I love this guy :)

So I've been trying this new thing.  It's called thinking of others before I think of myself.  Revolutionary, I know.  I've been pretty whiny lately.  It's really awful.  God has really convicted of me this as I think of others before myself.  What could others be complaining about, but they don't?  

 John has been working so hard in his classes and in his job.  He works so, so hard, with little reward.  He's been waiting too long (in my opinion) for a promotion.  You probably know that when waiting for something like that, it's easy for the bitter weed of discontentment to rise up inside your heart and take over.

But not John.  My sweet husband has been driving around in an SUV every day this summer without air conditioning,  I had almost forgotten it didn't have a/c because he never complains about it.  It has been a terribly hot summer, and traffic can be pretty awful on his way home from work.  I'd be pretty worked  up into a tizzy by the time I got home!  But he is kind, and greets us all with a smile, hugs and kisses.  :)  He will step in immediately and assist with dinner, make dinner, or take control of the children during the "witching hour" as I make dinner.

Josiah put on a button up, collared shirt today and walked around very proudly saying, "Daddy's shirt," because I guess he thought he looked like his Daddy.  Our children have the best father.  I'm so happy our boys have him to look up to.  I'm so grateful our daughter has him to show her how a man should treat a woman.

We love you, Daddy.  And John, I'm amazed by you.  God is good.  He has been so good to us.  I know it's only through His Spirit that John is as faithful, hard working, and loving as he is.

The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him!   Proverbs 20:7

Parenting is a temporary stewardship.  Marriage is forever.  The best thing you can do for your kids is to be a good husband.  (Wayne Stocks, Ministry-to-children.com)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [Genesis 2:24 ESV]

One of my favorite things

Sometimes a kind word, a cute moment, or a special little memory just between John and I can keep me smiling all day.  Today I kept laughing out loud about a conversation we had last night.

After Cubbies, I told John how hot our classroom had been.  I was drenched with sweat and even had "pit stains!"  Ugh, that phrase makes me so uncomfortable.  I'm sorry I even had to type it.  Ew, ew, ew!  I don't think everyone is grossed out like me about that body part (the underarm, let's call it) so I think it's okay, but sorry if I just made you throw up a little.

John then went on to describe how hot he gets at Target, and that "Dri-Fit" shirts help a  lot.  Or shirts that are designed for golfing.  But he said he hadn't found a good solution for pants.  They have to wear khaki colored pants without pockets--dressier khaki pants, you know.

Knowing how much my (beautiful, clean, shaven and lovely) legs sweat, I can only imagine how much his seriously hairy legs sweat.  Gross!  So I suggested he shave his legs.

He just kind of looked at me for a minute.  And I knew it was the kind of look like I just said something absolutely ridiculous.

So I said, "Well just shave your thighs and up in this area, you know, where it gets really hot."

And after just looking at me for another minute, he said, "You give the weirdest solutions for things."

Ha!  Well it makes sense to me.

Marriage and Family

I have been so blessed by my Marriage and Family class here at Southern Seminary, taught by Mrs. York.  John and I, and I on my own, have attended and been a part of several marriage classes, retreats, and there was of course pre-marital counseling.  We have read many books about marriage, family, etc.  But for some reason this class has been major!

I think part of it is due to Mrs. York's realistic approach, her crazy wit, and the "Praying for Your Husband" prayer calendar she gave us.  My heart has really opened, I think, to my husband's needs and less to my own.  I really have a "heart for marriage," as some would say.  My heart breaks for women that are left abandoned by their husbands, marriages that end in divorce, and so on.

If you ever feel like your marriage has become routine, boring, or if you are going through any of the typical problems we always hear about in marriages, or even if your marriage feels perfectly healthy, I would highly recommend a marriage retreat (they are fun!  They're not like seeing a therapist at all, and they are usually very affordable), taking a class, reading a book, etc.  If you need some suggestions or advice, let me know!  No judging or shame--it's always a pleasure to invest in marriage!

Love and Communication in Marriage

I am currently taking a Seminary Wives class called "Marriage and Family," taught by Mrs. Tanya York.  She is hilarious, witty, and smart.  John and I both have a lot of homework for this class, and are being forced to talk about a lot of things, rediscover our love languages, etc. I found that my love languages have changed, and John's have, too.  So take note, my friends: My new love languages are words of affirmation followed closely by GIFTS.  Let me say that again ----->  GIFTS  <-------  haha!

