Husband Alert:  Don't read this, honey.  Thanks.  

"Be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

Choosing to be patient is something of a lesson.  Don't you think?  At one point I found myself tinkering on the edge (I nearly fell off the cliff!) of not being patient but I quickly put myself in check and chose a different way.  This is something I'm going to practice with the kids too.  Day 1 is possibly the most important.  We should continue to apply it... always. 

What would the tone and volume of your home be like if you tried this biblical approach:  "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:15). 

Few of us do patience very well, and none of us do it naturally.  But wise men and women will pursue it as an essential ingredient to their marriage relationships.  That's a good starting point to demonstrate true love.

This Love Dare Journey is a process, and the first thing you must resolve to possess is patience.  Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.  But it's a race worth running.

I am very certain that Brian will appreciate a more patient wife.  I'm just as certain that it will improve the tone and volume of our home. 

Perhaps it didn't go well in the patience department for you.  Please remain steadfast.  Today is a new day.  Think on Ephesians 4:2 as you go about your tasks. 

A note to my dear husband who often reads my blog, Do Not read this entry any further.  Thank you. 

"The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling."

"The Love Dare journey is not a process of trying to change your spouse to be the person you want them to be."

"Remember, you have the responsibility to protect and guide your heart.  Don't give up and don't get discouraged."

"Resolve to lead your heart and to make it through to the end." 

"It is difficult to demonstrate love when you feel little to no motivation.  But love in its truest sense is not based on feelings.  Rather, love determines to show thoughtful actions even when there seems to be no reward."

Let's change our married lives for the better.  Will you join me?

Overview for week 1:  (Actions that might require extra thought and preparations)

Day 2:  An unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.  Don't wait for your spouse to be kind first.  You will never learn to love until you learn to demonstrate kindness.

Day 3:  Buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."  Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. 

Let's devote a little time each day to reading the day's Dare and putting it to action.  What do we have to lose?  Better yet, what do we have to gain? 

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

It's never too late to join us.  Get your copy of The Love Dare at Walmart or Amazon.com.  If you are just joining us, start here.

I'm currently reading, The Love Dare.  As I read, I think it would be soooo cool if some of you would join me on this 40 day journey.  What better gift to give ourselves and our families than the gift of a steadfast marriage.

Receive this as a warning.

This forty day journey cannot be taken lightly.

It is a challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination.

It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage.

Consider it a dare, from others who have done it before you.

The book is available at at Amazon for $8.99 plus free shipping.  It is on sale at Walmart as well.  Get your copy and be ready to start December 1.  I'll post regularly.  Perhaps we can be determined and resolute together. 

I dare you to join me. 

You want to know what a marriage is made of?  You'll find out when you are sitting in the middle of a big fat difficulty.    

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 kisses goodnight that mean goodnight cause we're really tired. 

Romance?  Ephesians 5:25 -

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

and gave his golf clubs himself for it."

Tonight he said to me, "Pass the diaper and give me a kiss." 

Four kids and twelve years.  I'm so in love...

He's my Prince Charming. 

I've said that a time or two haven't I? 

Before you go accusing me of making my blog a shrine to my husband, let me tell you what he did last night.  Don't worry it's G rated.

I brought the girls home from gymnastics to find "I  U" spelled with candy kisses on my bed.  A hot bubble bath was running for me and my favorite scented candle was lit .  For one hour I soaked in the tub.  Guess what Prince Charming did?  He prepared and fed supper to four kiddos, got them ready for bed, brushed their teeth, read the bible to them and tucked them in bed.  I came out to find tons of quiet and a clean kitchen.  Sigh.  I told you he was my Prince Charming. 

When I found out that we were expecting our first baby, I was amazed at how much stuff the baby "needed". Ten years later and I'm still carrying stuff, finding a place to put stuff, stepping over stuff, and packing stuff.  Some of the stuff was very well used and some of the stuff was just stuff.

