Update

A million little blog posts have come to mind and faded into the bright Florida sunshine. The ability to sit down and gather my thoughts has not happened easily this week. My mind has raced in a million directions... do you ever feel this way? I feel this way most of the time!
We've had a fabulous winter thus far with great weather and even better guests. I love spending time with friends and family. It warms my heart. Our little ones are growing up faster that I can say, "Stop!" and we are cherishing the stages they are all in right now. Well, with the exception of our 4 year old's "let's get out every toy in the house, put playdough in it, grab all of the pieces from every game and add water" stage. That one's a tough one. It has lasted 3 years for her! And counting....

Our older children are enjoying ballet for the girls and lacrosse for the boy. Our oldest four are taking piano. I love hearing our home filled with beautiful music. It really does warm your heart.

Life is full and wonderful. The Lord has really been teaching me and challenging me through Bible Study and Sunday School and church. I am more aware of my sinfulness and need for Him than ever. I am thankful for a husband who loves me well and loves the Lord even more. He is a great example to me as he diligently has a Quiet Time every morning and starts his day off right.

We have lived here in Tampa for 2 years now. We have best friends and friends we are enjoying getting to know better and better. We love people. We are thankful for the ways we've been stretched, challenged, and loved.

So, that's a little update. I imagine it's a bit boring for you, and I'll try to return to a more entertaining post soon. I just couldn't sit here any longer and say nothing!

Happy Valentine's Day! I realized today that this is the TWENTIETH Valentine's Day I have spent with the most wonderful man in the world. We will not count the one or 2 where we were broken up during college. Ahem. I still have the teddy bear he gave me on our first Valentine's Day. I may or may not sleep with it every night. I hope you have a special evening with those you love!

How do YOU Share the Love?

I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man. At this point in our lives, we're very content in our 15 year old marriage. In fact, I love DH more today and am more attracted to him than I was when we were married on the hottest day EVER in July 1995. Nonetheless, our feelings of contentment have not come without a lot of work and a big commitment. When we took our vows on that hot July day, we were serious. We promised to stand beside one another in the presence of God no matter what. Some days you may not "feel" in love, but yet you do still love your spouse. We have learned that we must put the Lord first, but that we must also invest a lot of time in our marriage and one another. We are far from perfect, but we try to look after our marriage.

So often I hear others say that they don't have time for one another because they have a new baby or a tough job, or their teenagers need them, or they must travel for work. I get it. We have our challenges too. Again, we are NOT PERFECT. All of us fall short of the glory of God. All of us hurt our spouses and feel like we fail. However, it's important to make each other a PRIORITY. Study your spouse. Get to know him. Know what he loves, why he loves it, and what sort of adventures he would like to pursue. When is the last time you asked your spouse about work? Did you really listen? Did you really delve into his current projects or clients or patients? Is he enjoying his work or drowning in it? Take the time whenever possible to have an untimed pleasant conversation with your spouse. If your children go to bed late, then tell them they have room time from 9pm on. I remember being a newlywed and my Bible Study leader said she had "couch time" with her husband EVERY day when he walked in the door. Her three little munchkins knew that Daddy came first when he walked in the door and that Mama and Daddy were going to sit on the sofa uninterrupted for about 15 minutes. Do you see what they were teaching the three boys by example? Of course you need to tweak it for what works in your home. The marriage relationship comes FIRST even when little ones are tired, cranky, and hungry. We MUST nurture our relationship with our spouses so that there is something to hold onto long after the children are grown.

It is important to spend time every day with your spouse if at all possible. Find even 5 minutes if your day is overly full. It's also important to show him how much you care by doing little things. When is the last time you cooked his breakfast or wrote him a love note on a post-it note? When he travels, do you put notes in his bag or call him each evening? How do you show your love in the little ways? I have been trying to be more purposeful about having DH's coffee ready for him in the morning. I don't drink coffee, so he usually brews his own. Lately I have been trying to brew it for him as it saves him a few minutes in getting out the door to work and it's such a simple way to say, "I love you".

I know you're tired. But your man needs affection and so do YOU, even if you don't think you do. Kiss him. Love him. Show him why he should love being married. Break the cycle and make the first move. Be tender with him, and most likely he will show you tenderness in return.


If at all possible, get out of the house with your man. Plan a surprise date night and find a babysitter. If you can't afford a sitter, then trade with friends. You keep their children one night and then they keep you in return. You can also do this by having the wife come to your house & then you go to their house one evening. Date nights do not have to be expensive. You can pack a picnic and go parking! You can spend an evening at the library or a favorite book store. You can spend a Saturday afternoon going to Open Houses. If there are things you enjoy doing together, then cultivate them! I also cannot recommend enough having at least one weekend a year away with your spouse. I am the first to dread and fear leaving my children. I've even spent a weekend in Martha's Vineyard with high anxiety over our five little ones. I have learned that they WILL survive. They actually will flourish knowing that Mama and Daddy love one another that they WANT to be alone together for a weekend date. It ultimately gives the children more security when they know their parents are still in love. So, how will you celebrate this Valentine's Day? How will you show your spouse love on the ordinary days?

Just the sweetest...

Our little Hurricane came home from school today with a bouquet of love for Mama and Daddy. It is just precious and an idea I wish I had used with our older 4 children! The teachers cut out hearts, let the children decorate them with glitter, and then put then on a stem. I think they used either pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks. They wrapped the "bouquet" with pink tissue paper and tied it with a ribbon. The ribbon has a sweet picture of our baby girl tied to it. What a PERFECT bouquet that I will treasure forever! What are some of your favorite Valentine's treats?

How will YOU celebrate?!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. We've had fun sending packages to our niece and the children's special aunt who has a Valentine's Day birthday. We've also made cards for grandparents and friends at school. The children will spend a special day at Disney with friends as well. I love decorating for holidays, though I have friends who are more creative! I have decorated our boxwood tree at the front door with a love banner and heart strings. The front hall mirror is decorated and today I received the BEST Pre' de Provence heart soaps from wonderful Julia! They are already in our guest bathroom. B sent our D a special heart plate as a little goddaughter gift. It's fun to use festive things during a holiday.
I am giving hubby Season 2 of Mad Men on DVD. He loved Season 1 as part of his Christmas present, so hopefully we will enjoy many snuggles watching Season 2! A special dinner is also planned in the future. How will YOU celebrate, dear readers? Share the LOVE!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is not one of my favorite holidays because I feel like it is just a way for businesses to make money. I already know how much DH loves me. At the same time, because of the pressures of the outside world and what everyone else is doing/receiving, I can't say I don't like a little remembrance from time to time!! On the flip side, I do not want him to buy overpriced chocolates or spend money on highly inflated flowers. I'm a tricky thing to please, aren't I?

I'd love to hear how YOU will celebrate the holiday! We are showing our big girls some love by letting them take their first riding lesson here. We'll love on our whole family all day long since Valentine's Day is on a Saturday this year. If I can find a sitter, I'd love to sneak DH away for a movie on Sunday. He LOVES movies. I have bought a big bag of his favorite Twizzlers, and would love to give them to him with a note about a Sunday movie date. If I don't find a sitter, the note will say we're having movie night at home! I have some great black seed popcorn to pop too!

How will YOU celebrate?