Unfortunately for me, most of these photos I'm about to share are DON'TS. I can't seem to get this selfie thing down. It's just so awkward for me to say, "Hey, take a picture of me. No, sorry, you can't be in the picture. Just me." I even felt uncomfortable asking my husband to be my photographer! Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just an awkward person. Nonetheless, last weekend I set out to get a good picture for my sidebar. You know, like those cute little "About Me" pictures all you bloggers have. Well, if you're putting two and two together, you'll notice that I still don't have a selfie up there on my sidebar so our photo shoot was unsuccessful. [wompwompwomppp] Did you get that little sound effect I just did?
Let's begin...
DON'T fuss at your hubby for not knowing how to work your camera. Heck, you don't even know how to work it.
DON'T casually pose at your art table. So. awkward.
DON'T make this face. Not cute.
...or this one for that matter.
DON'T spend half the time trying to make your hair look jusssst right. It won't work.
Like I said.
DON'T go outside in the freezing weather without a coat just to get the perfect picture...
DON'T give your husband this face when he tries to rush the process.
DO get surprised by one of your sweet puppies with a big slobbery kiss!
Well, there ya have it. If you have any DO's for me, please let me know! I could use all the help I can get!
Before you go, please go check out the pretty awesome giveaway happening at Ten Feet Off Beale. (And no, I'm not just saying it's pretty awesome because I am a part of the giveaway. Psh.) Alyssa has an amazing blog that I think you will love!
Color run powder/Holi powder will make you crazy when trying to wash it out of your hair! The pinks/yellows/reds aren't so bad--it's those blues and greens you've got to watch out for!
I did a lot of research before we had our colored powder photo session with Kelly a few weeks ago. Thank goodness for my sister-in-law, Jeana, who had mentioned the Color Run a few months back and how the powder stains blonde hair. I most likely wouldn't have even thought about it staining...but it does! Most of the research I did said to wear a hat to protect your hair if you are going to be around Holi Powder. Well, since I didn't want to wear a hat for our photos, I kept researching. Here's what I came up with and did to protect my hair from being a lovely shade of faded blue and green.
The first thing I probably SHOULDN'T have done is gotten my hair highlighted that day. Oops. But I had the whole natural ombre/dark roots thing going on and I wasn't a fan. And as I've mentioned here before, I'm stubborn. I wanted my hair to look good in the pics and I would deal with the consequences later.
Also, the powder we used was the actual powder used in Holi Festival in India. It came from India! I think maybe that the Color Run powder is probably more...domestic than the stuff we used. Ha.
Pre-Color Powder:
There are two reasons I wore my hair up for our pictures
1) Hair up = less surface area to be stained
2) The research I had done said to put some sort of castor oil or coconut oil in your hair in order to prevent staining. This was supposed to coat your hair so it would wash out easily. I put coconut oil in my hair. I put my hair up because it looked really greasy with the oil in there if it wasn't up. Don't skip this step! Use coconut oil!
This was right after we got home from taking the pictures. About to start the process of washing out the blue and green. Yikes.
Post-Color Powder:
1) This is the worst part, but you have to rinse your hair with cold water. I just leaned over the tub and went for it. Burrrr.
2) First I rinsed out as much of the color as possible just by using water. Don't use any product on it yet. This got out a lot of the color. I had a huge blob of blue and green on the left side of my head that was refusing to rinse out. And so begins my frustration and panic.
3) I halved a lemon and squeezed all over the blue spots that were not rinsing out. The lemon didn't help AT ALL.
4) After the lemon, I used the shampoo for the first time. That wasn't helping either.
5) Then I had Will sprinkle baking soda all over the stained spots and then pour vinegar on it. He was having way too much fun with this part. He kept saying he felt like he was making a volcano science project. And it FELT like a fizzing volcano on my head too! This process didn't work. Boo.