On the top of my what baby needs list is an ear thermometer.  Ears are a much better option for temperature taking than the other.  Be assured that at a completely unexpected moment you will have a need for a thermometer.  I hope it's later rather than sooner.  Go ahead and be prepared anyway.

Since we're talking firstaid and wellness, invest in infants tylenol.  It's just a good thing to have on hand to go with that unexpected moment when you need the thermometer and the baby has a temperature.  My pediatrician suggests giving it at baby's two month immunizations.  While we're at it let's get two.  One for the medicine cabinet and one for the diaper bag.  It's good to be prepared.

The item to spend your money on is the carseat and stroller.  These are the items that baby will use everyday.  In and out, out and in.  It needs to be one that mom really likes.  Both mom and baby are well acquainted with it at the end of the first year.  Go to the store and push around the stroller.  Fold it up and unfold it again.  Carry the carrier around.  Snap it on the stroller.  Snap it onto the base.  Play with it.  Play with a lot of carseats and strollers.  You'll notice the difference and quickly have a preference.  Make your dear husband figure out how to fasten it into the car long ahead of time.  It's harder than you think.  If possible borrow someone's baby so you can adjust the harness.

Lansinoh is a nursing mothers best friend.  I'll never forget taking my first bambino to the doctor at three weeks.  Dr. Sweet (not her real name) gave the baby a good look over, pronounced her perfect and asked if I had any concerns.  Well, ummm, I'm concerned about how much nursing hurts.  As in, surely it's not time for her to nurse again hurt! As in, don't touch that baby's cheek, she'll start rooting and want to nurse hurt!  As in scabs and blood hurt!  I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from nursing.  I've nursed all my babies and loved it!  After the first three weeks.  The first three weeks hurt.  Dr. Sweet gave me Lansinoh.  Lansinoh made the hurt so much less!  So much less!  Thank the father above for Lansinoh!  Use it religiously. 

On a side note, do not believe any Lactation Consultants who say, nursing shouldn't hurt.  They probably haven't nursed a baby, yet.  There are things that Lactation Consultants can suggest to help with the baby latching on that may bring some relief.  Consultants are very helpful and I would suggest accepting their offer to follow up with you.  I would also commit to nursing for three weeks.  So many new moms give up in the first three weeks because they don't realize that it does get easier.  Mom does get better at it and so does baby.  So no matter how hard it is, try it for at least three weeks.  Then, if it's not working for ya break out a bottle and some Similac. 

The baby quilt that comes in your bedding set is beautiful.  Go ahead and hang it on the wall.  It'll be beautiful and you'll never have to worry about all the cautions and safety hazards.  The bumper pad will be the most decorative thing in your baby's bed.  You'll be glad you have a mobile as well.  Cause you'll just know that it really is helping your sweet baby be smart.  It really is.  You'll have doubts about the validity of the mobile later when your child stares at you blankly after you tell them something for the hundredth time.  But don't worry about that right now.  Right now, studies say that a mobile stimulates your babies newborn brain and makes them smarter.  Go ahead and purchase the expensive thing cause maybe just maybe your child would be less intelligent if they don't have a mobile. 

more to follow...

"A good argument with your spouse could be just what the doctor ordered.  Preliminary results from a survey of married couples suggest that disputing husbands and wives who hold in their anger die earlier than expressive couples. "

Read the entire article here.

Honey, aren't you glad I didn't hold it in?

Do you know you are beautiful?  Do you know your husband thinks you are so beautiful he only has eyes for you?  There is scientific research to prove it.   

The study found interesting sides of the people who are in love as they were less likely to notice attractive members of the opposite sex. Gian Gonzaga a lead author of the study said, "Feeling love for your romantic partner appears to make everybody else less attractive, and the emotion appears to work in very specific ways in enabling you to push thoughts of that tempting other out of your mind."While co-author Martie Haselton, an associate professor of psychology and communication studies at UCLA said, "It's almost like love puts blinders on people."

Read the entire article,

Love puts blinders on people; study.