1.  The first part of this dare is fairly simple.  Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart.  For the next week, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all.  If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything.  It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret. 

2.  In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.  Wasn't kindness one of the key things that drew you and your spouse together in the first place?  Even though the years can make day to day life seem mundane, your enjoyment in marriage is still linked to the daily level of kindness expressed. 

3.  When someone communicates that they are glad to see you, your personal sense of self-worth increases.  You feel more important and valued.  Think about your greeting.  Does your spouse feel valued and appreciated?  Do they feel loved?  Remember, love is a choice.  So choose to change your greeting.  Choose to love.  Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse this week.  Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm.  Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

If we are teachable, we will learn to do the one thing that is most important in marriage - to love.  Marriage is wonderful.  It is difficult.  It is life changing. 

May God bless us as we dare to love!

Valentine Dare, Introduction

Valentine Dare, Week 2

Valentine Dare, Week 3

Valentine Dare, Week 4

Valentine Dare, Concluded

I went to Walmart yesterday.  Which is remarkable for several reasons,

1. I've become a snowed in hermit.  (I'm not really snowed in.  I'm just pretending.) 
2. I don't like driving in the snow.  I had a car accident once in the snow.  I was 21.  (The chief reminded me that I'm not 21 anymore and our vehicle is 4WD.)  
3. I have to put makeup on to go to Walmart.  If I go to Walmart without makeup I will see the entire LHS Class of '94.  It's a rule of life.   
4. Snowed in hermits don't wear makeup.   

So I'm at Walmart and notice that their Valentine's aisle is geared up and ready to earn the big dollars.  I ♥ Valentine's Day.  I do not ♥ $5 cards. 

You can see how all those red and pink hearts got me to racking my brain for things to do for my Valentine.  Cause if you've been to Walmart, you're probably doing the same thing.  It's another rule of life. 

All that racking got me to remembering.  Remember November '08, when we did  The Love Dare?  That was cool wasn't it?  I want to do it again.  Only this time, let's do an abbreviated Dare for Valentine's Day.  We have five weeks leading up to Valentine's Day.  Will you join me for this challenge? 

Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, we need to be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone.  The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling.  And when you truly demonstrate love, your relationship is more likely to change for the better. 

So each Monday, I'll post three dares for the week.  Schedule them however suits you best.  Some will be easy and some very challenging.  But take each dare seriously.  Be creative.  Be courageous.  The following Monday, drop us a comment on the post or a link to your own blog, sharing what you did and how it went.  It doesn't have to be super personal.  Just let us know you're "in". 

Will you take the dare?  Are you "in"?

Valentine  Dare, week 1

Valentine Dare, week 2

Valentine Dare, week 3

Valentine Dare, week 4

Valentine Dare, Concluded

This post is linked to Works For Me Wednesday.  For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit We Are THAT Family.

As the clock struck twelve, the chief and I hugged tightly, prayed over our littles, and asked God to bless 2010! 

January seems to be a time we attempt to forecast what the future holds as well as look back on the past.  However, I am learning that it is in making the most of the present moments that bring us the greatest joy.  What's the old saying?

"Today is the tomorrow you wished for yesterday."

He doesn't do laundry.  Well, except for when I had my cesarean.  Once I was good as new he quickly resumed his no laundry stance.  

I don't do yard work.  I've used a mower twice in our thirteen years of marriage.  

We're living happily ever after... 

Contemplating my life.  Birthdays will do that to ya. 

My God has given me more than I ever dreamed.  A precious family and friends who care for me.  

I am unworthy of it all.  Still He keeps on giving to me. 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, or stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, in all that he does, he prospers.

As I think upon being a tree in streams of water, yielding fruit and prospering, I realize it is good to be busy and always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).  Just as important is to be still and be refreshed.  

I can't abound in the work of the Lord unless I'm firmly planted.  If I am not planted in the streams of water, I wither.  I cannot yield fruit and prosper.  My work can become empty, heartless, and sapped of power if I am not fueling myself with the refreshment that comes from God’s Word.  I must drink from the well of God’s Word on a regular basis.  

Withering away is not a good place to be y'all.  We got husbands to love, kids to care for, and God to seek.  Come sit a spell.  I'll pour you a glass of refreshment from the living stream.

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25.   

Focus on the Family:  Take Charge of Your Home 

(Click link to hear audio)

Holy Experience Blog 

(Beautiful Words, Beautiful Photography)

This post is linked to:

Amy's Humble Musings is just rocking the links lately.  I'm borrowing another of hers. 

Falling in Love vs. Living in Love

Reposted from November 08:

You want to know what a man is made of?  You'll find out when you are sitting in the middle of a big fat difficulty.  (We've seen one or two of those in the course of our near 13 years.)

Any guy can be romantic and sweet on a dinner date.  I'm not easily impressed. 

I'm impressed by the guy who loves his wife and children through life's difficulties.  I'm impressed by the man who sells his golf clubs because the family needs groceries.  (Brian did that once.  Seriously.)  

Love lived everyday.  Demonstrated by the dishes washed, hours spent at work disdained, stories read to little ones, and imperfections overlooked.  

Ephesians 5:25 -

 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church,

and gave his golf clubs himself for it."

That's a real man.

To get the full value of joy

You must have someone to divide it with.

Mark Twain

Washing strawberries for snack time, thinking how much I love strawberries.  

Remembering a long time ago a few years ago  I was in college, the chief would visit me.  He'd bring strawberries and orange Tic Tacs.  Sometimes he'd bring flowers but really he's more of a practical guy.  I had a thing for strawberries, orange Tic Tacs, and the chief. 

The orange Tic Tacs - I got over.  But do I ever still have a thing for strawberries and the chief!