All posts in My Romance

Note To Self

Do not read the sad parts of a classic novel late at night… Stayed up way to late, struggling to see the words in the light of my tiny Avon purse shaped lamp, so as not to bother my husband. Made the mistake of peeking at the next chapter in ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ as my man turned off his lamp for the night and then I couldn’t go to sleep without finding out the heart wrenching result of her confessing her past to her new husband…

This note to self is particularly relevant considering the novel. You shouldn’t read about ‘Tess’ at all after dark… not if you can get as easily emotional after dark as I can…

“The night came in, and took up its place there, unconcerned and indifferent; the night which has already swallowed up his happiness, and was now digesting it listlessly; and was ready to swallow up the happiness of a thousand other people with as little disturbance or change of mien.”
Quote from Phase the Fifth, The Woman Pays; ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles

IF YOU DO you may cry really hard, tears and all… then you may shut the book with a determined thud, as if to express your frustration to the author, hoping the thud will vibrate through time and thud Thomas Hardy up side the head, then you may dwell on all things sad that come to mind till you can’t sleep…

Thank the Lord for a husband in such a crisis as this! A hug and the assurance of his presence was comfort enough for me to put aside ‘Tess’ and her bitter story for the night… Though sound asleep and oblivious to my situation his very existence was romantic in such a moment!

Timing is everything with a good classic novel… no worries, it is worth the read so I will pick it up again with my afternoon tea. During the little ones nap time I will rock in my favorite chair and sit in the sun while I read, for the sun will be there as emotional support!

TTFN

A Grand Change in Cultural Expectations Of Men

Reading classic novels is something I truly enjoy. On that note, many classics leave me with a dark frame of mind and today I needed to share a thought that came out of reading a few. I am thankful things have changed, in the area of human rights. I find often, more in books written by male authors, that children and especially babes are seen as of little consequence. One author explained ‘the baby was barely a few days old, certainly not old enough to be given the turn individual’… Oh man… I have a totally different view of the value of life. I suppose the fact that many children didn’t survive into adult hood back then played a part in the often cold written references to children… but… It made me think that the old fashioned habit of men having little to do with babes wasn’t a good thing.

I am so thankful my man has so much to do with our little ones… he works hard to contribute to their basic needs and excels at providing their love and fun needs. When I watch him with my babies I adore him! I am thankful that my Saviour has blessed me with a man who can take MUCH time for his kids and I realise all to many Dad’s just aren’t there…

It also made me think of the true depths love goes down into a woman’s heart, specifically when it comes to her children. They don’t have to be of a specific age, we can learn to claim them in our hearts before they are even born. We feel so vulnerable with them walking around, our heart divided up and openly exposed to the pain and hurt in the world…

I am so thankful it is now okay and ‘in fashion’, if you will, for men in our current age to embrace that same connection with their young children.

TTFN

Deliberately Flirt!


It is beneficial for both your man and yourself when you make the effort!

A fellow blogger posted this in my comment box a couple posts down and I agreed whole heartedly!

Constance shared, “It tells our spouse that we only have eyes for them and that we would do it all over again!”

My heart wanted to add to it. Not only does it remind them how much we adore them but it forces our focus deliberately to them. It therefore, makes us remember how much WE love them and only have eyes for them! So healthy in a marriage especially in the tiring and stressful times!

TTFN

How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year


Share how you and your husband make each and every day of your marriage special. What are your daily relationship rituals? How do you nurture the “us” factor? Tell us the big or little things that make your marriage sing like a fine-tuned violin.

Enjoy the links (words in blue) to past posts labeled MY ROMANCE!

  1. Make calm times, every day, for the two of you so you can share and listen to one another TOPS MY LIST!
  2. Plan to flirt!
  3. Purposely appreciate one another and reward one another with touch!
  4. Be realistic but ready to embrace every little opportunity together!

1st Monday Every Month at Chrysalis
Want this button?

TTFN

Switchfoot and Paper Tongues

(Garnet and I out for supper with friends before the SWITCHFOOT concert.)

