Real Life Love Stories | Ours from Brian's Perspective

As we wrap up our Real Life Love Stories for this year (I think this is a series I will be bringing back yearly- so beware.... you may be asked to participate next year!), I decided it was time to comply with the emails, FB messages, and texts I received asking when you would read our Real Life Love Story.

But I thought I would do things a bit differently.

You have heard our story from my perspective many times..... our engagement, our wedding, and many moments in between.

And even though Brian has spontaneously shared his thoughts and feelings about us, I thought it would be fun to get his perspective on different aspects of our love story.

Here he is in his own words.....




When did you first notice Suzette?

The first time I saw you I noticed you. You were in the choir wearing that blue choir robe and your hair was curly (I had a spiral perm at the time).

When did you first notice Brian?

I knew you from Sunday school, and just knew you as Brian, my friend, the one guy I was comfortable with. It wasn't until 5 years later that I realized I looked forward to you walking into our Sunday school class, and started making sure the seat next to me was available for you to sit in .... if you wanted to.

When did you decide to date me?

I had thought about for a while but assumed you were out of reach. I actually decided to ask you when our pastor called me and gave me the push I needed.

I was constantly getting clues from people that I should pursue you- my Grandma and brother Ricky were always encouraging me to pursue you. But I had a crush on you long before anyone encouraged me to date you.

I mentioned it to a few of my friends from church while hanging out at my house one day, a year before we started dating. I was told that I had to talk to your dad first (which I already knew), and that your dad would have to come on our first date with us, and sit between us. I told them that I didn't mind because I really liked your dad a lot. (Suzette here: My dad and I didn't even know about the "rule" that my dad had to come with us. You have got to "love" rumors....)

Did you have to do anything special before you could take me on a first date?

I had to talk to your Dad. (2nd hardest thing I ever had to do. 1st hardest was actually asking you if you would want to go out with me.) I was nervous and anxious the whole time we talked, and I answered all of his questions honestly. I thought he would turn me down because our talk took an hour.

When did you ask my parents for permission to marry me?

You were at an overnight teacher's convention. I went to your parent's home for dinner and asked them for permission. They both gave their approval. We then headed to the Bill Gothard Seminar we were attending that week, and the whole drive there we brainstormed different ideas of how I could propose. (Fire drill was totally Brian's idea, though.)


Suzette's side from that night...

You always called me on your way home from work, but that day you were really quiet on the phone- totally unlike you. I asked if you were okay, and you, never being able to keep anything from me, told me you were going to ask my parents for permission marry me that night.

From that point on I was useless!

Faye and I went to dinner alone (the other teachers had already gone, which was a blessing). When we got back to the hotel, I had to wait to call my parents because you all had gone to the seminar. I finally called home at 10:30 p.m. and after playing phone tag a few times, Mom finally answered. I asked how everything had gone that night and Mom said, "Oh, it was nice!"

"How was Brian?" I asked.

"Oh, he was wonderful. You father and I just love him!"

"Did he say anything?"

"Oh..... that he loves you and that our house wasn't the same with you away tonight."

"Mom! Did he ask if he could marry me?!"

From the background I heard my father chuckling, and then he shouted, "Tell her we said yes!" at which point I burst into tears! I wanted to run out into the hallway of the hotel and yell, "He asked and they said yes!" But I didn't.

How long did you date, and how long have you been married?

We dated for exactly one year. Our first date was Friday, July 11, 2003, and we were married Saturday, July 10, 2004. We will be celebrating 10 years of married life this July.

What has been you favorite part of married life?

Everything. Being able to live with my best friend.

Real Life Love Stories | Tom and Victoria

Victoria and I have a history with each other that goes back before she was born. Her parents, George and Star, were in my father's college and career Sunday school class. When they were married, they asked if I could be in their wedding. Sadly, I was terrified of being in front of people as a child, and I never made it down the aisle in their wedding. 

Victoria and I have been friends for a long time, and we have had so much fun watching Rays baseball games "together" and cheering with each other through social media. 

Victoria will be getting married in August and has asked if Addie would be her flower girl (thankfully, Addie does not have a fear of being in front of people!). Addie is so excited because she loves Victoria.

Here is Victoria's story....
 

1. How old are you? 

28 years young. Almost 29 though.
 
2. When did your love story begin? 

May 15, 2012 and we met in person on June 23, 2012.

3. How did you meet? 

Christian Mingle. I always said I would never do something like that, but I am so glad I did! My sister-in-law who met my brother on eHarmony talked me into doing this. I never thought anything would come of it. I was really only doing it to make her happy. 

