Monday, October 30, 2006
Jack-o-Lantern time....
Well, I was going to save this for tomorrow, but since Mrs. M-mv asked so nicely, here you go! Here is the before and after.
Today my baby is 8!
This is the day we brought Seth home from the hospital (Halloween). Note the Halloween jammies for the trip home!
Gotta love those 6 month smiles!!
That is the smile that melts my heart every time!!
Too bad mom didn't comb your hair before the photo shoot!
Somehow that cute little boy became an eight year old soccer player who can make me laugh
with his voices and his imitations. (He has Danny down pat!!) He has the boundless energy of an eight year old boy, and even on the days it drives me bonkers, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!! This is the boy who talks non-stop. He loves to tell me things. He loves to be with me. This boy is enthusiastic about learning (most days) and keeps me on my toes with his insightful questions!
Happy Birthday, Seth! You do know that you will always be my baby!!
Gotta love those 6 month smiles!!
That is the smile that melts my heart every time!!
Too bad mom didn't comb your hair before the photo shoot!
Somehow that cute little boy became an eight year old soccer player who can make me laugh
with his voices and his imitations. (He has Danny down pat!!) He has the boundless energy of an eight year old boy, and even on the days it drives me bonkers, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!! This is the boy who talks non-stop. He loves to tell me things. He loves to be with me. This boy is enthusiastic about learning (most days) and keeps me on my toes with his insightful questions! Happy Birthday, Seth! You do know that you will always be my baby!!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Last soccer game....
Today we beat our nemesis. There is a team that we have played 3-4 times before and we have never beat them. (Yah, I know....we don't count score at this age....whatever!) This morning we set our for the field on a gorgeous crisp fall morning, game plan in hand. Our game plan, you ask? Not get killed! Last year we were thrilled to only lose to them by 1. Well, in the first half they scored two goals! But, in the second half Seth scored the goal to tie it up. And one of the boys (who is not one of our better players) scored the winning goal. It was *so* fun to see him get to be the hero!! We had a pizza party after the game to celebrate the last game of the fall and you would have thought we had won the world cup. Soccer has been so fun.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Early Halloween
Every year the retirement home where my grandma lives has a big neighborhood Halloween party. The residents all line up in chairs along the halls and pass out candy to the kids. There are lots of carnival games. It is a great event that allows children to get to interact with the elderly and vice-versa.Here is my dear grandma and her husband! I love that they live so close to us now. When I was growing up she lived on her farm about an hour and a half away.
Here is the ninja and the Renaissance princess!!
My beautiful mama, grandma and silly pirate brother eating a sucker.
I don't know this woman, but she made me smile, and for just a minute, want to be old.
Let the sorting and trading begin!! Don't you just remember the joy of coming home and doing this?
Yesterday....
We went on a field trip to Eastern Washington University. I have a confession to make. Growing up in Spokane, I never had a very high opinion of EWU. It was an option for kids who didn't go away to WSU or U of W...or private schools. It somehow seemed lesser in my mind. But, the campus, which is about 30 minutes from Spokane is absolutely beautiful! The brick buildings and fall colors gave on a crisp sunny day seemed just perfect. We had this spunky enthusiastic student tour guide who completely sold me on Eastern. I found myself longing to go back to college and take advantage of all the great programs and student services. No cooking....no one to take care of but myself.....people planning fun activities for me to participate in.....studying......now, *that* was the life!
When I was going to college Eastern seemed WAY too close to home. Now that I am raising future college students.....Eastern sounds like a fantastic option!!
When I was going to college Eastern seemed WAY too close to home. Now that I am raising future college students.....Eastern sounds like a fantastic option!!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday Ten
1. Today at school we will be taking the high school students on a field trip to Eastern Washington University. We have good kids, so I'm sure it will be a fun morning.
2. My baby turns EIGHT in five days. I need to get a present for him!
3. My dad is in Russia (Archangel is in the northwest near the Arctic ocean) right now, helping to start a new institute to train pastors in that region. This is probably the 10th time he has been to different parts of Russia for this purpose.
4. Yesterday afternoon I went and stripped wallpaper with my mom. She is trying to get my dad's office redone while he is gone. There is something very satisfying about stripping wall paper. The kids helped too, and we all loved it when a BIG chunk came off at the same time.
5. I made pumpkin rolls on Monday and they are yummy!! They don't taste very pumpkin-y, but they are delicious.
6. I took homemade chicken noodle soup (and pumpkin rolls) to both my mother and my mother-in-law on Monday because they were both sick. Isn't it funny how good chicken noodle soup tastes when you are sick?
7. The tooth fairy has been to our house twice (once for each kid) this week. She managed to show up (on time) both times!! My daughter can not seem to keep a tooth in her head. She is 9, and she has lost 16 teeth. I didn't even know kids lost that many. She lost her first 2nd molar.