Garnet and I have been on two dates within one week! This was a very good thing for us. In a way we kind of needed two dates close together to get back into spending time together away from the kids. We don’t date a lot… haven’t dated a lot. It isn’t that we don’t value it, we understand it is very important, it just wasn’t an option as much in the past. Well things have changed. We have pals we can babysit for and in turn they will do the same, free, for us and it works out lovely. The first date night was big emotionally. I felt a lot of pressure because I figured it would be so long till the next. I wanted to look my best and have a good time… in the end we took the pressure off, went out and just visited. With a note pad and pen in hand we sat down and talked about our coming year… things we would like to do and what we hope for. It was refreshing and easy to do cuz I am so comfortable with my man!
The second date I was more comfortable and we just had a blast! I was so excited, it is the first time in I don’t know how long that we have gone out as a couple with friends! We met my older brother and his wife and some long time friends of ours at a restaurant and then walked across campus to the concert.
Paper Tongues is a new band to me, they opened and where so charismatic and fun! I have been listening to their ep stuff all day and can hardly wait to get their first album.

Switchfoot is emotional rock. I have been a long time fan and was thrilled to hear their high quality new stuff and the old stuff that I can sing along to. It was cool to hear them talk about real issues in the world, like what is going on in Haiti. I used to be more cynical about when bands would try to get deep, but why can’t they? Most artists are far beyond us regular folk in there ability to see the world in a deep and truthful way so they are just the people to use the attention we give them for worthy causes. Let people share what they need to say! We all have times when we would appreciate just that, to be respectfully heard by others.

(Us ladies, enjoying the show!)

There was one particular song that got me teared up, it had a message on how what you are feeling isn’t love unless its breaking you… The last few days I have been really tuning in to words and thoughts on love. We are hoping to have a re-dedication ceremony this coming spring, for our tenth wedding anniversary. We plan to share some new vows with one another and writing our own has me nervous. We didn’t write anything the first time and this time we know one another so well that I feel like I need to really do my man justice…

Garnet gave me a pep talk about it and when I realise he’s on board with me I felt like perhaps I could give this whole writing some words about our love thing a go…, even though he isn’t a big romantic he is willing to do this…’romantic notions are more your gift my dear’ he shared…

Most of our marriage, to date, has been so tied up in KIDS that I often feel like love is very very ordinary and practical and simply as romantic as is possible to get in the tiny moments in between changing diapers and cleaning up the house AGAIN. BUT I have hope as this new stage of life begins… hope that in spite of all the wonderful things about the baby years I will morn, Garnet and I will see clearly again all the beautiful and romantic things about our love… good by sleep deprived chapter of life… hello HUSBAND!

(Switchfoot says goodnight!)

TTFN

Try To Take A Picture!

This was the best we could do.

My man thought these where so funny he wanted me to blog them. I just wanted to get a nice picture of the two of us dressed up for Christmas day!!

First try, the flash is obviously WAY TO MUCH!
My honey is still trying to recover from the flash:)

He thinks we should just give up at this point… I am not convinced…

Smarty pants took a pic while we where distracted by our son…
I wasn’t as angry as I look… think I just said ‘not yet’ and trigger happy man thinks it is cute when I am angry.
As you can see the relationship survived the photo shoot…
Being able to laugh in a relationship is essential!Wowza!

TTFN

Chemical Soup For Christmas

We have been accused of being food-y nuts, specifically healthy food-y nuts, ignorant organic lovers, snobby sugar hippies and so on and so forth (snicker snicker snort)… but this Mama broke out of her shell for tis the season… for TREATS! I actually bought the kids some CANDY CANE CHOCOLATE FUDGE CRACKLE ICE CREAM! They where so tickled (can’t remember the last time we have had ice cream in the house) and I figured it was an easy way to surprise my little foursome.

It is so cute to watch them digging in to their little bowl of Christmas ice cream… one fist holding on to their bowls like we might change our minds and take them back; their other fist clasped in a strangle hold on the spoon just shoveling in the treat… eyes sparkle with the realization that this has LOTSA SUGAR and grins covered in chocolate and candy cane streaks spread wider and wider as the sugar hits the blood stream…

It is even funnier to watch Daddy as they eat… he spends the whole time giving me a disapproving look and mutter things like ‘instant insanity in a bowl…toxic waste for dessert… smells like chemical soup in a cup…tastes like a candy store’s dumpster exploding in your mouth’… (chuckle), he cracks me up! Note, he doesn’t have the heart to take the treat away or throw out the carton in the freezer, so he isn’t the big scrooge he pretends to be:)

