BLOG-WORTHY

I finally have a few things to share that I feel are blog-worthy. So here's the first...

Michael and I are total dorks, and we like it that way.

While discussing how we wanted to celebrate our 6th anniversary, he jokingly suggested going to Six Flags, and I said, "YESSS!" It sounded like such a fun idea, we hadn't been since we were dating, the discounts are awesome right now, and it was a change from the typical dinner and a movie. He thought it was hilarious that I actually wanted to go, but humored me.

We dropped the kiddos off at my parents' house on Sunday and headed out. First, let me say that the trip was great fun and I'm so glad we went. Second, here are the observations made from our little celebration:

1. Some rides seem a lot smaller now than they did years ago, and some seem a lot bigger (and scarier :) ).

2. The Texas Giant is not as much fun as I remember it being (it was always my favorite). I was amazed to find my teeth all in their original places when the ride ended, and I'm sporting some new bruises on my arms from slamming around in the car.

3. People watching is more fun now than ever. And man, were there some people worth watching :)

4. This place is crazy-ridiculous on how they try to leech money off of you. You pay for the tickets, you pay for parking (unless you park behind a nearby restaurant and hope they don't tow your car - hee :) ), you pay out the butt for a bottle of water, not to mention the food (which we refused to do), and the games, t-shirts, souveneirs, etc etc are insane. I understand my parents' perspective now.

5. That was definitely our last time to go without our kiddos. For me, it'll be a lot more fun going with our family when the boys are older and I can watch them enjoy it all.

6. I can't walk nearly as long or excitedly as I used to :)

7. I used to want to win one of those gigantic stuffed animals from the rip-off games SO badly when I was little. So it was funny to realize this time how truly unlikely it is to actually get one, and that even if you do, it's MISERABLE because you have to carry the thing around the park in the hot sun the rest of the day. Not to mention that it's a piece of crap you have no use for in the first place. But it was lots of fun and really cute watching kids wanting that stuff and trying for it as hard as I did years ago...and also a little foreboding to think about our kids begging us for it someday. Oy vey.

8. Perspective and hind sight are beautiful things. Somebody should learn how to bottle it, and then we could all take it in healthy doses a little earlier. Of course, then we'd miss out on the opportunity to laugh at ourselves later :)


While we were at Six Flags, we decided we had to ride six rides (in celebration of our six years), and then we brainstormed how we could celebrate year seven and year eight in the future:

Year Seven: drink 77 oz. of 7-Up (because that's less than 7 bottles) while watching either 7 episodes of 7th Heaven from the 7th season (YIKES) or the Magnificent Seven (probably what we'll do), and get somebody to watch our kids so we can have an entire day of rest (you know, because God rested on the 7th day and all).

Year Eight: Go see the 8 Wonders of the World (yeah, right), learn to play Crazy Eights....and that's all we've got so far for this one - it needs a little work.

We only got through years seven and eight because the lines weren't very long for any of the rides. We anticipate being married far longer :)


After Six Flags, we went out to eat and rented a couple of movies, grabbed some Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and relaxed the night away. It was fantastic.


And finally, because it's better late than never, here are 6 things I love about my husband (and although this idea is most certainly NOT original, it's heartfelt and good for both of us, I think):

1. He plays and interacts with our boys all the time, and they ADORE him. It's a beautiful thing to watch.

2. He truly, truly wants to please me, and he works so hard to show me love and meet my needs.

3. He listens and is gentle with my emotions and hurt feelings, which goes a LOOONG way to resolve most of the conflict we have. He's definitely better at this than I am.

4. He takes care of the boys at the drop of a hat, whether it be an appointment, a Girl's Night Out, special occasion, etc. He's always willing and so supportive about helping with them. I know a lot of husbands do this, but I know a lot of them don't, so I'm very thankful for this.

5. He is daily searching himself and seeking God to grow, become a better husband and father, etc. A lot of people say this flippantly or in passing about others, but it's absolutely true about Michael. He's in the Word every day, he meets with others for accountability, he makes sure to set aside time every week to talk with me about how we're doing and how he's doing, etc.

6. He is such a hard worker and a WONDERFUL provider for our family. We are blessed by God because he has a job he loves, but Michael is always looking for extra things here and there to make it possible for us to live comfortably and for me and the boys to have all we need, and a lot of what we want. He sacrifices a lot of time and energy for teaching and for going to school himself, so that he can keep on being the provider of our home and so the boys can have me stay home with them.


Thank you Lord for how far you've brought us, for the way you've held us close, for the things you've taught us about ourselves and each other that have brought us closer to You and closer to each other!

I believe that soon I will be ready with words that will begin to do justice to Michael and I's testimony of our relationship, which I believe is important to share, and glorifies God by doing so, so stay tuned for that somewhere in the near future.