Sniff sniff...

Did I mention I've been fighting a cold?

Well, I have. I have also been out of my cold pills, or rather, they're missing. So all day I have been dealing with the sniffles and trying to ration out my Kleenex because I'm almost out of those too!

Well, I have been rescued. Mom gave me a cold pill. Wow, what a cold pill it was! I am writing to you in a cold pill induced high. I feel drugged. I AM drugged, actually. I just wanted to share that with someone.

Sniff sniff.

What God Has joined Together

I was once dropped off early, by a date for being too nice and agreeable. I'm sure my husband would find that laughable.
Someone else broke up with me just a couple of days after asking me to be his girlfriend because I was nice to his buddies when he took me to meet them. We were driving back towards my house when the guy brought it up. I said "That's fine with with me, I don't want to be in a relationship with someone who is going to suspect foul play at every turn". By they time we got to my house he had changed his tune and was back peddling fast. I said "hit the road". He was probably thinking I had been a little too agreeable, too.
That date-cut-short was 12 years ago and the break-up was at least 10. In my heart and mind it was a lifetime ago but the memories are clear. I could list a few other, longer and more meaningful, relationships that I've been involved in but I won't. What I'm really getting at is no matter how deep the relationship currently is, If you don't intend to marry that person you need to get out because you take things with you when you go. The longer you stay in a relationship the more of that person's life leaves with you.
God was serious when He told us to practice abstinence until we married. no matter how much you wish a past relationship away, a lot of it stays in your heart. When two become one, and are then separated, it is like tearing something down the middle. There are still two pieces but each piece takes a part of the other, the edge is jagged. Don't become one with someone you aren't married to and don't separate what has become one (through marriage).
You can change the quality and environment of your marriage before you even meet your spouse by cautiously choosing who to care for and by acting honorably before God and using wisdom in the days that precede your marriage.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

My church has organized a 10 week women’s bible study on Wednesday mornings that I have been attending with a few gals from my life group. The first day of bible study everyone founds a seat at one of many large round tables. I had planned to save seats for some of my gal pals and so was looking for a table that had enough open spaces for about 4 or 5 of us. I must have looked lost or confused because the pastor’s wife (celebrity moment for me!) stopped and asked if I had someone to sit with. I explained my mission and she spotted a table that looked pretty empty. As I settled in I began to chat with a couple of ladies who were already seated there. I loved them immediately and soon more ladies sat down and we were joined by my friends too! Our table was filled to the max! We took turns introducing ourselves and sharing a little personal information. Through the course of the conversation it was revealed that at least four of the women present had faced infertility or some sort of difficulty getting pregnant. Each one of them spoke to me at some point that first day, telling me that they believed God had planned this meeting, that we were not put at this table by accident, but that they were here for the sole purpose of encouraging me! You see, of the ten or so ladies at our table, I knew three of them on a personal level. Of the remaining six, there were four women who had faced and conquered these problems! One gal adopted, one gal was on her 2nd pregnancy, another had a sweet little girl who was around a year old, and one had given birth to six (6!) children after turning 30! What a huge encouragement that was for me! For one thing, it confirmed in my heart that I want to adopt, no matter what. It also calmed my worries about conception beyond 30. I don’t feel that 30 is too old to have children, but as I near the mark this year I do wonder how many birthing years I have left. As you know I want at least four! I’ve read statistics that talk about how the chances of conceiving lower with each year, and especially after the age of 35, so in my mind it’s time!
We have prayer request cards that we can fill out and hand in, so I do that every few weeks. My prayer is always the same; my husband and I have been married for 4+ years and would love to have children. Please pray that we may have as many blessings as God would shower on us! Well, a few weeks ago, after working late into the night, I planned to take a little nap before bible study and to my disappointment I slept right through it. As sad as I was when I woke up and made the discovery, I have to say I am a teeny tiny bit glad. I have this little issue with shyness (what would you call that?). Come to find out, that day I missed, the sweet wife of our pastor read my prayer card aloud and the whole room prayed for my request. I don’t know how many ladies were there that day, but a few weeks before that, on the first day our studies, there were 300 ladies! So, it’s possible that I had even 200 women all shooting up prayers just for me, my husband, and our babies. I feel totally honored. And a little weepy.
Over the course of the past seven or eight weeks I have been so blessed to have these women in my life on Wednesday mornings! I feel certain that I will treasure these friends for many years. Our table has earned the reputation as the table that stays, and stays, and stays. It seems we just can’t stop talking with one another. Today was no different. Our table leader (the momma of 6) has been telling me about a book called Supernatural Childbirth and brought it to me today. My friend put these practices and scripture into action! This book was written by a woman named Jackie who was told in the 1960’s that she would never be able to have children. That even if she conceived, she would not be able to carry her baby to term. In 1969, before she got married, she told her husband to be about her condition and his reply was “Who said?” Jackie explained to him what her doctors had told her and he said something like; well, that’s not what the bible says. So together they prayed that they could be able to fulfill God’s commandment to be fruitful and multiply. Within a few months she was pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. Together they dug deeper and prayed more. They found scriptures to back up their belief that God would give them children. You gotta read this book because they went on to have FOUR more babies who all were delivered full term and healthy, she even had 9 and 10 pounders! I would love to copy out every bit of their story for you to read but let me just tell you, if you have the desire to have children, even if you don’t have fertility issues, get this book today. You can read in it an hour or two and the back of the book is filled with pages of testimonies from couples who have used scripture and faith to get pregnant and give birth. The book also deals with having calm, God centered, painless deliveries that have wowed doctors and nurses every time.
I know, or know of, so many people who are praying for a baby. I have heard so many stories about women who have dealt with these challenges. Maybe it’s because it’s personal to me so I notice them, or maybe there really are a gazillion couples trying to conceive. Either way, to my wonderful friends who are dealing with some kind of fertility issue; Read. This. Book. To my wonderful friends who hope to one day have children of their own; read this book! It’s all about your faith.