4. When did you know he was "the one"? 

I guess I knew really before I even met him. Years ago I asked God for a sign so to say. I did not want to make the wrong choice and with so many guys out there how was I to know? I still live at home so I asked God if he wanted me to marry I would know because he would live at home. Well I found out he lived at home! He had lived on his own before, but right now he is living with parents to help them out. Talk about a sign. 

5.The question we all want an answer for.... how did he propose? 

He proposed December 18th at a parking lot... Kohl's parking lot. How romantic right? Lol! It was VERY cold outside and I did not want to leave my warm car. He kept asking me to go for a walk before we left for our homes. (We meet at Kohl's- we live in different counties) I finally gave in to go for a quick walk after he asked about three times...I even said I would wait in the car. Haha! Well, we walked to a big tree there, and he got down on one knee. I can't even remember what he said as it was a blurr...I do remember I thought he fell, though! 

6.What are you looking forward to the most about your life together?

Looking forward to actually being able to spend time with him! We only get to see each other on Tuesdays (I work way too much). I also am looking forward to doing the normal couple things with him like cook and grocery shop. We both love football, so Sunday parties will be great too!

Real Life Love Stories | Danny and Christina

Christina has been a sweet friend for quite some time now. She is my friend Victoria's BCF (best cousin friend) and my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Elsa's niece on Uncle Johnny's side of the family- which for all intents and purposes relates us.

Christina is in the process of living out her own real life love story right now as she and Danny make their preparations to head down the aisle in July.

Here is their sweet story....

1. When and/or how did you meet? 

Danny and I met at our church at the end of 2006. I had just finished two years at the local community college and was going to be leaving the first week of January to head to Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL to begin my social work degree for the final three years of college. 

His parents had been attending my church for a few months, and I became very close to them. Because they were Puerto Rican like me, we immediately had a connection, and my sisters and I used to call them "Tio Rafy and Titi Ruthie." Everytime we would see each other, Rafy (I call him Papito now) would tell me that he wanted me to meet his youngest son Danny. 

Months went by and he never came to church; the Lord was working on his heart. One Sunday morning, Papito called me into the fellowship room and introduced to me to his son. This young man whom I had heard so much about hardly said anything to me but shook my hand politely. 

For me, it wasn't love at first sight. Although I definitely thought he was very attractive, I was mostly intrigued by him. 

Because the Lord was in the process of working on his heart, Danny was very cautious and reserved. Danny told me years later that he thought to himself when I walked in the room, "Dad, you have got to introduce me to THAT girl." 

We found out that we went to the same community college and that night, he called me to ask me a "school related question." The rest is history!  

2. How did you know he was the one? 

Pondering over the years of our friendship and dating, I have been thinking of whether there was a moment in time that I thought he was my one and only. For me, it was a process of knowing I think.....mostly the realization that I did not want to live my life without him. 

We both had moments when we tried to live without each other through other relationships...and I think I can speak for the both of us, the love we had for one another never died. It just became stronger, and I couldn't forget about him. It was like the Lord was working things out in the background and it wasn't until years later, the picture began to be clear. For me, love came very softly. 

Three weeks after we met, Danny took a trip down to Florida to see me at school. I was very cautious but also very flattered. I had just come down to school and was missing my family and friends back home. It was a very hard adjustment for me. When he visited me, it was like bringing a little piece of home to me, and I felt refreshed and comfortable. Even though I didn't know him at all, there was something about him that just drew me in, and I couldn't help but fall in love with him..moment by moment. 

It was in the little things he did for me over the next three years while we were "friends": the nights we would stay up talking on the phone even though I had chapel and class the next day, the scrabble online games we would play together, and the pictures he would send me of my friends back home so I could feel apart of the activities they were doing. 

I remember the week he came down to visit me, my childhood cat had passed away suddenly, and I was deeply grieved. To help ease my sadness, he brought me a "purring" cat that we named together, and we still have it to this day. 

Danny has always told me that he is a man of actions...not just words... and his love for me has not wavered since that first day he met me. Even when were not dating, I used to use Danny as the standard for how I should be treated and loved. That is how big of an impact this man had on my life. That is what has brought us through many hard times even in our friendship and dating relationship...and what will be our anchor in our marriage. Who the Lord has brought together, no one can tear apart. 

3. How long have you dated? 

We started dating a week before I graduated...April 2009! He and his family drove all through the night to make sure they attended my graduation. I remember being so honored and happy to have them there. We have been going strong ever since that day... it has not always been easy, but the blessing in all those years without each other was that we realized what it would be like if we didn't fight for our relationship. We never want to go down that road again, so we rely on the Lord every day to honor each other and build our soon to be marriage. 

