Another good marriage book

You all know my love of reading books about marriage and how to improve that important relationship, thanks mainly to Marshall's sister who keeps passing along good books. "His Needs, Her Needs" by Willard F. Harley was a golden book. I learned more about myself and my needs and also about my husband. I love it when I read a book and learn more about how to be a better wife.

I love the simple way Harley explains thing. He doesn't talk down to his readers, but he speaks in a way that can be easily understood and makes sense. There were a few times while reading the book that I felt kind of an "aha!" moment, where there should have been a light bulb glowing above my head. "Now I get it! Now I understand why certain things are so important to me and totally different things mean so much to my husband." It was a great eye opener.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read on how to improve their marriage. All of us could use a refresher. After all, if it's going to be eternal, why not make it as amazing a relationship as possible?!

I love this girl

I love this girl and her ability to be herself. This week she was invited to a birthday party where the guests can dress up as their favorite Disney character. Her friends are all going as girlie characters, like Minnie Mouse and various princesses. But not Rachel. She is going as Flynn Rider, whom she has loved since the movie "Rapunzel" came out. We've been working on gathering pieces for her costume and have it all set for the big party tonight. I love that Rachel can be who she is and not apologize for or be afraid of herself.

I remember once I posted on Facebook about Rachel's tomboy side and I had a lesbian acquintance comment on how Rachel might be gay. I didn't really respond to that, but laughed to myself as my child is only 7. I think too often in our "open minded" society, we are quick to label people. Kind of a big contradiction if you ask me. We're supposed to love people for who they are, but we need to label them as well. Or at least our children when they show certain tendencies. Wow. Imagine how much different Rachel's life would turn out if I immediately thought she was gay and favored her supposed "lesbian tendencies".  Thankfully, I am smarter than that.

Right now I see Rachel as a 7 year old tom boy and will treat her as such. I am in no way worried about her. When I was her age I avoided taking showers at all costs, barely brushed my hair, and was often found playing soccer with the neighborhood boys, when I wasn't beating them up. I did not care about how my clothes or hair looked. If I was dressed, I was good to go. And I think I turned out okay. I am sure we all know that I am not a lesbian. I love my husband, who is a man, and find him irresistibly adorable. But how different and confused would I have turned out if my mom immediately started treating me different and shaped me into thinking I was gay.

I think we label people too early in life, with children "coming out" when they are just being children with their various personalities and tendencies. By labeling our children, we cut short their normal development, hindering them to become who they are. Then we wonder why they turn out as depressed teens or adults.

Guess what? I love to wear big dangling earrings and a nice skirt, but I still enjoy getting dirty and banging things with a hammer. That is just who I am and I love it. And I love Rachel for being Rachel, exactly who she is supposed to be.

Happy 6th Birthday Jimmy!

                                                 The Trios Hotwheels set he has been asking for

                                              His very own real tool set

                                              The Trios track set up

                                                           Hiding from the camera

  Frozen white cake with Funfetti frosting, just like Daddy likes!

When did my little man become six?! I can't believe his birthday has come and gone and now Jimmy is six! We had a great time celebrating his birthday. I think he had a good day, which included doughnuts for breakfasts, doughnuts to take to school to share, lunch at McDonald's with Darci, and then Cafe Rio for dinner. Plus Gramby, my mom, was here to celebrate as well. Jimmy was so excited to get his own tool set (me too because now he won't use mine) and his beloved Trios Hot Wheels set he has been asking for.

I love Jimmy and am so glad he is a part of our family. He is so tender and loving and, yet, such a complete boy. He loves nature, science, dinosaurs, and taking things a part. He always wants to create something and loves to read with me. He is such a joy to have in our lives. Happy Birthday Bud!

Busy

Ten days later I am writing another blog. Wow. I am just not good at this anymore. I think it is partly because my typing time has gone down immensely since Jacob stopped taking naps. (Amazing how that correlates.) Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads what I say on a regular basis. But I do have thoughts and ideas I would love to share. Sadly, I usually get the chance to sit down and type at night, when my brain has already gone to sleep and my "great ideas" have drifted off to some far away land where my memory now resides. So here we are.

Life has been interesting the past few weeks. Is there ever a time when it's not? Doesn't it seem like there is always something happening? When you have kids, that tends to be the case. And things always seem to get busy. Wha?

Right now my mom is visiting and we are enjoying having her here. So far she has deep cleaned my bathrooms, stove, babysat the kids, and done a sewing project with all four kids. I am being spoiled and I love it. So who wants to blog then, right?

I am also test reading a manuscript for my sister-in-law. Amazing. If I had my way I would "pause" my children and read all day until I had the book finished. I am completely sucked into the story. So good!

Marshall got a black eye from racquetball. Well, he got a cut on his eyebrow that required three stitches and also have a lovely black eye as well. Nice. One of our more flighty youth at church today thought Marshall was sporting a make-up job by one of our kids. No, it's not dark purple and pink eye shadow, but really a black eye. It was so fascinating to our Young Women. So much so that during a spiritual part of my lesson I had a girl raise her hand, and thinking she would add a good comment, I let her speak. But all she wanted to talk about was Marshall's black eye. Youth are so random.

But then, again, so is this blog.