6) At this point I got in the shower and just started washing my hair with whatever shampoos I had. I was really getting nervous. Mane 'n Tail shampoo seemed to help the best out of all the shampoos I tried. Still didn't get it all out though.
7) Ok, this is when I broke out the big guns. When I said the cold water was the worst part, I lied. This is the worst. Ketchup. Yes, like Heinz Ketchup. I had read that this or tomato paste would help. I globbed it all over my blue stained hair and it got out a ton of the color. Besides almost gagging several times, I was pretty thankful for that ketchup.
I still had blue in my hair, but I decided to give it a rest for the night.
By Sunday morning and another round of Ketchup treatment, my hair still looked like this. Oh, boy. Luckily I could part my hair on the other side and cover it up for church.
Sunday night, I used Ajax and baking soda. That's what got the rest of the color out. And luckily, it smelled much better than ketchup. My last resort was going to be mayonnaise. GAG. So glad I didn't have to do that.
All in all, I am still so glad we took those photos. The fun we had canceled out the stress of washing out the color stain. However, after washing my hair so many times, it really dulled down my freshly done color. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.
Have you read this book?? I just got it last week after hearing so many great things and I am enjoyingloving it.
It is amazing how the devotion for each day seems to line up perfectly with what's going on in your life that day...weird even. The book is written as if Jesus Himself were speaking to you.
It is perfect for someone who is already involved in a devotion because it's such a short (2 paragraph) reading for each days so it's to add on to what you're already involved in. It's also PERFECT for someone trying to start daily devotions/quiet times because it's so easy, short and simple so that makes the transition into spending time with God on a daily basis that much easier and that much BETTER. You'll probably find that after reading each day's entry, you want to read more into God's word and spend more time with Him everyday. I encourage you to order this book here and begin to read this book daily and BE ENCOURAGED by HIM.
Here's the devotion for October 15:
Try to stay conscious of Me as you go step by step through this day. My Presence with you is both a promise and a protection. my final statement just before I ascended into Heaven was: Surely I am with you always. That promise was for all of My followers, without exception.
The promise of My Presence is a powerful protection. As you journey through your life, there are numerous pitfalls along the way. Many voices clamor for your attention, enticing you to go their way. A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. If you take your eyes off Me and follow another's way, you are in grave danger. Even well-meaning friends can lead you astray if you let them usurp My place in your life. The way to stay on the path of Life is to keep your focus on Me. Awareness of My Presence is your best protection.
That's just the catchy name I've given myself for the sake of this post. You would think I had magical powers or something. I mean, I can get poison ivy just by looking at it. I should be able to win a talent show for that, or win a medal....cash prize? If only. For now I'll just have to settle with giving you a little inside information on poison ivy remedies (or lack thereof) from someone who has it almost year-round. Yippee.
Let's just go ahead and get the items that absolutely do not work out of the way. (By the way, when I say these things "don't work" I mean in terms of clearing up the outbreak.)
1. Calamine Lotion
Is this even worth mentioning? All this does is turn you a lovely shade of pink. No itch relief whatsoever. Bad memories of having chicken pox in Kindergarten and being pink polka-dotted for a week.
2. Benadryl
Whenever I use Benadryl, it's mainly as a sleep aid when the poison ivy is extremely itchy. If you're losing sleep because the itching is keeping you up, then take some Benadryl before bed and this will help soothe your skin some. As far as clearing up the rash, it does nothing. Bummer.
3. Cortizone Lotion
Doesn't do anything for me. No itch relief. Nothing as far as clearing it up either. Maybe I've just developed an immunity to it. Who knows.
Ok, now let's get to the good stuff. At least the stuff that I use on my many outbreaks.
1. IvaRest
This cream looks just like Calamine lotion...except it actually helps. They also make an IvaRest wash that you can use in the shower that's supposed to help wash off the poison ivy oils from your skin. They both kind of have a burning sensation when used...but that feels good to some itchy poison ivy! Definitely worth a try!