4. How did he propose? 

Danny told me that he had intended to propose at Christmas this past December, but since we literally had over ten people I knew get engaged around the same time, he waited until January 4th. We had been talking about getting married for about 2months and had even made some plans. He knew I would be too overwhelmed if I waited for everything until after the engagement. So I had my suspicions it would be soon. 

We had always talked about going to the Cabernet in Alpharetta, GA ever since we found out a gentleman from our church was the head chef there, but never had the money for such a splurge. So, when our pastor and his wife suggested that we all go there on a Saturday night, I was a little suspicious. 

I like to solve mysteries..always have. I loved reading Nancy Drew growing up and playing mystery games were my favorite. Danny said it was a challenge for him to keep the proposal a secret. 

Up until we walked into the building, I thought that maybe it was going to be that night...but when the waiter asked if we were the Dustin Pennington party (our pastor), I knew that Danny wouldn't propose to me in front of other people. He would want it to be more intimate. 

Well, guess what...they never came! Danny gave the ring to our friend Richard Holley- the chef at the Cabernet and he placed it in a beautiful saucer with tomatoes shaped like roses as the garnish. 

Danny knows me so well that he proposed before dinner so that way, I wouldn't start asking questions about where our friends were. He even went as far as to switch my work shift to accommodate his plans. It was the best night and just one of many ways that the Lord has shown us that this is His timing. 

5. When will your wedding be? 

Our wedding is going to be in an old cotton warehouse on July 18, 2014. YEAH! 

6. What part of married life are you looking forward to? 

Oh goodness...there are so many things I look forward to. It still seems surreal that it is finally happening after so many years of waiting on the Lord. 

I think one of the first things I look forward to is just being able to serve Danny. Ever since I was 15 years old (except my years at college in Florida), I have worked-full time..mostly always two jobs..at times, three. So, I have never been able to serve in the capacity of being a homemaker. I look forward to blossoming in that area and being able to love Danny by giving of myself in that way. I look forward to creating an environment for him to feel safe, loved and at peace the moment he walks through the door of our home. 

Secondly, I look forward to all the ways the Lord is going to stretch me and mold me into a better person. A dating relationship is hard, and I know marriage will be even harder. I know that I cannot love Danny the way he needs me to unless the Lord is loving through me, so it is imperative that I prioritize my relationship with the Lord to accomplish my role as a wife. I look forward to leaning in whole dependence on the Lord for the benefit of our family. 

7. What encouragement would you give to young women still in the waiting stage? 

Waiting on the Lord is totally worth it. 

It sounds so cliche, but it is so true. I am a very skeptical person so unless I have experienced something, it's hard for me to just trust something I hear. But I can tell you from experience, unless you do things in His timing, your plans will always fail. 

The Lord really taught me patience and contentment during our dating relationship. I am 27 years old...will be 28 by the time we are married. My dream was to be married right out of college...and to probably have a child or two by this time in my life. I wanted to meet a guy, date for a year (two at the most!) and get married. Especially once I started dating Danny, it was very hard because I already knew I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life, so as year after year went by, friend after friend got married and had children, I became very discontent and the Lord had to rid me of that attitude. 

I didn't know why I needed to wait but now I know that had Danny and I married years ago, we wouldn't have such a strong relationship now. We both needed the time to grow and prepare for a lifelong marriage. 

I will say that until I stopped comparing my love story with other people's stories and until I stopped nagging Danny and the Lord about why they weren't doing things the way I had planned and expected, nothing happened. I look back and see that I was hindering the very thing I wanted from becoming a reality. 

It wasn't until I submitted to the Lord's authority and respected Danny's leadership to move forward when he was ready, that the timing was made perfect. Danny made mention to me that he was ready to get married and bam! two months later we were engaged and planning the wedding. 

Our God is one who gives good gifts to His children, but they must be able to appreciate it and have the tools ready cultivate it first. Use the season of singleness to prepare for marriage: learn about yourself.. be very introspective. Know why you act the way you act, why you do the things you do. This is important when preparing yourself as a future Godly Bride. 

Also, allow the Holy Spirit to heal you from all comparisons with others. This will kill a future marriage and honestly, could create much bigger problems than you want to deal with. Learning true contentment and being able to appreciate the differences of each of our love stories and the gifts the Lord gives us all will bring true joy... and that is the best gift you can give yourself and your future spouse.

Real Life Love Stories | John and Ruth

GrandTiti is no stranger to the blog. Her real name is Ruth, and she is my mother's sister, my aunt, and has adopted my children as her grandchildren (hence the title GrandTiti). 