8. I wish I could think of something really witty to post right about now.
9. I read many of your blogs and you tell funny stories about when you were growing up. Why is it that I can not remember one interesting story about my childhood? NOT ONE! Either I have a bad memory or I had an extremely boring childhood. Odds are heavily in favor of the former.
10. Thought for the day from Our Daily Bread: There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Oh, but don't you wish there were? Read Philippians 3:7-14 today.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13b-14)
2. My baby turns EIGHT in five days. I need to get a present for him!
3. My dad is in Russia (Archangel is in the northwest near the Arctic ocean) right now, helping to start a new institute to train pastors in that region. This is probably the 10th time he has been to different parts of Russia for this purpose.
4. Yesterday afternoon I went and stripped wallpaper with my mom. She is trying to get my dad's office redone while he is gone. There is something very satisfying about stripping wall paper. The kids helped too, and we all loved it when a BIG chunk came off at the same time.
5. I made pumpkin rolls on Monday and they are yummy!! They don't taste very pumpkin-y, but they are delicious.
6. I took homemade chicken noodle soup (and pumpkin rolls) to both my mother and my mother-in-law on Monday because they were both sick. Isn't it funny how good chicken noodle soup tastes when you are sick?
7. The tooth fairy has been to our house twice (once for each kid) this week. She managed to show up (on time) both times!! My daughter can not seem to keep a tooth in her head. She is 9, and she has lost 16 teeth. I didn't even know kids lost that many. She lost her first 2nd molar.
8. I wish I could think of something really witty to post right about now.
9. I read many of your blogs and you tell funny stories about when you were growing up. Why is it that I can not remember one interesting story about my childhood? NOT ONE! Either I have a bad memory or I had an extremely boring childhood. Odds are heavily in favor of the former.
10. Thought for the day from Our Daily Bread: There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Oh, but don't you wish there were? Read Philippians 3:7-14 today.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13b-14)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
One hundred and fifty things.
I found this from Donna at Quiet Life. The object of this list is to highlight the things that you have done. Feel free to borrow this and complete it on your blog.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain----not a real high one!!
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone---well, does a good book count as someone?
08. Said “I love you” and meant it---every single day!!
09. Hugged a tree-------for photo purposes only :o)
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris---summer 1990
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)---Does the Seahawks game count?
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment---more times than I can count!
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment---almost every day!
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states---well, not yet, but we are over halfway there and have definite plans for the others!
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs----You mean some people don't???
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class----for 2 weeks when Danny & I first got married, but we couldn't stop giggling through class. I don't think the teacher appreciated us so we had to quit!
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - still raising!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray-my foot touched one in Mexico!! Ouch!!
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days----Danny & I took a canoing class in college.
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school----right now
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream---almost every day!
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain----not a real high one!!
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone---well, does a good book count as someone?
08. Said “I love you” and meant it---every single day!!
09. Hugged a tree-------for photo purposes only :o)
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris---summer 1990
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)---Does the Seahawks game count?
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment---more times than I can count!
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment---almost every day!
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states---well, not yet, but we are over halfway there and have definite plans for the others!
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs----You mean some people don't???
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class----for 2 weeks when Danny & I first got married, but we couldn't stop giggling through class. I don't think the teacher appreciated us so we had to quit!
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - still raising!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray-my foot touched one in Mexico!! Ouch!!
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days----Danny & I took a canoing class in college.
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school----right now
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream---almost every day!
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
Monday, October 23, 2006
Pit in my stomach....
Do you ever have that feeling in the pit of your stomach that something isn't right? I had it a little yesterday and I woke up with this feeling. I can't figure out what it is. Things are fine with Danny, the kids are fine, my parents are good. I have a lot to do, but I finished a big assignment and turned it in yesterday, which should give me a euphoric feeling.
Could it be that the Seahawks lost yesterday? If so, I desperately need to get a life!!
Life is good! Go away, weird feeling!!
Could it be that the Seahawks lost yesterday? If so, I desperately need to get a life!!
Life is good! Go away, weird feeling!!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tuesday Ten
1. It has been a long time since I have been to my yoga class. Perhaps the last time I went was when I wrote this. I started up again on Sunday, and I am still so sore I can hardly stand up or sit down! Whoever uses yoga as a relaxation or meditation technique is *not* taking the same class that I am!!
2. How do football coaches not have heart attacks right there on the field? The last two minutes of the Seahawks game on Sunday nearly put *me* into cardiac arrest and I don't have a whole lot invested in the game.
3. Today I get to go out to lunch with a friend. I'm looking forward to that!
4. Why do some school days take forever and some take such a short time? The work is pretty much the same. Last Monday the kids were still working at 5:00. Yesterday, they were done by 2:30.