2. Zanfel
Ok, this is a product that's fairly new to me and it's probably my favorite at the moment. The only downfall is that it's a little expensive for such a small tube...but when you're desperate, who cares. The good thing is that you can buy the generic at Walgreens and it seems to work just as well. Zanfel is a wash for the shower like the IvaRest. It's also got some kind of "scrub" in the cream which feels reallllly great on the poison ivy. Good excuse to scratch it too---oops, I mean, don't scratch your poison ivy! That's bad!
Zanfel- about $40 at Walgreens
Generic Zanfel- about $30 at Walgreens
3. Prescription
I currently have this prescription, Beta-whatever. As far as itch relief, this doesn't help at all. I guess it helps clear up the rash. I don't know. I'm not patient when it comes to getting rid of poison ivy so my time scale of this stuff "working" is probably way off. I want my poison ivy to be gone in a day or two. Is that even possible? No clue. This cream doesn't clear it up in a day or two, but nonetheless I still use it. Can't hurt.
Well guess what decided to pop up ON MY FACE yesterday. Ugh. I look like a teenager with acne issues.
Here it comes....Day 2
I got a little brave yesterday and tried two new "home remedies." I mean, this stuff is on my face. I will try anything!
1. Baking soda and water mixture
Supposed to dry up the rash. Did it? No. Add that one to the list of worthless remedies.
2. Bleach and water
Yes, I said bleach. This one made me a little nervous. I just kept thinking, "Am I about to burn my skin off?" "Am I about to bleach my skin?!" I obviously didn't listen to those thoughts in my head, because I did it anyway. I made a 1:1 bleach/water mixture, dipped in a paper towel and starting gently blotting my face. First I didn't feel a thing and then OH FIRE, MY FACEEEE!!! It was burning SO bad. I proceeded to stick my face in front of the air conditioner and got a little relief. Did I stop after that? Nope. Hard-headed, I tell ya. These were my thoughts: If I can stand a few minutes of intense skin burning (should've stopped right there) and the bleach dries up the poison ivy rash then it's totally worth it. I can't tell if it's worked yet. For now, I feel like I keep smelling a chlorine pool...but it's probably just my face and hands. Weird. I will have to give it a few days and update later. Fingers crossed.
UPDATE: DAY 4 AND THE POISON IVY IS STILL GOING STRONG. MY FACE IS SWOLLEN AND MISERABLE. HEADING TO THE DOC TODAY FOR A SHOT. NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED TO GET POKED.
Just remember--these are things that work for me. Everyone is different. So maybe the calamine lotion does work for you.
Maybe you have no use for this post right now, but maybe someday you'll have a poison ivy outbreak and think of me. Maybe you won't. If anything, this post helped me feel better about ranting over my most recent outbreak. Now the venting is done and I can just get over it. Deep breath. I feel better.
Do you get poison ivy as easily as I do? What have you found that works best? I'm up for anything!
I've been pestering Will for weeks to write a "guest post" on my blog. I was finally successful in bribing him with chicken spaghetti! I don't know if I'll ever want to write a post after his again, because he's such an amazing writer and mine just doesn't compare! I hope you enjoy his post as much as I do!
Direction. Since we left our home it had been the question that carried throughout the camp. We were safe now, but at times it felt as if we are still held captive by circumstances. There had been so much promised, so much seen; but our patience was wearing thin, and it seemed our time was running out. The journey seemed to be that of a lifetime, never knowing what the next day would bring, always hoping for the day of rest to come.
But in this desert it is hard to find rest. The water is scarce and the food is always the same. The people grow weary, and understandably so. The thirst. The thirst is almost unbearable. A dry mouth and cracked lips have led only to a dry and cracked spirit. Why must we persist this desert? Why must we suffer after suffering for so long?
So many questions we ask, so many answers we long to find. We cry out , "WHY?," but there is no response. I myself search the sky for a response, an answer of hope in this desolate place. Looking towards the mountain, my eyes are drawn towards something, something I have not noticed in days. The cloud stands in stark contrast to the deep blue sky, a threatening whirlwind encircling the tent. Strange how things so extraordinary become mundane in this painful life.
