Posted in Marriage

Tonight was one of those night's that was unforgettable.  Hubby and I (on right) had the rare occasion to spend an entire evening with our good friends (on left), without any distractions.

The babysitter arrived around 3:30 p.m. and the four of us hopped in Hubby's truck, went to our favorite fondue restaurant in the city, then made our way over to Lake Harriet for an evening stroll. The weather was perfect - sunny and warm, with a light breeze.  We walked down to one of the docks, sharing life stories, and then made our way to a resting point by the band shell.  All of a sudden we look over and see this coming at us:

Now mind you this creature is over 160 lbs and is a Newfoundland dog, also known as the "gentle giant" by dog breeders - for more info go HERE. We were mesmerized by the size of this canine, and couldn't help but pull the owner aside and ask questions.  During our question and answer session, Panda (dog's name) took a liking to Hubby and came over to be "loved on."  So Hubby is petting Panda and saying, "Good dog!"  All of a sudden there is this very strong and pungent odor that wafts in our direction and nearly knocks the rest of us over.  Hubby immediately stops petting the dog and we tried to be polite as could be, but as soon as Panda walked away this is what happened:

Apparently Panda had been swimming in the lake water for too long and smelled like dead fish!! (ROFL).  So now that Hubby had pet dear Panda . . . well . . . he smelled like dead fish also!!  So we were thankful that the restrooms were close by so he could rush in there and sanitize his hands.  It was one of those moments that will be etched in our minds for quite sometime as a hysterically awkward situation.  The four of us were laughing so hard together.  Here we were with this beautiful sunset, tranquil breeze and setting, and dead fish smell!!  Whoa.  TOO FUNNY! Laughter is truly a medicine.

All in all though, we had a fantastic evening with lots of laughs, lots of great fellowship, and amazing food.  You can't get much better than that. 

<>< Kelly

Posted in Marriage

Submission is one of those words that doesn't always come with the warm and fuzzies.  However, this week that word has become a blessing to me.  I have been particularly heartbroken over a certain area that I am serving and just wanted to "throw in the towel."  For months I have struggled with my involvement, and it has literally affected my life in a negative and very toxic way.  So my husband pulled me aside over the weekend and let me know that he has seen my pain, and that he would really dedicate this weekend to praying and seeking the Lord about my involvement with the "said" area.

So I woke up this morning  excited because I knew this was the day I would hear what he has been sensing, and the Lord leading him to say.  Sure enough . . . it wasn't the answer I thought it was going to be and I cried BIG tears over it.  Surely God wouldn't want me to be THIS miserable for something so simple, but alas the Lord is teaching me things through all of this, and perhaps others, and by me "throwing in the towel" I could be thwarting God's plans. 

 I heard someone say one time that when we choose to abandon the mission that God has given us, which includes the trials and even times of suffering, we in essense choose to experience it all over again in a different way.  God isn't going to let us get away with "throwing in the towel" when it is his desire for us to hold it. The character building and lessons that we have to learn through some of these times are imperative to our spiritual growth, and more of CHRIST being formed within us. I am so thankful that I have a husband who is not listening to my pleas for comfort regarding this situation.  This is when there is truly joy in submission, because even though it may be painful we have to trust that the blessing is waiting at the end of the journey (trial). About an hour later I felt a release and knew that I needed to continue pressing on - in essence a new hope.  I know it all sounds strange, but once I submitted to what my husband said, as it came from the Lord, I was given joy to continue my journey.

1 Peter 1:6-7
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, (being) more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

Posted in Marriage

Our wedding picture!  Well one of them atleast,added to our computer.  Hugh managed to get some of them scanned and downloaded so we could include them in the picture presentation, during Nanna's Memorial Service. It is hard to believe we will be married 14 years this month.  Happy Anniversary Month honey :-)

I Love You Hugh!

<>< Kelly

Posted in Marriage

It was 6:30 p.m. and as I ran to the door to see who was there, lo and behold it was our babysitter Alicia.

"Hi Mrs. (our last name), I am here to watch Kaitlin." 
 
With much surprise I replied, "Oh Alicia . . .  I am sorry sweetie but I didn't call you to babysit tonight." 

"I know, but Mr. (our last name) drove by the school bus stop today and asked me if I would come by at 6:30 p.m. and babysit Kaitlin till midnight. He told me that I couldn't tell you anything else till he got home."

Not long after, Hugh walked into the house with a big smile on his face, and declared that he was taking me out tonight.  I didn't know where, but was overjoyed.  So I went upstairs and got all "gussied-up" and when I came down he had already given Alicia all the instructions for the night, and off we went on our romantic evening getaway. About 20 minutes later we drove up to a Mediterranean restaurant. 

When we lived in Connecticut one of our favorite things to do  was visit different ethnic restaurants; Japanese, Indian, Greek, Italian, etc. -- each time was a different learning experience.  So tonight we were at a Mediterranean  restaurant.  It was a mixture of Greek, Indian and Jewish food.  The atmosphere was rustic, yet romantic.  We walked past a stage and then entered our little corner where we would spend the next two hours giggling, smiling, talking and staring into one another's eyes.  The appetizer came; a plate filled with the freshest ingredients.  On one side was hummus (chickpeas, tahini, garlic,olive oil & lemon juice mixed into a dip), and the other side baba ghannouj dip (eggplant, garlic, tahini,olive oil, red bell pepper), and around the edges were veggies just waiting to be dunked into the mixtures.  The hot mint tea warming/cleansing our palettes between each bite. 