I believe my new love language (GIFTS) comes from our circumstances here at Southern Seminary.  It's a big shock going from nearly a six figure salary, living in beautiful Naples, Florida, working full time at my dream job (teaching first grade) and ahem, being quite good at it and loving it (addicted to it, seriously...I loved teaching).  So back then, if I really wanted something I bought it.  And we lived fairly frugally, paid off thousands and thousands in debt (praise the Lord for Crown Financial Bible Study and Dave Ramsey). But I just didn't appreciate things then like I do now.  Every gift anyone gives me, John or our kids, just makes me feel so loved.  I've opened packages or cards and literally almost passed out at the generosity of people, our church, etc.  

John's love language has changed to physical touch followed closely by words of affirmation.  So now he should understand my need for praise more, right?  Hehehe :)  My lowest love language is physical touch, lol.  

Anyway, my real reason for this post was to post these passages of Scripture.  I had to find 15 passages that spoke about communication, and meditate over them--how they might apply to our marriage and life.  They are all so good, I had to share, and I wanted to keep them as a record for myself as well.  

“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.”  -Proverbs 22:11

“The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases  persuasiveness.”  Proverbs 16:21

“The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil, pride and arrogance and the way of evil, and perverted speech I hate.”  Proverbs 8:13

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”  Colossians 4:6

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29

“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

           

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”  James 3:2-12

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”  1 Peter 2:21-24

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.”  James 1:26

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.”  James 2:12

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.”  James 3:14

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”  James 4:1

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28

“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.”  Proverbs 15:31-32

Conversations you might or might not have heard at our house

So I was sitting on the couch, pitying myself because I've entered the restlessness phase of my pregnancy.  I haven't heard other women complain of this, so maybe it's just me.  But you know that thing they call Restless Legs Syndrome?  Well, I get that feeling all throughout my body when I'm pregnant.  Anyway, I was just thinking about that and (it probably seemed random to him) said to John,

"Do you know vampires never get uncomfortable?"

And he replied, "Do you know vampires are not real?"

Hmph.

Oh Johnniebear.  The fun we could have if you had a little bit of an imagination.

Love

I caught Daddy dancing with Cinderella...

 I am pretty sure that almost the only thing that makes John get teary-eyed is when we talk about her wedding day.  Or when the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman comes on the radio.  I'm saving this pic of them dancing for later...

I let Maryn color on the couch during Josiah's nap yesterday!

Here is a picture Maryn made at Cubbies.  "This is Mommy and Daddy on date night playing in the backyard and jumping off the picnic tables."  Yep, that's what we do on date nights!

Maryn and Ella Grace have been such sweet friends lately.  Love them.

Maryn has actually been such a great little friend to all her friends lately.  I am very pleased with my THREE year old.  Some day I'm sure I'll miss age two, but that day is not today!

Do you know your kids' love languages?  Quite some time ago, John and I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  This book is very helpful in any relationship, I think.  There's one for kids and teenagers as well, though I haven't read those.  Maryn's love language is definitely quality time.  She we will keep you busy.  If she loves you...she'll ask you to do this, then that, then this and that.  She'll feel most loved if you sit and color, draw and read with her.  If you dress up with her, swim with her, run with her, pretend with her, cook with her.

John's love language is also quality time and honestly, it drives me nuts.  I love spending time with both of them but oy, it's exhausting!  But understanding that THIS is the way they feel most loved helps me understand their need for my time and energy.

Josiah's love language is...can you guess?  Physical touch!  Yay.  I love having a kid who loves to be snuggled, held, kissed, and tickled.  He doesn't mind playing by himself and doesn't take it too personally if I ignore him while I wash the dishes...unless he wants to be snuggled, held, and kissed!

I love how my children are different.  They are each unique.  What will the next baby be like?  I can't wait to meet you, baby!

A weird thing about my husband.

My hubby is sweet.  He is a very color blind person, I think you'd say.  When it comes to people I mean.

