to have relationship with God. And for those of us who are saved and are walking with the Lord, we're never truly alone with our thoughts, in our choices and in the things we say and do. There is always One there with us, reading our thoughts as we think them. Helping us make choices in life. Guiding us (if we let Him) in the things we say and do. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" is the first verse that comes to mind when I think on this subject. It's comforting to know that even in our loneliest of moments, God is there, holding us and listening to us, even when it feels the prayers are hitting the ceiling and falling back down with a thud.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The One About Responsibility

"Kiddos have feelings.. kiddos have feelings too." This keeps running through my head (sung to "Critters Have Feelings" from Hoodwinked. )

I sometimes see my children as extensions of myself. After all, I'm the one who grew them in my uterus, nourished them at my breast and then continue day after day to care for them. It does often seem like they are mini-me's or "my" creation that I'm molding to become who they are.

It's not the case, tho... they are their own little people w/ their own thoughts, feelings, individuality. They were given these things by God and He entrusted Matt & I to care for and nourish them in every way. He entrusted us to raise them up to be the best they can be. He entrusted us to raise them up in His Word.

This task seems overwhelming when I really think about it. Why did He think I could do this? It's a HUGE responsibility! I'm sure I fail day after day... but He helps me do the best I can.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The One About Toddlers...

The more children you have the less you sweat the small stuff. I realized this the other day after KT threw a MASSIVE tantrum in which I merely picked her up, placed her on the bottom step and said "Sit there until you are done." She screamed a minute longer, got up, said "All done." and went on w/ her day as if minutes before she wasn't screaming over not being allowed to play w/ the markers.

With my first child I would have been mortified had he thrown a fit like that. I would have spanked his tiny little bottom and would have felt that he was headed for a life of fighting and manipulating to get his way. I've learned A LOT since then. Toddlers just feel everything with every part of their being. They feel BIG feelings. They don't need the feelings beaten out of them w/ a spanking. Time outs aren't even necessary if you can get them to calm down w/ a simple hug and comfort. (which is not the case for most of my toddlers... they need some space to cool down) They just need to learn how to calm themselves down a bit and use those feelings in a good way. That comes w/ maturity and time... as I've discovered with all of my children who have matured passed toddler-hood.