99 Balloons

When I was in Germany at the Christian filmmakers conference last year a man from the Netherlands involved in the production of this showed this film. I wanted to share it with all of you. (Make sure your tissue box is close!!).

Valentine's Day Expectations (and what they reveal about marriage)

Two months into our marriage my husband and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day together. He bought me a plunger. Now if that doesn't say something about the difference between the expectations of men and women on Valentine's Day (and when it comes to marriage) nothing will.

The tenth Valentine's Day we celebrated as a married couple, my husband bought me flowers, a nice card with an even nicer message hand-written inside, and (very important) a box of fine chocolates from a local chocolatier. I think you'll agree that we've come quite a ways in ten years.

The reason for that is quite simple really. I've gotten much better at communicating my expectations and he has gotten much better at hearing those communications.

Everyone talks about the importance of understanding and communicating your expectations before you get married. You are warned to talk about: how many kids you want, whether your squeeze or roll your toothpaste, religious beliefs, keeping your house warm or cool, and how you like to spend your vacations. But what about after you are married? Expectations are not problem then, right?

A New Rule

Everyone knows the rule Don't buy yourself anything new right before a birthday or Christmas, right? Well, how about a new rule that I just learned on my anniversary a few weeks back: Don't EVER give a previously unvoiced opinion on the day of your anniversary!!

As you can imagine, there is a funny/awful story to explain this newly learned rule...

Mornings At My House (Mom's will get this one!)

My household (other than my husband!) usually wakes up between 8 and 9 in the morning. I am not a morning person and so I normally sleep in until the kids wake me up leaving my "quiet time" for night. But this morning I was awake before 7 am.

I decided to surprise my husband and have breakfast and spend some time with him before he went to work. I was thwarted as he had to go in early and I just missed him. As I came downstairs, he drove off. So I had some toast and read my Bible. The house was quiet; the deck was cool; it was lovely.

Then at 7:30 am Maeva started fussing so I got in bed with her and snuggled down. She was sweet and we both fell back asleep. I felt like this waking up early thing had some potential.

What A Girl Wants

It is funny to think back to what I wanted in high school and compare that to what I want now as a woman.

A Bed & Breakfast that I stayed at in Germany.

I wanted to be living in Europe with a career in something international, business suit required. I did not want to be married and most definitely did not want children. I wanted to be able to travel on a whim and see and experience whatever culture I found myself in. I wanted independence and importance.

That is not what I want now...