Preparation for Divorce Awareness Month Segment 2: Love Your In-Laws as Yourself

In-laws can bring all sorts of new concepts and ideas to the family dynamic. Things that the family had never considered would be introduced into their homes or lives.

For instance, we know someone who just had a baby and now have decided to spend their holidays at home, not rushing around between grandparent's and great-grandparent's homes for dinner and gifts and gatherings. I'm sure there were a couple of people who weren't so excited about that. What helps though, is that they welcome their families into their own home for the day. So everyone still gets to gather together and celebrate but the new baby doesn't have to carted all about town. I'm sure that mama was the #1 in-law on "the bad list" for a bit. She and her hubby stood up for what they believed was the best decision for their new little girl though, and that's their job.

I know another gal who is not friends with her husband's family. She thinks they're strange and uninterested in her life. To her they seem un-friendly and cold. She can see that they have meaningful relationships with one another, she even feels that they are too close. She just doesn't see that there is anything to build a relationship on for her. My friend has told me that she has tried to involve her in-laws in conversation but they seem unresponsive. Does this sound familiar to you? If so, trying talking to them about something they might be interested in. Ask questions about their life. Don't think they've been sitting around waiting to hear about your decorating plans. I can promise you, they probably don't really care.

When my mom and I were planning my wedding, I was sure that everyone else was dreading the thought of being asked to help out or do something like cut the cake. I am sure I got that vibe from the one person who was feeling that way. Because of that one person though, I didn't involve any of my husband's family. Most specifically his mom. I didn't want her to have to lift a finger. I wanted her to come, relax, and enjoy the day. As it turns out, she very much wanted to be involved in the planning and preparation. She would have loved taking part in the day. I figured that out too late and I regret it. Something that I really loved about our wedding day was that my mom and my mother-in-law, by no plan of my own, ended up cutting the cakes together and had such a wonderful time doing it. It felt so special to me, and to them. So, take into consideration that people want to be wanted, and needed. They want to help and to bless you. By asking for help, or for advice, or opinions from your family, especially your in-laws, you can build relationships that will be full of joy and blessings. Just remember to be genuine. If you really don't care what brand of laundry soap your MIL uses, find something you do care about and target that area. She'll feel special to have been asked and you'll get to hand something down to your children from their grandmother, even if it is something as simple as the scent of her clothes.