I find myself filled with the desire to return to our former home, at least there we were fed, at least there we had strength.
In the midst of the cloud and my whirlwind of thoughts, doubting the reason for everything I know, a feeling grips my soul. It is a feeling I've felt before, but it has been some time. Closing my eyes I breathe deep the desert air, and a fresh breeze that wasn't there before. I open my eyes to see the cloud, the great whirlwind, moving across the desert sky. Shouts break out around the camp as families and tribes begin to gather their things.
The cloud. The presence of God. The reason we are here. In this desert hours seem like days, making it easy to lose track of time and thought. But in this moment, as the cloud begins to move, I am taken aback at the fresh reminder. The Lord is moving us towards His promise. He is our guide, He is our shepherd. Were it not for Him our lives would be worthless, but His promise brings us hope. Chills run down my back as the whirlwind flows across the plains. The voice of Moses pulls my attention away saying, "We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said 'I will give it to you.' Come with us..."
Numbers 9-10, though I have taken some liberties with the text, provides an incredible reminder of the importance of following God's leadership. Though the Israelites found themselves in many a tight spots, they never found themselves alone, but were constantly led by the presence of the Lord. Yes the Israelites made a few mistakes. Even after seeing miraculous works of the Almighty God, they did manage to get some things right. They knew that God was leading them to the Promise Land, and they knew that they had to follow his presence. Numbers 9:23, "At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord the set out." The Israelites never knew how long each stage of the journey would be (Num 9:22), but one thing they did know. The only way to get to where God was taking them was to follow Him.
We have to reach the place in our relationship with Christ where we become totally dependent on His presence. Ironically enough we live in a "self made" society, the notion that greatness and success comes from the individual. In other words, we are who we are because we made ourselves that way. We desperately need to be reminded day after day that we are simply heading towards what God has promised us. This life is not about making ourselves great, but making Him great. How do we do that? Forsaking the preconceived idea to follow our "dreams" and beginning on the journey of following the presence of God. Without His presence we are doing nothing but wandering around in the desert searching for answers. The comfort we find in all of this is that God holds true to His promises. He will lead you in the right direction. He will take you to your destination.
In my own life I constantly struggle with where to go next. How to take the next step, how to solve the next problem. This usually brings me to Stress City, as I begin to weigh out all the obstacles and questions that I have for the future. Thankfully, God did not call me to be a problem solver, He called me to be obedient. We are simply called to walk in His presence. Don't get caught up in the little issues that drive you crazy or cause you to worry, rest in the presence of the Almighty. Seek His Spirit and His grace.
I try not to be one of those people who constantly talks about their dogs and just drives everyone crazy, but that's near impossible for me. I've just got to talk about what went on this past weekend with Ginger B.
On Thursday night we noticed that her head looked like it was twitching every second. She's never done this before so I had no idea what was going on. I finally noticed that her throat/neck seemed to be having spasms which was making her head jerk.
Friday morning I took her to the vet. I'm not naming names, but it starts with Pet and ends with Vax. By the time we left they had diagnosed her with a respiratory infection. The doctor was in with us for only about 5 minutes and didn't run any tests or anything. I'm obviously not a veterinarian, but it just didn't seem right. Nonetheless, I got her antibiotics and went home.
By Saturday, Ginger could barely walk. It was so sad! It was killing me that she was hurting and I had no idea what was going on! (I guess that's what it's like having a sick baby??) She was just laying down all day. She couldn't stand up on her own and couldn't go up or down the stairs without crying. On Saturday and Sunday I talked to two friends who are vet techs or have been before (thanks Cory and Paul!) and we started thinking maybe Gin had a back injury. And then it hit me, she DID have a back/neck injury!! I don't know why I didn't realize it sooner! After working at a chiropractic office for 4 years in college, you would think I would have realized this right off the bat. Her symptoms were exactly like those of patients I had seen at the chiro.
