Learning About my Hubby

I absolutely love being married to my hubby!

The longer I'm married, and the more I realize I have to learn about my husband and about being a good wife, the more in love with him I am.

I have new favorite things about marriage all the time... but at the moment one of my most favorite things about marriage is the secrets we share with each other, both intentionally and unintentionally.

There are the secrets we expressly share with each other -- our hopes and dreams and frustrations and joys and struggles...

Then there are the secrets that we both just learn about each other the more time we spend together.  I know what he does likes to do when he walks in the door at the end of the day.  I know his favorite pastimes and which he prefers under different circumstances.  I know how he works and studies best and when he's procrastinating.  I know how he pretends to dislike cats, but secretly loves our Lexie girl because she's ours.

I admit, I am an occasional fan of the television drama and I feel for those married couples that are so in love, but one of them has been keeping a secret.  You name it, there has been a drama written about keeping it hidden from your spouse -- an illness, a disease, a desire, a skeleton in the closet, a past decision, an embarrassing family member -- its all been hidden from a spouse in the television world.  As I watch those dramas, I am always drawn into the story, but then I am completely relieved to know that none of those secrets are between my husband and me.  We still have things to learn about one another, but we have not deliberately and intentionally kept things from each other.  I am completely in love with this man and completely trust that he has not kept anything from me.  Surprises are in our future -- but not deceptive, caught-in-a-lie surprises.

I have learned so many things about this wonderful man who married me in the past year and a half, and I still have so much more to learn.  I love that even with all I have left to learn about my hubs, I love that I know him better than anyone else on earth.  :-D

If I Ruled the World...

If I Ruled the World...

•  Snow would be on the ground from November 1 - April 30... and we would just skip that mud season when everything melts
• I would have several siblings my own age, and we would have our own relationships and dynamics and ups and downs and life-long memories together... in fact, everyone would.  If I Ruled the World, there would be no such thing as an only child.
• Instant tele-portation would be a reality so I could live in Colorado, but have dinner every few weeks with my parents in Michigan
• I would remember more of my life... I'm amazed at how many details and experiences from high school and college I just don't remember
• Chinese food would have zero calories, and eating desserts would actually burn calories
• I would not feel so ashamed when I cry -- If I ruled the world, I would not change how much I cry, and how often I tear up, but I would change the fact that I feel embarrassed whenever it happens outside of my own home
• Children and animals would be loved, cared for, protected and healthy
• The intentions of myself and others would be viewable between the lines of what is said and written so that misunderstandings would be rare
• Food wouldn't splatter in the microwave
• I would have less worries and more faith
• I would think of more important world-changing ideas for "If I Ruled the World..."... but everything that I think of of a religious, political, social angle makes me feel like I'm imposing my view and my values on others, which I guess is what "If I Ruled the World..." is implying...

But I do not rule the world, and I am not supposed to...

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8

Year of Dates: February

Yesterday Hubby and I had our February Date.

We have wanted to try a restaurant in Carbondale for awhile now, but we hardly ever get to Carbondale, and its not on the way anywhere either, so we hadn't been to the restaurant yet.

Yesterday, we made a special trip to Carbondale specifically to try White House pizza.

They offered half-priced appetizers on Saturday until 5pm, so we slept in late Saturday morning, got a few things done around the house, and then headed to Carbondale for an afternoon late lunch/early dinner date.

Caprese salad, BBQ Chicken pizza with a wheat crust, and a soft, gooey chocolate chip cookie... Delicious!

The atmosphere of the place was really fun including autograph pictures of celebrities who have been in to eat.

While we were there, a friend of mine from when I first moved to Colorado walked in with her husband and daughter.  I haven't seen this gal in 3 years as she moved to Washington a few years ago.  Now she's back in Denver, and happened to be in Carbondale for the day.  It was so great to see her and meet her family.

 Hubby and I are loving our monthly dates!

1,000 Words...

1,000 Words... and more actually...

Literally more than 1000 words... and one of my wonderful Valentine's presents.  :-D

News From My Field

Many of you know that I work with students who are blind and visually impaired.

There are very rewarding parts of my job, and very challenging parts of my job.

Thus far, the most challenging part of my job has been working with a student who is slowing losing his vision... he doesn't exactly need my services today, but I have to try to prepare him to adjust to the idea that someday he might need my services -- and by that time he might be out of school, and I won't be there.

There are several eye diseases that slowly rob people of their sight, but last night on NBC Nightly News, they announced a tremendous breakthrough for people with one specific eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa.

I have a few students with this disease and know several adults who have lost, or are losing their vision to this disease.  The below news story is an answer to prayer and the biggest breakthrough people with Retinitis Pigmentosa have ever seen.

Wouldn't it be amazing if, in time, eventually, I had to find a new job because people's vision had been restored through the miracle of science and technology?  Please, Lord, let it be!

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

1 Corinthians 13 on Valentine's Day

To amazing Hubby, My Valentine...

I wanted to search the internet and Pinterest for wonderful, insightful quotes about love that I feel apply to our relationship and marriage... which I will include a few,... like this one:

 ... but my plans for this Valentine's post took a turn when I started searching 1 Corinthians 13.  Hubby, I love the sentiments and instructions of 1 Corinthians 13... I love that they are so widely known, but I dislike how flippantly they are sometimes recited.  In my opinion, they are the most explicit marriage instructions and advice the Bible provides.

They are certainly not instructions to be taken lightly... however, I thought these pictures illustrating each instruction were so adorable and sincere, I had to share them.  Forgive me for the post full of pictures... but this is my way of showing my love today.  :-D

 All of these pictures made me smile, and made me think of our sweet dependents -- Lexie and Lloyd.

Hubby, in addition to these adorable portrayals of 1 Corinthians 13, I saw the following pictures and quotes on Pinterest that reminded me of you, of our love, of the joy that you bring to my life everyday, and how much I love you and feel so fortunate that you are my husband.

I love you so much, Babe.  Thank you for being my man, my hubby, my Valentine, my wonderful partner, my spouse, my Babe, my sunshine on a cloudy day.

Happy Valentine's Day, Hubby!