continuing on....

I've been lazy about posting my successes with this challenge.

I'm using the "sick" excuse as I am suffering from a major head cold and dealing with a double ear infection in a 1 1/2 year old.

Not excuses...just explanations =)

My challenge of leaving a note went very well! I modified it a little and wrote with dry erase marker on his mirror in his bathroom a little message that I loved him. He came upstairs with a huge smile on his face and said "what are you doing writing on my mirror?"

It was priceless

And such a little gesture to make such a big difference!

I am continuing to try and work on this challenge and better myself in our marriage. We have some difficult decisions ahead of us that involve major changes that I am very nervous about. I am praying we can make the right decisions and that we will get through these changes together.

Have I mentioned I hate change?

I am excited to start the love dare after all of this too. We actually purchased the book last year around this time while attending an ALPHA course at a local church. I loved the idea of it and wanted to try it, but I simply did not have the strength last year as it was just the beginning of the end of our separation. I pray for the strength to complete it this year and for the opportunity to continue to make my marriage grow.

Check out the challenges here....http://womensmarriageministry.blogspot.com/

Day 4, 5, 6??

I'm still lost on my days, catching up and staying on the correct day wasn't as easy as I thought, but I am continuing to do the challenges, maybe just not in the correct order...

I was a little uncomfortable about doing the muscle challenge. It just felt really awkward to me for some reason. Turns out...it wasn't! It was easy to slip in a comment about his "manly muscles" as I laid down to snuggle against him last night, fit right in and didn't sound dumb at all! I definitely didn't miss the little smile on his face afterwards either...success again!

It also gave us a good opportunity to discuss our "fight" the other morning and I was able to communicate to him why it meant so much to me when he helped me out with things like that...rather than accuse him of not doing enough, never helping, the usually complaints that usually produce negative energy between us. It was a good conversation and I feel so much better.

A lot of times at nights we will be watching our separate programs on tv because our interests are not quite the same (believe it or not!) So last night, even though I suggested what I wanted to watch (which he of course vetoed) I laid with him and watched a program with him of his choice. Who knew I would enjoy it so much? And what was great was that I truly did! I might have been more caught up in it than he was...go figure.

So I think I'm caught up to day 7 now where I leave him a note.

Lesson #7

Leave a note for your husband that says, "Thank you for wanting to work hard for our family. Your desire & commitment makes me feel secure". Words are healing. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Hang in there. You are halfway through! Keep an open heart toward God. Let God act on your behalf in response to these plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps". http://womensmarriageministry.blogspot.com/

Shouldn't be to hard...I use to leave him little notes all the time and somewhere along the line quit doing it. Halfway through and going great so far!

(ok off subject...I also need help...how to I make so that websites I post are a link? Apparently I'm not great with blogging yet and can't figure it out!)

Day 3...or 4?

So I'm still a bit behind but slowly catching up. I'm not even quite sure what challenge I am on right now....

Already starting behind, then Sunday afternoon I came down with a 24 hour bug and spent Sunday night and Monday completely miserable...Then yesterday my son was not quite right so the day was spent with him. I still managed to fit in some of my challenges though...the strength of a woman! =)

I decided that for my hubby's meal I would make a good lunch for him Sunday. He had been fishing all weekend so what better then to come home to a home-cooked meal after eating junk for 3 days? Well, didn't go as planned. I had made beef stroganaff (one of his very favorites) and it was just finishing up as he came home (perfect timing!) My vison of him coming in and thanking me for the meal, what a great surprise it was and how hungry he was for a good meal did not happen. Instead it was more him laying down on his chair and saying "I am really hungry honey, but I'm so exhausted I think I need to sleep first." So he went to sleep and the meal went in the fridge. It was disappointing...knowing that I put an extra effort in and it seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. He did eat a huge helping later that evening, but the moment was ruined for me as I had already started feeling sick at that point and spent the rest of the night curled up in little ball, trying not to lose everything I ate that day.

He stepped up though and took care of all of our sons needs and they both came and sat down on the bed with me before bed. I casually slipped in, "Daddy takes such good care of you, isn't he a great dad" As far as I could see the comment went unnoticed. I didn't see a reaction. I was also not at my best at this point so I'm going to stay with my belief that he appreciated the comment.

So still working on the challenges...we were a little back tracked yesterday as we left the house screaming at each other about all things?? The dogs. Who is suppose to take care of them and whose dog is whose, and I'm not taking care of YOUR dog, well then I'm not taking care of YOUR dog. I think just writing it down right now really helps me see what a crazy conversation it was! Was that really what I was so upset about?? I'm almost embarrassed to even write it down. I guess it wasn't really worth being upset about, but truly I was upset most of the day!! I am still working on my own flaws and am just proud of myself for being able to see how ridiculous I was also being about the whole situation.

So I still have my muscles challenge to do, along with spending time doing something he enjoys. I have to say I'm already feeling a bit on edge about this muscle challenge, but that's why it is a challenge I guess! Guess I will see how he responds, but in my head I'm picturing him looking at me like I'm an idiot, or telling me to stop making fun of him. But....i guess my vison for the meal wasn't anywhere near the reality so I'll do it!