Re-entry sure is hard

I mentioned that Jason and I went to a marriage conference last weekend. We drove down to Florida and had two nights in a beautiful St. Augustine resort while attending the conference. Saturday night is the scheduled date night. We drove into St. Augustine and walked around in the shops, had dinner at one of those really cool hole-in-the-wall but yummy restaurants, and just enjoyed being together.



The conference itself was wonderful. It was a Family Life Weekend to Remember event. We attended one about 8 years ago. Both times were good but this one was more intense for us. I won't share details here, but I'll just say it was needed and very valuable for us. I highly recommend it for ANY married couple, no matter how long you have been married and no matter the condition of your marriage. I have wanted to blog about it, but I have decided that it was just too personal and I want to keep it between my beloved and myself. Anything I would feel comfortable sharing can be found on the Family Life website...great speakers, names of sessions, etc.



We got home around 9:00PM on Sunday night. We came home to our sweet, sweet girls and were so happy to see them. But the older two had sunburns and Rachel was running a fever. She continued to be sick until Tuesday night. Betsie was clingy and whiney and needed a day or so to re-attach to us. Mary Evelyn was so sweet and gave us a welcome home picture she had made and some applejacks (she said she knew the drive would make us hungry...LOL!), but by Monday morning we were battling a bit. Mary Evelyn was not remembering what it means to honor us as her parents and I confess it was pretty hard to keep my cool a few times. By Tuesday night I decided she and I needed to do something fun together. So I took her to a movie and things have been a lot better since. (not perfect, but better) By the way, I loved Kung Fu Panda...and I am not always a kid movie fan!



Rachel is better but now I am sick. Jason was sweet enough to make sure everyone had breakfast and was settled before he went to work this morning. Plus he made me some hot tea to soothe my raw throat before he left. I do love that man! I think I just have a cold, but colds seem to feel worse the older I get so I am resting a lot...at least until we have to be at swimming lessons this afternoon.



So we are back in the trenches but trying to apply the lessons learned and the old reminders we were given this weekend. I am thankful for the time we had together, for a husband who initiated the whole trip because he is committed to our oneness, and for parents who are willing babysitters. And I am thankful that God is with us in real life.

Some Updates

There have been so many reasons to blog in the last week and a half. I wish I had not missed them all!

• House fever is not gone but it is not spiking either. We have decided to wait until after tax season next year before there is a "for sale" sign in our front yard. In the mean time, we have made an enormous to do list to get this house ready to sell. The previous owners put carpet over hardwood flooring down the hall and in the bedrooms. We have been rough on the carpet so it will need to be replaced. However, Jason is thinking of ripping up the carpet and refinishing the hardwoods instead. Crazy, crazy...but way nicer for showing the house.
• Mary Evelyn turned 8! Shame on me for not doing a birthday post for her. Sigh... We had a little mini celebration with my friend Hollie and her guys on her birthday. Then Hollie (being the servant kind of gal that she is) drove the big girls to the movie theater to meet my dad so they could see Prince Caspian. My dad says he still hasn't seen the movie because they sat on the front row and he kept his eyes closed. He says it sounded like a good movie though! Then the girls spent the night with my parents...including little Miss Betsie. The next night we celebrated with Jason's parents.
• The above mentioned night at Mom and Dad's was Betsie's first night away from us...she was not a good sleeper unfortunately. But she told my mom, "I yuv you, Mimi." so I think she was forgiven.
• While the girls were with my parents, Jason and I used a gift certificate to a lovely local Bed & Breakfast. So, so nice. Our 15th anniversary was the day before Mary Evelyn's birthday so it was a special getaway for us. Did I mention that about 2 months ago Jason surprised me with a new van (Odyssey...woo hoo!) for my early anniversary gift? Pretty cool. He got an ipod nano. So come the big day, we were broke and just had to be sweet and skip the gifts.
• I painted my master bathroom. It's lovely. I might have to start a new blog category showing before and after pictures with all the projects we have planned.
• I got excited when David Cook won American Idol.
• Then I was broken hearted just an hour later to learn that Maria Chapman, daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed in a terrible accident. I have been grieving for them since Wednesday night and praying for them constantly. I just received a prayer email asking for prayers for wisdom about when they should return home. They have been staying with friends since the accident. Please pray for the Chapmans.
• We are almost done with school for this year and excited about our short break until mid-July when we'll start back up.