For the main entree we shared Moussaka which is a Middle Eastern lasagna made with eegplant, potato's, ground beef, white wine, onions, etc).  To top off the evening we had traditional pistachio baklava.  Okay so the calories were outrageous but the experience was unforgettable.

Remember the stage we walked past on the way to our romantic nook?  Well surprise, surprise . . . out came the belly dancer.  We were in the middle of our meal, so it was difficult to just get up and walk out, but do you know what my absolutely awesome husband did????  He asked to switch seats with me so that his back would be to the belly dancer, and so he couldn't see her.  WOW!  I felt so honored and loved at that moment, that it brought tears to my eyes.  Not long after, we paid for our check and off we went to our next destination.

I have been waiting to see a movie called Flight Plan, with Jodie Foster.  It just so happens that last night was the first night it came to movie theatres.  Hugh had tickets to see the movie.  again . . . WOW!!  Who was this man?  Just a month ago my husband and I were fighting and arguing all the time. We couldn't even stay in the same room for very long without snipping at one another.  Now we were like two newleyweds completely enamored with one another.  God is soooooo good and I am so thankful for what He is doing in my marriage.  I started reading and applying the things I have been learning in the Created To Be His Help Meet book, by Debi Pearl.  Hugh has really responded to this and we just can't seem to get enough of one another.  All I can say is the book is a God-send and the fruit is already showing. 

John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.

I have had to die to myself and what I thought the role of a woman should be (based on the world's view) so that I could enter God's role as Help Meet to my husband.  Because of this our marriage is bearing beautiful fruit.  I now have the husband of my dreams, and I only hope that I am the wife of his dreams.  

Just a Romantic Date?  Or the fruit born from a relationship that has been mightily saved?  I choose the fruit, because it is lasting.  This wasn't just a date to remember . . it was nourishment for the soul and the birth of new life within our marriage.  Thank you GOD!! To YOU be the glory.

Just had to share and brag because I am still pinching myself

Posted in Marriage

What a beautiful morning here in Minnesota.  The sun is shining and it is 84 degrees outside.  Hugh is working his 2nd job this morning until 2 p.m. so Kaitlin and I are enjoying a relaxing morning together.  I just have to tell you about something really neat that happened this week!

At the beginning of the week Hugh and I got into one of the worst arguments we have ever had in our marriage.  It was a doozy and stemmed around the distance that has come between us.  With him working 2 jobs, and me working 2 (one is paid and one isn't) we feel like two ships passing in the night sometimes.  I know this is just for a season so we are okay with that.  The part that caused trouble was his emotional detachment and coldness toward Kaitlin and I.  It was so bad that I started crying because of the pain of being married and feeling more lonely than I have ever felt before.  It has been a continual battle in my marriage . . .me wanting to spend quality time with hubby, and Hugh distancing himself.  I aksed myself all the normal questions and really tried hard to ask the Lord what the root of it was, and bottom line is "sin nature."  The sin nature in Hugh and the sin nature in me that triggers us to go into "selfish" mode. 

Okay, so I am bearing my heart with you right now, not to make Hugh look like a bad guy, but to come to a really neat and powerful point that as wives to our husband's we can either build them up or tear them down, and many times we can be doing one of these without knowing.  God tells us to share our testimony , and not be ashamed of the work & word of the Lord in us (2Tim 1:8).

So I get my Created To Be His Help Meet book out and start to read it.  We are going to be starting a study on this book, at CHC (the Christian Homeschool Corner) next week (TBA).  So I am on the first chapter and I start to understand how I have been taking the lead in our family and not allowing Hugh to do that.All this time I thought I was the submissive wife and obeying him, but in all reality I was conditionally submissive, and very untrusting of him (big revelation there for me).  So I decided to put into action some of the things I learned in the 1st chapter. 

Let me tell you . . Hugh responded highly to my efforts and now he has been calling me everyday to talk and will sit with me for hours talking and laughing.  He even sent me flowers !!I know it is the Lord!  The fruits & flowers are already being seen, and it is not a manipulation technique but really a changing of the heart .  We have had one of the best weeks together since I don't know when, and even though we haven't been able to see other very much, the time we do get together is beautiful now.  I am praying this will stay the same.  I am learning to keep my opinions to myself (unless they are requested) and allow him more freedom to enter into his role as leader of our home.  Wow, I am so impressed and wanted to share that with you all.  There is hope for our marriages and we don't have to live lonely being married anymore. 

Whooohooo I can't wait to see what's next!!

<>< Kelly

Posted in Marriage

I was encouraged today by LonestarMama's blog and thought I would do the same. TOS Publisher wants to see this spread around the homeschool blogs, so I wanted to do my part . <>< Kelly

Ten Things I Love About  My Husband

1. He loves and serves the Lord
2. He works so hard to take care of our family and to provide for us on a daily basis
3. He is a wonderful father & husband -- faithful and like a rock.
4. He is a man of integrity.
5. He puts up with me. (need I say more ;-)
6. He takes care of the dogs for me when he is home.
7. He loves to learn new things and go on adventures together as a family.
8. He is a wonderful cook and I would rather eat the burgers he grills than fast food ones anyday. He is also an expert breakfast maker (homemade hashbrowns to die-for!!).
9. He is very loyal and cares deeply about people, even though he may not get that in return.
10. He is very gifted in many things - kind of a jack-of-all trades kind of man and I love that about him. He can do anything he sets his mind to do and do it well!!