TTFN

A Jolly Jealousy

The sun was very warm this winter day.
The snow was coming down slowly in stuffed size snowflakes.
There was no wind and the air was crisp.
We all went outside while Dad pushed the slight snow fall from the drive way. His job more of an excuse to get out and get some fresh air then an actual necessity.
Big Girl and Big Boy spent an hour pulling one another around on the sled, up and down our front lawn’s almost imaginary hill.
Little Woman had found a toddler’s chair and moved it about on the lawn, trying to find the best spot. Once the best spot was found she sat for only a moment and then followed her Daddy around, like a shadow, throwing snow at him while he pushes the drive way.

Once in side with Baby Boy I warmed up in no time. I watched the rest of my little family trudge off to the park to see if the tobogganing hill might have just have enough snow to sled on. As they marched down the back alley, in an adorable straight line, Little Woman sitting upon one of the sleds, pulled by her beloved Daddy, I felt a pinch of jealousy… if Baby Boy wasn’t so sleepy, and so pron to lung issues, I would have been out there in a split second… instead I watched from the window and waved with a very cheerful Baby Boy… he was completely unaware of my jealousy… ‘Bye Bye’ he chirped and smiled over and over…

I sought to take in the romantic scene before me. My oldest three and my wonderful husband walking down a breathtakingly quiet and still back alley, trees covered in thick horror frost, white fences covered in the same stuffed sized snowflakes that cover the ground and the hats and shoulders of my parting loved ones… it was a warm and chilly moment all in one. It was a beautiful and disappointing moment (only for me) all in one.

I realized how wonderful it is that I could be so in love with this family of mine that I would be like an ill child stuck inside on a snow day, terribly jealous and filled with longing to be out and about on this snowy day with my persons!

I sat down on the floor and Baby Boy walked over to me with a swagger in his step and a grin on his face. He took the ball from my hand, that I had picked up pretty much unaware due to a head full of thoughts. ‘DAT’ he blurted out in a big jolly voice, threw the ball across the room and pointed with an eager ‘fetch mama’ kinda look on his face… I grinned in return… as much as I was wishing to be at the toboggan hill I was also thankful I just took part in a teeny tiny moment with my baby!TTFN

Decoration Day!

And then we decorated the house!This is our second year with a tree and we all agreed we really like our iddy bitty tree a lot. The kids and I worked hard at decorating it and Little Woman put the star on top. I am particularly proud of our star. Our tartan star gets my Scottish pride worked right up, he he he…
Big Girl was amazed at all the Christmas STUFF we had when I started unpacking it. Big Boy was very impressed when he saw decorations he had made through the years and very happy with me when we put them on the tree.

We started the evening with a lovely supper, Christmas music playing in the background, watched Elf while we decorated the house and even managed to get our family photo taken for our Christmas card… to be sent out soon! There wasn’t to much crying and screaming… who am I kidding, I think there was more then last year!

Once the kids where in bed my man and I had a more relaxing time. We had tea and bree cheese with dried cranberries, bananas and spicy almonds. Ahhhh it still sounds good this morning!
As usually my mind is full of little romantic moments I want to have with my family this Christmas season! I hope to find the time to capture some fuzzy Christmas memories, fuzzy moments in time, and put them in a bottle for the cold months of winter that follow the holidays!

TTFN

What Does Your Man Think About Christmas?

Trying to feel more Christmas-y with a question period for my man… ha ha ha, it was interesting…

1. Describe your ideal Christmas?

Lotsa time off with family, that is the only thing that counts.

2. How do you think our expectations differ at Christmas?

I expect to servive the holidays… you are all about the fuzzy moments, a true romantic with visions of sugar plums and fluttery angels dancing around in your plans…

3. Share your thoughts on exchanging gifts?

Awe, thinking about that stuff makes my brain hurt.

4. How do you focus on the true meaning of Christmas, Christs birth?

I don’t, tend to think about it more other times of the year where there isn’t so much din…

Well, this was supposed to be a relationship building exercise to help me get to know my man a little more (got it off of another blog)… but I don’t think my man was taking it seriously… ah well…

TTFN