Look how sad! She was hurting
For some reason she thought it was comfortable to lie on my side on Saturday
Remi knew she felt bad
Monday began my frantic calls to try and get her into a veterinary chiropractor. Everyone knew of only one in Memphis and when I called I found out he was booked for the day. And didn't have any openings until Wednesday! I was so upset. I became the crazy lady crying on the phone to the front desk workers. So embarrassing. I cry about everything. I finally called the vet back for the third time to ask them to go ahead and schedule Ginger for Wednesday and to please call me if anyone canceled for Monday. The lady that had answered the phone was the third person I had spoken to and asked me what was going on and to describe Ginger's symptoms. I tried not to be too blubbery and managed to tell her everything. She reassured me that everything was going to be alright and that she would talk to the doctor and call me back. When she called me back, she said that if I could bring Ginger and drop her off then the doctor would see her in between patients. I was so thankful and let out a sigh of relief!
I picked Ginger up that evening and met with Dr. Parker to discuss what was going on with Gin. He said that he had given her an adjustment and showed me some stretches to do on her neck to prevent and help reduce muscle spasms. Ginger was like a new dog!! She was wagging her tell, prancing around, and just looked like she felt 100x better. So we got sent home with some muscle relaxers and pain meds and an appointment for next week just to re-check her. Dr. Parker at the Shelby Center for Animals in Bartlett, TN was awesome! I was so thankful to find a doctor who cared about what was going on with Ginger and who stayed a little later than closing time to talk to me about Ginger.
Look how happy she looks!
Before and After!
If your dog ever seems to have symptoms like this, remember Dr. Parker and chiropractic care!
Marriage is as marriage does... Is that how the saying goes? Maybe it's just me, but it seems like there's more to it than that.
Will and I recently had a friend who was about to be married ask us, "If you could give me any piece of advice about being married, what would it be?" To be honest, we had to think on it for a few minutes. I don't remember exactly what came to mind or if it was even helpful, but it sparked the idea to post some things that we've learned over the past 2 1/2 years of our marriage. We definitely don't have it all figured out, but these things have helped us along the way!
Good advice is all about perspective so we thought it would be best to look at this from two different angles. I gave Will the assignment of coming up with 10 tips for the dudes and I'll be posting 10 for the ladies.
1. Get a dog.
Without a doubt dogs are always a great addition to the family. Dogs provide fun, companionship, cuddle partners, and PLENTY of opportunities to work on patience. You may be tempted to get a cat, but I promise that does not have the same effect (no offense to the current cat owners out there). Having a dog may seem like an unnecessary stress, but in the long run they are great to have around and add much adventure to the every day life.
2. Do It.
Now I know what you're thinking, but this isn't that kind of a blog! By "do it" I mean there is something extra special in working on projects as a couple. This can be as simple as painting a room or perhaps what the trendy call "crafting." Simple projects where you work together with your spouse not only give you opportunities to spend time with your spouse, but also to help, flirt, and show interest in each others hobbies. It's a great way to build a relationship (pun intended).
3. Travel
I believe Willie Nelson knew what he was talking about when he sang that old road song. Getting away as a couple is one of the most helpful ways to strengthen a relationship. Traveling carries a connotation of an elusive get-a-way, but sometimes going down the road for a camping trip can be just as romantic as a weekend at the beach. The key to traveling is simply leaving the world behind for a few days and focusing on each other.
4. Listen UP
Every guy knows that there are levels of listening in every conversation, and we have all mastered the art of being in the conversation without really being involved. For those of you who watch Duck Dynasty, you know that Phil is perhaps the most mastered in this area! But really listening can make a huge difference in a healthy relationship. Don't be anticipating the next thought in your mind or what's for supper, take time to listen. It shows you care and goes a long way.
