May
20
2013
Welcome to another “My Life Monday” post! I hope your week last week was fabulous! I had a pretty productive week outdoors and with the rain, I’ve started to have a productive start to my week indoors.
Last week I had an enjoyable morning with my father-in-law. I accompanied him to an appointment and I just have to say, although he may not realize it, I’m glad circumstances allowed us that time together. He is a father to me and I adore him and soon he will celebrate forty wonderful years with his bride, my lovely mother-in-law. I had to ask, as I love to ask any couple who have been blessed to share each other’s company many years – what he feels is the “secret” to the longevity of their marriage. His answer was so simple and got me thinking. His reply was “I love her.” He’s never been one to get too “wordy” with explanation; however, it got me thinking; could the secret to longevity in marriage really be that simple? Quite possibly. This has been my “deep thought” question I’ve pondered on for the past week. I do think that any problem, challenge, disagreement, or the like, can be resolved by simply putting your love for that person at the fore-front of your mind. Granted, relationships are anything but simple. However, I do agree that if you really do love one another, anything that arises to challenge that, won’t change it, but rather evolve it.
Also last week, I got some planting done in the garden. The hubby purchased some fruit plants from a catalog and we’ll see how those produce. If we have great results, I’ll share where we got the plants, but I hate to recommend a company and then expectations aren’t met. So far though, the blueberry bushes are really coming along nicely, as are the strawberry plants after the nice rain we’ve recently received. As far as the cherry plants – they’re not looking too promising. I do know though, it can take until the next growing season until you really see a good crop. It’s more of a trial and they really weren’t a huge out-of-pocket expense, so I guess time will tell. If you’re interested in learning more about gardening, I highly recommend Lowe’s website. This link will take you to information specific to the Midwest region. Also, while you’re on their website, scroll down this page and you’ll find where you can sign up to receive their free and seasonal “Creative Ideas” magazine. I always get inspired after receiving it.
Graduations were held over this past weekend and did make it to the one in Strasburg. We had family commitments out of town, so I was unable to attend Zeeland’s or Linton’s. The hubby stayed home due to still recovering from surgery but it was an enjoyable time with family nonetheless. The kids always enjoy time with their cousins. Growing up, I didn’t have too many cousins around my age, so it’s great our kids have that. It will surely be a very busy few years with graduations when they all get to be that age. Oh vey….I’ll be in my mid-4o’s! Ten years just doesn’t quite seem to be as much time as you once thought it was in your early 20′s. Once you hit 30, it seems even 5 years comes much sooner than you expect.
The kids are officially on summer vacation. My sanity is officially on a tight rope. LOL! Something about the days leading up to summer break always leave me feeling very overwhelmed. Gone are the days where kids entertain themselves. I was a kid that could entertain myself. Even today, I can sit in silence, just breathe and think, listen to music, or read a book. I learned over the weekend that I am the only member of my family that has this capability. Ha! Every member of my family learned they drive me nuts. Okay, that last sentence happens many times over in a week, but truthfully, “idle hands” is a challenge for my family members. My husband is suffering from “bored-itis” since his surgery, and the kids are too….already. We’ve had to threaten the “love chair” a few times. What is the “love chair,” you ask? It’s where they sit in their little, kid-sized chairs in our entry way, face each other, and tell each other three things they love about one another. By the time the “love chair” session is over, they forgot what they were mad at each other about, the anger has been directed towards us, their parents, for making them do such a thing, and they recede to their rooms to find something to do. This idea was actually a product of my husband’s mind. I can’t take credit but I can say it’s worked brilliantly for our kids. If you’re on Pinterest, you may have seen a photo floating around of siblings both in a white t-shirt with some writing on it. I can’t remember what it said, but the idea is they’re in each others’ personal space until they learn to “get along” long enough to get out of the t-shirt. This too could work, I suppose. But if you say a hurtful thing, which is often the reason for the “love chair,” then you must be able to say 3 nice things to make up for it. The lesson for them is this – if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. As adults this is a practice where we all lapse in judgement from time to time. We get caught up in conversations, wrapped up in unnecessary drama, and maybe as adults, we should put ourselves in our own “love chairs.” I have no doubt it will be something they remember far into adulthood, maybe when they become parents themselves.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Yesterday I got through all of Xavier’s clothes for good will. Xavier would hate me for mentioning this, but I will anyway (lol!) – I had him try on a pair of shorts that I’ve had in his drawers for literally years. They are size 2T and haven’t fit until now. So yes, Xavier has shorts currently in his drawers that are a 2T. I have found shorts vary in how they fit greatly but he sure didn’t like that he’s able to wear a 2T! lol! The rest of the week, and it will likely take me a week, I will work through the girls’ clothes.
In closing, I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful this week for the rain. Enjoy some rainy day projects this week!













AWESOME! But then again, with such a beautiful couple, it was probably pretty easy