• Mar. 27, 2006
Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my husband’s birthday, and I bought myself a present. Yep. You heard me right. It’s his birthday, and I got myself a present.

Before you throw tomatoes at me, let me explain that my purchase was not completely self-serving. In fact, I’d venture to guess that you’d do the same thing in my position. It’s a purchase that any wife who cherishes her husband would gladly make.

Okay...enough explanation. Here it is...

Whaddya think?

Okay, I admit it. There probably wasn’t any doubt in anyone’s mind that I love my husband. But I can honestly say that now, in our 15^th year of marriage, my enjoyment and delight in him has grown to new depths. But with that growth, God has also shown me where I fall short in encouraging him. Oh, I can rationalize it in my mind. First I was a mom of babies and toddlers...I was tired...I was busy...I’m homeschooling three boys...I’m ministering here...serving there...blah, blah, blah. Surely he knows that I love him.

But God has convicted me in recent months that I need to actively affirm my husband and build him up. I shouldn’t take for granted that he knows it. I need to actively plan, actively listen, actively encourage, actively cherish, actively pray. I can’t do all this on my own, but God delights in filling me with exactly what I need to love and encourage the amazing man He’s given to me.

Happy, Happy Birthday, my love! I praise God, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are His works; my soul knows it very well.

Here's the website where you can purchase your very own "i love my husband" t-shirt:  http://s128357773.onlinehome.us/store/

(Post A Comment!)

Comments

• Mar. 27, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by hskubes

I love it! Where did you get it?
And you are very right... our hubbies need us to actively show them that we love and respect them. They need to know it often.
What a great idea you had.
I hope he has a wonderful birthday and that you all enjoy it together.

~ Christina
www.homeschoolblogger.com/hskubes

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 27, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by gal51

I love it ... where did you get it?

He has a special wife!!

Blessings!

~Heather

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 27, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by RainyDayMichele

Love it! :o) Happy Birthday, John!! Have a great day, Nikki...

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 27, 2006
Very encouraging!

Posted by EEEEMommy

I love the color too!

P.S. I appreciate your quote of the week! And, we're listening to the same CDs plus anything and everything Jeremy Camp!

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 27, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by kleo30

Cool shirt!!! I have to admit that I thought you bought yourself something different to wear :p....that's what I got Doug for his birthday lol.....

~Kelly

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 28, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by abidinglove

I enjoyed your post and loved the picture of the t-shirt! My dh's birthday is today and the children and I planned a special birthday dinner for him last night - 3 course meal at home with cake and helium balloons, flowers and a gift that we knew he wanted and we had saved for months for - he was so surprised - it was wonderful!

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 28, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by abidinglove

I hope you don't mind my sharing with you here that my teenage daughter has recently started a new blog and forum as a tool for christian growth and sharing and she would love to have some visitors to her blog and forum. She has written a lovely article called "God is in Control." If you have time please drop by and visit her at http://www.the-higher-way.blogspot.com/ Thanks, Colleen

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 28, 2006
Happiest of days to you, Jon!!!!

Posted by rbjhcmama

I hope you had a great day, Jon!!! I love the shirt, Nikki! I, too, would love to know where to get one. This is definitely one I'd take great pleasure in wearing!

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 28, 2006
Cool t-shirt!

Posted by CTdittmar

Great heartfelt wisdom, friend! How true it is. It's easy to let our first love not be our first priority. It takes intentionality. Is that a word? hmmm....well, you know what I mean. Or, I know what YOU mean.
Christa

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 29, 2006
That is so sweet :)

Posted by daddysgirls

I love your shirt, I looked at the website and I think I am going to order me one and get the one for the girls that has my dad rocks on it.

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 29, 2006
happy birthday!

Posted by Anonymous

oh.my. goodness.
i found you!
how awesome is this???!!!!!
the encouragement i sooooooooo longed for every single day as a youth under your wings over 12 years ago and now i get to reconnect once again and be inspired by your never-wavering faith!!!! nikki, you are definitely clay in the potters hands. thank YOU for allowing God to use you in a mighty way!
GOD is soooooooooooooo GOOD!
oh.....and happy birthday jon! teeeheeee.
miss your family bunches!
tania

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 29, 2006
Nice to meet you!

Posted by Anonymous

What a beautiful blog!!! I love the entire thing! I'm a fiar'er (amandabky) and it appears that we have a similar view of Christianity. :) I put you on my friend's list...hope you don't mind. I LOVE the tshirt!

Amanda

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 30, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by JeanaG

This is sweet. Thanks for sharing and for being committed to loving your husband!!

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 30, 2006
lovin' my husband too

Posted by javamamma

Did you edit your post with the ordering info for the great t-shirt or was it there all along? After I read your post a day or 2 ago - I did a google search and found a few "husband" shirts but none like yours. I did find one I liked though and ordered. Thanks for the inspiration!

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 31, 2006
Woa!

Posted by CTdittmar

You changed your avatar! I almost didn't recognize you at Javamama's

(Permanent Link)

• Mar. 31, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS

What a great gift. I think every husband would be blesed to have a wife that would get "them" one of those.
TNMOM

(Permanent Link)

• Apr. 1, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by Happyhome

Love the shirt...wear it proudly! Dh and I have been married for almost 15 years and I tend to struggle with the very things you mentioned. I would love to hear more of what the Lord has been sharing with you. I need to actively do more to show my love and keep it a priority. Thanks for sharing and happy birthday to your dh!

Blessings,

Angela

(Permanent Link)

• Apr. 2, 2006
How sweet.

Posted by Christy

You are too sweet. What did your sweetie think of it?

Well, I love it. And you are a beautiful mommy and the pictures of the kids and the dandelions are just precious.

Thanks for sharing.

Love,
Christy from FIAR

(Permanent Link)

• Apr. 4, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by CreativeHomeschooling

I couldn't read the very left part of your blog (got cut off) but I can tell you have a beautiful family. My dh would love it if I wore a t-shirt like yours. You have a blessed hubby.
Jennie von Eggers
www.TimesTales.com
www.CreativeHomeschooling.com

(Permanent Link)

• Oct. 8, 2007
found: T-shirts!

Posted by SchoolinRhome

Hi. I read this post after I sent the comment about where you got the shirts! I now see! Thanks for sharing! (I even talk before thinking in the blog world. Sorry!)
I love my hubby, too! Can't wait to get the shirts!

(Permanent Link)