Valentine Plans February 12, 2009

Horses have always been a part of my life. As a child, I always had a horse somewhere that was my very own. I rode all summer long.

My husband and I met when I was the horseback instructor at a Christian camp. By the time we married, I was in between horses and had filled my life with other things. However, my life with horses had always intrigued my husband who had grown up in a big city.

Several years and children later, a friend of ours had a new colt on his farm and asked my 10 year old son if he’d like to help halter break it. We were all game. Eventually, we bought the colt and began our adventure as a family with horses.

But I was the most reluctant to get back into horses. I knew the work and expense involved and my sense of adventure had waned since giving birth. More than waned…I think it slipped out with the baby.

Gradually I have become more comfortable with our horses, have started showing my own horse, and can watch my daughter barrel race without gripping the closest thing to me.

For Valentine’s Day Scott wants the two of us to go camping. Just the two of us…with the horses.

When he shared this with me, I held my breath and went to my safe room. (bathroom, whatever you want to call it) It struck me with fear. All of the what-ifs came bounding into my consciousness..tornadoes, run away horse, crazy person on the loose…and the children at home…

He showed me the brochure of this beautiful state park with stalls for the horses and wide gorgeous trails. We will have hook ups for electricity and water. The trails are well marked with similar ratings to a ski trail. Before you go onto the trails, you have to register with the park and then be off the trails by dark.

He has seen my list of what-ifs.

He knows I love the out-of-doors and my horse. He is making me feel safe and protected. I love him!!

I checked with Mom. She could be on call.

We will have a wonderful, romantic weekend. I can’t wait!

The Lord is my strength…I will not be afraid.

S.W.A.K. Challenge February 11, 2009

From the blog We Are THAT Family:

“I’m issuing my own personal Kiss Challenge for myself. For 30 days, starting Feb. 1st, I’m planning to passionately lock lips with my hubby.  To block out all distractions for a few minutes and lay one on him.

I think just this one simple act will speak volumes to my man.

{You can secretly join in too if you are up to some serious smooches}

The days leading up to Valentine’s Day (Feb. 11-13), I will be having a little S.W.A.K. carnival. I want you to link up a post honoring your hubby anytime during those three days. It can be how you met, your first kiss, what you’re doing to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or about your own personal Kiss Challenge.”

Granted…we are a little behind, but I loved this idea!  I’m not sure how to “link up” but you can just go to her comments section and add your story. She is even giving out prizes.

I’m going to add mine and hope you do too.  What a great way to honor our husbands!  Remind ourselves and tell the world what a blessing they are to us.

Outstretched Hand February 11, 2009

From In The Dailies blog:

“When I started Mama Loves a couple months ago, the initial focus (for me) was on positive aspects of parenting. It’s so easy to get lost in the exhaustion and frustration of parenting that moms sometimes forget or maybe just overlook all the good stuff. But wives often do the same about marriage. I love women’s groups, moms groups, girlfriends, all kinds of female bonding, but, if given enough time, these groups almost always turn into bickering sessions. Each woman there wants to out-do the rest with her sob story of how fat she is, how difficult her life is or how her husband is worse than everyone else’s. We claim we’re just “sharing” and that it’s all in good fun, but I hate it. Today I want to focus on marriage and how wonderful my husband is. No, this is not in honor of that Hallmark holiday later this week, the one we never celebrate in this house. It just happens that this week God reminded me how good I have it in the marriage arena.

What are you grateful for this week? What has God given you as a show of His love for you?”

My response:

My husband and I had a communication problem that came to light this week.  Do you ever just keep plowing ahead even when you know something isn’t quite right?  Even when you can tell things are askew?

I could tell we were missing each other in our conversations for the past few weeks, but I kept forging ahead.  Talking and chatting about what was going on with me and accepting his short replies to my questions about him.

Finally, I asked him if he thought we weren’t as close as we could be and he said….a lot. More than I cared to hear.  So I shut down, embraced my hurt feelings, and didn’t want to talk.

Bless his heart!  He stayed with me, wouldn’t let me crawl off to my little hovel and insisted we talk it through.  Eventually, I saw through my hurt to his outstretched hand and gingerly took the love and forgiveness that he offered to me.

I am so thankful for his love for me.

What are you thankful for today?