Who Said We Don't Have Fun

I've heard it said several times through out my life. Some people actually believe it because they don't know any better. Let's clear up this rumor right now.

The world likes to pretend that Christians are boring, stuffy, Bible thumpers & we don't like to enjoy ourselves.

Christians CAN & DO have fun!

Just because my idea of a fun time doesn't include a bottle, someone else's spouse, or something illegal does not mean that I don't know how to have fun! Personally, I like to remember & not feel guilty about the things that I enjoy doing.

This past weekend was a perfect example of good clean fun!

We took off on a camping trip with several members from our church. We ate, we laughed, we played cards, we laughed, we threw acorns, we laughed, we danced, ..... did I mention that we laughed? Yeah, there was plenty of that!

The kids celebrated Halloween early with a costume contest, trick or treating, & a hayride. Don't worry, the adults weren't left out. We had our own costume contest.

Hey, that adult costume contest ..... yeah, my husband (you know - the pastor) WON it! It came down between my very own Hercules & a groovy hippie. The judges tried to let the crowd decide but it was way to close. After all, there were SOO many people screaming "Hercules Hercules Hercules" {picture Sherman Klump's mom} right beside the D.J. table. So, in all true tie breaking fashion, a dance off was declared!

Justin, being the man he is, immediately conceded the contest! LOL But, with enough cheering & pressure (yes, peer pressure is still alive & well), he danced anyway. They played "Baby Got Back". I couldn't let him dance by himself, so I ran out there & shook my booty too! Lo & behold, he WON!

It's been a long time since I laughed so hard that my jaws & temples hurt! I'm sure that this is an event that will remain in our cherished memories for a long time. In fact, we have plans to return next year. ..... hmmmmm, I wonder what we will be next year??!!

The Marriage Project - Major Project 3 - Group Date

I'm really not sure which "date" to count for this one. Thursday, we went haunting with friends. Friday, we had a HUGE cookout at our house. Saturday, we went to Lazy 5 Ranch with the church group. Today, we had dinner with friends. So, I think we have this one well covered.

The Marriage Project - Day 21

I LOVE getting text messages in the middle of a seemingly normal day just saying "I love you".

The Marriage Project - Day 20

I love my husband all the time. BUT, I don't always like him! I'm sure he feels the same way. Sometimes we need to be reminded just what we do like about each other.

The Marriage Project - Day 19

Our role models change many times through out our lives, but hopefully many of the things we look for in them do not!

The Marriage Project - Major Project 2 - Blast From the Past

I have enjoyed haunted houses since I was 13 and horror movies since way before that. Pre-children, Justin & I went to several spooky events every year. Post-kids, just like everything else, is a little harder. A little more planning is now neccessary. Tonight, we went to Woods of Terror in Greensboro with some friends. We even took Austin with us! It was AWESOME!!! Completely worth the extra drive out of town!

The Marriage Project - Day 18

One of my biggest pet peeves with my husband & my kids is their obliviousness as to where their shoes belong. For some reason, shoes tend to accummulate in my bathroom & other random places. I CANNOT stand this!!! Mainly, because I WILL trip over them!

The Marriage Project - Day 17

Ugh, do I REALLY have to watch hunting on TV? Maybe, I can get my head rubbed or something. Turn about is fair play. At least I get to snuggle.

The Marriage Project - Day 16

Can I just say that a fire builder I am not? I usually leave then fire to the fireman. But, practice makes perfect. After all, it was the little engine that always thought he could.

The Marriage Project - Day 15

Does my TV time count if we both want to watch the same thing???

The Marriage Project - Day 14

A good foot massage can erase a day's worth of drudgery. Justin & I have always enjoyed giving & receiving massages. After a particularly long day, we like to lay head to toe so we can both benefit from a foot massage at one time.

A Little One Sided

If you know me, you KNOW that I am NOT the least bit racist. If you don't know me, I hope this doesn't make you think I am.....

When I got the Winston Salem Journal this morning, I was very intrigued by an article on the front page. I hardly ever even read the paper, I only get it for the coupons!

"City to Recognize Black Panthers" .... What? Wait, did I read that right? .... Yep I sure did! Right there on the FRONT PAGE!

Winston Salem is dedicating a marker to a group of people who are notoriously known as being racist & violent just because they have helped out a few people.

Really??? I'm sure Jeffrey Daumier did a few good things in his life too, but do we celebrate him?

The Ku Klux Klan also claims to "help" people. Could you even imagine the uproar if a newspaper put the KKK on the front page to honor them?

I don't agree with either group! Hate is wrong no matter what side you are on. Yes, both groups are part of our history. Yes, many lives have been changed (whether for better or worse) by both groups, but no hate group deserves to be celebrated!

Ok, I'm done now. I still love you all. I just don't understand our country!