For example, he will talk about someone from work or school and not mention their race.  I mean, why should you?  As if that's important.  But anyway.

He was best friends with this guy all through high school, Jason Froelich.  He ate at his house all the time and they hung out and were great friends.  Jason and John have both become Christians too--both were born again in college, which is kind of cool.  Now they still remain friends and still have a lot in common.  He always talked about him and stuff they did in high school.

Anyway, it just occurred to John the other day (well maybe a year ago) to mention the Jason's mom made great Asian food because she's from Japan (I think it's Japan).

What?

Jason's Japanese?

"Well yeah."  John said.

"Why didn't you ever say that?"  I asked.

"Why is it important?"  He asked.

"I don't know, I just think you would tell me that."

"Yeah, he taught me how to make egg rolls." he said.

Sigh.  I guess I'm not as colorblind as I'd like to think I am.

Married...almost six years.

I feel like I really do love my husband more than the day we were married.  I always wondered what people meant by that.

Yesterday, he came out of the bedroom all dressed in a newish Target gray t-shirt and sat down to eat his off brand Golden Grahams, and he was truly my "knight in shining armor," as some might say.  He is always my favorite guy in the room.  He is a perfect combination of Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre), Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and Flynn Rider (Tangled :).

I absolutely cannot believe I am not tired of him yet.  I am sure someday we will go through a rough patch, but for now I like him and I love him a lot.

Sometimes he makes me so mad I think, maybe I'll poke at him all night--not enough to wake him up but just enough to cause restless sleep--and then he'll be tired all day.  But I usually wisen up by bed time and all is forgiven.

Love you honey.  ;-)

He loves me :)

John:  I had CRAZY dreams last night.  

Amanda:  I had a dream that I had to be in a "comedy of errors" play, and I had to dress up like a mime and chase a tennis ball around a stage. 

John:  (blank stare)

Wedding Day

Mark and Melissa had a beautiful wedding ceremony in Minnehaha Park, home of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I Wikipedia-ed it for some more information:

Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles (35 km) through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the creek covers 181 square miles (469 km²). The creek might have been unremarkable except for the 53 foot (16 m) Minnehaha Falls located near the creek's confluence with the Mississippi. The site is not far from Fort Snelling, one of the earliest white settlements in the region.

While the name is often translated as "Laughing Water", the correct translation is "curling water" or "waterfall". The name comes from the Dakota language elements mni, meaning water, and ȟaȟa, meaning waterfall.^[1][2] Thus the expression "Minnehaha Falls" translates as "Waterfall Falls". The "Laughing Water" translation comes from Mary Eastman's book Dacotah, published in 1849. On the Fort map of 1823, the falls were named Brown's Falls. The Dakota called Minnehaha Creek, "Wakpa Cistinna", meaning "Little River".^[2]

I found myself doing a lot of research on our trip, since we'll probably be driving up to Minnesota other times in our lives.  As a homeschooling family, we'll have to be on top of these things right?  So I intend to be able to tell my children exactly what all those windmills and silos were for in Illinois and Indiana.  And we can stop and sightsee in Chicago and visit a few cheese houses or dairy farms in Wisconsin.

Well, I was supposed to be talking about the wedding, right?

Maryn and John had to be back at the hotel at 9:30 or something in the morning, so Josiah and I stayed back for his morning nap at Grammy and Grampy's house.  He napped from 9:45 until 12:45!  Which was good, because he was busy the rest of the day.  It was lovely because I had ample time to get ready and make myself look pretty for the thousands of family pictures that were taken and will be plastered on everyone's walls for the next 20 years.  Too bad it poured down rain all over my hair, which now includes bangs--not so lovely!  Bangs are terrible when wet.  And my very pretty dress, which I acquired from Beth, kept turning itself around so that at one point, it was completely backwards.  Yes, backwards, as in the zipper was going up my belly button instead of down my back.  I guess it's the risk you take with strapless dresses.  