GrandTiti is very special to me. When Mom first passed away, I would call my aunt at any time of the day just to talk and she would always answer (it was just what I needed at the time). We love our yearly visits with her and her family (especially the kids because they get completely spoiled). 

I asked her to share her story because it is so obvious that God brought her and my Uncle Jack (nickname for John) together. When she answered question 2, "How did you know he was the one?" it showed God's sovereignty and hand in bringing them together. 

Here is their story.....

 

1. How did you meet? 

We met in Feb. 1999. I answered a newspaper ad for a Christian man looking for a Latin christian woman. I still have the ad. 

2. How did you know he was the one?

 

Well that's a long story so I will try to make it as short as possible. I held on to a scripture found in Isaiah 62 for 18 long years. Paraphrase: The rejected  woman shall be rejected no more, her name shall be changed, for she shall be married and called Beulah. 

Well, lo and behold, on my third date, my beloved (that's the meaning of John) called me Beulah! 

I asked "What did you call me?" 

He responded, "Beulah." 

I wanted to make sure I heard the name I thought I heard.  Beulah is an old name and not popular, at least not in 1999 it wasn't. 

I then asked, "Why did you call me Beulah?"  

"I don't know," he said. BUT I KNEW IT WAS A SIGN FROM MY GOD. 

3. How did he propose?

How did he propose?  To tell you the truth I can't really remember, but he was always asking me "will you marry me?" And that went on for weeks everyday until I said yes. 

4. How long have you been married? 

We will be married fourteen amazingly wonderful years this coming April 8th. 

5. What has been the best part of married life? 

The best part of married life is being love unconditionally (the good, the bad, and the ugly).  I love sharing life with my husband. I cannot emphasize enough- I love how he loves me.  






6. What kind of encouragement would you like to give to young women in their marriages?

Appreciate one another. 

Pray together. 

Be honest with each other.   

Take time to play.  Big girls and big boys can still play and have fun. 

Ask for Gods covering over your marriage daily.  

Lastly, no one knows your spouse more intimately than you do. So present to God your spouse's weakness and strengths and ask God to do in those areas what you can not do.

Be encouraged.

-Suzette's Aunt.

Real Life Love Stories | Bob and Cathy

I am so thankful for this couple, but I am especially thankful that God brought them together because they are Brian's parents! Let's face it, if they never met, fell in love, and married, my husband would not be here today.

Pops is such a gentle man, ready to lend a hand when any of his sons or daughters-in-law need him, and Mom has truly become my mom. I can talk to her about anything, and she willingly watches our children for us.

Brian and I read their answers together as I prepared this post. We loved it so much! We laughed at some parts, "awww"-ed, and had a burst of "No way!" when we read about the bracelet (you'll see what I mean).

This couple was the perfect couple to feature on Valentine's Day, because, as I learned from going back and forth with Mom, Valentine's Day was the day of their first date!

Here is their story....

1.  How old (young) were you when you met your husband?
 

I was 18 and he was 19.

2.  How did you meet?  Where?
 

photo taken after their wedding

We actually met at church.  Bob had cut his finger pretty bad at his work and got bored while sitting at home, so he decided to surprise his parents and meet them at church. His parents were newly Christians, and his mom had been trying to get him to come for quite sometime. He walked in and several of us girls watched him walk down the aisle to sit with his folks.

They had mentioned in the bulletin that we were having roller skating the next night and would be taking the church bus. After church that morning, Bob’s mom introduced him to me and one other girl.

The next day Bob had gone and traded his car in for a new one and did not plan on coming.  He was out driving it and happened to come behind the church bus!  He decided to follow it and came to the roller rink.

During roller skating they always had a devotional time, and everyone would sit down and listen.  Bob accepted the Lord as his Savior that night.  He also asked several of us if we wanted to ride back in his car.  Three of us girls got in the back and another guy got in the front.

There was another time where I had been to the church and Bob was driving by and asked if he could take me home.  (Actually driving by was not that he lived close to the church, it was in another town but he wanted to get to know me better.) 

3.  When and what was your first date?

Probably a week or so later I asked him if he wanted to go to our Valentine’s Party.  It was being held at another church that we sometimes got together with.  So that was our first date, Valentine’s day 1969.

After that we went out to dinner together a lot, we went to ball games, roller skating, bowling etc.

We were brought up that we don’t ‘park,’and my mother always had the porch light on at our house.  We had been to a Tiger baseball game in Detroit that day and Bob was driving around before taking me back home and lingered a little longer than needed at a stop sign and asked me to marry him.  I said yes, and he brought me home.