Help is on the Way! (Christmas Came Early)

Either I am a really rotten housekeeper or I just have a VERY thoughtful husband...or BOTH! Jason just gave me my Christmas present a little early. Starting in January someone will be cleaning our house every other week. I am in shock. I might just go spill something and let it get good and sticky over the next few weeks just so someone else can clean it. (Not necessary. I have three kids. I'll let them handle that.)

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Jason gave me a note, written ever so eloquently in green crayon - on the back of a torn paper that Betsie had scribbled on. Somewhere in the note was the phrase, "I know you need help." Yes, it's true. I do need help. I did laugh at his presentation, but it was oh, so sweet. Actually, since he also said, "I love you," and is sending someone to rescue me every other week, I am considering that little note a treasure to keep.

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I have been teasing him, but it is such a thoughtful gift. It shows that he knows me and he cares about me. He knows I am struggling to teach and plan and clean and get the raisins out of the bathroom sink all at the same time. He is lightening my load and I am so grateful. God has surely blessed me with a husband who is living with me in an understanding way. I will remember his kindness every time SOMEONE ELSE cleans my bathrooms!

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Thank you Honey! I love you!

One Thousand Gifts...Jason

It will be easy to think of the many ways I am thankful to have Jason. I am so blessed by him!

76. I am thankful that he works so hard to provide well for our family.

77. I am thankful that he is so protective of me.

78. He eats anything I cook. That's not such a big deal now, but early in our marraige I am sure it saved us many fights!

79. He leads our family in regular family devotions.

80. He is taking us out to eat tonight.

81. He set up a computer and everything he needs at home so that he doesn't have to work late at night in the office.

82. I am thankful that he pushed me a little on the adoption issue. (after he prayed a lot of course!)

83. He reads me scripture when I am tempted to give in to fear.

84. He is "the heavy" with the kids when I need him to be!

85. He chops onions for me when he is here so I am not the teary eyed one for a change.

86. He looks handsome in a tux.

87. He was sneaky for months before our 10th anniversary with a few dollars here and there. Then he made up an excuse to get me to hand over my engagement ring so that he could have some extra diamonds added. I was clueless!

88. He invests for our future and has always made sure we had a budget.

89. He writes great love notes.

90. He doesn't complain when I haven't kept the house as neat as he might like.

91. He forgives me when I ask.

92. He cried when our babies were born.

93. He has put in countless hours playing girly stuff with Rachel and Mary Evelyn...and though he probably dreads some of that with Betsie, I know he'll give her that special attention too!

94. He honors his parents.

95. He led his brother to Christ 7 years ago.

96. He has proven that doing business in a way that honors God brings great blessings. He is a man of integrity.

97. He did almost ALL of the paperwork to get Betsie home because it was all too intimidating for me. And the things I did do were messed up!

98. He packs the car for every vacation...plus gets the gas and checks the oil, etc.

99. He is always on board with whatever my latest "thing" is...Feingold, Flylady, or whatever. He is so patient with my wacky ideas.

100. He gets up when a child needs him in the middle of the night. Mary Evelyn ALWAYS gets him instead of me if she is scared.

101. He loves to worship.

102. He can laugh at himself.

103. He takes out the trash.

104. I am thankful for all the times he has chosen home over something else he could have chosen.

105. I am thankful that he bug hunts with Mary Evelyn so I can stay far away from the creepy crawlies.

106. He is faithful to me and committed to our marriage.

107. He is making me memorize scripture with him each week.

108. He says I get the next new car. (years and years and years from now... LOL!)

109. He irons.

110. He loves to learn new things.

111. He wants to go on a mission trip with me. (maybe in the next few years....and maybe with Rachel too!)

112. He participates in our homeschooling, though most of that has been delgated to me.

113. He knows me better than anyone else.

114. He can fix stuff, but he knows when to call in extra help.

115. He calls home to check on how things are going during the day.

116. He says he's sorry when He needs to...and asks for forgiveness.

117. He changes diapers and gives baths.

118. He takes the girls on dates.

119. He loves me!