5. It is amazing to me how many people don't like to be with their families on holidays. I really hope my children and their spouses want to be with us when they are grown.
6. I like playing the game Clue. The kids are getting pretty good at it and it is a fun way to teach logic skills.
7. I'm not really a lotion girl, but I got a gift of some Origins Spearmint and Lemon lotion and it smells so good that I find myself smelling my hands a lot. A strange sight, I'm sure.
8. We finished Story of the World 3 and are moving into modern times this week.
9. We put up our fall decorations this weekend. Somehow the kids always think this is going to be a way more exciting event than it really is. We don't have many decorations and it takes about 5-10 minutes, but you would have thought we were going to Disneyland!
10. Conversation between Seth and I yesterday.
Seth: Mommy, what's sexual relations mean?
Mommy: sputter, cough, sputter...Er, um, it is a special love for moms and dads.
Seth: Oh.
Blast that Bible!! :-) What kind of thing is it teaching my children?!? Note to self: Don't have seven year old reading Genesis on his own.
2. How do football coaches not have heart attacks right there on the field? The last two minutes of the Seahawks game on Sunday nearly put *me* into cardiac arrest and I don't have a whole lot invested in the game.
3. Today I get to go out to lunch with a friend. I'm looking forward to that!
4. Why do some school days take forever and some take such a short time? The work is pretty much the same. Last Monday the kids were still working at 5:00. Yesterday, they were done by 2:30.
5. It is amazing to me how many people don't like to be with their families on holidays. I really hope my children and their spouses want to be with us when they are grown.
6. I like playing the game Clue. The kids are getting pretty good at it and it is a fun way to teach logic skills.
7. I'm not really a lotion girl, but I got a gift of some Origins Spearmint and Lemon lotion and it smells so good that I find myself smelling my hands a lot. A strange sight, I'm sure.
8. We finished Story of the World 3 and are moving into modern times this week.
9. We put up our fall decorations this weekend. Somehow the kids always think this is going to be a way more exciting event than it really is. We don't have many decorations and it takes about 5-10 minutes, but you would have thought we were going to Disneyland!
10. Conversation between Seth and I yesterday.
Seth: Mommy, what's sexual relations mean?
Mommy: sputter, cough, sputter...Er, um, it is a special love for moms and dads.
Seth: Oh.
Blast that Bible!! :-) What kind of thing is it teaching my children?!? Note to self: Don't have seven year old reading Genesis on his own.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Obnoxious mom
Really, there is nothing more obnoxious than moms who post pictures of there kids and talk about how cute they are, right? But, I mean really!! Come on, look at that kid!!!
And that coach on the left ain't too bad either!
And that coach on the left ain't too bad either!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Reading in Bed
Mindy: So, are you really going to carry that book on the bus?
Danny: (sheepish smile) Yes?
Mindy: It sure is.....pink.
Danny: I'm secure in my manliness.
I'm not sure where Danny first heard about this book, but he put it on hold at the library and has been enjoying it thoroughly. Last night we lay in bed; Danny reading Stop Dressing your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank and Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom, and me reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexandre Solzenhitsyn. Does anyone see the ironic contrast here? It is usually me reading lighter material and Danny tackling something a bit more weighty.
Last night we were both tucked in early with our respective books, and Danny started giggling. I ignore him concentrating a little harder on the Russian gulag. He then moved to chortling. I looked at him to see if he wanted to share the joke with me. I then turned back to my book re-reading that same paragraph for the third time. Next, he was laughing so hard he was shaking the bed. He had to share a few excerpts with me. Pretty soon we were both laughing so hard that we had tears streaming down our faces. I'm not sure what was making me laugh harder, the book or Danny trying to read through his laughter. And then, I turned back to read a couple of pages of my book.
About five minutes later, we repeated the cycle. Several times.
If you are looking for a funny light read, I'd recommend the book (if you don' t mind a little colorful language.)
Happy reading in bed, everyone!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Loving fall..
I don't know about your neck of the woods, but it is officially fall here. Yesterday was a gorgeous fall day, sunny and crisp. Perfect for watching a soccer game! It just makes me happy to be out there with all those families. There are grandparents and parents and coaches holding babies. I have heard about how obnoxious youth sports parents can be, but I have seen nothing but families encouraging their kids. Perhaps it changes when they get older, but it is just wholesome good-ole'-fashion exercise and competition. Good for the body and the soul. Good to both win and lose. (Our team lost this week. :-)) But, they played well and their coach (Danny) was happy.
Today was cold, and I felt like turning on the fireplace and eating hearty soup and watching football. I did two out of three of those things. (I was upstairs so I didn't turn on the fire.) I turned in two assignments this weekend, which always feel great. Each course only has 3-4 assignments, so that is like turning in a third of the work. I'm always relieved when they are in!
Not too much to say. Just checking in. Have a great week!