I remember my folks were in bed, but I rushed in and told them that we were engaged.  They were happy but just surprised that he had brought me home before 10:00!  Bob always made sure I was home by curfew, even if we did just get engaged!

For my birthday the next month he gave me my diamond ring, a cookbook and a stop sign charm for my charm bracelet to symbolize where he asked me to marry him.  I still to this day have that bracelet and charm.

4.  How long did you date each other before you were married?

Actually we were going to wait a year or so.  Bob had gotten drafted into the army for the Viet Nam War.  He decided to join the Air Force instead but did not pass the hearing test.  Bob has always had trouble with his hearing. We also talked about going to Bible college. I would work while he went.

We got married August 8, 1969.  We were both 19 and had only known each other for 7 months!  But we were very much in love.

Bob never did go to college.  He ended up working for an electrical supply store and learned to be an electrician.  He is now an electrical inspector and works for Hernando County where he has worked for around 20 years now.  We had our first son February 21, 1972 and had three more sons in the next several years.  We moved to Florida in April of 1983, where each of our sons have gotten married and raised their own families, except for our second son, Ricky, who was in the Air Force and met his wife in South Carolina where he is raising his family. 

5.  How long have you been married?

This August will be 45 years!!! 

6.  What is one piece of advice that you would give to young women who are currently walking through the journey of marriage?
 

Brian is the 3rd boy from the left.

We were only 19 years old when we got married but we were ready to be married.  So many couples have gotten divorced because they say they were married too young.  We were young but we have made it this far.

You have to work at it.

The Lord has helped us.  We brought our family up in the Lord.  You have to trust in Him. We have had our fights, or I should say arguments, but we still love each other. You have to learn to give and take, to compromise.

Bob is my best friend.  That is the key.  To make your mate your BEST friend.  I don’t go on vacations without him, and he doesn’t go anywhere without me either.  I remember going to my grandmother’s funeral in Michigan and having to fly up there for a week.  I did not like to be apart from him.

  

7.  What has been your favorite part of married life?
 

Just to be with him.  Having his children.  And then having our grandchildren.  I remember our first grandchild being born.  She was born in January 1992.  After having 4 sons and no daughters we were very excited to have a granddaughter!!!

Since then we have had 5 more grandchildren.  We have 3 wonderful grandsons and 3 beautiful granddaughters!  We also may have 4 sons, but now we have 4 daughter-in-laws that we love very much too.  Bob is still working but soon to retire also, and I am looking forward to many more years together. 

Real Life Love Stories | Jim and Faye

You have met this couple before.

Faye is my beautiful sister, and Jim is my awesome brother-in-law (you heard from Jim's mother, Nancy, on Friday).


Faye and Jim are another couple that God orchestrated putting together. By spending time with them, you just know that God hand picked Jim and Faye for each other.


Faye is an excellent writer and has really given us a great peek inside their story.

1. How old (young) were you when you met your husband?

Although it seemed that ever meeting my spouse was something that would happen "sometime" in the ever-looming future, I finally met my husband when I was 29. As I look back, I know God's timing in my life was perfect. I honestly don't think I could have been the woman my husband needed before that point. When you feel like you need a husband in order to give you the affirmation and confidence you need, it's probably not the right time.

We were designed according to the Bible to be a "help-meet" to him; therefore, the focus is not on him meeting "our" needs and giving us a confidence boost we may feel we are lacking. And yet the amazing blessing is...that a great husband like mine will strive daily to meet the needs in my life that God intended for him to fill.

While the wait for both of us may have seemed long, I think it has also helped to deepen our appreciation for each other. We both feel so blessed to have each other to love and enjoy life with for the rest of our journey on this earth.

2. How did you meet?

We met each other online through Christian Mingle. Although I was attending a pretty large church at the time, meeting other singles was somewhat of a challenge. I would drive all the way to the church, only to discover that the gathering had been cancelled or moved elsewhere. (Divine intervention, if you ask me.) It became frustrating after a while and so I pretty much stopped pursuing it.

Then my dad suggested I try a Christian dating site. While there are many fish in the sea, not all of them are the perfect catch, and so if you are single and considering online dating, be careful and very selective. If you're too desperate, you can certainly end up with a guy...but not the one God has for you.

After a while of looking through online sites, and seeing a lot of "no's", I noticed that this handsome guy had looked at my profile on Christian Mingle, and what he had to say showed he was the real deal and not simply a Christian in name only but in life as well. He wrote that "Christ has to be at the center of the relationship." (Hmmm...not many other guys seemed to be that serious enough to post a comment like that.)