So Grammy, Grampy, Josiah and I drove to the hotel and from there all the wedding guests were bussed to Minnehaha Park.  It was raining quite a bit--not a downpour, but not what you'd hope for the day of your wedding either!  But the rain subsided just in time for the ceremony.  I stayed in the back with our sweet little flower girl until it was time for her, the other flower girl Annie and her brother Ryan, the ring bearer, to walk down the aisle.  It was a little awkward, because everyone could clearly see Annie and Ryan's dad (Melissa's brother) and I shepherding the little rascals to the aisle, and then we just kind of let them loose.  Annie went in one direction, Ryan went in another, and Maryn nervously chewed on her basket handle--carrying her basket down like a little doggy, tossed out two petals, and ran to Daddy.  Thank goodness he was the best man and was standing right at the front, so she was the only little one who made it down the aisle completely.

Maryn then sat with Grandma and Grandpa Erdman (John's dad and Donna) in the front row, where she realized she had not thrown her petals, so she threw them on the ground right there where she was sitting just in time for Melissa to walk down.  But Melissa didn't walk through her petals (because they weren't in the aisle), and Maryn was very upset about that.  Sigh.

I had several hundred helpers the whole time, but the problem with that was that everything got separated and the quiet toys I had chosen for Josiah were quite a ways from me.  So he just took off his shoes and played with those for a while.  My goal the whole ceremony was to keep him mostly quiet, so he chewed on the empty chair in front of me, and spit graham crackers all down the front of it.  I didn't see or hear much of the ceremony, but it was very beautiful and the priest did a fantastic job--marriage is an illustration of Christ and the church.  Amen.

Pictures soon...I'm waiting for some of Mark and Melissa to be posted on facebook...and maybe some of me!

Play Date

We had our friends, Eli (3 1/2) and Ella Grace (2), come over a few mornings ago for a few hours to play.  Here are some of the conversations I overheard or observed.

I heard Maryn shout, "NOOoooOOOooo!  That's MYYY BED!"
Eli (calmly):  No, it's OUR bed.
Maryn (long pause):  Your daddy is coming right now.

Maryn was pretending to be sick in her bed (very sick, moaning in agony), so Eli brought her some french fries (plastic fries from her kitchen).

I overheard Eli remind Maryn, calmly but firmly, "Your Mama said do not turn off the lights."  And, "Your Mama said do not jump on the bed."

I think we need to keep in touch with Eli and his family for many years to come.  ;-)

media, my imagination, and other atrocities

Because our internet has been so slow, I have not been posting all the pics I should.  I guess you'll have to check my facebook for that and maybe I'll post some later.

There are a million things I'd like to blog about.  But this story sums up what has been going on in my life.

I was exhausted the other night.  Josiah is a great sleeper, but he hasn't been falling asleep till midnight every night for the last week or two.  The reasons are many, including two new teeth and that he is rolling over and getting stuck on his back like a plump little turtle.  I fell into a heap with visions of Bones (the TV show) and Oliver Twist (the novel I just finished) in my head.  The dream that transpired in my head is as follows:

I heard John muttering in his sleep (this was the dream, remember) and awoke to find him talking on the phone in a hushed but angry voice.  I heard enough of the conversation to understand that he and the person on the other end of the line were planning some crime.  A sick, horrible crime that probably included disposing of a dead body in some very creative but despicable way.  When he was done, I confronted him.

"Who were you talking to?"  I asked pointedly.
"BLIMEY!"  He shouted in a thick London accent, sprang up from the bed and was completely dressed in a hat and coat, and proceeded in some mixture of JK Rowling and Charles Dickens dialog:  "I ain't no blithering idiot!  One does not necessarily know the name, first and last, of every relative that so calls upon him!  Bloody Hell, woman!  What are you accusing me of?  Have you gone mad, then?  What do you mean by it?  Burn my body, then!  Well just keep quiet or I should do some real mischief then my dear!  Some real mischief!"

When I awoke the next day, I really couldn't stop laughing. 

How to Read a Book

Our first semester of seminary, John read this book How to Read a Book.  Here is a brief review from the New York Times:

How to Read a Book, originally published in 1940, has become a rare phenomenon, a living classic. It is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader. And now it has been completely rewritten and updated. 

You are told about the various levels of reading and how to achieve them -- from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading, you learn how to pigeonhole a book, X-ray it, extract the author's message, criticize. You are taught the different reading techniques for reading practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science.

Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests whereby you can measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension and speed. 

