Civilization Has Arrived

Oh yes...the frivolous luxuries I took for granted while living in Walnut Creek, CA and Cedar Park. Things like cell phone signal, high speed internet, and cable tv. I know it sounds so superficial, but c'mon how's a girl living in the boonies supposed to "connect" with the outside world if these luxuries are absent :) So as of today, with the help of my super smart hubby and the friendly people at Dish Network...I can get online daily if I'd like and watch some good 'ole television in the evening to relax! Super smart hubby is continuing his work (at this very moment) on the cell phone signal issue.

Top Ten Reasons to Date Your Wife Frequently

I came across this article during one of my online reading sessions and thought I'd share. I'm not sure why it's title "Top Ten Reasons to Date Your Wife Frequently"... I guess it pertains to us wives also...and reasons we should continue to date our husbands :)

By Carwin Dover

The hecticness of work, community service projects, church activities and family often relegates a marriage relationship to the bottom of the list. At times, it is necessary to give attention to others. It is also important to keep something else in mind: Your spouse is the one most likely to be with you when you are teetering around with a cane! With that in mind, take time to date your spouse regularly. Here are a few reasons why.

1. Marriage Relationships are Dynamic. They are alive and always changing. They need to be fed and stimulated to stay alive.

2. There is Always Something New about Your Spouse. Dating is a good way to create a safe environment. Your spouse is more likely to let you know "what's new!"

3. Invest in the Future. Just like a savings account, it is easier to add a little to an existing account and watch it grow than to start a new one from scratch. That's because the interest grows exponentially over time.

4. You got Married Because You Dated! It only stands to reason that a good way to stay married is to keep dating.

5. Marriage can be Compared to a Set of Tires. During the course of driving, there is normal wear and tear. Dating serves to maintain alignment, balance and pressure. When done well, your marriage will last a lifetime.

6. Dating is an Opportunity to Focus. Day in and day out, distractions pull your attention away from your spouse. Dates help refocus on the person at the top of your priority list.

7. Remember the Good Times! A good date will often bring up pre-marriage memories. Recalling memories can generate anticipation for your next meeting.

8. Create Your Future. Dates lay the framework for future family gatherings. Great dates attract your spouse and family to want to spend time with you.

9. Laughter is the Best Medicine. Reader's Digest says so! It must be true. Laughing together makes it possible to hurt together when you must.

10. Remind Your Spouse, "I Love You!" There are many ways to say, "I love you!"

School Bus

Bayleigh rode the school bus home for the first time yesterday. It wasn't the first time she's ever ridden a bus, but it was the first time she's been on one for 1.5 hours to her house in the middle of nowhere. She actually had a great time. With a school as small as hers (there are only 15 kids in her class), the odds were in her favor. A couple of kids from her class were on her bus. She met Levi who also gets off on our street. Contrary to your wild imaginations (especially my friends in Cali...haha), Bay's bus did not resemble any of the photos below :) And...while we have bus stop signs on the county road in front of our subdivision...none of them have the no shooting warning attached...but maybe they should...lol

Reflection

Tension can run high at my house. Usually, it's outside factors that flare it up. You know, the kids have destroyed something that wasn't intended for them to play with in the first place, it starts raining during our move and our stuff gets wet...and the list goes on. While some incidents are avoidable, others are completely out of our control. So why get so worked up?

I've always tried to remember the saying "this too shall pass," and know that whatever difficult/trying time I encounter will eventually pass. I think the following quote that came in an email devotional today really puts it better than "this too shall pass."

"The reality is that authentic Christianity is not something that avoids the difficulties of life, sweeping them under the rug of faith. Real Christianity is something that embraces life as it is – with all its difficulties and struggles – seeing that what is, is not what will always be, that things can change."

Being Christian doesn't grant "immunity" from life's challenges...but as Christians we can find comfort in knowing that God will not give us anything we cannot handle, and difficult times "are what they are"...but will not always be...because life changes by the second.

As a mom, I can apply this to my daily trials - even though they aren't what some would consider major difficulties. When the kids seem to have accident after accident, or talk so much I find it irritating...I need to remember that this stage in life will not always be. My girls will not be little for long. Soon the small accidents around the house will become fewer - and it'll be larger accidents involving cars or sports that I'll worry about. Soon they will be teenagers and I'll long for the days when they were little...telling me every intricate detail about their day and talking just to talk. These times "are what they are" and as a mom I need to let every detail soak in and enjoy it rather than let the small things build tension....because life changes by the second, and someday my little girls won't be so little. Sniff, sniff.

Moved In

We've officially moved in our new house in Florence. We're still working on the unpacking task, but we are making headway. I don't have continuous internet access at this time...so I'll post pics and more when that day comes...in the near future I hope! I still have to get back over to the Cedar Park house to clean before closing on it. More to come soon...