So, brave little me (who was usually pretty shy around guys) decided to initiate the talk by sending a pre-made comment. He then replied and asked if I was interested in us getting to know each other better. We weren't actual subscribers at the time to the site, but both joined to move along further in conversation. We then began chatting by instant message and by phone, and he was just so kind and respectful. He amazed me by wanting to know details about my day. (Wow, a guy who could actually be interested in my life?! I was impressed.)


2. Was there anything special that he had to do before taking you out on a date?

We didn't chat long before he decided he wanted to meet me in person (perhaps a week or two), but I informed him that our family rule was that he would need to meet my dad first and then ask him for permission to date me. To my shock, Jim was willing to do this right away.

It took a lot of courage and also proved to me even more so that he was a really great guy. What even further impressed me was that he told me he would pray that God would give my dad discernment (regarding this). Wow. He went to my dad's job, bought him lunch, and got the "go ahead."


3. How long did you date each other before you were married?

Jim proposed to me that Valentine's Day at a gorgeous five star restaurant in Hyde Park (Bern's Steakhouse) in their upstairs dessert room. We had met online on Sunday, July 19, 2009 and were married the following year on my birthday which was Saturday, July 17, 2010. So, it was exactly one year from the day we had first met.

4. How did you know he was "the one"?

I guess from the beginning, seeing what he had written online, seeing his heart for the Lord, and just the way he treated me (always with kindness and respect), I knew he was the right one. He was a man I could look up to and feel truly loved and respected by. In fact, he even respected my wish to save our first kiss for our wedding day, and that meant a lot to me. He respected me in every way, like a guy who's living for the Lord should.

On our second date, I was also impressed by the fact that he bought us Busch Garden's passes. That really showed me he was making an investment in our relationship, even though it was only our second date. (After all, how would he know I was the one he'd want to keep taking to Busch Gardens?)

Throughout our whole relationship, though, Jim proved himself to be genuine. He truly loved  the Lord, he truly loved me and only me (talking woman-wise here), he loved and respected his family and mine, he was mature and responsible in every way, and he was sooo thoughtful... He was just absolutely the perfect one for me. (P.S. Oh, and the fact that he was also incredibly handsome didn't hurt either. ;)

5. How long have you been married?

Jim and I have now been married for three and half years. It feels like I've known him forever though because we just get along so well, by the grace of God, and just feel so comfortable around each other. He is truly, as I always say, "The love of my life, my handsome prince, the man of my dreams, and my best friend."

6. What is one piece of advice that you would give to young women who are currently walking through the journey of marriage?

I would encourage them to really build up their husbands and look for ways to be their husband's best friend.

Find out what he enjoys.

Talk with him about it (even if you don't always understand a lot of it).

Go to places he wants to go.

Watch him compete and cheer him on in his sports.

Sit and watch sports with him and learn about them. (I've become more knowledgeable about tennis than I ever was before getting married, and I enjoy it. It enhances your own life to become an active learner in something you never were really into before.)

Be a sound board for him, allowing him to feel safe and "at home" just talking with you.

Trust me, your husbands need this...And you'll find, that if his heart is also in the right place, he'll do more for you also than you could ever imagine.

********************************************

Faye has been a teacher for 10 years. God has really given her some incredible ideas when it comes to teaching children important concepts in math, and language arts. you can check out her store at Teachers Pay Teachers. In fact, click here to download her FREE method of teaching children skip counting. It's been downloaded 5,500 times already!

Real Life Love Stories | Godly Advice from Nancy

Ernest and Nancy are my sister's in-laws, but I have the awesome privilege of knowing and loving this sweet, godly couple.

As Nancy and I wrote back and forth about this series, she shared with me her incredible journey of faith that brought her and her sweet husband Ernest together 36 years ago. She also shared an incredible amount of wisdom that every married woman needs to read and hear.

We tend to look at Valentine's Day as a time to exaggerate our love, but Nancy reminds us that love is work and has to be tended on a daily basis- not just once a year.

Here are her words:

We must remember that our life is not our own and be mindful of our husband's needs before our own.  When I used to teach conferences when we traveled, I would make it a point to tell the women that good marriages don't just happen.  They are made.  It takes more than love to make a marriage.  It takes really liking one another and enjoying being together.  It takes good communication and having things in common that you both enjoy.  It takes being good friends with one another.  Marriage is not only a commitment but also a relationship.  We must continue to enjoy one another after marriage and always be honest with one another using wisdom.

Love is a "living" thing and anything that is alive can die or wilt.  Most of us have heard it said, "Love  never dies."  Don't believe it.  Human love can die.  It's "divine" love - "God's love" that never dies because it is pure.  God's love and human love are not even related.  Human love can turn into hate if it is made mad enough.  God's love is not like that.  God says "He" is love and the more of Christ we have in us the more of God's love we have in us to love one another with.  This is so important because marriage is a "living" relationship between two people.  You can kill it, you can just maintain it or you can make it grow.  You can usually maintain it by just doing the necessary requirements or to put it another way - only going the first mile and never the second.