It sounds good, doesn't it?  I haven't read it (I already have all of these skills and desires, thank you very much), but my review goes like this:

Thank You Mr. Adler and Mr. Doren!

My husband has canceled our cable and is reading a Charles Dickens novel (A Christmas Carol) out loud to our family.  Maryn has not missed watching television, and I am resting in the glory of it all like a hot bubble bath after a bustling day.

He says he wants to read...wait for it...Pride and...wait for it...

Prejudice!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!  The very inspiration behind our own romance!  Well, not really.  I mean, if only MY Mr. Darcy had a mansion or two, right?  And if only I was as smart and witty as Elizabeth Bennett.  Sigh.  But aren't I so much like her?  So proud, so judgmental of poor sweet Johnniebear, just trying to work hard and do his best at building that stupid porch (get filled in on that story here). 

Also on the recommended reading list, some books we are considering:  several selections of William Wordsworth, Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, Huckleberry Finn, and The Scarlet Letter (we'll wait a few years to read this one with Maryn, though!).  The Scarlet Letter comes up in a lot of John's classes and he has never read it.  Isn't it incredible the way authors can influence our views, opinions and just the general way we handle things?  When I think of Hester Prynn, her elvish daughter and the mean old church ladies, I'm just reminded so vividly to step back sometimes.  Humans are humans.  We all sin, we all need reproof, but most of all we need a Savior, we need redemption, we need love.  Discipline and reproof can be done out of love.  And if I can't discipline or offer reproof in love, it's better not to at all.  

Just like how it happened for Ebenezer Scrooge, sometimes a vivid glimpse into a person's life can offer a real heart change.  Books are powerful.

 

 

Five years ago today, my parents, brother and sister had flown into Naples from Ohio for our wedding. It was a Monday, and when we got back to our little house in the swamp of southwest Florida, we filled up the tub, made sure we had a hardy supply of water and canned goods, and JR and John hung up our storm shutters (plywood).  That night the winds began and they continued through the night and into the next day.  I sat by, unable to see the news or hear any word about what was happening to the beach--our wedding site--as Hurricane Wilma ripped through.  School was canceled for a week, our house was without power for a week, and I had to share several hotel rooms, toiletries, and clothes the week of our wedding.  I had to use someone else's make up, I gained too much weight from eating canned foods and restaurant appetizers so that my dress was a tad too tight.

Several people told me I was the most relaxed bride they'd ever seen.  By the time October 29th came, I was just thankful to have a wedding at all, but mostly I was just grateful to have this guy.

You know, I write this as there are two wetnesses (see previous post) on me.  I've been nursing all stinking day and when I wasn't doing that, I was comforting my teething-with-molars, fussy, irritable, emotional, demanding, two year old.  Every car ride involves screaming from someone.  John's days off really aren't days off at all and "day off" isn't even in the cards for me for the next five years or so.  Church isn't "fun," ministry isn't "fun," and a day at home isn't really much "fun" either.  But...

there's just something about my family

that

I

really

love.

And fun has been redefined. 

But I hope to have some real fun soon, like old times.  :)

whisper (our shout) it to me

When I give up my beloved ice cream sandwich so my daughter can have half, only to have it cover her body in a gross, sticky mess...

I am reminded of God's love for me.

When I am up late, late, late at night, ALL night, in pain from pregnancy or caring for a newborn who just. won't. stop. crying...

I am reminded of God's love for me.
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Tim. 1:16

When I watch my husband sleep and wonder how we came to be and why it didn't end up another way, but know we are one forever here on earth, my "bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh..."

I am reminded of God's love for me.
"Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Genesis 2:23

When I see those beautiful photos of me in white, waiting so impatiently to be in his arms, to be his bride, to be rid of the pain of dating and uncertainty in my future...

I am reminded of God's love for me.
"He Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful!" Song of Solomon 4:1
"Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

'Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure..."

As I watch Maryn grow. As I discipline her according to her mistakes. As I praise her for her good deeds...

I am reminded of God's love for me.

As I watch friends struggle through adoptions that just take too long. As I watch friends lose their foster children...