5. Be a Man
Nothing drives me more crazy than those husbands out there who feel that it is their wife's job to do everything around the house as they are waited on hand and foot. Being a man is about helping out in every way that you can. Don't assign jobs or blame your spouse for not getting something done. If you see something that needs to be done or that you can help with, then help!
6. Be Content One of the most difficult things about being married is getting on your feet financially. Often even more difficult is the ease of looking around at what other people have and wondering why you do not. A good relationship can't be strengthened by hopelessly hoping for things that you don't really need, but by finding thankfulness for the things that you do have. God has given us an enormous blessing in marriage, and it is important to trust Him in providing the things that you need. The old saying "living on love" is cheesy, but there is a lot of of truth to it. Recognize what you have in your spouse, and you will find that it is of more value than anything the world has to offer.
7. Date Life Sometimes I reminisce of the days when Courtney and I were dating, and even the days before that when I was trying to convince her to date me! I pursued Courtney like crazy, taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time with her and get to know her. I used to take books to her locker in high school and I thought it was the best thing ever! But, after the wedding bells ring and life together begins, I often have to remind myself that the pursuit is not over. It is so important for couples to live the date life--striving to know each other more and build their relationship with each other (everybody knows that women are super complicated so there are definitely ways to know your wife better). Take time to intentionally date your spouse, show your affection, and enjoy being with each other. 8. Show Interest As a dude, it is clear that the way I think and process things is different that the way Courtney does. There are things that I enjoy, and there different things that Courtney enjoys. The difference is there, but it is important to show interest in what your spouse interests and not just your own. For example, I like to duck hunt, so sometimes Courtney comes with me (well she did one time). Courtney likes to watch things like The Bachelor, so sometimes I watch it with her. It is not that big of a deal to give up a little of your time to show interest in what your spouse enjoys. Be sure to do it with the right attitude and willingness or it does not count! 9. Pray Together Without a doubt prayer is one of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage. Marriage is designed by God and ordained by God, it is his plan and purpose that brought you and your spouse together. Knowing that, we have to realize the importance of talking to the one who brought you together in the first place, the one who created you for each other. Prayer is a powerful tool that not only draws you closer to God but also closer to each other. When you are open before God and pray with an open heart, you become open to your spouse as well. Prayer allows God to work in our lives and answer our requests. There are a lot of things we need to pray for, always remember to pray for each other.
10. Be Romantic Candlelight, moonlight, music serenading in the air, ocean waves kissing the shore setting rhythm to an endless love song...well that's all well and good, but it can't happen every day. But you don't have to be in paradise to be romantic. I've learned (and am learning) that little things, thoughtful gifts, kind notes, can be just as romantic as a ocean view dinner. You don't have to spend a ton of money or be the next Shakespeare. Be yourself; find your own ways to be romantic in everyday life. Many guys make excuses for their lack of romanticism (myself included!), but most of the time we make it more complicated than it has to be. Find what makes your spouse light up with a smile, and keep it coming!
1. Laugh Together
With "grown-up" lives now, sometimes you can forget to just have fun together. Be silly. With Will as my husband, laughter comes easily and often. Always try and remember that you're not only husband and wife, you're also best friends. You should be constantly striving to learn more about your BFF!
2. Never Publicly Criticize Your Husband
Your motto should be to "Praise Publicly." I wish the motto could be to never criticize at all, but let's be honest, every marriage has its issues however big or small they may be. Everyone knows the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Not true. At all. Words hurt probably the worst and this is true when speaking of your spouse in public as well. People don't need to know he didn't put his dirty clothes in the hamper or he leaves dishes out. (Which by the way, Will is amazing at helping out around the house!) All of this is especially helpful in our marriage with Will being a pastor. His leadership and how others view him as a leader is directly affected by our marriage. If I'm always tearing him down and making snide comments at his expense, that will affect his integrity as a leader. On the other hand, if I'm an encourager and constantly give him the affirmation that he needs, then those he leads will also put their trust and confidence in him.