We always reap what we sow, and these seeds will produce a very hum-drum type of relationship with nothing exciting, no shine or sparkle and just dull and lukewarm or just "getting by".  However, you can also choose to make it grow and develop into something very lush and beautiful, but it must be built upon the right foundation - THE ROCK - Jesus Christ and of course applying godly principles to make it work properly.  We should always practice the Golden Rule in our relationship with one another by doing unto them as we would have them do unto us. 

It takes giving our marriage the proper care and attention it needs.  We should set some time aside to spend alone with one another.  No, we never neglect our children but we can always find or make the time if we really want to.  Our children will do much better if their parents are taking good care of one another and their relationship.  It always spills over on them and makes them feel secure.

We should never be careless with one another but always sensitive to the other one's needs spiritually, mentally and physically.  We must nourish our marriage and build in trust and confidence with loving words and deeds of kindness and encouragement, and watching over our marriage closely and quickly rooting out anything that might harm it in anyway.  This takes time and effort, in other words - WORK!

Marriage is not a life and relationship based on feelings or emotions, but it is a life and relationship based on commitment.  Feelings and emotions can be deceiving because they fluctuate with our physical health and moods.  Almost everything is colored by our moods whether good or bad.  When we are going through a dry season in our relationship with our  mate,  this is especially where the commitment part comes in.

The birth of a marriage is very beautiful, but with time and age it should ripen into the sweetest and most beautiful experience.  With time and age it should become even more beautiful and precious.  This is a priceless home to create for one another and our children and a beautiful example to set.

Real Life Love Stories | Mark and Lisa

Lisa is my older cousin on my dad's side. Of course, I have known her for as long as I can remember. 

I have a very distinct memory of my first meeting of Mark (one I have apparently not yet gotten over!). Lisa brought him to our family's Thanksgiving dinner when I was 8 years old. I was wearing my first pair of clip on earrings, and they were making my ears turn red because they were pinching so hard. 

Mark looked at my ear and said, "Your ear is red." I decided in my 8 year old head that I did not like him! 

Needless to say, I love both Mark and Lisa. I asked Lisa to share some her real life love story with us today. 

You will probably notice that her answer are short, sweet, and to the point. That is Lisa. No clutter. No excess. Which is why she is the one I call on when I have to purge my house! 

1. How old (young) were you when you met your husband?

I was 13 years old when I met my husband in our church youth group. 

2. How did you meet? Where?

We met at our church youth group as friends only. 

3. How long did you date each other before you were married?

2 years 4 months 

4. How did he propose to you?

In the car, in the parking lot of a Mexican Restaurant.

5. How long have you been married?

26 years 

6. What is one piece of advice that you would give to young women who are currently walking through the journey of marriage?

Don't ever compare your strengths and weaknesses with everyone else. It will only discourage you. 

7. What has been your favorite part of married life?

Having a best friend at all times who I can tell anything to.

Lost!

In front of our county courthouse

Our county is a pretty fair size. Our particular area has three different "town" names, each giving the hearer an understanding of where in our county you actually live- "B" being the rural, original area of development with large properties of land and cattle ranches, "S" being the center of everything with shops, restaurants, and lots of churches, and "W" being the outskirts of "S" and a little more rural yet not as rural as "B" (hope that makes sense).

One of these three, "B", actually played a small role during the Civil War and has an historic past- not one that you will read about in the history books, but those in our community who actually care about it make a huge deal of it.

The historic part of "B" and the center of the town where our court house is measures maybe 1 square mile. And it is in this 1 square mile area that my children and I were lost for an hour and a half while trying to get to our Valentine's party.

One of the crafts we made on Valentine's Day

For the party, each child was to bring a Valentine treat for all of the other children at the party. We had our candy labeled and ready to go. I had volunteered to bring a box of juices and cupcakes as well. When we purchased our cupcakes, Addie was in such an all fired hurry to help me put everything on the check out counter that when she picked up the cupcakes I heard a noise. The cupcakes came out of their holder, the perfectly placed icing was smeared all over the clear plastic cover, and sprinkles were dancing everywhere inside the container. That should have been a sign to me of how this whole thing would go.

At home, I went onto Google maps and put in the destination I needed to get to. It spit out some directions for me, and at 1:00 p.m., we headed out. I put all of our stuff on the floor of the back seat on Ian's side of the car since I knew it would be safe there and would make for easier maneuvering for me once we arrived at the party.