I am reminded of God's love for me.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

There is no room for selfishness in marriage and parenthood. No selfishness of any kind. And that's one of the reasons it's so hard, and usually if there are issues in marriage and parenthood, they can be related back to selfishness and pride. Almost every Bible story shouts it. Isn't that amazing? God knows his children so well, doesn't He?

***sorry about all the italics here. I can't turn it off!

still getting those butterflies ;-)

Butterflies by Saving Jane

The way you look, the way you laugh
The way you love and don’t hold back
You're everything I’ve waited for.
I have never felt so much
It’s like a promise when we touch.
I could not ask for something more.
And I love the way your hand fits into mine.

You give me butterflies
Tangled up inside.
I wanna close my eyes & hold on to this feeling.
Butterflies
So tongue tied
Here’s what I’m trying to say
You give me butterflies.

Listen here.

Mother's Day Funnies

These are answers given by school-age children to the following questions. Read them all! They are so cute!

Why did God make mothers?
~ She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
~ Think about it, it was the best way to get more people.
~ Mostly to clean the house.
~ To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
~ He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
~ Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
~ God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
~ God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
~ God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
~ They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
~ My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
~ I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
~ They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
~ His last name.
~ She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on Beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
~ My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
~ She got too old to do anything else with him.
~ My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

What makes a real woman?
~ It means you have to be really bossy without looking bossy.

Who's the boss at your house?
~ Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.
~ Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
~ I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
~ Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just got to work at work.
~ Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
~ Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you gotta ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
~ Mothers don't do spare time.
~ To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What's the difference between moms and grandmas?
~ About 30 years.
~ You can always count on grandmothers for candy. Sometimes moms don't even have bread on them!

Describe the world's greatest mom:
~ She would make broccoli taste like ice cream!
~ The greatest mom in the world wouldn't make me kiss my fat aunts!
~ She'd always be smiling and keep her opinions to herself.

Is anything about your mom perfect?
~ Her teeth are perfect, but she bought them from the dentist.
~ Her casserole recipes. But we hate them.
~ Just her children.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
~ On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
~ Diet. You know, her hair. I'd dye it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
~ She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
~ I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

A Day Off at the Zoo

John had the day off today. And when I say off, he really had it OFF. No classes, no work. OFF! He slept in till after 6. I thought I was going to have to check his pulse. My sweet husband gets up at 3:30 on work days and even on his days "off" gets up at 4 or 5 am to get in study time or running time. That is dedication, self-discipline and self-control, my friends. Remember that post a while back about how long he waited to hold my hand and all that other affectionate stuff? That is self-discipline. And that is why we should encourage our "little" girls to expect it in their relationship with their future husbands. And why we, as parents, should demand it from our little boys. Dedication, responsibility, self-discipline and self-control are gifts that keep on giving. Sometimes these qualities in my husband are the only things that hold me together when I think I may fall apart.

Anyway, we spent the morning doing morning things with Maryn. Puzzles, Play-Doh, coloring. She wanted daddy and she wanted ALL of him. She'd barely let him out of her sight. Pure joy sprung from her little eyes and smile all morning. Daddy's home! Daddy's home!

We left for the zoo around 10:30. We bought memberships so it's a free trip for us if we pack a picnic. Maryn enjoyed it much more this time than she did last time, and she's been there twice with our date night babysitters. This time, her favorite things were the baby giraffe, who was running all over the place, the mice, and the monkeys...and the lions. She does NOT like the elephants. Honestly, I think she'd have more fun at a pet store. She always likes the mice, snakes, turtles, fish, etc. more than the big animals. We didn't go to the aquarium stuff this time though.

We had great weather, about 73 degrees. Hot in the sun and cool in the shade. Not humid. The picnic areas were very crowded, so we had our picnic outside the zoo in the butterfly garden. We had the area all to ourselves. Maryn was very obedient and just plain cute the whole day. It was the perfect day for a mommy.

Memory Lane Part II

I left camp as a new person. Humbled, tan, makeup and maintenance free. I even learned to like cold showers. I'd been like a big sister/mom to ten or so children each week, tramping up pretty intense mountains (hills), rock climbing, swimming every single day, going showerless for days on end, and sleeping in a little tent by myself or out in the open air or in swinging beds.

And I fully intended on never speaking to 90% of the camp staff again. And I didn't for a long time.