Obviously some people get stuck with the crazies. Don't hop on that bandwagon just to get the easy way out. I do know of some nutty in-laws though. So don't kill yourself trying to be the perfect daughter-(or son) in-law for someone who will never accept you anyway. Much too much sleep to be lost there. On the other hand, if you have a bad egg, and even if your spouse agrees with you. Don't spend much time talking or venting or raging to your spouse. Like I said, even if your husband agrees with you, because it can still hurt. You can change the vibe of your relationship by not taking every opportunity that presents itself to bash your husband's family. You could probably discuss it now and then in a level tone of voice, but try to zip your lip for the most part.

So, bottom line, when you're looking at your in-laws like you have no idea how your beloved spouse came from a family like that, realize that they think you're a little different too.

Cleaning Day, really.

I've been working half the night away each night this week so far, last week it was all night each night. I ended up sleeping all day which is fine since I was working all night but I end up feeling like my day is gone and I miss things, like normal business hours.
Today I worked in the garage, getting a bunch of clutter cleared out. The garage tends to be the catch-all for car cleaning. I hate it. It's gross. I always feel gross when I'm out there. Like I have a spider on me...
I also cleaned my bathrooms, dusted the ceiling fans (that makes for a proud mom and mother-in-law, haha), did some laundry, cleaned the clutter piles from the laundry room, and organized the linen closet. So, I've been busy, but I still don't feel like I'm doing anything. I still need to replant my tomatoes that I killed when I moved the seedlings to a bigger pot, same story for the zucchini. The problem is...the new puppy. Yes, the honeymoon is over. Every seed I have planted in the backyard this spring has been dug up. Like, big holes. Lettuce, spinach, potted flowers (okay, I let that happen), and my bird and butterfly mix too. I'm not whining or sad about it, okay I am actually but I'm also perplexed. I have been told blood meal will keep the pets out. I guess I need to get my hands on some of that.
Josh and Bailey will be home this weekend, and next weekend, and the next weekend, I think. We have no plans and no obligations. Except for a baby shower that I just opted out of, sadly. We do have some model airplanes to put together, some new kites to fly, a puppy in the backyard who needs to be loved, and some new Frisbees too! I am so ready for this.

Intervention Needed

I think I have an addiction. It isn’t normal, as in it isn’t recognized as or categorized with other more common addictions. The thing about addictions is that they can be hard to recognize by the person who is addicted. Sometimes it isn’t until problems arise from the behavior that it becomes apparent. Please don’t judge me; I am going to tell you about it.
I have just realized my problem and it was only because of my wonderful and kind sister-in-law that it came to light. It’s Tupperware. Not just the name brand stuff either, if could be Rubbermaid or some other sturdy food storage contraption. Before you roll your eyes (or if you already have) let me underscore the problem by admitting that I once paid $80 for a set of 3 (very nice) metal mixing bowls with non-skid bases, a thumb hook, and pour spout, complete with perfectly fitting rubber lids for storage. They’re very nice.
There. I said it. In my own defense I don’t know what prompted me to put that kind of money into mixing bowls except that I was at a home party and wanted to buy something but only something that I actually needed. For some reason the fact that they were $80 didn’t seem to register...at the time.
It came to a head tonight when I realized I had left my 2 containers of fondant at my SIL’s house and then I realized which containers they were -insert gasp- . I shot off a quick text to let her know what I had done and asked her to please save them for me. I might have also said that I would like them returned to me filled with something delicious (I have no shame). She replied by informing me that I also had one of hers (I have no shame), and then called me grandma. It was that moment that I realized and admitted to having a problem. Send help.

This Lady Said She Doesn't Want Her Kids to Be Happy!

I love it.

Check it out at It's Almost Naptime!