The directions from Google sent me onto some obscure road (where I saw some of the most beautiful homes), so I called my husband to see if he could help me out. He was in the middle of a difficult and intense job at the time, so I called my father (I do not have a smart phone yet, so I could not find the directions for myself. This incident changed all of that, and I will be getting one, Lord willing, when my phone contract is up in June. At least something good came out of all of this :) My dad did his best, but his phone could only give him a general location and not anything specific.

Brian called back a little while later and told me to call his office to see if the secretary could help me out. He then mentioned, "I think it is the church up on the hill."

Hill? What hill? The only hill that I know of in town is the hill that the traffic light is at the top of, and there is no church there.

Addie named her "Val" because of the Doc McStuffins show

The secretary gave me great directions..... but here's the thing. I was mentally stuck within the confines of the "main part of town" limits. I wasn't letting myself think outside that traffic light at the top of the hill that leads outside of town.

I eventually came across a fire/police department (after Addie asked me if we were still in Florida), and I decided to go inside. I unbuckled the kids and had Addie climb over Ian's chair to come out the same door I was at since it had started raining.

And then I heard it. The sound of a plastic cupcake container being crushed by a size 10 shoe. Addie had stepped right on the cupcakes. Was I mad? Absolutely not! I started to laugh! Oh well. These cupcakes were meant to get to their destination smooshed and imperfect.

The police officer was absolutely sweet as anything and gave the kids candy, and his secretary was a doll. A woman, who also worked there, walked in and saw the address of the location of the party and said, "That's the big church at the top of the hill. I can't believe you missed it!"

What hill is everyone talking about?!

I left with my printed directions and followed them to the T...... and there, outside of town, up on a hill was a big (HUGE, ENORMOUS) church where the party was being held.

We got out of the car and into the church just in time for the group picture. Our leader is super sweet and made an announcement for all of the kids to be sure to give Addie a treat for her box and then to take one of her treats for their box too. I was so glad because I knew she was looking forward to that..... and I had spent an hour the night before writing "My friend" and "Addie" on each of those 60 little candy packets!

Ian's feet, Addie's hands

Throughout our entire adventure, my kids were troopers! No one fussed, not even my little guy who is still rear facing in his car seat. Sometimes, Ian would say "Mum? Mum? Mummum?" and Addie would say in her "little mommy" voice, "Shhh, Ian. Don't talk to Mommy right now. She's trying to find the party."

We got home (in 20 minutes!), but when we found out that Brian would be getting home late I took the kids back out to pick up their McDonald's happy meal and fries. I went through the drive through since it is easier that way and placed my order. I passed the Happy Meal back to Addie and drove off. When we were almost home, Addie let me know that there were no chicken nuggets in her Happy Meal.

After the day we had had......that sounded about right.

This will definitely be a Valentine's for the books.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am so excited to share with you what we plan to do today, Lord willing, in order to celebrate Valentine's Day, and for us the kick off began last night at Awana.

I was asked to bake cookies for the Awana Valentine's party, but since I didn't have as much time as I thought I would, I had to settle for baking the premade cookie dough. This is real life.

After awana was all said and done, I sat and labeled all 60 little packages in these bags with "To: My friend, Love: Addie" for our homeschool group's Valentine's party. My arm is now dead.

 

Plus, Ian had a rough night (teething) and didn't actually settle down to sleep until close to midnight, which meant that I stayed up until around 1:00 a.m. to finish up what I wanted to prepare for today.

For breakfast this morning, we ate these delicious donuts. Not on our normal breakfast rotation, but we can make an exception for special days..... now I just need to check with my Lose It app to see how many calories (if any!) I have left to eat today.

Lately, our schedule has been allowing us to finish our school work by 8:30 a.m., which will give us plenty of time to make a bunch of Valentine's crafts (check my Valentine's board and my Puggles Ideas board on Pinterest to get an idea of the crafts we'll be doing) as well as go to our homeschool Valentine's party later today.

I made Brian a scrapbook/card in addition to the joint gift we chose this year. Thanks to my friend Cathy, who showed me the idea in a magazine, I was able to make it for Brian in one sitting at our monthly scrapbook get together. The book itself is made from brown lunch bags. I then used the few scrapbook supplies I have left to put this together. The bag openings make great places to put extra little notes. For obvious reasons, I took the pictures before adding my gushy sentiments :)



For dinner, I am going off of my dinner menu and making Brian one of his favorites, and Addie and Ian are getting their favorites, McDonald's Happy Meals. The little things go a long way in showing someone just how much you love them.