3. You've Got a Friend in Me
We've learned that it's important to spend time with other married couples. Will and I were the first to get married among our group of friends. That was fine and we still spent time with those friends, but there was something that we were missing from not being around other newlyweds. I personally struggled with that frustration for a long time. I can remember having several conversations with Will that contained the words, "Will, I just want friends." Pathetic, I know. For a majority of our marriage, Will has been a Youth Pastor to a great group of teenagers. We love them and we love spending time with them. And as much time as we have invested in them, there is obviously a big age difference and "life experiences" difference between us and the youth group. I prayed and prayed for God to put other married couples in our lives to become close to and spend time with. God answered our prayers and it has been such a blessing to have such close friends. As a married couple, you NEED those relationships in your life. Try to set aside time once a week to go on a double date with those other couples!
4. Don't Try and Change Your Man
I know this has been said many times when referring to dating and the difference in lifestyles between two people, but that's not what I'm talking about here. What I'm talking about are those certain habits or aspects of their personalities that you (I) try and control sometimes. For those of you who know Will, or if you don't you can see his personality come through on this blog post, you know that the guy has a sense of humor. That's what he's known for. He's a jokester and loves to have a good time. At times I've caught myself saying, "Ok, Will, you need to be serious when we get there. It's not the time to be joking about everything." But looking back, Will being the one to make everyone smile and laugh is what I love about him. It's also what everyone else loves about him. I've realized that he's smart enough to know when or when not to joke about something and it's not up to me to tell him otherwise. His sense of humor is such a special gift that I've learned to embrace instead of control!
5. Thank Him Frequently
I often forget to thank Will for the little things. There are so many times that I'll come home and the laundry will be done and folded or the dishes will be put away. It's such a common thing for Will to be so helpful around the house that I'll forget to thank him. But one "thank you" goes a long way. It helps your spouse to know that his or her efforts aren't going unnoticed and you truly are appreciative even for the small things!
6. One Expectation
The one most important expectation you and your husband should have for each other is that God comes first. That you love God more than you love each other. Essentially, as you and your spouse grow closer to God, you grow closer to each other.
7. Don't Worry, Be Happy!
I believe an important part of being a wife is making your husband happy. Seems simple enough, right? He doesn't want to come home to nagging and whining, but rather a hug around the neck and a kiss on the lips! Make him excited to come home at the end of the day. Chances are he's tired and just wants to come home and rest for a little while...so let him! Trust him enough that he'll be a helper around the house without having to nag him about it.
8. Communicate
Easy peasy...Maybe..Ok, maybe not. Sometimes communication can be so difficult. Usually it's the husbands who need help communicating, but us wives could use some work too. (I know I could!) You know those times when something irritating happens, your husband asks what's wrong, and you say, "Nothing, I'm fine." Well, let's all make a pact and try not to do that anymore. What good does it do to pretend like nothing's wrong? No good at all. Just say what you mean and mean what you say!
9. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
This tip is exactly as it sounds: Respect your husband. He needs to feel respected by you in order to give you the love that you need. In the book, "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs, he writes about the love and respect cycle. "Without love, she reacts without respect, and without respect he reacts without love." So give your man what he deserves and in return you'll get what you want and need!
10. Date Night
Just as the two of you need time with other married couples, you also need special time with each other. Whether you're going to the movies or just baking together, those special dates will help you "escape" from a busy life and refuel. And it doesn't always have to be up to the man to plan romantic dates...you can surprise him too every now and then. Just have fun with it!
Tips that didn't make the cut:
1. Exercise together (because we'd rather eat chocolate chip cookies together)
2. Talk in a British accent (after a while, that just gets plain annoying!)
3. Eat at Taco Bell twice a week (even though there have been weeks where this has happened, we wouldn't recommend it!)
We hope that these tips will help you in some way. And as we said before, we aren't geniuses on marriage...these are just the things that each of us has learned in the short time we've been married!