Today was cold, and I felt like turning on the fireplace and eating hearty soup and watching football. I did two out of three of those things. (I was upstairs so I didn't turn on the fire.) I turned in two assignments this weekend, which always feel great. Each course only has 3-4 assignments, so that is like turning in a third of the work. I'm always relieved when they are in!
Not too much to say. Just checking in. Have a great week!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Reflections on marriage....
When Danny and I got engaged a friend of mine told me that Danny would "stifle my free spirit." Those words have come back to me many times over the 15+ years that we have been married.
I have been deeply reflecting on my marriage the last couple of days because on Sunday I learned that a couple we know is separated. "We just grew apart. Our interests are different,"she told me. It caused me to reflect on my interests and Danny's interests. Honestly, we don't have that many of the same interests. I love football. He doesn't like to watch sports. He likes conservative politics and staying current with the news. I like reading fiction that takes me away from the real world. He likes working outside in the yard. I don't. :-) I like watching a little mindless TV once in a while. He prefers reading books in Spanish. He is pretty serious about life. I am hopelessly optimistic and happy.
Honestly, yes, there are days when I have felt (and still feel) like he is "cramping my style." But, when I reflect on those times, I realize that my "free spirit" needs a bit of stifling. That is what marriage is all about. The trick is to learn how to do that while still celebrating and honoring the other person's strengths. How does one celebrate the person that is their spouse and yet still help them to become more like Christ?
There is so much I want to say about this subject, and I have deleted about eight different paragraphs because I don't want to get boring or preachy. I guess I realized that it isn't about "common interests." It is about a mutual commitment to loving and serving each other long after the romantic feelings have turned to more realistic ones. It is about knowing exactly when to "stifle" the other person and when to celebrate them. And I think Danny does this well.
I have been deeply reflecting on my marriage the last couple of days because on Sunday I learned that a couple we know is separated. "We just grew apart. Our interests are different,"she told me. It caused me to reflect on my interests and Danny's interests. Honestly, we don't have that many of the same interests. I love football. He doesn't like to watch sports. He likes conservative politics and staying current with the news. I like reading fiction that takes me away from the real world. He likes working outside in the yard. I don't. :-) I like watching a little mindless TV once in a while. He prefers reading books in Spanish. He is pretty serious about life. I am hopelessly optimistic and happy.
Honestly, yes, there are days when I have felt (and still feel) like he is "cramping my style." But, when I reflect on those times, I realize that my "free spirit" needs a bit of stifling. That is what marriage is all about. The trick is to learn how to do that while still celebrating and honoring the other person's strengths. How does one celebrate the person that is their spouse and yet still help them to become more like Christ?
There is so much I want to say about this subject, and I have deleted about eight different paragraphs because I don't want to get boring or preachy. I guess I realized that it isn't about "common interests." It is about a mutual commitment to loving and serving each other long after the romantic feelings have turned to more realistic ones. It is about knowing exactly when to "stifle" the other person and when to celebrate them. And I think Danny does this well.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
A Turning Point
Last night we went to my parent's house for a little family party. My uncle and aunt were visiting from Seattle so we got together to eat a little food, watch the WSU Cougars play football and have some great family time.
Last night Annsley took her younger cousin, Katie, downstairs to play dress-up. Pretty soon they emerged from downstairs, and Katie (3 years old) was decked out in the fanciest, prettiest outfit. But, Annsley was wearing her normal clothes. We all "oohed" and "ahhed" over Katie and they disappeared to don a new outfit. Soon, they arrived again with Katie in another fancy, sparkly outfit and Annsley still had on her own clothes. I know Annsley still likes dress-up because she enjoys playing it with her friends.
I felt a little sadness. Annsley no longer wanted to preen in the spotlight, in dazzling sequins and feathers, thinking herself a princess or a ballerina. My little girl is growing up!
I also felt a little proud. I watched her being perfectly content to usher Katie into the spotlight and step back and let her take center stage. My little girl is growing up. And she is growing into a confident, kind young lady!
Last night Annsley took her younger cousin, Katie, downstairs to play dress-up. Pretty soon they emerged from downstairs, and Katie (3 years old) was decked out in the fanciest, prettiest outfit. But, Annsley was wearing her normal clothes. We all "oohed" and "ahhed" over Katie and they disappeared to don a new outfit. Soon, they arrived again with Katie in another fancy, sparkly outfit and Annsley still had on her own clothes. I know Annsley still likes dress-up because she enjoys playing it with her friends.
I felt a little sadness. Annsley no longer wanted to preen in the spotlight, in dazzling sequins and feathers, thinking herself a princess or a ballerina. My little girl is growing up!
I also felt a little proud. I watched her being perfectly content to usher Katie into the spotlight and step back and let her take center stage. My little girl is growing up. And she is growing into a confident, kind young lady!
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