The Marriage Project - Day 13

The laundry monsters are always on the loose at my house. It seems that I can never get them under control, so I appreciate all the help I can get! :)

The Marriage Project - Day 12

There's just something about candlelight that makes a meal taste better. It also seems to bring about peace to an otherwise stressful day.

The Face in the Mirror

As I was cooking supper tonight, it weighed on me like a ton of bricks. The monotony of day in & day out.

I had tried to get a little nap in earlier only to be continuously alerted to the sounds of a door slamming, little feet stomping, & a 4 wheeler buzzing past the window. Just as I resolved to give up on the effort to sleep & instead just relax & read for a few minutes, I hear BOOM, followed shortly by muffled cries from the baby be woken early from his nap.

Can I not get a moments peace around here? Must I always have little ones being loud & demanding? What happened to my hopes, my dreams, my needs?

Justin was outside with Austin & Makenzie doing something on the farm. So of course, Logan cried while I was cooking because he was sleepy & hungry. I tried something to drink. I tried a snack. I talked. I laughed. I made funny faces. But, no, he was not in the mood. What he was in the mood for was to fuss & pull leaves off my plants & rake handfuls of dirt into the floor & turn over the large picture frame screen which of course scared me & him to death.

Yet another event with me completely frazzled.

We were supposed to go sing at a friend's revival, but I just couldn't face it. Every single evening event breeds dread in me. Since Logan gets sleepy so early, any event after dark is rough on him. I would be just as happy to stay home than to deal with trying to keep him entertained & happy. Why bother, when I can just let him go on to sleep in the peacefulness of his bed?

So, yes, I stayed home. I felt completely useless & alone. I felt like I had given the devil yet another victory in stealing my joy.

Then, I checked my email & found this. And I am reminded again that I am not alone. I am blessed beyond measure. And I have the victory in the end.

These days will pass all too quickly & one day, I will look around & wonder where they went.

The Marriage Project - Day 11

S E X - Yes, I'm a married woman & I have children so I don't really have to spell it out for you.

You & your husband or you & your wife obviously have sex. That's the way it is. That's the way it should be. BUT, it is really the way you like it?

Talk to your spouse about what goes on in the bedroom, or living room, or kitchen ;) Really think this one through & actually have a meaningful conversation. You might discover that you both have the same fantasy but have been too shy to mention it.

The Marriage Project - Day 10

R E S P E C T - Find out just how much it means to your man! Tell him what he does that really makes you admire him!

The Marriage Project - Day 9

How many times have you seen a brightly wrapped present & found yourself say dreaming about what could possibly be inside? Do you find yourself thinking about the present wrapped up in a Walmart bag the same way?

Think about it ladies!! Dress it up!

The Marriage Project - Day 8

All the ways I love you...let me count the ways...

Men, have you told your wife all the things you love about he lately?

The Marriage Project - REDO

Well, it happened again. I always have really good ideas & REALLY big aspirations, but then life happens!

Justin & I did really well on our week 1 projects. But we had revival this past week so that consumed our nights. My days were spent getting ready for the Apple Festival.

So.....without further ado, let's resume The Marriage Project Week 2.

......if you aren't sure what The Marriage Project is, check it out here.....

Tales of a Homeschool Nothing ~ Week 7

WOO HOO - we made it!!

What is so special about week 7?!

This year, we are doing 6 weeks on & 1 week off, so week 7 is our first "scheduled" time off!

This week couldn't come fast enough either.

It was perfectly planned (without me realizing it!). We had revival this week & I needed to work on Blessed Boutique things for the Apple Festival. So honestly, we probably would have taken the week off anyway ;)

Revive Your Marriage - 50 Shades of Halleluah

I hope & pray that I & others like myself have been a help to you this month. I hope that you have truly put forth some effort into reviving your marriage. I know that my marriage has benefited from these posts.

Have you revived your prayer life?

Have you revived your attitude?

Have you revived your friendship?

Have you revived your praise?

Are you ready to revive your sex life?

I want you to take a trip with me. That's right, let's head down Memory Lane.

When you first met your husband, did you think he could possibly be the man of your dreams? What about when you first realized you were falling in love with him? Was he the man of your dreams then?

Did your heart race everytime the phone rang? Did you wish the week days away in anticipation for the weekend?

How many of you doodled your time away by writing your love's name all over everything? Did you try out your name with his last name?

When you first started dating, how many times a day did you call his phone just to hear his voice telling you to leave a message? How often did you write letters professing your undying affection towards each other?

When was the last time you daydreamed about this man? When was the last time you fantasized about your time together? When was the last time you wrote him a love note?

Has it really been THAT long?

Don't you think he would enjoy hearing how much you missed him during the day or receiving an unexpected message just saying you love him? Think how excited he would be if you  greeted at the front door with a kiss? Or expressed how you couldn't wait to get him alone for a few minutes?

We all have the greatest romance script ever written awaiting us. Why don't you start working on your own copy?

While you're at it, why don't you join us for The Marriage Project? You won't regret it!