Fast forward to March, 2003. I'd entered a NCAA Tournament bracket to distract myself from boys (one ignorant rat in particular) and possibly win some money. So I was watching basketball every night, which my roommate had no objection to, and was gripped by the Kansas Jayhawks. I'd randomly chosen them to win the tournament. It was consuming my thoughts and my time. On my AOL profile I had written GO JAYHAWKS!

One evening, MUCJOHNNIE instant messaged me asking, "So what brought you to cheer for the Jayhawks?" And we chatted here and there starting then. Nothing serious at all. Until his girlfriend broke up with him. And the Jayhawks lost in the final game. So we were both a little heartbroken, needing distraction, needing a rebound, not trusting a single human soul in the world.

So John asked if I would like to come to the Cleveland Zoo to meet up with some old camp friends (ha! Since I was so eager to see camp people again). We each got there right as the zoo opened and no one else came, except his brother and Debbie who both arrived around lunch time. So John and I had the morning to ourselves, where we talked about elephants and shoes (he'd worn very inappropriate shoes for the zoo) and whatever else. Then we went to his brother's apartment. I knew I should just call it a day after the zoo, and I knew I should only stay a little while at his brother's, and I knew it shouldn't be so hard to say goodbye to him at 9 or 10 pm, but it was.

Something about him was magnetic. I couldn't tell if he liked me. Surely he didn't! I knew for a fact that nearly all his friends had hated me. But he called me the next day. Like first thing in the morning (which was like 1 pm back then)! And he called me every day (honestly, it was kind of annoying). And I kept going to his house, and he kept coming to mine, and we kept going out on dates. We didn't have long, long talks about anything serious. I just enjoyed him so much. And every time I drove the 45 minutes to his house, I wondered, "Why am I doing this?" I wondered if he really even liked me at all. He hadn't tried to kiss me. He hadn't even tried to hold my hand!

Until date number ten. I got my answer. He finally held my hand. Yay! Sparks flew. And months and months and months later, he finally kissed me. And months and months and months later, he finally said "I love you." And this girl, who once couldn't trust a single human soul in the world, had fallen in love.

My husband played his cards exactly right, and whether it was out of fear or chivalry I don't know (he would say it was all in his secret plan to sweep me off my feet), but it was all perfect and wonderful.

7 years ago yesterday was our first date at the zoo. Happy Anniversary, John! Thank you for being just perfect for me.

Memory Lane

In the summer of 2002, I signed on for a summer as a camp counselor. I had seriously high expectations for camp. One: I was going to make lifelong, fantastically amazing friends. Two: I was probably going to meet the love of my life, my future husband. He would be fun, adventurous, outdoorsy, an awesome Christian and of course he would be very, very sexy.

After a week of counselor training, I could see that none of these things were going to come true (I did make some friends. I'm not a total loser :). On one of the last days of training, we were assigned to build a huge porch on the back of one of the main buildings. This would be a great team-building exercise. I tried to only do the painting, weeding, and clean up, but eventually I was expected to help pound in some nails.

Sigh.

All around me, these huge buff girls were pounding in nails, being all tough and athletic and beautiful. One girl in particular especially hated me (yes, she actually told me to my face that she hated me) and she was there, being perfect and doing more work than most guys could do.

I was doing my best pounding in nails, but they kept going crooked. This relates to my right-side syndrome which I can tell you about later.

After trying to fix one very, very crooked nail, the director's son--who was loved by ALL, and pretty much perfect in every single way according to everyone--came and took the hammer from me with no intention of giving it back.

I walked away, defeated. Defeated, I tell you.

And so began a long summer of camp where the kids loved me and I loved them, but pretty much half of the staff hated my guts for reasons unbeknownst to me. And I had the great pleasure of watching the oh-so-perfect director's son put on a big show of diving in the pool at the Water Olympics Opening Ceremony (whoop-dee-doo) every single week because apparently, he was some amazing swimmer who also, apparently, must have talked to everyone else (because everyone loved him) except me. Little, worthless me.

Who knew that eight years later, I would be sitting next to him right now. And you know what? He is pretty amazing. Because he's my husband, and he loves me so much and I love him more than anyone in this world.

Thanks for taking the hammer from me those years ago, John!